SPORTS

With an innate ability to mesmerize audiences with his magical footwork, Lionel Messi has etched his name into the annals of sporting history. From his humble beginnings to his meteoric rise, Messi's story is one of unparalleled success on and off the football pitch.

Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz and Italian rival Jannik Sinner remained on course for a semi-final showdown after cruising into the last eight of the ATP-WTA Indian Wells Masters on Tuesday.

Bayer Leverkusen and West Ham go into Thursday both needing positive results to reach the quarter-finals of the Europa League after failing to win their first-leg ties.

Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal set a world record for consecutive victories with their 28th win in a row to reach the Asian Champions League semi-finals on Tuesday.

At a primary school in football-mad Brazil, pupils are spurred to academic greatness in classrooms resembling soccer pitches -- with a virtual avatar inspired by star forward Vinicius Junior cheering on every correct answer.

Qualifying lucky loser Luca Nardi scored the biggest win of his young career on Monday, stunning world number one Novak Djokovic 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 at the ATP-WTA Indian Wells Masters.

Atletico Madrid host Champions League runners-up Inter Milan on Wednesday boosted by key player Antoine Griezmann's likely return from injury.

Olympic organisers said Monday that they were shocked by the "racist attacks" against France's biggest music star Aya Nakamura over rumours she might perform an Edith Piaf song during the opening ceremony for the Games.

Simone Biles, the unparalleled gymnastics phenomenon, continues to dominate both on and off the mat, showcasing not only her athletic prowess but also her savvy financial acumen.

An unbeaten 98 from Alex Carey dragged Australia to victory over New Zealand by three wickets in a thrilling second Test on Monday to give the tourists a 2-0 sweep of the two-match series.

The Cheltenham Festival is "critical" for the image and health of British racing though in "many ways the racing fan is being priced out" of this week's showpiece, William Woodhams, CEO of Fitzdares bookmakers, told AFP.

The Premier League's top three are separated by a single point with 10 games remaining as a thrilling battle between Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City looks set to go to the wire.

Reigning Grand Slam champions Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz turned in dominating performances on Sunday to roll into the fourth round of the ATP-WTA Indian Wells Masters.

Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique defended his stuttering team after they were held 2-2 by Reims in Ligue 1 on Sunday, a third straight domestic draw which still allowed the reigning champions to go 10 points clear at the top of the table.

Liverpool host Manchester City in a defining moment in the Premier League title race as Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola conclude their top-flight rivalry on Sunday.

In an ongoing quest to connect with ever-elusive young voters, the White House briefed social media influencers ahead of President Joe Biden's annual State of the Union address on Thursday.

One of the most popular NFL players is Tom Brady. As he retired in 2023, several were left wondering about his net worth.

Through her illustrious career, Serena Williams has not only dominated tennis, but also ventured into successful business endeavors.

Rafael Nadal abandoned his planned ATP Tour comeback at the Indian Wells Masters on Wednesday, saying he was not ready for the demands of tournament tennis on the eve of his opening match in California.

Francis Ngannou once toiled in a sand mine, scavenged for food to avoid starvation and slept rough in a car park, so facing former two-time world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua on Friday is just another stop on his epic rags-to-riches journey.

Pep Guardiola said Manchester City have earned their place among the perennial contenders for Champions League glory after reaching the quarter-finals for a seventh consecutive season on Wednesday.

A violent stand-off between local residents and squatters that invaded a field outside Bloemfontein starkly underlines the politics behind South Africa's housing crisis ahead of May's cliff-edge general election.

Two children in red, yellow and violet shirts ran along the perimeter of one of the oldest football pitches in London, cheering on their team.

Masters champion John Rahm said Wednesday that the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) was not "a good system" after LIV Golf formally withdrew its application to join.

Liverpool and Xabi Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen are the standout contenders to go all the way in this season's Europa League with both teams this week heading east for last-16 ties they will be expected to win comfortably.

Harry Kane scored a goal in each half as Bayern Munich beat Lazio 3-0 on Tuesday to reach the Champions League quarter-finals 3-1 on aggregate.

To the untrained eye, it might look like just another used napkin. The story of the napkin has already been told many times in profiles of "Leo" Messi, one of the greatest players in soccer history, who now plays for Inter Miami.

Michael Strahan is among the most popular NFL players, and his net worth is one of the things that interests many sports fans.

Chelsea and Australia women's football superstar Sam Kerr has been charged with a "racially aggravated offence" after a dispute involving a London police officer, the Metropolitan Police said Tuesday.