Injured Chelsea Defender Reece James to Miss Rest of Season

Chelsea's Reece James passes the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge stadium in London, Saturday, April 1, 2023. (AP)
Chelsea's Reece James passes the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge stadium in London, Saturday, April 1, 2023. (AP)
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Injured Chelsea Defender Reece James to Miss Rest of Season

Chelsea's Reece James passes the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge stadium in London, Saturday, April 1, 2023. (AP)
Chelsea's Reece James passes the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge stadium in London, Saturday, April 1, 2023. (AP)

Chelsea defender Reece James' injury-hit campaign came to an early end after he was ruled out for the final few weeks of the season on Tuesday because of a hamstring problem.

Fitness issues have limited the England right back to just 16 starts in the Premier League this season.

His latest injury came during the loss to Real Madrid in the Champions League quarterfinals last week, Chelsea manager Frank Lampard said. James completed the game against the European champions at Stamford Bridge but a scan revealed the extent of the problem.

Lampard also said midfielder Mason Mount, who has been linked with a move away from the club, is also unlikely to play again before the season’s final game.

Mount is set to have surgery on a long-term pelvic problem. With uncertainty over a new contract, he could have played his last game for Chelsea.

“Medical staff have been trying, but we’ve got to a stage where he will have minor surgery,” Lampard said of Mount. “It’ll probably be a four-week recovery and we all know where that gets us to.”



Resurgent Verstappen Wins Singapore Grand Prix for 1st time

Race winner Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen of Netherlands celebrates on the podium during the 2026 Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix at the Marina Bay Street Circuit in Singapore, 11 October 2026.  EPA/FAZRY ISMAIL
Race winner Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen of Netherlands celebrates on the podium during the 2026 Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix at the Marina Bay Street Circuit in Singapore, 11 October 2026. EPA/FAZRY ISMAIL
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Resurgent Verstappen Wins Singapore Grand Prix for 1st time

Race winner Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen of Netherlands celebrates on the podium during the 2026 Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix at the Marina Bay Street Circuit in Singapore, 11 October 2026.  EPA/FAZRY ISMAIL
Race winner Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen of Netherlands celebrates on the podium during the 2026 Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix at the Marina Bay Street Circuit in Singapore, 11 October 2026. EPA/FAZRY ISMAIL

Max Verstappen won the Singapore Grand Prix for the first time in his career on Sunday to complete a perfect weekend where he also finished first in the sprint and was on pole for both races.

Red Bull's Verstappen finished 7.335sec ahead of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc with championship leader Kimi Antonelli third for Mercedes after 62 laps under the lights of the Marina Bay Street Circuit.

The four-time world champion had never won or even achieved a pole position in nine previous attempts going back to his debut for Toro Rosso in 2015.

"It has taken a while but I think this race was very good," said a delighted Verstappen, who was celebrating back-to-back wins after triumphing in Malaysia seven days ago, his first victory of 2026.

"We had pace when we needed to have it on the soft tire and the medium. So of course very happy to win here," the Dutchman added after claiming the top step of the podium on his 250th grand prix start.

"I think the last few races have been really positive for us, we have a lot of motivation in the team to try and deliver even more results.

"Hopefully we can have a bit more fun until the end of the year."

The McLaren pair of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were fourth and fifth, ahead of Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton, who dropped from third on the grid to sixth after botching his tire strategy.

Liam Lawson's RB was seventh, Nico Hulkenberg eighth in the Audi and George Russell, who started from the back of the grid because of engine penalties, came home ninth in his Mercedes.

"It was a very tough race out there, but really happy with a podium in the end," said Antonelli, who increased his championship lead to 102 points over Russell.

Isack Hadjar in the second Red Bull, who started from the pit lane, rounded out the points scorers in 10th.

"We were quite strong at the beginning of the race, then we started degrading," Reuters quoted Leclerc as saying.

"We did a different strategy to Max, I gave it my all and I don't regret anything. I don't think there was much more to do today."

Verstappen was put under immediate pressure from the quick-reacting Leclerc as he launched from pole position at lights out.

The Dutchman had to swoop across to his left to cut off the Ferrari driver and stay ahead into turn one.

Leclerc stuck to the rear of Verstappen through the first few laps as his teammate Hamilton kept Antonelli at bay.

Hamilton was the only one of the front-runners to start on the slower medium tires and he was the first to pit, taking on fresh soft rubber on lap 19.

Verstappen left it until lap 32 to stop, and once all the top six had pitted, the order was the same as at the start.

Antonelli and Leclerc dived for a second time under a virtual safety car caused by Lance Stroll's Aston Martin breaking down.

But Hamilton bafflingly decided to stay out on much older tires, despite being called in by his team, an aberration that would cost the seven-time world champion a podium finish.

Leclerc on fresh rubber quickly passed Hamilton for second.

Norris attempted to overtake Hamilton at the start of lap 55 only to lose his place to Antonelli, who then picked off the Ferrari to move up to third.

"I managed to take advantage of the fight with Lando and Lewis, and very happy with that," said Antonelli.

Norris did get past Hamilton, whose tires were shot, on the next lap followed by Piastri.

"Sorry boys. I let you down today with that strategy," said Hamilton on team radio.

"My call, and I lost us valuable points. I'll try and make up for it in the next one."


Kenyan Great Kipchoge Wins First Marathon in Three Years

Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge won his first marathon in three years at Melbourne. Saeed KHAN / AFP
Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge won his first marathon in three years at Melbourne. Saeed KHAN / AFP
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Kenyan Great Kipchoge Wins First Marathon in Three Years

Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge won his first marathon in three years at Melbourne. Saeed KHAN / AFP
Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge won his first marathon in three years at Melbourne. Saeed KHAN / AFP

Two-time Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge won his first marathon in three years on Sunday when the Kenyan great cruised to victory at Melbourne.

The most-decorated marathoner in history crossed the finish line in 2hrs 9min 10sec, two seconds inside the race record.

It was his first victory over the distance since Berlin in 2023 and part of his "World Tour" to raise funds for causes he believes in.

The 41-year-old former world record-holder announced in 2025 he planned complete marathons on all seven continents, including Antarctica, over two years.

Melbourne was the third stop after South Africa and Brazil.

He broke away inside the last 10 kilometers on a course raced partly on the Australian Formula One track at Albert Park and which finished inside the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground.

"On the course, it was really wonderful, I enjoyed seeing people standing, cheering, and shouting my name," Kipchoge said, looking fresh at the finish.

He would have gone faster, but slowed down inside the MCG waving to fans.

"It was actually different -- running on a beautiful course, but also running on the Formula One track, and above all else, finishing on a cricket ground," he added.

"It makes me proud to run with the younger generation and inspire the running community in Melbourne."

Australian Thomas Do Canto was runner-up in 2:10:35 while New Zealand's Camille French came first in the women's race in 2:28:25.


Messi Nets Brace to Win in First Match after Argentina Exit

Inter Miami's Argentine forward Lionel Messi scored two goals in his club's 4-0 MLS victory over DC United. CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP
Inter Miami's Argentine forward Lionel Messi scored two goals in his club's 4-0 MLS victory over DC United. CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP
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Messi Nets Brace to Win in First Match after Argentina Exit

Inter Miami's Argentine forward Lionel Messi scored two goals in his club's 4-0 MLS victory over DC United. CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP
Inter Miami's Argentine forward Lionel Messi scored two goals in his club's 4-0 MLS victory over DC United. CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP

Lionel Messi scored twice to help Inter Miami rout DC United 4-0 on Saturday, taking a victory in his first match since saying farewell to the Argentina national team.

Four nights after scoring in his final match for the Albiceleste in a victory over Benin, the 39-year-old South American superstar struck in the 47th and 60th minutes as defending MLS champion Miami won for only the second time in their past 11 league matches.

A first-half brace by Luis Suarez staked the Herons to the lead as they improved to 13-5 with 10 drawn for 49 points, jumping from third to second in the Eastern Conference

Messi hopes to make Miami the first team to win back-to-back MLS crowns since the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2011-12.

Messi, the top point producer in the league with 23 goals plus assists on 13 others, seeks a third consecutive MLS Most Valuable Player award.

Uruguayan striker Suarez scored in the third minute to give Miami the lead, blasting a left-footed shot from the heart of the box into the top left corner.

Suarez struck again in the 39th for his 16th goal of the campaign, assisted like his first of the night by German Berterame.

Messi blasted home a left-footed shot off an assist from Suarez to give Miami a 3-0 lead and evaded three defenders to add another goal 13 minutes later as the pink-clad hosts pulled away to stay.

In other games, Scottish striker Lewis Morgan and American Djordje Mihailovic scored in second-half stoppage time to rally Toronto for a 2-1 home victory over Montreal.

The visitors grabbed the lead in the Canadian clash on a goal by Mexican forward Daniel Rios in the 52nd minute.

Toronto, however, battled back for the equalizer by winger Morgan, obtained last month from San Diego, in the third minute of stoppage time, his first regular-season MLS goal in two years.

Former Montreal standout Mihailovic struck for the decider in the fifth minute of extra time.

"Now I've scored on both sides of this derby," he said. "It feels good."

Toronto snapped a three-game losing streak to pull within a point of an East playoff berth.

At Chicago, Swiss forward Maren Haile-Selassie scored in the 87th minute to give the 10-man Chicago Fire a 2-1 triumph over New York City.

Austrian midfielder Hannes Wolf gave City the lead in the 19th minute and Chicago dropped to 10 men when Ivory coast midfielder Dje D'Avilla received his second yellow card in the 43rd minute.

Swede Anton Saletros equalized for Chicago in the 55th minute, setting the stage for the decider.