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Haaland sets new Champions League scoring benchmark but still far behind Ronaldo

MANCHESTER, England: Another goal, another record for Erling Haaland. The Manchester City striker became the fastest player to score 50 goals in the Champions League in a 2-0 win over Napoli on Thursday — reaching the landmark in his 49th game in European club soccer’s top competition. Haaland surpassed the previous record by former Manchester United and Real Madrid forward Ruud van Nistelrooy, who took 62 games to reach that total. “He seems to break every record going. At his age, it’s unheard of what he’s doing,” City teammate Phil Foden said. At the age of 25, Haaland looks capable of chasing down Cristiano Ronaldo’s all-time Champions League record of 141 goals. “The numbers speak for itself,” City manager Pep Guardiola said.

Rashford stars in Barcelona win as De Bruyne loses on Man City return

Marcus Rashford proved the perfect replacement for Lamine Yamal in Barcelona’s 2-1 win at Newcastle in the Champions League on Thursday and Kevin De Bruyne watched mostly from the sideline as Napoli lost 2-0 at his former club Manchester City. With Yamal missing through injury, Rashford — a loan signing from Manchester United — got a start on his return to England and scored both of Barcelona’s goals at St. James’ Park.

Mourinho appointed at Benfica as he returns to Portugal

LISBON: Benfica appointed Jose Mourinho as their coach on Thursday, with the Portuguese returning to work in his homeland 21 years after leaving Porto for Chelsea. The 62-year-old, who also coached Real Madrid and Manchester United among other clubs, was sacked by Turkish side Fenerbahce in August after Benfica beat them in the Champions League play-offs. Mourinho has signed a contract “to run until the end of the 2026/27 season,” Benfica said in a statement, with an option for either party to end the deal at the end of the current campaign. The two-time European champions sacked Bruno Lage after a shock defeat in their Champions League opener against Azerbaijani minnows Qarabag on Tuesday. Mourinho will soon face reunions against former sides Chelsea and Porto, in the Champions League on September 30 and in the Primeira Liga on October 5 respectively. “I come to Benfica at a different stage in my career, and as a person... we transform for the better,” Mourinho told reporters, sitting alongside Benfica president Rui Costa. “I’m more altruistic, less self-centered, I think less about myself and more about the good I can do for others, the joy I can bring to others.

Isack Hadjar on Red Bull rumors: ‘I didn’t sign anything’

BAKU: Isack Hadjar downplayed rumors that he is set to replace Yuki Tsunoda in the second Red Bull seat alongside Max Verstappen in 2026, saying “I didn’t sign anything.” Tsunoda has struggled to consistently generate points since being promoted to the main team ahead of the third race of the season, and enters this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix with just 12 . Meanwhile, the 20-year-old Hadjar has recovered from a crash in his first race in Australia to produce 38 points for the junior team. With Tsunoda currently 19th place in the driver’s standings and Hadjar in ninth, speculation has been rampant that the young Frenchman is set to be Red Bull’s next attempt to find a consistent points producer alongside Verstappen. Telling reporters this week that he “couldn’t care less” about the rumors, Hadjar added, “I think it’s very funny.

Spain overtake Messi’s Argentina to lead FIFA rankings for first time since 2014

ZURICH: Spain and Lamine Yamal took top spot from Argentina and Lionel Messi in the FIFA men’s rankings published on Thursday, and lead for the first time since being dethroned as world champion in June 2014. Spain’s two-win start to a 2026 World Cup qualifying group this month — against Turkiye and Bulgaria — lifted the European champion up from second place behind 2022 World Cup winner Argentina, which fell to third. Argentina’s loss in a World Cup qualifier in Ecuador also let France rise one place to No. 2. England stayed at No. 4, and Portugal climbed one place to No.

Ligue 1 leader PSG face bitter rival Marseille and Lille look to stay unbeaten

PARIS: Ligue 1 leader Paris Saint-Germain face their biggest rival Marseille at Parc des Princes on Sunday. Marseille’s longstanding bragging rights as the only French side to win the Champions League finally ended when PSG won it in emphatic style last season. On the domestic front, PSG have pulled away from Marseille with 13 Ligue 1 titles compared to nine. PSG have won their four league games so far. “We know the importance of this match, for the fans and the club,” PSG coach Luis Enrique said.

Naoya Inoue to headline Riyadh’s ‘Night of the Samurai’

RIYADH: Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the General Entertainment Authority, has announced that Japanese superstar Naoya Inoue (31-0, 27 KOs) will defend his WBC super-bantamweight title against Mexico’s Alan Picasso Romero (32-0-1, 17 KOs) on Dec. 27.

‘It’s not cricket’: Political divisions cast a growing shadow over the game

In England and across Europe, the sun is setting on an eventful 2025 cricket season. It will be remembered for the visit of India to England for a hard fought, sometimes acrimonious, five-match Test series, which was shared two wins apiece.

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Haaland sets new Champions League scoring benchmark but still far behind Ronaldo

Rashford stars in Barcelona win as De Bruyne loses on Man City return

Mourinho appointed at Benfica as he returns to Portugal

Isack Hadjar on Red Bull rumors: ‘I didn’t sign anything’

Spain overtake Messi’s Argentina to lead FIFA rankings for first time since 2014

Ligue 1 leader PSG face bitter rival Marseille and Lille look to stay unbeaten

Naoya Inoue to headline Riyadh’s ‘Night of the Samurai’

‘It’s not cricket’: Political divisions cast a growing shadow over the game