Sports

Lionel Messi surpassed the 100-goal mark for World Cup champions Argentina on Tuesday by scoring a hat-trick in their 7-0 friendly win over Curacao.

Indian Wells champions Carlos Alcaraz and Elena Rybakina stayed on course to complete the 'Sunshine Double' at the Miami Open but Stefanos Tsitsipas was sent packing by Karen Khachanov.

Scotland defeated Spain 2-0 in their Euro 2024 qualifier at Hampden Park on Tuesday and maintain their perfect start to the campaign.

Greek second seed Stefanos Tsitsipas beat Chilean qualifier Cristian Garin 6-3 4-6 6-4 to reach the fourth round of the Miami Open on Monday while Elena Rybakina beat Elise Mertens to keep alive her hopes of clinching the rare "Sunshine Double".

Lionel Messi stepped out of Diego Maradona's shadow by leading Argentina to World Cup victory last year and a statue of the diminutive forward will stand alongside those of his predecessor and Brazil great Pele at the South American federation's museum.

Pakistan beat Afghanistan by 66 runs in the third Twenty20 International in Sharjah to avoid a clean sweep in the series.

Netherlands defender Nathan Ake scored twice and Memphis Depay also got on the scoresheet as the hosts laboured to a 3-0 home win over 10-man Gibraltar in a Euro 2024 qualifier on Monday.

South Africa have named a full-strength squad for their two One-Day Internationals against the Netherlands with the side needing victory in both to keep alive hopes of automatic qualification for the Cricket World Cup in India later this year.

Carlos Alcaraz swatted aside Serbian Dusan Lajovic 6-0 7-6(5) to keep his title defence on track at the Miami Open on Sunday, as Canadian Bianca Andreescu cruised past American Sofia Kenin in straight sets.

Cristiano Ronaldo grabbed two goals in his country's 6-0 thrashing of Luxembourg in a Euro 2024 qualifier on Sunday, giving them a second win in four days.

Mumbai Indians were crowned champions at the inaugural Women's Premier League (WPL) after securing a seven-wicket victory against Delhi Capitals in the final at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday.

Tottenham Hotspur have parted ways with manager Antonio Conte, eight days after the Italian's furious outburst following a draw at Southampton when his side threw away a two-goal lead.

Spain's late substitute Joselu struck two quick-fire goals on his debut to seal a 3-0 win over Norway in their first Euro 2024 Group A qualifier on Saturday as they got off to a promising start under new manager Luis de la Fuente.

Elena Rybakina kept her "Sunshine Double" hopes alive as she battled from the brink to beat Paul Badosa in the Miami Open third round on Saturday, while Russian Anastasia Potapova upset Coco Gauff in three sets.

The Argentina national team's training facility has been renamed after talismanic captain Lionel Messi in recognition of his World Cup heroics and star-studded career, the country's football association (AFA) said.

Sofiane Boufal and Abdelhamid Sabiri scored to give Morocco a 2-1 victory in a friendly match against Brazil in Tangier on Saturday, earning their first victory ever against the five-time world champions.

Ushba Tesoro won the Dubai World Cup 2023 held at the Meydan Racecourse.

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, the Meydan Racecourse will host the Dubai World Cup on Saturday.

New France captain Kylian Mbappe lived up to expectations with two goals in a 4-0 statement home win against the Netherlands as Les Bleus got their Euro 2024 Group B qualifying campaign started in ruthless fashion on Friday.

Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku scored a hat-trick as they claimed a 3-0 win over Sweden which overshadowed Zlatan Ibrahimovic's much-anticipated return to international football in their opening Group F Euro 2024 qualifier on Friday.

The construction of the Olympic athletes village is on time and on budget as organisers promise to deliver a safe Games, the general director of Paris 2024 said on Friday.

Bayern Munich have fired their coach Julian Nagelsmann, Bild newspaper reported on Thursday.

Cristiano Ronaldo set a new record for the most international caps as Portugal played Liechtenstein on Thursday and celebrated the milestone with a record-extending goal.

When the gates for the first race at the Dubai World Cup open on Saturday, the thunder of hooves on the track will send a wave of excitement not only across the Meydan Racecourse but also among millions tuned in for the broadcast.

Harry Kane became England's record international goalscorer as his side began their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign by defeating reigning champions Italy 2-1 in Group C on Thursday.

Canada's Bianca Andreescu beat Britain's Emma Raducanu 6-3 3-6 6-2 at the Miami Open on Wednesday in a first-round clash of former U.S. Open champions looking to recapture top form after a spate of injuries.

Germany's World Cup-winning midfielder Mesut Ozil announced his retirement from football at the age of 34 on Wednesday.

Novak Djokovic said he had no regrets about missing tournaments at Indian Wells and Miami due to his COVID-19 vaccination status but hoped that he would be allowed into the United States later this year for the US Open Grand Slam.

Refereeing bodies have told Premier League and English Football League match officials to pause play so players can break their fast during the holy period of Ramadan.

Heinrich Klaasen smashed an unbeaten 119 from 61 balls as South Africa eased to a four-wicket victory over West Indies in the third and final one-day international at Senwes Park on Tuesday, ensuring the honours are shared in the series.

The Meydan Racecourse is all set to play host to the 27th edition of the Dubai World Cup on Saturday, March 25, bringing together the world's best racehorses, jockeys and trainers.

Paris St Germain forward Kylian Mbappe has been named France captain to succeed Hugo Lloris, French media reported on Monday.

Tennis great Martina Navratilova said she is cancer-free after being diagnosed with throat and breast cancer.

Rafael Nadal's absence from Indian Wells saw the 22-times Grand Slam champion slip out of the top 10 for the first time since 2005 on Monday but the Spaniard will still be the "man to beat" at the French Open if he can get back to full fitness.

Formula One champions Red Bull are in a league of their own but once-dominant Mercedes can see big gains ahead after going back to the drawing board with their car.

LaLiga leaders Barcelona's pursuit of a 27th Spanish title gained momentum after substitute Franck Kessie scored a stunning goal in added time to secure a 2-1 comeback win over Real Madrid on Sunday.

Top seed Carlos Alcaraz snapped Daniil Medvedev's 19-match win streak with a 6-3 6-2 rout in the Indian Wells final on Sunday that will see him leapfrog Novak Djokovic and return to world number one in the rankings.

Fernando Alonso was handed back the 100th podium of his Formula One career, and second in two races for Aston Martin, after a U-turn by officials hours after the finish of Sunday's Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

Australian pacer Mitchell Starc ripped through India's line-up with five wickets to lay the platform for a crushing 10-wicket win in the second one-day international in Visakhapatnam on Sunday that levelled their three-match series at 1-1.

"Roll on the World Cup" was the message from Ireland captain Johnny Sexton on Saturday after his side completed a Six Nations Grand Slam in a campaign that showed just why they are the world's top-ranked team.

Top seed Carlos Alcaraz was far from his best but did enough to beat Italy's Jannik Sinner 7-6(4) 6-3 on Saturday and set up an Indian Wells final showdown with red-hot Russian Daniil Medvedev in the California desert.

Kane Williamson and Henry Nicholls both scored double centuries as New Zealand flayed Sri Lanka's bowling to rack up an imposing 580 for four declared on the second day of the second test on Saturday.

Novak Djokovic will miss next week's Miami Open after the Serbian was denied an exemption that would have allowed him to enter the U.S. despite not being vaccinated against COVID-19.

Holders Real Madrid will play 2021 winners Chelsea in the Champions League quarter-finals while Manchester City's Pep Guardiola will visit his former club Bayern Munich after the teams were drawn together.

Top seed Carlos Alcaraz downed Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-4 6-4 on Thursday to book an Indian Wells semi-final place against Jannik Sinner after the Italian knocked out defending champion Taylor Fritz 6-4 4-6 6-4.

Manchester United cruised into the Europa League quarter-finals as Marcus Rashford's second-half goal secured a 1-0 win at Real Betis in the last-16 second leg on Thursday to wrap up a 5-1 aggregate victory.

UFC has announced its return to Abu Dhabi for UFC 294 on October 21 as the world’s best mixed martial artists face off once again at the Etihad Arena.

Gianni Infantino was re-elected as FIFA president during the 73rd Congress in Kigali on Thursday, promising record revenues in the next four-year cycle of $11 billion as he called for more football to be played around the world.

Rafael Nadal has signed up to compete at the Monte Carlo Masters next month, organisers of the claycourt tournament said, as the Spaniard prepares to return to the Tour after recovering from a hip flexor injury.

Aryna Sabalenka put on a serving masterclass to crush American Coco Gauff 6-4 6-0 on Wednesday and reach the semi-finals at Indian Wells, where she will face seventh seed Maria Sakkari.

Daniil Medvedev said he felt sorry for Ukrainian players competing on the tours amid turmoil in their country, which Russia invaded last year.

Liverpool's hopes of winning silverware were all but snuffed out by their Champions League elimination but manager Juergen Klopp called on his side to "squeeze absolutely everything" from the remainder of the season as they chase a top-four finish.

Formula One announced it has signed a four-year contract extension to keep the Austrian Grand Prix on the calendar until 2027.

Liverpool Manager, Jürgen Klopp, is not giving up on his team's chances of reaching the quarter-finals of the Champions League, despite being a "complete outsider" heading into their second leg match against reigning champions Real Madrid. 

Erling Haaland became the third player in Champions League history to score five goals in a game as he led Manchester City to an unrelenting 7-0 rout of RB Leipzig in the second leg of their last-16 tie on Tuesday.

Despite leading the Premier League assists chart with 13 and being just one behind the highest in the Champions League, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola insists midfielder Kevin De Bruyne needs to improve his game by returning to the basics.

Iga Swiatek overcame former US Open champion Bianca Andreescu 6-3 7-6(1) to reach the fourth round at Indian Wells on Monday and set up a meeting with Emma Raducanu.

Emma Raducanu scored her biggest win since a run to the US Open title beating Beatriz Haddad Maia 6-1 2-6 6-4 to reach the fourth round at Indian Wells on Monday while Ukrainian Lesia Tsurenko withdrew from her match after a talk with the WTA boss that she says triggered a panic attack.

Olympic high jump champion Dick Fosbury, who revolutionised the event with a radically different jumping technique that was eventually named after him, has died aged 76.

Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne helped Australia draw the fourth and final test against India on Monday, as the home side retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with a 2-1 series victory in Ahmedabad.

Britain's BBC reinstated its highest-paid presenter Gary Lineker on Monday after a move to take the sports host off air over his criticism of the government sparked a near mutiny at the public broadcaster.

Scottie Scheffler ran away with the Players Championship title on Sunday and along with it took the number one world ranking and the PGA Tour's richest purse of $4.5 million.

UAE Team Emirates were once again victorious on the second summit arrival at Paris-Nice, taking their second win of the week through Tadej Pogačar.

India posted 571 in reply to Australia's first-innings total of 480 to claim a 91-run lead in the fourth and final Test on Sunday.

Manchester City needed a second-half penalty from striker Erling Haaland to break the resistance of a dogged Crystal Palace and secure a 1-0 win at Selhurst Park in the Premier League on Saturday.

Liverpool came crashing down to earth as Bournemouth stunned Juergen Klopp's side with a 1-0 victory to move out of the Premier League's relegation zone on Saturday, while Manchester City beat Crystal Palaceto stay on Arsenal's tail at the top.

Real Madrid has called a board meeting for Sunday to discuss alleged attempts by arch-rivals Barcelona to influence referees, while Barcelona has denied any wrongdoing.

Roberto Firmino's decision to leave Liverpool at the end of the season left the club's manager Jurgen Klopp "a little bit surprised" but wants to end the Brazilian forward's eight-year Anfield career on a high.

Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes scored as Manchester United outclassed Real Betis 4-1 in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie on Thursday, four days after their humiliating loss to Liverpool.

Bangladesh kicked off their three-match Twenty20 series against world champions England with a six-wicket win on Thursday.

Usman Khawaja smashed the first century by an Australia batter in the current series against India to steer the tourists to 255 for four after the opening day of the fourth and final test on Thursday.

Bayern Munich comfortably secured their spot in the quarter-finals of the Champions League on Wednesday night as they inflicted yet another last-16 exit on Paris St-Germain. 

Australia's stand-in captain Steve Smith won the toss and elected to bat as the tourists fielded an unchanged side in the fourth and final Test against India in Ahmedabad on Thursday.

The United States will host three basketball games in Abu Dhabi later this year as part of preparation plans for the 2023 FIBA Men’s World Cup.

Antonio Conte's dismal record in the Champions League continued as his Tottenham Hotspur side exited the competition in the last 16 after a dreary 0-0 draw at home to AC Milan on Wednesday.

Opener Aiden Markram fell four runs short of a century as South Africa reached 311 for seven at the close of play on the opening day of the second and final test against West Indies at The Wanderers.

Abu Dhabi has created sporting history by attracting the sailing regatta Cowes Week to its shores in January 2023, consolidating its position as the Middle East's sports capital.

Dutch football legend Ruud Gullit has outlined exactly why football is failing to properly address racism within the game in an exclusive interview with Off Script on Dubai Eye 103.8.