Sports

Portugal Changes How No. 7 Is Written to Honor Cristiano Ronaldo

Sports Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring the 1-2 goal during the FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Hungary, in Budapest, Hungary, 09 September 2025. (EPA)

Portugal Changes How No. 7 Is Written to Honor Cristiano Ronaldo

The Portugal football team is making a change to how the No. 7 is written to honor the recently-retired Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo, who wore the number and…

Sports Brazilian football legend Ronaldinho waves during Ravenna FC’s team presentation for the 2026-27 season in Marina di Ravenna, Italy, Aug. 20, 2026. (AFP)

Ronaldinho Poised for Ravenna Start and, Perhaps, One Last Goal

Ronaldinho will roll back the years this weekend when the 46-year-old Brazilian starts his first competitive match in over a decade, and in the unlikely…

Sports Mirra Andreeva plays Diana Shnaider during day six of the FAGE WTA Finals at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on November 13, 2026 in Indian Wells, California. (Getty Images/AFP)

Andreeva Says She Is Learning to Move on Faster from Defeats After WTA Finals Sweep

Mirra Andreeva said she has learned to recover more quickly from setbacks after the Russian teenager completed an unbeaten run through the WTA Finals round…

Sports  Uruguay's players celebrate after Argentina's Leonardo Balerdi scored an own goal during an international friendly soccer match in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Friday, Nov. 13, 2026. (AP)

Uruguay Beats Argentina 2-1 in the First Match Since Messi’s Retirement

The post-Messi era began with an Argentina defeat on Friday. Argentina fell 2-1 to Uruguay on Friday in an international friendly at La Bombonera in Buenos…

Sports Elina Svitolina of Ukraine serves to Aryna Sabalenka during day six of the FAGE WTA Finals at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on November 13, 2026 in Indian Wells, California. (Getty Images/AFP)

Svitolina Stuns Sabalenka to Reach WTA Finals Semis

Elina Svitolina overwhelmed Aryna Sabalenka in the deciding set to seal a 6-3 3-6 6-1 upset on Friday to reach the semi-finals of the season-ending WTA Finals…


Sports Fares Al-Moshana won the 2017 edition, Issa Al-Dossary claimed the titles in 2018 and 2019, and Saleh Al-Abdulali captured the February 2020 edition - SPA

Hail International Rally Celebrates Two Decades of Champions

The Hail International Rally is regarded as one of the most prominent and long-established desert rally events in the region, having cemented its status over…

Asharq Al Awsat
Sports Preparations for the rally are ongoing to ensure it meets the highest international standards - SPA

Hail Toyota International Baja Rally 2026 to Feature 109 Competitors

The organizing committee of the Hail Toyota International Baja Rally 2026 announced the preliminary list of participants for this year’s rally, featuring 109…

Asharq Al Awsat
Sports Alexander Zverev of Germany celebrates after defeating Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina in their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. (AP)

Zverev Plays ‘Two Games at Once’ as Diabetes Clock Ticks Under Australian Open Run

On tennis's biggest stages, Alexander Zverev plays by the arena's timing, the serve clock and the changeover, while a quieter countdown of his blood sugar runs…

Sports US' Lindsey Vonn smiles after the podium ceremony of the Women's Super G event of FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup in Tarvisio, Italy on January 18, 2026. (AFP)

Lindsey Vonn Defies the Odds to Chase Olympic Dream

US ski star Lindsey Vonn has defied age and injury to make one of the most remarkable comebacks in Olympic history, the latest chapter in a storied career of…

Sports USA's Jessica Pegula celebrates victory against USA's Madison Keys in their women's singles match on day nine of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 26, 2026. (AFP)

Pegula Knocks 2025 Champion Keys Out of Australian Open, Faces Anisimova in Quarterfinals

Jessica Pegula knocked podcast pal and defending champion Madison Keys out of the Australian Open on Monday and moved into a quarterfinal against Amanda…

Sports USA's Taylor Fritz hits a return to Italy's Lorenzo Musetti during their men's singles match on day nine of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 26, 2026. (AFP)

Taylor Fritz Struggles with Injury in Loss to Lorenzo Musetti at Australian Open

Taylor Fritz’s Australian Open ended in a grueling physical struggle on Monday as he was beaten 6-2, 7-5, 6-4 by fifth-seeded Lorenzo Musetti. While it marked…

Sports Monaco's Charles Leclerc waves to fans as he steers his Ferrari Formula One SF-26 at the Ferrari private test track, in Fiorano Modenese, Italy, Friday, Jan. 23, 2026. (AP)

F1 Teams Test Their All-New 2026 Cars in Private Amid Concerns They Could Breakdown

Ten new cars, five days, no fans. Formula 1 starts a new era with the public and the media excluded from its private testing session in Spain starting Monday…

Sports Senegal's midfielder #26 Pape Gueye celebrates after the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) final football match between Senegal and Morocco at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on January 18, 2026. (AFP)

Senegal Goal Hero Admits AFCON Final Walk-off Was ‘a Mistake’

Senegal's Pape Gueye opened up about his team's walk off at the Africa Cup of Nations final and Morocco's subsequent missed penalty in an interview on French…

Sports Soccer Football - Premier League - Newcastle United v Aston Villa - St James' Park, Newcastle, Britain - January 25, 2026 Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins scores their second goal Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith

Buendia Scores Stunning Goal as Aston Villa Beat Newcastle 2-0 

A brilliant first-half strike from Emiliano Buendia and a late goal ​by Ollie Watkins gave Aston Villa a 2-0 Premier League win at Newcastle United on Sunday…

Asharq Al Awsat
Sports The identity embodies confidence, modernity, and energy, and was developed to inspire the next generation of players and fans across the continent - SPA

AFC President: AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ Brand Identity Inspiring,

President of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and Senior Vice President of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) Shaikh Salman bin…

Asharq Al Awsat
Sports The tournament is part of the Kingdom’s ongoing initiative to host major championships - SPA

Japan Crowned AFC U23 Asian Cup Champions in Jeddah

President of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) Yasser Al-Misehal crowned the Japanese national team as champions of the…

Asharq Al Awsat
Sports Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool (C) argues with the referee Michael Salisbury (L) during the English Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Liverpool FC, in Bournemouth, Britain, 24 January 2026. (EPA)

Slot Blames Fatigue as Liverpool Fail Again

Liverpool boss Arne Slot blamed tiredness for his side's concession of a 95th-minute goal away to Bournemouth that saw them slump to a 3-2 Premier league…

Sports Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe scores the 0-2 goal during the Spanish LaLiga soccer match between Villarreal CF and Real Madrid, in Villarreal, Spain, 24 January 2026. (EPA)

Mbappe Double Powers Real Madrid Past Villarreal to Top of LaLiga

Kylian Mbappe struck twice in the second half as Real Madrid secured a 2-0 victory at Villarreal on Saturday, climbing above Barcelona to take provisional pole…

Sports  Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 24, 2026 Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka applauds fans in the stands after losing his third round match against Taylor Fritz of the US. (Reuters)

Djokovic Says ‘Great Champion’ Wawrinka’s Legacy Will Live on

Novak Djokovic says the retiring Stan Wawrinka's legacy will live on in tennis, hailing the Swiss veteran as a "great champion" who inspired him. The 40-year…

Sports  Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 25, 2026 Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka celebrates after winning her fourth round match against Canada's Victoria Mboko. (Reuters)

Sabalenka Beats 19-Year-Old Mboko, Faces 18-Year-Old Jovic in Australian Open Quarterfinals

TikTok influencer and top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka is having to work her way through some rising teenager stars in her bid for a third Australian Open title in…

Sports  Spain's Carlos Alcaraz reacts after a point against USA's Tommy Paul during their men's singles match on day eight of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 25, 2026. (AFP)

Alcaraz Cruises Into Australian Open Quarters with Paul Win

Carlos Alcaraz eased into his third successive Australian Open quarter-finals on Sunday, doling out another Grand Slam beatdown for American Tommy Paul in a…

Sports TOPSHOT - Japan's Naomi Osaka attends a press conference after winning her women's singles match against Romania's Sorana Cirstea on day five of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 22, 2026. (Photo by WILLIAM WEST / AFP)

Naomi Osaka Withdraws from Australian Open Before Third Round Because of Injury

Naomi Osaka withdrew from the Australian Open before her scheduled third-round match against Australian qualifier Maddison Inglis on Saturday, ending a…

Asharq Al Awsat
Sports Amanda Anisimova hits a return against fellow American Peyton Stearns. WILLIAM WEST / AFP

Anisimova Ramps Up Melbourne Title Bid with Imperious Win

Amanda Anisimova ramped up her Australian Open title charge with a 6-1, 6-4 beating of fellow American Peyton Stearns on Saturday to reach the last 16 in…

Asharq Al Awsat
Sports Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta applauds at the end of the UEFA Champions League, league phase day 7, football match between Inter Milan and Arsenal at San Siro stadium in Milan, northern Italy, on January 20, 2026. (AFP)

Arteta Wary of Revitalized Man United Against ‘Far from Perfect’ Arsenal

Arsenal welcomed the return of Riccardo Calafiori and Piero Hincapie to training ahead of Sunday's match against Manchester United, but manager Mikel Arteta…

Sports Jun 12, 2025; Oakmont, Pennsylvania, USA; Patrick Reed plays his shot from the first tee during the first round of the US Open golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Reed Leads in Dubai and McIlroy Needs a Big Weekend to Challenge for the Title

Patrick Reed moved into the lead at the Dubai Desert Classic on Friday and has a familiar foe trying to chase him down over the weekend. Rory McIlroy sounds…

Asharq Al Awsat
Sports Soccer Football - CAF Africa Cup of Nations - Morocco 2025 - Group C - Tunisia v Uganda - Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat, Morocco - December 23, 2025 Tunisia's Mohamed Elias Achouri celebrates scoring their third goal Yan Valery REUTERS/Stringer

Belgium to Play Tunisia in Final World Cup Warm-up

Belgium will play Tunisia in Brussels as a final ​warm-up fixture ahead of the World Cup finals in North America in June, the Belgian football association said…

Asharq Al Awsat
Sports Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior celebrates his side's fifth goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Real Madrid and Monaco in Madrid on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (AP)

Vinicius Revival Can Help Arbeloa’s Real Madrid Lift off

Real Madrid roared back to life this week, led by a superb Vinicius Junior, who is looking to confirm his own resuscitation and that of his team at Villarreal…

Sports A torchbearer holds an Olympic torch flame on the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, its journey will conclude in Milan on February 6 for the Winter Olympics opening ceremony. (AP)

Olympic Flame Glides on Traditional Venetian Boats Down the Grand Canal

The Olympic flame on Thursday crossed through the romantic, lagoon city of Venice, where torchbearers glided on traditional Venetian boats down the Grand Canal…

Sports Victoria Mboko of Canada waves after defeating Clara Tauson of Denmark in their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Jan. 23, 2026. (AP)

Teen Sensation Mboko Sparkles in Melbourne to Book Sabalenka Matchup

Victoria Mboko did not place any expectations on herself coming into her first Australian Open but the Canadian teen ticked off another milestone on Friday by…