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Mbappe’s Season on Ice Ahead of Silverware Sprint and World Cup

Little more than 100 days from the start of the 2026 World Cup, the France captain seems to be paying the price for efforts he has made to carry his team this season.According to several sources contacted by AFP, Mbappe, hampered by damage to the outer ligament of his left knee since late 2025, had to withdraw from Madrid's squad to face Benfica in the Champions League play-off round on Wednesday because he felt "pain that was too persistent" in training.Mbappe is expected to rest for at least 10 days so he can recover from the issue which has troubled him over the past couple of months.His absence for one of the most important matches of the season, confirmed by Madrid on Wednesday, is a concern for Los Blancos, who lost at Osasuna in La Liga on Saturday to allow Barcelona back in front in the title race.Beyond a personal quest for glory, having finished his first season at Madrid without a major trophy, the intense pressure and demand for results at the Santiago Bernabeu have contributed to Mbappe playing through the pain in recent weeks."It's important to highlight the immense effort Kylian is making and the fact that he's trying to help us out on the patch," said Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa on Tuesday.Mbappe flew to Saudi Arabia in January to appear in the Spanish Super Cup final against Barcelona as a substitute, having missed the semi-final because of knee pain, but his team fell to defeat.It is hard to imagine where the Spanish giants would be without their No 10's supreme finishing ability, as Mbappe has netted 38 goals in 33 matches this season across all competitions.At least winger Vinicius Junior has finally hit top form after a slow start to the season and could pick up some of the slack, along with promising young striker Gonzalo Garcia, who Madrid fans are keen to see more of.Mbappe is top scorer in both La Liga and the Champions League, even in a dysfunctional Madrid side that sacked coach Xabi Alonso in January.If they are knocked out by Jose Mourinho's Benfica on Wednesday, a result that would trigger a fresh crisis, Madrid might be tempted to push their striker to play to salvage their season.Should they progress then Mbappe will be eyeing the round of 16 clash against Manchester City or Sporting Lisbon, with the first leg set for March 10 or 11.The next international break (March 23-30), when France face Brazil and Colombia in the United States, would come at the perfect time to give him another breather -- but could trigger a new club-versus-country conflict.France are counting on their captain, a source close to the national team told AFP, adding that Mbappe is in "regular contact" with coach Didier Deschamps.Deschamps is due to announce his squad list for the USA trip on March 19, with the tour including promotional events with American sportswear company Nike, who outfit both the French national team and Mbappe.

25-02-2026 20:02

Djokovic says deportation drama paved way to success

Reuters published this article:Novak Djokovic said his controversial deportation ahead of last year's Australian Open proved an unlikely catalyst for success in 2022, allowing him to regroup on the practice court before bouncing back with key titles.The Serb trained hard in the months after he was deported and while barred from competing in the United States for not being vaccinated against COVID-19.He later won his seventh Wimbledon crown and capped a year of disruption by winning the ATP Tour Finals for a sixth time in Turin.Back at Melbourne Park after his visa ban was lifted by the Australian government, Djokovic said missing events due to his vaccination stance had renewed his determination on the training court."Yes, absolutely. I mean, you normally, as a professional tennis player on the highest level, don't have much time to really have a longer training block," Djokovic told reporters on Saturday."The fact that I wasn't playing for several months beginning of last year allowed me to really get together with my team and work on my body, on my strokes, which has later helped me to achieve some great results."Djokovic told local broadcaster Nine Network that he felt like "the villain of the world" last year in Melbourne where he was detained at a hotel with asylum-seekers before being deported.However, he was warmly received by a packed crowd at Rod Laver Arena on Friday night during a practice match against home hero Nick Kyrgios.Djokovic, who will bid for a record-extending 10th Australian Open crown, said he had no choice but to move on from the events of last year."Well, you have to. I mean, in a way, if I do hold the grudges, probably if I'm not able to move on, I wouldn't be here," he told reporters."Also I have to say that the amount of positive experiences I had in Australia overwhelm the negative experience maybe of last year."The 35-year-old said he was still cautious about a hamstring strain he picked up in Adelaide and was training lighter than usual to conserve his energy.There was no holding back on his motivation to grab another Melbourne Park crown, though, and draw level with champion Rafa Nadal in the Grand Slam race with a 22nd major title."That's why I keep on playing professional tennis, competition tennis, because I want to be the best, I want to win the biggest tournaments in the world," said Djokovic, who opens his tournament against unseeded Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena."There is no secret about it. It doesn't get bigger than this."I like my chances. I always like my chances."

14-01-2023 14:23

FIFA to Investigate Argentina over World Cup Final Behaviour

Al Jazeera published this article:FIFA says it has opened disciplinary proceedings against Argentina for “offensive behaviour” during the team’s World Cup final triumph in Qatar last month.Argentina beat 2018 winners France on penalties to lift the trophy for a third time.Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez made a lewd gesture with his goalkeeper of the tournament trophy after the match, before being filmed in the dressing room mocking French star Kylian Mbappe.Mbappe won the FIFA Golden Boot trophy after scoring the most goals in the tournament.Football’s world governing body said Argentina had potentially breached rules regarding “offensive behaviour and violations of the principles of fair play” and “misconduct of players and officials”.FIFA is also investigating the Argentinian FA over breaching media and marketing regulations.Martinez has also come under criticism from pundits and social media for mocking Mbappe during Argentina’s victory parade in Buenos Aires – where he held a baby doll with the French player’s face plastered on it.The Croatian team is also being investigated for potential violations of “discrimination” and “order and security at matches” rules.Players appeared to sing a song with fascist connotations following their third-place playoff victory over Morocco.Defender Dejan Lovren defended himself and his teammates, recently telling AFP news agency it was “a patriotic song which relates to my country, which means that I love my country”.Meanwhile, FIFA said it had fined Mexico 100,000 Swiss francs ($107,840) for chants by its supporters during the team’s game against Poland and Saudi Arabia during the group stages.The team will also be forced to play one FIFA competition match behind closed doors.

15-01-2023 13:46

Nadal grinds down cramping Draper to reach second round

Reuters published this article:Defending champion Rafa Nadal dropped a set but prevailed in a battle of fitness against rising talent Jack Draper to reach the second round of the Australian Open on Monday with an unconvincing 7-5 2-6 6-4 6-1 win.Fellow lefthander Draper played superbly to level the match at a set all on a warm and humid afternoon at Rod Laver Arena but the 21-year-old Briton was soon overwhelmed by cramping and bowed out groaning in pain.It was something of an escape for top seed Nadal, who came into the match with only one win since the U.S. Open and was far from his best in a match that threw up unexpected challenges."I need a victory, so that's the main thing. Doesn't matter the way," Nadal, 36, told reporters."I was humble enough to accept that (there were) going to be a little bit ups and downs during the match. Typical thing when you are not in a winning mood."It was a far cry from Nadal's last match at centre court when he came back from two sets down to topple Daniil Medvedev in a classic final and claim his second Australian Open crown.Yet there was still some drama as, at 4-3 in the opening set, Nadal complained during the change of ends that a ballkid had made off with his racket."I need the racket back," he told the chair umpire.Using a spare, he failed to convert a break point in the next game before the missing racket was returned.Starting his bid for a record-extending 23rd Grand Slam title, Nadal had to shrug off 46 unforced errors to grind down world number 38 Draper and set up his next match against American Mackenzie McDonald.Despite Draper's troubles, the Briton broke Nadal in the first game of the fourth set when he swooped on an ambitious drop-shot to slot a winner into an open court.But Nadal went on to win the next six games in succession to claim the match as Draper's cramping severely curtailed his movement."Playing Grand Slam tennis, you've got to be out there, especially playing someone like Rafa, for hours and hours and hours," said Draper, ruefully."I feel like if you're not cramping, then that's fine. The pains of playing high-level tennis on the body is tough."But when you start cramping, it becomes almost impossible, in all honesty."

16-01-2023 13:50

Barcelona Ease to 3-1 Victory Over Real Madrid to Win Super Cup

Reuters published this article:Barcelona were crowned Spanish Super Cup champions after goals from Gavi, Robert Lewandowski and Pedri earned them a 3-1 win over bitter rivals Real Madrid in Saudi Arabia on Sunday.Barcelona were dominant in every aspect of the game and took advantage of three mistakes by Real Madrid to score.Manager Xavi Hernandez sprung a surprise as he shifted from his usual 4-3-3 system to play an extra man in midfield with only Lewandowski up front, while centre back Ronald Araujo was deployed at right back in order to try to slow down Real’s electrifying winger Vinicius Jr.Vinicius was largely anonymous, while playing Gavi through the left-channel paid dividends as the youngster scored the opener and delivered two assists."We strengthened the midfield to look for taking over that area and Araujo was really good stopping Vinicius counters, we left them with no options and felt very comfortable," captain Sergio Busquets told Movistar Plus."We knew that it was an opportunity that we had to seize, we are going through a time of changes in the club and in the dressing room and this win will strengthen us to continue fighting for more titles."Barcelona took the lead in the 33rd minute after Real defender Antonio Ruediger gave the ball away to Barca's Sergio Busquets, who began a move that ended with Gavi all alone inside the box to score with a precise left-foot strike.Lewandowski extended the lead 12 minutes later on the counter when defender Dani Carvajal was caught out of position and left Gavi alone on the left wing. Frenkie de Jong saw his team mate ghost into the empty space behind Carvajal and delivered a superb ball through.He sprinted through the left channel before putting it on a plate for the Polish striker, who tapped into the back of the empty net.Real Madrid, who had no shots on target in the first half, spent most of the second in panic mode, trying to avoid a bigger defeat.Yet, once again a costly mistake allowed Barcelona to score. Substitute Dani Ceballos lost the ball in midfield and Gavi sprinted forward and crossed for Pedri to fire point-black into the empty net.Karim Benzema scored a consolation goal for Real in added time, striking home on the rebound after Marc-Andre ter Stegen denied his first attempt.

16-01-2023 12:45

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Mbappe’s Season on Ice Ahead of Silverware Sprint and World Cup

Little more than 100 days from the start of the 2026 World Cup, the France captain seems to be paying the price for efforts he has made to carry his team this season.According to several sources contacted by AFP, Mbappe, hampered by damage to the outer ligament of his left knee since late 2025, had to withdraw from Madrid's squad to face Benfica in the Champions League play-off round on Wednesday because he felt "pain that was too persistent" in training.Mbappe is expected to rest for at least 10 days so he can recover from the issue which has troubled him over the past couple of months.His absence for one of the most important matches of the season, confirmed by Madrid on Wednesday, is a concern for Los Blancos, who lost at Osasuna in La Liga on Saturday to allow Barcelona back in front in the title race.Beyond a personal quest for glory, having finished his first season at Madrid without a major trophy, the intense pressure and demand for results at the Santiago Bernabeu have contributed to Mbappe playing through the pain in recent weeks."It's important to highlight the immense effort Kylian is making and the fact that he's trying to help us out on the patch," said Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa on Tuesday.Mbappe flew to Saudi Arabia in January to appear in the Spanish Super Cup final against Barcelona as a substitute, having missed the semi-final because of knee pain, but his team fell to defeat.It is hard to imagine where the Spanish giants would be without their No 10's supreme finishing ability, as Mbappe has netted 38 goals in 33 matches this season across all competitions.At least winger Vinicius Junior has finally hit top form after a slow start to the season and could pick up some of the slack, along with promising young striker Gonzalo Garcia, who Madrid fans are keen to see more of.Mbappe is top scorer in both La Liga and the Champions League, even in a dysfunctional Madrid side that sacked coach Xabi Alonso in January.If they are knocked out by Jose Mourinho's Benfica on Wednesday, a result that would trigger a fresh crisis, Madrid might be tempted to push their striker to play to salvage their season.Should they progress then Mbappe will be eyeing the round of 16 clash against Manchester City or Sporting Lisbon, with the first leg set for March 10 or 11.The next international break (March 23-30), when France face Brazil and Colombia in the United States, would come at the perfect time to give him another breather -- but could trigger a new club-versus-country conflict.France are counting on their captain, a source close to the national team told AFP, adding that Mbappe is in "regular contact" with coach Didier Deschamps.Deschamps is due to announce his squad list for the USA trip on March 19, with the tour including promotional events with American sportswear company Nike, who outfit both the French national team and Mbappe.

25-02-2026 20:02

Hakimi to Stand Trial Over 2023 Rape Allegations

Moroccan international Achraf Hakimi is set to go on trial in France over rape allegations, according to French media reports on Tuesday. In a post shared on X today, the Atlas Lion denied the accusation and said he remains confident that the truth will come out.“Today, a rape accusation is enough to justify a trial even though I contest it and everything shows that it is false. It is just as unfair to the innocent as it is to genuine victims,” Hakimi wrote.He said he is “calmly” awaiting the trial, adding that it will “allow the truth to come out publicly.”The Nanterre prosecutor’s office opened an investigation in 2023 after a woman accused Hakimi of rape. French prosecutors later requested that the case be sent to a criminal court. If convicted, Hakimi could face up to 15 years in prison.The case dates back to February 2023, when a 24-year-old woman accused Hakimi of forcing her into a non-consensual sexual act at his home near Paris. The alleged incident reportedly took place on February 25, 2023.According to the woman’s account, she met the footballer through Instagram and was driven to his house in a car he arranged. She claims he kissed and touched her even after she said no. She said she managed to push him away and later called a friend to pick her up.Hakimi has strongly denied the allegations since the start of the investigation.His lawyer, Fanny Colin, said there is “strong evidence” that clears him of any wrongdoing. “We will fight until the end to make sure the truth comes out and that it is clearly said and understood that Achraf Hakimi did not do or say anything wrong,” she told RMC Sport.Colin described the accusations as based on what she called an “incoherent” version of events. She argued that there were no signs of trauma usually seen in similar cases. “In 99.9% of sexual assault cases, there is at least some sign of trauma, whether it’s nightmares, weight changes, or anything else. Here, there is nothing,” she said, adding that she remains calm even if the case goes to trial.French football star Kylian Mbappé, who played alongside Hakimi at PSG, also gave a statement to police defending his former teammate and said he had “never seen him behave inappropriately” toward women. He said Hakimi is respectful and that he had never heard any complaints about him crossing the line.Mbappé described Hakimi as emotionally shaken when he learned about the investigation, saying he cried and appeared deeply affected. He suggested the possibility that the case could be a setup, referring to reported messages from the woman that mentioned money. In one alleged message, she wrote, “We’re going to rob him!” She later said it was a joke meant to relieve stress.Many observers argued that the case has resurfaced at a sensitive time for Hakimi, as he continues to perform strongly on the field and after being a strong contender for the Ballon d’Or.

24-02-2026 16:20

Guardiola Vows to Speak Up for Victims of Global Conflicts

Pep Guardiola said he will continue to use his platform as Manchester City manager to speak up for victims of global conflicts and violence.Guardiola was speaking at a pre‑match press conference ahead of City's League Cup semifinal second leg against Newcastle United, five days after he voiced support for children in the occupied Palestinian territories at a charity concert in Barcelona."Never, ever in the history of humanity have we had the information in front of our eyes watching more clearly than now," Guardiola told reporters on Tuesday in Manchester."The genocide in Palestine, what happened in Ukraine, what happened in Russia, what happened all around the world - in Sudan, everywhere," he said, referring to the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories."What happened in front of us? Do you want to see it? It's our problems as human beings. It's our problems."He said society must work collectively to improve."Look what happened in the United States of America, Renee Good and Alex Pretti were killed. Tell me how you can defend that," Guardiola said. The fatal shootings of the two U.S. citizens by federal immigration agents sparked widespread protests in the United States."When I see the images, I am sorry it hurts. That is why in every position I can help speak up to be a better society, I will try and will be there. All the time. It is for my kids, my families, for you."There is not a perfect society, nowhere is perfect, I am not perfect, we have to work to be better."

04-02-2026 07:55

US ICE agents going to Winter Olympics sparks anger in Italy

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel will help protect U.S. delegations at next month's Winter Olympics in Italy, causing a political uproar in the country.ICE and Border Patrol agents have come under heavy criticism over their enforcement of President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown after they shot and killed two U.S. citizens in separate incidents this month in Minnesota.ICE's Homeland Security Investigations division will back up the U.S. State Department's Diplomatic Security Service at the February 6-22 Milano Cortina Olympics, the Department of Homeland Security said in a post on X.The ICE agents' role will be "to vet and mitigate risks from transnational criminal organisations," the post added, noting "all security operations remain under Italian authority."“Obviously, ICE does not conduct immigration enforcement operations in foreign countries," said DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin.HISTORY OF ICE DEPLOYMENTSICE has been present at major sports events in both the U.S. and abroad in the past, including previous Olympic Games, as part of international partnerships related to human trafficking and drug trafficking, said Jason Houser, who served as ICE chief of staff under former President Joe Biden.Despite assurances that there is nothing unusual about the deployment, Italian politicians strongly criticised the presence of ICE agents in the country, highlighting how the image of the United States has been tarnished in recent months."It seems sheer idiocy to me," Maurizio Lupi, leader of a small centrist party in Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's governing coalition, told la Repubblica daily.Giuseppe Sala, the left-leaning mayor of Milan, one of the cities co-hosting the Olympics, called ICE "a militia that kills". Speaking to RTL 102.5 radio, Sala said: "It's clear that they're not welcome in Milan, there's no doubt about it."The Rome government sought to defuse the protests. The interior ministry said in a statement that ICE personnel would only work in U.S. diplomatic offices such as the Milan consulate, and "not on the ground" enforcing order.Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi said he met with U.S. Ambassador Tilman Fertitta. Piantedosi said he would address parliament on February 4. The U.S. embassy in Italy declined to comment.

28-01-2026 07:40

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