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Buffon Sets Serie A Record with 648th Appearance

Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has notched up his 648th appearance in the Italian top flight. (AP)
Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has notched up his 648th appearance in the Italian top flight. (AP)
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Buffon Sets Serie A Record with 648th Appearance

Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has notched up his 648th appearance in the Italian top flight. (AP)
Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has notched up his 648th appearance in the Italian top flight. (AP)

Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon set an outright Serie A record on Saturday with his 648th appearance in Italy’s top flight.

The Turin derby game against Torino moved the 42-year-old Buffon one ahead of AC Milan great Paolo Maldini, who set the record in 2009. Buffon matched this record on Dec. 18 against Sampdoria.

It was Buffon’s 915th club match as a professional, extending his record for an Italian player.

The vast majority of those matches have come for Juventus. Buffon joined the Bianconeri in 2001 after starting his career with Parma and swiftly established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the world.

He was expected to retire at the end of the 2017-18 season but instead made a surprise move to Paris Saint-Germain, where he won the French league to add to his multiple titles. He caused even more of a stir when he rejoined Juventus the following year.

Buffon recently extended his contract for another season.

He could add to his impressive medal collection with a 10th Serie A title with Juventus, which has a four-point advantage at the top of the table.

Two other titles were stripped from the club due to the Calciopoli scandal. Also as punishment, Juventus was relegated to Serie B but Buffon stayed and helped it win the second division and bounce straight back up.

Buffon made 176 appearances for Italy — a European record — and was voted Serie A’s goalkeeper of the year 12 times.

He also won the World Cup with Italy in 2006 and the UEFA Cup with Parma in 1999.

One of the few trophies missing from Buffon’s glittering collection is the Champions League. He lost three finals in that competition with Juventus.

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Sports

Japan Hails ‘New Chapter’ with First Olympic Pairs Skating Gold 

Gold medalists Japan's Riku Miura and Japan's Ryuichi Kihara pose after the figure skating pair skating free skating final during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at Milano Ice Skating Arena in Milan on February 16, 2026. (AFP)
Gold medalists Japan's Riku Miura and Japan's Ryuichi Kihara pose after the figure skating pair skating free skating final during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at Milano Ice Skating Arena in Milan on February 16, 2026. (AFP)
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Japan Hails ‘New Chapter’ with First Olympic Pairs Skating Gold 

Gold medalists Japan's Riku Miura and Japan's Ryuichi Kihara pose after the figure skating pair skating free skating final during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at Milano Ice Skating Arena in Milan on February 16, 2026. (AFP)
Gold medalists Japan's Riku Miura and Japan's Ryuichi Kihara pose after the figure skating pair skating free skating final during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at Milano Ice Skating Arena in Milan on February 16, 2026. (AFP)

Japan hailed a "new chapter" in the country's figure skating on Tuesday after Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara pulled off a stunning comeback to claim pairs gold at the Milan-Cortina Olympics.

Miura and Kihara won Japan's first Olympic pairs gold with the performance of their careers, coming from fifth overnight to land the title with personal best scores.

It was the first time Japan had won an Olympic figure skating pairs medal of any color.

The country's government spokesman Minoru Kihara said their achievement had "moved so many people".

"This triumph is a result of the completeness of their performance, their high technical skill, the expressive power born from their harmony, and above all the bond of trust between the two," the spokesman said.

"I feel it is a remarkable feat that opens a new chapter in the history of Japanese figure skating."

Newspapers rushed to print special editions commemorating the pair's achievement.

Miura and Kihara, popularly known collectively in Japan as "Rikuryu", went into the free skate trailing after errors in their short program.

Kihara said that he had been "feeling really down" and blamed himself for the slip-up, conceding: "We did not think we would win."

Instead, they spectacularly turned things around and topped the podium ahead of Georgia's Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava, who took silver ahead of overnight leaders Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin of Germany.

American gymnastics legend Simone Biles was in the arena in Milan to watch the action.

"I'm pretty sure that was perfection," Biles said, according to the official Games website.

Sports

Mourinho Says It Won’t Take ‘Miracle’ to Take Down ‘Wounded King’ Real Madrid in Champions League

Benfica's coach Jose Mourinho reacts during a press conference on the eve of their UEFA Champions League knockout round play-off first leg football match against Real Madrid at Benfica Campus in Seixal, outskirts of Lisbon, on February 16, 2026. (AFP)
Benfica's coach Jose Mourinho reacts during a press conference on the eve of their UEFA Champions League knockout round play-off first leg football match against Real Madrid at Benfica Campus in Seixal, outskirts of Lisbon, on February 16, 2026. (AFP)
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Mourinho Says It Won’t Take ‘Miracle’ to Take Down ‘Wounded King’ Real Madrid in Champions League

Benfica's coach Jose Mourinho reacts during a press conference on the eve of their UEFA Champions League knockout round play-off first leg football match against Real Madrid at Benfica Campus in Seixal, outskirts of Lisbon, on February 16, 2026. (AFP)
Benfica's coach Jose Mourinho reacts during a press conference on the eve of their UEFA Champions League knockout round play-off first leg football match against Real Madrid at Benfica Campus in Seixal, outskirts of Lisbon, on February 16, 2026. (AFP)

José Mourinho believes Real Madrid is "wounded" after the shock loss to Benfica and doesn't think it will take a miracle to stun the Spanish giant again in the Champions League.

Benfica defeated Madrid 4-2 in the final round of the league phase to grab the last spot in the playoffs, and in the process dropped the 15-time champion out of the eight automatic qualification places for the round of 16.

Coach Mourinho's Benfica and his former team meet again in Lisbon on Tuesday in the first leg of the knockout stage.

"They are wounded," Mourinho said Monday. "And a wounded king is dangerous. We will play the first leg with our heads, with ambition and confidence. We know what we did to the kings of the Champions League."

Mourinho acknowledged that Madrid remained heavily favored and it would take a near-perfect show for Benfica to advance.

"I don’t think it takes a miracle for Benfica to eliminate Real Madrid. I think we need to be at our highest level. I don’t even say high, I mean maximum, almost bordering on perfection, which does not exist. But not a miracle," he said.

"Real Madrid is Real Madrid, with history, knowledge, ambition. The only comparable thing is that we are two giants. Beyond that, there is nothing else. But football has this power and we can win."

Benfica's dramatic win in Lisbon three weeks ago came thanks to a last-minute header by goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin, allowing the team to grab the 24th and final spot for the knockout stage on goal difference.

"Trubin won’t be in the attack this time," Mourinho joked.

"I’m very used to these kinds of ties, I’ve been doing it all my life," he said. "People often think you need a certain result in the first leg for this or that reason. I say there is no definitive result."

Sports

African Players in Europe: Salah Hailed after Liverpool FA Cup Win 

Soccer Football - FA Cup - Fourth Round - Liverpool v Brighton & Hove Albion - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - February 14, 2026 Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring their third goal. (Reuters)
Soccer Football - FA Cup - Fourth Round - Liverpool v Brighton & Hove Albion - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - February 14, 2026 Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring their third goal. (Reuters)
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African Players in Europe: Salah Hailed after Liverpool FA Cup Win 

Soccer Football - FA Cup - Fourth Round - Liverpool v Brighton & Hove Albion - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - February 14, 2026 Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring their third goal. (Reuters)
Soccer Football - FA Cup - Fourth Round - Liverpool v Brighton & Hove Albion - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - February 14, 2026 Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring their third goal. (Reuters)

Liverpool manager Arne Slot praised Egypt captain Mohamed Salah after his penalty sealed a 3-0 FA Cup victory over Brighton at the weekend.

"It is very nice to have Mo on the scoresheet again, but what I like the most is he also helps the team a lot defensively," said the Dutch tactician.

The other African scorer in the fourth round, Senegal striker Habib Diarra, also netted from a penalty, giving Sunderland a 1-0 win at Oxford United.

AFP Sport highlights African headline-makers in the FA Cup and major European leagues:

ENGLAND

MOHAMED SALAH (Liverpool)

The two-time African player of the year won the penalty after being dragged back by Pascal Gross, then slammed the ball over Jason Steele to complete the scoring. Salah also produced an assist, his fourth since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco last month.

HABIB DIARRA (Sunderland)

The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations winner with Senegal converted a first-half penalty to give Sunderland victory at second-tier Oxford. A foul by defender Christ Makosso from Congo Brazzaville on Dennis Cirkin led to the spot-kick.

SPAIN

ILYAS CHAIRA (Real Oviedo)

Moroccan winger Chaira continued his fine run of scoring form even as Oviedo fell to a 2-1 defeat by Athletic Bilbao in La Liga. The 25-year-old put the hosts ahead in the 30th minute with his third goal in his last five league games, bursting in behind the defense and holding his nerve to finish with aplomb.

UMAR SADIQ (Valencia)

The Nigeria striker came off the bench to score his first La Liga goal of the season and seal a 2-0 local derby victory for Valencia at Levante. With six minutes of regular time remaining, he dispossessed an opponent, surged forward and coolly fired the ball into the net.

GERMANY

SERHOU GUIRASSY (Borussia Dortmund)

Guirassy continued his return to form in Dortmund's 4-0 thumping of Mainz, which kept them six points behind Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich. Just 10 minutes in, the Guinea international was in the perfect spot to head in a Julian Ryerson cross. Just before half-time, Ryerson picked out Guirassy again and the big striker headed Dortmund's third goal. After a run of just one goal in 10 league games, Guirassy has five in three.

EDMOND TAPSOBA (Bayer Leverkusen)

Leverkusen defender Tapsoba continued his impressive scoring form this campaign, heading a goal in a 4-0 home victory over St Pauli. With Leverkusen leading by two early in the second half, the Burkina Faso defender rose to head in an Aleix Garcia cross.

RANSFORD KOENIGSDOERFFER (Hamburg)

Hamburg striker Koenigsdoerffer started and finished his side's comeback in a 3-2 home win over Union Berlin. The Germany-born Ghana international equalized from close range after 35 minutes. With Hamburg leading 2-1 and Union pushing for an equaliser, Koenigsdoerffer controlled a long ball on the counter and slid the ball home from a tight angle to seal victory with his first Bundesliga brace.