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King Klose and his victory record
Published
1 Dec 2025
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Every Monday, FIFA spotlights a World Cup record. Here, we look back at Miroslav Klose and his pace-setting 17 tournament victories.
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Miroslav Klose is the FIFA World Cup™ record man.
At Brazil 2014, he netted his 16th tournament goal in Germany's 7-1 semi-final demolition of Brazil to become the finals' record scorer. Die Mannschaft then downed Argentina for Klose to clinch a record fourth World Cup medal, following silver in 2002, and bronzes in 2006 and 2010.
That showpiece victory in Rio also secured Klose a 17th win at the finals, taking him into top spot as the player with the most tournament victories.
The signs that Klose would go on to become a World Cup great were there from the offset. Germany laid down their 2002 title credentials in their opening match with an 8-0 thrashing of Saudi Arabia, with Klose marking his tournament bow by becoming just the second player to register a hat-trick of headers.
He netted in their next victory over Cameroon, with three more wins taking Germany to the Yokohama showpiece and a maiden tournament meeting with Brazil. Klose and Co pressed, but they were denied the title by a Ronaldo double.
Germany v Saudi Arabia | Group E | 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan™ | Highlights
Watch the highlights from the match between Germany and Saudi Arabia played at Sapporo Dome, Sapporo on Saturday, 01 June 2002.
Klose was on fire once again at Germany's home finals four years later, netting five across as many wins en route to a semi-final battle with Italy. The hosts were edged out by the eventual winners at the Westfalenstadion, but claimed a spot on the podium with a third-place victory over Portugal, as the somersaulting forward seized the adidas Golden Boot.
South Africa 2010 started well for Klose, as he netted in a third successive opening-day win over Australia, but saw red in the defeat to Serbia in their next match and missed the victory over Ghana.
He roared back in the knockouts, though, scoring his 50th International goal in victory over England, and hit a brace on his 100th cap in the 4-0 humbling of Argentina. Spain stifled the Germans in the semis, ensuring they fell to the eventual winners for a third straight tournament. Klose would take home a second bronze medal, although he remained on the bench for the victory over Uruguay.
Argentina v Germany | 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ | Classic Matches
Watch highlights of some of the best matches ever played in the FIFA World Cup™.
Joachim Low drew criticism for selecting Klose, by then 36 and off the back of an injury-ravaged season for Lazio, as his only recognised striker in his Brazil 2014 squad. They needn't have worried.
He begun the tournament on the bench as Germany thrashed Portugal, but emerged from it to rescue his team with a late goal against Ghana. That saw him make the XI for their victory over USA which rubber-stamped top spot in Group G.
The veteran forward took up a watching brief for the nervy win over Algeria in the last 16, before returning to spearhead another narrow victory, this time over France, in the Rio quarter-final.
Low's title hopefuls rode their luck to reach the semis but quickly changed the record against Brazil, notching five goals in an 18-minute blitz to stun their hosts. Klose further twisted the knife by stealing Ronaldo's record as the tournament's record scorer with 16 by netting the second, as the European giants marched into the final with a 7-1 victory.
Brazil v Germany | 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ | Classic Matches
Watch highlights of some of the best matches ever played in the FIFA World Cup™.
Twelve years on from his first crack at the showpiece, Klose once again eyed up a South American foe with Argentina the challengers at a packed Maracana.
He played 88 minutes before making way for Mario Gotze in what proved to be one of the World Cup's most momentous substitutions. Gotze would, indeed, go on to net the extra-time winner to see the Germans clinch a fourth World Crown.
That win took the World Cup's marathon man clear of Brazil icon Cafu and on to a record 17 tournament victories. He retired from international duty a month after the final, departing the scene with a plethora of goals and records, and having never finished off the World Cup podium. | true | classify this article contain milestone or not |
The post Suns’ Devin Booker reaches historic milestone in Lakers clash appeared first on ClutchPoints.
Devin Booker accomplished a career scoring milestone in the Phoenix Suns’ matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night.
Booker is going through the 11th year of his NBA career, all with the Suns. He has led the franchise as their star scorer, keeping them in the realm of playoff contention since the start of the 2020s.
Going into the matchup against Los Angeles, Booker scored 16,991 points throughout his career in the regular season. He needed nine more points to reach the milestone.
Safe to say he achieved that in the entire first quarter. Booker had 11 points, three assists and two rebounds throughout the period, completing the objective in the process. | true | classify this article contain milestone or not |
Endler on The Best, her Chile return and World Cup ambitions
Published
1 Dec 2025
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The 34-year-old is looking to become just the second player to be named The Best FIFA Women's Goalkeeper twice this year.
FIFA
Christiane Endler is up for The Best FIFA Women's Goalkeeper Award
The Lyon star is one of seven shot-stoppers up for the prize
Nomination follows another stellar campaign and a national team return
Following it's 2019 inception, Christiane Endler finished on the podium for the The Best FIFA Women's Goalkeeper Award in each of the first four years, while scooping the prize in 2021.
After finishing sixth in 2023, and not making the shortlist in 2024, the Chilean shot-stopper is hoping to be back among the frontrunners this year following a fifth nomination. She is up for the accolade alongside Barcelona's Cata Coll, Gotham FC's Ann-Katrin Berger, Chelsea's Hannah Hampton, Orlando Pride's Anna Moorhouse, Paris FC's Chiamaka Nnadozie and Manchester United's Phallon Tullis-Joyce.
She spoke to FIFA about her nomination, the key to her consistency, returning to the Chilean national side, her FIFA Women's World Cup™ hopes and more.
🇨🇱 Hace 5 años, @TianeEndler brillaba en la Copa Mundial Femenina ante Estados Unidos. 🧤✨@LaRoja | #FIFAWWC pic.twitter.com/4gbaP8PELG
— Copa Mundial FIFA 🏆 (@fifaworldcup_es) June 16, 2024
FIFA: How does it feel to be nominated for The Best award once again, having won the honour in 2021?
Endler: I’m over the moon to have been nominated. It’s no mean feat to stay at the top of your game for so long, and I think being consistently nominated is recognition of all the hard work I’ve put in over the years. It shows that I’ve not rested on my laurels and have kept up the hard work over the last few years, and that commitment and dedication are being recognised.
What do you do to stay at the top of your game? What’s key to maintaining that consistency?
I just try to keep learning every day. I’m a firm believer that there’s always room to improve and always something new to learn. The sky’s the limit. It’s about learning from the different coaches you work with, depending on where you are, and keeping up with the latest trends in sports training so as not to get left behind. You need to keep learning every day. Experience also plays a big part. It helps you improve, manage matches more effectively, and read situations better. It’s a combination of many things, but having clear goals, the motivation to get better, and the desire to keep winning is essential to staying on top of your game and improving.
People often say goalkeepers get better with age. Would you say that applies to you?
Yes, without a shadow of a doubt. Experience is invaluable. As I said, it helps you manage the tempo of the game, cope with pressure, and prepare for matches. Having experienced it so many times, you know what to expect and are better prepared. You also adapt to the different coaches you work with during your career, and learning things from each of them is key to helping you improve. Your physical abilities might start to wane over the years, but experience is something you can lean on.
How would you describe the role of a goalkeeper in the women’s game?
I think it’s changed a lot. It probably used to be one of the weakest positions in women’s football, but in recent years there has been a flurry of incredibly talented goalkeepers coming through. Starting out in goalkeeping from an early age and receiving specific training from goalkeeping coaches has helped tremendously. I also think that goalkeepers nowadays are on a par with outfield players. You’ve got to keep up with the modern game, and it’s very important to be part of the play, building attacks from the back, being comfortable with the ball at your feet and having excellent distribution. You can clearly see the progress over the years, and I’m chuffed to bits that clubs are now valuing goalkeepers more, investing in their development, and recognising the importance of having skilled goalkeeping coaches.
Have you noticed any specific differences between the training you receive at the European elite level and what’s on offer at South American national team level?
I think each country has its own unique way of training. In Germany, they train in a certain way, with different techniques. In France, they adopt a different approach, and Italy is completely different again. I’ve been incredibly lucky with the experience I’ve had in South America. I worked under excellent goalkeeping coaches from a very young age who taught me the basics and the technical foundations, which ultimately helped me get to where I am today. I think most of what I learned in South America is similar to what I experience on a daily basis in Europe, and at least here in Chile, goalkeepers receive excellent technical training.
How would you assess the Chilean national team in the context of CONMEBOL, and what are your thoughts on the Nations League?
I don’t think there’s a huge gulf in class between Chile and the rest of the South American teams, as we’ve seen in the Nations League. Chile have always been renowned for trying to play out from the back, being more technical and comfortable on the ball. Other teams, such as Paraguay and Uruguay, play a more direct game, focusing on long balls, grit and physical strength. I think this Nations League has shown there’s very little between the sides, with games often decided by the smallest of margins, and the race for qualification will probably go right down to the wire. The fact that it’s so competitive is excellent for South American football and for the development of the game in the region. I think it’s hugely important to be part of a competition that keeps you fighting for points during every FIFA international break, and I’m a big fan of the Nations League.
How do you feel about the FIFA Women's World Cup™ being held in Brazil?
It’s incredibly special for all of us that the World Cup is taking place in South America. Being on our continent means our families might actually get the chance to come and watch us play. Every team is fighting tooth and nail to make sure they’re on that plane. I think it’s got the potential to be one of the best and most memorable World Cups in history. We’re all throwing our hats in the ring for those spots, and it would be an absolute dream come true for us to return and represent Chile at the World Cup again.
How did missing out on the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™ affect Chile?
Failing to qualify for a World Cup has a huge impact on development, particularly in South America, where progress depends heavily on results. It’s not so much about support, but about the development of women’s football, as we’re fighting day in, day out to keep improving with the hope of one day reaching the level of other teams, especially those in Europe. Not being at a tournament like that doesn’t just mean missing out on the World Cup itself, but also missing all the preparation that goes on behind the scenes, which undoubtedly stands the sides who qualify in better stead than those who don’t. Failing to qualify was a real kick in the teeth for us. Now we need to dust ourselves down, and come back stronger and more energised. We’re blooding some new players, and continuing the rebuild. Although it was a tough pill to swallow, it also gave us the chance to start afresh and try new things, which is exactly what we’ve been doing.
How do you feel personally about returning to the national team?
Truth be told, I’m over the moon to be back, competing in this Nations League, representing my country again, and pulling on the shirt once more. It’s a massive honour and privilege for all of us players to be here. I’m going to be giving it my absolute all with one goal in mind, which is to qualify for the World Cup, and I really hope we can achieve it. | true | classify this article contain milestone or not |
Outfielder Cedric Mullins agrees to 1-year deal with Rays (source)
Cedric Mullins reportedly signs deal with Rays
Dec 4, 2025 · 0:30
Cedric Mullins reportedly signs deal with Rays
By Adam Berry and Brian Murphy @Spokes_Murphy
December 3, 2025
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TAMPA -- Looking to upgrade their their overall outfield production this offseason, the Rays have agreed to a one-year deal with free-agent center fielder Cedric Mullins, a source told MLB.com on Wednesday.
The club has not confirmed the agreement, which is pending a physical. The deal is for $7 million, according to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal.
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The Rays intend to slot Mullins into center field, though their outfield situation remains unresolved due to the number of options they have on their roster -- a glut that will only grow whenever Mullins' addition is made official.
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Tampa Bay could pair the left-handed-hitting Mullins in center with right-handed-hitting Jonny DeLuca, who missed nearly all of last season due to injuries. The Rays also have lefty-hitting corner outfielders Josh Lowe, Jake Fraley and Chandler Simpson; switch-hitter Jake Mangum; and two outfielders who could play the infield in Richie Palacios and Ryan Vilade.
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It seems likely that the Rays will trade at least one outfielder to resolve that logjam; that move could happen quickly given the interest other clubs have expressed in their depth.
The Rays entered last season counting on DeLuca to take over in center field for Jose Siri, betting that DeLuca’s defensive ability and promising finish to 2024 at the plate would help him hold down the position. But DeLuca sustained a shoulder injury in early April and only returned for 11 more games before going down for the season due to leg injuries.
The Rays were forced to scramble in center field as a result. Kameron Misner stepped in and provided quality defense, although his offensive production cratered after a hot start. Simpson and Mangum combined to start half their games in center, where the former second baseman Simpson is still learning to harness his speed.
In that regard, Mullins should offer the Rays some stability and a needed veteran presence in the middle of their outfield.
One of baseball’s most entertaining center fielders, Mullins has a penchant for making seemingly impossible catches while roaming the outfield. It’s easy to see why he has graded out as a plus center fielder, according to outs above average, every year since debuting with the Orioles in 2018. His OAA this past season was +4.
One big question for the Rays ahead of Winter Meetings -- is there enough starting pitching?
There’s no doubt the Rays could use a boost in the outfield, and Mullins has previously shown the defense and power to give them one.
Tampa Bay’s outfielders hit only 29 home runs this past season, fewest in the Majors. Their .663 OPS was 26th in baseball. And their defensive performance wasn’t much better, as the team ranked 20th in outs above average (minus-9) and 26th in fielding run value (minus-12).
The question is how much he will produce at the plate after an up-and-down season.
Mullins didn’t get regular playing time in Baltimore until 2021 and immediately became one of the best outfielders in MLB. Besides his +11 OAA that year, Mullins slashed .291/.360/.518 over 675 plate appearances and had a 137 OPS+. He was an All-Star, a Silver Slugger winner and the first Oriole to record a 30-homer, 30-steal season.
Since then, however, some of Mullins’ offensive numbers have sagged considerably. Over the past four seasons, his slash line is .237/.308/.403, with a slightly-above-league-average 102 OPS+. The bottom fell out in 2025, when, after a hot first few weeks, he fell into a prolonged slump, batting .208 with a .636 OPS over his final 69 games with Baltimore before he was traded to the Mets on July 31.
New York was in desperate need of an upgrade in center field, but Mullins’ bat stayed quiet in Queens, as he had a .182 average and .565 OPS through 42 games.
Although his average and on-base percentage may never reach 2021 heights again, Mullins has hit between 15 and 18 homers every year since 2022, and his stolen-base total didn’t fall below 19 in any year during that span. His sprint speed was in the 77th percentile in ‘25, so the 31-year-old still has plenty of juice in his legs.
Mullins’ homer total is also likely to remain serviceable as long as he continues to regularly pull and elevate pitches. His 29.6% pulled air-ball rate last season ranked eighth among qualified players and was a career high by 4.1 percentage points. | true | classify this article contain milestone or not |
LHP Kay returns from Japan on 2-year deal with White Sox (source)
Anthony Kay makes Mets debut
Sep 25, 2023 · 0:25
Anthony Kay makes Mets debut
By Thomas Harrigan and Scott Merkin
December 3, 2025
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CHICAGO -- The White Sox followed a somewhat familiar path to enhance their starting rotation with the addition of left-hander Anthony Kay via a two-year, $12 million deal. The White Sox have not announced the deal, which was confirmed by a source to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand.
Kay, 30, spent the past two seasons pitching for the Yokohama Bay Stars in Japan, and he had a 1.74 ERA with 130 strikeouts and 41 walks over 155 innings in 2025. In the offseason prior to the 2024 season, the White Sox added Erick Fedde via a two-year, $15 million deal after Fedde had rejuvenated his career via one stellar campaign with the NC Dinos in Korea.
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Fedde posted a 7-4 record with a 3.11 ERA over 21 starts during the 2024 season for Chicago before he was traded to the Cardinals in a three-team deal at the Trade Deadline. The White Sox received Miguel Vargas and Minor Leaguers Jeral Perez and Alexander Albertus in return.
A source told Feinsand that Kay had more lucrative offers to keep pitching in Nippon Professional Baseball, but the southpaw opted to return to MLB.
A native of Stony Brook, N.Y., Kay was selected by the Mets out of the University of Connecticut with the 31st overall pick in the 2016 MLB Draft before he was traded to Toronto alongside Simeon Woods Richardson for Marcus Stroman in ’19. Kay recorded a 5.59 ERA for the Blue Jays, Cubs and Mets from 2019-23, and he briefly spent time in the Athletics organization before electing free agency when he was outrighted off the A's 40-man roster. He signed with Yokohama in January 2024.
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Pitching in the Japan Central League, as Kay did, is considered a higher level of competition than the KBO. Kay’s White Sox deal will pay him $5 million in 2026 and ‘27, with a $2 million buyout on a $10 million mutual option for ‘28, a source told Feinsand.
A strong, young rotation already is in place for Chicago, with All-Star Shane Smith, Davis Martin, Sean Burke and Jonathan Cannon firmly in the mix and expected to get a workload boost after their 2025 efforts. Drew Thorpe is expected to return in '26 as well, once he completes his comeback from Tommy John surgery.
Left-handers Noah Schultz -- the White Sox No. 2 prospect and No. 40 overall, per MLB Pipeline -- and Hagen Smith (No. 5, No. 88) will figure into Chicago's rotation at some point in 2026. But the team lost valuable innings contributed by veterans such as Martín Pérez, Adrian Houser and Aaron Civale, and Kay gives the club quite a bit of upside to fill that void.
Look for the White Sox to add another starter to the mix, as well as a late-inning leverage presence or two. | true | classify this article contain milestone or not |
Byrnes returns to Rockies as new GM after success with Dodgers
Josh Byrnes hired as Rockies General Manager
Dec 3, 2025 · 2:42
Josh Byrnes hired as Rockies General Manager
By Thomas Harding
December 3, 2025
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DENVER -- Josh Byrnes’ oversight of the Dodgers’ successful scouting and player development operation over the last 11 years led to his hiring as the new general manager of the Rockies on Wednesday.
Rockies president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta sees Byrnes’ talents -- often overlooked because of the Dodgers’ ability to sign and trade for star players -- as being essential for Colorado's revamp, which comes after seven straight losing seasons.
“The Dodgers have obviously done a tremendous job across a lot of different areas over the last decade, but what gets overlooked is that they haven't had tremendous opportunity in the Draft,” DePodesta said. “They've been so good that they're typically picking at the very end of the Draft, yet you look up and their farm system is elite. That doesn’t just happen.
“That takes a tremendous amount of effort, in terms of scouting and in terms of player development, and having both of those departments sort of clicking on all cylinders. Josh has been instrumental in making that happen.”
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The move falls in line with DePodesta’s strategy of pushing for change while respecting the unique challenge of the effects that mile-high altitude has on baseball. Byrnes, 55, has some history with the Rockies, having served as assistant general manager under Dan O’Dowd from October 1999 through the 2002 season.
Byrnes worked with DePodesta in the late 1990s with Cleveland at the start of both of their careers. In his first full season as the Rockies’ assistant GM, Byrnes, at age 29, was the youngest person in that position in the National League. The youngest assistant GM in MLB at the time was DePodesta -- at age 27, while working under Billy Beane with the Athletics.
“I’m thrilled to be returning to the Rockies organization, especially at such an exciting time for the future of the franchise,” Byrnes said in the Rockies’ official announcement. “Working alongside Paul again is an incredible opportunity, and I’m eager to join him and the rest of the group as we work to bring championship caliber baseball to the Rockies.”
Welcome (back) to Colorado, Josh! pic.twitter.com/qUIt71PMBv
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) December 3, 2025
Byrnes has much experience elsewhere. He served as assistant GM with the Red Sox from 2003-05, a term that included a World Series championship in '04, and he was GM of the D-backs (October 2005-July 2010) and Padres (October 2011-June 2014).
“Josh and I've known each other now for over 30 years,” said DePodesta, who learned after the two were together in Cleveland that they had played high school ball against each other in the Washington, D.C., area. “I've said this before, I'm sure you'll hear me say it again: I feel like I get smarter every time I talk to him -- that was my first day in Cleveland, and continues all the way up until today.
“I've always been sort of, really, taken by his intelligence, his intense level of detail. He sees things in our game that most of the rest of us just don't see or just don't pay attention to. That’s always fascinated me.”
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DePodesta said he and Byrnes will collaborate on all major moves with the Major League roster.
What you need to know as Rockies execs head to the Winter Meetings
Byrnes’ work with the Dodgers through three World Series titles (2020, '24-25), however, was key to the hiring.
The melding of amateur scouting in terms of the Draft with the international program, development, coaching and advanced information can be seen on a Dodgers club that has homegrown stars while using the farm system for role players and in significant trades.
In addition to success in the Draft, the Dodgers have been mindful to replenish their farm system through trades.
Underlying the success has been a culture of celebrating players who come through the system by constantly acknowledging the scouting, information and coaching that helped players succeed. In the last 10 years, the Dodgers have ranked in the top 10 in 17 of the last 20 combined midseason and postseason rankings by MLB Pipeline.
“Josh and I share a lot of the same values in terms of how we like to conduct ourselves, but also the environments we want to be around,” DePodesta said. “I don't think either of us think we have all the answers -- you know, by any stretch. In fact, we know we don't, but we like to surround ourselves with other really curious people, because we're all interested in trying to find the answers.” | true | classify this article contain milestone or not |
Landmark for women's and girls' football in Wales
Story by BBC
More than 20,000 girls and women are now registered to play football in Wales, marking a major landmark for the Football Association of Wales (FAW).
Over the past three years, participation in the female game has grown by 58% overall, with a particular increase in under 14s-17s players.
The record, initially targeted for 2026, follows an exciting year for the women's national team which reached its first major finals at Euro 2025.
Bethan Woolley, FAW strategic lead for women and girls' football, told BBC Radio Wales: "A lot of hard work, but we got there, it's fantastic news for us to be celebrating.
"When we launched the strategy back in 2021... we had less than 10,000 players.
"We really had to look strategically at how we wanted to achieve this, what was such an ambitious target at the time, and really focusing on what resource our clubs, our leagues needed, and how we can create national programmes that inspire girls and women of all ages from all different backgrounds to take up football."
Wooley said a key focus has been looking at priorities and attitudes to support the growth of female participation, as well as changes to facilities historically built for men.
"We've been doing extensive pieces of research with our partners at the Cymru Football Foundation to invest in facilities to make sure they're appropriate, first and foremost, for women and girls players," she added.
"But also looking at prioritisation within clubs, ensuring that there's a voice that sits on a club committee that is coming from the female lens, understanding the needs and the desires of women and girls to be within those environments."
Wrexham's Cae Ras to form part of UK World Cup bid
UK set to host 2035 Women's World Cup as only 'valid' bid
FAW chief executive Noel Mooney described the landmark "as a hugely proud moment for Welsh football".
"The growth we are witnessing is the result of aligned effort from the commitment of our clubs and volunteers, to the investment we have made in grassroots facilities and participation programmes, to the inspiration provided by our national teams," he said.
Wales has a joint bid to host the 2035 Women's World Cup, something Mooney says they are "determined to build on".
"Our ambition is clear, to make football the most inclusive and accessible sport for women and girls in Wales, and to ensure that the pathway from grassroots to the international stage has never been stronger," he added.
Rhian Wilkinson applauds fans at Euro 2025
Rhian Wilkinson was appointed Wales head coach in February 2024 [Getty Images]
Head coach Rhian Wilkinson led Wales women to their first major tournament this summer, Euro 2025 in Switzerland.
She said reaching 20,000 registered players off the back of that was "huge".
"It's only the beginning, this is the first landmark and I'm so excited to have gotten there.
"The growth in the last few years is a testament to these women [her players] but equally to so many at the FAW who were here a long time before me, who've put everything in to make sure that our women are given equal opportunities and this is the first marker of that.
"When we talk about legacy, going to our first Euros, it was hard. We gave it everything but there was a gap... equally what it did back home by putting the women's game on the map was also showing the what ifs, the possibility."
Wales forward Ffion Morgan and midfielder Ceri Holland both won their 50th caps in Wales' 3-2 friendly win over Switzerland on Wednesday.
"As players you do want to leave that legacy," said Morgan.
"We've done it for the players before us and now we've left something for people to look forward to, to strive towards.
"It's always been a goal for us and we've done it, and now that we've had the taste we want to do it even more."
Holland added: "It's really special to see the growth in the women's game back home.
"The amount of young girls now that we're seeing in the stadiums, so many more recognise us and want to go and play football. They tell us they're playing in their local teams, that's incredible for us to hear." | true | classify this article contain milestone or not |
Davante Adams is only the 4th WR ever to reach this impressive TD milestone
Story by
Rams Wire
Matthew Colvin, Rams Wire
Thu, December 4, 2025 at 3:19 AM GMT+7
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2 min read
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When Los Angeles Rams wideout Davante Adams scored two more touchdowns on Sunday, he added another major milestone to his already Hall of Fame-worthy résumé. He became just the fourth player in NFL history to record three seasons with 14 or more receiving touchdowns; the others are Jerry Rice, Randy Moss and Terrell Owens.
Adams has been everything the Rams hoped for and more in his first season: reliable in the red zone, crisp in his routes, and still one of the toughest receivers in football to guard in man-to-man coverage. Even as defenses continue to scheme for him, Adams finds ways to impact games and has become an extremely valuable weapon for Matthew Stafford.
This season marks the third time Davante Adams has recorded 14+ receiving TDs in a single season. Only Jerry Rice (6), Randy Moss (4) and Terrell Owens (4) had more such seasons in NFL history. pic.twitter.com/0lPF3NC0fQ
— Los Angeles Rams PR (@TheLARamsPR) December 1, 2025
What makes this feat even more impressive is the company he joined, with the other thre receivers all being Hall of Famers. Rice leads the way with six such seasons, and both Moss and Owens recorded four in their respective careers. Anytime a player sits right behind those three in any statistical category, it says everything you need to know about the level of production they’re delivering throughout their career.
For Adams, this is another example of how consistent and adaptable his game has been. Whether he’s working inside or outside, or being moved around to create mismatches, he’s continued to win in all the areas elite receivers are expected to excel, regardless of which team he is on. His release at the line is one of the best in the league, and his ability to separate late in routes makes him one of the most dependable scoring threats year after year.
As the Rams continue building their offense around their core playmakers, including Kyren Williams and Puka Nacua, Adams’s presence gives them a proven closer on every drive. Reaching this milestone puts him in historic territory, but it also reinforces the idea that he has plenty of gas left in the tank. While catching Rice, Moss, or Owens in total seasons might be a tall order, Adams has firmly placed his name in the same conversation—and that alone shows exactly where he stands among the best receivers to ever play. | true | classify this article contain milestone or not |
Mohamed Salah silences critics, records landmark assist in Anfield comeback after turbulent week
Reuters
Updated December 14, 2025 - 5.55am. First published at 5.13am
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Liverpool manager Arne Slot said it was an easy decision to include talisman Mohamed Salah in the squad for Saturday's 2-0 Premier League win over Brighton & Hove Albion, despite a turbulent week following the forward's scathing criticism of the team.
Salah was subsequently left at home for Liverpool's 1-0 Champions League win at Inter Milan on Tuesday, but he was one of the Reds' best players on Saturday at Anfield, to the delight of the fans who welcomed him with a standing ovation.
Salah's assist for Hugo Ekitike's second goal gave him the outright record for the most goal involvements for a single team in Premier League history, with 277, passing Wayne Rooney's 276 with Manchester United.
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Mohamed Salah pats the Liverpool badge on his shirt after the Premier League win over Brighton.
Mohamed Salah pats the Liverpool badge on his shirt after the Premier League win over Brighton. Liverpool FC via Getty Images
"It was an easy decision to put him in the squad, and I've said many times before what has been said between the two of us, for me that stays between the two of us," Slot told Sky Sports.
"He was back in the squad again, and we needed him because he was the first substitution I made. He assisted the 2-0 [goal] for the corner kick, which is also very nice for us because we have been so many times this season on the wrong side of the set-piece battle."
The fans threw their support behind Salah, singing his name as he walked into the tunnel after the final whistle.
A smiling Salah turned down post-game interview requests, telling reporters: "Two weeks in a row? No, no, no."
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The forward now heads to the Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt, which runs until January 18.
"This is what we knew before the season started," Slot said.
"Hopefully, one or two players from injury can come back."
Salah had accused the club of throwing him "under the bus" and claimed his relationship with Slot had broken down in a fiery outburst that came after last weekend's 3-3 draw at Leeds United, the third successive game in which Slot had left the 33-year-old — the Premier League's top scorer last season — on the bench.
He suggested during that post-match interview that the Brighton game might be his last for the club.
"I said to [my family], come to the Brighton game. I don't know if I am going to play or not, but I am going to enjoy it," Salah told reporters.
"In my head, I'm going to enjoy that game because I don't know what is going to happen now.
"I will be in Anfield to say goodbye to the fans and go to the Africa Cup of Nations. I don't know what is going to happen when I am there."
Slot and Salah held what British media called positive talks on Friday after the Dutch coach told reporters he had "no reasons not to want him to stay." | true | classify this article contain milestone or not |
Takeaways: Schaefer, Stamkos, Wiesblatt score milestone goals in Nashville Predators win over Flames
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Takeaways: Schaefer, Stamkos, Wiesblatt score milestone goals in Nashville Predators win over FlamesScroll back up to restore default view.
Jack Williams
Wed, December 3, 2025 at 10:41 AM GMT+7
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It was a memorable night for a trio of Nashville Predators in their 5-1 win over the Calgary Flames on Tuesday at Bridgestone Arena.
Reid Schaefer, who was called up from the Milwaukee Admirals on Friday, scored his first NHL goal and recorded his first career fight against Brayden Pachal.
Steven Stamkos netted his 1200th career point and Ozzy Wiesblatt scored his first career NHL goal. Jonathan Marchessault added a goal in the second period, his fifth of the season. Michael Bunting also scored in the third period.
Juuse Saros picked up his eighth win of the season, making 27 saves on 28 shots. His shutout bid was spoiled in the third period by a power-play goal from Morgan Frost.
It was a heavily penalized game as the Predators were in the box 20 minutes to the Flames 18.
"There were a lot of special moments for a bunch of different people," Predators head coach Andrew Brunette said. "That's what makes the game great and to cap it off with a win makes it even better."
Here are three takeaways from the Predators victory over the Flames.
Reid Schaefer records 1st NHL goal, fight
The Predators have a deep prospect pool and one of the players leading the charge into the future is Schaefer. He earned his first career call-up on Friday after recording 14 points in 15 games with the Milwaukee Admirals.
In the first period, Fedor Svechkov made a toe-drag move to open up the slot and get a shot on net. His original attempt was saved, but Schaefer was in front to put the puck in via the right post.
"I kind of blacked out. It went into the net and I was like 'oh, what did I do here,' Schaefer said. "It's a pretty cool moment."
He wasn't done there as he'd square off with Calgary's Brayden Pachal in the second period. Pachal got the better end of the fight, but that did not stop Schaefer from hyping up the crowd after the tilt.
"I just laid a hit and he (Pachal) said let's go. I got up and dropped the gloves," Schaefer said. "I didn't really think too much of it."
In a year full of struggles, the Predators have looked to their youth, and it's paid off throughout the season. Schaefer's first career goal was the third time a Nashville rookie has found the back of the net alongside Ozzy Weisblatt and Matthew Wood.
Schaefer's family was also in attendance for Tuesday's game.
Stamkos adds to decorated career
PUT IT ON THE RESUME! 🤯
1,200 @NHL POINTS FOR STAMMER! pic.twitter.com/zbrN0eXIkP
— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) December 3, 2025
Stamkos' tenure in Nashville has been rough to say the least. In 25 games, he has just 10 points, but he's had moments throughout these two seasons that serve as reminders of how decorated his career is.
In the second period, Ryan O'Reilly and Luke Evangelista sparked a 2-on-1 rush. Instead of shooting the puck, Evangelista took it behind the net, causing goalie Devin Cooley to start sliding. Stamkos caught the pass from Evangelista and had a wide-open net to shoot into.
It was Stamkos' 1200th career point in his 1190th career game. Doing some quick math, that is around a point a game over his 18-year career.
"It's cool and special. You can enjoy it more in a win, and you get to celebrate a little bit," Stamkos said. "It's more of a thing that you kind of look back on when your career's over. When you're in it, you're just trying to do what you kind of help."
Playing with Stamkos has left an impression on a few of the younger Predators players and seeing him reach another impressive milestone makes the moment more surreal.
"They're video game numbers," Weisblatt said on Stamkos' scoring his 1200th career point. "It's cool to be playing on his team. I remember not too far back, I'm playing (EA Sports) NHL, and I'm (playing as) Steven Samkos."
Weisblatt scores long-awaited 1st goal
GOING OFF THE RAILS ON THE OZZY TRAIN 🤯 pic.twitter.com/KZepMfZyw0
— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) December 3, 2025
Patience paid off for Weisblatt in the second period as the Predators' rookie netted his first career NHL goal after 23 games played this season. He has done just about everything over the last two months, from enforcing, penalty killing and contributing to three other goals.
Off a shot from Michael Bunting, Weisblatt tipped the puck just enough to deflect it past Cooley. In an exasperated celebration, Weisblatt pointed to the sky when skating back to the bench, honoring his late brother, Orca Weisblatt.
"It's about time," Weisblatt said on scoring his first goal. "I feel like I've been all over it lately, and I've had so many chances this year to score and been robbed a ton. It's just, just relief for me. I've thought about pointing to the sky for my brother for a while now, and it's cool feeling.
"That was for him (Orca) and just huge relief for me."
Orca died in September in a car accident, while Ozzy and brother Oasiz were at Predators training camp.
With Weisblatt working toward netting his first of his career and playing for his brother, both Stamkos and Brunette said that celebration on the bench was the most explosive of the season.
"It makes you emotional in a lot of different ways," Brunette said. "You're involved in a pretty special thing. Just being on the bench and seeing the emotion that just not just from Ozzy (Weisblatt) and seeing what he did speaks volumes of the group of guys we have and how close they are."
Similar to Schaefer, Weisblatt didn't stop at his first NHL goal. He tried to drop the gloves against Calgary's Joel Farabee, but instead, both were called for roughing in the first period.
Weisblatt's night ended early as he'd fight Blake Coleman and head back to the locker room after the tilt. | true | classify this article contain milestone or not |
Crosby scores 58th, 59th career goals against Flyers in Penguins' dominant 5-1 victory
PHILADELPHIA -- — Pittsburgh star Sidney Crosby scored his 58th and 59th career goals against the Philadelphia Flyers and his continued excellence in the cross-state rivalry helped lead the Penguins to a 5-1 win on Monday night.
Crosby, who has 18 goals this season, has dominated the Flyers like no other visiting player has done in Philadelphia's franchise history. Crosby has 59 goals and 137 points in 92 games against Philadelphia, the most in both categories any opponent has ever put up on the Flyers.
He owns the Flyers.
The Flyers promoted the game all night as a Keystone Rivalry game but the series — even as fans voraciously booed Crosby with each touch — has never been much of a rivalry. Crosby has won three Stanley Cup titles while the Flyers have won only two in franchise history, in 1974 and 1975. Crosby wasn't even born until 1987.
Crosby did enough damage to snap the Flyers' modest three-game winning streak.
Rick Tocchet has the Flyers hopeful of a playoff berth in his first season since he returned to the franchise as coach. Tocchet knows how to win a Stanley Cup. He won one as a player and two as an assistant coach — both with the Penguins.
Crosby scored to give the Penguins a 1-0 lead — his 60th career road game-opening goal — and added a wrist shot through traffic on the power play for a 2-1 lead in the second period. Bryan Rust scored his eighth goal in the second for a 3-1 lead. Thomas Novak and Kevin Hayes scored in the third.
The 38-year-old Crosby has 1,716 career points and is close to eclipsing Mario Lemieux's 1,723 for most in franchise history. Lemieux owned the team when Crosby captioned the Penguins to championships in 2009, 2016 and 2017.
Tyson Foerster scored his 10th goal for the Flyers. Foerster dropped to his knees and clutched his right arm on a shot later in the period and skated straight to the locker room. He leads the Flyers in goals. | true | classify this article contain milestone or not |
Turkish football imposes temporary bans on 102 players over 'moral crisis' betting scandal
Galatasaray fans cheer during a Turkish Super Lig soccer match between Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe in Istanbul, 19 May, 2024
Copyright Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved
By Sait Burak Utucu & Gavin Blackburn
Published on 13/11/2025 - 18:16 GMT+1
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Turkish Football Federation President Ibrahim Hacıosmanoğlu vowed to cleanse football of corruption, scandal and unethical practices.
Turkey's football authority temporarily banned 102 top-tier club players on Thursday over a widening betting scandal.
The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) suspended 25 players from the Süper Lig and 77 from the second-tier first division for terms ranging from 45 days to one year.
Galatasaray and Turkey defender Eren Elmalı was suspended for 45 days. Club teammate and Turkey Under-21 centre back Metehan Baltacı was suspended for nine months. Konyaspor and Senegal winger Alassane Ndao received a 12-month suspension.
Elmalı posted on Instagram this week that he bet on a game about five years ago that did not involve his own team. He joined Galatasaray this year.
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Baltacı also admitted past bets but insisted they were not games he played in.
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"Years ago I placed a bet at a time when I couldn’t fully grasp the seriousness of the matter," he said.
A Turkish flag waves at the Turkish Football Federation headquarters in Istanbul, 12 November, 2025
A Turkish flag waves at the Turkish Football Federation headquarters in Istanbul, 12 November, 2025 AP Photo
"I want to make it clear that this action had nothing to do with matches played by the teams I represented."
The bans apply to matches but the players can continue training, Habertürk television reported.
More than 1,000 players have been referred to the federation's Professional Football Disciplinary Board as part of the ongoing investigation.
The federation has shut down the third- and fourth-tier divisions for two weeks but allowed the Süper Lig, led by defending champion Galatasaray, and second tier to continue. | true | classify this article contain milestone or not |
San Siro stadium set for demolition after sale to AC Milan and Inter approved
FILE: Inter Milan fans celebrate at Milan's San Siro stadium, Saturday, May 8, 2021.
Copyright Luca Bruno/Copyright 2021 The AP. All rights reserved
By Kieran Guilbert
Published on 30/09/2025 - 13:37 GMT+2 •Updated 15:19
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The iconic Italian football stadium is on track to be torn down and replaced by a new arena after Milan's city council approved its sale to the two clubs.
Milan's iconic San Siro football stadium is set to be demolished after the city council approved its sale to AC Milan and Inter Milan on Tuesday after an overnight debate.
The two clubs plan to tear down the 99-year-old stadium and jointly build a new 71,500-seat arena as part of a €1.2 billion project.
The vote to sell San Siro and the surrounding areas to the teams for €197 million was passed 24-20 at about 3 am after a debate that lasted nearly 12 hours.
AC Milan and Inter had both threatened to build stadiums outside the city if the plan was rejected.
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In a statement, the clubs called the vote "a historic and decisive step for the future of the clubs and the city."
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"The clubs look ahead with confidence and responsibility to the next steps of the process that will lead to the creation of a new stadium meeting the highest international standards," the statement said.
FILE: A view of San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019
FILE: A view of San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019 Antonio Calanni/Copyright 2019 The AP. All rights reserved
Given that both clubs are owned by US investment funds, there are concerns that the firms might one day look to profit from selling the land, according to Italian media reports. There have also been complaints from people who would prefer to keep one of the country's most famous football stadiums.
The sale will have to be finalised before 10 November when San Siro's second tier, which was completed 70 years ago on that date, takes on historical significance and would become almost impossible to demolish.
Around 90% of the stadium will reportedly be torn down, but a heritage section in the second tier will be left intact. | true | classify this article contain milestone or not |
Seven golds lift Kazakhstan to the top at inaugural World Boxing Championships 2025
Kazakhstan boxing team at the World Boxing Championships 2025 in Liverpool, United Kingdom.
Copyright Press office of the National Olympic Committee KZ
By Tomiris Bilyal
Published on 16/09/2025 - 13:57 GMT+2
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More than 500 boxers from 66 countries competed at the event which took place in the UK city Liverpool.
The World Boxing Championships ended in Liverpool on 14 September, making history as men's and women's events were held together for the first time under the new World Boxing federation.
Kazakhstan's team delivered an outstanding result: seven gold medals, one silver and two bronzes, finishing first in the overall medal table.
Among the men, Sanzhar Tashkenbay (50kg), Makhmud Sabyrkhan (55kg), Torekhan Sabyrkhan (57kg) and Aibek Oralbay (super heavyweight, over 90kg) all secured gold medals.
Among the women, Alua Balkibekova (51kg), Aida Abikeeva (65kg) and Natalya Bogdanova (70kg) all took gold. Silver went to Nazym Kyzaibay in the women's 48kg division, while Viktoria Grafeeva (60kg) and Yeldana Talipova (over 80kg) each brought home bronze.
Torekhan Sabyrkhan at the World Boxing Championships 2025 in Liverpool, United Kingdom.
Torekhan Sabyrkhan at the World Boxing Championships 2025 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. Press office of the National Olympic Committee KZ
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Earlier in the year, at the IBA Women's World Championships in Serbia, Kazakhstan's women also impressed, winning six medals.
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Balkibekova and Abikeeva became champions there too. Their double victories now make them two-time world champions in the same year.
Central Asia's boxing powerhouses
The battle for the top spot attracted special attention. Central Asian neighbours Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan dominated the medal standings. Uzbekistan finished second with six golds, two silvers and three bronzes.
India came third, while Brazil and Poland also reached the top five.
The biggest breakthrough came from Aibek Oralbay, who for the first time in Kazakhstan's history won a world title in the super heavyweight category (over 90kg). Until now, no Kazakh boxer had ever reached the top in this weight class.
26-year-old Natalya Bogdanova also made history, becoming world champion at 70kg. The first Kazakh woman ever to do so in this category.
Aida Abikeeva at the World Boxing Championships 2025 in Liverpool, United Kingdom.
Aida Abikeeva at the World Boxing Championships 2025 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. Press office of the National Olympic Committee KZ
"History written"
Kazakh boxing legend and current president of the National Olympic Committee, Gennadiy Golovkin, celebrated the victory.
"The first World Boxing Championships have come to an end. Thank you, Liverpool – history written! Proud of every boxer who gave it their all. And this is only the beginning," he said.
Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev also congratulated the national team, noting that their victories inspire the whole country but stressing the importance of preparing for the next big stage; the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
"Kazakh boxers delivered an excellent result. But the real challenge lies ahead – the Olympic Games in the United States. Preparations must start now. May the pride and tradition of Kazakh boxing always stay strong!" he said.
Sanzhar Tashkenbay at the World Boxing Championships 2025, in Liverpool, United Kingdom.
Sanzhar Tashkenbay at the World Boxing Championships 2025, in Liverpool, United Kingdom. Press office of the National Olympic Committee KZ
Kazakhstan's historic result in Liverpool has sent a powerful message to future generations of athletes.
Kazakh boxing is moving forward into a new era, aiming for success at the Olympic Games in the United States.
World Boxing was created in 2023 after the International Boxing Association (IBA) lost IOC recognition. The new federation now unites more than 100 national bodies and is officially recognised by the IOC. | true | classify this article contain milestone or not |
Spain's PM Sánchez calls for Israel to be banned from sports events over war in Gaza
Protesters block the road in an attempt to disrupt the La Vuelta race, 14 September, 2025
Copyright AP Photo
By Javier Iniguez De Onzono & Gavin Blackburn
Published on 15/09/2025 - 19:58 GMT+2 •Updated 20:00
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Speaking to members of his Socialist Party, Sánchez said Israel, like Russia, should not be allowed to compete in international sports events because of its military campaign in Gaza.
Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called for Israel to be banned from sports events on Monday after pro-Palestinian activists disrupted the final stage of the Vuelta cycle race in chaotic scenes in Madrid.
Tensions between the two countries have escalated in recent weeks as Spain's left-wing government expressed support for protesters who interrupted several stages of the Vuelta, including Sunday's final stage in Madrid, because an Israeli team was taking part.
Speaking to members of his Socialist Party, Sánchez said Israel, just like Russia, should not be allowed to compete in international sports events because of its military campaign in Gaza.
"The sports organisations should consider whether it’s ethical for Israel to keep participating in international competitions. Why expel Russia after the invasion of Ukraine and not expel Israel after the invasion of Gaza?" Sanchez asked.
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"Until the barbarity ends, neither Russia nor Israel should be in any international competition."
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Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez looks on during a meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at 10 Downing Street, 3 September, 2025
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez looks on during a meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at 10 Downing Street, 3 September, 2025 AP Photo
Sánchez spoke a day after Sunday's final stage of the Vuelta was cut short when pro-Palestinian protesters opposing the participation of Israeli team Israel Premier Tech threw barriers onto the road and clashed with police near the finish line in the Spanish capital.
Authorities said two people were arrested and 22 injured, none of them seriously.
The Spanish government had already expressed sympathy with the protesters and suggested that the Israel Premier Tech team should have withdrawn from the three-week-long race that became a diplomatic battleground.
The team removed its name from its uniforms but remained in the race until the end despite protesters' calls for it to be expelled.
Sánchez slammed by Israel
Israel's foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar responded to Sánchez's comments by calling him an "antisemite and a liar."
"Did Israel invade Gaza on Oct. 7th or did the Hamas terror state invade Israel and commit the worst massacre against the Jews since the Holocaust?" he said in a post on X.
Madrid's conservative mayor, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, also criticised Sánchez and described Sunday's events as a sad day for the Spanish capital.
Danish rider Jonas Vingegaard, who was leading the overall classification going into the final stage, was declared the winner of the Vuelta but the customary podium ceremony was cancelled.
Israels's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar signs a visitors book at the government building in Zagreb, 9 September, 2025
Israels's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar signs a visitors book at the government building in Zagreb, 9 September, 2025 AP Photo
"It's a pity that such a moment of eternity was taken from us," Vingegaard said. "Everyone has the right to protest, but not in a way that influences or endangers our race."
The teams reportedly improvised a private podium ceremony later so riders could celebrate.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen also condemned the protesters for "spoiling" the race and criticised Sánchez for "praising" the protests.
"Instead I want to praise the athletes and everyone who doesn't spoil things for others," she wrote on Instagram.
Vuelta race director Javier Guillén defended the decision to let the Israeli team stay in the race.
Protesters block the road in an attempt to disrupt the La Vuelta race, 14 September, 2025
Protesters block the road in an attempt to disrupt the La Vuelta race, 14 September, 2025 AP Photo
"The Vuelta's position was clear, we had to abide to the norms of the International Cycling Union. It's the UCI that regulates the right of admission to the race," Guillén said at a news conference Monday.
"We never got into any other type of debate. All we wanted to do was to be able to finish the race with normalcy and that wasn't possible."
Spain has been at the forefront of Western efforts to hold Israel to account for the escalating death toll in Gaza.
A number of countries, including the UK and France, have said they plan to recognise a Palestinian state at the UN General assembly and the European Commission's president Ursula von der Leyen called for scaling back Europe’s trade ties with Israel.
But Europe remains divided on its stance toward Israel and its limited sanctions and condemnations so far have had little effect. | true | classify this article contain milestone or not |
PSG's Dembélé beats out Lamine Yamal in Ballon d'Or race as Barcelona's Aitana Bonmatí makes history
Paris Saint-Germain's Ousmane Dembélé receives the 2025 Men's Ballon d'Or during the 69th Ballon d'Or ceremony at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, Monday, Sept. 22, 2025
Copyright Thibault Camus/Copyright 2025 The AP. All rights reserved.
By Malek Fouda
Published on 23/09/2025 - 6:55 GMT+2
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Ousmane Dembélé edges past Lamine Yamal to win the 2025 Ballon d’Or after a remarkable season which saw PSG win its first Champions League title. Spain’s Aitana Bonmatí joins an elite club of three – Platini and Messi – after securing her third consecutive award.
Paris Saint Germain forward Ousmane Dembélé won the prestigious Ballon d’Or award on Monday for leading his team to their first UEFA Champions League title in May, becoming only the sixth Frenchman to claim football’s most coveted prize.
The award capped a remarkable turn of fortune for Dembélé, who at one point last season was snubbed by PSG coach Luis Enrique for disciplinary reasons.
But once repositioned as a striker, he became a scoring machine and was inspirational in PSG's historic Champions League campaign. He also played a major role in the French club’s title-stacked 2024/25 season, which saw them also secure a domestic treble, winning the league, cup and super cup.
The PSG star and former Barcelona player now joins an elite club of French footballing icons to win the award, which include Raymond Kopa, Michel Platini, Jean-Pierre Papin, Zinedine Zidane and Karim Benzema.
PSG's Ousmane Dembélé reacts as he receives the 2025 Men's Ballon d'Or during the 69th Ballon d'Or awards ceremony at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, Monday, Sept. 22, 2025
PSG's Ousmane Dembélé reacts as he receives the 2025 Men's Ballon d'Or during the 69th Ballon d'Or awards ceremony at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, Monday, Sept. 22, 2025 Thibault Camus/Copyright 2025 The AP. All rights reserved.
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Dembélé was praised after the Champions League final for the way he contributed to PSG's pressing and his ability to defend during the 5-0 rout of Inter Milan.
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He delivered 35 goals and 16 assists in 53 official matches last season, and was involved in 14 goals (8 goals, 6 assists) in the Champions League in 15 appearances.
The French forward was also a major weapon for the Parisian side in their campaign in the FIFA Club World Cup over the summer, which took place in the United States. PSG lost 3-0 in the final to a dominant Chelsea side, but Dembélé continued to show top form.
Dembélé received the Ballon d’Or from former winner Ronaldinho and teared up during his acceptance speech in which he asked his mother to join him on the stage.
“It’s incredible to win a trophy like this,” he said in French. “I worked for the team to help win PSG’s first Champions League, to then be rewarded with an individual trophy like the Ballon d’Or is truly exceptional.”
Barcelona's Lamine Yamal receives the Kopa Trophy during the 69th Ballon d'Or (Golden Ball) award ceremony at Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, Monday, Sept. 22, 2025
Barcelona's Lamine Yamal receives the Kopa Trophy during the 69th Ballon d'Or (Golden Ball) award ceremony at Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, Monday, Sept. 22, 2025 Thibault Camus/Copyright 2025 The AP. All rights reserved.
Dembélé won ahead of teenage sensation Lamine Yamal. The forward, who turned 18 in July, helped Barcelona win La Liga and the Copa del Rey last season and reach the Champions League semifinals. Yamal was given the Kopa award for the best under-21 player for the second straight year.
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“I need to keep on working to win other awards in the future,” Yamal said through a translator.
Bonmatí makes history
On the women’s side, Aitana Bonmatí secured a historic third consecutive award on Monday, becoming only the third player to win three Ballon d’Or’s in a row, after Platini’s 1983-85 run, and Lionel Messi’s 2009-12, and the first woman to do so.
“Third time in a row here and I still can’t believe it,” Bonmatí said “I owe Barcelona everything, this is the club of my life.”
Barcelona's Aitana Bonmatí receives the 2025 Women's Ballon d'Or during the 69th Ballon d'Or awards ceremony at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, Monday, Sept. 22, 2025
Barcelona's Aitana Bonmatí receives the 2025 Women's Ballon d'Or during the 69th Ballon d'Or awards ceremony at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, Monday, Sept. 22, 2025 Thibault Camus/Copyright 2025 The AP. All rights reserved.
Barcelona’s Bonmatí, who won ahead of her Spain teammate Mariona Caldentey, also won a domestic treble with her club, and reached the Women’s Champions League final, losing to 1-0 to Arsenal in a thrilling match but capping off an impressive season
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Although the Spanish international lost to England in a penalty shootout in the Women's European Championship final last summer, she was named the best player of the tournament, which she began just days after being hospitalised by viral meningitis.
Other awards
PSG was voted the best men’s club and Italy’s Gianluigi Donnarumma received the Lev Yashin award for best goalkeeper.
Donnarumma, whose shot-stopping in the knockout stages proved crucial to PSG’s success, left for Manchester City during the offseason. England’s Hannah Hampton was crowned the best women’s goalkeeper, after a remarkable season of club football with Chelsea and guiding the Lionesses to a back-to-back Euro title this summer.
Chelsea's Hampton and Man City's Donnarumma receive the Yashin Trophy during the 69th Ballon d'Or award ceremony at Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, Monday, Sept. 22, 2025
Chelsea's Hampton and Man City's Donnarumma receive the Yashin Trophy during the 69th Ballon d'Or award ceremony at Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, Monday, Sept. 22, 2025 Thibault Camus/Copyright 2025 The AP. All rights reserved.
The men’s and women’s Gerd Müller trophies for the top scorers went to Barcelona’s Ewa Pajor and Viktor Gyokeres, who joined Arsenal this summer from Sporting Portugal after a prolific season, which saw him register 54 goals and 13 assists across 52 appearances in all competitions.
Barcelona forward Vicky Lopez won the women’s Kopa trophy and Sarina Wiegman, who led England to European victory, took the Johan Cruyff award for best women’s coach. On a great night for PSG, Luis Enrique won in the men’s category. | true | classify this article contain milestone or not |
Germany crowned EuroBasket champions, beating Turkey to win their first title since 1993
Alperen Şengün is pictured with German Johannes Thiemann during the European Basketball Championship final match in Riga, Latvia, on Sunday, 14 September 2025
Copyright AP Photo
By Emre Basaran
Published on 15/09/2025 - 5:31 GMT+2 •Updated 6:38
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Rallying with captain Dennis Schröder, Germany scored the final six points after Turkey had led for most of the game.
Germany defeated Turkey's national basketball team 83-88 in the EuroBasket 2025 final in Riga on Sunday, in what was a tension-soaked match.
The win is Germany's second-ever European title and its first since 1993, when the men's team last won the EuroBasket, also commonly called the European Basketball Championship.
In a post on X, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz praised the team for the "sensational performance". "We are proud of you, you are an inspiration for young female and male athletes," Merz wrote.
Rallying with captain Dennis Schröder, Germany scored the final six points after Turkey had led for most of the game in the Latvian capital.
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Shane Larkin, Şehmus Hazer, Cedi Osman, Ercan Osmani, and Alperen Şengün started as Turkey's squad at Arena Riga in Latvia against Germany's Schröder, Obst, Bonga, Theis, and Wagner.
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Turkish coach Ergin Ataman and his students started the game very quickly and had a 13-2 run before Germany equalised with points from Bonga and Schröder, closing the first quarter with a 22-24 lead over the Turks.
Turkish coach Ergin Ataman is seen during the EuroBasket final match at the Riga Arena in Riga, Latvia, 14 September 2025.
Turkish coach Ergin Ataman is seen during the EuroBasket final match at Riga Arena in Riga, Latvia, 14 September 2025. AP Photo
The first half of the final game, in which the two undefeated teams faced each other for the first time since 2003, ended 46-40 with the Turkish national team dominating the game.
The third quarter started with aggressive offences from both teams.
With 5 minutes left in the quarter, Houston Rockets' Turkish star Alperen Şengün was fouled for a basket foul, and the "12 Giant Men" regained the lead against Germany.
Turkey increased the difference to 6 points with Cedi Osman's three-pointer, bringing the score to 61-55.
One minute before the end of the third quarter, Germany, the top scorer of the tournament with 101 points, brought the score to 63-65 with consecutive points, but the "12 Giant Men" tied the score again with a basket by Adem Bona, a Turkish power forward of Nigerian origin.
The quarter ended with a 67-66 lead for the Red-Whites.
Germany's Dennis Schröder pulls Alperen Şengün's jersey during the EuroBasket final match at Riga Arena in Riga, Latvia, 14 September 2025.
Germany's Dennis Schröder pulls the jersey of Alperen Şengün during the EuroBasket final match at Riga Arena in Riga, Latvia, 14 September 2025. AP Photo
The fourth quarter of the game, which was marked by Cedi Osman's three-pointers, also started fast.
The last quarter, which was marked by Shane Larkin's double-double performance, was very competitive— and with 3:48 left in the game, Turkey entered the final quarter with a 76-74 lead. | true | classify this article contain milestone or not |
Former boxing champion Ricky Hatton dies aged 46
Ricky Hatton right, celebrates a knockout over Jose Luis Castillo, left, during their IBO junior welterweight championship boxing match in Las Vegas, 23 June 2007 .
Copyright AP Photo/Eric Jamison
By Euronews with AP
Published on 14/09/2025 - 14:06 GMT+2 •Updated 17:32
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The former light-welterweight and welterweight world champion was one of the most popular boxers in British history. News of Hatton’s death comes two months after he announced he would make a return to boxing in December.
British boxing legend Ricky Hatton has been found dead at his home in Hyde, Greater Manchester. The 46-year-old former light-welterweight and welterweight world champion was one of the most popular boxers in British history.
His death is not being treated as suspicious, according to Greater Manchester Police.
"Officers were called by a member of the public to attend Bowlacre Road, Hyde, Tameside, at 6:45 am today where they found the body of a 46-year-old man," police authorities said in a statement.
Hatton was crowned world champion for the first time in 2005 when he beat Kosta Tszyu. He retired from boxing in 2022, but later announced a return for a bout planned for December this year.
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News of Hatton’s death comes two months after he announced he would make a return to boxing in December in a professional bout against Eisa Al Dah in Dubai.
Tributes were quick to pour in on Sunday morning.
“Today we lost not only one of Britain’s greatest boxers, but a friend, a mentor, a warrior, Ricky Hatton,” former world champion Amir Khan posted on X.
Former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury took to Instagram and posted photos of the pair together, writing “There will only ever be one Ricky Hatton. Can’t believe this so young.”
In a post on X, Hatton's former manager, Frank Warren, described him as a “superbly talented fighter who inspired a generation of young boxers and fans in a way very few had done before," adding he will “rightly go down as one of the modern greats of this sport.”
Football club Manchester City, who Hatton was a lifelong fan of, announced there would be a minute of appreciation for the former boxing champion at Sunday's game against Manchester United.
“Ricky was one of City’s most loved and revered supporters, who will always be remembered for a glittering boxing career that saw him win world titles at welterweight and light-welterweight,” the club said in a statement. “Everyone at the Club would like to send our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends at this difficult time.” | true | classify this article contain milestone or not |
The three Scottish brothers who set a world record for fastest Pacific row — in 139 days
Scottish brothers, Ewan, Jamie and Lachlan, Maclean react after completing their record breaking row from Peru across the Pacific Ocean to Cairns, Australia, Saturday, Aug. 30
Copyright Nuno Avendano/AP
By Jeremiah Fisayo-Bambi
Published on 31/08/2025 - 9:42 GMT+2 •Updated 9:50
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Jamie, Ewan, and Lachlan Maclean on Saturday completed the journey, arriving in Cairns, Australia, after rowing over 14,000 kilometres nonstop from Peru, becoming the first team to achieve the full crossing from South America to Australia.
Jamie, Ewan, and Lachlan Maclean completed the journey from South America to Australia in 139 days, arriving in Cairns, Australia, on Saturday, after rowing over 14,000 kilometres (9000 miles) nonstop.
Their reward: a world record, becoming the first team to achieve the full crossing, the fastest unsupported row across the full Pacific Ocean.
The trio from Edinburgh, Scotland, said they endured seasickness, injuries, and violent storms, including one that swept Lachlan overboard, while raising over €808,000 (700,000 pounds, $945,690) toward a €1.15million (1million pounds, $1.3 million) target for clean water projects.
The three rowed from Peru into the Cairns Marlin Marina, playing the bagpipes and waving the Scottish, Australian, and United Kingdom flags. More than 50 family members, supporters and fans, including their mother, Sheila, greeted the brothers.
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In the hours before their arrival, the eldest brother, Ewan, uploaded a video calling the marina ahead of their approach.
Scottish brothers, Ewan, Jamie and Lachlan, Maclean react after completing their record breaking row from Peru across the Pacific Ocean to Cairns, Australia, Saturday, Aug. 30
Scottish brothers, Ewan, Jamie and Lachlan, Maclean react after completing their record breaking row from Peru across the Pacific Ocean to Cairns, Australia, Saturday, Aug. 30 Nuno Avendano/AP
“Do you have pizza and beer? I repeat, do you have pizza and beer? Over.” The 33-year-old said the journey was the hardest thing he had ever done, one he would have never contemplated without his siblings.
“We’ve shed tears of joy and laughed till our cheeks hurt,” he said.
Things began to look dire toward the end. “We seriously thought we might run out of food,” middle brother Jamie, 31, said.
Scottish brothers, Ewan, Jamie and Lachlan, Maclean are embraced by family after completing their record breaking row from Peru across the Pacific Ocean to Cairns, Australia,
Scottish brothers, Ewan, Jamie and Lachlan, Maclean are embraced by family after completing their record breaking row from Peru across the Pacific Ocean to Cairns, Australia, Nuno Avendano/AP
According to the Macleans, the experience changed their outlook on life. Through the Maclean Foundation, the brothers' charity, they hope to continue fundraising for initiatives that will supply clean water to 40,000 people in Madagascar.
The previous record for the fastest full, unassisted, nonstop Pacific row was 160 days, set by Russian solo rower Fyodor Konyukhov in 2014. | true | classify this article contain milestone or not |
Liverpool FC breaks English transfer record with €145m signing of Alexander Isak
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By Euronews
Published on 02/09/2025 - 9:12 GMT+2
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The transfer caps off an unprecedented spending summer for Premier League clubs, who have splashed out more than €3.5 billion.
Liverpool FC on Monday broke the English transfer record in signing Alexander Isak for £125 million, or around €145 million, from Newcastle United on deadline day.
The Swedish international signed a six-year contract, bringing Liverpool's summer spending to around (€480.6m) without add-on fees.
"I think I have a lot to give, I think I have a lot to improve. I’m a striker but I always want to give as much as possible to the team, mainly goals but much more than that as well," Isak, who will join the team as their new number 9, said.
“I want to win everything," he emphasised.
Newcastle's Alexander Isak, right, celebrates with teammates, Jan. 1, 2024.
Newcastle's Alexander Isak, right, celebrates with teammates, Jan. 1, 2024. AP Photo
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The Swedish player began his career with AIK in his homeland before moving to Borussia Dortmund in 2017.
He signed for Spain's Real Sociedad in the summer of 2019 and helped the team win the 2019-20 Copa del Ray.
The deal brings to an end a protracted transfer saga involving weeks of behind-the-scenes wrangling.
The reported fee beats the previous English transfer record of £107 million (€124m), when Chelsea paid for Enzo Fernandez in 2023.
It also brings the club’s total spending to above £400 million (€464m) — the only time a Premier League club has exceeded £300 million (€348m) in one transfer window.
Overall, Premier League clubs splashed out more than ever in this transfer window, with spending surpassing £3 billion (€3.48bn), up from last year’s spending of £1.96 billion (€2.27bn). | true | classify this article contain milestone or not |
Bussi makes 15 saves for 1st NHL shutout, Ehlers scores in OT in Hurricanes' 1-0 win over Flames
RALEIGH, N.C. -- — Carolina rookie Brandon Bussi made 15 saves for his first NHL shutout, Nikolaj Ehlers scored at 2:52 of overtime and Hurricanes beat the Calgary Flames 1-0 on Sunday for their second straight victory.
Ehlers beat rookie goalie Devin Cooley after Taylor Hall put the puck on net. Ehlers scored his fifth goal of the season and first in seven games. Sean Walker also assisted.
Bussi played back-to-back games for the first time in his NHL career.
Cooley stopped 16 shots. The Flames lost for just the second time in their last six games. They were shutout victims for the third time this season.
Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal returned from a three-game injury absence. He played slightly more than 14 minutes. | true | classify this article contain milestone or not |
German biathlete Laura Dahlmeier killed by falling rocks on mountain in Pakistan
Laura Dahlmeier of Germany bronze medalist after the women's 10km pursuit competition at the IBU World Biathlon Championships in Ostersund, Sweden, March 10, 2019.
Copyright Jessica Gow/TT via AP
By Emma De Ruiter with AP
Published on 31/07/2025 - 17:13 GMT+2 •Updated 05/08/2025 - 17:19 GMT+2
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Dahlmeier, an Olympic gold medallist, was ascending Laila Peak in the Karakoram mountain range when she was struck by falling rocks while climbing with a partner who survived.
German biathlon champion Laura Dahlmeier has died in a climbing accident at a remote site on a mountain in northern Pakistan.
Dahlmeier was struck by falling rocks on Monday while ascending Laila Peak in the Karakoram mountain range with a partner, who survived.
Authorities launched a rescue mission on Monday after receiving a distress signal from Dahlmeier’s climbing partner, Marina Eva, who managed to descend to base camp with help from rescuers on Tuesday.
Dahlmeier’s partner had tried for several hours to rescue her, but that wasn’t possible because of the difficult terrain and persistent rockfall, a statement on Dahlmeier's Instagram page said.
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“Her partner, who could no longer hear any signs of life, eventually decided to leave the danger zone and resume her descent,” according to the statement.
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It was Dahlmeier’s express wish “that in a case like this, no one should risk their life to recover her,” the statement said, calling for that wish to be respected.
It said Dahlmeier’s family thanked the rescue team and climbers, who did their best to make her rescue possible.
Rescuers confirmed Dahlmeier's death on Wednesday, but could not retrieve her body because of unfavourable weather, said Faizullah Faraq, a spokesman for the regional Gilgit-Baltistan government.
Any final decision on retrieving the body would follow the wishes of Dahlmeier’s family, Faraq said.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier offered his condolences to Dahlmeier’s parents, writing that she “was an exceptional sportswoman.”
He recalled that he presented her with the highest honour on German sport, the Silver Laurel Leaf, shortly after she won her first Olympic gold medal in 2018.
“Laura Dahlmeier was an ambassador for our country in the world, a role model for peaceful, cheerful and fair coexistence across borders,” he said.
Women's 7.5km biathlon sprint gold medalist Laura Dahlmeier celebrates during the medals ceremony at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, Feb. 11, 2018.
Women's 7.5km biathlon sprint gold medalist Laura Dahlmeier celebrates during the medals ceremony at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, Feb. 11, 2018. AP Photo/Morry Gash
Bodies of foreign climbers who die attempting to summit mountains in Pakistan are typically recovered at the request of their families, but if the family declines a rescue, the remains are left at the spot where the climber died.
Dahlmeier was injured at an altitude of about 5,700 metres around noon on Monday, according to her management team in Germany.
She won seven gold, three silver and five bronze medals at Biathlon World Championships, along with 20 World Cup races and the overall World Cup in the 2016-17 season, according to her website.
She won gold medals in the sprint and pursuit races at the Pyeongchang Olympics in 2018 and the bronze medal in the individual competition.
Dahlmeier ended her biathlon career in 2019, when she was 25. She grew up in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in the German Alps and turned to mountaineering challenges after ending her biathlon career.
She had been a state-certified mountain and ski guide since 2023 and volunteered for the local mountain rescue team. | true | classify this article contain milestone or not |
Tour de France 2025: van Aert wins final stage, Pogačar takes fourth title in rain soaked finale
Slovenian Tadej Pogacar, in the yellow jersey, rides past the Arc de Triomphe on the final stage of the 2025 Tour de France on 27 July 2005.
Copyright Mosa'ab Elshamy/Copyright 2025 The AP. All rights reserved
By Nina Borowski
Published on 27/07/2025 - 20:52 GMT+2
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Having already won the sprint on the Champs-Élysées in 2021, the Belgian rider now has his second success on the most beautiful avenue in the world. Slovenian Tadej Pogačar, winner of the Tour de France, took fourth place in a final stage disrupted by rain.
After three weeks of intense effort, Wout van Art won the final and 21st stage of the Tour de France solo in 3 hours, 7 minutes and 30 seconds.
The Belgian was the first to cross the finish line on the Champs-Élysées, ahead of the Yellow Jersey winner Tadej Pogačar of the men's 2025 edition of the cycling competition.
For this final stage of the 132.2-kilometre Tour, the riders started in Mantes-la-Ville and made three passes over the Butte Montmartre, the emblematic site of the 2024 Olympics, for a 1.1-kilometre climb with an average gradient of 5.9%. They crossed the finish line on the world's most famous avenue, the Champs-Elysées.
Tadej Pogačar wins his fourth Grande Boucle
With rain threatening the finale of stage 21, the Tour de France organisers froze the general classification times with 50.3 kilometres to go in order to protect the riders.
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Tadej Pogačar, the 26-year-old Slovenian rider from UAE Team Emirates XRG, won his fourth Grande Boucle, having already won in 2020, 2021 and 2024, thus confirming his status as a cycling legend. He finished almost 4 and a half minutes ahead of his direct rivals.
Jonas Vingegaard, who was very strong in the mountains but fell behind in the first time trial and the stage to Hautacam, took second place and Florian Lipowitz was third on the podium. | true | classify this article contain milestone or not |
Boxing: Usyk reclaims undisputed heavyweight crown after crushing victory over Dubois
Bradley Collyer/AP
Copyright Ukraine's Oleksandr Usyk celebrates winning the undisputed world heavyweight boxing title fight against Britain's Daniel Dubois, in London, Saturday, July 19, 2025.
By Euronews with AP
Published on 20/07/2025 - 17:28 GMT+2
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Oleksandr Usyk has cemented his reputation as one of heavyweight boxing's all-time greats after a crushing victory over British challenger Daniel Dubois.
Oleksandr Usyk has, once again, become the undisputed heavy weight boxing world champion after defeating Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium on Saturday.
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With a left hook to his younger opponent's jaw, the 38-year-old Ukrainian cemented his win in the fifth round, retaining his WBA, WBC and WBO belts and regaining the IBF belt he vacated just over a year ago.
When asked about victory, Usyk hinted at that this is only the beginning, saying he is still a "young guy", and that "38 is only the start." He named Tyson Fury, Derek Chisora, Anthony Joshua and Joseph Parker as possible next opponents. Jake Paul threw his own hat in the ring.
“I will continue boxing and I will continue training, but now I cannot say who my next opponent will be,” Usyk said at his press conference.
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Usyk (24-0, 15 KOs) beat Dubois (22-3, 21 KOs) for the second time in under two years, making him the latest British fighter, along Fury and Joshua, to have lost twice to Usyk, who was an undisputed world champion as a cruiserweight before he moved up in weight six years ago.
Dubois had delivered a stunning knockout win over Joshua in his previous fight at Wembley last September. However, he couldn't muster the same success with Usyk.
Ukraine's Oleksandr Usyk, right, and Britain's Daniel Dubois in action during the undisputed world heavyweight boxing title fight in London, Saturday, July 19, 2025.
Ukraine's Oleksandr Usyk, right, and Britain's Daniel Dubois in action during the undisputed world heavyweight boxing title fight in London, Saturday, July 19, 2025. AP Photo/Frank Augstein
Speaking to boxing website DAZN, Dubois said he gave everything he had.
“Take no credit away from that man, I’ll be back," he added.
The 27-year-old was hoping to become the first British heavyweight to hold every major belt since Lennox Lewis just over 25 years ago. Dubois had inherited the IBF title that Usyk vacated last year when the Ukrainian chose to focus on his rematch with Fury.
When asked if he thinks he's one of the sport's all-time greats, Usyk replied flatly "no", citing discipline instead.
“I don’t have motivation, I have discipline. Motivation is temporary," he said. | true | classify this article contain milestone or not |
World’s oldest marathon runner Fauja Singh dies at 114 after being hit by a car
Centenarian marathon runner Fauja Singh, 101, left, originally from Beas Pind, in Jalandhar, India but who now lives in London, waves after finishing a 10-kilometer race, held
Copyright AP Photo
By Jerry Fisayo-Bambi with AP
Published on 16/07/2025 - 5:28 GMT+2 •Updated 5:55
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A torchbearer for the 2012 London Olympics, Singh took up running at the age of 89 as a way to get over depression after his wife and son died in quick succession in India.
The Turbaned Torpedo, an Indian-born runner who was thought to be the oldest marathon runner in history, died after being struck by a car. The marathoner, whose real name is Fauja Singh, was 114.
According to local media in India, Singh sustained severe head injuries in a hit-and-run accident on Monday while crossing the road at his native village near Jalandhar in Punjab.
He was taken to the hospital, where he later died, his London-based running club and charity, Sikhs In The City, said.
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to Singh, saying he was “extraordinary because of his unique persona and the manner in which he inspired the youth of India on a very important topic of fitness.”
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“He was an exceptional athlete with incredible determination,” Modi said. “Pained by his passing away. My thoughts are with his family and countless admirers around the world.”
In 2011, at the age of 100, Singh became the oldest man to complete a full marathon in Toronto, but the Guinness World Records did not recognise his achievement since he lacked a birth certificate to verify his age.
Centenarian marathon runner Fauja Singh, 101, center, originally from Beas Pind, in Jalandhar, India but who now lives in London, runs in a 10-kilometer race, part of the annu
Centenarian marathon runner Fauja Singh, 101, center, originally from Beas Pind, in Jalandhar, India but who now lives in London, runs in a 10-kilometer race, part of the annu AP Photo
With a British passport that showed his date of birth as April 1, 1911, a letter from Indian government officials showed that birth records were not kept in 1911, throwing Singh's real age into doubt.
Took up running to get over wife's death
Singh took up running at the age of 89 as a way to get over depression after his wife and son died in quick succession in India. The death in 1994 of his son took a particularly hard toll on him due to its grisly nature.
Singh and his son, Kuldip, both farmers, were checking on their fields in the middle of a storm when a piece of corrugated metal blown by the wind decapitated Kuldip in front of his father’s eyes.
A torchbearer for the 2012 London Olympics, the British-Indian marathoner completed his first London Marathon in 2000 at the age of 89 and went on to do eight more. At the 2003 Toronto Marathon, he set a personal best time of five hours and forty minutes. | true | classify this article contain milestone or not |
Georgia make history with first Mixed Team World title on emotional final day in Budapest
World mixed team champions: Georgia!
Copyright IJF
By Euronews with IJF
Published on 21/06/2025 - 7:15 GMT+2
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Georgia defeats Korea in a thrilling final to win its first ever Mixed Team gold. Tushishvili, Liparteliani, and Bekauri led a passionate team to victory. An unforgettable finale to the 2025 World Judo Championships in Budapest.
The Mixed Team competition is about more than medals - it’s about team spirit, unity, and the values at the heart of judo. Expect big throws, big emotions, and unforgettable moments as athletes fight not for themselves, but for each other.
In the semi-final, Japan led early against strong contenders Georgia in an intense contest.
But big throws from the imposing heavyweight Guram TUSHISHVILI and freshly crowned World Champion Eteri LIPARTELIANI flipped the script.
Having built momentum Georgia powered through with another ippon from Mikheili BAKHBAKHASHVILI.
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Utana TERADA tried to even the score for team Japan.
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But in a repeat of the Olympic final, Lasha BEKAURI emerged victorious. Driving the passionate Georgian team into the World final with commanding style.
The Republic of Korean delivered a dominant performance in their semi-final against Germany, sweeping to victory 4 - 0. With sharp technique, relentless pressure, and outstanding team spirit, they left no room for doubt and secured their place in the final in emphatic fashion.
It was The Republic of Korea VS Georgia in the final contending for the gold medal - who would rewrite history?
LEE led with an ippon, setting the tone with a confident performance.
But fresh off her World Championship win, LIPARTELIANI evened the score.
BAKHBAKHASHVILI held his way to victory and TCHANTURIA took home another win for team Georgia.
At 3-1 it was left to double Olympic Champion Lasha BEKAURI to take it home for his team. Gold for Georgia - and a new chapter was written in World Judo history.
We are the happiest in the World now because it is the first time in our history. We are Georgians, we are the best! Lasha Bekauri
IJF President Mr Marius VIZER awarded the gold trophy.
Mrs Filomena FORTES, IOC Member awarded the gold medals, and Mr Max-Hervé GEORGE, Director of International Partnerships of the IJF awarded the silver trophy.
What an incredible celebration of judo it’s been here at the OTP Bank World Judo Championships, delivering World-class action and true judo spirit from Budapest, Hungary. Until next time — thank you for watching. | true | classify this article contain milestone or not |
Judo: Kim strikes gold for Korea, Tasoev defends heavyweight crown on Day 7 in Budapest
IJF
Copyright Hayun Kim is Korea's first ever +78 kg world champion.
By Euronews with IJF
Published on 20/06/2025 - 7:42 GMT+2
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Hayun Kim claims Korea’s first gold in +78kg with a golden score win. In +100kg, Tasoev defeats Tushishvili to secure his second World title. Budapest ends the individual competition with heavy drama and heavier champions.
Day 7 closes out the individual competition at the OTP Bank World Judo Championships and it's time for the heavyweights to take centre stage in Budapest.
Before the finals, IJF President Mr. Marius Vizer awarded diplomas recognising achievements in judo.
And the traditional flag-passing ceremony was held to commemorate the closing of the event, as Hungary passed the IJF flag to Azerbaijan — with Baku set to host the World Championships in 2026 where judo would return to the land of fire.
At +78kg, Hayun KIM had been making her mark on the international stage, and in Budapest she delivered her best performance yet. Could she take the title?
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Facing her was Japan’s Mao ARAI who had managed to secure her place in the final after a fantastic performance in the preliminaries. ARAI looked every bit a contender for the World title.
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The final was a tight, tactical battle taken into Golden Score. It was Hayun KIM who would wear the red backpatch for the Republic of Korea’s first gold medal!
I’m so happy to win my first World Championship gold medal, especially after finishing fifth and third. Hayun KIM +78kg
OTP Bank Chairman & IJF Honorary President Dr Sandor CSANYI awarded the medals.
At +100kg, Guram TUSHISHVILI was on fire — storming his way through the preliminaries with explosive throws and unstoppable momentum. The Georgian powerhouse looked focused and fearless. He was here to reclaim the title he first won in 2018.
Facing him in the final was Inal TASOEV, the 2023 World Champion. TASOEV had delivered a solid performance and was aiming to add a second World title to his collection.
In the final, TUSHISHVILI led with a yuko, but it was TASOEV who came back with a waza-ari and managed to keep the Georgian at bay, claiming his second World title!
This is very cool, it’s my second time in Budapest and both of them were successful, the first time I won a Grand Slam and the second time a World Championships. Only positive emotions. Inal TASOEV +100kg
5 time Olympic and 12 time World Champion, Mr Teddy RINER awarded the medals.
Join us tomorrow in Budapest where the Mixed Team competition kicks off. 3 men 3 women, one team, one goal. Don’t miss it! | true | classify this article contain milestone or not |
Former Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti charged with tax evasion, handed one-year prison sentence
Former Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti.
Copyright Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved
By Malek Fouda
Published on 09/07/2025 - 23:21 GMT+2
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The now Brazil national team head coach was found guilty of evading taxes on his image rights in 2014. Although he will probably not serve the prison term, he'll have to pay a fine and is set to be disqualified from receiving tax benefits in Spain for three years.
A Spanish court has sentenced current Brazil national team and former Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti to one year in prison for tax fraud.
The Madrid Provincial Court handed down the sentence on Wednesday for the offence committed in 2014 and fined him just over €386,000 which he must pay to the tax authorities.
The court has also acquitted him of similar charges relating to the 2015 tax year, due to a lack of evidence of his residence in Spain during that period.
Despite the conviction, Spanish law stipulates that sentences of less than two years for non-violent offences and provided the person possesses no criminal record, serving time in prison is not mandatory. It is therefore likely that Ancelotti will settle his dues and avoid his prison term.
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The court ruling however establishes that, for a period of three consecutive years, the football coaching icon, whose career has seen him take the helm of top European sides including AC Milan, Bayern Munich, PSG and Chelsea, will not be able to obtain or claim public aid, subsidies, tax benefits or social security incentives in Spain.
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Ancelotti claims he followed Real Madrid's advice
During the trial in April, Ancelotti claimed he has always acted on the legal advice of Real Madrid and its tax consultants, denying that he had any intention of defrauding the tax authorities.
He added that he settled the outstanding debt with the tax office in December 2021 and asked that the mitigating factors of damages and procedural delays be taken into account.
Carlo Ancelotti was in charge of Real Madrid across two stints, the first between June 2013 and May 2015, and the second from June 2021 until May 2025, when he ended his tenure at the club to take over a new challenge: leading the Brazilian national team to its record extending 6th World Cup title, scheduled to take place in the summer of 2026. | true | classify this article contain milestone or not |
Asian Paralympic leaders gather in Astana to map out future of parasport
Panel at the Asian Paralympic Committee Conference.
Copyright Kazakhstan’s National Paralympic Committee.
By Galiya Khassenkhanova
Published on 28/08/2025 - 16:21 GMT+2
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The Asian Paralympic Committee met in Kazakhstan for the first time, setting new goals for parasport and honouring athletes at the Asian Awards 2025.
More than 190 delegates from 45 countries gathered in Astana to discuss the future of parasport.
“We made a lot of important decisions. We discussed chapters of the strategic plan, what we achieved, the goals, the KPIs, and we set new strategic goals,” said Majid Rashed, President of the Asian Paralympic Committee (APC).
“For us, this is a platform to hear new ideas, learn about new sports that will be adapted for para-athletes and find out about medical requirements,” added Kairat Boranbayev, President of Kazakhstan’s National Paralympic Committee and APC board member.
Building a stronger Paralympic movement
The APC meets every two years to exchange ideas, review reports, approve motions and set strategic direction. This year was the first time the event took place in Central Asia.
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“Kazakhstan’s National Paralympic Committee is showing commitment and responsibility for the Paralympic movement. They are working very hard, they have a strategic plan, they know where to go and what they want,” said Rashed.
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Boranbayev stressed that Kazakhstan is working to expand accessibility in sports and to create more opportunities for athletes. Each year, the country holds around 800 para competitions of various levels, involving more than 10,000 participants.
Majid Rashed, President of the Asian Paralympic Committee.
Majid Rashed, President of the Asian Paralympic Committee. Kazakhstan’s National Paralympic Committee.
Dr Deepa Malik, a former Indian Paralympian and APC board member, highlighted the importance of legal and policy frameworks to support people with disabilities. India’s 2016 disability act identified inclusion as a human right, leading to a sharp rise in para-athletes.
“In 48 years, from 1968 to 2016, we had won only 12 medals, but since then we have won 48 medals from just two Paralympics,” she said. Malik also underlined the growing role of women, noting that since 2016, 14 female athletes from India have won Paralympic medals, with her as the pioneer.
“Sport is one place where people with friendship, peace and a common vision come together. It creates a sustainable planet. It changes mindsets when we see persons with disabilities emerging, proving their abilities,” she added.
Asian Awards 2025 honour athletes
The three-day conference concluded with the Asian Awards 2025, celebrating athletes and contributors to parasport across the continent.
The awardees of the 2025 Asian Awards.
The awardees of the 2025 Asian Awards. Kazakhstan’s National Paralympic Committee.
Japanese Wheelchair Rugby Team took the Best Team Performance award. Best Youth Athlete went to He Shenggao, swimmer from China. Best Male Athlete went to Abdelkareem Khattab, Jordanian powerlifter, while Best Female Athlete went to Ho Yuen Kei, boccia (precision ball sport) player from Hong Kong.
“It’s my honour to receive this Best Female Athlete award. It means so much to me. This is not only about my personal journey, but also about the people who helped me along the way,” said Ho Yuen Kei.
At the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, she won two gold medals before founding a charity association in Hong Kong to help people with disabilities take part in sport.
Looking ahead to upcoming Asian Para Games
The APC is now preparing for the Aichi–Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games in Japan, as well as the 5th Asian Youth Para Games in Dubai.
The United Arab Emirates National Paralympic Committee has invited athletes and spectators to attend the Youth Para Games in December 2025, where 1,783 athletes from 31 countries will compete across 11 sports. | true | classify this article contain milestone or not |
IJF World Judo Tour: Rising Stars Shine in Mongolia
2025 Ulaanbaatar Grand Slam Day 1
Copyright IJF
By Euroneews with IJF
Published on 25/07/2025 - 18:41 GMT+2
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Day 1 of the Ulaanbaatar Grand Slam delivered spectacular action. Japan’s Kondo, Shirakane, and Fujihiro struck gold, while Galitskaia and Nutfulloev made big breakthroughs. A thrilling start to Mongolia’s judo showcase!
The IJF World Judo Tour has arrived in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
In the -48kg, Mitsuki KONDO faced Marina VOROBEVA. KONDO claimed her second Grand Slam gold medal after holding VOROBEVA down for ippon. A dominant display from the Japanese judoka. IJF Education & Coaching Director Mr Mohammed MERIDJA awarded the medals.
Hiroto SHIRAKANE faced teammate Hayato KONDO at -60kg.
A waza-ari in golden score took SHIRAKANE to the top of the podium in his first ever World Judo Tour event. It was a dream debut for the young Japanese judoka on the world stage. IJF Sport Director Mr Kosei INOUE awarded the medals.
I was really happy to fight in Mongolia with such an enthusiastic crowd and I felt they were cheering for me so I hope to be back again. Hiroto Shirakane
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At -52kg, Kokoro FUJISHIRO faced Nandin-Erdene MYAGMARSUREN.
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A huge ippon from FUJISHIRO won her the contest and the gold medal.
Her first on the World Judo Tour. A breakout performance! Ulaanbaatar Energy LLC CEO Mr Khurelsukh SODNOMDORJ awarded the medals.
I was really happy to fight here in Mongolia and I think I made a lot of fans here and I’m really happy, it’s my first Grand Slam gold. I have a lot of competitors in and outside Japan so I just want to take it a step at a time. Kokoro Fujishiro
Abdurakhim NUTFULLOEV bested Denis VIERU with a tactical win In the -66kg, claiming Grand Slam gold. IJF Referee Director Mr Raul CAMACHO PEREZ awarded the medals.
AIA faced Ana Viktorija PULJIZ at -57kg. A waza-ari score was enough for her to claim gold and earn her first Grand Slam title. Erdenet Province Judo Federation Head Mr Ariuna-Erdene BATTSEREN awarded the medals.
Creating great moments and memories for their fans, the Mongolian judoka lit up the Steppe Arena today with some amazing judo. Roared on by a passionate home crowd, they delivered excitement, emotion, and national pride.
Thank you for joining us here in beautiful Ulaanbaatar. Don’t miss a moment as the judo drama continues to unfold in Mongolia. | true | classify this article contain milestone or not |
IJF World Judo Tour: Rising Stars Shine in Mongolia
2025 Ulaanbaatar Grand Slam Day 1
Copyright IJF
By Euroneews with IJF
Published on 25/07/2025 - 18:41 GMT+2
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Day 1 of the Ulaanbaatar Grand Slam delivered spectacular action. Japan’s Kondo, Shirakane, and Fujihiro struck gold, while Galitskaia and Nutfulloev made big breakthroughs. A thrilling start to Mongolia’s judo showcase!
The IJF World Judo Tour has arrived in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
In the -48kg, Mitsuki KONDO faced Marina VOROBEVA. KONDO claimed her second Grand Slam gold medal after holding VOROBEVA down for ippon. A dominant display from the Japanese judoka. IJF Education & Coaching Director Mr Mohammed MERIDJA awarded the medals.
Hiroto SHIRAKANE faced teammate Hayato KONDO at -60kg.
A waza-ari in golden score took SHIRAKANE to the top of the podium in his first ever World Judo Tour event. It was a dream debut for the young Japanese judoka on the world stage. IJF Sport Director Mr Kosei INOUE awarded the medals.
I was really happy to fight in Mongolia with such an enthusiastic crowd and I felt they were cheering for me so I hope to be back again. Hiroto Shirakane
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At -52kg, Kokoro FUJISHIRO faced Nandin-Erdene MYAGMARSUREN.
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A huge ippon from FUJISHIRO won her the contest and the gold medal.
Her first on the World Judo Tour. A breakout performance! Ulaanbaatar Energy LLC CEO Mr Khurelsukh SODNOMDORJ awarded the medals.
I was really happy to fight here in Mongolia and I think I made a lot of fans here and I’m really happy, it’s my first Grand Slam gold. I have a lot of competitors in and outside Japan so I just want to take it a step at a time. Kokoro Fujishiro
Abdurakhim NUTFULLOEV bested Denis VIERU with a tactical win In the -66kg, claiming Grand Slam gold. IJF Referee Director Mr Raul CAMACHO PEREZ awarded the medals.
AIA faced Ana Viktorija PULJIZ at -57kg. A waza-ari score was enough for her to claim gold and earn her first Grand Slam title. Erdenet Province Judo Federation Head Mr Ariuna-Erdene BATTSEREN awarded the medals.
Creating great moments and memories for their fans, the Mongolian judoka lit up the Steppe Arena today with some amazing judo. Roared on by a passionate home crowd, they delivered excitement, emotion, and national pride.
Thank you for joining us here in beautiful Ulaanbaatar. Don’t miss a moment as the judo drama continues to unfold in Mongolia. | true | classify this article contain milestone or not |
Erling Haaland reaches notable mark as Man City hold on to win nine-goal thriller
Erling Haaland brought up his century of Premier League goals as Manchester City survived a remarkable Fulham comeback in a madcap 5-4 win.
City were 5-1 up and cruising shortly after half-time, but goals from Alex Iwobi and substitute Samuel Chukwueze’s double left them clinging on for dear life by the end.
They are now two points behind leaders Arsenal, who host Brentford on Wednesday, but a title tilt is surely not sustainable with defending like this.
Rewriting history. pic.twitter.com/vl90RKG8Ap
— Manchester City (@ManCity) December 2, 2025
Haaland had earlier become, by some distance, the quickest player to score 100 times in the Premier League, taking just 111 matches.
He took only 17 minutes to find the net at Craven Cottage and become the 35th member of the Premier League 100 club.
Alan Shearer was the previous quickest, reaching three figures in his 124th match, 30 years ago in 1995.
The Norwegian had already rattled a post when his big moment arrived.
Phil Foden found Jeremy Doku who drove in a low cross, Tijjani Reijnders let the ball run and Haaland slammed it first time into the roof of the net.
Yet it was a notable mark that got lost in the mayhem of what was to follow.
Fulham almost forced a shock equaliser midway through the first half when Iwobi fed Emile Smith Rowe, who turned sharply in the box and forced a fine save from Gianluigi Donnarumma.
But City doubled their lead in the 38th minute, with Haaland this time the creator.
The striker held off Joachim Andersen on halfway and played a neat through-ball between Kenny Tete and Calvin Bassey, with Reijnders lifting his shot over Bernd Leno.
Foden got in on the act two minutes before half-time, the England midfielder collecting a punch from Leno on the edge of the box and unleashing a rocket into the top corner.
Smith Rowe pulled one back in first-half stoppage time with a well-taken header from Harry Wilson’s cross.
Any thoughts of a Fulham comeback should have been extinguished three minutes into the second half when Haaland touched another Doku cross to Foden, who finished clinically at the far post for his fourth goal in two matches.
City’s fifth arrived six minutes later, Doku’s shot clipping Sander Berge’s knee and looping over Leno.
There was still little sense of jeopardy for the visitors when Iwobi pulled another one back for Fulham, curling home from 20 yards.
That was until substitute Chukwueze lashed in his first Fulham goals, two in the space of six minutes.
Another fierce finish from Samu!
When his second flew past an increasingly shell-shocked Donnarumma there were still 12 minutes left, plus eight of stoppage time.
Marco Silva’s side threw everything at City, but just when another sub, Josh King, thought he had grabbed an equaliser and the unlikeliest of points, Josko Gvardiol got back to clear his shot off the line. | true | classify this article contain milestone or not |
Qingdao Grand Prix Day 2: Golden Moments in China
Final, Shakhram Ahadov (UZB) vs Yudai Tanaka (JPN).
Copyright IJF
By Euronews with IJF
Published on 27/09/2025 - 18:05 GMT+2 •Updated 18:34
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Day 2 in Qingdao saw thrilling victories: Deketer won her first Grand Prix gold, Tanaka claimed -73kg glory, Cvjetko confirmed her dominance at -70kg, and Hojo shone at -81kg. China celebrated bronze with Feng Yingying, lighting up Conson Stadium.
Welcome back to day 2 of the Qingdao Grand Prix. Here in this stunning coastal city, we celebrate world class judo.
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Before the medal matches, a dazzling opening ceremony set the stage and speeches were made by
IJF President, Mr Marius Vizer,
Ms Qiao Yunping, Director General of Shandong Administration of Sports
and Mr Liu Chengliang, President of the Chinese Judo Association.
In the -63kg, Manon DEKETER faced Enkhriilen LKHAGVATOGOO. Taking the contest into Golden Score, a yuko pushed the French athlete to her first Grand Prix gold medal. A milestone achievement on the international stage for DEKETER that she will never forget, delighting the crowd.
IJF President Mr Marius VIZER awarded the medals.
In the -73kg, Yudai TANAKA faced Shakhram AHADOV. A well timed ouchi-gari scored ippon and earned TANAKA his first gold medal on the World Judo Tour. A fantastic achievement for the Japanese judoka in Qingdao.
Qingdao is very close to home in Asia, but I haven’t had many opportunities to come here, so I'm very happy to have been able to come for the competition. Yudai TANAKA (JPN)
Chinese Judo Association President Mr LIU Chengliang awarded the medals.
At -70kg, Lara CVJETKO faced Aina Laura RASOANAIVO RAZAFY. World number 1 CVJETKO took a tactical victory, earning her third Grand Prix gold medal here in Qingdao.
Shandong Administration of Sports Director General Ms QIAO Yunping awarded the medals.
This is my first time in China, I’m really happy with my performance since it was quite a long pause since World Championship, I won all my fights, I think there was a lot of really good competitors and I was hoping for a medal but gold is really great. Lara CVJETKO (CRO)
In the -81kg, Yoshito HOJO faced Xinglong CHA. Two spectacular waza-aris took HOJO to the top of the podium. A brilliant display of skill and power.
Deputy Secretary of the CPC Qingdao Municipal Committee Ms ZHANG Hui awarded the medals.
A bronze medal for China came from Yingying FENG, lighting up the Conson Stadium with amazing judo!
Join us tomorrow in Qingdao. | true | classify this article contain milestone or not |
Toyota taking over title sponsorship for Haas F1 in 2026
Laurence Edmondson
Dec 4, 2025, 02:15 AM ET
Toyota Gazoo Racing will become the title partner of the Haas Formula 1 team next year in a deal that will strengthen the ties between the Japanese motor company and the American racing team.
Toyota's motorsport arm, known as Toyota Gazoo Racing, became a technical partner of Haas last October and has worked directly with the team this year, including the running of a testing of a previous car (TPC) programme.
The new deal will see Toyota Gazoo Racing replace Haas' existing title sponsor Moneygram for 2026 and continue its technical collaboration with the racing team.
Haas also confirmed that it will launch next year's livery on January 23 before its 2026 car, known as the VF-26, makes its track debut at a private F1 test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya from January 26 to January 30.
"It's naturally a privilege to deepen our relationship with TGR through this new title partnership agreement," Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu said of the new deal. "Our working relationship to-date has been everything we hoped it would be.
"It's been evidenced through our successful TPC running this season but there's been so much more going on behind the scenes too - including the development and installation of the simulator at our Banbury facility for 2026.
"The cultivation of personnel, all working collaboratively between Haas F1 Team and TGR, has benefited us greatly and that's something that will only increase as our partnership matures. We're excited to further grow with the likes of our driver program too, and it's been encouraging to see the depth of talent TGR is backing in that process."
Haas' TPC programme this year included 14 days of testing across Silverstone, Paul Ricard, Fuji Speedway, Imola and Mugello, with Toyota-backed drivers Ryō Hirakawa, Ritomo Miyata, Sho Tsuboi and Kamui Kobayashi all taking turns behind the wheel of a 2023 Haas F1 car.
"Throughout our challenges in the 2025 season, I witnessed young TGR drivers and engineers begin to believe in their own potential and set their sights on even greater dreams," Akio Toyoda, Chairman of Toyota Motor Corporation, said. "Seeing this transformation moved me deeply. And today, I can say this with confidence, Toyota has finally begun to move - really move.
"By taking our partnership with Haas another step forward next year, TGR's 'People, Product, Pipeline' mantra - will accelerate in a way we have never seen before. The time has come for the next generation to take their first steps toward the world stage. Together with Gene Haas, Ayao, and everyone at TGR Haas F1 Team, we will build both a culture and a team for the future. Toyota is now truly on the move." | true | classify this article contain milestone or not |
Patrick Mahomes loses another blindside protector after LT Wanya Morris suffers season-ending knee injury vs. Texans
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Texans' best defensive plays vs. Chiefs Week 14Scroll back up to restore default view.
Jason OwensStaff writer
Tue, December 9, 2025 at 5:39 AM GMT+7
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A battered Kansas City Chiefs offensive line took another big hit Sunday night.
On the first play from scrimmage against the Houston Texans, starting left tackle Wanya Morris went down with a knee injury. Morris clutched his left knee after falling on a run play. He remained down on the field in obvious pain as his teammates watched on in concern. He eventually limped off the field with the aid of two athletic trainers, unable to put weight on his left leg.
He didn't return to the game, and the Chiefs fell 20-10 in a costly loss.
On Monday, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Morris will be out the rest of the season with a knee injury.
This is the play Wanya Morris got injured on pic.twitter.com/9dacR4jR2o
— Jason Anderson (@J810Anderson) December 8, 2025
Morris is not Kansas City's regular starting left tackle. A third-year pro selected by the Chiefs in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, he was making his first start of the season Sunday night.
Regular starter and rookie first-round draft pick Josh Simmons was placed on injured reserve last week with a wrist injury that required surgery. He'll be sidelined at a minimum of four of Kansas City's final five regular-season games, Sunday's included. The Chiefs also took the field without veteran right tackle Jawaan Taylor (triceps/knee) and Pro Bowl right guard Trey Smith (ankle), who were both inactive for Sunday's game.
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Rookie Esa Pole, who had previously never played an NFL snap and wasn't listed on Kansas City's online depth chart prior to Sunday's game, took Morris' place at left tackle protecting Patrick Mahomes' blind side.
Pole initially joined the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent this offseason, then joined the New York Jets when he didn't make Kansas City's 53-man roster. The Jets released Pole in October, and the Chiefs re-signed him when Simmons went on injured reserve.
Suddenly, Pole was charged with protecting Mahomes' blind side as the Chiefs fight to make the playoffs. | true | classify this article contain milestone or not |
'An insane valuation for a Championship side': Ryan Reynolds cashes in on 'best bet' in British football history
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December 11, 2025 - 6.25am
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Wrexham's celebrity owners have sold a minority stake in their on-the-rise football club as an astonishing rags to riches fairytale story continues.
The deal, which was announced this week with no terms disclosed, includes investment by Apollo Sports Capital - a US-based private equity firm - in the redevelopment of Wrexham's stadium and the surrounding area of the small city in Wales.
The town and club was brought to fame when Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac bought it in 2021 and helped create a popular docuseries about the community.
Football's new home, Stan Sport, is the only place to watch the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, FA Cup, WSL, European World Cup qualifiers, J.League, NSWL and K League
Wrexham co-owner Ryan Reynolds and Ollie Palmer pose with a trophy.
Wrexham co-owner Ryan Reynolds and Ollie Palmer pose with a trophy. AP
Under the deal, Reynolds and Mac remain in control as the majority shareholders in Wrexham, who have won three consecutive promotions under the pair's ownership and sit 12th in the second-tier Championship this season, three points adrift of the playoffs.
Reynolds and Mac spent about $4 million when they purchased Wrexham.
Bloomberg this year claimed that the club is worth up to $700m.
READ MORE: 'Bittersweet' moment for Aussie quick pushing for Test spot
READ MORE: Bunnies face nervous wait as fresh club joins bidding war
READ MORE: Kiwi bowler suffers gruesome injury in diving effort
Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds celebrate after Wrexham win April 26 2025.
Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds celebrate after Wrexham win. Instagram/ @blakelively
"Five years, four seasons of Welcome to Wrexham and three promotions later, that initial outlay might just be the best bet anyone put on a football team - and their own star quality - in British football history," analyst Matt Slater wrote for The Athletic.
"Until recently I would have said £350million is an insane valuation for a Championship side, particularly one without parachute payments to pad their numbers, but Ipswich Town announced a similar investment from sophisticated American investors last week, so what do I know?
"What I would suggest, though, is that Ipswich's value does not rely on the continuing involvement of two very famous actors. It is hard to think of a sports team with higher "key person risk" than Wrexham."
NEW PODCAST! Premier League legend Jermain Defoe joins Added Time to break down the 2026 World Cup draw and Mohamed Salah's bombshell interview
Before this season Wrexham, the oldest club in Wales dating to 1864, hadn't been in the second division since 1981-82.
"From day one, we wanted to build a sustainable future for Wrexham Association Football Club. And to do it with a little heart and humour," Wrexham ownership said in a statement distributed by the club.
"The dream has always been to take this club to the Premier League while staying true to the town. Growth like that takes world class partners who share our vision and ambition, and Apollo absolutely does."
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Channing Tatum returns to his Magic Mike roots in Super Bowl ad
Reynolds and Mac sold a stake in the club last year to a different investment group, also based in the United States.
Apollo recently bought a majority stake in Spanish club Atletico Madrid, a deal expected to be finalised early next year.
"I think it's really positive news for the club. It helps the club moving forward and building a sustainable club for the future," Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson said.
"It's a great, positive story. Everybody's looking forward to working with the new investors. Everything stays the same football-wise, but Michael (Williamson, CEO) has kept me informed over the last few weeks.
Play Video
Prince William congratulates Ryan Reynolds on football team’s victory
"I was aware that there was something going on a while ago. Michael rang me on Sunday saying 'just to let you know, it's going to be announced' and he gave me a bit of context which enabled me to inform the staff.
"It's about putting those building blocks in place for the short and long-term.
"This is another step towards that. We're a club that's building all the time, on and off the pitch, and this is another step in that direction." | true | classify this article contain milestone or not |
Texans vs. Chiefs: Houston picks off Patrick Mahomes 3 times to claim victory, put KC's playoff hopes in peril
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Chiefs mistakes costly in loss to Texans, put Kansas City on brink of missing playoffsScroll back up to restore default view.
Frank SchwabSenior writer
Mon, December 8, 2025 at 1:57 PM GMT+7
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HOU
20
KC
10
Final
For most of the Patrick Mahomes era, when the Kansas City Chiefs absolutely needed a big play, it would happen to the surprise of nobody. Making every clutch play became Kansas City’s brand during its dynasty.
This season, when the Chiefs have absolutely needed a big play like they did in a practically must-win game Sunday night, they couldn't find the right answer.
The magic that carried the Chiefs for such a long stretch last season has evaporated. Two failed fourth-down tries by the Chiefs in their own territory in the fourth quarter and then an interception on a pass that was bobbled by Travis Kelce doomed them in a 20-10 loss to the Houston Texans. The Chiefs aren't done in the playoff race yet. But they're all the way to the edge of a steep cliff.
"I thought it was an opportunity. I was wrong, though. In hindsight, it was wrong," Chiefs head coach Andy Reid admitted postgame about those fourth-down gambles. "We’ve been pretty good on fourth downs. I messed that one up."
Even if the Chiefs win out, they'd need to catch a break or two to make the playoffs after a loss to the Texans dropped them to 6-7 this season. With a Denver Broncos win on Sunday and the Chiefs' defeat, Kansas City's streak of nine straight AFC West titles is officially over. The Chiefs are eliminated in the AFC West race, and barely alive in the wild-card race.
The Chiefs had trouble moving the ball against the Texans' fierce defense and are a step closer to elimination from the postseason field. Before Sunday night's game, The Athletic's projection had their playoff chances dropping to 16% with a loss to the Texans. NFL.com had it at 15%. Kansas City is in trouble.
The Chiefs struggled in the first half, got hot in the third quarter but then the two failed fourth-down tries wrecked their momentum. The Texans broke a 10-10 tie on a Dare Ogunbowale touchdown run, but Kansas City had a chance late to at least tie the game.
A pass to Kelce popped out of his hands and it was picked off by Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair.
The Chiefs are used to seeing their opponents melt down like that in key situations. Now it’s happening to them. And it has put them on the brink of missing the playoffs.
Chiefs struggle early against Texans’ D
The Texans came in with the best and hottest defense in the NFL, and it looked great in the first half.
The Chiefs struggled to move the ball, and losing starting left tackle Wanya Morris to a knee injury on the first play from scrimmage didn't help against Houston's pass rush. The closest Kansas City got to a score in the first half was a field goal that clanged off the upright and was no good. The Texans led 10-0 at halftime.
C.J. Stroud was good in the first half, with 171 yards and a touchdown pass to running back Woody Marks. Houston more than doubled Kansas City's yardage in the first half, outgaining the Chiefs 201-98.
The way the first half played out, it seemed like the Texans might run away with a win. It was stunning to see the Chiefs stuck on no points at halftime in a game that they needed to win to avoid falling under .500 this late in the season.
But the Chiefs are a really well-coached team and adjustments on each side of the ball got them back in the game.
Chiefs rebound in 2nd half
The Chiefs finally scored early in the second half. Kareem Hunt had an exceptional effort on a fourth-and-1 run, getting 2 hard yards for the touchdown. Even though Houston completely outplayed Kansas City in the first half, the Chiefs trailed just 10-7 after that drive in the first few minutes of the second half.
The Chiefs dominated the third quarter. They had 132 yards to -2 for the Texans. Stroud didn’t complete a pass for the entire period. After three quarters the score was 10-10 in a game with numerous hard hits.
#Texans safety Jalen Pitre just LIT UP Rashee Rice: pic.twitter.com/QOVk1hjZZj
— Arye Pulli (@AryePulliNFL) December 8, 2025
A fourth-down decision early in the fourth quarter was aggressive and costly for the Chiefs. On fourth-and-1 at their own 31-yard line, with a little more than 10 minutes left, Kansas City went for it. A pass to Rashee Rice was batted down and Houston took over, already in field-goal range in a tie game. On the Texans’ next drive Ogunbowale, who had just three carries on the season and was in due to Nick Chubb and Woody Marks being injured, scored a 5-yard touchdown run on his first offensive snap of the game. Houston led 17-10 and Kansas City might have regretted going for it so deep in their own territory.
That meant the Chiefs needed a clutch drive for a touchdown. Usually that hasn’t been a problem in the Mahomes era. This season, the Chiefs have had plenty of problems making big plays in close games. The Chiefs went for it again, on fourth-and-4, and Rice dropped it. That wasn’t as damaging because the Chiefs' defense forced a three-and-out. But then Mahomes’ pass to Kelce was dropped and intercepted, allowing the Texans to ice the game.
"I'll never question that. I'm going to go to those guys in big moments," Mahomes said of Rice and Kelce. "Those guys have played in Super Bowls, they've made plays in AFC championship games, and so obviously it didn't go our way today. I have a lot to do with that myself."
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It's not unheard of for a team to miss the playoffs in the middle of a dynasty. The 1982 San Francisco 49ers went 3-6 in a strike-shortened season, a year after winning their first of four Super Bowls that decade. The New England Patriots missed the playoffs in 2008, though that was because Tom Brady missed almost the entire season with a torn ACL. It's possible to miss the playoffs and not have the dynasty end.
But before thinking about what's next, it's probably time to make sense of the story of this NFL season: The Chiefs are very likely to miss the playoffs. That seemed unfathomable before the season started. | true | classify this article contain milestone or not |
Shedeur Sanders throws for 3 touchdowns, but Browns falter in the clutch against Titans
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Khalil Shakir on preparing to play the PatriotsScroll back up to restore default view.
Jay Busbee Senior writer
Mon, December 8, 2025 at 5:35 AM GMT+7
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The Cleveland Browns have significant questions this offseason about their quarterback position. Shedeur Sanders is doing all he can to provide an answer.
Sanders spent the first half against one-win Tennessee cruising, looking comfortable as he threw for two touchdowns and outplayed No. 1 overall draft pick Cam Ward. After a slow start to the second half, Sanders rallied Cleveland to two clutch touchdowns in the final six-plus minutes of the game to close off a 364 passing yards effort.
SHEDEUR'S 4 TDS NOT ENOUGH TO OVERCOME CAM AND TITANS 🤯
Cam Ward gets the first head-to-head matchup W vs. Shedeur Sanders in a great battle between the rooks 📈 pic.twitter.com/J1FmHQTHe8
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) December 7, 2025
Alas, Cleveland being Cleveland, the Browns fell apart on a would-be tying 2-point conversion with just over a minute remaining. The result: a 31-29 loss to the Titans, and more data points for the Browns' future decision-making.
The scenario Sunday was one of those circle-the-calendar days on NFL Draft weekend. Generally, when you have rookie quarterbacks facing one another, you’re not seeing two top-flight teams at play. Sometimes that’s because a team in position to draft, and then start, a rookie quarterback is, by definition, not a very good team. And sometimes, that’s because a team is the Cleveland Browns.
The Titans struck first, as Ward found receiver Elic Ayomanor for a 16-yard touchdown on Tennessee’s opening drive. Running back Tony Pollard closed out the first quarter with a monster 65-yard run.
The second quarter might just stand as the best 15 minutes of football Sanders will play all season. He began by threading a perfectly thrown pass to an outstretched David Njoku for a touchdown:
Shedeur to Njoku for the TD!
TENvsCLE on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/k0Xu3hsp1L
— NFL (@NFL) December 7, 2025
Twelve game minutes later, he found Jerry Jeudy on a beauty of a 60-yard touchdown pass, one of the best throws of Sanders’ career:
There were indications that all was not perfectly well for Sanders — struggles throwing the ball into zone coverage, a panicky desperation scramble that led to an intentional grounding penalty — but on the whole, the half was positive for Cleveland as the Browns carried a 17-14 lead into the half.
The second half began with an ugly duet — six straight combined punts, with neither team able to move the ball, sequence after sequence as ugly as the spitting-snow weather. Sanders broke the streak … but in the worst way possible, with a wounded-duck overthrow that the Titans’ Xavier Woods easily plucked out of the air. Two plays later, Pollard again stomped into the end zone, this time from 32 yards out to retake the lead for Tennessee.
That was enough to knock the Browns to the canvas for good. Ward turned a Cleveland fumble into another touchdown pass, this one a 5-yarder to Chimere Dike to extend Tennessee's lead to 28-17. Ward finished with 117 yards on 14-of-28 passing, with two touchdowns and one interception.
With five minutes remaining in the game, following another Tennessee field goal, Sanders again had the opportunity to write his own legend. Down 31-17, he guided the Browns downfield and scrambled his way to a chaotic 7-yard touchdown, his first NFL rushing TD of his career.
Shedeur takes it himself for his first NFL rushing TD#TENvsCLE on Fox and NFL+ pic.twitter.com/cObrI7zX5Q
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) December 7, 2025
Sanders then had the opportunity to tie the Titans with his final drive, and did all he could, leading the Browns on a seven-play, 80-yard touchdown drive. Needing 2 points to tie the game, the Browns opted to pull Sanders off the field and direct-snap trickeration to Quinshon Judkins, and it went about as well as you'd expect.
The #Browns just had a really ugly attempt at a 2-pt conversion and the tie.
Quinshon Judkins takes the direct snap. No Shedeur Sanders on the field. Failed play. Cleveland loses. pic.twitter.com/39CPucqJm2
— Arye Pulli (@AryePulliNFL) December 7, 2025
Statistically, this was Sanders' finest game of the season, by far. He threw for 364 yards, passing for three touchdowns and running for another, the first Browns rookie to notch those numbers. He also had several key miscues, including an interception that led directly to a Tennessee touchdown, a fumbled snap on a 2-point conversion, and a tendency to tip his passes by patting the football as he prepared to throw. Still ahead on the Browns' slate: the Bears, Bills, Steelers and Bengals, a rugged way to close out a season.
“I’ve been this way," Sanders said after the game, reflecting on his performance. "This is God showing a lot of people who I am.”
Tennessee, meanwhile, posted its highest point total of the season — granted, a low bar to clear — in doubling its win total of the season to 2. With games against the 49ers, Chiefs, Saints and Jaguars still remaining, getting to four wins on the season could be tough, so Tennessee and Ward will surely appreciate this one. | true | classify this article contain milestone or not |
Thunder's blowout win over Jazz briefly interrupted by a broken smoke machine at Delta Center
OKC rolled to a 15th straight win on Sunday night despite missing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
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Ryan YoungStaff writer
Mon, December 8, 2025 at 12:32 PM GMT+7
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The Oklahoma City Thunder had no issues on Sunday night, even with reigning league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander sitting on the bench.
The Delta Center in Salt Lake City, on the other hand, struggled.
Midway through the second quarter, a smoke machine sitting on top of one of the baskets in the arena started going off randomly while Thunder star Chet Holmgren was shooting a free throw. It kept going off for quite some time, too, and nobody on the court seemed to notice.
Holmgren even threw down a dunk on a fast break before officials stopped the game to fix the broken smoke machine — which made for quite the scene.
There’s a stoppage in play as the smoke machine behind the Thunder basket is going off during live action pic.twitter.com/9tGn9b5wgm
— Andy Larsen (@andyblarsen) December 8, 2025
“He is literally setting this place on fire,” one of the announcers joked.
The Jazz opened the game with a free throw, though that was their only lead of the night. The Thunder responded with a 13-0 burst before rolling to the 131-101 win. It marked their 15th consecutive victory and brought them to 23-1 on the season — which is on pace to break the league’s single-season wins record set by the Golden State Warriors back during the 2015-16 campaign.
Holmgren led the way with 25 points and nine rebounds for the Thunder. Jalen Williams had 25 points, too, and Aaron Wiggins added 19 points off the bench. They shot 58% from the field as a group and 21-of-42 from behind the arc. Gilgeous-Alexander sat out due to left elbow bursitis, marking his first missed game of the season.
Kyle Filipowski led the Jazz with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Both Walter Clayton Jr. and Taylor Hendricks added 20 points off the bench. The Jazz fell to 8-15 after the loss, which marked their second straight loss by 30 points or more.
While it’s unclear what sparked the smoke on Sunday night, the arena staff has some time to figure it out. The Jazz have one game this week, against the Grizzlies in Memphis, and won’t be back at home until they host the Dallas Mavericks on Dec. 15. | true | classify this article contain milestone or not |
James Harden enters top 10 on NBA's all-time scoring list, passing Carmelo Anthony
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Jack BaerStaff writer
Sun, December 7, 2025 at 12:42 PM GMT+7
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James Harden certainly has his detractors, but there are few players in NBA history more effective than the Los Angeles Clippers star at putting points on the board. He reached a major milestone there on Saturday.
In the third quarter of a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the 36-year-old Harden passed Carmelo Anthony for 10th place on the NBA's all-time scoring list with 28,290 points. LeBron James (first) and Kevin Durant (eighth) are the only active players ahead of him.
Fittingly, given his style of play, Harden did it with a free throw.
James Harden has officially climbed into the NBA’s top 10 all-time scorers list 🔥
With his 21st point vs. Minnesota, Harden passed Carmelo Anthony for 10th all-time. pic.twitter.com/izMsT3F9xt
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) December 7, 2025
Harden finished the game with 34 points on 10-of-18 shooting, 6 assists, 5 rebounds, 4 steals and 4 turnovers. That big night wasn't enough to lift the struggling Clippers to a win, as the Timberwolves took the game 109-106.
L.A.'s record now sits at 6-18, second-worst in the Western Conference. Between the scandal around Kawhi Leonard and the dysfunction from the Chris Paul situation, it's hard to think of a worse start for a team that entered this season planning to contend.
James Harden
James
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PG - LAC - #1
2025 - 2026 season
26.8
Pts
5.4
Reb
8.3
Ast
1.2
Stl
35:21
Min
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Harden has scored in droves ever since his trade to the Houston Rockets, who turned him into an analytics monster via a focus on generating 3-pointers and free-throw shots. It's an unwatchable style of play for many fans, and one that was emulated by many around the league, but it also turned him into an MVP and perennial All-Star
Fittingly, Harden is already second on the all-time 3-pointer list (behind only Stephen Curry) and fifth on the all-time free-throw list (Karl Malone, James, Moses Malone, Kobe Bryant). He's also 13th on the assist list — and fourth on the turnover list.
When trying to explain James Harden, you could do worse than just reeling off where he ranks in the above stats.
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Where could Harden end up on the list? Since leaving the Rockets, he's averaged 21.0 points per game and 68.5 games in four full seasons. If he were to average that pace for another three seasons, that would work out to 4,321 points, enough to get him past Michael Jordan for fifth place and within striking distance of Bryant for fourth.
All-time NBA scoring list
LeBron James, 42,268
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 38,387
Karl Malone, 36,928
Kobe Bryant 33,643
Michael Jordan, 32,292
Dirk Nowitzki, 31,560
Wilt Chamberlain, 31,419
Kevin Durant, 31,024
Shaquille O'Neal, 28,596
James Harden, 28,303 | true | classify this article contain milestone or not |
Ten unanswered quarterback questions looming over the 2025 NFL playoff race (and beyond)
Published: Dec 03, 2025 at 11:59 AM
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Judy Battista
Senior National Columnist
There's just one month left in the regular season and when a season has no dominant team, it means a lot of questions are left to be answered. As with most things with the NFL, many of those questions revolve around the quarterbacks. We're not just curious about which quarterbacks may get their teams to the playoffs -- looking at you, Trevor Lawrence and Bryce Young. We're also wondering about quarterbacks who are struggling just to hang on to a job, or who are auditioning for their next one. Or who have just been a mystery this season. We may not get all the answers by the time the regular season wraps on Jan. 4, but these last five weeks will tell us plenty about what we'll see in the postseason and beyond.
1/ Can Jalen Hurts smooth over the Eagles' offensive issues in time to save their season? Despite their record, the Eagles offense has been in a season-long funk -- a largely absent running game, a failure to consistently involve their top playmakers, general lack of execution -- but the listless loss to the Bears on Black Friday, coming on the heels of blowing a 21-point lead to the Cowboys just five days earlier, had the feel of a developing emergency. The offense went three-and-out four times, another drive ended after two plays on an interception, another after four plays on a fumble. Hurts wasn't great Sunday -- he had a fumble on a tush push attempt, and the interception -- and he completed just eight of 16 pass attempts at the start of the fourth quarter. It's probably too late to hope that everything that has hampered the offense will be figured out this season, so it's going to be up to Hurts to play well enough to make up for all the other ills. If he does, the Eagles will be able to hold off the charging Cowboys. If he doesn't, the Eagles are going to hear more and more comparisons to their 2023 collapse and crash out of the playoffs.
2/ Is Lamar Jackson healthy enough to get the Ravens to the playoffs? Jackson missed games with a hamstring injury earlier in the season, but since he has returned, he has missed a day of practice in each of the least three weeks with three different lower body injuries. And he simply hasn't looked right, his mobility understandably impaired, and his accuracy nosediving. In the last four games, Jackson's completion percentage has been in the mid 50s. In the last three, he has not thrown a touchdown pass, and has been intercepted three times. The Ravens can beat quarterback-struggling teams like Minneapolis, Cleveland and the Jets without the best of Lamar. But they got blown out in Joe Burrow's return to the Bengals. The Ravens have a difficult schedule the rest of the way -- they face the Steelers twice, the Bengals, the Patriots and the Packers -- and they'll need something closer to normal Lamar-level play to get to the postseason.
3/ Can Shedeur Sanders show enough in his tryout to convince the Browns not to draft a quarterback in the spring? Sanders will get a third start this week, and there's an obvious path for him to keep the job the rest of the season. Sanders was fine Sunday in the Browns' loss to the 49ers -- he was 16-of-25 for 149 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions in windy conditions -- but the offense couldn't convert third-down opportunities and never got into the red zone. The Browns have two first-round draft picks in April, so they'll have the ability to get into position to draft a top quarterback if they want to. Sanders has these next few weeks to make it a difficult decision. Then there is the latest twist in the team's QB saga, with the team designating Deshaun Watson, whose disastrous play after being acquired at a massive cost helped sink Cleveland to the AFC cellar, to return from practice, though head coach Kevin Stefanski said Wednesday that getting Watson into games again is "really not my focus" at this time.
4/ Is any quarterback safe from Myles Garrett? Maybe only Sanders, since he's on Garrett's team. Everybody else is at risk from the league's best defensive player, who is in pursuit of the single-season sack record. Garrett has 19 sacks -- 15 in the last six games -- with five games to go. The record is 22.5, shared by Michael Strahan and T.J. Watt. Up next: Cam Ward, who has already been sacked a league-high 48 times this season.
5/ What becomes of Geno Smith in Las Vegas? This two-win season has been a debacle, already costing two Raiders coordinators their jobs and placing Pete Carroll on the hot seat. Smith was Carroll's handpicked quarterback, and the Seahawks gave him an extension that, theoretically, ties Smith to the Raiders through 2027, although the dead money would be manageable if the Raiders release Smith at the start of the next league year. Smith has thrown a league-leading 14 interceptions and been sacked 46 times. The Raiders have the second-worst scoring offense and in nine of their games have scored 20 or fewer points. At age 35, Smith was never going to be long-term solution, but he could be even more short-term than expected.
6/ Is there any way this isn't it for Aaron Rodgers? Earlier this season, when the Steelers were rolling, it was suggested Rodgers might decide not to retire after this season and the Steelers would want to keep him. Things have changed dramatically. The Steelers have lost five of their last seven games, have dropped out of first place in the AFC North, are currently outside of the AFC playoff field and on Sunday, could barely move the ball against the Bills. Rodgers' own performance has gone downhill in recent weeks -- his completion percentage in the last five weeks is under 60 percent -- has multiple fractures in his left wrist and is clearly frustrated with his pass catchers. And on Tuesday, he turned 42. Because every other AFC North team has its own issues, because the Steelers have also beaten teams like the Colts and Patriots and they still have both games against the Ravens ahead of them, they still have a very realistic shot to get into the playoffs. Even then, would Rodgers want to play on? And even if he does, would the Steelers consider running it back in 2026? Only a very dramatic turnaround on the field would seem to be enough to extend what was originally forged as a one-year experiment.
7/ Can Bo Nix be steady enough to make us confident the Broncos can go on a deep playoff run? The Broncos have so much going for them -- a Super Bowl-caliber defense, an experienced, winning head coach, and a belief in their ability to come from behind to win tight games. On Sunday night, they engineered their sixth game-winning drive in the fourth quarter or overtime of the season. Nix's inconsistency has been an issue throughout the season -- Sean Payton said a few weeks ago that his clock gets quick -- and it's probably something the Broncos would like to smooth out before they get into the playoffs. Nix has made wildly athletic plays -- check out some plays he kept alive Sunday night -- but he can also be inconsistent. He was not good in the fourth quarter against Washington as the Broncos tried to sustain drives to keep the Commanders from their own comeback attempt. On the other hand, Nix is cool in crunch time, and that is part of what has powered the Broncos into a race for the AFC’s No. 1 seed. On Sunday night, Payton said Nix is getting better and better, and the Broncos are operating better as a result. A bit more of that progress would go a long way to helping the Broncos go a long, long way in the postseason.
8/ Will Caleb Williams' completion percentage eventually be a problem? The Bears are 9-3 and currently the NFC’s top seed. And, weirdly, Williams' completion percentage is 58.1 percent, which is 40th in the league. Part of that is drops -- the Bears have dropped 18 of his passes already this season, compared to 20 in all of last season -- although according to Pro Football Reference, Williams' on-target throw percentage has also dropped from 72.4 to 67.3. Still, Williams is pushing the ball down the field more (his air yards per completed pass are up from 4.6 yards to 5.7 yards, per Next Gen Stats/. And, perhaps most importantly, he is not getting sacked anywhere near as much as he was last season -- 68 sacks to 19. Friday's victory over the Eagles came in wind and the Bears have the second-best rushing attack in the league. Still, Ben Johnson offered a blunt assessment of the passing game. "We're winning in spite of our passing game, not because of it. None of us are pleased with that right now." The Bears face a series of stout defenses in the next few weeks -- the Packers, Browns and Packers again -- and they will surely try to make Williams pass the Bears to victory.
9/ Can C.J. Stroud get back to form to push the Texans into the playoffs? We haven't yet seen the kind of explosiveness Stroud generated in 2023, but his return from a three-game absence with a concussion was promising for what it was. He was 22-of-35 passes for 276 yards and an interception, which came on a pass he sailed. Stroud said he was a little rusty. But he did what the Texans needed -- he mostly kept the chains moving, allowing the Texans to dominate the time of possession and being especially efficient on short passes (16-of-19 for 162 yards on short passes/, generating a huge road win over the Colts. The Texans defense is so good, they might not need the deeper passes that Stroud excelled at in his rookie season. If Stroud can knock off the rust while the Texans keep playing effective ball control games, the Texans could prevail in the AFC South.
10/ Can Jaxson Dart learn to protect himself? The Giants quarterback took a big hit and went flying near the sideline in the first quarter of Monday night's game. He was in bounds and trying to eke out an extra yard before he went out. It was an entirely legal hit -- the league has made clear it a quarterback is still in bounds and running, he will not be afforded special protection -- as was one earlier in the game by Harold Landry when Dart was forced to scramble as his pocket collapsed. Dart has already missed two games with a concussion and even if the Giants limit how often they call designed runs for Dart, he has to take steps to limit the contact he takes. Dart's running ability adds a dimension to the offense that it hasn't had before -- in five of his starts, he has rushed for at least 50 yards -- and it undoubtedly energizes the Giants offense. But like others before him -- Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen to name two -- Dart has to figure out the line between aggressive and reckless so he can stay on the field. After the game Monday night, Dart indicated he wouldn't have done anything different. | false | classify this article contain milestone or not |
NFL.com keeps you up to date with all of the latest league news from around the NFL. Visit NFL.com's transaction hub for a daily breakdown.NOTE: Teams listed in alphabetical orderREAD: Week 14 injury reportArizona CardinalsINJURIESOL Kelvin Beachum (groin) did not practiceRB Trey Benson (knee) DNPRB Emari Demercado (ankle) limitedWR Greg Dortch (chest) DNPWR Marvin Harrison Jr. (heel) DNPDL L.J. Collier (knee) was designated to return from injured reserve and was limitedDL Walter Nolen (knee) DNPCB Max Melton (heel) DNPSIGNINGSRB Jermar Jefferson (practice squad)WR Bryson Green (practice squad)TE Pharaoh Brown (practice squad to active roster)Atlanta FalconsINJURIESWR Drake London (knee) did not participate in Wednesday's practice.DL Brandon Dorlus (groin) DNPDL David Onyemata (foot) DNPLB Josh Woods (hamstring) fullLB Malik Verdon (shoulder) fullS DeMarcco Hellams (hamstring) DNPBaltimore RavensINJURIESQB Lamar Jackson (ankle) was limited in Wednesday's practice.WR Rashod Bateman (ankle) fullWR Devontez Walker (groin) fullLB Tavius Robinson (foot) limitedCB Nate Wiggins (foot) limitedS Ar'Darius Washington (Achilles) limitedSIGNINGSTE Mark Andrews has agreed to terms on a three-year, $39.3 million contract extension that includes $26 million guaranteed, NFL Network Insider Mike Garafolo reported. The team later announced the news.Buffalo BillsINJURIESWR Josh Palmer (knee/ankle) did not participate in Wednesday's practice.TE Jackson Hawes (back) fullTE Dalton Kincaid (hamstring/knee) limitedOL Spencer Brown (shoulder) limitedOL Dion Dawkins (concussion) limitedDE Joey Bosa (hamstring) is considered week to week, head coach Sean McDermott told reporters.DT T.J. Sanders (wrist) fullLB Terrel Bernard (elbow) DNPLS Reid Ferguson (neck) fullWAIVERSCB Darius Slay was claimed off waivers from the Steelers, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported. The team later announced the move.ROSTER CUTSCB Ja'Marcus IngramChicago BearsINJURIESRB Kyle Monangai (ankle) did not participate in Wednesday's practice.WR Rome Odunze (foot) DNPDL Andrew Billings (concussion) fullDL Dominique Robinson (concussion) fullLB Ruben Hyppolite II (shoulder) DNPLB T.J. Edwards (hand/hamstring) limitedLB Noah Sewell (elbow) fullDB Tyrique Stevenson (hip) DNPDB Jaylon Johnson (groin) fullCincinnati BengalsINJURIESRB Tahj Brooks (concussion) was limited in Wednesday's practice.RB Chase Brown (calf) fullWR Jermaine Burton (ankle) fullWR Tee Higgins (concussion) limitedDE Trey Hendrickson (hip/pelvis) DNPDE Cameron Sample (oblique) fullLB Shaka Heyward (fibula) designated to return from injured reserve. Heyward was limited in Wednesday's practice.Cleveland BrownsINJURIESQB Deshaun Watson (Achilles) designated to return to practice from PUP list.RB Dylan Sampson (calf) did not participate in Wednesday's practice.TE Brenden Bates (ankle) DNPTDavid Njoku (knee) limitedOT Jack Conklin (concussion) DNPG Wyatt Teller (calf) DNPT Adin Huntington (quad) DNPDE Isaiah McGuire (knee) DNPDE Alex Wright (quad) limitedLB Devin Bush (foot) DNPLB Carson Schwesinger (ankle) limitedS Rayshawn Jenkins (knee) limitedDallas CowboysINJURIESOT Tyler Guyton (ankle) was ruled out for Thursday's game against the Lions.DE Jadeveon Clowney (hamstring) questionableCB Trevon Diggs (knee) outS Malik Hooker (back) questionableDenver BroncosINJURIESTE Nate Adkins (knee) did not participate in Wednesday's practice.DT D.J. Jones (ankle) DNPLB Jonah Elliss (hamstring) fullCB Reese Taylor (chest) fullDetroit LionsINJURIESRB Sione Vaki (thumb) is questionable for Thursday's game against the Cowboys.WR Kalif Raymond (ankle) outWR Amon-Ra St. Brown (ankle) questionableTE Brock Wright (neck) outTE Shane Zylstra (knee) outOT Taylor Decker (shoulder) questionableOT Penei Sewell (shoulder) questionableOL Graham Glasgow (knee) questionableG Kayode Awosika (foot) questionableDB Brian Branch (toe/ankle) questionableS Kerby Joseph (knee) outGreen Bay PackersINJURIESQB Jordan Love (left shoulder) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice.RB Josh Jacobs (knee) limitedRB MarShawn Lloyd (calf) limitedWR Matthew Golden (wrist) limitedWR Jayden Reed (foot/shoulder) limitedWR Dontayvion Wicks (ankle) limitedWR Savion Williams (foot) did not participateOL Zach Tom (back) limitedDL Karl Brooks (ankle) limitedDL Brenton Cox (groin) limitedDL Collin Oliver (hamstring) limitedDL Barryn Sorrell (ankle) limitedDL Lukas Van Ness (foot) DNPDL Devonte Wyatt (ankle) DNPLB Edgerrin Cooper (shoulder) limitedLB Quay Walker (neck) limitedCB Nate Hobbs (knee) limitedS Javon Bullard (ankle) limitedSIGNINGSWR Will Sheppard (practice squad)DL Jordon Riley (active roster)Houston TexansINJURIESRB Woody Marks (ankle) did not participate in Wednesday's practice.OT Trent Brown (hand) DNPDE Will Anderson Jr. (chest/shoulder) DNPDE Denico Autry (knee) DNPDT Tim Settle (foot) DNPLB Azeez Al-Shaair (knee) limitedLB Jamal Hill (hamstring) DNPCB Kamari Lassiter (foot) DNPSIGNINGSOT Jaylon Thomas (practice squad)DE Solomon Byrd (practice squad to active roster)LB Xavier Thomas (practice squad)CB Ameer Speed (practice squad to active roster)Indianapolis ColtsINJURIESQB Daniel Jones (fibula) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice.WR Josh Downs (hip/knee) did not participateDE Tyquan Lewis (ankle) DNPLB Jaylon Carlies (ankle) fullCB Sauce Gardner (calf) is not expected to land on injured reserve, an indication he could return within four weeks, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported. Gardner is considered week to week with a calf strain. Gardner did not participate in Wednesday's practice.CB Kenny Moore (illness/ankle) DNPSIGNINGSK Blake Grupe (practice squad)ROSTER CUTSC Jimmy Morrissey (practice squad)Jacksonville JaguarsINJURIESWR Parker Washington (hip) did not participate in Wednesday's practice.OL Chuma Edoga (calf) limitedOL Walker Little (concussion) DNPOL Patrick Mekari (concussion) limitedDE Danny Striggow (knee) limitedDE Travon Walker (knee) DNPDT Arik Armstead (hand) limitedLB Devin Lloyd (chest) limitedLB Foye Oluokun (hamstring) limitedCB Jourdan Lewis (neck) fullS Eric Murray (neck) fullS Andrew Wingard (concussion) DNPP Logan Cooke (shoulder) limitedLS Ross Matiscik (back) limitedSIGNINGSWR Austin Trammell (practice squad)DL Matt Dickerson (from practice squad)Kansas City ChiefsINJURIESQB Patrick Mahomes (knee) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice.RB Isiah Pacheco (knee) fullWR Nikko Remigio (shoulder) fullWR Rashee Rice (hamstring) fullTE Noah Gray (concussion/shoulder) fullOT Jawaan Taylor (triceps/knee) DNPLT Josh Simmons was placed on injured reserve after having surgery on his wrist.G Trey Smith (ankle) DNPDE George Karlaftis (thumb) fullCB Christian Roland-Wallace (back) DNPS Bryan Cook (ankle) fullS Jaden Hicks (shoulder) fullSIGNINGSOT Esa Pole (practice squad to active roster)OT Matt Waletzko (practice squad)Las Vegas RaidersINJURIESQB Geno Smith (foot) was limited in Wednesday's practice.WR Alex Bachman (thumb) DNPWR Dont'e Thornton Jr. (concussion) DNPTMichael Mayer (ankle) DNPC Jordan Meredith (ankle) limitedC Will Putnam (shoulder) fullG Dylan Parham (back) DNPDE Maxx Crosby (knee) limitedLB Jamal Adams (knee) fullSIGNINGSWR Brenden Rice (practice squad)LB Jamin Davis (practice squad)Los Angeles ChargersINJURIESQB Justin Herbert says a plate and a few screws were put into his left hand during surgery this week. Herbert told reporters that he plans to play in Monday's game against the Eagles.Los Angeles RamsINJURIERSRB Kyren Williams (ankle) was limited in Wednesday's practiceWR Davante Adams (hamstring) did not practice Wednesday.WR Tutu Atwell (hamstring) fullNT Poona Ford (calf) DNPOByron Young (knee) limitedLB Omar Speights (ankle) limitedCB Darious Williams (tibia) DNPS Kamren Kinchens (shoulder) limitedMiami DolphinsINJURIESFB Alec Ingold (neck) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice.OL Aaron Brewer (ankle/neck) fullOL Austin Jackson (toe) fullDT Benito Jones (ankle) fullCB Rasul Douglas (foot/illness) limitedS Ifeatu Melifonwu (thumb) fullMinnesota VikingsINJURIESQB J.J. McCarthy (concussion) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice.RB Ty Chandler (knee) was designated to return to practice. Chandler was limited.RB Aaron Jones (shoulder) limitedOL Donovan Jackson (ankle) DNPLT Christian Darrisaw (knee) fullC Ryan Kelly (hip) limitedG Blake Brandel (concussion) limitedDL Levi Drake Rodriguez (neck) DNPDL Jalen Redmond (hip) limitedLB Jonathan Greenard (shoulder) limitedS Josh Metellus (shoulder) limitedS Theo Jackson (neck) limitedSIGNINGSWR Joaquin Davis (practice squad)New Orleans SaintsINJURIESRB Alvin Kamara (knee/ankle) did not participate in Wednesday's practice.WR Chris Olave (back) DNPT Taliese Fuaga (ankle) DNPS Justin Reid (knee) DNPSIGNINGSWR Dante PettisG William Sherman (practice squad to active roster)New York JetsINJURIESDE Jermaine Johnson II (ankle) did not participate in Wednesday's practice.DE Will McDonald IV (ankle) limitedLB Cam Jones (hip) was designated to return from injured reserve. Jones was a full participant.LB Marcelino McCrary-Ball (hamstring) will be out for Sunday's game against the Dolphins, head coach Aaron Glenn told reporters. McCrary-Ball did not participate.CB Jarvis Brownlee Jr. (hip) will be out for Week 14, per Glenn.CB Qwan'tez Stiggers (concussion) DNPS Tony Adams (groin) DNPPittsburgh SteelersINJURIESQB Aaron Rodgers (left wrist) did not participate in Wednesday's practice.WR Ben Skowronek (shoulder) limitedOL Calvin Anderson (knee) limitedDT Derrick Harmon (knee) DNPLB Patrick Queen (glute) DNPLB T.J. Watt (toe) DNPCB Donte Kent had his 21-day practice window open. He was limited in Wednesday's practice.CB James Pierre (concussion) limitedSIGNINGSLB Kana'i Mauga (practice squad)Seattle SeahawksINJURIESQB Drew Lock (personal) was limited in Wednesday's practice.WR Cody White (abdomen) fullWR Dareke Young (quad) was designated to return to practice. Young was a full participant in practice.TE AJ Barner (knee/shoulder) limitedG Anthony Bradford (elbow) fullDT Jarran Reed (wrist/thumb) was designated to return to practice. Reed was a full participant in practice.DE Rylie Mills (knee) limitedS Julian Love (hamstring) was designated to return to practice. Love was limited in practice.S Ty Okada (oblique) limitedROSTER CUTSDT Johnathan HankinsTampa Bay BuccaneersINJURIESQB Baker Mayfield (left shoulder) was limited in Wednesday's practice.RB Bucky Irving (shoulder) limitedWR Mike Evans' 21-day practice window to return from injured reserve will be opened Wednesday, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported. The team later announced the news. Evans has been out since Week 7 with a broken clavicle. Evans was limited in Wednesday's practice.WR Chris Godwin (fibula) limitedWR Jalen McMillan's 21-day practice window to return from injured reserve will be opened Wednesday, Rapoport reported. The team later announced the news. McMillan has been out with a neck injury since August. McMillan was limited in Wednesday's practice.OT Tristan Wirfs (oblique) DNPLB Haason Reddick (ankle) fullCB Benjamin Morrison (hamstring) fullS Rashad Wisdom (quad) fullTennessee TitansINJURIESWR Chimere Dike (quad) was limited in Wednesday's practice.C Lloyd Cushenberry (foot) did not participateDT Shy Tuttle (concussion) fullCB Jalyn Armour-Davis (Achilles) DN | false | classify this article contain milestone or not |
Monahan and Coyle lead Blue Jackets past Devils 5-3 to stop 4-game skid
NEWARK, N.J. -- — Sean Monahan scored twice and the Columbus Blue Jackets overcame an early two-goal deficit to beat the New Jersey Devils 5-3 on Monday night, snapping a four-game skid.
Charlie Coyle scored the go-ahead goal 6:40 into the third period and added two assists for the Blue Jackets, who were 0-1-3 in their previous four games. Miles Wood had a goal and an assist, and Denton Mateychuk also scored.
Elvis Merzlikins made 30 saves, and defenseman Zach Werenski had two assists.
Nico Hischier, Ondrej Palat and Timo Meier scored for the Devils, who opened a 2-0 lead 3:03 into the game. It was Meier's 10th goal of the season and fifth in the last six games.
Jesper Bratt had two assists for the second straight game, and Hischier had one to give him 12 points in the past six games. Jake Allen stopped 19 shots.
New Jersey (16-9-1) was handed its second consecutive loss in regulation at home after starting 9-0-1 at the Prudential Center this season. The Devils missed an opportunity to move ahead of Carolina for first place in the Metropolitan Division.
Columbus (12-9-5) improved to 5-5-2 in the past 12 games and climbed out of last place in the Metropolitan Division, one point ahead of the New York Rangers.
Monahan scored on a power-play wrist shot at 7:14 of the third, assisted by Isac Lundestrom, to put Columbus up 4-2.
The Blue Jackets won 62.3% of the faceoffs in the game. | false | classify this article contain milestone or not |
New York Giants rookie Abdul Carter knows he has a lot of growing up to do after his second benching of the season."I'm learning a lot in terms of just being a man, being in the NFL, just going through it," he said Tuesday ahead of the Giants' bye week. "I'm learning a lot and I'm glad I'm going through it so I can be better prepared in the future."Carter was benched for the first quarter of Monday’s loss to New England, the second time this season the No. 3 overall pick has been disciplined by the club. The club didn't announce the reason for the benching other than to say it was a coaching decision by Mike Kafka.Carter has taken criticism from his own teammates, with captain Dexter Lawrence calling him "hard-headed.""Just grow up, really," Lawrence said, noting the issues are "young stuff that can't happen."Carter was asked how he responds when a teammate calls him out."I take it. The guys who say that, those are guys I look up to, guys I respect," he said. "So, if they say something like that, I'm going to look at myself first, like 'alright, what am I doing? How can I get better?' and prove to them that I can earn their respect and go out and be who I'm supposed to be."On Tuesday, general manager Joe Schoen, who made Carter a top-three selection, defended the decision to bench the first-rounder, but also fought against the perception that it's becoming an issue for the rookie."Abdul is a young man that's 21 years old, that's smart and understands the magnitude of his actions and also understands what it means to be a pro," the GM said. "And these kids are 21 years old, and they're thrust into the spotlight in New York City and it's not always going to be perfect. People make mistakes. Nobody's perfect. Part of our job is to develop them as football players, but also as people and we will continue to do that with everybody in this organization."Carter said that how he responds on the field will be more important than the off-field discipline."I would say just what I do on the field after I've been through all this adversity, all the controversy," he said. "How do I respond? Do I shy away from it or do I accept the challenge and become better and improve, keep improving, and be the man I'm supposed to be?"If Carter does indeed become a force on the field, his rookie struggles will be a sidenote in his story. However, if things continue to spiral with Big Blue, it could be his defining moment. We've seen other first-rounders quickly wash out in New York. | false | classify this article contain milestone or not |
Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson knows the most vital test of his season awaits Sunday at Lambeau Field, in his first game in the historic rivalry with the Green Bay Packers.Johnson spent part of Tuesday buttering up his opponent."It might be the best defense we've seen all year," Johnson said, via the team's official transcript. "So, all hands on deck. It's going to take all three phases for us here this week."Certainly, by most counting stats, the Packers boast a better defense than anything the Bears have faced thus far. The only team close would be Philadelphia, whom the Bears bested, 24-15, a week ago.Micah Parsons has keyed a stiff Packers defense, which ranks fourth in yards allowed and sixth in points. Parsons had 2.5 sacks, four QB hits, three tackles for loss and 10 QB pressures in Week 13 at Detroit. He's the only player to have two games with 10+ pressures in 2025, per Next Gen Stats -- the rest of the NFL has three such games combined this season.Johnson, however, made sure to compliment the entirety of Jeff Hafley's defense."Personnel-wise, they're pretty loaded across the board," Johnson said. "You've got multiple guys up front that you have to be aware of. Starting with Micah doing a great job moving around, so it's hard to get a beat for where he's going to be. (Packers DL) Rashan Gary's still playing at a high level, and then they've got a lot of depth up there too. But you can tell they're really well coached."They do a great job shedding blocks on their front line with the linebackers. Lot of respect for (Packers LB) Quay Walker, he has been doing it at a high level now for a number of years. And (Packers LB Edgerrin) Cooper, I don't think that he was healthy when I was calling games last year against them, but he shows up all over the tape. He's flying around. They are matchup issues for your backs and pass pro. You can tell they bring it. Fast players sideline to sideline."And then, I think the safeties are probably the two best safeties that we've seen all year long. They're extremely active in the run game. They're all over the field and so we've got a tall task here at hand."And then when you combine it with the scheme, I think Hafley does a great job of making it simple for them. And yet, to the offense, it can seem fairly complex, and those guys just go out and they play really fast and that's what shows up all over the tape."The Green Bay defense has allowed 18.8 points per game but has been even better in its losses. The Packers have allowed 13.0 PPG in losses, the fewest in the NFL (tied with the 2000 Ravens for fewest PPG allowed in losses in the last 40 seasons).Hafley's crew has also been stingy against division opponents. In three games (two against Detroit, one versus Minnesota), the Packers have allowed 14.3 PPG, second-fewest in the NFL.Pressure will be the key for both sides: Can Green Bay disrupt Caleb Williams or will the Bears' offensive line hold Parsons at bay?The Packers defense has a 35.9 QB pressure rate in 2025, ninth-highest in the NFL. Williams has a 41.8 completion percentage under pressure in 2025, fifth-lowest in the league.Williams under pressure: 41.8 comp pct, 4.9 yds/att, 2 TD, 2 INT, 56.0 passer rating.Williams with no pressure: 64.3 comp pct, 7.6 yds/att, 15 TD, 3 INT, 100.5 passer rating.Given the struggles of the Bears' passing attack, expect Johnson to saddle up running backs D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai once again. Green Bay has allowed 98.3 rush yards per game (eighth-fewest), but the loss of defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt to a season-ending injury means the middle is a potential soft spot for the Green Bay defense.Sunday will mark the 211th Bears-Packers matchup, including playoffs, most in NFL history. The Packers hold the all-time series lead 108-96-6. | false | classify this article contain milestone or not |
GM Joe Schoen on being held accountable for Giants' struggles as fired HC Brian Daboll was: 'My hand's in it just like Brian's' Published: Dec 02, 2025 at 04:33 PM Author Image Around the NFL Staff NFL.com The New York Giants sit at 2-11 following Monday's lopsided loss to the New England Patriots, eliminated from the playoffs for a third consecutive season and currently led by an interim head coach. General manager Joe Schoen on Tuesday faced the heat from a contentious New York media, answering questions on the roster he assembled this season and why he should be in charge next season. "I understand the frustrations of the fans, the ownership, people inside the building, and nobody's more frustrated than myself," Schoen said during his new conference preceding New York's bye week. "It starts with me, and I'm tasked with trying to get this organization going back in the proper direction, and the standard is to compete for championships year in, year out. That's the plan moving forward. So, we're going to look at everything -- free agency, draft, coaching, finishing, execution on the field; whatever it may be -- we're going to look at all avenues in order to get this franchise back to where it belongs." Schoen joined New York during the 2022 offseason and the Giants saw early success under him and former head coach Brian Daboll, winning a playoff game in their first season at the helm. Since then, however, the franchise has cratered and is sitting at a third consecutive season of at least 11 losses. Related Links Giants QB Jaxson Dart won't change playing style: Big hits 'just part of the game' 2026 NFL Draft order and updated needs for every team NFL Power Rankings, Week 14: Bears reach new heights, while Lions fall out of top 10 That futility cost Daboll his job on Nov. 11. In announcing the decision to part ways with Daboll, the Giants said that Schoen would remain in his position and will lead the search for a new head coach. Assistant Mike Kafka took over interim HC duties after Daboll's firing, and Schoen told reporters on Tuesday that Kafka is "getting a real look right now" at getting the role full-time. "My focus right now is on supporting Kafka as we go forward and we'll evaluate all aspects of the football operation as we go forward," Schoen said. "Has it been perfect? No, but I'm very confident in my staff, in myself, and our ability to get this franchise back to where it needs to go." Schoen was asked on Tuesday why Daboll was held accountable but he seemingly has not. "My hand's in it just like Brian's. Ownership made a decision to move on and, again, I'm going to control what I can control and that's support (interim HC Mike) Kafka moving forward," Schoen said. "I wish Dabs nothing but the best, and we're going to do everything we can to get this franchise back to where it should be." Schoen appeared to have entered a make-or-break offseason this past winter after the Giants went 3-14 in 2024. When told that the franchise is in the same position now as it was a year ago, Schoen pointed to a young nucleus of talent that should provide reason for optimism. The Giants appear to have hit on a potential franchise QB after trading back into the first round to select Jaxson Dart, and rookie running back Cam Skattebo was a brief sensation out of the backfield before he suffered a season-ending injury. Wide receiver Malik Nabers had a standout rookie season in 2024 before a knee injury ended his sophomore season in September. "We do have a good, young quarterback that's on a rookie contract for the next four years," Schoen said. "That's when it gets fun -- when you're building around a young quarterback, you have a good nucleus, you have a good left tackle, you have a wide receiver that had a historic year in his rookie season, you got a good running back room, you got good pass rushers. There are pieces in place, and I do understand the question. I do have confidence in our ability and our process to find the next coach to lead the organization." One of those supposed building blocks -- No. 3 overall pick Abdul Carter -- has had a disappointing rookie campaign, marred by multiple disciplinary issues. Carter was benched for the first quarter of Monday's loss, which marked his second benching to begin a game in three weeks. Schoen defended Carter on Tuesday, while supporting Kafka in how he disciplines players. "(Carter's) smart and understands the magnitude of his actions and also understands what it means to be a pro," Schoen said. "These kids are 21 years old and they're thrust in the spotlight in New York City. It's not always going to be perfect." Dart has also faced questions about his style of play after he missed two games due to a concussion and endured a number of big hits when he returned to action on Monday. "What makes these players great is their toughness, their competitiveness, their desire to win," Schoen said. "You appreciate that about Jaxson, but you also have to be available and try not to take the unnecessary hits. I would say last night was probably unnecessary, probably could have gotten out of bounds and it's third-and-1. Instead, we get a penalty, and he takes a shot and now it's third-and-16. There's a fine line, and what makes Jaxson great is his competitiveness, his desire to win and that's the way he's wired. So, you try and find a fine line between playing smart but also not taking away what makes him great." | false | classify this article contain milestone or not |
Joe Burrow clarifies that 'fun' comments weren't aimed at Bengals following shutout loss to Ravens
Published: Dec 15, 2025 at 07:18 AM
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Kevin Patra
Senior News Writer
Joe Burrow said he wasn't having much fun playing football before getting shut out by the Baltimore Ravens at home. The football life hasn't given much to smile about this season in Cincy, as the Bengals were officially eliminated from the postseason following a 24-0 home beatdown to their AFC North rivals.
Burrow said his comments last week, in which he soberly said, "If I want to keep doing this, I have to have fun doing it," weren't aimed at the organization.
"My comments had nothing to do with Cincinnati," Burrow said after the game, via ESPN. "My comments had everything to do with me and my mindset and football."
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Burrow certainly didn't look like he was having much fun on Sunday, on a bitterly cold day in Cincinnati. The star QB completed 25 of 39 passes for 225 yards with zero touchdowns and two interceptions for a 58.2 passer rating, the second-lowest passer rating in his career. Both of Burrow's INTs came with the Bengals inside the Ravens' 30-yard line, including a pick-six that ended any threat from the home team.
After Burrow said he played close to perfect in last week's loss to Buffalo, he put up one of the most dismal outings of his career against Baltimore.
"I think this is one of the worst games that I've played," Burrow said. "I'm honest with myself and my play, and I hold myself to a high standard, and today didn't come close."
The last time a Burrow-led team was shut out: 2018 at LSU versus Alabama.
The offense as a whole was disjointed, but Burrow, who took three sacks, wanted to shoulder much of the blame.
"Bad football teams do losing things," Burrow said, "and if you're wanting to compete for championships and be in the playoffs, then No. 1, your quarterback has to play better than I did today." | false | classify this article contain milestone or not |
Mike Tomlin shares frustration of fans with Steelers at 6-6: 'I don't like it' Published: Dec 02, 2025 at 02:43 PM Author Image Associated Press PITTSBURGH -- Mike Tomlin isn't immune to the chorus of boos that chased the Pittsburgh Steelers to the locker room after a blowout loss to Buffalo on Sunday. If anything, the longest-tenured coach in the NFL felt the same way after watching his team get pushed around while losing for the fifth time in seven games. "In general, I agree with them, from this perspective: Football is our game, we're in a sport entertainment business," Tomlin said Tuesday. "And so if you root for the Steelers, entertaining them is winning. And so when you're not winning, it's not entertaining." And it hasn't been entertaining lately for Pittsburgh, which has looked like a first-place team only in the standings for the better part of the past two months. The angst inside Acrisure Stadium boiled over in the fourth quarter, when the crowd booed as the song "Renegade" by Styx -- long a late-game staple designed to fire up the defense -- began to play. "If you've been in this business, you understand that, and so I respect it," Tomlin said. "I share frustrations, I understand what makes this thing go, and winning is what makes this thing go." Tomlin wasn't the only one on the Steelers sideline whose frustrations bubbled over as the Bills piled up 249 yards rushing and held the ball for nearly 42 minutes. Related Links NFL Power Rankings, Week 14: Bears reach new heights, while Lions fall out of top 10 NFL playoff picture: Postseason probabilities entering Week 14 of the 2025 season 2025 NFL playoffs: Reason for hope for seven bubble teams entering Week 14 Longtime defensive captain Cameron Heyward drew a flag for taunting Bills quarterback Josh Allen after a third-quarter touchdown pass to Keon Coleman put Buffalo up 16-7, though Heyward later said he was responding to an incident earlier in the game in which Heyward claimed Allen intentionally kneed him in the groin. Pittsburgh backup defensive lineman Esezi Otomewo drew an unnecessary roughness call in the final minutes to help extend a game-sealing drive. "I own the responsibility of making sure that these guys understand a component of being a tough team to beat is not beating ourselves," Tomlin said. "We had some penalties and certainly you're gonna have penalties when you play. But penalties of the 15-yard variety, loss of composure and things of that nature hadn't been us. And so that needs to be corrected immediately." It does if the Steelers want to have any chance of breaking out of a swoon that has robbed them of the good vibes produced during a 4-1 start. Three of Pittsburgh's past five losses have been by at least 10 points, all three to teams with designs on the playoffs themselves. Tomlin remains bullish on his team's prospects even with not much to go on of late. "Certainly our last performance wasn't up to snuff, but I don't know that it lessens our belief in self or our ability to deliver individually and collectively moving forward," he said. Asked if he feels his team has an identity three months into the season, Tomlin laughed. "Yeah, 6-6, and I don't like it," he said. Pittsburgh is 6-11 in its past 17 games going back to the end of last season, when a 10-3 start morphed into a free fall punctuated by a lopsided defeat in Baltimore in the opening round of the playoffs. While Tomlin likes to point out that one season does not necessarily correlate to the next, the issues that troubled the Steelers down the stretch in 2024 -- namely, an inability to stop the run -- have continued deep into 2025. Pittsburgh drafted defensive lineman Derrick Harmon and Yahya Black and brought in Daniel Ekuale to join a group that includes Heyward, Keeanu Benton and Dean Lowry. Lowry was injured in training camp, Ekuale was lost for the season in a loss to Green Bay in October and Harmon has been forced to sit twice because of knee problems. "You can't run out of bigs," Tomlin said. "If you run out of bigs in AFC North ball, you're running on the beach, certainly." The Steelers are a middling 17th against the run this season, and now face a Ravens team that smashed them for 299 yards on the ground the most recent time the rivals met 11 months ago. "Certainly at different times in this journey, I felt really good about (our physicality)," Tomlin said. "And so I think that could describe a lot of conversations, as I mentioned earlier when you're sitting at 6-6. For us it's about absorbing that and understanding that and plotting a course to move forward." | false | classify this article contain milestone or not |
Mike Tomlin shares frustration of fans with Steelers at 6-6: 'I don't like it' Published: Dec 02, 2025 at 02:43 PM Author Image Associated Press PITTSBURGH -- Mike Tomlin isn't immune to the chorus of boos that chased the Pittsburgh Steelers to the locker room after a blowout loss to Buffalo on Sunday. If anything, the longest-tenured coach in the NFL felt the same way after watching his team get pushed around while losing for the fifth time in seven games. "In general, I agree with them, from this perspective: Football is our game, we're in a sport entertainment business," Tomlin said Tuesday. "And so if you root for the Steelers, entertaining them is winning. And so when you're not winning, it's not entertaining." And it hasn't been entertaining lately for Pittsburgh, which has looked like a first-place team only in the standings for the better part of the past two months. The angst inside Acrisure Stadium boiled over in the fourth quarter, when the crowd booed as the song "Renegade" by Styx -- long a late-game staple designed to fire up the defense -- began to play. "If you've been in this business, you understand that, and so I respect it," Tomlin said. "I share frustrations, I understand what makes this thing go, and winning is what makes this thing go." Tomlin wasn't the only one on the Steelers sideline whose frustrations bubbled over as the Bills piled up 249 yards rushing and held the ball for nearly 42 minutes. Related Links NFL Power Rankings, Week 14: Bears reach new heights, while Lions fall out of top 10 NFL playoff picture: Postseason probabilities entering Week 14 of the 2025 season 2025 NFL playoffs: Reason for hope for seven bubble teams entering Week 14 Longtime defensive captain Cameron Heyward drew a flag for taunting Bills quarterback Josh Allen after a third-quarter touchdown pass to Keon Coleman put Buffalo up 16-7, though Heyward later said he was responding to an incident earlier in the game in which Heyward claimed Allen intentionally kneed him in the groin. Pittsburgh backup defensive lineman Esezi Otomewo drew an unnecessary roughness call in the final minutes to help extend a game-sealing drive. "I own the responsibility of making sure that these guys understand a component of being a tough team to beat is not beating ourselves," Tomlin said. "We had some penalties and certainly you're gonna have penalties when you play. But penalties of the 15-yard variety, loss of composure and things of that nature hadn't been us. And so that needs to be corrected immediately." It does if the Steelers want to have any chance of breaking out of a swoon that has robbed them of the good vibes produced during a 4-1 start. Three of Pittsburgh's past five losses have been by at least 10 points, all three to teams with designs on the playoffs themselves. Tomlin remains bullish on his team's prospects even with not much to go on of late. "Certainly our last performance wasn't up to snuff, but I don't know that it lessens our belief in self or our ability to deliver individually and collectively moving forward," he said. Asked if he feels his team has an identity three months into the season, Tomlin laughed. "Yeah, 6-6, and I don't like it," he said. Pittsburgh is 6-11 in its past 17 games going back to the end of last season, when a 10-3 start morphed into a free fall punctuated by a lopsided defeat in Baltimore in the opening round of the playoffs. While Tomlin likes to point out that one season does not necessarily correlate to the next, the issues that troubled the Steelers down the stretch in 2024 -- namely, an inability to stop the run -- have continued deep into 2025. Pittsburgh drafted defensive lineman Derrick Harmon and Yahya Black and brought in Daniel Ekuale to join a group that includes Heyward, Keeanu Benton and Dean Lowry. Lowry was injured in training camp, Ekuale was lost for the season in a loss to Green Bay in October and Harmon has been forced to sit twice because of knee problems. "You can't run out of bigs," Tomlin said. "If you run out of bigs in AFC North ball, you're running on the beach, certainly." The Steelers are a middling 17th against the run this season, and now face a Ravens team that smashed them for 299 yards on the ground the most recent time the rivals met 11 months ago. "Certainly at different times in this journey, I felt really good about (our physicality)," Tomlin said. "And so I think that could describe a lot of conversations, as I mentioned earlier when you're sitting at 6-6. For us it's about absorbing that and understanding that and plotting a course to move forward." | false | classify this article contain milestone or not |
NFL playoff picture: Postseason probabilities entering Week 14 of the 2025 season
Published: Dec 02, 2025 at 12:48 PM
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Ali Bhanpuri
Senior Director, Content & Editorial
Entering Week 14 of the 2025 NFL regular season, Ali Bhanpuri, with major assists from Special Projects Lead Tom Blair and Manager of NFL Research Jack Andrade, digs into the Next Gen Stats playoff probability model, which provides detailed estimates of each contending team's postseason chances. During live games, playoff probabilities are dynamically updated every five minutes, incorporating the latest win probabilities from NGS for all ongoing games in every simulation. Visit NFL.com's Playoff Picture for a live look at the latest postseason odds. For more context around terms like "If win," "If lose" and "playoff leverage" click here.
NOTE: All probabilities presented are current as of 11:30 a.m. ET on Dec. 2 unless otherwise noted below.
Jump to:
On the bubble
Still in the hunt
Division races
Remaining strength of schedule rankings
NFL playoff picture entering Week 14
AFC Playoff % If Win If Lose No. 1 seed %
1. Patriots (11-2) >99% BYE BYE 36%
2. Broncos (10-2) 99% >99% 96% 48%
3. Jaguars (8-4) 79% 95% 67% 4%
4. Ravens (6-6) 69% 84% 38% 0%
5. Chargers (8-4) 61% 76% 50% 2%
6. Colts (8-4) 72% 86% 55% 3%
7. Bills (8-4) 90% 96% 79% 6%
If you thought last week's AFC slate was juicy, just look at the high-leverage affairs on tap this Sunday:
No. 9 Steelers (6-6) at No. 4 Ravens (6-6): 92 points of combined leverage
No. 8 Texans (7-5) at No. 10 Chiefs (6-6): 75 points
No. 6 Colts (8-4) at No. 3 Jaguars (8-4): 52 points
That Steelers-Ravens number is staggering -- stakes we typically see closer to the end of the season. Although both teams would improve to 7-6 overall with a win, if the Ravens prevail, they'd be in position to lock up the division by Week 17 regardless of what Pittsburgh does, making their Week 18 rematch moot. However, even if Pittsburgh succeeds on Sunday and assumes the AFC North lead, the Ravens could still potentially overtake them in the season finale. This is why Baltimore's "If Win" playoff probability shoots up to 84 percent, while Pittsburgh's levels out at an uncomfortable 62 percent.
Whether you win by way of a failed two-point try or a 20-point margin, the W's all count the same in the final tally. No team knows that better than the Broncos, whose nine-game run since the end of September includes a league-high seven victories by four points or fewer. While their winning margins have not always been substantial, their lead over the AFC's bubble teams sure is, which is why Denver enters Week 14 with a 99 percent playoff probability.
Barring an epic disaster in Vegas this weekend (which, to be fair, can happen to the best of us), the Broncos will assume control of the No. 1 seed from the Pats (who have the week off) by Sunday evening.
The Bills' dominant performance at Pittsburgh added a couple points to their postseason probability and stacked another H2H win over a bubble team to their growing pile. With victories over Baltimore, Pittsburgh and Kansas City -- and potentially Cincinnati on Sunday -- Buffalo has only Houston to fear, should tie-breakers come into play. ...
... Speaking of the Texans (and their terrifying defense), they could make their playoff-picture debut with a win at Kansas City on Sunday. As it so happens, no AFC division has more at stake in Week 14 than the South, which could emerge from this weekend's chaos with a new clubhouse leader and three members in postseason position. Lot of moving parts here, so bear with me. Assuming Colts-Jags doesn't end in a tie, then:
If the Texans win at Kansas City on Sunday, they will end the week in possession of at least the seventh seed. If both the Chargers (at Eagles) and Bills (vs. Bengals) also win, then the loser of Colts-Jaguars exits the playoff picture entirely.
If the Texans win and either the Chargers or Bills lose, then Houston, Indy and Jacksonville would all be in possession of postseason slots entering Week 15.
If the Texans win and both the Chargers and Bills lose, then not only are all three AFC South teams in the picture, but Houston would jump up to the No. 5 seed, with the loser of Colts-Jags falling to No. 7.
Since its inaugural season 23 years ago, the AFC South has only sent three teams to the playoffs once before, in 2007.
L.A.'s Week 13 win over the Raiders came at a potentially season-altering cost, with Justin Herbert fracturing his non-throwing hand. The Bolts could really use some favorable news regarding their QB1's upcoming availability, because they won't find many positives in their remaining schedule. Sure, the season finale at Denver could end up being a winner-takes-all division bout, which would constitute something of a "positive," but that scenario only comes into play if L.A. is within one game of the Broncos' record when Week 18 arrives. And the Eagles, Chiefs, Cowboys and Texans figure to have different priorities when each takes on the Chargers over the next four weeks.
NFC Playoff % If Win If Lose No. 1 seed %
8. Bears (9-3) 76% 93% 70% 10%
9. Rams (9-3) 96% 98% 89% 36%
10. Eagles (8-4) 95% 98% 89% 9%
11. Buccaneers (7-5) 84% 88% 74% 1%
12. Seahawks (9-3) 93% 97% 85% 22%
13. Packers (8-3-1) 89% 95% 75% 12%
14. 49ers (9-4) 90% BYE BYE 9%
On Monday, Oct. 13, Chicago earned a walk-off win at Washington -- the site of last year's season-derailing Hail Mary loss -- to improve to 3-2 and 10th place in the NFC. Six wins, seven weeks and exactly 50 days later, the Bears sit alone atop the conference. For the first time since 2006 -- and in the 40th-anniversary season of the franchise's only Super Bowl-winning team -- the calendar has flipped to December with Chicago in first place. Let's take a minute to let that sink in. ...
... OK, now for the negative: The Bears haven't clinched anything yet. With five games to play and the fifth-hardest remaining slate, staying on top of the mountain might prove to be even harder than the climb up. As Ben Johnson said on Monday, the team will have to earn the right to play in the tournament. And while millions of Bears fans surely believe they will, the NGS model isn't quite there yet. Three squads currently sport a higher probability than Chicago (10%) to finish as the No. 1 seed (Rams, 36%; Seahawks, 22%; Packers, 12%). In fact, the Bears still aren't even the favorites to win the NFC North. As a Chicago kid, this just became personal with me. No free hot dogs for the Next Gen machine.
Much to the chagrin of Chicagoans, the Packers enter this weekend's head-to-head heavyweight bout following a huge win of their own, having secured the season sweep of the Lions on Thanksgiving. Every Bears-Packers game is meaningful in its own way, but Sunday's showdown has some particularly spicy stakes: If the Bears win at Lambeau, they become a near lock to clinch a postseason berth, bolstering their bid for the No. 1 seed and the NFC North title along the way; if the Packers win, they replace Chicago atop the division and, with losses by L.A. and Seattle, move to No. 1 in the conference, too.
... Speaking of No. 1 seeds being supplanted, Chicago's ascent to the top of the NFC was only made possible by the Panthers' stunning victory over the Rams on Sunday. Carolina has now pulled off the two biggest upsets of the 2025 season (along with Week 9 at Green Bay) and has a winning record (7-6), yet currently sits in 10th place with an 18% playoff probability. The NFC is nasty this year.
As for the team the Panthers beat on Sunday, well, the Rams remain the frontrunners for home-field advantage throughout, though their margin for error has dwindled. They still have to play Detroit and at Seattle over the next three weeks, with two rounds against Arizona also in the stretch-run mix. And don't be too hasty to count those Cardinals tilts toward the Rams' win total, as Jonathan Gannon's group has played the Rams tough over their two most recent matchups, handing L.A. its most lopsided loss of the 2020s last year in the desert.
Despite dropping back-to-back conference games, the Eagles still boast the second-best playoff probability of any NFC team (95%) thanks to their sizable division lead. But there's no way the reigning champs feel comfortable ceding two slots in as many weeks while the Cowboys claw their way back into contention.
After three consecutive wins, the 49ers hit the bye knowing their spot in the tournament will only improve during their break. San Francisco is guaranteed at least the No. 6 seed, regardless of how the week plays out. But their slot could get even better: Losses by the Seahawks (at Atlanta) and the Rams (at Arizona) would bump San Francisco up to the No. 2 seed. Like getting a promotion on your day off!
Which teams are on the playoff bubble?
AFC Bubble teams Playoff % If Win If Lose
15. Texans (7-5) 63% 85% 49%
16. Steelers (6-6) 31% 62% 15%
17. Chiefs (6-6) 35% 49% 11%
Considering the deep hole the Chiefs have dug for themselves, they couldn't have asked for a more favorable Week 14 slate with which to improve their playoff hopes. If Kansas City can handle business at home against red-hot Houston (7-5), the reigning AFC champs could hit Week 15 having made up serious ground in the postseason chase. All of the teams standing between them and a wild-card spot face stiff competition this weekend. Take a look:
No. 5 Chargers (8-4) vs. NFC No. 3 Eagles (8-4)
No. 6 Colts (8-4) at No. 3 Jaguars (8-4)
No. 7 Bills (8-4) vs. No. 12 Bengals (4-8 ... but Joe Burrow)
No. 9 Steelers (6-6) at No. 4 Ravens (6-6)
However, the same goes for the Texans, who have battled their way back into both the wild-card and AFC South races after a disappointing 0-3 start to the season. Over the last six weeks, they've beaten four squads that currently appear in the 14-team playoff field. Even if they were to lose at Kansas City on Sunday night, they still have matchups against the Chargers and Colts to come, which affords them some say in their final landing spot in the AFC standings.
The Steelers remain stuck on the bubble after their demoralizing loss to Buffalo at home. But they can't dwell on Sunday's miscues and missed chances (or growing fan discontent) for long -- not with another golden opportunity awaiting them this weekend in Baltimore. With a win, Pittsburgh ends its two-week absence from the playoff picture, returning to the No. 4 seed. With a loss, the Steelers' postseason probability sinks to a crushing 15%.
NFC Bubble teams Playoff % If Win If Lose
18. Lions (7-5) 43% 58% 23%
19. Cowboys (6-5-1) 16% 31% 6%
20. Panthers (7-6) 18% BYE BYE
The Cowboys have taken three straight -- including back-to-back games against last season's Super Bowl contenders -- to nearly triple their playoff probability from two weeks ago. But they'll need a fair amount of help to get over the large hurdles still standing in their way. Thursday night's prime-time affair at Detroit will serve as the Cowboys' last matchup with a team ahead of them in the standings, which means they'll have limited control over their future during the fourth quarter of the campaign. There's a flip side to that coin, though: Three of their final four opponents (Vikings, Commanders and Giants) have already been eliminated or are on the verge of elimination.
The Lions entered Ford Field last Thursday with a 75 percent playoff probability. They could leave their home turf this Thursday at 23 percent. In case you're not a numbers person, Dan Campbell's crew is officially in must-win territory.
Although the Panthers' road to the postseason almost certainly goes through the NFC South (more on that below), the model did project them as a wild-card team in 183 of 10,000 simulations.
So you're saying there's a chance ...
(Teams with less than 10% probability to earn a playoff spot.)
AFC fringe teams Playoff % If Win If Lose
21. Dolphins (5-7) <1% 1% <1%
22. Bengals (4-8) 2% 4% 1%
23. Jets (3-9) 0% 0% 0%
24. Browns (3-9) 0% 0% 0%
Miami's improbable return to contention remains ... highly improbable. Even with three consecutive wins, the Fins' probability continues to hover around 1 percent. They simply have too much ground to make up with too little time. Head-to-head losses against all three current wild-card teams certainly don't help, either.
The sand has all but run out on the Jets and Browns, who are both about as far away from the playoff picture as possible without being officially eliminated. Neither team earned a playoff berth in even one simulation this week -- including the "If Win" scenarios.
Eliminated AFC Teams
25. Las Vegas Raiders (2-10)
26. Tennessee Titans (1-11)
NFC fringe teams Playoff % If Win If Lose
27. Falcons (4-8) <1% <1% 0%
28. Vikings (4-8) <1% <1% 0%
29. Commanders (3-9) <1% <1% 0%
Three teams simply waiting for the other shoe to drop. At .02 percent, Minnesota will need many, many miracles to still earn a postseason berth. But that the Vikings punched their ticket in even one simulated scenario -- let alone two -- is kind of fun. With their best attainable record being 9-8, they'll need potential wild-card contenders with eight wins or fewer -- like Detroit, Green Bay and Dallas -- to fall short of the nine-win mark. And as it turns out, Minnesota will face the Lions, Packers and Cowboys over the next five weeks. So, do what you do best, Vikings fans, and root against the Cheeseheads this weekend.
Eliminated NFC Teams
30. Arizona Cardinals (3-9)
31. New Orleans Saints (2-10)
32. New York Giants (2-11)
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Who's most likely to win each division?
(Teams that have been mathematically eliminated from their divisional races are not included below.)
AFC East Division % Remaining Opponent
33. Patriots (11-2) | (3-0) 79% BYE, BUF, at BAL, at NYJ, MIA
34. Bills (8-4) | (2-2) 21% CIN, at NE, at CLE, PHI, NYJ
A win over the Bengals on Sunday would bring Buffalo to within two games of New England in the AFC East standings, with a head-to-head matchup on tap for Week 15. But the Pats could lose that rubber match with the Bills and the game after that, in Baltimore, and still lock up the division title by beating the Jets and Dolphins to close out the year.
The Dolphins were officially knocked out of division contention after the Patriots' win on Monday night.
AFC North Division % Remaining Opponent
35. Ravens (6-6) | (2-1) 69% PIT, at CIN, NE, at GB, at PIT
36. Steelers (6-6) | (2-1) 29% at BAL, MIA, at DET, at CLE, BAL
37. Bengals (4-8) | (3-1) 2% at BUF, BAL, at MIA, ARI, CLE
38. Browns (3-9) | (0-4) 0% TEN, at CHI, BUF, PIT, at CIN
Another season, another tight AFC North race. Unlike in previous years, however, neither the Ravens nor the Steelers have shown any apparent desire to actually win this competition, with both seemingly happy for the other to lose it.
Unfortunately for both, their missteps have opened the door for Joe Burrow's Bengals to re-enter the ring. While still longshots at 2 percent, Cincinnati has the best overall division record of the bunch and could sweep the Ravens in two weeks. The Bengals still need a fair amount of help to sneak into the tournament, but they're seemingly at their best when their backs are against the wall (SEE: Five-game win streak to close the 2024 campaign).
Since 2021, only the Bills (.818) and the Bucs (.750) have a higher win percentage than the Bengals (.739) in regular-season games once the NFL calendar reaches December.
The North holds the unpleasant distinction of being the only division without a team over .500. That should change this weekend when the Ravens and Steelers face off, but wouldn't it be fitting if that one ended in a tie?
AFC South Division % Remaining Opponent
39. Jaguars (8-4) | (2-1) 37% IND, NYJ, at DEN, at IND, TEN
40. Colts (8-4) | (2-1) 38% at JAC, at SEA, SF, JAC, at HOU
41. Texans (7-5) | (4-1) 25% at KC, ARI, LV, at LAC, IND
Get comfortable with being uncomfortable, folks, because this three-team race will likely take a few more twists and turns before the campaign comes to a close. Obviously, this weekend's Colts-Jags clash will have outsized implications on this competition, with the winner either retaining (in Jacksonville's case) or regaining (in Indy's case) control of the AFC South lead. But the pressure is truly on the Colts to capture Round 1, considering the sheer difficulty of their remaining slate (No. 1 in the NFL).
Whoever wins Sunday shouldn't spend much time celebrating -- not with Houston and its 4-1 division mark hovering over this race. Stay tuned!
AFC West Division % Remaining Opponent
42. Broncos (10-2) | (2-1) 87% at LV, GB, JAC, at KC, LAC
43. Chargers (8-4) | (4-0) 11% PHI, at KC, at DAL, HOU, at DEN
44. Chiefs (6-6) | (1-2) 2% HOU, LAC, at TEN, DEN, at LV
Los Angeles really needed Washington to convert that game-winning two-point try versus Denver on Sunday night. Without it, the Broncos' division win probability increased by 7 points, to an AFC-leading 87 percent, while the Chargers' odds fell to roughly one in 10. Factor in L.A.'s absolutely brutal remaining schedule and Justin Herbert's fractured left hand, and you don't need an algorithm to tell you that the Bolts are projected to finish second in the West -- at best.
Although it might not mean much to the final AFC West standings, the Chargers could still secure the franchise's first perfect division record since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger. If they end the season undefeated in AFC West play but still come up short to Denver (or K.C., however unlikely) in the pecking order, they'd join the 2010 Raiders as the only teams since realignment in 2002 to sweep their division but not win it.
NFC East Division % Remaining Opponent
45. Eagles (8-4) | (2-2) 92% at LAC, LV, at WSH, at BUF, WSH
46. Cowboys (6-5-1) | (3-1) 7% at DET, MIN, LAC, at WSH, at NYG
47. Commanders (3-9) | (1-1) <1% at MIN, at NYG, PHI, DAL, at PHI
Even with back-to-back losses coupled with back-to-back-to-back Cowboys victories, Philly's division win probability still sits at a robust 92 percent. The Super Bowl champs might be out of sync, but they're very much in the mix.
Despite a noble effort in a wildly entertaining Sunday night affair, Washington enters Week 14 in the ignominious position of sitting below an eliminated team in the overall NFC standings (Arizona) without having yet been eliminated from contention themselves. That's because, miraculously, they still have a path to No. 1 in the East: They need to win out, the Eagles need to lose out and the Cowboys must finish 7-8-2 or worse. As far-fetched as that seems, the model actually crowned the Commanders in three of 10,000 simulations -- which, honestly, is three more that I would've thought.
NFC North Division % Remaining Opponent
48. Bears (9-3) | (1-2) 36% at GB, CLE, GB, at SF, DET
49. Packers (8-3-1) | (3-0) 56% CHI, at DEN, at CHI, BAL, at MIN
50. Lions (7-5) | (1-3) 8% DAL, at LAR, PIT, at MIN, at CHI
I dug into the conference-altering implications of Bears-Packers Round 1 at the top, so I won't rehash all of that here. But it's worth noting that this week's heated rivalry game means more to Green Bay's NFC North title hopes than it does Chicago's. That's because even if the Bears fall at Lambeau Field on Sunday, they can retake the division lead by winning their Week 15 game (vs. Cleveland) and the Week 16 rematch with Green Bay. That's not the case for the Packers. If they lose this Sunday, they could win in Weeks 15 (at Denver) and 16 in Chicago and still be looking up at their adversaries in the division hierarchy.
With their season on the brink, the Lions have to beat Dallas on Thursday to preserve what little division potential remains.
The Vikings were officially eliminated from NFC North contention in Week 13.
NFC South Division % Remaining Opponent
51. Buccaneers (7-5) | (2-0) 83% NO, ATL, at CAR, at MIA, CAR
52. Panthers (7-6) | (2-1) 16% BYE, at NO, TB, SEA, at TB
53. Falcons (4-8) | (1-3) <1% SEA, at TB, at ARI, LAR, NO
The Panthers beat the nine-win Rams and the eight-win Packers (at Lambeau!) in the same month they lost at home to the two-win Saints. That volatility explains both how they find themselves within breathing distance of the Bucs and still a statistical longshot. The next two weeks are important, of course, but this race feels like it's in wait-and-see mode at least until Round 1 of their head-to-head series with Tampa kicks off in Week 16.
NFC West Division % Remaining Opponent
54. Rams (9-3) | (2-1) 55% at ARI, DET, at SEA, at ATL, ARI
55. Seahawks (9-3) | (2-2) 31% at ATL, IND, LAR, at CAR, at SF
56. 49ers (9-4) | (4-1) 14% BYE, TEN, at IND, CHI, SEA
The Rams' division win probability took a 19-point dip from last week, courtesy of Carolina, but they remain the favorite in this hotly contested race. For now. If Sean McVay's talented squad suffers another clunker in the coming weeks -- especially with Rams-Seahawks II on the horizon -- don't be surprised if the division lead changes hands more than once before season's end. ...
... And perhaps as soon as this weekend. A Rams loss at Arizona coupled with a Seattle win in Atlanta would propel the 'Hawks into first place. Even San Francisco, on its bye, could find itself leading the NFC West by next Tuesday if both L.A. and Seattle fall. Improbable, but, dare I say, not impossible.
Remaining strength of schedules for every NFL team
1) Colts: .672
2) Packers: .633
3) Chargers: .625
4) Seahawks: .597
5) Bears: .590
6) Ravens: .582
7) Lions: .575
8) 49ers: .563
9) Jets: .557
10) Cardinals: .550
11) Broncos: .542
12) Raiders: .541
13) Panthers: .521
14) Dolphins: .508
T-15) Falcons: .500
T-15) Jaguars: .500
15) Bills: .475
16) Commanders: .467
T-19) Browns: .467
T-19) Chiefs: .467
17) Titans: .459
18) Patriots: .458
T-23) Texans: .450
T-23) Steelers: .450
19) Vikings: .443
20) Rams: .433
21) Bengals: .417
22) Buccaneers: .403
23) Eagles: .400
24) Cowboys: .393
25) Saints: .361
26) Giants: .323 | false | classify this article contain milestone or not |
Laura: Spain-Brazil will be one of the most beautiful games
Published
4 Dec 2025
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Laura Cordoba discusses playing at the tournament with her twin sister, Ana Luiza and Emilly, and why the Spain-Brazil semi-final will be a spectacle.
MANILA, PHILIPPINES - NOVEMBER 18: Laura Cordoba of Spain poses for a portrait during the official FIFA Futsal Women's World Cup Philippines 2025 portrait session on November 18, 2025 in Manila, Philippines. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
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Fans were relishing some potential knockout-phase games as soon as the FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup Philippines 2025™ draw was made. Spain-Brazil topped the list. It’s now set. The teams guided by Claudia Pons and Wilson Saboia will collide on Friday for a place in the final.
How is the mood in the Spanish camp ahead of such an important match?
Personally I feel up for it, and the squad has worked hard in the build-up. We came here feeling confident about who Spain are, what we want to do and how far we want to go. The mood is upbeat, with everyone raring to go for the match. We knew that if everything worked out, we would meet Brazil in the semi-finals. However, we didn’t want to think about it. Instead we focussed on each match individually. Now the time has come, I think it’s important to show our confidence and belief to reach our target of playing in the final.
Spain have won all four matches, scored 23 goals and conceded only four. What’s your take on the team’s performance?
I think that each player contributes their best on an individual basis at their clubs, so when we’re together, we have that solidity in both defence and attack. It shows what Spain is all about, why we’re here, and gives us the confidence to keep pushing forward.
🎯🎯🎯#FutsalWWC
— FIFA Women's World Cup (@FIFAWWC) November 25, 2025
Brazil are next. How do you rate them?
Although we haven’t seen much of them, we already know who they are. Some of them play in Spain and while others don’t, we’ve already come up against them. We know they are a tough team to play against and that they are going to make us work hard, both physically and mentally, so we need to be really focussed. Even the slightest slip-up could prove decisive when it comes to the outcome of the match.
Brazil have won 41 successive games, with their last defeat coming in Melilla in March 2022. Do you remember scoring the volley that proved to be the winner?
It’s a very emotional memory for me. The team came out full of ambition and determination. It felt like the whole of Spain scored that goal because it was one of the few times we beat Brazil, which meant we were on top of the world. We felt that everything we were building was working well and we were growing. It’s been three years since then, but Spain have grown stronger and we’re really looking forward to it.
Some sides go into the game intimidated by the Brazilians. Do you think Spain’s mental strength and confidence could give them an edge?
We have faced setbacks, with two last-minute injuries to two key players. But I think we are very mindful about how we adapt to everything, whether it’s the players’ condition or things during the game. The nerves come less from playing against them and more from being in the semi-finals of a World Cup, because you know you’re just one step away from the final. Our task is to do what we have always done, which is to play futsal. It’s about keeping calm and believing in everyone’s collective efforts. The key is composure, so we can show who we really are.
Spain v Morocco | Quarter-final | FIFA Futsal Women's World Cup Philippines 2025™ | Highlights
Watch highlights of the match between Spain and Morocco played at PhilSports Arena, Manila, on Monday 1 December at 20:30 (local time).
How do you foresee the game playing out?
I think it will be a very hard-fought match, with both teams having their moments. We’ll both put a lot of pressure on each other. It will be decided by small details, by how confident and strong we are. I think it will be one of the most beautiful matches you can watch. We hope the crowd enjoys it, that they discover what women’s futsal is all about.
What do you think about Emilly as a player?
I’ve only got good things to say about her. Even though she’s my opponent, she’s also a professional sportswoman and a role model for me. It’s not just about her individual quality, but what she shows on and off the court. I can only say positive things about her. We’ll have to keep an eye on what she does because she makes a big difference.
Could she hit that harder? 🤯#FutsalWWC pic.twitter.com/hvBDjsn4cF
— FIFA Women's World Cup (@FIFAWWC) November 26, 2025
Trying to stop Ana Luiza will be one of your tasks. What do you think of her as a pivot?
It’s not just about this World Cup, but about everything she has done over the years. I’ve come up against her and she’s something special. I need to be sharp to defend against her because we know she is their main attacking threat. I’ve also put in a lot of work, and I’m feeling confident that I can stop her or at least limit whatever she might try to do. It’s not so easy to be 100 per cent effective, but I think I’m ready to try to stop her.
To what extent do you think previous experiences will play a role?
If this were our first match, we’d have no idea what to expect. However, I know the players and how they play. They can catch me off guard, but there are things I know about them and they know about us. They know how we compete, how organised we are, our strengths. It would be better for us if we were more of an unknown, but they know all about us too. We have to take advantage of that and find ways to unsettle them.
What’s it like being at a World Cup alongside your twin sister?
It’s hard to explain. We’ve been together our whole lives, for 22 years. We’ve never been apart. This is normal for us. From the outside perspective, it looks special, and it is, but it’s normal to us. I’m really enjoying myself. I’ve been nervous during some matches, I can’t lie, but having her and my parents by my side keeps me grounded. It makes me realise everything I’ve been through and how much I enjoy being with her and my family. They make me feel supported and appreciated. We’re really looking forward to the game, to showing what we can do, and we’ve had a great time here. I think we’re showcasing ourselves, and that fills me with pride for my sister, for myself, my family and all my friends.
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How do your parents give you support ahead of such a crunch game?
We’re not a family that talks about things a lot. I know they put their complete trust in me, and just seeing them gives me all the support I need. Just by coming all the way here, they have gone through a lot and made some real sacrifice, in terms of work and money. We show our support through affection, by always being there. They follow us everywhere, which reassures us enormously. It makes me feel safe and I know that whatever I need, they’ll be there. | false | classify this article contain milestone or not |
Sudan hold Algeria as Jordan down UAE
Published
4 Dec 2025
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The FIFA Arab Cup continued on Wednesday with thrilling victories for Iraq and Jordan while Algeria were held to a goalless draw by Sudan.
DOHA, QATAR - DECEMBER 03: Yassine Benzia of Algeria is challenged by Abdelrazig Yagoub of Sudan during the Group D FIFA Arab Cup 2025 match between Algeria and Sudan at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium on December 03, 2025 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Mohamed Farag - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
Algeria and Sudan battle to goalless draw in Group D opener
Iraq ease past Bahrain while Jordan dispatched UAE
Watch full match replays on FIFA+
Algeria kicked off their FIFA Arab Cup™ title defence with a scoreless draw against Sudan in Group D. The 2021 champions played the entirety of the second half with ten players following Adam Ounas' sending off, and defended resolutely to bank a point.
The other Group D clash saw Iraq ease past Bahrain 2-1 in Doha, while Jordan defeated ten-man United Arab Emirates by the same scoreline in the late match in Group C.
Algeria 0-0 Sudan
Player of the Match: Mohamed Alnour (Sudan)
Ten-man Algeria dug deep to secure a point against Sudan at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium. The defending champions created the best chances of the first half, with Sofiane Bendebka heading just wide and Adil Boulbina forcing a smart save from Mohamed Alnour. The game took on an entirely different complexion, however, when Algeria striker Adam Ounas was sent off for a second bookable offence on the stroke of half-time.
With their numerical advantage, Sudan controlled possession after the break. They came close to opening the scoring when Abdelrazig Yagoub lashed a shot into the side netting, but struggled to carve out regular clear-cut opportunities. Algeria defended with authority and determination to keep them at bay as the game finished all square.
Iraq 2-1 Bahrain
Iraq goals: Ebrahim Lutfalla OG (10), Mohanad Ali (26)
Bahrain goal: Sayed Hashim (79)
Player of the Match: Mohanad Ali (Iraq)
Four years ago Iraq and Bahrain clashed in the same group with both failing to advance; this time the Lions of Mesopotamia took an important initial step to the knockouts with a 2-1 win in Doha.
It took Iraq just ten minutes to strike as an Aymen Hussein effort was bundled into his own goal by Ebrahim Lutfalla. Having injured himself in that passage of play, the goalkeeper was replaced shortly after by Omar Salem, who then watched on as Mohanad Ali doubled the Iraq advantage from close range midway through the opening stanza.
Bahrain substitute Sayed Hashim pulled one back late on as he tucked home a well-weighted Abdulla Al Khalsai cross but in the end Iraq hung on to make a winning start.
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Jordan 2-1 United Arab Emirates
Jordan goals: Ali Olwan pen (20), Yazan Al Naimat (65)
United Arab Emirates goal: Bruno (47)
Player of the Match: Yazan Al Naimat (Jordan)
Ali Olwan scored one penalty and missed another as Jordan opened up their campaign with a thrilling victory over United Arab Emirates, who played most of the game with ten men.
The match was brought to life in the 18th minute when UAE defender Khaled Al Dhanhani was shown a straight red card for bringing down Yazan Al Naimat in the area. Jordan forward Ali Olwan stepped up and converted the penalty with confidence.
Jordan, FIFA World Cup 2026 participants, were then awarded a second penalty of the opening half after Hamad Al Meqbaali brought down Al Naimat in the 39th minute but Olwan's effort was, this time, well saved by the UAE keeper.
UAE refused to give up and levelled the scores moments after the restart when Bruno connected with a dangerous Luan Pereira cross and struck the ball sweetly with the outside of his boot into the net.
Jordan continued to attack and retook the lead in the 65th minute when Al Naimat beat the offside trap after excellent work by Nizar Al Rashdan and, after the ball looped high off his shin, he tapped the ball into the net to seal the three points. | false | classify this article contain milestone or not |
Algeria feeling positive pressure in title defence
Published
4 Dec 2025
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Algerian stars Boulbina and Slimani react after the Fennecs began their FIFA Arab Cup title defence with a battling draw against Sudan.
DOHA, QATAR - DECEMBER 03: Adil Boulbina of Algeria looks on during the Group D FIFA Arab Cup 2025 match between Algeria and Sudan at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium on December 03, 2025 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Mohamed Farag - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
Defending FIFA Arab Cup champions Algeria held by Sudan in opening match
Star forward Adil Boulbina explains the difficulties the Fennecs faced
Algeria lifted the trophy in 2021 after beating Tunisia in the final
The FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025™ continues to hand out lessons in the unpredictability of football. In the latest, defending champions Algeria – who have qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ and boast a rich legacy in both African and Arab football – found themselves in a tricky spot against Sudan, who exited the last edition of the tournament in the group stage.
In front of 37,000 spectators, the Fennecs turned in a strong display, creating the majority of chances in the first half, but they were forced to battle fiercely to preserve a point in the second after Adam Ounas was shown a second yellow card four minutes into first-half stoppage time.
It goes to show that Algeria’s title defence will be anything but straightforward, given the rise in standards across all the participating teams. That will not, however, deter them from chasing more successes for the supporters backing them so passionately, both in the stands and back home.
Star man Adil Boulbina – who was last season’s top scorer in the Algerian league with Paradou AC and now leads all scorers this season in the AFC Elite Champions League – spoke with FIFA after the encounter. He described the pressures on the team as title holders as something that will push Algeria to fight harder and prepare properly for every match.
“Holding the title puts extra pressure on us, but it's positive pressure, I think,” he said. “We know every match will be played at a high tempo and demand a huge physical effort. Every opponent will give everything they’ve got, and in turn we’ll prepare well for each match and study our opponents’ weaknesses to get wins.”
Boulbina's view was shared by star Islam Slimani, who has enjoyed a long career in Algerian and European football, including stints with Leicester City and Newcastle United in the English Premier League. Speaking from his extensive on-pitch experience, Slimani told FIFA after the match that the standards in this year's Arab Cup are exceptionally high.
“Everyone’s at a high level in this tournament. We’ve seen surprises in the opening matches,” he said. “All the teams have improved and developed, and they all want to win the title.”
Given the difficulties Algeria faced in the second half, the draw with Sudan was not a bad result, even though head coach Madjid Bougherra’s men always have their sights set on victory. Boulbina summed up the situation:
“It was a tough match,” he said. “We missed easy chances in the first half, and then we were at a numerical disadvantage in the second half. We could’ve won today, but we’ve still taken a point, and that’s valuable. We know every team will fight when they play us because we’re the defending champions.”
Boughuerra – who in August led Algeria to the quarter-finals of the African Nations Championship, where they were knocked out by Sudan on penalties – was determined to avoid conceding in the second half and minimise the damage. Boulbina, the star of Qatari club Al-Duhail – who scored three goals against Saudi Arabia's Al-Ittihad just a few weeks ago in the AFC Elite Champions League – explained Algeria’s approach:
“We tried in the second half not to concede, and we relied on counter-attacks, due to being a man down. Now we want to qualify for the knockout stages.”
Algerian supporters created a vibrant, joyful atmosphere in the stands alongside Sudanese fans, and Boulbina made sure not to forget them. “Algerian fans fill stadiums wherever we go,” he said, “and we hope they continue to do so throughout the upcoming matches.”
Algeria’s next group-stage match will be against Bahrain on Saturday, 6 December. Then they face Iraq, who beat Bahrain 2-1, in the third and final group fixture on Tuesday, 9 December. | false | classify this article contain milestone or not |
Wilson scores twice as the Capitals beat the Islanders 4-1 for their 4th straight win
NEW YORK -- — Tom Wilson had two goals and an assist, and the Washington Capitals beat the New York Islanders 4-1 on Sunday.
Alex Ovechkin and Aliaksei Protas each scored an empty-net goal as the Capitals extended their win streak to four games. Logan Thompson made 30 saves.
Bo Horvat scored for New York, and Ilya Sorokin had 14 saves.
The Islanders have lost three straight and four of five overall. They dropped to 1-3-2 in matinee games this season with six remaining.
Wilson opened the scoring when he tapped in a pass from Ovechkin on the power play at 7:37 of the first period. Ryan Leonard, the eighth overall pick in the 2023 draft, also picked up an assist on the play.
Sorokin misplayed a puck behind his own net and set up Wilson for his team-high 15th goal with 6:02 left in the second.
Horvat buried a bouncing puck near the top of the crease to make it 2-1 with 6:17 remaining in the third.
The Islanders went 1 for 3 on the power play. They have converted two of their last 34 chances with the man advantage. | false | classify this article contain milestone or not |
Memorable World Cup group-stage draws
Published
3 Dec 2025
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Ahead of the World Cup 2026 Draw, FIFA takes a look at the most memorable showdowns and culture clashes in the group stage.
SAPPORO, JAPAN - June 7: Juan Veron of Argentina and David Beckham of England shake hands before the FIFA World Cup Finals 2002 Group F match between Argentina and England at Sapporo Dome on June 7, 2002 in Sapporo, Japan. (Photo by Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)
FIFA World Cup 2026 draw to take place on Friday
Global showpiece expected to create exciting groups
FIFA takes a look at greatest groups in tournament history
As the draw for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ comes into view, memories begin to stir about the most dramatic and hotly-contested groups from past tournaments.
Over the years, the group-stage draw has brought together strong teams with different football backgrounds and leading to intense, knockout-style matches right from the off. It is these moments – the historic showdowns, the shocking twists and the culture clashes – that make the group stage what it is.
FIFA profiles a series of fascinating and competitive groups from past tournaments to provide a taster of what we have to look forward to in Washington DC on Friday.
USA 1994
Brazil, Sweden, Russia, Cameroon (Group B)
Coming into the 1994 tournament, Brazil were an attacking powerhouse with incredible individual talents, Sweden had a stubborn and resilient defence, Russia boasted ample international experience, and Cameroon were the jewel of Africa. As the four of them came together, the sheer variety in football culture and tactical approaches created a series of tense matches.
In the lead-up to the tournament, it was very noticeable that Brazil had put a lot of work into balancing the offensive approach that made them famous with some defensive solidity. However, with Romario and Bebeto combining up front, they were certainly not lacking in firepower. The South Americans showed impressive consistency throughout the group stage and, when the dust settled, it was they and Sweden who made it to the knockout phase.
Both progressed all the way to the semi-final, at which point they met each other for a rematch. On this occasion, Brazil were able to record and retain a one-goal lead to earn their place in the final, where they defeated Italy to claim the trophy. For their part, Sweden saw off Bulgaria in the third-place playoff to secure their best ever World Cup finish.
Romário Goal 80' | Sweden vs Brazil | 1994 FIFA World Cup USA™
Watch every single goal from the 1994 FIFA World Cup USA™.
Korea/Japan 2002
Argentina, England, Sweden, Nigeria (Group F)
In the 2002 tournament, Group F ended up playing host to four of the finest teams on the globe. Argentina had access to arguably the best pool of players on the planet, with no shortage of experience and skill among their ranks. England, meanwhile, had their “golden generation” at the peak of their powers, with a well drilled line-up featuring individual brilliance from the likes of Michael Owen and David Beckham.
Every single match in the group was fiercely contested. With teams of such high quality clashing, the tiniest slip-up or half-chance had the potential to swing the game and even the whole group. After all six ties had been played, Sweden and England had done enough to occupy the top spots, leaving Argentina to reflect on what might have been as they suffered a surprise early elimination.
David Beckham Goal 44' | Argentina vs England | 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan™
Watch every single goal from the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan™.
Germany 2006
Argentina, Netherlands, Côte d’Ivoire, Serbia and Montenegro (Group C)
In Germany, the draw brought Argentina and the Netherlands together in the same group, reviving two famous encounters: the 1978 final won by La Albiceleste after extra time (3–1 aet) and the legendary quarter-final claimed by the Dutch at France 1998. While Argentina could rely on the formidable attacking partnership of Hernan Crespo and Javier Saviola – in a side that also saw a young Lionel Messi take his first steps on the global stage – the Netherlands were on the cusp of a new era that would carry them to the final four years later and to third place in 2014. The very youthful Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie were already world-class threats, even if they would eventually come unstuck against Portugal in the Round of 16.
Completing Group C were Serbia and Montenegro and Côte d’Ivoire. While this was the Elephants' first appearance in the finals, they boasted one of the best strikers in the world in Didier Drogba, who in fact scored their opening goal in the 2–1 defeat to Argentina. Despite the strength of this opening round, La Albiceleste and the Netherlands wrapped up the two qualifying places after two matches.
Argentina v Côte d'Ivoire | Group C | 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany™ | Highlights
Watch the highlights from the match between Argentina and Côte d'Ivoire played at Volksparkstadion, Hamburg on Saturday, 10 June 2006.
Brazil 2014
Uruguay, Italy, England, Costa Rica (Group D)
With a trio of footballing heavyweights in the shape of Uruguay, Italy and England, Costa Rica went largely under the radar when the draw was announced. Most observers predicted a three-way face-off between the European titans and the two-time champions from South America.
However, when the first round of matches kicked off, it soon became clear just how mistaken this assumption was. Costa Rica built around a highly organised defence and adapted their game plan to take advantage of opportunities created by the game state. They overturned a half-time deficit to defeat Uruguay and then, against Italy, a blend of dogged defending and counter-attacking threat helped them to see out the game with a one-goal lead. They then put in a mature performance against England, concluding a group stage in which their team unity and attention to detail proved to be decisive weapons.
Their performances saw them qualify as group winners, as well as earning them plenty of praise from fans and pundits throughout the world. On the other side of the coin, Italy and England struggled to convert their World Cup experience into points, and both sides were on an early flight back home. The 2014 tournament proved once again that name and track record alone are no guarantee of success on the global stage.
Qatar 2022
Spain, Germany, Japan, Costa Rica (Group E)
When the draw was made for the 2022 World Cup, plenty of observers would have circled Group E on their planners. Former World Cup winners Spain and Germany found themselves matched against a rapidly-improving Japan side and 2014 surprise package Costa Rica. It was a group with an exceptional variety of ability, experience and tactical approaches.
With every point being vital, the ties were hotly contested from the very start, leading to a series of tense games, especially the final match. The group standings changed almost every time a goal was scored, leaving viewers around the world on tenterhooks. | false | classify this article contain milestone or not |
2025 NFL Super Bowl Party Madrid: Clear Bag Policy
Published: Dec 15, 2025 at 05:25 AM
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SPANISH
CLEAR BAG POLICY AND PROHIBITED ITEMS
A clear bag policy (along with security screenings) will be in place at the 2025 NFL Super Bowl Party in Madrid, to provide a safe environment for all our fans. All clear bags entering the event must be no larger than 12"x6"x12" (30.5 x 15.25 x 30.5 cm) and will be inspected closely upon entry. The NFL reserves the right to refuse entry of certain items into the event if security believes they are inappropriate.
See Through Bag Policy:
CBPshop2025 copy
All guests are prohibited from bringing any bag into the stadium that does not follow the NFL regulations.
Prohibited Items List – 2025 NFL Super Bowl Party in Madrid
All items carried by spectators will be carefully inspected and prohibited items will not be permitted into the event. Consistent with all NFL events, the NFL strongly encourages fans not to bring any type of bag to the location. If necessary, bags outlined below are permissible:
Clear bags that are plastic, vinyl, or PVC, and do not exceed 12" x 6" x 12" (30.5 x 15.25 x 30.5 cm)
One-gallon clear plastic freezer bag (Ziploc bag or similar), or
Small bags, 4.5" x 6.5" (11.5 x 16.5 cm), with or without a handle or strap. (These may be taken into the stadium with one of the clear plastic bag options.)
Exceptions will be made to the size limitations for SEALED clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC bags:
Exceptions will be made for medically necessary items after thorough inspection and tagging at a specified lane at each gate.
Prohibited bags include, but are not limited to:
Purses or bags larger than 4.5" x 6.5" (11.5 x 16.5 cm), coolers, briefcases, backpacks, fanny packs or "bum bags", bags/draw string bags that are not clear or exceed 12" x 6" x 12" (30.5 x 15.25 x 30.5 cm), luggage of any kind, computer and laptop bags, binocular cases and camera bags which do not comply with the bag policy above, and large traditional seat cushions that have pockets, zippers, compartments or covers.
Prohibited Items:
The following list is a guide only. It is not intended to be all-inclusive. Note: Prohibited items and items determined to not be appropriate for entry into the event will be the responsibility of the ticketholder and cannot be accepted or checked by the NFL, Location, or Security Personnel. The NFL, Location, and Security Personnel will not store prohibited or excluded items for spectators.
Prohibited Items include:
Air horns or aerosol cans
Alcohol
Animals (except service animals)
Any items deemed dangerous, hazardous, or inappropriate, in management's sole discretion
Banners, signs, propaganda materials (any object that obstructs the view of others).
Battery operated clothing (socks, jackets, etc...).
Beach balls or inflatable devices (balloons)
Beverages and Food. Beverage containers, cans, thermoses, glass receptacles, and cups.
Bicycles, tricycles, and unicycles of any type
Bulky items such as ladders, benches, folding chairs etc.
Containers of any type (cans, cold boxes, coolers, hampers, etc.…)
Cameras and Binoculars – Small cameras and binoculars will be allowed. No spectator cameras with lenses more than six inches (6") long will be permitted. Camcorders will be prohibited, except for credentialed media. Binocular cases and camera bags must comply with the NFL bag policy.
Drones/unmanned aircraft systems (UAS)
Footballs: inflated balls of any kind (*Deflated footballs purchased on game day at an NFL venue will be permitted)
Firearms, knives, blades, scissors/tools, electronic stunning devices, or weapons of any kind, to include replica firearms and edged weapons
Fireworks, explosives, ammunition, flares, smoke canisters, or pyrotechnics of any kind
Frisbees and other similar items
Illegal substances, drugs, and drug paraphernalia
Laptop computers and laptop sleeves
Large industrial style "permanent" marker pens
Laser lights and pointers
Liquids of any type
Luggage or suitcases
Mace / pepper spray / chemical irritants
Motorbike helmets
Motorized scooters, skateboards, hoverboards, or other self-propelled items (unless medically necessary and tagged at a gate designated for this purpose)
Musical instruments not used in sanctioned performances (trumpets, drums, vuvuzelas, and other devices capable of causing a disturbance or nuisance)
Noisemakers (mechanical or electronic), horns, sirens, whistles, Pom poms, shakers with stick handles
Poles, sticks, tripods, selfie sticks, missile-like objects of any kind
Seat cushions with pockets, zippers, compartments, or covers
Scooters, skateboards, or roller skates
Spray paint
Strollers, prams, or pushchairs (unless medically necessary and tagged at a gate designated for this purpose)
Transmitting devices
Tripods
Unauthorized fliers or handbills
Umbrellas – fixed-shaft umbrellas of any size are prohibited. Collapsible umbrellas measuring less than 24" (61cm) are permitted but may not be opened within the stadium
Empty, transparent, reusable plastic water bottles up to and including 1 liter are permitted, whether purchased onsite or not | false | classify this article contain milestone or not |
King Klose and his victory record
Published
1 Dec 2025
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Every Monday, FIFA spotlights a World Cup record. Here, we look back at Miroslav Klose and his pace-setting 17 tournament victories.
451863904
Miroslav Klose is the FIFA World Cup™ record man.
At Brazil 2014, he netted his 16th tournament goal in Germany's 7-1 semi-final demolition of Brazil to become the finals' record scorer. Die Mannschaft then downed Argentina for Klose to clinch a record fourth World Cup medal, following silver in 2002, and bronzes in 2006 and 2010.
That showpiece victory in Rio also secured Klose a 17th win at the finals, taking him into top spot as the player with the most tournament victories.
The signs that Klose would go on to become a World Cup great were there from the offset. Germany laid down their 2002 title credentials in their opening match with an 8-0 thrashing of Saudi Arabia, with Klose marking his tournament bow by becoming just the second player to register a hat-trick of headers.
He netted in their next victory over Cameroon, with three more wins taking Germany to the Yokohama showpiece and a maiden tournament meeting with Brazil. Klose and Co pressed, but they were denied the title by a Ronaldo double.
Germany v Saudi Arabia | Group E | 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan™ | Highlights
Watch the highlights from the match between Germany and Saudi Arabia played at Sapporo Dome, Sapporo on Saturday, 01 June 2002.
Klose was on fire once again at Germany's home finals four years later, netting five across as many wins en route to a semi-final battle with Italy. The hosts were edged out by the eventual winners at the Westfalenstadion, but claimed a spot on the podium with a third-place victory over Portugal, as the somersaulting forward seized the adidas Golden Boot.
South Africa 2010 started well for Klose, as he netted in a third successive opening-day win over Australia, but saw red in the defeat to Serbia in their next match and missed the victory over Ghana.
He roared back in the knockouts, though, scoring his 50th International goal in victory over England, and hit a brace on his 100th cap in the 4-0 humbling of Argentina. Spain stifled the Germans in the semis, ensuring they fell to the eventual winners for a third straight tournament. Klose would take home a second bronze medal, although he remained on the bench for the victory over Uruguay.
Argentina v Germany | 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ | Classic Matches
Watch highlights of some of the best matches ever played in the FIFA World Cup™.
Joachim Low drew criticism for selecting Klose, by then 36 and off the back of an injury-ravaged season for Lazio, as his only recognised striker in his Brazil 2014 squad. They needn't have worried.
He begun the tournament on the bench as Germany thrashed Portugal, but emerged from it to rescue his team with a late goal against Ghana. That saw him make the XI for their victory over USA which rubber-stamped top spot in Group G.
The veteran forward took up a watching brief for the nervy win over Algeria in the last 16, before returning to spearhead another narrow victory, this time over France, in the Rio quarter-final.
Low's title hopefuls rode their luck to reach the semis but quickly changed the record against Brazil, notching five goals in an 18-minute blitz to stun their hosts. Klose further twisted the knife by stealing Ronaldo's record as the tournament's record scorer with 16 by netting the second, as the European giants marched into the final with a 7-1 victory.
Brazil v Germany | 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ | Classic Matches
Watch highlights of some of the best matches ever played in the FIFA World Cup™.
Twelve years on from his first crack at the showpiece, Klose once again eyed up a South American foe with Argentina the challengers at a packed Maracana.
He played 88 minutes before making way for Mario Gotze in what proved to be one of the World Cup's most momentous substitutions. Gotze would, indeed, go on to net the extra-time winner to see the Germans clinch a fourth World Crown.
That win took the World Cup's marathon man clear of Brazil icon Cafu and on to a record 17 tournament victories. He retired from international duty a month after the final, departing the scene with a plethora of goals and records, and having never finished off the World Cup podium. | false | classify this article contain milestone or not |
King Klose and his victory record
Published
1 Dec 2025
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Every Monday, FIFA spotlights a World Cup record. Here, we look back at Miroslav Klose and his pace-setting 17 tournament victories.
451863904
Miroslav Klose is the FIFA World Cup™ record man.
At Brazil 2014, he netted his 16th tournament goal in Germany's 7-1 semi-final demolition of Brazil to become the finals' record scorer. Die Mannschaft then downed Argentina for Klose to clinch a record fourth World Cup medal, following silver in 2002, and bronzes in 2006 and 2010.
That showpiece victory in Rio also secured Klose a 17th win at the finals, taking him into top spot as the player with the most tournament victories.
The signs that Klose would go on to become a World Cup great were there from the offset. Germany laid down their 2002 title credentials in their opening match with an 8-0 thrashing of Saudi Arabia, with Klose marking his tournament bow by becoming just the second player to register a hat-trick of headers.
He netted in their next victory over Cameroon, with three more wins taking Germany to the Yokohama showpiece and a maiden tournament meeting with Brazil. Klose and Co pressed, but they were denied the title by a Ronaldo double.
Germany v Saudi Arabia | Group E | 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan™ | Highlights
Watch the highlights from the match between Germany and Saudi Arabia played at Sapporo Dome, Sapporo on Saturday, 01 June 2002.
Klose was on fire once again at Germany's home finals four years later, netting five across as many wins en route to a semi-final battle with Italy. The hosts were edged out by the eventual winners at the Westfalenstadion, but claimed a spot on the podium with a third-place victory over Portugal, as the somersaulting forward seized the adidas Golden Boot.
South Africa 2010 started well for Klose, as he netted in a third successive opening-day win over Australia, but saw red in the defeat to Serbia in their next match and missed the victory over Ghana.
He roared back in the knockouts, though, scoring his 50th International goal in victory over England, and hit a brace on his 100th cap in the 4-0 humbling of Argentina. Spain stifled the Germans in the semis, ensuring they fell to the eventual winners for a third straight tournament. Klose would take home a second bronze medal, although he remained on the bench for the victory over Uruguay.
Argentina v Germany | 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ | Classic Matches
Watch highlights of some of the best matches ever played in the FIFA World Cup™.
Joachim Low drew criticism for selecting Klose, by then 36 and off the back of an injury-ravaged season for Lazio, as his only recognised striker in his Brazil 2014 squad. They needn't have worried.
He begun the tournament on the bench as Germany thrashed Portugal, but emerged from it to rescue his team with a late goal against Ghana. That saw him make the XI for their victory over USA which rubber-stamped top spot in Group G.
The veteran forward took up a watching brief for the nervy win over Algeria in the last 16, before returning to spearhead another narrow victory, this time over France, in the Rio quarter-final.
Low's title hopefuls rode their luck to reach the semis but quickly changed the record against Brazil, notching five goals in an 18-minute blitz to stun their hosts. Klose further twisted the knife by stealing Ronaldo's record as the tournament's record scorer with 16 by netting the second, as the European giants marched into the final with a 7-1 victory.
Brazil v Germany | 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ | Classic Matches
Watch highlights of some of the best matches ever played in the FIFA World Cup™.
Twelve years on from his first crack at the showpiece, Klose once again eyed up a South American foe with Argentina the challengers at a packed Maracana.
He played 88 minutes before making way for Mario Gotze in what proved to be one of the World Cup's most momentous substitutions. Gotze would, indeed, go on to net the extra-time winner to see the Germans clinch a fourth World Crown.
That win took the World Cup's marathon man clear of Brazil icon Cafu and on to a record 17 tournament victories. He retired from international duty a month after the final, departing the scene with a plethora of goals and records, and having never finished off the World Cup podium. | false | classify this article contain milestone or not |
Arab Cup Fixtures and Results
Published
1 Dec 2025
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View all the results, upcoming fixtures and eliminated teams from the second edition of the FIFA Arab Cup.
FIFA
Second edition of the FIFA Arab Cup takes place in Qatar from 1-18 December
Watch full match replays on FIFA+
Everything you need to know about the FIFA Arab Cup
The second edition of the FIFA Arab Cup™ takes place in Qatar from December 1-18. View a full list of all the fixtures and results, as well as eliminated teams, from the regional showpiece.
Eliminated teams: None
Group stage
Monday, 1 December
Group A: Tunisia 0-1 Syria
Group A: Qatar 0-1 Palestine
Tuesday, 2 December
Group B: Morocco 3-1 Comoros
Group C: Egypt 1-1 Kuwait
Group B: Saudi Arabia 2-1 Oman
Wednesday, 3 December
Group D: Algeria v Sudan
Group D: Iraq v Bahrain
Group C: Jordan v United Arab Emirates
Thursday, 4 December
Group A: Palestine v Tunisia
Group A: Syria v Qatar
Friday, 5 December
Group B: Oman v Morocco
Group B: Comoros v Saudi Arabia
Saturday, 6 December
Group C: Kuwait v Jordan
Group D: Bahrain v Algeria
Group D: Sudan v Iraq
Group C: United Arab Emirates v Egypt
Sunday, 7 December
Group A: Qatar v Tunisia
Group A: Syria v Palestine
Monday, 8 December
Group B: Morocco v Saudi Arabia
Group B: Oman v Comoros
Tuesday, 9 December
Group C: Egypt v Jordan
Group C: United Arab Emirates v Kuwait
Group D: Algeria v Iraq
Group D: Bahrain v Sudan
Quarter-finals
Thursday, 11 December
TBC:
TBC:
Friday, 12 December
TBC:
TBC:
Semi-finals
Monday, 15 December
TBC:
TBC:
Match for Third Place
Thursday, 18 December
TBC:
FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 Final
Thursday, 18 December
TBC: | false | classify this article contain milestone or not |
FIFA Arab Cup in the spotlight again
Published
1 Dec 2025
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Before the 2025 Arab Cup kicks off in Qatar, FIFA looks back at the factors behind the wild success of the previous edition.
FIFA
The FIFA Arab Cup 2025 will take place in Qatar from 1 to 18 December
Previous edition was a major success on every level
It also paved the way for the brilliant showcase put on by Qatar at the FIFA World Cup
With the FIFA Arab Cup 2025™ fast approaching, all eyes are once again turning to Qatar, which is gearing up to host the second edition of the tournament. With qualification now complete, the competition will officially run from 1 to 18 December across six stadiums that previously hosted the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, which will now welcome fans for a fresh experience eagerly anticipated by all.
This immense anticipation is chiefly down to the remarkable success of the first FIFA-organised Arab Cup in 2021, which saw Algeria lift the trophy after a 2-0 win over Tunisia. For Qatar, that tournament offered the perfect dress rehearsal just a year ahead of hosting the world’s greatest football tournament. The country proved it was ready and able to deliver a seamless event both inside and outside the stadiums.
After the final at Al Bayt Stadium, FIFA President Gianni Infantino expressed his great satisfaction with the way everything had played out, saying: “We will make it possible, under the umbrella of FIFA: the FIFA Arab Cup will continue. It has to continue [because] it’s such a successful event.”
Before the new edition kicks off, FIFA looks back at the key factors that contributed to the success of the 2021 tournament – promising signs for another strong showing this year.
Everything you need to know about the FIFA Arab Cup
Flawless organisation and top-notch infrastructure
Qatar delivered organisation of the highest calibre, leveraging its readiness for the FIFA World Cup. Matches were played across six superb venues: Al Bayt, Al Janoub, Ahmad Bin Ali, Education City, Al Thumama and Stadium 974.
The state-of-the-art facilities, sophisticated transport systems, and integrated infrastructure all contributed to a smooth experience for both the competing teams and the supporters. Qatar’s perfect December weather also ensured ideal playing conditions for the matches and added to the enjoyment in the stands.
In May, the FIFA President predicted a repeat this year: “I know Qatar will once again brilliantly rise to the challenge of staging this exciting FIFA tournament. The hospitality and facilities in this country are exceptional, and every team will have the best conditions in which to prepare.”
Packed Stadiums and a Surge of Arab Passion
One cannot overlook the distinctive atmosphere generated by the Arab crowds, united by a shared identity and similar cultures from the Atlantic to the Gulf. The roar from the stands was a defining feature of the tournament, with big crowds reinforcing its success and adding further momentum.
With average attendance of 17,863 per match – and a whopping 60,000 for the final at Al Bayt – the tournament drew more than 570,000 total spectators across 32 games. That reception drew further praise from the FIFA President: “At this FIFA Arab Cup, we have seen how this international competition has captivated people in the participating countries and across the world, and viewing figures for this tournament have been higher in those countries than for major club competitions.”
In another comment from the day of the final, he said: “It is proof of what football can do; bringing continents together, bringing people together, bringing countries together, bringing fans together, and bringing players together. This joy, this emotion, which we have been feeling throughout this tournament – not only in Qatar but in the entire Arab World and all over the world.”
Goals and entertainment!
It took just 90 minutes for the tournament to reveal that it would be all about attack. The opening fixture between Tunisia and Mauritania produced a six-goal spectacle, with the Eagles of Carthage bagging five in a preview of the thrills to come.
Overall scoring averaged 2.59 goals per match, a figure that clearly reflects the attacking instinct of the participating teams. Only two matches finished goalless across the entire competition: Iraq versus Bahrain in the group stage and the third-place playoff between Egypt and Qatar, which the Maroons won 5-4 on penalties.
Some teams put on particularly eye-catching attacking displays that fired up supporters, most notably Morocco, who recorded two four-goal wins and racked up 11 goals in four matches. Algeria, too, impressed on their way to the title, scoring in all six of their fixtures and maintaining a steady attacking rhythm right up to the final whistle.
Unforgettable goals
Speaking of attacking flair, it is impossible to forget a number of goals that remain etched in the memories of fans across the Middle East and North Africa. Mohammad Anz produced one of the cleverest finishes of the tournament, curling home Syria’s second goal against Tunisia from outside the box.
The stadium also erupted when Mohamed Nahiri’s powerful blast earned Morocco their second goal against Palestine, creating one of the finest moments in the tournament for the Atlas Lions.
Palestine were not far from the limelight, either. Mohammed Rashid scored a stunning goal against Saudi Arabia with a scorcher, in a standout moment for the Lions of Canaan. Egypt also delivered a highlight when Ahmed Refaat opened the scoring against Sudan with an early volley from outside the box, a strike that electrified the crowd.
The knockout stages offered up more unforgettable goals, including Arshad Al Alawi’s long-range equaliser for Oman against Tunisia in the last eight. Then, in the quarter-finals, came the tournament’s most famous goal: Algeria’s Youcef Belaili took possession just past the halfway line and rocketed a shot from nearly 40 metres out that dropped past Morocco keeper Anas Zniti, giving Algeria the lead in extra time.
The cherry on top came in the final when Amir Sayoud netted Algeria’s first goal against Tunisia with a magnificent shot that found the top left corner.
Tunisia v Algeria | Final | FIFA Arab Cup 2021™ | Highlights
Watch the highlights from the match between Tunisia and Algeria played at Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor on Saturday, 18 December 2021.
Surprises and suspense
Never short on surprises, the tournament kept delivering thrilling scenarios that sustained the suspense until the final moments. The standout shock was Syria’s 2-0 win over Tunisia – made all the more remarkable by the fact that Tunisia went on to reach the final – followed by Syria’s unexpected 2-1 defeat to Mauritania, making that group one of the most unpredictable of the tournament.
Another notable upset saw Jordan defeat Saudi Arabia 1-0 in the opening round. That result would raise few eyebrows today, now that the Nashama have made such remarkable progress, but it was extraordinary at the time, particularly given the 39-place gap in favour of the Green Falcons in the FIFA/Coca-Cola Men’s World Ranking. | false | classify this article contain milestone or not |
Spanish titans take Moroccan examination
Published
30 Nov 2025
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See how to watch, key players, quotes, highlights and more on the second FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup quarter-final between Spain and Morocco.
FIFA
Spain v Morocco
Monday, 1 December
Kick-off times
13:30 (Madrid)
13:30 (Rabat)
20:30 (Manila)
Tickets
Prices start at just PHP 499 (USD 8.50), with one ticket earning access to two FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup™ games at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City, Metropolitan Manila.
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Watch on FIFA+
FIFA+ will stream matches live in almost 220 territories including Morocco and Spain.
Spain v Morocco stream
Sensational Spain. ✨#FutsalWWC
— FIFA Women's World Cup (@FIFAWWC) November 25, 2025
Players to watch
Laura Cordoba is one the most multifunctional and magnificent players on the planet. Her twin Irene and Vane Sotelo are palatial pivots central to Spain’s offence.
Meryem Hajri has been one of the most dynamic performers in the Philippines. Jasmine Demraoui is a 21-year-old super talent whom Morocco rely on for goals.
Quotes
“We have faced Morocco many times. They’re a very tough team, they drop back and are very clinical. They defend really well and can surprise you at any moment.”
Irene Cordoba, Spain pivot
“Every match is like a final because anything can happen. Any opponent can challenge you, and that’s what we’re working towards: overcoming those challenges and going as far as possible.”
Cecilia Zarzuela, Spain fixo
“We’ve played against them, we know how they play. They’re obviously a really strong team with really good players, but we’re going to focus on ourselves. When we’re on our game, we believe we can beat anyone. We’ve beaten one European team and we’ll go out to beat another.”
Tahri Hajar, Morocco winger
“Spain are a great team. We have a lot of respect for them. I think we’ve played them five times. They were really difficult games, they beat us. But I can promise you that we are better than the last time we played them. You can do anything if you believe.”
Chaymaa Mourtaji, Morocco pivot
Results & highlights
Morocco 0-6 Argentina
Philippines 2-3 Morocco
Poland 0-1 Morocco
Spain 5-2 Thailand
Spain 5-1 Colombia
Canada 0-7 Spain
Squads
Spain
Coach: Claudia Pons
Elena Gonzalez, Noelia Montoro, Dany Domingos, Laura Cordoba, Cecilia Zarzuela, Maria Sanz Navarro, Ale De Paz, Laura Sanchez, Vane Sotelo, Antia Perez, Irene Samper, Cristina Garcia, Marta Lopez-Pardo, Irene Cordoba.
Morocco
Coach: Adil Sayeh
Players: Kawtar Bentaleb, Hajar Tahri, Chaimae Drissi, Soumia Hady, Jasmine Demraoui, Manal Essafir, Siiham Tadlaoui, Meryem Hajrim, Nadia Laftahm, Drissia Korrych, Malak Zaid Alkilani, Chaimaa Aasem, Chaymaa Mourtaji, Amal El Aoufi. | false | classify this article contain milestone or not |
Here are 30 Rule 5 candidates -- one from each club
By Sam Dykstra & Jesse Borek @JesseABorek and @SamDykstraMiLB
December 3, 2025
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The Rule 5 Draft can be a fascinating, if imperfect, process, and you only need to look at last year’s edition to see why.
On one hand, the White Sox selected Shane Smith from the Brewers and watched him blossom into an All-Star before finishing with a 3.81 ERA and 145 strikeouts in 146 1/3 innings. Left off the 40-man by Milwaukee, he earned his first Major League look in Chicago and made the most of it, becoming just the kind of player the Rule 5 Draft was meant to benefit.
Winter Meetings prospect coverage:
Draft Order
Teams with prospects to trade
Prospects protected on 40-man rosters
30 Rule 5 candidates -- one from each club
On the other hand, Smith is one of only three of last year’s 15 picks still with his new organization. Marlins catcher Liam Hicks (formerly of the Tigers) was the only other player to stick in The Show all season long. (Right-hander Angel Bastardo remains with the Blue Jays because they stashed him on the injured list all season while recovering from Tommy John surgery.) Left-handers Nate Lavender and Connor Thomas also made it through the summer, but they have since moved on from the Rays and Brewers, respectively. Mike Vasil satisfied his Rule 5 requirements with the White Sox but only after a wild ride: he was taken by the Phillies, traded to the Rays and then claimed off waivers by Chicago when he didn’t make Tampa Bay’s Opening Day roster.
On Dec. 10, clubs making a Rule 5 selection will do so hoping they get the 2026 version of Smith, but they are likelier to be getting someone passing through for a brief spell.
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Here’s one candidate from each organization to be taken in this year’s Rule 5 Draft.
(Reminder: players are Rule 5-eligible if they are not on the 40-man roster but were signed at 19 or older and have been in pro ball for four seasons or more or were signed at 18 or younger and have been in pro ball for five seasons or more.)
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AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST
Blue Jays: Yohendrick Pinango, OF (No. 7)
Pinango produced a 169 wRC+ over 47 games in Double-A New Hampshire to push himself to Triple-A in his age-23 season, only to hit .235/.335/.379 with seven homers and a 96 wRC+ in 84 games there. The data under the hood, however, is much better as he ran a 108.8 mph 90th-percentile exit velocity, 115.4 mph max EV, 47.8 percent hard-hit rate and 86 percent in-zone contact rate while batting from the left side. Below-average speed and fringy arm strength would limit him to left field in the Majors.
Orioles: Alex Pham, RHP (unranked)
Pham opened the year in the Double-A rotation, missed about three months with right forearm inflammation, and moved to the bullpen in the back half of 2025. He has a deep pitch mix with a four-seamer (featuring cut-ride action), curveball, slider, cutter and changeup from an over-the-top release, and while he doesn’t flash huge velocity, his experience working in multiple roles could be beneficial for his chances at sticking as a swingman.
Rays: Logan Workman, RHP (unranked)
Workman has been one of the Minors’ best workhorses with four straight seasons of 100-plus innings, including 152 1/3 with Triple-A Durham in 2025 (second-most in MiLB). He posted a 4.02 ERA with 152 strikeouts in that span and walked only 7.2 percent of his batters faced (Triple-A average was 10.9 percent). His 92-94 mph fastball was a subpar offering, but his mid-80s slider and 82-85 mph changeup were whiff generators. His ceiling is limited, but he could be worth a look as a durable and cheap No. 5 option for clubs in need of starting help.
Red Sox: Hayden Mullins, LHP (No. 17)
Mullins gets impressive swing-and-miss on his 91-94 mph four-seamer (that plays up with good extension and life up in the zone) and low-80s, two-plane slider, helping him fan 30.0 percent of his batters faced in 2025. He had a 13.8 percent walk rate in his 18 starts at Double-A and hasn’t yet reached Triple-A yet as a 25-year-old, and those two factors likely kept him off Boston’s 40-man. But he could be an interesting reliever out of the gate for a Rule 5 club with an eye on being a part of starting depth.
Yankees: Harrison Cohen, RHP (No. 30)
Once undrafted out of George Washington, the 6-foot reliever has posted back-to-back seasons with sub-2 ERAs. In this most recent campaign, he finished with a 1.76 mark and 1.10 WHIP while striking out 59 in 51 innings between Triple-A and Double-A. He ran pretty even splits by relying on a tight mid-80s cutter against righties and mid-80s changeup with good armside fade against lefties, all while sporting a more mundane 92-94 four-seamer from a low arm slot. The deception can be an issue for his control, but it also could make him a plug-and-play option in an MLB bullpen.
AMERICAN LEAGUE CENTRAL
Guardians: Wuilfredo Antunez, OF (unranked)
Right shoulder tendinitis put a crimp in Antunez’s Arizona Fall League stint back in October, which would have provided him an opportunity to display his skill set for a wider audience. As is, he posted a 139 wRC+ across High-A and Double-A this past season, ranking as the lone member of the Guardians organization outside of José Ramírez to post 50+ extra-base hits and 15+ steals in 2025. Signed for just $10,000 out of Venezuela in April 2019, the left-handed-hitting Antunez has made tremendous strides since arriving stateside, but with just 123 at-bats in the upper levels of the Minors, a jump straight to the big leagues could come with a sizable learning curve.
Royals: Javi Vaz, INF (No. 25)
The Vanderbilt product already faced questions about his power heading into 2025, and fractured fingers in his right hand (suffered in Spring Training) didn’t help that cause as he slugged just .326 with three homers in 103 games for Double-A Northwest Arkansas after his return. That said, the lefty hitter walked more than he struck out for a fourth straight pro season and added 25 steals in 28 attempts thanks to his plus speed. Vaz has experience at both second base and left field, aiding the possibility he’s taken as a speedy, high-contact utility option off an MLB bench.
Tigers: RJ Petit, RHP (No. 30)
Listed at 6-foot-8, 300 pounds, Petit would bring plenty of size to any MLB bullpen, but he brings results to the table too, having posted a 2.44 ERA and 1.06 WHIP with 79 strikeouts in 66 1/3 innings. He leans heavily on his 83-85 mph, late-breaking slider against batters from both sides, even getting lefties to whiff on 58.3 percent of their swings against it at Triple-A. Petit also works with a mid-90s fastball and upper-80s changeup and has decent control without overthrowing.
Twins: Jose Olivares, RHP (No. 24)
With a four-pitch mix and a fastball that sat in the mid 90s for the majority of the year, Olivares has a starter kit that fits the look of an MLB rotation member. The main caveat working against him is that he’s yet to pitch above High-A, where he compiled 10.7 K/9 in 2025 but also ran a 5.7 BB/9 rate that lays bare his need for improved command of his arsenal. A club who likes what it sees under the hood could try running him out in a long-relief role before expanding his workload in ‘27 and beyond.
White Sox: Peyton Pallette, RHP (No. 14)
A move to the bullpen last July has done wonders for Pallette, who posted a career-high 12.0 K/9 this season (86 in 64 1/3 innings) between Double-A and Triple-A. His fastball sits 94-96 mph and he combines it with a high-spin curveball (consistently north of 3,000 rpm) that falls off the table and a mid-80s changeup (50.8% whiff rate at Triple-A in 2025). A second-round pick in the 2022 Draft, the 24-year-old fits the prototypical mold (with the level pedigree to match) of a Rule 5 selectee that a club could plug and play into its bullpen.
AMERICAN LEAGUE WEST
Angels: Samy Natera Jr. LHP (No. 20)
Buzz first started to percolate around Natera after an impressive five-outing showing during the Arizona Fall League in 2024, which he followed up with a dominant debut campaign as a reliever. A 17th-round pick in ‘22 out of New Mexico State (which has sent just three pitchers to the big leagues), Natera rode his fastball/slider combo as high as Triple-A while striking out 85 batters in 57 innings. He threw his heater with significant cut and ride 78.6 percent of the time overall and was particularly stingy against lefties, whom he neutralized to the tune of a .160 AVG and .559 OPS. At 26, the 6-foot-4, 230-pounder is knocking on the door of a big league bullpen as he still works to hone in his stuff (career-high 6.6 BB/9 in ‘25).
Astros: Alimber Santa, RHP (No. 13)
After jumping on prospect radars after he dialed his fastball up to 100 mph in August 2022, Santa has settled into the mid 90s and found success after a full-time transition to the bullpen that began in mid-2024. Named to the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game in July, Santa posted a Double-A-best (min. 50 innings) 1.26 ERA this season, which earned him a bump to Triple-A at just 22 years old. The Dominican righty has battled his control throughout his time in the Minors (6.0 BB/9 rate) but his elite arm speed, feel for a changeup and pair of distinct breaking balls could enthrall a club who buys into his all-around upside.
A’s: Daniel Susac, C (No. 11)
The 19th overall pick from the 2022 Draft, Susac has played at each stop of the Athletics’ stateside organizational ladder. He took full advantage of the hitter-friendly confines in the Triple-A Pacific Coast League this past season, posting career highs in home runs (18), RBIs (68), OPS (.832) and wOBA (.365). The younger brother of former MLB catcher Andrew, Daniel has a reputation as a solid receiver behind the dish with plus makeup to boot, attributes that could land him on an MLB roster as soon as next March as a backup who is still refining his all-around game.
Mariners: Michael Morales, RHP (No. 18)
Dating back to his Single-A debut in 2022, Morales has compiled the 11th-most innings (472 1/3) in the Minors. Remarkably durable, the third-round pick has made at least 22 starts four years running. He’s a true mix and match hurler who works with five pitches of varying speeds, with just his low-80s changeup rating out as above average. His strikeout rate backed up considerably in 2025 (6.2 per nine) but he was two-and-a-half years younger than his Double-A competition. It will likely never be a high whiff profile but Morales could provide stability in an innings-eater role to an MLB club that believes in his pitchability.
Rangers: Cameron Cauley, SS/OF/2B (No. 17)
While it may not be a true one-for-one comp, Cauley has many of the same attributes that led to the Nationals nabbing Nasim Nuñez in the Rule 5 Draft back in 2023: elite speed and defensive flexibility. Additionally enhancing Cauley’s favor is that he also has some considerable pop, having swatted 15 home runs for the second straight this year. Running a 86.9 percent stolen-base clip throughout his Minor League career, the 2021 third-rounder has experience starting at shortstop, second base and center field, making him a prime option for a club in search of a versatile utility man.
NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST
Braves: Blake Burkhalter, RHP (No. 11)
Atlanta didn’t add anyone to its 40-man roster ahead of the Rule 5 deadline, leaving Burkhalter (among many) available. The 6-foot right-hander had solid success as a Double-A starter in 2025 before moving to the Triple-A bullpen, where he didn’t miss as many bats (23 strikeouts in 31 innings). His 92-95 mph four-seamer does have impressive ride (17.9 inches of induced vertical break at Triple-A, on average) and some cutting action that could be appetizing for Rule 5 clubs, and he has a truer cutter in the upper-80s and a low-80s curveball for righties and a mid-80s changeup for lefties.
Marlins: Matt Pushard, RHP (unranked)
The University of Maine product knocked on Miami’s door with a 3.61 ERA, 73 strikeouts and 23 walks in 62 1/3 innings as a Triple-A Jacksonville reliever but never broke it down during his age-27 season in 2025. His 94-96 mph four-seamer (touching 97.4) regularly caused batters to chase and miss with its combination of ride and run, and he added an effective low-80s sweeper to go with a more traditional curveball. He doesn’t have as many control issues as other potential Rule 5 relievers, though he’s more likely to succeed in right-on-right situations.
Mets: Felipe De La Cruz, LHP (unranked)
The 24-year-old left-hander bounced between Double-A and Triple-A in 2025 as he couldn’t find consistent success at the Minors’ top level (7.30 ERA, 32 strikeouts, 17 walks in 24 2/3 innings). He’s a sinker/slider southpaw with a 94-96 mph heater with tons of run and a cutter-like breaking ball in the 84-87 mph range with a little armside break of its own (roughly two inches on average). Even righties had a whiff rate of 41.8 percent against the slider in Triple-A, so De La Cruz wouldn’t necessarily need to be lefty-heavy in the Majors. His handedness might still give him a leg up in consideration.
Nationals: Tyler Stuart, RHP (No. 29)
The 6-foot-9 right-hander would be your classic stash candidate as he underwent Tommy John surgery after appearing in only 10 games while battling elbow issues this summer. Acquired from the Mets in July 2024 for Jesse Winker, he struck out 135 batters in 122 1/3 innings at Double-A and Triple-A that season, relying heavily on an 82-85 mph slider with good two-plane break. He plays off that with a sinker, changeup and cutter and has enough control to keep starting once healthy. If a team were to pick him and keep him on the IL for all of ‘26, he’d need to be active for 90 days in ‘27 to stick.
Phillies: Griff McGarry, RHP (unranked)
Prepare to hear McGarry’s name a good amount as his stuff continues to be promising. His 93-95 mph four-seamer comes in with a flat approach and plays up with above-average extension, shortening the decision window for batters. His low-80s sweeper averaged 17-18 inches of gloveside movement in front of Statcast, and he has a mid-80s slider that’s a little shorter than that; both can generate a heavy amount of whiffs. But even as McGarry’s control improved from a disastrous 2024, he still walked 13.9 percent of his batters faced across all levels. A Rule 5 club would have to want to buy and build on that progress.
NATIONAL LEAGUE CENTRAL
Brewers: Blake Holub, RHP (unranked)
Acquired from the Tigers in November 2023 in a straight-up swap for Mark Canha, the 6-foot-6 right-hander first reached Triple-A Nashville in 2024 and posted a 3.70 ERA with 53 strikeouts and 31 walks in 41 1/3 innings there this season. He’s a two-pitch reliever with a 93-95 mph cutter and a 84-86 mph slider, each of which had a whiff rate of 29-30 percent in ‘25. Holub comes with nearly seven feet of extension and generates a ton of ground balls (50.5 percent last season), which could interest some Rule 5 clubs, but would need to throw more strikes to stick in an MLB bullpen for a full season.
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Cardinals: Pete Hansen, LHP (unranked)
The 2022 third-rounder out of Texas has certainly delivered results in his three full seasons with the Cards, most recently finishing with a 3.93 ERA, 123 strikeouts and 37 walks in 137 1/3 innings at Double-A Springfield in ‘25. Considering his fastball only scrapes 92 mph, it’s all about the command and secondary stuff here, particularly an 80-82 mph slider that gets heavy chase and an 81-84 mph changeup that holds off righties.
Cubs: Grant Kipp, RHP (No. 19)
Six-foot-six. Elite spin rates. Considerable velocity gains. There’s a ton to like in Kipp’s prospect package despite having turned 26 this offseason. An undrafted free agent who possesses an economics degree from Yale, he spun a career-best 108 2/3 innings this summer at Double-A and struck out better than a batter per inning, all while continuing to refine his arsenal – mid-90s heater, low-80s curve (49.4% whiff rate in 2025, per Synergy), upper-80s cutter, along with a slider and changeup that could fall by the wayside if a club believes in his immediate relief bona fides.
Pirates: Anthony Solometo, LHP (No. 25)
Once a pitcher who drew Madison Bumgarner comps for his deception from the left side, Solometo saw his velocity drop in 2024 and then battled shoulder issues that limited him to only 10 2/3 innings this summer. Still only 23 for the 2026 season, he would be a rebuild candidate, someone clubs could stash on the IL as he tried to regain strength in the shoulder and velocity on the fastball. Even when the heater was down, his slider looked like an above-average pitch, and he has a history of showing average to good command.
Reds: Carlos Jorge, OF/2B (No. 22)
Traditionally, posting a sub-.700 OPS in consecutive seasons wouldn’t get you on many clubs’ Rule 5 radars. But Jorge – who repeated High-A this year – ripped off 40 stolen bases, his fifth consecutive campaign with at least 27 bags, all while running at an 84.2 percent success clip. Factor in untapped offensive potential to the fact the 22-year-old has experience playing all three outfield positions, as well as second base, and an aggressive club who believes in his long-term upside could attempt to stash him as a late-inning baserunner/defensive replacement.
NATIONAL LEAGUE WEST
D-backs: Christian Cerda, C (unranked)
Could Cerda be this year’s Hicks? Like the Marlins catcher, the 22-year-old has posted impressive walk rates at every stop in the Minors, though he trades Hicks’ elite contact rates for a little more power. Cerda hit a career-high 18 homers in 93 games for Double-A Amarillo in 2025. Teams won’t look too heavily into that total alone as Cerda slugged just .357 away from Amarillo’s home launching pad, but there’s enough right-handed pop and defense there for a Rule 5 club in need of catching help to consider him.
Dodgers: José Rodríguez, RHP (unranked)
Rodriguez has one of the most unique deliveries in this year’s Rule 5 Draft with his back turned to the batter, followed by pronounced seven-foot extension and a whiplike arm motion. It helps sell his 86-88 mph changeup (also one of the best in this year’s R5 class), since it looks much like his 95-97 mph sinker in movement until it hits the brakes near the plate. The cambio had a 67.3 percent whiff rate at Triple-A, and you can bet a lot of clubs would like to get their hands on that and his 85-87 mph short slider with a 51.2 percent whiff rate. Rodriguez also walked 14.2 percent of his batters faced with Oklahoma City, and that lack of control (a likely outcome of his delivery) could scare them off too.
Giants: Tyler Vogel, RHP (unranked)
A 12th-round pick in 2022 out of Jacksonville, Vogel hadn’t broken past High-A entering this year, but he enjoyed a breakout 2025 with a 2.88 ERA and 67 strikeouts in 59 1/3 innings across High-A, Double-A and Triple-A in his age-24 season. The 6-foot righty can touch 97 with his fastball, and his 79-81 mph curveball and mid-80s splitter are very effective against lefties with whiff rates above 40 percent against opposite-side bats. Left-handers hit just .183 against him in 2025 (compared to .313 for righties).
Padres: Francis Pena, RHP (No. 20)
Triple-A El Paso can be a tough place to pitch, as Pena can attest to after posting a 6.04 ERA in 21 home games there in 2025. But in general, last season was a step back for the 24-year-old righty who had dominated in his previous two stateside seasons. Still, he offers some interesting pitches in his 94-97 mph sinker and 86-89 mph two-plane slider, both of which come from more than seven feet of extension. Pena’s walk rate more than doubled from 7.1 percent in ‘24 to 14.3 percent with the MLB ball in ‘25, and that’ll weigh on his candidacy.
Rockies: Yujanyer Herrera, RHP (No. 17)
Herrera didn’t pitch at all in 2025 as he recovered and rehabbed from Tommy John surgery, but there’s some starting potential here because of the way his strike-throwing was improving before the elbow procedure. His 92-94 mph fastball and hard slider both earned average to above-average grades, and there are the makings of a changeup here too. A Rule 5 club could oversee the remainder of his recovery and give him rehab outings in-house before better assessing if he could jump to The Show. | false | classify this article contain milestone or not |
How Cubs view these 3 arms could impact search for pitching depth
Javier Assad's six strikeout start
Sep 29, 2025 · 1:17
Javier Assad's six strikeout start
By Jordan Bastian
December 3, 2025
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CHICAGO -- Two seasons into Craig Counsell’s time in the managerial seat on the North Side, Cubs fans have undoubtedly grown accustomed to how he avoids labels with the team’s pitchers. Whether in the rotation or bullpen, Counsell leans on the phrase “out-getters” to sidestep traditional job titles.
“You know Counsell likes to be flexible and versatile with how he uses guys,” Cubs pitching coach Tommy Hottovy said in a recent phone conversation.
Fair enough, but there is still a desire to figure out how certain arms fit within the larger innings puzzle that each season presents. As things stand, the Cubs still have a need for adding multiple out-getters for the entire staff. That will be a focus in the upcoming Winter Meetings, where Chicago’s search for additional rotation and bullpen help will continue.
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As the Cubs’ front office casts its nets for external reinforcements, there are three in-house arms without a clearly defined place on the pitching staff. Javier Assad, Ben Brown and Jordan Wicks each have history as starting pitchers, but they have also spent time within the relief corps. So how are the Cubs viewing them in relation to the depth chart?
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“It’s always important to have those guys stretched out as starters,” Hottovy said. “And then we can make adjustments off that if we need to. … I don’t like to dive right into it and say a guy is X or a guy is Y, because there’s just so many different things that you can do.”
The Cubs are still looking for a starter to add to the front end of the rotation, whether that is via free agency (Michael King, Ranger Suárez, Framber Valdez and Zac Gallen top the list), the international market (Tatsuya Imai is a logical target) or the trade route (Edward Cabrera, Sandy Alcantara and Joe Ryan, among others, have been floated).
Prior to anyone new joining the fold, Chicago’s top four include Matthew Boyd, Cade Horton, Shota Imanaga and Jameson Taillon. Righty Colin Rea was re-signed to a one-year deal (which includes a club option) as depth for the starting group and bullpen. Justin Steele is making his way back from left elbow surgery, but could return around May, barring any setbacks.
Behind those arms are Assad, Brown and Wicks. All three have at least one Minor League option, so the Cubs would have the ability to stash them with Triple-A Iowa as depth if they are not in the Opening Day roster picture. With multiple vacancies in the bullpen, however, there is also the chance that Chicago considers them as multi-inning relievers.
The 28-year-old Assad is eligible for arbitration for the first time this offseason after moving between starting and relieving across the past four seasons for the Cubs. He was limited to 37 innings due to injury issues in 2025, but he still posted a solid 3.65 ERA (compared to a 3.43 ERA across his MLB career).
Per Statcast, Assad’s fastball velocity has ticked up as a reliever (93.3 mph) compared to as a starter (92.1 mph) in his career. He has turned in a 3.51 ERA with 7.1 strikeouts per nine innings as a starter (54 games) for the Cubs and logged a 3.05 ERA with 8.4 K/9 in his 24 relief appearances.
Brown -- acquired from the Phillies at the 2022 Trade Deadline -- relies mostly on a two-pitch mix (fastball and curveball), but he has developed a changeup with mixed results overall to date. There have been flashes of promise both as a starter and reliever in the past two seasons, but also some rough results (5.92 ERA overall in 106 1/3 innings in ‘25).
Last season, only relievers Daniel Palencia (586 times) and Brad Keller (341) had more fastballs than the 26-year-old Brown (146) recorded at at least 97 mph among Cubs pitchers, per Statcast. Brown had 121 strikeouts overall last season, including 40 against nine walks in 30 2/3 innings as a reliever.
“For me, I 100% see him as a starter,” Hottovy said. “He’s got the upside to be a really good power pitcher in the back end of the bullpen, but you don’t want to just crown that. You want that to kind of happen. Sometimes it happens, because it’s what the team needs. Sometimes it happens because the player shows you that’s his best role.”
Wicks, 26, made the Cubs’ Opening Day rotation in 2024 and was part of the bullpen for the Tokyo Series to begin the ‘25 campaign. The lefty (selected in the first round of the ‘21 Draft by the Cubs) only had eight appearances in the Majors last season, but he had a string of solid outings down the stretch.
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Wicks also showed that he could handle multi-inning efforts in relief, while displaying an uptick in velocity, as well. The lefty averaged 92.5 mph with his heater for the Cubs in 2024, but he saw that climb to 94.4 mph in ‘25. That included topping 96 mph three times (maxing out at 97.1 mph) in a July 11 outing against the Yankees.
“That was some real stuff,” Hottovy said. “And he was like, ‘Wow, OK, I’m starting to understand what I need to do to be prepared to contribute in that type of role.’” | false | classify this article contain milestone or not |
WNBA mock draft 2026: Azzi Fudd is No. 1 as Wings win lottery
The Dallas Wings again have the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft. And league history has shown us that having two consecutive top selections is usually a huge boost for a franchise.
Sunday's draft lottery had no surprises as the top five -- the Wings, Minnesota Lynx, Seattle Storm, Washington Mystics and Chicago Sky -- matched their lottery odds.
In Friday's pre-lottery mock draft, teenage post player Awa Fam from Spain was the projected No. 1 pick. And she is still a strong candidate to join the Wings, whose new head coach, Jose Fernandez, recruited extensively in Europe while he was at South Florida.
But after watching UConn guard Azzi Fudd's shooting display at the Hall of Fame Women's Showcase this past weekend, the No. 1 spot for now pivots to the Huskies senior.
Last year's top draft pick, 2025 WNBA Rookie of the Year Paige Bueckers, and Fudd are elite backcourt players who complement each other and could be building blocks to take the Wings back to the playoffs for a sustained run.
Bueckers and Fudd have been open about being in a relationship, but that is not an unusual scenario in the league. They have proved to be very good teammates, leading the Huskies to a national championship in April.
The WNBA's labor negotiations, of course, are ongoing -- the previously extended deadline is Nov. 30 -- and after a new collective bargaining agreement, there will be the expansion drafts for new franchises in Toronto and Portland, Oregon, plus free agency.
That all must take place before April's draft, when we will have much more information about each team's makeup.
But for now, here is the newest mock draft, which again has four players from No. 3 UCLA as projected first-round picks | false | classify this article contain milestone or not |
Popular MiLB jersey takes center stage in All Elite Wrestling ring
By Jesse Borek @JesseABorek
December 3, 2025
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Getting ready to talk trash to your opponent before a title fight? Rock a Trash Pandas jersey, naturally.
Eddie Kingston has never been one to mince his words. But ahead of his AEW Men’s World Championship match against Samoa Joe next Wednesday night on All Elite Wrestling: Dynamite on TBS and HBO Max, the self-proclaimed “King of the Bums” dug into his wardrobe and broke out one of Minor League Baseball’s most popular uniforms.
AEW World Champion @SamoaJoe and his challenger next week, Eddie Kingston, meet face to face, RIGHT NOW!
Watch #AEWDynamite LIVE on TBS & HBO Max pic.twitter.com/QbfyDFaxen
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) December 4, 2025
The Rocket City Trash Pandas have become something of a cultural icon. Bestowed with the “Rocket City” moniker for the role it played in the development of the U.S. space program, Huntsville, Ala., -- and nearby Madison -- have helped spur one of the most unique team names in all of American professional sports. The Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels, the Trash Pandas play their home games -- rocking those pristine white uniforms -- at Toyota Field.
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On social media -- where the club is apt to remind you that yes, that is in fact their team name -- the Trash Pandas often highlight where around the globe their gear is worn. Interested in contributing? Check out TrashPandasTravels.com.
Of course, wrestling and baseball jerseys have a storied history. Fans of John Cena remember the sports-entertainer-turned-actor rocking countless throwback looks throughout the early days of his WWE tenure. Fans can purchase various baseball-style uniforms on the WWE and AEW websites, although your place to get a Trash Pandas one just like Kingston's is right here.
Before his title fight, Kingston kept things from getting too out of hand physically. But if he ever needs a tag team partner, he can likely count on the club's mascot, Sprocket, to have his back. We've heard he's good with a trash can. | false | classify this article contain milestone or not |
'Stop this massacre': French football union blasts Club World Cup and FIFA over player welfare
Flamengo's Erick Pulgar gestures during the Club World Cup round of 16 soccer match between CR Flamengo and Bayern Munich in Miami Gardens, FL, 29 June 2025
Copyright AP Photo
By Euronews with AP
Published on 30/06/2025 - 10:41 GMT+2 •Updated 11:06
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The UNFP has condemned the Club World Cup, citing the negative impact on player health and accusing FIFA President Gianni Infantino of ignoring these issues.
France's football union has blasted the FIFA Club World Cup, saying it is “urgent to stop this massacre” amid ongoing concerns about player welfare.
The Union Nationale des Footballeurs Professionnels (UNFP) also accused FIFA president Gianni Infantino of living “in an ivory tower” by ignoring the impact congested calendars have on players worldwide.
“The incongruity of the situation is not lost on anyone, except, of course, Gianni Infantino and his flatterers. From the height of his ivory tower, which he parades around the world, the FIFA president is not bothered by the fate that the international calendar reserves for the game’s leading players,” the UNFP said in a statement early Sunday morning.
“His (Infantino's) Club World Cup proves, to the point of absurdity, that it is urgent to stop this massacre game. He flouts the physical and mental health of players for a few more dollars."
The UNFP statement said the Club World Cup comes at the end of an already exhausting season, and thereby ignores “collective bargaining agreements (which) almost everywhere, provide for an incompressible period of three weeks of rest for footballers between two seasons.”
Too many games
Days before the start of the month-long Club World Cup, which ends on 13 July, football chiefs faced renewed calls to safeguard players over growing fears of injuries and burnout.
The newly expanded tournament involving 32 teams has faced pushback since FIFA announced it would be added to an already saturated calendar. The tournament will be played every four years, sandwiched in between the men’s World Cup, European Championship and Copa America.
It went ahead against the backdrop of legal challenges in Europe, strike threats and repeated concerns over players’ mental and physical welfare due to too many games.
“The UNFP, like FIFPRO and FIFPRO Europe, has been protesting for years against the drastic increase in workloads,” The UNFP added. “But also against the harmful repercussions for domestic football of a calendar that FIFA is still alone in building today.”
Last September, Manchester City midfielder Rodri suffered a severe knee injury soon after saying players were close to going on strike over excessive workloads.
No rest for Paris Saint-Germain
Champions League winner Paris Saint-Germain is one of the biggest sides involved in the Club World Cup.
After winning the Champions League on 31 May, key PSG players like Ousmane Dembélé and Désiré Doué played for France and then went to the United States soon after for the Club World Cup.
Some French clubs have already resumed training for the upcoming Ligue 1 season, which begins mid-August, while others start next week. PSG was unable to push for a postponement of the start of the season.
“We don't see how or why the Parisians should not benefit from the three weeks of complete rest they are entitled to,” the UNFP said, adding that the toll of extra games for PSG's players could impact the national team in early September. | false | classify this article contain milestone or not |
FIFA faces quandary over US and Iran involvement at 2026 World Cup
Iranian players stand for the national anthem before the AFC Asian Cup quarter-final match between Japan and Iran at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar
Copyright Aijaz Rahi/Copyright 2024 The AP. All rights reserved
By Euronews Arabic
Published on 26/06/2025 - 17:18 GMT+2 •Updated 17:19
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Following the US bombing of Iran's nuclear facilities last week, questions have been asked about next year's tournament, which will feature Iran and will be co-hosted by the US.
FIFA is facing questions about how it will manage the involvement of both the US and Iran at next year's World Cup, just days after Donald Trump ordered the bombing of three Iranian nuclear facilities.
The US became involved in the recent 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran, which ended with an American-brokered ceasefire on Tuesday, when it dropped bunker-buster bombs on several targets inside Iran over the weekend.
The mission was hailed by the Trump administration as a profound blow to Iran's nuclear programme, despite a US intelligence report later casting doubt on its effectiveness.
Meanwhile, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei claimed on Thursday that the US had "achieved no gains from this war".
Amid the tension between the two countries, questions have been raised about the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the US and in which Iran will compete.
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Next year, Iran can only avoid matches in the US if they are placed in Group A, which is exclusively played in Mexico, another of the tournament's three hosts.
According to the tournament system, if Iran tops Group A, it will play its round of 32 and round of 16 matches in Mexico.
However, if they advance further into the knockout rounds, they would have to move to the US, potentially opening the door to unprecedented diplomatic and security issues.
Under FIFA regulations, there is no provision that would prevent Iranians from playing on US soil, even though the Trump administration recently imposed a travel ban on Iranian nationals. An exemption could apply to Iran's football squad and its staff.
Internal FIFA consultations are expected to be held ahead of the draw for the tournament in December.
The final decision on the groupings will be made by the FIFA Council, which is chaired by the organisation's President Gianni Infantino, who has close ties to Trump.
The FIFA Competitions Organising Committee - which includes representatives from the hosts Canada, Mexico and Iran and which is chaired by UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin - will play an advisory role.
The European position could set a precedent, as UEFA decided in 2022 to separate Ukraine and Belarus in the draw for European competitions, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. | false | classify this article contain milestone or not |
What can be done to fix the tennis season?
"I get one week off the whole year. It's absurd," No. 6-ranked Taylor Fritz told ESPN about the lack of a substantial offseason in tennis. Fritz was eliminated from the 2025 ATP Finals on Thursday. EPA/ALESSANDRO DI MARCO
D'Arcy Maine
Nov 13, 2025, 02:44 PM ET
IN 2024, THE professional tennis season officially concluded on Dec. 22 when Joao Fonseca defeated Learner Tien for the title at the ATP Next Gen Finals in Saudi Arabia.
The 2025 season got underway on Dec. 27 for the United Cup in Australia. Both Fonseca and Tien were back on court on Dec. 30 for tournaments in Australia and Hong Kong, respectively.
"I don't know how the '25 season starts in '24," Jordan Thompson, the 2024 US Open doubles champion, said at the time. "I mean, it's a joke."
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While Fonseca and Tien had about four weeks without sanctioned events before the Next Gen Finals, the five-day turnaround emphasized how little time professional tennis players have to rest, recover and prepare for a new season. There was just over one month between both the Billie Jean King Cup and Davis Cup and the United Cup. The WTA Finals and the ATP Finals took place in mid-November.
The length of the season, and the relentless and globetrotting nature of the tour, has long been a complaint among players -- but it has intensified in recent years. Alex de Minaur blamed "feeling burned out" for an early exit at the French Open this year. Iga Swiatek criticized the demands of the "super intense" schedule when she was unable to play in a Billie Jean King Cup qualifier in the spring. During one day at the China Open in late September, five of the 12 scheduled matches ended in midmatch retirements.
Several players, including Frances Tiafoe, Danielle Collins, Jack Draper and Daria Kasatkina, shut down their seasons early this year, citing injuries and mental fatigue.
"Truth is, I've hit a wall and can't continue. I need a break. A break from the monotonous daily grind of life on the tour, the suitcases, the results, the pressure, the same faces (sorry, girls), everything that comes with this life," Kasatkina said in a post on social media. "The schedule is too much, mentally and emotionally I am at a breaking point and sadly, I am not alone."
As the 2025 season winds down and players almost immediately turn their attention to 2026, the conversation about the length and intensity of the tennis season will only continue. The big question is: Will anything change in the near future?
"I've hit a wall and can't continue. I need a break," Daria Kasatkina wrote in a social media post in October. EPA/CRISTOBAL HERRERA-ULASHKEVICH
TOP-RANKED AMERICAN Taylor Fritz had a breakout season in 2024. After reaching the quarterfinals at the Australian Open and Wimbledon, he reached his first major final at the US Open. By season's end, he had won two ATP titles, reached four finals (including at the ATP Finals), captured an Olympic bronze medal in doubles with Tommy Paul and earned a new career-high ranking of No. 4.
But there would be no time to celebrate. And in fact, because he had done so well, it only extended his season, because he had secured an invite to the year-end ATP Finals and would play in the Davis Cup finals.
"There's no offseason, and if you're a top player, you actually get even less of an offseason," Fritz told ESPN in the spring. "If the season were to end in Paris [in early November] like it does for most players, then you get a month and a half before the season starts, maybe even a little more, I think maybe a week extra, but if you play the Tour Finals and Davis Cup, you're actually adding three more weeks onto it, and then if you play United Cup like I do, because you're top player, it starts earlier as well."
For Fritz that resulted in about three weeks between the end of his 2024 season and the start of his 2025 campaign. He returned home at the end of November and said he had to leave for Australia on Dec. 21. And, as he pointed out, there was a lot he had to do during that stretch.
"People don't understand you have to be training during that time," Fritz said. "The offseason is your time to train, so if I have three weeks, I take one week [to relax or go on vacation] and that's it. I get one week off the whole year. It's absurd."
Because many players use the time to implement any changes they want to make, whether technically or in terms of their coaching staff, it's a crucial period. But is it more important than having a chance to rest or recover after the physically demanding season on the road? That's up to each player to decide.
For some, the offseason, no matter how brief, marks one of the only times they are able to spend at home. That is especially true for those from Australia, who spend most of the season living out of a suitcase.
"For me when I come back to Australia, I just want to get down to the beach, chill out, take two weeks off the rackets," Thompson said at the start of the 2025 season. "But I've still got to do a lot of physical stuff to stay in shape. It is literally three weeks before you're back into tournament mode. You can't afford to have any slip-ups with that amount of time off physically."
Novak Djokovic won the Hellenic Championship ATP 250 on Saturday, but played sparingly this year and opted out of the ATP Finals this week citing an ongoing shoulder injury. Milos Bicanski/Getty Images
Can a player find time during the season to take a break? Former world No. 1 Novak Djokovic, 38, played only the major events this summer, skipping all of the ATP tournaments in June, July and August. His goal was to prioritize winning what would be a record-breaking 25th major title and to spend time with his family. But he's also in a rare position. He has said that he's unconcerned by his ranking at this stage of his career, and with over $190 million earned in on-court prize money, finances are hardly a worry either.
The tours require players to play a certain number of tournaments every year. Qualifying ATP players must play in all four majors, eight Masters 1000-level events and five 500-level tournaments, including one held after the US Open. Top WTA players also must play in the Grand Slams, in addition to 10 1000-level tournaments and six 500-level events. Seven of the 1000-level tournaments now last 12 days, with several recently extended from one week.
A player can be exempted from a major or the 1000-level tournaments due to an injury, but if a WTA player doesn't meet the six-tournament threshold for the 500-level events, they will be deducted ranking points. Current No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and No. 2 Swiatek, in addition to others in the top 10 such as Coco Gauff, Amanda Anisimova and Madison Keys, lost points at the end of the 2024 season because they didn't play in the required number of tournaments. Swiatek, who had been No. 1 at the time, dropped to No. 2. ATP players who fail to meet the criteria could face reductions in end-of-season bonus pool earnings.
Many top players have been vocal about the impact of the length and requirements of the schedule, especially because they frequently reach the late stages of tournaments they play.
Swiatek, who had been playing in one of the injury-shortened matches at the China Open in September, was quick to blame the schedule after Camila Osorio, her opponent, retired following the first set of their match. She told reporters she would likely "have to choose some tournaments and skip them, even though they are mandatory" going forward.
"WTA, with all these mandatory rules, they made this pretty crazy for us," Swiatek said. "I don't think any top player will actually be able to achieve this, playing the six 500 tournaments. It's just impossible to squeeze it in the schedule.
"I think we have to be smart about it, not really, unfortunately, care about the rules and just think what's healthy for us. Yeah, it's tough."
Iga Swiatek played in a tour-leading 80 matches this season. Wu Hao/EPA
Swiatek lost in her next match, then reached the quarterfinals in Wuhan before failing to make it out of the group stage at the WTA Finals.
The WTA and others in the sport have repeatedly pointed to the extended 1000-level tournaments as part of the way it would be able to ensure equal prize money at tournaments with their male counterparts.
"I always hear cries for more prize money, more prize money and this is what the tour's got to [do] -- to increase the prize money they've had to extend the length of these tournaments," said Anne Keothavong, a former player and captain of Great Britain's Billie Jean King Cup team in a recent interview on Sky Sports. "So what is it you want?"
Gauff, the world No. 3, didn't disagree with that argument, but said it was "impossible" to meet all the requirements in a given year.
"I guess on a business standpoint, it can kind of make sense, but on a player-health standpoint, I don't really agree with it," Gauff said at the China Open. "I've basically played as much tennis as I possibly can and it's impossible to keep up with the six 500s. It's just impossible."
Gauff played in three 500-level tournaments in 2025, as did Sabalenka, Swiatek and Anisimova. Keys played in four. However, that didn't result in fewer matches. Swiatek played in a tour-leading 80 matches this season. Sabalenka appeared in 76 (as did WTA Finals champion Elena Rybakina), Gauff in 65, Anisimova in 63 and Keys in 53.
The state of the top players was on full display at the Shanghai Masters in October. Many complained about the brutal heat and humidity and others felt the weight of the long season.
World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz withdrew before the tournament began due to a left ankle injury. Second-ranked Jannik Sinner retired from his third-round match due to cramping. Djokovic vomited during his round of 32 match and needed treatment for a back injury during his loss in the semifinals. The final featured Valentin Vacherot, then-ranked No. 204 in the world and the ninth alternate in the qualifying draw, versus his cousin Arthur Rinderknech, then-ranked No. 40. An incredible story to be sure, but perhaps not the title clash the ATP was hoping for in one of its signature events.
Jessica Pegula has said she doesn't like the US Open's change to a 15-day tournament this year. Julia Nikhinson/AP
LAST MONTH, THE ATP announced it would it be adding another Masters 1000-level tournament to its schedule as early as 2028, in Saudi Arabia. This will bring the total number in the category to 10, with nine of them mandatory. (Monte Carlo remains an optional event.) It remains unclear exactly when the tournament will take place during the already jam-packed schedule, or if women will be included as well.
The French Open, Australian Open and US Open have all added an additional day of play to the main draw in recent years, shifting the start day from Monday to Sunday. Several players voiced their opposition to it in New York this year as the US Open implemented it for the first time.
"I'm not really a fan of it," Jessica Pegula, currently ranked No. 6, said. "I don't know why they had to make it even longer. Well, I know why they did it -- they get to sell tickets for an extra day."
Brad Stine, the longtime coach of Tommy Paul, acknowledges that the debate around the length of the season is nothing new. He has been a coach at the professional level since 1990, when he began working with Jim Courier, and has heard it all over the years.
While Stine does believe the ATP and WTA should get rid of the "mandatory" distinction on tournaments, and ensure there is a week or two off after every Slam, he also believes players should be less "paranoid" about losing ranking points and skip tournaments whenever they feel they need a break.
"No one's required to play. You can take time off whenever you want to take time off," he said.
Furthermore, he thinks many of the players undermine their concerns by playing in the high-paying exhibitions during the offseason, or other breaks in the schedule.
"There doesn't seem to be a shortage of players looking to play those events," Stine told ESPN. "Some of them are the players that are proponents of a shorter season. 'We need more breaks, we need a shorter season.' But then when they're given an opportunity to have time off, they opt to play more events."
Alcaraz, one of the most vocal proponents of the need for a shorter season, played in the lucrative Six Kings Slam in October and is scheduled to play in several other exhibition events in December, including in New York, Newark and Miami. He was quick to dismiss the correlation.
"It's a different format, different situation playing exhibitions than the official tournaments, 15, 16 days in row, having such a high focus and demanding physically," Alcaraz said during a news conference at the Six Kings Slam. "We're just having fun for one or two days and playing some tennis, and that's great, and why we choose the exhibitions.
"I understand [the criticism], but sometimes people don't understand us, our opinions. It's not really demanding mentally [compared with] when we're having such long events like two weeks or two-and-a-half weeks."
Jannik Sinner (left) and Carlos Alcaraz split the major titles in 2025. Alcaraz has been especially vocal on the need for a shorter season. Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
WHILE IT SEEMS most players believe something has to change, the specifics present a challenge.
"It just needs to be shortened up. It's too much," Fritz said when asked what should be changed. "It is just too much."
He added he didn't believe any changes would be forthcoming.
"I don't think we're being heard," he said. "I think you have myself, Carlos, and Sasha [Zverev], so three of the top four players in the world saying that it just needs to be shortened, and there hasn't been any talk of change really."
And it's not quite that simple. While it might sound logical to, say, end the season after the US Open with the year-end finals soon after, that leaves 12 WTA and 13 ATP tournaments (in addition to the Billie Jean King Cup, Davis Cup and Laver Cup) currently on the books without a spot on the calendar. Host organizations and cities pay a premium licensing fee in order to stage each event -- with prices varying depending on the level of the tournament -- and typically sign multiyear agreements to do so.
While changes have been few and far between, there have been some.
The Billie Jean King Cup final, played in November last year and in recent seasons, was moved to September to allow for a longer offseason for WTA players this year. It was also held in Shenzhen, China, for the first time, allowing many players to then seamlessly play in the Asian swing immediately after. (Playoffs to determine the qualifying teams for the 2026 tournament will be held from Nov. 14 through 16, however, and features 21 countries.) The Davis Cup kept its previous time slot and is scheduled to begin on Nov.18 in Bologna, Italy, and conclude on Nov. 23.
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There have been discussions about bigger changes. In 2024, the four Grand Slams engaged in early conversations for a "Premier Tour," with an annual schedule that would consist of the majors, approximately 10 other events and a year-end final.
In response, the WTA and the ATP proposed a similar version of the idea to the Slams -- in an effort to "restructure the sport" -- in the spring of this year. Per The Athletic, that plan would also include the four majors, 10 1000-level events, 17 500-level events for the WTA and 16 for the ATP, and a reduction of 250-level tournaments through buybacks of licensing. It would ultimately decrease the number of tournaments between the two organizations from 118 to roughly 75. But the WTA and ATP failed to sell the Grand Slams on the idea, reportedly in part because of the proposed structure of the board to oversee the new venture.
But while dramatically transforming the sport might be off the table -- for now, at least -- there are other smaller ways to fix the problem. Former world No. 1 Andy Roddick contemplated moving the order of events in the fall schedule on a recent episode of his "Served" Podcast.
"Why can't [ATP 250-level tournaments like the Nordic Open and the European Open] exist after World Tour finals?" Roddick wondered. "Why can't we have a wraparound season where these [250s] go for a month [leading into the new year]? [If] more players want more opportunities, great, then go do it. And then the top players, if they choose to play Six Kings or some other exhibition, then they can't complain about the schedule being too long anymore because it's not wedged into the middle of the year. [As it is] they have to fill some space. They have to play something before World Tour Finals. If it ends in the back half of November, something's got to give. We have to have a goal to be done by Nov. 1."
The WTA and the ATP are not clueless to the complaints and concerns of their players. In a statement provided to ESPN, the WTA called athlete welfare a "top priority" and said the organization is in constant communication with players, including through the players' council and the representatives on the WTA Board.
"Following an extensive review, our player and tournament representatives voted to introduce enhancements to the tour's season structure in 2024," the WTA statement continued. "The updated structure delivers meaningful increases in player compensation ($400 million over the next several years), adds more competitive opportunities across all tiers of the tour, and establishes clearer player participation guidelines for top-ranked players to ensure stronger fields at the top events, all while making it easier for fans to follow and connect with the players and season."
The organization added it was "committed to keeping [the] tour structure under review."
When asked for comment, the ATP directed ESPN to an August interview with chairman Andrea Gaudenzi. In that, Gaudenzi called the calendar "complex" but said a goal of the ATP was to "extend the offseason." However he added that the ATP was one of many organizing bodies in professional tennis with say over the schedule and emphasized the individual nature of tennis.
"One player might be out in the first round, another is lifting the trophy after the final," Gaudenzi said. "Finding a solution that works for both ends of that spectrum is never straightforward, and you cannot build a calendar around just a single cohort of players. All cohorts must be considered."
But it's clear, no matter how far apart players and the powers that be seem to be on the schedule, the current situation is tenuous at best.
Djokovic, who spent several years on the ATP's player council and founded the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) in 2020, has long been a fierce critic of the current and evolving schedule and in his estimation has been speaking against it for "more than 15 years." But even he acknowledged it to be a "very complex" topic when asked about it ahead of the Shanghai Masters event in October.
Ultimately he said, if players wanted to see change, they would simply have to do more and learn the various layers of the tennis ecosystem.
"In the end, as a player and someone that has been playing on the highest level for more than 20 years, I can say that the players are not united enough," Djokovic said. "Players are not participating enough when they should be. So they make the comments and they complain, and then they go away ... But you have to invest the time, you have to invest energy yourself ... to understand how the system works, to understand what are the things that can be done to be reversed, to be improved in terms of the players' interest."
"Because going out in the media and talking about this and that, OK, it might stir up some energy or some attention. But at the end of the day, nothing is going to change, you know? I know it from my personal experience, trust me." | false | classify this article contain milestone or not |
Lando Norris vs Max Verstappen vs Oscar Piastri: Story of F1 title race before Abu Dhabi finale
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Dec 3, 2025, 05:54 AM ET
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After 23 races around the globe it all comes down to this, one final race to find out whether Lando Norris, Max Verstappen or Oscar Piastri will walk away a champion.
At one stage, Piastri held a 104-point lead over Verstappen. Norris, similarly, looked dead and buried earlier on this season. But the twists and turns of Formula 1 have led us to a three-way finale, all coming to a head at this weekend's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Here, we take a look at how we got to this point.
Australian GP
Championship leader: Lando Norris (25 points)
Max Verstappen: 2nd (-7 points)
Oscar Piastri: 9th (-23 points)
Norris started the season like a man on a mission, while Piastri went from second to well down the field after slipping off track onto the grass. Verstappen, as ever, took advantage to snatch second. The title fight had officially begun.
* All the title permutations as F1 heads to Abu Dhabi GP finale
Chinese GP
Championship leader: Lando Norris (44 points)
Max Verstappen: 2nd (-8 points)
Oscar Piastri: 4th (-10 points)
Piastri wrestled himself back into contention with a win in Shanghai, following Lewis Hamilton's surprise sprint victory.
Japanese GP
Championship leader: Lando Norris (62 points)
Max Verstappen: 2nd (-1 point)
Oscar Piastri: 3rd (-13 points)
Verstappen delighted the Honda-loving crowd in Suzuka with a win, as Red Bull appeared a match for McLaren early in the season.
Bahrain GP
Championship leader: Lando Norris (77 points)
Oscar Piastri: 2nd (-3 points)
Max Verstappen: 3rd (-8 points)
Piastri took pole and the fastest lap in Bahrain to dominate, with Norris struggling with the McLaren compared to his teammate.
Saudi Arabian GP
Championship leader: Oscar Piastri (99 points)
Lando Norris: 2nd (-10 points)
Max Verstappen: 3rd (-12 points)
Make that back-to-back wins and a new championship leader after Jeddah, with Norris only managing fourth after crashing in qualifying.
Miami GP
Championship leader: Oscar Piastri (131 points)
Lando Norris: 2nd (-16 points)
Max Verstappen: 3rd (-32 points)
Piastri continued to build his lead over a sprint weekend in Miami, where Verstappen and Red Bull were well off the pace.
Emilia Romagna GP
Championship leader: Oscar Piastri (146 points)
Lando Norris: 2nd (-13 points)
Max Verstappen: 3rd (-22 points)
Verstappen bounced back in Imola, where Norris kickstarted his title bid the year before, to beat the McLarens and drag himself back into the championship battle.
Monaco GP
Championship leader: Oscar Piastri (161 points)
Lando Norris: 2nd (-3 points)
Max Verstappen: 3rd (-25 points)
Norris secured his first win since the season-opener in Monte Carlo, marking a maiden victory about F1's most famous streets.
Spanish GP
Championship leader: Oscar Piastri (186 points)
Lando Norris: 2nd (-13 points)
Max Verstappen: 3rd (-49 points)
Piastri, however, responded immediately in Spain, while a moment of madness from Verstappen -- deliberately shunting into George Russell -- cost him vital positions, finishing 10th.
Canadian GP
Championship leader: Oscar Piastri (198 points)
Lando Norris: 2nd (-22 points)
Max Verstappen: 3rd (-43 points)
There was drama in Canada as Piastri and Norris collided on the start-finish straight, with the Brit -- who took responsibility -- forced to retire. George Russell claimed the first non-McLaren or Verstappen win of the campaign.
Austrian GP
Championship leader: Oscar Piastri (216 points)
Lando Norris: 2nd (-15 points)
Max Verstappen: 3rd (-61 points)
There was another crash in the following race, this time for Verstappen on the first lap. Norris, as he has done for much of this season, recovered from a bad weekend with a win the next one.
British GP
Championship leader: Oscar Piastri (234 points)
Lando Norris: 2nd (-8 points)
Max Verstappen: 3rd (-69 points)
Norris then took his second milestone victory of the year, following up Monaco with a first win in front of a roaring home crowd in Silverstone.
Belgian GP
Championship leader: Oscar Piastri (266 points)
Lando Norris: 2nd (-16 points)
Max Verstappen: 3rd (-81 points)
While Verstappen's slump continued at Spa, the McLarens battled at the front. Piastri came out on top this time, winning by three seconds.
Hungarian GP
Championship leader: Oscar Piastri (284 points)
Lando Norris: 2nd (-9 points)
Max Verstappen: 3rd (-97 points)
With Verstappen down in ninth, Piastri attempted a lunge on the penultimate lap for the win, only to lock up and nearly collide with Norris. The Brit took the win, and some much-needed form into the summer break.
Piastri appeared set for his first F1 title after winning in Zandvoort. Mark Sutton - Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images
Dutch GP
Championship leader: Oscar Piastri (309 points)
Lando Norris: 2nd (-34 points)
Max Verstappen: 3rd (-104 points)
But it all came crashing down for Norris once F1 returned. While leading, he suffered an engine failure and was forced to retire. Piastri suddenly had his biggest lead of the season, with Verstappen second -- but now over 100 points back.
Italian GP
Championship leader: Oscar Piastri (324 points)
Lando Norris: 2nd (-31 points)
Max Verstappen: 3rd (-94 points)
Norris again bounced back in Monza, but the win wasn't without its controversy. McLaren swapped the position of its drivers after deciding its pitstop strategy aided Piastri.
Azerbaijan GP
Championship leader: Oscar Piastri (324 points)
Lando Norris: 2nd (-25 points)
Max Verstappen: 3rd (-69 points)
A nightmare weekend for Piastri followed in Baku, crashing out in both qualifying and the race. Norris didn't capitalise in seventh, but Verstappen did by romping to victory.
Singapore GP
Championship leader: Oscar Piastri (336 points)
Lando Norris: 2nd (-22 points)
Max Verstappen: 3rd (-63 points)
Nobody was a match for Mercedes' Russell in Singapore, but Verstappen did again lead the Papaya duo to close what was still a large gap in the standings.
United States GP
Championship leader: Oscar Piastri (346 points)
Lando Norris: 2nd (-12 points)
Max Verstappen: 3rd (-40 points)
But it was very much game on in the championship after Austin, where Verstappen gained 23 points on Piastri, whose sudden struggles with the McLaren were evident. Piastri was a non-factor in both the sprint and the race.
Mexico City GP
Championship leader: Lando Norris (357 points)
Oscar Piastri: 2nd (-1 point)
Max Verstappen: 3rd (-36 points)
Norris had his first title lead since the fourth round of the season after winning in Mexico, with momentum shifting heavily towards the British driver.
São Paulo GP
Championship leader: Lando Norris (390 points)
Oscar Piastri: 2nd (-24 points)
Max Verstappen: 3rd (-49 points)
Norris then had a perfect weekend in Brazil, winning the sprint -- where Piastri crashed out -- and the race to put him 24 points ahead with three races remaining. Verstappen was surely out of it.
A McLaren double disqualification in Vegas opened the title fight back up. Clive Rose/Getty Images
Las Vegas GP
Championship leader: Lando Norris (390 points)
Oscar Piastri: 2nd (-24 points)
Max Verstappen: 3rd (-24 points)
Verstappen overtook Norris at the first corner before going on to take the chequered flag in Vegas, though he was still all-but-out of title contention due to the Brit's second place. However, there was postrace drama as both McLarens were disqualified after the race for a skid wear violation. Championship, back on.
Qatar GP
Championship leader: Lando Norris (408 points)
Max Verstappen: 2nd (-12 points)
Oscar Piastri: 3rd (-16 points)
The title fight is heading to a finale after a disappointing weekend for Norris, and ultimately Piastri due to some questionable strategy from McLaren. With Piastri and Norris running first and second, McLaren opted to keep their drivers out under a safety car and Verstappen took full advantage, winning the race ahead of Piastri (second) and Norris (fourth).
Can Norris now hold his nerve, or will Verstappen complete the comeback of all comebacks for an historic fifth crown? | false | classify this article contain milestone or not |
Sonny Gray: 'It's easy to hate the Yankees' playing for Red Sox
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Dec 4, 2025, 09:44 AM ET
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Boston Red Sox pitcher Sonny Gray apparently is looking forward to taking on his new team's biggest rival, saying he is happy to be in "a place where it's easy to hate the Yankees."
The Red Sox acquired the well-traveled Gray in a trade with the St. Louis Cardinals last week, adding the durable pitcher to a starting rotation that was thin on options during Boston's postseason ouster in New York.
Gray already is familiar with the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry after spending parts of two seasons in the Bronx earlier in his career, and the three-time All-Star didn't mince words when discussing his experience in New York.
"It just wasn't a good situation for me," Gray told reporters Tuesday. "It wasn't a great setup for me and my family. I never wanted to go there in the first place."
Sonny Gray struggled to a 4.51 ERA -- nearly a full run higher than his career numbers -- during his time with the Yankees. "It wasn't a great setup for me and my family," he said. "I never wanted to go there in the first place." Brad Penner/USA Today Sports
That clearly wasn't the case for Gray with the Red Sox, who needed the right-hander to waive his no-trade clause to complete their deal with the Cardinals.
"What did factor into my decision to come to Boston -- it feels good to me to go to a place now where, you know what, it's easy to hate the Yankees," he said. "It's easy to go out and have that rivalry and go into it with full force, full steam ahead. I like the challenge."
Gray struggled to a 4.51 ERA -- nearly a full run higher than his career numbers -- during his 41-game run with the Yankees in 2017 and 2018. New York acquired Gray in a blockbuster deal with the Athletics only to trade him less than 18 months later to the Cincinnati Reds, where he began reviving his career.
"When that was happening, and we were in Oakland and getting traded -- that was a long time ago -- I never wanted to go [to New York]," Gray said. "So then I was there, and it just didn't really work for who I am. ... I just wasn't myself. I just didn't feel like I was allowed to go out there and be Sonny."
Gray, 36, has a 3.58 ERA over a 13-year career with the Athletics, Yankees, Reds, Twins and Cardinals. He joins a Red Sox rotation that is led by ace Garrett Crochet but also features a handful of unproven candidates after right-hander Brayan Bello.
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Gray is the latest Red Sox pitcher to publicly say that he didn't enjoy playing for the Yankees.
Star closer Aroldis Chapman said earlier this offseason that he would "retire on the spot" before playing for New York again, adding that he "dealt with a lot of disrespect" from Yankees management.
Gray, who is 66-50 with a 3.51 ERA in seven seasons since leaving the Yankees, acknowledged that he learned a great deal from his time in New York.
"I've been a better baseball player, husband, everything from having that experience and going through that," he said.
Boston's first series with the Yankees next season will be April 21-23 at Fenway Park. The Red Sox play their first series in Yankee Stadium June 5-7.
If he ends up pitching for the Red Sox in the Bronx, Gray hinted that things will be different.
"This time around, it's just go out and be yourself," he said. "Don't try to be anything other than yourself. If people don't like it, it is what it is. I am who I am, and I'm OK with that." | false | classify this article contain milestone or not |
Australian Open: Rory McIlroy makes 'roller coaster' start as Ryan Fox among early leaders at windy Royal Melbourne
Rory McIlroy is seven strokes behind Elvis Smylie, Ryan Fox and Carlos Ortiz after the opening day in Melbourne; McIlroy is looking to win the event for a second time after his 2013 success; Watch live on Friday from 2.30am on Sky Sports Golf
Thursday 4 December 2025 09:33, UK
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Highlights from day one of the Crown Australian Open at the Royal Melbourne Golf Club.
Rory McIlroy experienced a self-described "roller coaster" as he slipped seven strokes off the lead after the opening round of the Crown Australian Open.
McIlroy - making his first appearance since securing the DP World Tour's Race to Dubai for a seventh time - mixed five birdies with six bogeys during a one-over 72 at Royal Melbourne.
The Masters champion was among the early starters in windy conditions, where gusts reached close to 40 miles per hour at times, with McIlroy seeing an opening-hole birdie cancelled out with back-to-back bogeys over his next two holes.
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Take a look back at how Rory McIlroy won the Stonehaven Cup with a thrilling victory in 2013
McIlroy dropped a shot at the par-three 16th and opened his second nine with a bogey at the first, then saw successive birdies from the second undone by dropped shots at the fourth and par-three seventh.
"It was a roller coaster day," McIlroy said. "Every time I got a birdie or two, I got a bogey or two. It wasn't terrible. I hit it in a couple of bad spots and had a couple of three-putts as well.
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A look back at Rory McIlroy's opening-round 72 at Royal Melbourne
"I limited the damage but I hope the conditions are better tomorrow."
Elvis Smylie - the left-handed Australian who won last year's Australian PGA Championship - was the pick of the morning starters after an opening-round 65, before Carlos Ortiz and Ryan Fox later made it a three-way tie for the early lead.
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Play Video - McIlroy reflects on 'roller coaster' opening round at Australian Open
Rory McIlroy reflects on a 'roller coaster' opening round at the Crown Australian Open
Ortiz made five birdies on his front nine and eagled the penultimate hole after his opening-round 65, while Fox mixed eight birdies with two bogeys to also get to six under.
Scotland's Cameron Adam is two strokes back in tied-fourth alongside Frenchman Clement Charmasson and Denmark's Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen, while Eddie Pepperell sits three strokes back after an opening-round 68.
Australia's Cameron Smith bogeyed two of his final three holes for a one-under 70, with with Min Woo Lee and Adam Scott - both playing alongside McIlroy the first two days - also four shots behind the early leaders.
Adam Scott of Australia reacts after putting on the 16th Hole during the the first round of the Australian Open golf tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
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Adam Scott of Australia and Min Woo Lee shot 69 (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
"I feel like I did pretty good today, made all the putts I was supposed to make and I probably left a couple out there, but it is what it is," Smith said.
The winner of the Australian Open - which is the second event on the DP World Tour season - receives a Masters exemption next year, while the top three finishers not already exempt will qualify for The Open. | false | classify this article contain milestone or not |
Emma Raducanu: I no longer feel like I'm hiding in public - I've gotten over stalking experience
Britain's Emma Raducanu broke down in tears on court earlier this year in the midst of a stalking experience which saw a man followed her across countries; watch ATP and WTA Tours in 2026 live on Sky Sports Tennis, Sky Sports+, NOW and the Sky Sports app
Tuesday 2 December 2025 11:43, UK
Emma Raducanu of Great Britain celebrates match point against Ena Shibahara of Japan during their Women's Singles First Round match on Day O
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Emma Raducanu says she no longer feels the need to keep her head down in public
Emma Raducanu says she "no longer feels like I'm hiding" having gone through a stalking experience earlier in the year which reduced her to tears on court.
Back in March, Raducanu said she "couldn't see the ball through tears" and could "barely breathe" during a stalking ordeal at the Dubai Open.
That day, the Briton approached the umpire's chair in tears just two games into her defeat to Karolina Muchova after receiving repeated unwanted attention from a "fixated" man before and during the second-round match. Raducanu disclosed she had previously been approached twice by the man off-court in different countries.
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She later opted not to press charges but the individual has been banned from future tournaments.
"I'm like: 'Okay, are they [people] going to see me on the tube?' It's not a bad thing. I'm kind of just owning that more," Raducanu told media at the National Tennis Centre on Tuesday.
"If people recognise me, if people see me and they want to come up to me, then that's great. I don't necessarily feel like I'm hiding from anything anymore."
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Raducanu was left in tears in Dubai earlier this year as a man who had stalked her across countries was ejected from the stands
Raducanu, who turned 23 earlier this month, said she even suffered from neck pain due to previously keeping her head down in public.
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"I've been commuting on the train, so I've been part of rush hour every day, which has also been an experience," she said. "But it's like my switch-off.
"You know what's actually funny: in rush hour, people are so locked in into their worlds. They are all so zoned out, like they're not really paying attention. They're probably not expecting to see me either. I have my hood up or whatever, but they're just so focused and absorbed in their own worlds.
"It's all so crazy, like the haste in which everyone's walking around. It's like everyone's on a mission. You have to get the elbows out just to get through.
"My neck doesn't hurt as I'm not looking down as much."
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Play Video - Raducanu opens up on Dubai stalking ordeal ahead of Indian Wells return
Raducanu previously told Sky Sports she was happy to make her return at Indian Wells after the stalking ordeal she suffered in Dubai, where she said she 'couldn't see the ball through tears' and could 'barely breathe'
Reflecting on her stalking experience, Raducanu says she is now past it.
"Honestly, I have gotten over it," she said.
"What did creep me out was I saw a photo of myself in London, and I didn't see the paps [paparazzi photographers]. I was with my two best friends. This happened last week, and it was like some tabloid article saying I had a new boyfriend or whatever. But it's literally my best friend's brother. I was like: 'Come on guys. Be better.'
"We were going to the rugby and, of course, they cropped my best friend out so it was just me and this guy, and I just didn't see the paps. So that's obviously creepy. How did they take this photo? But other than that, I feel good because someone's always watching my back."
Reflecting on her 2025 season, Raducanu says she feels stronger for it.
Emma Raducanu vs Jaqueline Cristian during the first round match of the Korea Open
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The Brit says she has learnt a lot in 2025, on and off the court
"I'm content. I think I've learned a lot about myself this year.
"I went through some very difficult times, on and off the court, at the start of the year. But I think it really taught me the strength that I have to pull myself out of it. Also, what I need to do to avoid falling back in again.
"A lot of it is spending time studying, spending time learning, spending time nurturing my brain." | false | classify this article contain milestone or not |
Tennis legend Serena Williams says conversations around Black women in sport have 'changed'
Serena Williams, who won 23 Grand Slam titles over a 27-year professional career, has said conversations around Black women in sport have "changed"; Watch the ATP and WTA Tours in 2026 live on Sky Sports Tennis and Sky Sports+, streaming service NOW and the Sky Sports app
Monday 1 December 2025 09:00, UK
Tennis legend Serena Williams speaks at the America Business Forum, Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
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Tennis legend Serena Williams has said that conversations around Black women in sport have "changed"
Tennis great Serena Williams has said that conversations around Black women in sport have "changed".
Featuring in the latest cover story for Net-A-Porter's digital title Porter, the 44-year-old, who won 23 Grand Slam titles over a 27-year professional career, opened up to the magazine about the resilience she built as a Black woman in sport.
Williams said: "Growing up and being Black in tennis, it's just like, well, that comes with negativity. I don't hear the noise. Everyone is entitled to their opinion."
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Breaking into the predominantly white game was no easy feat for the tennis star, who faced criticism and racial bias over the course of her career.
Many now credit the player for her influence and role in transforming the game, and she said that conversations around Black women in sport have "changed".
She said: "No one's calling these girls the (things) I was called. People would say we were like men and all this other stuff.
"But I'm so happy that girls nowadays don't have to go through it as much."
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Statistically the greatest tennis player of her era, Williams played 1,011 matches on the WTA Tour and faced opponents born in every year from 1966 to 2003 over the course of her long career.
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A look back at the most memorable moments from Venus and Serena Williams' careers at the US Open
The tennis star retired in 2022 and she said she finds it "a little difficult" despite having prepared for the transition.
She said: "No matter how prepared you are to retire, and particularly from doing something every day at such a high level, it's hard. I really prepped myself the best way I could but it's still something that's a little difficult.
"I want to bring in more clarity, confidence that I made the right decisions and that you don't always have to live only for your children. I'm discovering me again."
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The mother of two also shared that she "always" wanted to be a mum and that she is very dedicated to prioritising her family.
She said: "I want to be around my family.
"I'm cooking every night that I'm home. I'm home 29 nights a month... Sometimes I'll fly to New York, do what I need to do, fly back and be home in time for dinner." | false | classify this article contain milestone or not |
Teofimo Lopez defends WBO super-lightweight title against Shakur Stevenson in New York on January 31 Shakur Stevenson will be attempting to become a four-weight world champion when he challenges Teofimo Lopez for the WBO super-lightweight belt on January 31, Brooklyn's Lopez is making the fourth defence of his WBO belt Monday 1 December 2025 18:28, UK Teofimo Lopez vs Jamaine Ortiz Image: Teofimo Lopez will defend his WBO belt against Shakur Stevenson Teofimo Lopez will defend his WBO super-lightweight title against Shakur Stevenson in New York on January 31. The unbeaten Stevenson will be bidding to become a a four-weight world champion when he steps up from lightweight to challenge Brooklyn's Lopez, who is making the fourth defence of his WBO belt. Stevenson, who will also be fighting just a few miles from his hometown of Newark, New Jersey, retained his WBC lightweight belt in July with a unanimous decision win over William Zepeda, while Lopez sealed a points victory over Arnold Barboza Jr in May. Whittaker obliterates Gavazi with first-round stoppage TKV claims British heavyweight title with brutal points win over Clarke Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW ShareThis is a modal window. Unsupported location The video you are trying to watch cannot be viewed from your current country or location Highlights of the WBC lightweight world title fight between Stevenson and Josh Padley "I have never shied away from a challenge and always chased the biggest fights in the sport because I know I am one of the best boxers in the world," said Stevenson. "Teofimo Lopez will learn that firsthand on January 31 when I take his belt and show him that there are levels to this game. New York, get ready for a spectacular performance as I take over a fourth straight weight division." ShareThis is a modal window. Unsupported location The video you are trying to watch cannot be viewed from your current country or location Lopez produced one of the best performances of his career to defeat Josh Taylor and claim his WBO world title at Madison Square Garden Lopez, who claimed the WBO belt with a unanimous decision win over Scotland's Josh Taylor in June 2023, has made a bold stoppage prediction. "Duck, Duck, Goose! Are you ready for New York City? Brick city in the concrete jungle, so let's get ready to rumble! The Takeover is here to stay, not play. | false | classify this article contain milestone or not |
'Misha and I will not be eligible': Passport drama hangs over married couple's Milano-Cortina dream
Alyssa Bone
Alyssa Bone
December 1, 2025 - 7.13am
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The road to the Olympic Games is not easy for any athlete, but for a pair of US figure skaters the biggest obstacle in their path to February's Milano-Cortina Games is a passport.
There is no doubting the talent of Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov on the ice, with the pair the second-highest ranked American duo in the world and ninth overall.
A victory at the 2025 US Championships last month only pushed their case further for Olympic qualification, however, Efimova's passport has gotten in the way.
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Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov compete in the Pairs Free Skating during Finlandia Trophy the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating.
Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov in action on the ice. International Skating Union via
Efimova was born in Finland but made the move to Russia to elevate her training as a figure skater in 2013. She went on to represent Russia in the pairs in 2013, where she teamed up with local skater Aleksandr Korovin.
Korovin's union with Efimova came to an end after five years on the big stage in 2020, leading the young Finnish talent to unite with with Belgian-born German slater Ruben Blommaert.
Bloomaert and Efimova represented Germany until his retirement in 2023, leaving Efimova without a partner yet again. However, Mitrofanov was in the same situation.
Mitrofanov, 28, admitted that he was considering moving on with life away from the ice after an almost 12-month-long search for a new partner, but then he was presented an opportunity to test a partnership with Efimova.
Efimova and Mitrofanov's effortless match on the ice blossomed into a relationship and eventually marriage in February last year.
Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov perform during ISU World Figure Skating Championships.
Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov perform during ISU World Figure Skating Championships. International Skating Union via
While it did not take long for the pair to have their allegiance under the International Skating Union moved to Team USA, Efimova still does not have a US passport.
In fact, the 26-year-old skater cannot get a US passport until late 2027.
"At the moment, Misha and I will not be eligible to make the team because I don't yet have a US passport," Efimova, who won silver with Mitrofanov at the Finlandia Trophy this year, told The Skating Club of Boston.
"Making the Olympic team would not only be a dream come true for me, it would also be my greatest chance to give back to the country which has become my new home. And to help bring Olympic gold to the United States with deep gratitude and pride.
"Since I became family with Misha and first stepped inside The Skating Club of Boston, I have always been home while being away from my birth home in Finland.
"The supportive network and expertise that US Figure Skating and Team USA provides is very powerful, which shows through every person connected with the organisation."
Alisa Efimova (C) and Misha Mitrofanov (R) of the United States seen at the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships.
Alisa Efimova (C) and Misha Mitrofanov (R). International Skating Union via
Efimova obtained her green card approval in July last year, just shy of six months after her wedding, meaning she must wait three years before she becomes a citizen.
As she is not a citizen, she can not apply for a US passport, which is essential to verify that an athlete can represent Team USA at the Olympic Games.
The only chance Efimova has to obtain a US passport sooner is if the US government accepts her plea to advance her citizenship request, which is unlikely.
But according to the Skating Club of Boston, in the eyes of US figure skating representatives, Efimova and Mitrofanov's partnership would be "the final winning element" to ensure Team USA has the "best possible opportunity of winning gold" in the team event.
Efimova and Mitrofanov's training remains unchanged as they continue to look forward in hopes of qualifying for the Olympic Games in 2026.
The official Team USA figure skating team will be announced in early January.
As for whether Efimova is approved to become a citizen and ultimately secure her spot on that team to make her Olympic debut, only time will tell. | false | classify this article contain milestone or not |
Lauren Price believes she can fight her way to a dream showdown at Principality Stadium - 'It's possible' Olympic gold medallist and unified welterweight world champion Lauren Price took to the field ahead of Wales' rugby match with New Zealand at the Principality Stadium at the weekend; The ovation from the crowd has only fuelled her own dream of fighting at the stadium herself John Dennen Sports Journalist @johndennen Thursday 27 November 2025 12:01, UK ShareThis is a modal window. Unsupported location The video you are trying to watch cannot be viewed from your current country or location Lauren Price shares her experience of being a guest of honour at the Principality Stadium before Wales vs New Zealand and reveals it would be a dream to fight at the stadium one day Lauren Price’s dream of headlining at a stadium felt one step closer to reality when she took to the field at the Principality Stadium just before Wales’ rugby match with New Zealand last weekend. Looking out at 70,000 fans, hearing the roar of the crowd only fuelled the Olympic gold medallist's own ambitions. "I can't really put it into words," Price told Sky Sports. "The support I suppose overwhelmed me a little bit. Richards: Whittaker not in my trajectory - I'm aiming for world titles NHS facility opens boxing gym for first time in UK Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW Speaking at a 'Box-a-Thon' fundraiser for Roundabout and Sheffield Mind, Price said: "It weren't about walking out to the ring and fighting, it was a different kind of feeling [at the Principality stadium]. I'd love to box here one day." There is a long way to go before a fight of that magnitude is possible. But Price is already building a fervent fanbase in Wales and, after unifying three world championship belts against Natasha Jonas most recently, she is being successful at the highest level of the sport. Price has a growing rivalry with Mikaela Mayer, who holds the fourth welterweight world championship. Boxing her for the undisputed title could eventually lead Price to Claressa Shields, her predecessor as Olympic middleweight gold medallist. That kind of fight might have the potential to fill a stadium one day. Also See: Listen to the Toe2Toe podcast The best boxing highlights and videos ShareThis is a modal window. Unsupported location The video you are trying to watch cannot be viewed from your current country or location Highlights of the WBC, IBF and WBA welterweight world title fight between Natasha Jonas and Lauren Price. "I actually think now it's possible as well. Rob [McCracken, her trainer] always says to me think big and that's me thinking big. Some people might think I'm off my head," Price said. "I believe that we'll get there." Shields' 2022 fight with Savannah Marshall at the O2 Arena in London proved to be a major event. The American superstar could be tempted to revisit boxing in the Britain for an even bigger occasion. "To have that in Wales in a stadium, it'll be pretty special," Price said. "We've got to look at it logically as well. That fight will probably be the biggest payday, us selling out a stadium. Fighting on that financially it can secure us for our future." ShareThis is a modal window. Unsupported location The video you are trying to watch cannot be viewed from your current country or location Skye Nicolson and Johnny Nelson wonder how far Lauren Price can go in the sport after a stunning win over Natasha Jonas. Shields would have to move down in weight and Price come up, so that showdown could still be years in the making. A high-profile undisputed clash with Mayer next year is a more immediate target for the Welsh star. "I don't shy away from any fight and that's the fight that I want, but beforehand it needs to be built and for both we've earned the right, from what we've achieved so far, to get a good payday out of it as well," Price said. "If I'm honest I think she's improved as well. Obviously I believe in myself and I believe I win. But it's not going to be an easy fight. But it's a fight I believe I come through on top and I think it's a great fight, not just for women's boxing but boxing in general. "They come around not very often and you want to make the most of it." | false | classify this article contain milestone or not |
Bears' fourth-down gamble in final minute leads to Packers interception as Green Bay hangs on for win
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Yahoo Sports
Frank SchwabSenior writer
Mon, December 8, 2025 at 12:30 AM UTC
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3 min read
Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson is a brilliant play caller. He might have been a little too smart for his own good on the key play of the Green Bay Packers' win over Chicago on Sunday.
On a fourth-and-1 in the final minute, the Bears didn't run it or sneak it for the first down. Williams faked a handoff and rolled left. He lofted a pass to the end zone for tight end Cole Kmet, but Packers cornerback Keisean Nixon was there for the interception that sealed a 28-21 win.
It wasn't a great pass by Williams, who had a rough first half and got hot afterward, but it didn't seem like an ideal play call. Perhaps Williams could have tried running for the first down or threw it shorter. The Bears had two timeouts left, so a run on fourth down would have left them with enough time. But he threw to the end zone and Nixon had played it perfectly.
The Bears went for broke. And they went broke. The Packers take over first place of the NFC North.
Green Bay now has a 70% chance of winning its division, according to The Athletic's playoffs simulator with Chicago dropping to 24%.
Bears start slow, Packers take the lead
The Bears dug themselves a hole because Williams and the passing game were late showing up.
Williams had 11 yards passing in the first half, before the final 33 seconds in a hurry-up drill. He didn't have a completion until the final two minutes of the first quarter, when he finally connected on a 2-yard pass. That was his only completion of the first quarter.
The Packers' offense didn't have a great start either, but eventually Jordan Love made a couple of nice touchdown passes. His first one went to Christian Watson to give the Packers a 7-0 lead. Then, late in the first half, Bo Melton got behind the defense on a post route and Love hit him for a 45-yard touchdown. The Packers led 14-3 going into halftime off of those two big plays and a tremendous effort by their defense.
Another big play from Love to Watson, when Watson caught a short pass and pulled away from the defense for a 41-yard touchdown, had the Packers ahead 21-11 in the third quarter. But the Bears have been great at late rallies this season, and Williams started to heat up.
Bears rally behind Caleb Williams
Williams and the Bears tied the game with eight minutes left in the fourth quarter when he hit Colston Loveland for a 1-yard touchdown. Williams had a dreadful first half but had rallied. That was his second touchdown pass of the second half.
The Packers answered. They drove downfield and Josh Jacobs plunged in for a 2-yard touchdown with 3:32 left. They led 28-21.
The Bears had been playing from behind most of the game so another deficit, even a late one against a good defense, didn't deter them. Chicago drove downfield and had a fourth down-and-1 with 27 seconds left. That's when Johnson's decision came back to haunt the Bears. Nixon's interception finished the Packers win, a huge one in the NFC North race.
Had Williams found Kmet wide open in the end zone, Johnson's aggressive call would have been praised. Now all of Chicago will wonder what might have happened had the Bears just played it a little safer and gotten a first down. | false | classify this article contain milestone or not |
De'Von Achane leaves win over Jets early with rib injury, Dolphins hopeful he can return next week
The Dolphins rolled to a 34-10 win over the Jets, who lost quarterback Tyrod Taylor in the first quarter due to a groin injury
Story by
Yahoo Sports
Ryan YoungStaff writer
Mon, December 8, 2025 at 5:07 AM GMT+7
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2 min read
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De’Von Achane’s rib injury may not be as bad as it initially seemed.
The Dolphins running back left Miami's 34-10 win over the New York Jets early on Sunday due to a rib injury. The Dolphins initially said he was questionable to return after leaving in the first half, but Achane never made it back into the game.
Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said Achane could have returned in an emergency, but he chose not to use him in the second half. As for next week's contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers, McDaniel is hopeful.
“I promise you, he’ll be in there if he’s ready,” McDaniel said, via ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques.
Achane first called for medical assistance after fighting for yardage on a 29-yard gain in the second quarter at MetLife Stadium. He then left for the locker room early with the Dolphins up 24-7 in the first half. He had 105 total yards on eight touches, including a 13-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.
Dolphins RB De’Von Achane is headed back to the locker room — he’s questionable to return with a rib injury
105 total yards and a touchdown on 8 touches in the first half pic.twitter.com/oAXiPVuN7b
— Marcel Louis-Jacques (@Marcel_LJ) December 7, 2025
Achane entered Sunday with 1,034 rushing yards and six touchdowns while picking up a whopping 5.6 yards per carry. With Achane sidelined in the second half, Jaylen Wright took over and finished with 107 yards and a score on 24 carries. The Dolphins (6-7) led the entire way to pick up the 24-point win, which marked their fourth straight victory.
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Tua Tagovailoa went 13-of-21 passing for 127 yards with a touchdown for the Dolphins, and Jaylen Waddle led the way with 50 receiving yards and a score on five catches.
Tyrod Taylor left the game in the first quarter for the Jets (3-10) due to a groin injury. Undrafted rookie Brady Cook made his regular-season debut in relief. He went 14-of-30 passing for 163 yards with two interceptions.
The Dolphins will take on the Steelers next week in Pennsylvania in a contest that is critical for both team's respective postseason hopes. While it'll take more than just him, Achane being available next week should provide the Dolphins a significant boost. | false | classify this article contain milestone or not |
'We took big risks': McLaren CEO Zak Brown steals show with viral speech teasing his F1 drivers
Sophie Wisely
Sophie Wisely
December 16, 2025 - 7.22am
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McLaren CEO Zak Brown has gone viral for his joke rampage on stage at his team's home base in Woking, where he poked fun at his drivers, saying he "took big risks" and neither driver "had better options."
Brown and his posse, including drivers Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri and team principal Andrea Stella, all touched down in Britain after picking up their new silverware from the FIA prize-giving gala in Uzbekistan.
Clearly Brown was in a jocular mood, with the team boss going on a joke rampage and unloading a barrage of explicit language at different Formula 1 teams.
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Zak Brown stole the show at McLaren's award ceremony.
Zak Brown stole the show at McLaren's award ceremony. LAT Images
McLaren held their own team ceremony with their new trophies back in their headquarters and team members can be heard laughing in the background as Brown 'roasts' both Norris and Piastri.
One particular joke has gone viral, in which the American executive lands a tongue-in-cheek jibe at both of his stars.
"We took big risks on both of you, and don't pretend you had better options!" he said.
"You [Piastri] had f-----g Alpine, and you [Norris] had to go faster than Stoffel Vandoorne.
F1 twitter couldn't contain themselves as photo perfectly sums up 2025 season.
F1 twitter couldn't contain themselves as photo perfectly sums up 2025 season. X
"I couldn't dream of having a better driver lineup on and off the track," Brown added.
"Two fastest guys in the world and nicest. That's the McLaren way. Proper racers like us, which stands for how we race. You guys are almost a unicorn combo.
"Then again, maybe we'll be up here next year saying, 'f--- that guy.'
"Anyways. Won't come to that. Both drivers love me, idolise me, and call me 'Big Daddy' behind my back.
"Reality is they'll mess with me, but they won't mess with Andrea [Stella] 'cause, deep down inside, they're scared shitless of Andrea."
In the good-natured speech, Brown also made fun of some recent incidents in which FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem purposely ruffled Norris' carefully-styled hair and dared Piastri to do the same.
The FIA president ruffled Lando Norris' hair on stage.
The FIA president ruffled Lando Norris' hair on stage at the prize-giving gala. FIA
"What I really wanna do is mess up Lando's hair right now, but I'm gonna dare Oscar and see how big his balls really are," he said.
Piastri then tentatively reached out to ruffle his teammate's hair after the comment. | false | classify this article contain milestone or not |
LeBron James ices 76ers with 10 straight 4Q points, including last-minute dagger to clinch Lakers win
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Jason OwensStaff writer
Mon, December 8, 2025 at 9:19 PM GMT+7
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LeBron James clearly doesn't have it every night as he approaches 41 years old.
But he remains capable of bringing it. The Philadelphia 76ers found out the hard way Sunday night.
Two games after James scored eight points to break a 1,297-game streak of scoring in double figures, he scored 10 straight Lakers points down the fourth-quarter stretch to lead the Los Angeles to a 112-108 road win.
His first bucket of the run extended a Lakers lead to 102-98. With the game tied at 105 and 1:11 remaining, James took a pass from Luka Dončić and pulled up from 3 to retake the lead for the Lakers.
LeBron James. Such a treat to still get to watch this guy go nuclear late in games.pic.twitter.com/VjgaWJKD7z
— Charlie Walton (@CharlieWaltonMN) December 8, 2025
On the next Los Angeles possession with the Lakers up by 3, James faced up Quentin Grimes from the top of the key beyond the 3-point line. He then drove to the left wing past the elbow and pulled up for a fadeaway jumper with Grimes' hand in his face.
The ball fell through the net for a 110-105 Lakers lead that iced the win and stunned the Philadelphia crowd.
Don’t take LeBron James for granted. pic.twitter.com/tBwi4XyZrS
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnor) December 8, 2025
The bucket capped a stellar night for James in his first game since his eight-point effort in Thursday's win over the Toronto Raptors. That night, Austin Reaves led the way with 44 points as James struggled and Dončić didn't play.
Lakers stars are getting the job done early in the season
There were no struggles Sunday as James finished with 29 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 block and 1 steal while shooting 12 of 17 from the floor and 4 of 6 from 3-point range. It was part of a balanced effort from their stars that the Lakers surely envisioned when they traded for Dončić last season.
Dončić led the Lakers with 31 points, 15 rebounds and 11 assists. But as James had the hot hand down the stretch, Dončić ceded the spotlight for James to close the 76ers out. On a roster with two superstars — one in his prime and another on the back end of his career — it wasn't clear how the on-court relationship between the two would evolve.
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But the Lakers can beat opponents in multiple ways and not just with Dončić and James. Reaves kept the Lakers afloat with a sizzling early-season run as James and Dončić both missed time. And he delivered again on Thursday against the Raptors.
It's added up to a 17-6 start that's good for second-place tie in the West with the Denver Nuggets behind the 23-1 Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Lakers' roster may not be as complete as those of its fellow Western Conference leaders. But it's been strong enough at the top so far to maintain the Lakers' place among the West's best. And it's proven capable of winning with James leading the way or when he's having a bad night. | false | classify this article contain milestone or not |
Rockets' Kevin Durant becomes eighth NBA player to score 31,000 career points in win over Suns
The four-time NBA scoring champ reached the latest milestone of his illustrious career in the first quarter versus his old team
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Andy BackstromContributing writer
Sat, December 6, 2025 at 11:04 AM GMT+7
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The Phoenix Suns hit the reset button this offseason and sent 15-time All-Star forward Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets in an NBA-record seven-team deal.
The Suns have turned the page from the Durant era and enjoyed surprising success over the first month and change of the 2025-26 campaign, but they ran into their old centerpiece again Friday night in Houston.
And with a 10-foot jumper in the first quarter of a 117-98 win, the 37-year-old reached the latest milestone of his illustrious, 19-year career. Durant, a four-time NBA scoring champion, needed just four points to become the eighth player in league history to score 31,000 career points.
31K points & counting for Easy Money 👏@KDTrey5 https://t.co/yVxLFqfuvK pic.twitter.com/RnGM3imYUZ
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) December 6, 2025
That's rare air also inhabited by LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Dirk Nowitzki and Wilt Chamberlain.
Granted that's the same group Durant accompanied when he cleared the 30,000-point threshold in February last season, but that list of names remains incredibly impressive.
It's not out of the question Durant passes Jordan's mark of 32,292 career points sometime this season. He'll need to stay healthy, but if he accomplishes that feat, he'll move up to fifth on the leaderboard, first jumping Chamberlain (31,419) and Nowitzki (31,560).
James, in his NBA-record 23rd season at 40 years old, leads the pack, and it's not particularly close. He's got 42,268 points to his name, 3,881 more than Abdul-Jabbar, who is second all-time.
Kevin Durant
Kevin
Durant
PF - HOU - #7
2025 - 2026 season
25.3
Pts
4.8
Reb
3.9
Ast
50.5%
FG%
38.4%
3P%
Durant came into the Friday night matchup averaging 25 points per game in his first season with the Rockets while shooting 49.3% from the field, including 37% from beyond the arc.
Through his first 17 games with the team, he had finished with 20 or more points 14 times, reaching or eclipsing the 30-point barrier on six occasions.
He's thriving after signing a two-year extension with Houston reportedly worth $90 million this offseason. The Rockets could very well be the fifth and final franchise the two-time NBA champion and one-time league MVP suits up for in a prolific pro career that started in 2007.
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Durant scored the bulk of his points with the Oklahoma City Thunder, who were the Seattle SuperSonics when he was drafted No. 2 overall out of Texas.
He won a pair of rings with the Golden State Warriors. Since, he's starred for the Brooklyn Nets, Suns and now the Rockets.
Although the success of Durant's teams has ebbed and flowed, his scoring has been a constant in an ever-changing NBA landscape.
He reminded everyone of his age-defying consistency with 28 points on 11-of-17 shooting Friday against the Suns while adding another notch to a star-studded scoring belt. | true | classify this article contain milestone or not |
Jeff Kent elected to Hall of Fame by Era Committee, while Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens stay in the cold
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Jack BaerStaff writer
Mon, December 8, 2025 at 8:03 AM GMT+7
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Jeff Kent is headed to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, while Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens were once again left out in the cold by voters. The five-time All-Star second baseman was granted enshrinement on Sunday by committee vote, with Bonds and Clemens again falling short after 10 failed BBWAA elections and their first failed committee vote. For election, candidates needed 12 votes from this year's 16-member Contemporary Era Committee.
The newest Hall of Fame member will be formally inducted on July 26 in Cooperstown, alongside whichever players make it through this winter's BBWAA voting. Carlos Beltran is the only player above the needed 75% among the few votes that have so far been revealed.
New rule means Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens can't reach Cooperstown until at least 2031
This year's committee had eight players up for a vote: Bonds, Clemens, Kent, Carlos Delgado, Don Mattingly, Dale Murphy, Gary Sheffield and Fernando Valenzuela.
Kent got 14 votes, and Delgado was next with nine. Mattingly and Murphy each got six, while Bonds, Clemens, Sheffield and Valenzuela all got fewer than five. Due to a 2025 rule change, failing to get five or more votes in this cycle means Bonds, Clemens, Sheffield and Valenzuela will be ineligible for the next Contemporary Era ballot in 2028.
That means the earliest that Bonds and Clemens could make the Hall is 2031.
This year's voting body consisted of seven Hall of Fame players (Fergie Jenkins, Jim Kaat, Juan Marichal, Tony Pérez, Ozzie Smith, Alan Trammell and Robin Yount), two owners (Mark Attanasio of the Milwaukee Brewers and Arte Moreno of the Los Angeles Angels), four former general managers (Doug Melvin, Kim Ng, Tony Reagins and Terry Ryan) and three media members (Steve Hirdt, Tyler Kepner and Jayson Stark).
Jeff Kent is the all-time HR leader among second basemen
Kent played in MLB for 17 seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays, New York Mets, Cleveland Indians, San Francisco Giants, Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers. He was a late bloomer, accruing all of his five All-Star nods, four Silver Sluggers and 2000 NL MVP award in his 30s.
He won that MVP while playing alongside Bonds with the Giants, slashing .334/.424/.596 with 33 homers and 125 RBI at the keystone position. By the time he retired, Kent was the all-time leader in homers among second basemen, with 354 of his 377 career homers at the position.
He finished with a career slash line of .290/.356/.500 and 55.4 WAR. Going off the WAR-based JAWS metric used to measure Hall of Fame cases, Kent rates as the 22nd-best second baseman ever.
After retiring in 2008, Kent was first up for Hall of Fame election in 2014 and received 15.2% of the BBWAA vote. As often happens, his vote share steadily climbed over his 10 years of eligibility, but it peaked at just 46.5% on his final ballot in 2023.
This was his first go-around in the committee process, and it will be his last.
Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens are the 2 most controversial Hall of Fame candidates ever
Both Bonds and Clemens are among the most accomplished players in the history of baseball and would be automatic first-ballot additions under normal circumstances, but every sports fan is well aware that their circumstances aren't normal. Due to allegations of performance-enhancing drug use, the candidacies of Bonds and Clemens have hung over the Hall of Fame since their final MLB seasons in 2007.
Bonds has admitted to unknowingly using the anabolic steroid tetrahydrogestrinone, while Clemens has persistently denied any steroid use, but significant evidence exists that both men knowingly took PEDs — so much so that their claims of innocence under oath before Congress led to perjury trials. Clemens was acquitted in his case, while Bonds was found guilty but had his conviction overturned on appeal.
Meanwhile, Kent was one of the public crusaders against steroid users among players. He once urged Bonds to "own up" to his steroid use and advocated for blood testing in addition to urine, with one of his lines even making it into the introduction of the Mitchell Report.
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Significant allegations in Bonds' and Clemens' personal lives also became an issue as their candidacies dragged on. Bonds' ex-wife accused him of physical abuse on several occasions during their marriage, and a former mistress accused him of verbal abuse and death threats.
In 2008, the New York Daily News reported that Clemens had been engaged in an affair with country singer Mindy McCready since she was 15 years old. McCready confirmed she had a relationship but denied it began when she was 15, while Clemens apologized for unspecified "mistakes in my personal life" but denied the claim that he had an improper relationship with a 15-year-old girl. McCready committed suicide in 2013.
Despite the differences in their respective list of scandals, Bonds and Clemens always walked a similar path in the Hall of Fame voting. They first joined the BBWAA ballot in 2013, with Bonds receiving 36.2% of the vote and Clemens getting 37.6%.
Over the next nine years, they never finished more than 2% away from each other. They were an easy yes for any voter who thought their respective allegations shouldn't override the Hall's character clause. They were an easy no for voters who couldn't get past the scandals. The Hall itself certainly didn't want them to make it in, as it opted to cut the number of years a player can stay on the BBWAA ballot from 15 years to 10 just so it wouldn't have to deal with their candidacies for so long.
That BBWAA candidacy ran out for the pair in 2022, with Bonds topping out at 66% and Clemens at 65.2%, dozens of votes short of the 75% needed to get in. That sent their candidacies to the committee process, in which they got fewer than four votes out of 16 the first time around. | true | classify this article contain milestone or not |
The Fall of Zeros: From Vietnam’s Top Talent to a Global Ban
Pham “Zeros” Minh Loc was once considered one of Vietnam’s brightest League of Legends stars — a dominant top-laner known for his aggressive playstyle and confidence on stage. With appearances for elite teams such as Phong Vu Buffalo, GAM Esports, and SBTC Esports, Zeros competed at multiple international tournaments and helped bring Vietnamese esports into global view. But in April 2021, his career collapsed almost overnight.
During a livestream session, Zeros made a deeply insensitive remark implying that he hoped the COVID-19 situation in Vietnam would worsen so that the nation could not attend the upcoming international tournament. The comment sparked immediate outrage, not only within the gaming community but also among the broader public, who viewed it as offensive and dismissive of the real-world suffering caused by the pandemic.
The response was swift. The Vietnam Championship Series issued a permanent ban, removing Zeros from all future VCS-related events. Shortly thereafter, Riot Games — the publisher and global organizer of League of Legends esports — officially enforced a worldwide competitive ban. This meant Zeros was no longer allowed to participate in any Riot-affiliated esports competitions anywhere in the world, including League of Legends and other Riot titles.
The global ban effectively sealed the end of his professional career. Zeros was released from SBTC Esports and shifted to online content creation as a streamer. However, his post-ban public presence has remained controversial, often reigniting debate over responsibility, professionalism, and the consequences of public speech.
Zeros’ case is now widely referenced within the esports world as a cautionary tale: in a digital era where every statement can reach millions, a single moment of reckless expression can erase years of achievement. | true | classify this article contain milestone or not |
Checking in on the reliever market: What's the outlook for Edwin Díaz, Robert Suarez and the other top arms still available?
Three of the seven relievers on our Top 50 free agents lists have already signed. What does that mean for the rest — and the teams pursuing them?
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Jordan ShustermanSenior writer
Fri, December 5, 2025 at 6:48 AM GMT+7
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As is often the case early in baseball's offseason calendar, the reliever market has seen some significant movement before the other segments of free agency really get rolling, as several notable bullpen arms have found new contracts and/or new teams in recent weeks.
It began with the Cubs inking right-hander Phil Maton to a two-year, $14.5 million deal, a sensible match considering the vacancies in Chicago’s bullpen and Maton’s sneaky strong 2025. Then a couple of arms with prior late-inning experience but also significant recent injury issues found new homes, with former Tigers closer Alex Lange signing with Kansas City and talented lefty Sam Hentges joining San Francisco after some stellar years with Cleveland.
The action continued as December approached, with Ryan Helsley agreeing to a two-year, $28 million deal to be Baltimore’s closer, a modest pact considering his Cardinals credentials but also a reflection of his ugly post-trade struggles with New York. Unsurprisingly uninterested in a reunion with Helsley, the Mets then struck a three-year, $51 million deal with Devin Williams, indicating their confidence in the right-hander after an uneven season in the Bronx. Earlier this week, Emilio Pagán agreed to a two-year, $20 million deal to stay in Cincinnati, joining Raisel Iglesias — who agreed to a one-year, $16 million deal with Atlanta last month — as a certified closer opting to stay put this winter.
The reliever market has been moving — and with the winter meetings next week, that trend is expected to continue — but there are still enticing options available for bullpen-needy clubs to address their later innings. With Williams (No. 27), Helsley (No. 33) and Iglesias (No. 45) off the board, here’s a look at the status of and potential landing spots for the four other relievers on our Top 50 free agent rankings, plus one more high-profile closer who joined the free-agent pool unexpectedly last month.
No. 11: RHP Edwin Díaz, 32 years old
Edwin Díaz
Edwin
Díaz
RP - LAD - #39
2025 season
66.1
IP
28
SV
1.63
ERA
98
K
21
BB
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Profile: Díaz is a game-ending monster, plain and simple. His overpowering fastball-slider combination presents a particularly unpleasant coin-flip for opposing hitters trying to start any sort of rally against him, and while his command and control occasionally elude him, his stuff is often more than good enough to overcome any shortcomings with location. 2025 was also one of his best seasons yet, prompting Díaz to opt out of the two years and $38 million remaining on his contract and reenter the open market as the best closer available.
Potential fits: If Díaz is indeed seeking a contract similar to the record-setting, five-year, $102 million deal he garnered during his first trip to free agency three years ago, that obviously limits the number of teams that could plausibly be in pursuit of the right-hander. Interestingly, one of those teams, the defending champion, deep-pocketed Dodgers, is reportedly not as inclined to chase a reliever at that exorbitant price and length of contract — perhaps in response to how poorly last year’s outlay to land Tanner Scott went.
If the Dodgers are focusing their efforts elsewhere in the reliever market, a reunion with the Mets — the other team most willing to stretch their payroll to stratospheric heights — looks like where this is headed. By signing Williams and trading away outfield staple Brandon Nimmo, president of baseball operations David Stearns has made it clear he’s willing to shake up the Mets’ roster, regardless of sentimentality. But adding Williams should not preclude New York from retaining Díaz, considering how badly the bullpen needed upgrading at the outset of the winter.
Indeed, pairing Williams with Díaz rather than replacing him would go a long way toward turning the relief corps in Queens into a legitimate strength, rather than running it back with an undermanned unit. It might take some time for the two sides to find common ground on another mega-deal, but Díaz staying put still feels like the likeliest outcome.
UPDATE: Diaz and the Dodgers reportedly agreed on a three-year, $69 million deal.
No. 28: RHP Robert Suarez, 35
Robert Suarez
Robert
Suarez
RP - SD - #75
2025 season
69.2
IP
40
SV
2.97
ERA
75
K
16
BB
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Profile: Suarez is a bit older than some of the other top names on our free-agent rankings, having not debuted in the majors until age 31 following a tremendously successful run as a reliever in Japan. But his four seasons as a Padre — and particularly the past two, when he racked up an MLB-leading 76 saves — were plenty good enough to warrant Suarez declining his $8 million player option for 2026 in search of a more lucrative multiyear deal, even as he enters his late-30s.
Suarez throws extremely hard and attacks relentlessly with both a four-seamer and a sinker, relying on a nasty changeup when he needs a whiff; there’s no breaking ball to be found here (at least not recently). But because of his top-tier velocity and rare ability to fill up the strike zone as a modern, late-inning reliever, Suarez has been tremendously effective and should continue to be as long as he’s lighting up radar guns. How long his elite heat will last, however, is a worthy question for teams to ponder as they consider committing big dollars to Suarez.
Potential fits: If Díaz ends up returning to Queens, Suarez could be primed for a bidding war between the defending pennant winners to land him on a shorter-term, high-AAV deal. The Dodgers might not want to give Suarez or any reliever more than two years, and that might not be a problem here, considering Suarez’s age. The Blue Jays, meanwhile, have been as aggressive as any team in upgrading their pitching so far this winter, and if they are willing to add the extra year, that could give them an edge.
Edwin Diaz, Robert Suarez and Luke Weaver are among the relief arms still available on the free-agent market.
Edwin Diaz, Robert Suarez and Luke Weaver are among the relief arms still available on the free-agent market. (Joseph Raines/Yahoo Sports)
No. 32: RHP Luke Weaver, 32
Luke Weaver
Luke
Weaver
RP - NYY - #30
2025 season
64.2
IP
8
SV
3.62
ERA
72
K
20
BB
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Profile: After a full-blown breakout with New York in 2024 as a reborn relief ace following years as an unremarkable starter, Weaver continued to shine early in the 2025 season amidst Devin Williams’ dramatic struggles. But while Williams quietly excelled down the stretch, Weaver got notably worse as the season went on and never looked the same after returning from a midseason hamstring injury.
Like Suarez but with merely good, not elite, velocity, Weaver succeeds without much of a breaking ball, leaning heavily on his four-seam fastball and changeup, with the occasional cutter mixed in. Even with the limited mix, Weaver generally throws strikes and yields both chase and whiff at high rates, a promising combination of skills for a late-inning arm. His most glaring weakness is a proclivity to allow a ton of airborne contact and, in turn, a few too many long balls for comfort for someone handling high leverage. That could make his next home ballpark a worthwhile factor to consider when evaluating his potential landing spots.
Potential fits: Unlike Díaz and Suarez, who in all likelihood will handle the ninth inning for whichever team signs them, Weaver does not need to go to a team that needs a capital-C closer. He has proven effective both in a closing role and as more of a traditional setup guy, broadening his appeal to a wider array of teams seeking bullpen reinforcements. Funnily enough, several of Weaver’s former clubs with which he didn’t have much success look like solid fits for him now, such as Arizona, Cincinnati and Seattle.
But for the purposes of this exercise, let’s pair Weaver with a new team that would mark the seventh major-league club of his winding career: San Francisco. Oracle Park is exactly the kind of homer-unfriendly venue that could help mask Weaver’s flyball tendencies, and the Giants clearly need bullpen help, ranking 29th on FanGraphs Depth Charts’ projecting WAR at each position. Without Randy Rodriguez, who will be rehabbing from Tommy John surgery to start 2026, Ryan Walker is the only proven Giants reliever in-house. Adding Weaver wouldn’t break the bank and would address an obvious need.
No. 44: RHP Brad Keller, 30
Brad Keller
Brad
Keller
RP - CHC - #40
2025 season
69.2
IP
3
SV
2.07
ERA
75
K
22
BB
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Profile: By far the least accomplished free-agent reliever on our Top 50, Keller emerged as a surprising late-inning weapon for the Cubs in 2024, thanks to newfound velocity and decent command of an unusually deep pitch mix for a reliever. That varied arsenal makes sense considering Keller’s background as a starter in Kansas City and could play a role in his future, as some teams might contemplate signing Keller with the intention of converting him back to a rotation role.
Keller’s relative youth could also factor into the calculus for teams, as it makes it far more likely he could command a two- or even three-year deal, even with just one year of great performance to his name. With encouraging underlying indicators suggesting that his 2025 was far from a fluke — he was getting a ton of ground balls and whiffs as a Cub — Keller is clearly a name to watch for teams targeting upside. That’s true whether he stays in the bullpen or returns to the rotation.
Potential fits: With the possibility of Keller starting and the wide range of opinions his age-29 breakout has inspired, Keller’s market is particularly difficult to pin down; he has a vast array of possible suitors. To highlight one, let’s go with the one team that ranks below San Francisco in projected bullpen WAR as things stand: the Texas Rangers.
Outside of left-hander Robert Garcia, who was acquired in a trade last winter, the Rangers have a boatload of bullpen innings to backfill, with the likes of Hoby Milner, Shawn Armstrong, Jacob Webb, Chris Martin and Phil Maton hitting free agency. Keller could be an intriguing start to those efforts — or even a low-cost candidate to compete for a spot in a Texas rotation that could also use some help.
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NR: RHP Pete Fairbanks, 32
Pete Fairbanks
Pete
Fairbanks
RP - TB - #29
2025 season
60.1
IP
27
SV
2.83
ERA
59
K
18
BB
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Profile: Tampa Bay somewhat surprisingly declined its $11 million option on Fairbanks for 2026, opting to allocate their limited resources to other parts of the roster and make way for a wealth of younger (and cheaper) relievers to step up and handle the high-leverage innings moving forward. It’s something of an abrupt end to the right-hander’s Tampa tenure, as Fairbanks was the team’s longest-tenured pitcher, having arrived via trade in 2019 and establishing himself as a trusted late-inning arm for manager Kevin Cash. A reliable setup man early in his career, Fairbanks eventually evolved into a more traditional closer; he’s one of just nine relievers with at least 20 saves in each of the past three seasons.
The most encouraging thing about Fairbanks’ 2025 was that he avoided the injured list, appearing in a career-high 61 games after battling a bevy of ailments over the prior three years. Less promising was a second straight season with a strikeout rate hovering around 24%, a steep decline from the gaudy 35% he posted from 2020 to ‘23. Still, Fairbanks recorded a career-high 27 saves with a 2.83 ERA, so he found ways to get the job done.
Potential fits: Fairbanks’ declining velocity and strikeout rates might not portend many more years as a no-doubt ninth-inning option, but he’s still pretty clearly someone who can improve a lot of bullpens around the league, as evidenced by the rapidly growing list of teams that have reportedly been connected to the right-hander early in his free agency.
Of those teams, Arizona and Detroit look like the best fits. The D-backs represent an ideal landing spot if Fairbanks is hoping to remain a closer in the short-term, and the Tigers could be a nice fit if he wants a pitcher-friendly ballpark and is cool with handling setup duties in deference to Will Vest. | true | classify this article contain milestone or not |
Former Angels manager Ron Washington reportedly joining Tony Vitello's Giants coaching staff
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Yahoo Sports
Chris CwikContributing writer
Thu, December 4, 2025 at 10:27 PM GMT+7
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2 min read
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New San Francisco Giants manager Tony Vitello is reportedly close to making his first major addition to the team's coaching staff. Former Los Angeles Angels manager Ron Washington is reportedly joining the Giants as the team's infield coach, according to USA Today's Bob Nightengale.
Washington, 73, managed the Angels for two seasons before the team parted ways with him at the end of the 2025 season. He was limited to just 74 games with the team last season due to heart surgery. Washington intended to return for the 2026 season prior to his dismissal.
While Washington's tenure with the Angels didn't go as planned — he had a .419 winning percentage over two seasons — he's been a successful manager in the past. In eight seasons with the Texas Rangers, Washington posted a .521 winning percentage and led the team to two straight World Series appearances.
[Get more Giants news: San Francisco team feed]
With a managerial job not in the cards for Washington this offseason, he'll revert back to coaching infielders. It's a role Washington has mastered over his career. The longtime coach is considered one of the best — if not the best — infield gurus around. He's been credited with turning around a number of fielders, with one of his biggest wins being Marcus Semien, who drastically improved his defense when he and Washington worked together with the Athletics.
Washington was also the "Wash" referenced in the "Moneyball" scene with Scott Hatteberg. And while that's a fictionalized version of what happened, Washington was the team's infield coach when Hatteberg made the transition from catcher to first base.
Also, apparently the scene in question wasn't that fictionalized, as Washington said it played out similarly in real life.
The move does provide some insight into how Vitello — who is making an unprecedented jump from college to the pros — wants the Giants to operate. He clearly values defense, and Washington already has some strong pieces to work with in San Francisco, including Matt Chapman and Willy Adames.
Adames and Chapman are among the players who don't need a high level of attention from Washington, as they are already among the best defenders at their positions. Every other member of the Giants' infield, however, is about to get a masterclass in defense from one of the game's best defensive coaches. | true | classify this article contain milestone or not |
Dodgers reportedly bring back World Series hero Miguel Rojas on $5.5 million deal
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TORONTO, ON - NOVEMBER 01: Miguel Rojas #72 of the Los Angeles Dodgers rounds the bases after hitting a game-tying solo home run in the ninth inning during Game Seven of the 2025 World Series presented by Capital One between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on Saturday, November 1, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
Miguel Rojas will end his playing career with the Dodgers and begin his player development career with them, too. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) (Rob Tringali via Getty Images)
Jack BaerStaff writer
Thu, Dec 4, 2025
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2 min read
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Miguel Rojas delivered one of the biggest swings in Los Angeles Dodgers history in Game 7 of the 2025 World Series. It won't be his last game with the team.
The veteran infielder agreed to return to the defending champions on a one-year, $5.5 million contract, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported Wednesday. The season will be Rojas' final year as a player, as he said during the playoffs that he intends to retire after 2026.
According to ESPN's Alden Gonzalez, Rojas will remain with the Dodgers in a player development role in the team's front office after the end of his playing career.
Prior to Nov. 1, Rojas had carved out a career as a dependable player for the Dodgers and Miami Marlins, with a standout glove at multiple infield positions and enough contact at the plate to stay on the field. He wasn't one of the team's many stars, but it was a natural move for manager Dave Roberts to insert Rojas into the lineup during the World Series to replace the struggling Andy Pages.
[Get more Dodgers news: Los Angeles team feed]
The move, suffice to say, paid off. In the top of the ninth inning of Game 7, with his team down 4-3 and facing Toronto Blue Jays closer Jeff Hoffman, Rojas worked the count full, then smashed a hanging slider into the left-field stands for the game-tying homer.
The Dodgers went on to win 5-4 and repeat as champions behind another homer from Will Smith and 2 2/3 innings of relief work from Yoshinobu Yamamoto on zero days' rest. It was one of the most dramatic games in the history of baseball.
During the regular season, the 36-year-old Rojas slashed a solid .262/.318/.397 with a league-average 100 OPS+ in 317 plate appearances. He began his MLB career in 2014 with the Dodgers, was traded to the Marlins after one season and returned via another trade after eight years with Miami.
Rojas re-signing with the Dodgers seemed like a strong possibility entering this offseason, and that has now come to pass, with plans for even more work together after 2026. The move is also the Dodgers' first notable addition of the offseason, with plenty more expected as the team goes for the first three-peat in North American professional sports in more than two decades. | true | classify this article contain milestone or not |
How Amanda Anisimova Turned Wimbledon Heartbreak Into Her Best Season Yet
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Ishika Samant / Getty Images
Ishika Samant / Getty Images
Shlomo Sprung
Thu, December 4, 2025 at 5:28 PM GMT+7
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5 min read
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Anisimova transformed the Grand Slam setback into momentum, climbing to a career-high ranking after two finals and a revitalized 2025 campaign.
Over the summer, Amanda Anisimova endured one of the most humbling defeats you'll see in pro sports.
The 24-year-old American reached her first career Grand Slam final at Wimbledon, where she faced the formidable Iga Swiatek. Swiatek proceeded to win 6-0, 6-0, the second "double bagel" in just the second such result at a Grand Slam final in the Open Era, dating back to 1968, and the first result in a women's final at Wimbledon since 1911. Just look at the raw emotion and vulnerability Anisimova showed during the post-match interview.
Results like these have defined athletes' careers, their lives. Shattered their confidence. Broken their spirit. Setbacks like the one Anisimova had in London could have easily sent her toward a downward spiral in which she'd never recover from.
That's not what happened to Anna Anisimova in her next slam at the US Open.
"I had lost in the first round in a really tough match the year prior, so I was just eager to play, and my first goal was to get through the first round," Anisimova told Boardroom. "It was a really fun few weeks with a lot of friends and family there, so I was just using that as energy to carry me through the tournament. The atmosphere was completely different at the US Open, so I tried to really focus on that and not really think about the match at Wimbledon. The biggest thing was having fun and enjoying every second from the first day."
Anisimova reached the final again in Queens, falling to Aryna Sabalenka in a second-set tiebreak that more than tested the will of both competitors. Anisimova reached the semis of the WTA Final in Riyadh and finished a career-best fourth in the WTA rankings. Now, instead of tumbling down the standings, Anisimova is hungry for her first career slam and the No. 1 spot.
She attributes her success in 2025 to discipline and consistently showing up and doing her best, whether at a Grand Slam final, in a match when she may not feel her best, or in a training session.
"Every single time I was faced with a challenge," Anisimova said, "I try to face it head on, give it my best, and see how far I can get and compete at the best level that I'm able to. So doing that time and time again this year has brought me to that career high ranking, which I'm really excited about and looking forward to competing next year and seeing how I can bounce back from that from this year."
Anisimova will return to New Jersey, where she was born and grew up before moving to Miami as a child, to take on Jessica Pegula at Prudential Center in Newark on Dec. 7 for A Racquet At The Rock. Carlos Alcaraz will also take on Frances Tiafoe. She said she's expecting a lively atmosphere: “I'm sure there's going to be a lot of fans who are going to be cheering, so I'm really looking forward to it. It'll also be nice to get back on the court since it's going to be like a month since we last played.”
Anisimova was enjoying her abbreviated offseason at home in Miami, spending time with family and friends and watching shows like Severance and The Beast In Me, which she started a few times but then stopped because she thought it was a movie.
"It's so nice to be in my apartment and not at a hotel room every single day," Anisimova said. "So I'm just soaking that in. I'm going to start my preseason too, which I'm fortunate I get to do at home."
While only 24, Anisimova has been playing professionally for nearly a decade. She played her first pro match at the US Open in 2016, just days before her 15th birthday, winning as a wild card before falling in the second round. Playing tennis at the highest level at such a young age made her mature quickly, she said, but she obviously faced some setbacks along the way.
In May 2023, despite having risen to the top 25 the year before, Anisimova said she'd be taking an indefinite break from tennis, citing burnout and concerns for her mental health.
"It serves me well now that I have all that experience," she said. "Now, the most important thing I learned is to just balance everything out. The tour and the schedule is very overwhelming and can be hectic at times, especially if you do well and make the final rounds tournament after tournament. Knowing when to take a break has been really important to me to reset mentally and physically. I think I've done a really good job of that this year, being able to just pick and choose the right time to go home, which is so important."
While Anisimova wants to get to No. 1, she wants to do it at her own pace and not get too ahead of herself.
"I feel like I'm doing all the right things and I'm slowly building my way up there," she said. "This has been my first full season that I've played. So if I keep playing and give myself opportunities, then it'll be more feasible."
Anisimova has taken what would completely break a vast majority of athletes and has only raised her level since then. After two straight Grand Slam final appearances, the rest of the WTA tour should be put on notice. | true | classify this article contain milestone or not |
International tennis legend Roger Federer elected to HOF in first year on the ballot
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International Tennis legend Roger Federer elected to HOF in first year on the ballotScroll back up to restore default view.
Criss ParteeContributing writer
Thu, Nov 20, 2025
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2 min read
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The International Tennis Hall of Fame announced on Wednesday that Roger Federer was elected in his first year of eligibility. While the HOF does not reveal its voting results, it comes as no surprise to anyone that Federer was able to achieve the required number of votes (at least 75%) in his first year on the ballot.
Federer was the first men’s competitor to win 20 Grand Slam titles, and he accomplished this feat in an era when players like Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal were also competing on the tour.
20 majors 🏆
103 ATP titles 🏅
310 weeks at No. 1 🔝
Changed the game forever ♾️
Roger Federer is heading to Newport this August. 👏 pic.twitter.com/BsbPo0NOvv
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) November 19, 2025
“I didn’t predict I was going to have this many majors,” Federer once told The AP. “I was hoping to maybe have one, to be quite honest, at the very beginning of my career.”
In 2003, Federer won his first Grand Slam title at the age of 21 at Wimbledon. At Wimbledon in 2009, Federer defeated Andy Roddick to capture his 15th major title, surpassing Pete Sampras’ previous record of 14. No. 20 came in 2018 at the Australian Open when Federer beat Marin Čilić in a five-set final.
Players can be considered for candidacy once they are five years removed from the tour. The voting group includes tennis media, historians, members of the Hall and industry leaders.
“I’ve always valued the history of tennis and the example set by those who came before me,” Federer explained. “To be recognized in this way by the sport and by my peers is deeply humbling.”
More tennis news
Additional select Yahoo articles
Taylor Townsend apologizes after expressing disbelief at Chinese food before Billie Jean King Cup finals in Shenzhen
Taylor Townsend apologizes after expressing disbelief at Chinese food before Billie Jean King Cup finals in Shenzhen
2025 US Open men's final: Carlos Alcaraz defeats Jannik Sinner in four sets to win 2nd US Open title
Aryna Sabalenka won the US Open by beating the toughest opponent: her own emotions
Federer spent a total of 310 weeks at No. 1 atop the ATP rankings during his career, with 237 of those weeks coming consecutively. In 2014, Federer led Switzerland to the Davis Cup title and won a doubles gold medal at the Beijing Olympic Games with Stan Wawrinka in 2008.
Serena Williams will be up on the ballot for the first time next year for induction in the 2027 HOF class. | true | classify this article contain milestone or not |
International tennis legend Roger Federer elected to HOF in first year on the ballot
Story by
Yahoo Sports
International Tennis legend Roger Federer elected to HOF in first year on the ballotScroll back up to restore default view.
Criss ParteeContributing writer
Thu, Nov 20, 2025
·
2 min read
Add Yahoo Sports on Google
The International Tennis Hall of Fame announced on Wednesday that Roger Federer was elected in his first year of eligibility. While the HOF does not reveal its voting results, it comes as no surprise to anyone that Federer was able to achieve the required number of votes (at least 75%) in his first year on the ballot.
Federer was the first men’s competitor to win 20 Grand Slam titles, and he accomplished this feat in an era when players like Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal were also competing on the tour.
20 majors 🏆
103 ATP titles 🏅
310 weeks at No. 1 🔝
Changed the game forever ♾️
Roger Federer is heading to Newport this August. 👏 pic.twitter.com/BsbPo0NOvv
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) November 19, 2025
“I didn’t predict I was going to have this many majors,” Federer once told The AP. “I was hoping to maybe have one, to be quite honest, at the very beginning of my career.”
In 2003, Federer won his first Grand Slam title at the age of 21 at Wimbledon. At Wimbledon in 2009, Federer defeated Andy Roddick to capture his 15th major title, surpassing Pete Sampras’ previous record of 14. No. 20 came in 2018 at the Australian Open when Federer beat Marin Čilić in a five-set final.
Players can be considered for candidacy once they are five years removed from the tour. The voting group includes tennis media, historians, members of the Hall and industry leaders.
“I’ve always valued the history of tennis and the example set by those who came before me,” Federer explained. “To be recognized in this way by the sport and by my peers is deeply humbling.”
More tennis news
Additional select Yahoo articles
Taylor Townsend apologizes after expressing disbelief at Chinese food before Billie Jean King Cup finals in Shenzhen
Taylor Townsend apologizes after expressing disbelief at Chinese food before Billie Jean King Cup finals in Shenzhen
2025 US Open men's final: Carlos Alcaraz defeats Jannik Sinner in four sets to win 2nd US Open title
Aryna Sabalenka won the US Open by beating the toughest opponent: her own emotions
Federer spent a total of 310 weeks at No. 1 atop the ATP rankings during his career, with 237 of those weeks coming consecutively. In 2014, Federer led Switzerland to the Davis Cup title and won a doubles gold medal at the Beijing Olympic Games with Stan Wawrinka in 2008.
Serena Williams will be up on the ballot for the first time next year for induction in the 2027 HOF class. | true | classify this article contain milestone or not |
'Find out tomorrow': Max Verstappen claims 'insane' pole for Abu Dhabi season decider
AP
December 6, 2025 - 8.29pm
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Max Verstappen took pole position for the title-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix ahead of Formula 1 title rivals Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri on Sunday morning (AEDT).
The thrilling three-way battle will be decided at the Yas Marina Circuit, with McLaren's Norris 12 points ahead of Red Bull's Verstappen and 16 ahead of teammate Piastri.
Verstappen is aiming for his fifth straight title, while Norris and Piastri are both chasing their first. All three drivers have won seven races for the season.
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The Dutchman is ready to fight on the final day — just like in 2021, when he beat seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton on the last lap to clinch his first championship.
"We find out tomorrow don't we?" Verstappen said. "I will try and win the race."
Max Verstappen, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri Getty
Pole position is crucial on the 58-lap circuit in Abu Dhabi, where overtaking is hard.
Every driver has won from pole since 2015. The last driver not to win from pole was Nico Rosberg in 2014, when he was beaten by his then-Mercedes teammate Hamilton.
Verstappen had already set the fastest lap on his first go but went even quicker on his second attempt and clocked 1 minute, 22.207 seconds, making him .201 faster than Norris and .230 quicker than Piastri.
"That was insane," Verstappen said over team radio after his eighth pole of the season.
Norris will win the title if he's on the podium in Abu Dhabi.
Even if Verstappen wins, the Dutchman needs Norris to be fourth or lower. If Piastri wins, he requires Norris to finish outside the top five.
Norris will start from the front row but was disappointed not to be on pole.
"We just weren't fast enough today. We'll have to try and do it tomorrow," he said.
"I still want to try and win tomorrow, so that's going to be the goal."
Piastri was content with his performance.
"Nicely done," he said. "Wasn't much left."
Oscar Piastri at the Abu Dhabi GP LAT Images
Hamilton was eliminated from Q1, the first section of qualifying, for the third-straight race after earlier crashing into a wall during practice.
"I'm so sorry," Hamilton said over team radio. "There are no words to express how I feel."
Asked about 2026, a dejected-sounding Hamilton said "I'm not looking that far ahead."
Mercedes driver George Russell qualified fourth ahead of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, who fared much better than his more illustrious teammate. | true | classify this article contain milestone or not |
Crystal Palace climb into top four after England star Marc Guehi's remarkable late goal
Reuters
Updated December 8, 2025 - 5.30am. First published at 4.38am
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Crystal Palace left it late to secure a 2-1 victory away at Fulham and move up to fourth in the Premier League, while Brighton & Hove Albion were held to a 1-1 draw at home by West Ham United.
Skipper Marc Guehi scored a late winner in the London derby to move Palace up to 26 points with their fifth away win of the season to sit a point above Chelsea in fifth.
The move into the top four now places the team in contention for Champions League qualification. Meanwhile, Fulham remain 15th.
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"It is good (to be in the top four), we keep our feet on the ground, it is only one win against a really good side and we now focus on the next game," Guehi said.
"It was a tough game, Fulham are a very good side who create a lot of chances with the rotation they have out wide, so it was important we stayed in the game and stay together.
"It is credit to the whole team, not me, as when everyone does their job it is easy."
Marc Guehi of Crystal Palace celebrates after scoring a goal to put Crystal Palace 2-1 ahead against Fulham.
Marc Guehi celebrates after scoring a goal to put Crystal Palace 2-1 ahead against Fulham. Getty
Palace took the lead after Adam Wharton found Eddie Nketiah in the box and the striker produced a smart finish to beat goalkeeper Bernd Leno for his second league goal of the season.
However, Fulham equalised in the 38th minute when Harry Wilson played a sublime one-two pass with Raul Jimenez, turning at the edge of the box before pulling the trigger with the outside of his boot to beat Dean Henderson's dive.
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Fulham thought they had turned it around when Emile Smith Rowe scored from a rebound but the goal was chalked off when replays showed Samuel Chukwueze had strayed offside in the build-up.
With a draw seemingly on the cards, Palace scored in the 87th minute from a corner when Guehi rose above the defence to head home the winner, with the captain celebrating in front of delirious Palace fans with his arms outstretched.
Elsewhere, Brighton and West Ham shared the spoils after Jarrod Bowen's stunning goal for the visitors was cancelled out by Georginio Rutter's equaliser in stoppage time.
West Ham finally got their goal on a counterattack when they pounced on an error from Jan Paul van Hecke. Although substitute Callum Wilson's pass seemed overhit, Bowen took his shot on the slide from a tight angle to beat Verbruggen.
Bowen's strike gave West Ham a ray of hope but Rutter pounced at the death to deny the visitors three valuable points that would have lifted them out of the relegation zone.
The result leaves West Ham in 18th place with 13 points, two behind Nottingham Forest, while Brighton moved up to seventh with 23 points.
Jarrod Bowen celebrates after scoring a goal against Brighton.
Jarrod Bowen celebrates after scoring a goal against Brighton. NurPhoto via Getty Images
"It feels amazing for the first goal for the season. I am very happy but we only take one point so that is frustrating," Rutter told Sky Sports.
"I think West Ham are very good and they are very compact. We were waiting for them to make a mistake."
In a match played in driving rain and swirling winds, both teams managed to create chances in a goalless first half.
West Ham nearly scored the opener in the second half when Bowen danced through Brighton's defence before forcing a fine save from Bart Verbruggen, who then made a second save when Crysencio Summerville attempted an acrobatic volley. | true | classify this article contain milestone or not |
Alex de Minaur adds almost $1 million to the bank balance after surviving 'tough' final against Casper Ruud
Alyssa Bone
Alyssa Bone
December 8, 2025 - 8.08am
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Australian star Alex de Minaur has no intention of slowing down before the new season after claiming a $964,000 pay cheque for his Ultimate Tennis Showdown victory.
De Minaur made tournament history with a dominant win against Norway's Casper Ruud in London on Monday (AEDT), with the Aussie becoming the first player to win the event three times.
Ruud set the tone for the match - in which the format was four eight-minute quarters with three-minute breaks to changeover - soaring to a 4-0 lead in the first quarter as his Australian rival attempted to find his feet on the court.
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De Minaur did find some late first quarter momentum but could not prevent Ruud from banking it 15-11.
The 26-year-old Australian fired back to dominate the remaining three quarters and claim victory, 11-15, 15-10, 15-11, 16-7.
Alex De Minaur celebrates after defeating Casper Ruud in the UTS final.
Alex De Minaur celebrates after defeating Casper Ruud in the UTS final. CameraSport via Getty Images
The total prize fund for three days of work was a significant boost for de Minaur, who has openly stated that all winnings from here on out will go towards his wedding with British tennis star Katie Boulter.
The prize money from the Ultimate Tennis Showdown falls just short of his largest pay day for the year, having won $994,000 for making the quarter finals at the US Open.
Just last month, de Minuar won $1.09m for his efforts in the ATP Finals.
"It's amazing to win here again," de Minaur said after lifting the lightning bolt trophy.
"London is a special place for me and it's my home now, so it's always great to play at this event and even better to win again.
"I've had some tough matches here this week and playing Casper in the final was always going to be difficult. It is amazing to come through.
"There is no rest for me now. I might take (Tuesday AEDT) off, but then it's back on court practicing for the new season." | true | classify this article contain milestone or not |
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'A mess': Frightening injury fallout from devastating Jai Opetaia knockout as opponent's condition revealed
Sam Worthington
Sam Worthington
December 8, 2025 - 7.40am
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Opetaia drops Cinkara with lethal left hand
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Huseyin Cinkara will be in hospital for at least another two days after Jai Opetaia fractured his C1 vertebra bone and caused brain bleeding with his vicious knockout punch on the Gold Coast on Saturday night.
There was serious concern for the 40-year-old warhorse, who gave Opetaia an early scare with some heavy shots in the second round.
Opetaia was not at his technical best but still handed Cinkara his first professional loss with a dynamite left hook in the eighth round.
Watch all the action from the 2025 PFL, including Cris Cyborg vs Australia's Sara Collins, live and on demand on Stan Sport
Jai Opetaia knocks out Huseyin Cinkara.
Jai Opetaia knocks out Huseyin Cinkara. Stan
Fran Bradford of Tasman Fighters said Cinkara had a contusion on the brain with a "small" brain bleed and a "slightly" fractured C1 - a ring-shaped bone that begins at the base of the skull.
No operation was needed but Istanbul-based Cinkara would remain in hospital to be monitored to ensure there were no issues with the blood vessels around the C1.
Reports that Opetaia had a fractured eye socket were incorrect and the 30-year-old Australian was out fishing with his family on Sunday.
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Jai Opetaia is announced the winner.
Jai Opetaia is announced the winner. Getty
"He's tough mate," Opetaia's manager Mick Francis told Wide World of Sports on Monday.
"He got a good shot in that second round but he stood his ground fairly well considering the the size of that shot. That shot would have knocked down a horse, mate. It was a massive shot. He just got a bit lazy... it was a bit of a wake-up call for him."
Cinkara was swarmed by medics at Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre but was eventually able to get to his feet and congratulate Opetaia before boarding an ambulance.
Huseyin Cinkara receives medical attention after being knocked out.
Huseyin Cinkara receives medical attention after being knocked out. Getty
"Cinkara's in a bit of a mess, he's obviously not in a good way," Francis said.
"The last four opponents of Jai have all gone to hospital in ambulances, so it's starting to become a bit of a pattern.
"The issue is that it's getting harder and harder to match him because guys are looking at what Jai is doing to his opponents. They're not really wanting to get in the ring with him."
Jai Opetaia punches Huseyin Cinkara.
Jai Opetaia punches Huseyin Cinkara. Getty
Opetaia retained his IBF and Ring Magazine cruiserweight world titles with the frightening finish and moved to 29-0 with 23 knockouts.
But the southpaw said he "boxed like shit" and was "pissed off" with a performance that "let people down."
"He's always hard on himself," Francis said.
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Opetaia pushed hard by warhorse Cinkara
"And it doesn't matter what fight, he's always criticising the mistakes he makes. And he puts himself under a lot of pressure too, because he wants to deliver to his fans.
"Jai's probably one of the best boxers in the world, and I know he's the most feared fighter in the world. But he just puts way too much pressure on himself, and I think the other night he was trying a little bit too hard. He was disappointed, but he's still knocking these guys out and actually physically hurting these guys and putting them in hospital.
"Claudio Squeo was in hospital for over a week (in May), he had a full facial reconstruction. I spoke to the surgeon and he said it was one of the worst facial reconstructions he's done, it's like a guy who's been in a car accident. So he's doing this sort of stuff to his opponents and it's making it harder and harder to get guys in the ring."
Opetaia's camp will now take a keen interest in the Noel Mikaelian vs Badou Jack fight in Los Angeles this weekend.
The WBC mandated a rematch after Jack won a controversial points decision in May.
Mikaelian is the bookmakers' favourite this weekend and Francis will be cheering the German on.
Noel Mikaeljan lands a punch on Badou Jack in Riyadh.
Noel Mikaeljan lands a punch on Badou Jack in Riyadh. Getty
"If Noel wins the fight, he's happy to go straight into Jai," Francis said.
"And that fight could happen as early as March, April, May. They want the fight. They're realistic, they're not going to hide behind ridiculous amounts of money.
"He is 35, he's ageing, so he wants to get in the ring against Jai as soon as he can. So I hope he wins the fight.
"I hope Badou Jack gets beat and at least it makes life a little bit easier for us."
Jack is also up for the Opetaia fight but his camp has signalled they would want 12 weeks preparation after Ramadan ends in late March. | true | classify this article contain milestone or not |
Broncos clinch second straight postseason berth with win over Packers
Published: Dec 14, 2025 at 07:43 PM
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Grant Gordon
Digital Content Editor
After snapping an eight-season playoff drought a year ago, the Denver Broncos are making a return to the postseason.
Bo Nix, Sean Payton and the Broncos clinched a playoff berth Sunday on the strength of their 34-26 win over the Green Bay Packers. They are the first AFC team to sew up a playoff spot.
Improving to 12-2 after the victory, the Broncos reached their highest win total since their Super Bowl-winning 2015 campaign.
In his third season helming the Broncos, Payton now boasts two playoff berths, while Nix has become the only quarterback from a lauded 2024 first-round draft class who will be able to secure postseason appearances in each of his two pro seasons. Much maligned throughout his sophomore NFL season, Nix is the first Broncos quarterback to lead the team to consecutive playoff berths since Hall of Famer Peyton Manning (2012-15).
Denver hasn't lost a game since Sept. 21 against the Los Angeles Chargers, rolling to 11 straight victories since then.
The Broncos can now march forward in their quest to claim the AFC’s No. 1 seed and win the franchise's first AFC West title since the aforementioned 2015 Super Bowl season.
Next up for the Broncos is a marquee matchup against the visiting Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 16 prior to back-to-back AFC West battles against the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers to conclude what's already been a hugely successful 2025 regular season. | true | classify this article contain milestone or not |
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'We were hurting last week': Australia's women turn tables on Kiwis in Cape Town Sevens final
Sam Worthington with AP
December 8, 2025 - 3.30am
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Australia's women's sevens team are back in the winner's circle after getting revenge on New Zealand in Cape Town on Monday (AEDT).
Tim Walsh's side outplayed the Kiwis 26-12 in the final, turning the tables after New Zealand took out the first World Series tournament in Dubai last weekend.
It is the second time the women have won the Cape Town event as Australia ended a run of losing four straight finals to New Zealand.
Watch the 2025-26 World Sevens Series with every match streaming live and on demand on the home of rugby, Stan Sport
Aside from a try to New Zealand being chalked off due to a forward pass, the first half was all Australia.
Following a ruck penalty, Heidi Dennis brushed off Kelsey Teneti for the opening try.
Teagan Levi was over a minute later, breaking past Theresa Setefano.
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Madison Ashby of Australia tackled by Alena Saili of New Zealand.
Madison Ashby of Australia tackled by Alena Saili of New Zealand. Getty
Just before halftime, co-captain Isabella Nasser scored from a tapped penalty to make it 19-0.
Straight after the interval, another ruck penalty against New Zealand finished with Maddison Levi busting past Teneti for a try converted by sister Teagan and a 26-0 lead.
The defence then restricted New Zealand to tries by Teneti and Stacey Waaka while Jazmin Felix-Hotham knocked on at the try-line in a tackle by Nasser, the player of the match.
"It feels really good, we were hurting last week when we lost to the Kiwis but we put it out there today," Nasser said.
"We worked on things we needed to get right for this week and it was a big squad effort. We soak in the crowd energy and atmosphere and it's absolutely amazing."
A four-try effort from Maddison Levi in the semi-final helped guide Australia to a rematch with their arch-rivals.
Australia's women's team celebrate winning at DHL Stadium.
Australia's women's team celebrate winning at DHL Stadium. Getty
"Cape Town is one of the best tournaments out there. We spoke about winning the 50-50 moments and we did that," co-captain Madison Ashby said.
Australia's men finished seventh with South Africa taking out the title.
The Aussies were runners-up to New Zealand in Dubai.
"We were really disappointed with day one after coming off an impressive week one in Dubai but we're talking about growth and building depth as a team for the first six tournaments," Australia captain Henry Hutchison said.
"I'm really impressed with how a lot of the new boys fired back today and put it to them, showed a lot of character and what they're made of.
"They're really grateful and aware of the privilege and responsibility to wear the gold and perform for their families, the country and Rugby Australia.
"They've slotted in nicely and now it's about a bit of blooding, put them out in the arena and hope they swim. It was close against the Kiwis and a win over Spain so a nice way to finish."
South Africa became the first men's team to win back-to-back Cape Town tournaments since their predecessors 10 years ago.
Never comfortable, the Blitzboks came from behind in the last minute of their final to claim a thrilling 21-19 win.
Marcos Moneta, who'd already scored two of Argentina's three tries, was stripped of the ball on halfway by Shilton van Wyk, who recovered to give the final pass and watched Christie Grobbelaar round in behind the posts.
Ricardo Duarttee converted for 21-19 and South Africa's first lead in the final with less than 30 seconds left. They held on.
Argentina led 14-7 at halftime after Luciano Gonzalez scored his tournament-leading eighth try and set up Moneta's first in the final.
Donavan Don replied for South Africa after a Zain Davids intercept.
Moneta's second try immediately after halftime from a switch play on his 22m line pushed Argentina's lead to 19-7.
But a converted try by Blitzboks debutant Sonwabo Sokoyi lifted the home side's hopes with five to go.
Singapore is the next leg in the world series from January 31.
CAPE TOWN RESULTS, AUSTRALIA WOMEN
Match 1: Australia 41 def France 0
Match 2: Australia 26 def Canada 19
Match 3: Australia 36 def Japan 5
Semi-Final: Australia 34 def USA 7
Grand Final: Australia 26 def New Zealand 12
CAPE TOWN RESULTS, AUSTRALIA MEN
Pool Match 1: Australia 0 def by Argentina 36
Pool Match 2: Australia 17 def by Spain 19
Pool Match 3: Australia 10 def by France 29
Fifth-place play-off: Australia 21 def by New Zealand 28
Seventh-place play-off: Australia 24 def Spain 12 | true | classify this article contain milestone or not |
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Tino's bro locked in by Perth Bears but Mal Meninga reserves special praise for 'exciting' signing out of Panthers system
Sacha Mirzabegian
Updated December 10, 2025 - 8.04am. First published December 4, 2025 - 7.58am
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The Perth Bears have made their first prominent signing, securing Penrith prop Liam Henry on a four-year deal.
The NRL's 18th team has been busy since November 1 and now have signed their sixth player, with the club also confirming the acquisition of Iszac Fa'asuamaleaui on a two-year deal. The brother of superstar Tino will raise hopes that the Bears can dangle the carrot for the Titans skipper to be the club's first marquee superstar.
The recruitment of Henry is the first signing of a player who currently holds an NRL contract, with the prop to finish his deal with the Panthers next year before making the switch.
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Henry has played 50 games in the top grade and Meninga believes he is "one of the most exciting middle-forward prospects in the NRL".
"This is another proud day for the Perth Bears," Meninga said.
"Liam is one of the most exciting middle forward prospects in the NRL and I am ecstatic to have him as part of our inaugural roster.
Liam Henry of the Panthers. Getty
"Iszac is a versatile and athletic forward who will look to continue his development with Catalans next season before coming to Perth for 2027.
"Both players have their best footy in front of them and I have no doubt will make an immediate impact with the Bears".
Henry was part of the Panthers 2024 Grand Final winning team and was selected in the Australian Prime Ministers XIII team this year.
"I'm excited about the opportunity to be a part of history and continue my career with the Perth Bears from 2027," Henry said.
"It's not every day you get the chance to be a part of a new team in a new city and it's that opportunity that excites me the most."
Fa'asuamaleaui added: "The Perth Bears provide an incredible opportunity for me to continue my career and play a part in building something special in Western Australia.
Iszac Fa'asuamaleaui Gold Coast Titans
"It's going to be good to get to play with Toby (Sexton) at Catalans and hopefully have a strong year in Super League.
"That's my priority right now but in 2027 I'll be ready to give it my all for the Bears".
The Bears have been busy trying to sign players, with the other signings coming from English Super League, with halfback Toby Sexton at the top of that list.
However, the signing of Henry is a major coup for Meninga and the Bears as they beat out other teams vying for his signature.
It is understood Perth were able to offer far more than any other club, viewing Henry as a long-term leader of their pack.
But the chance to be part of a new team, in a new city was too strong of a lure for Henry.
As for the younger Fa'asuamaleaui, he will now leave the Super League club after one year having joined Catalans ahead of the 2026 campaign.
The Bears also signed London Broncos players Luke Smith and Emarly Bitungane, who will play for Jason Demetriou's squad before making the trek to Perth.
Tino Faasuamaleaui celebrates with David Fifita after the Titans defeated the Sydney Roosters.
Tino Faasuamaleaui celebrates with David Fifita after the Titans defeated the Sydney Roosters. Getty
Tino Fa'asuamaleaui is viewed as one of the club's priority targets and signing his brother is a clever ploy that has worked in the past, with clubs often signing siblings to make a superstar feel comfortable.
But it will take a substantial package and a salary likely around the $1.5 million-a-year mark to convince Fa'asuamaleaui to walk out on the final four seasons of his 10-year Titans deal, even if he does have the clauses in his contract to make it happen fuss free.
The Queensland Origin enforcer is free to test the open market for 2027 and beyond, thanks to a get-out clause in his current Titans deal, allowing him to explore rival offers.
After announcing new partners to their ownership group, which now includes rugby league legends Matthew Johns and Gorden Tallis, Gold Coast has some leverage in negotiations and will need it, especially since Meninga played a major role in convincing Fa'asuamaleaui to leave Melbourne in 2020 and join the Titans.
He was also seen having coffee with former Titans recruitment boss Ezra Howe in the past week, who has links to Meninga.
Meninga was set to hire Howe as his recruitment boss, but the idea was axed when Howe was embroiled in an integrity scandal with Gold Coast, with Titans bosses alleging he compiled a Bears hit list while working for the club.
Another advantage for the Bears is their growing commercial clout after they made history by becoming the first NRL club to partner with a global athletic brand.
The four-year partnership with New Balance as the Bears' official team apparel partner could be viewed as a boon for a star athlete like Tino, in a bid to build his brand via an internationally known brand that has NBA players, English Premier League and tennis stars adorning their global advertising campaigns.
Like most old league heads, Meninga knows you build a team starting up front, and he's also said to be interested in Souths forward Keaon Koloamatangi.
Ryan Papenhuyzen thanks the fans after the 2024 NRL grand final, which the Storm lost to the Panthers.
Ryan Papenhuyzen thanks the fans after the 2024 NRL grand final, which the Storm lost to the Panthers. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
But the Bears have also sniffed around quality and fringe players coming off contract, regardless of which position they play.
Melbourne utility Tyran Wishart is expected to meet with the club in the coming weeks, while Ryan Papenhuyzen could be a big-name option with R360's 2026 launch now postponed.
The fullback is adamant he is taking a gap year and is not inclined to turn tail and immediately ink a deal to stay in the NRL, even after Peter V'landys announced that he and Lomax were free to sign fresh contracts, with the threatened 10-year bans off the agenda for now. While Papenhuyzen now looks long odds to get back on the field in 2026, a 2027 return fits perfectly with the Bears' timeline.
The Perth club has been forced to turn to the Super League after their first major attempts at luring current NRL stars fell flat, with Melbourne's Cameron Munster and Harry Grant and Gold Coast duo Jayden Campbell and Beau Fermor among those to turn them down.
They will undoubtedly pursue off-contract stars like Viliame Kikau, Lindsay Smith, Payne Haas, Murray Taulagi, Will Warbrick, Selwyn Cobbo and Trai Fuller as they look to scour the NRL for a marquee player.
Along with a tough front row, the halves will also be the most difficult position for the Bears to fill, with a lack of true playmakers on the market for 2027.
Like the Dolphins and their recruitment of star young halfback Isaiya Katoa for their first year, Perth may need to look beneath the surface to find their answer.
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They could endure the same issues at hooker, with Grant signing a two-year extension with the Storm.
Other experienced campaigners off contract after 2026, like Sam Verrills and Billy Walters, could also be considered.
They've secured Newman in the outside backs, with the Leeds Rhinos centre having played seven Tests for England.
"Both players have all the attributes and qualities I'm looking for when building out our roster," Meninga said of Newman and Sexton on Tuesday.
"Toby is a proven leader who works hard to make his teammates better.
"He is a quality person who I know will make the most of the opportunity to be a trailblazer for the Perth Bears.
"Harry is a Test player who has been a part of the successful Leeds Rhinos system for several years.
"He has the skillset and experience to make an immediate impact in the NRL, and I'm really excited to see what he can do when he gets here in 2027." | true | classify this article contain milestone or not |
The Mole: More pain for Wests Tigers as Lachlan Galvin's brother follows path to Bulldogs
The Mole
The Mole
Updated December 4, 2025 - 4.27am. First published at 3.04am
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V'landys predicts the end of R360
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Canterbury have rubbed salt into the strife-torn Wests Tigers' wounds by signing Lachlan Galvin's younger brother.
Galvin's mid-season move from the Tigers to Canterbury was one of the biggest stories of 2025, having a profound influence on both clubs.
Now in a week where the Tigers have found themselves embroiled in off-field turmoil, Galvin's 19-year-old brother has also made the switch from Concord to Belmore.
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A talented, lanky 19-year-old lock or five-eighth, Tom Galvin was a member of the Macarthur Wests Tigers team in the Laurie Daley Cup competition this season.
Tom Galvin in action.
Tom Galvin in action. Instagram (Tom Galvin)
He also played for the Tigers in the Harold Matts Cup in 2024.
He is set to start his time at Canterbury in the SG Ball or Jersey Flegg - but may have to earn a spot in the trials.
"Tom is a different player to Lachlan - he is much taller than him and more of a runner," a source close to the family told Wide World of Sports.
"But he has ability and the boys will be happy to be playing for the same club again." | true | classify this article contain milestone or not |
'Have trouble finding right fights': Boxing legend issues warning after ninth straight knockout for Teremoana
Sophie Wisely
Sophie Wisely
Updated December 6, 2025 - 6.00pm. First published at 5.35pm
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Aussie giant floors Montes in first round
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Former Olympian Teremoana Teremoana demolished Mexican German Garcia Montes with his ninth knockout in as many professional fights on Saturday night.
The fight didn't even last one round as Teremoana went straight on the attack and it was a vicious left hand that stopped the fight with Montes unable to continue.
Teremoana stays unbeaten in his professional career with an 9-0 record - all via knockout.
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His competitor Montes was 9-6 and a entered the fight as an underdog, but was bested by the first round stoppage.
"Lovely. He's [Teremoana] got great personality, a great character," Joseph Parker said on Stan Sport broadcast.
German Garcia Montes is given a count by the referee.
German Garcia Montes is given a count by the referee. Getty
After being handed his victory, the Cook Island-Australian celebrated in style, performing a traditional haka before showing some love to the sold out crowd.
'Ring of Fire': Opetaia vs Cinkara for the cruiserweight world titles on December 6 is available to order now on Stan Pay-Per-View
"Montes just ... didn't have the firepower, and he landed some good shots but Teremoana's chin [is] solid, and he's a big, strong, imposing hulk of a human," added Danny Green.
Teremoana Teremoana punches German Garcia Montes.
Teremoana Teremoana punches German Garcia Montes. Getty
"He gave us what we thought we were going to see and that was all action.
"He put his guy away, and Montes, he didn't want to go on with it. He realised very early, he was outgunned."
Green, a former Australian professional boxer, spoke on Teremoana's career trajectory and issued a warning to the Cook Island-Australian to find the "right fights" to enable him to "develop properly" on his journey to success.
"Teremoana is going to face more problems finding opponents that are going to push him, because he's at that level now where ... he's growing. He's only early in the sport," Green explained.
"If he jumps up too quick, you've got to be careful between the levels, between really good and where he is now.
"At the moment, he's superb, he's incredible. But I'm saying, as a professional, you want to just grow in the sport.
Teremoana Teremoana performs a haka after winning.
Teremoana Teremoana performs a haka after winning. Getty
"He's going to have trouble finding those right fights that are going to enable him to develop properly."
Green admitted that it won't be long until Teremoana will encounter a worthy opponent that will challenge his undefeated streak, but named the 27-year-old "world champion" material.
"It won't be long before he finds the opponents that are going to withstand his punishment. That's a given," he added.
"[Teremoana] will come into the territory where guys are a bit tougher, a bit more seasoned, a bit more experienced. And as he grows, he'll be able to put them away as well.
"But the hard thing is finding those opponents that are going to be able to push him in the right way.
Teremoana Jr celebrates after knocking out German Montes.
Teremoana Jr celebrates after knocking out German Montes. Stan
"You don't want to damage a young fighter like him early on, because he has great potential.
"He has great potential to be a world champion."
Ring of Fire fight night is headlined by Jai Opetaia v Huseyin Cinkara for the IBF and The Ring world cruiserweight titles, which is set to begin around 10.40pm AEDT. | true | classify this article contain milestone or not |
Aussie Kaden Groves chokes back tears in emotional interview after winning stage 20 at Tour de France
Lachlan Harper with AP
July 27, 2025 - 10.12am
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Tadej Pogačar closed in on a fourth Tour de France title after safely finishing Sunday morning's (AEST) penultimate stage and maintaining his big lead over arch-rival Jonas Vingegaard.
Australian rider Kaden Groves won stage 20 with a late solo breakaway, while Pogačar rolled over the line about seven minutes later in the same time as Vingegaard.
Groves surged ahead 16 kilometres out and held on for his first Tour stage win and 10th at major races. The 26-year-old has two at the Giro d’Italia and seven at the Spanish Vuelta.
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The Australian was highly emotional post-race.
"There's so many emotions to win here ... having won in the Giro and the Vuelta, all I ever get asked is am I good enough to win in the Tour, and now I have shown them," he said.
Groves was 54 seconds ahead of Frank van den Broek and 59 clear of Pascal Eenkhoorn.
Pogačar leads the two-time Tour winner Vingegaard by four minutes, 24 seconds, with German rider Florian Lipowitz 11:03 behind Pogačar in third overall.
Barring a heavy crash or illness, Pogačar was expected to celebrate Sunday and move level with British rider Chris Froome on four Tour titles. Victory would also give Pogačar a fifth Grand Tour after winning the Giro d’Italia in dominant fashion last year.
“I am more or less sure of my overall victory, but I still don't want to say anything about it. I want to stay focused until I have crossed the finish line in Paris,” Pogačar said.
“That's one of the most beautiful parts of this sport. We are 180 guys who spend weeks riding in the mountains and in the end, all of a sudden, we come to the streets of one of the biggest cities in the world.”
However, Sunday's final stage of this edition is not a largely processional one, as is usually the case, and could potentially prove somewhat problematic toward the end with three consecutive climbs.
“I am unsure of how the final stage will pan out,” Pogačar said.
“The course is relatively short, and that will make for a rather punchy effort.” | true | classify this article contain milestone or not |
Broncos clinch second straight postseason berth with win over Packers
Published: Dec 14, 2025 at 07:43 PM
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Grant Gordon
Digital Content Editor
After snapping an eight-season playoff drought a year ago, the Denver Broncos are making a return to the postseason.
Bo Nix, Sean Payton and the Broncos clinched a playoff berth Sunday on the strength of their 34-26 win over the Green Bay Packers. They are the first AFC team to sew up a playoff spot.
Improving to 12-2 after the victory, the Broncos reached their highest win total since their Super Bowl-winning 2015 campaign.
In his third season helming the Broncos, Payton now boasts two playoff berths, while Nix has become the only quarterback from a lauded 2024 first-round draft class who will be able to secure postseason appearances in each of his two pro seasons. Much maligned throughout his sophomore NFL season, Nix is the first Broncos quarterback to lead the team to consecutive playoff berths since Hall of Famer Peyton Manning (2012-15).
Denver hasn't lost a game since Sept. 21 against the Los Angeles Chargers, rolling to 11 straight victories since then.
The Broncos can now march forward in their quest to claim the AFC’s No. 1 seed and win the franchise's first AFC West title since the aforementioned 2015 Super Bowl season.
Next up for the Broncos is a marquee matchup against the visiting Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 16 prior to back-to-back AFC West battles against the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers to conclude what's already been a hugely successful 2025 regular season. | true | classify this article contain milestone or not |
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