Saudi Vice Minister of Sport Crowns Winners in the Battle of the Giants Event

Photo by SPA
Photo by SPA
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Saudi Vice Minister of Sport Crowns Winners in the Battle of the Giants Event

Photo by SPA
Photo by SPA

The PFL Super Fights: Battle of the Giants, a prestigious mixed martial arts event hosted by Saudi Arabia in Riyadh, concluded on Sunday.
The event was organized by the Saudi Mixed Martial Arts Federation in collaboration with the Professional Fighters League (PFL), under the supervision of the Ministry of Sport, SPA reported.
Vice Minister of Sport Bader Alkadi crowned Cameroonian Francis Ngannou as the heavyweight champion of the Battle of the Giants. Brazilian Cris Cyborg was awarded the women's featherweight title, and American Johnny Eblen claimed the middleweight championship.
Ngannou, the reigning world heavyweight champion, expressed his gratitude to Saudi Arabia for hosting the event, adding that he felt at home in the Kingdom and deeply appreciated the warm welcome he received.



Modric Becomes Real Madrid's Oldest Player, Passes for Winner at Celta Vigo

Soccer Football - LaLiga - Celta Vigo v Real Madrid - Estadio de Balaidos, Vigo, Spain - October 19, 2024 Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior celebrates scoring their second goal with Real Madrid's Luka Modric REUTERS/Miguel Vidal
Soccer Football - LaLiga - Celta Vigo v Real Madrid - Estadio de Balaidos, Vigo, Spain - October 19, 2024 Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior celebrates scoring their second goal with Real Madrid's Luka Modric REUTERS/Miguel Vidal
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Modric Becomes Real Madrid's Oldest Player, Passes for Winner at Celta Vigo

Soccer Football - LaLiga - Celta Vigo v Real Madrid - Estadio de Balaidos, Vigo, Spain - October 19, 2024 Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior celebrates scoring their second goal with Real Madrid's Luka Modric REUTERS/Miguel Vidal
Soccer Football - LaLiga - Celta Vigo v Real Madrid - Estadio de Balaidos, Vigo, Spain - October 19, 2024 Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior celebrates scoring their second goal with Real Madrid's Luka Modric REUTERS/Miguel Vidal

Luka Modric became the oldest player in Real Madrid’s history while also delivering the game-winning assist in a 2-1 victory at Celta Vigo in La Liga on Saturday.

At 39 years, 40 days old, the former Ballon d’Or winner surpassed the milestone held by Ferenc Puskas since 1966 by four days. Modric went on as a second-half substitute after Celta pulled level.
The Croatia midfielder immediately made an impact when he threaded a through-ball forward for Vinícius Júnior to score the 66th-minute winner at Balaidos Stadium.

“It was a hard-fought game,” Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said. “But we knew how to hang in there and got three important points thanks to a great pass by Modric. Luka always gives us something.”
Kylian Mbappé put the visitors ahead with a long-range strike in the 20th, only for Williot Swedberg to equalize in the 51st from a cross by Óscar Mingueza.
That set the scene for Ancelotti to look to his bench and call on Modric to set things right for the defending champion.
When asked about Modric’s legacy with the club, Ancelotti said: “There is nothing else to say about a fantastic game; he is a great professional and with a character. Real Madrid has been, and is, lucky to have him.”
Modric has the most titles in the history of Real Madrid with 27, including six Champions League titles and four Spanish leagues, The Associated Press reported.
This victory was not an easy one, however.
Celta took it to the defending champions. Thibaut Courtois had to save shots by Swedberg and Jonathan Bamba, and Celta substitute Anastasios Douvikas went inches from grabbing an extra-time equalizer.
“We leave with a bittersweet feeling,” Celta midfielder Fran Beltran said. “We took the game at Real Madrid and were better than them in stretches."
Ancelotti’s side stayed unbeaten through 10 rounds in La Liga and pulled level with Barcelona before it hosts Sevilla on Sunday.
Madrid started a busy week with a home game against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Tuesday before it hosts Barcelona in the first clasico of the season next weekend.
Williams double Iñaki Williams scored twice as Athletic Bilbao rolled to a 4-1 win at home over the promoted Espanyol.
Spain striker Mikel Oyarzabal scored with a header for Real Sociedad to beat Girona 1-0, while Real Betis forward Chimy Avila struck to secure a 2-1 win over Osasuna, his previous club.