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Ronaldo return in focus as Al-Nassr chase Asian Champions League progress | Football News

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Cristiano Ronaldo is yet to win a major trophy since arriving in Saudi Arabia, and Al-Nassr will be hoping the 41-year-old Portuguese star returns to action on Wednesday to help the Riyadh club move closer to silverware.


Al-Nassr takes on Arkadag of Turkmenistan with a place in the quarterfinals of the Asian Champions League Two on the line.


Ronaldo hasn’t played any part in Al-Nassr’s most recent two games in the Saudi Pro League amid reports he was unhappy with the way the club is being funded, particularly after watching rival Al-Hilal sign Karim Benzema in last month’s transfer window.

 

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Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad and Al-Ahli are all majority owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.


In a statement, the SPL outlined that no player is bigger than the club or the league.


“The Saudi Pro League is structured around a simple principle: every club operates independently under the same rules,” the league said. “Cristiano has been fully engaged with Al-Nassr since his arrival and has played an important role in the club’s growth and ambition. But no individual – however significant – determines decisions beyond their own club.” 
Despite the absence of the five-time Ballon d’Or winner, Al-Nassr beat reigning champion Al-Ittihad 2-0 on Friday.


Ittihad is the only one of three Saudi teams in the top-tier AFC Champions League Elite not to have secured a place in the round of 16, with two group games remaining.

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Despite losing star striker Karim Benzema last week to Al-Hilal, which has a history of making high-profile signings, including Neymar from Paris Saint-Germain in 2023, Ittihad will advance to the next round if it defeats Al-Gharafa of Qatar on Tuesday.


The top eight in each of the tournament’s two 12-team groups – divided geographically into East and West Asia – qualify for the second round.


Al-Hilal leads the western zone and is the only team with a perfect record of six wins from six, meaning coach Simone Inzaghi can choose to rest players. Al-Ahli, which won its first Champions League title in May, is also guaranteed a spot in the knockout stage.


In the eastern zone, only Vissel Kobe has clinched qualification, but Japan will have three teams in the round of 16 if both Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Machida Zelvia win this week.

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The pressure is on China’s three representatives, which occupy the bottom three positions.


Chinese champion Shanghai Port is in last place and on the verge of being ousted from the tournament. Wins for Chengdu Rongcheng and Shanghai Shenhua would keep both teams in contention.

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Pakistan agree to play against India at T20 World Cup after planned boycott

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Pakistan has agreed to play against India in the Twenty20 World Cup match, the country’s government has said.

This reverses an earlier decision to boycott the cricket clash against its old rival, which had been cited due to geopolitical tensions.

The game is scheduled to be played in Sri Lanka on February 15.

It comes after the Bangladesh Cricket Board urged Pakistan to reverse its boycott following a meeting in Lahore with the ICC and Pakistan Cricket Board.

Pakistan’s boycott of the match in Colombo stems from the ICC replacing Bangladesh with Scotland after Bangladesh refused to travel to co-hosts India.

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The ICC confirmed it would not penalise Bangladesh for their refusal to play in India, also announcing Bangladesh would host an ICC event prior to the 2031 50-over World Cup, co-hosted by India and Bangladesh.

BCB president Mohammad Aminul Islam said: “We are deeply moved by Pakistan’s efforts to go above and beyond in supporting Bangladesh during this period … I request Pakistan to play the game on 15 February against India for the benefit of the entire cricket ecosystem.”

Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav confirmed his team would travel to Colombo for Sunday’s match regardless of Pakistan’s decision.

It now appears the match will go ahead.

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Challenge Cup fourth-round draw: Hull KR travel to Huddersfield Giants

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Holders Hull KR will visit fellow Super League side Huddersfield Giants in round four of the Challenge Cup.

Wakefield Trinity host Leeds Rhinos in a West Yorkshire derby while St Helens visit Castleford Tigers.

Championship side Oldham will take a trip to Perpignan to face Catalans Dragons and Leigh Leopards face Hull FC.

Meanwhile the lowest ranked side still in the competition, Goole Vikings, have a home tie against Warrington Wolves with all 14 Super League clubs still in the competition.

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The ties will take place on the weekend of 14-15 March with the specific dates yet to be decided.

The final will be held at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, 30 May.

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AOC trashes Jake Paul after Bad Bunny slight

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NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez fired back at boxer Jake Paul on Monday after the fighter called Bad Bunny a “fake American citizen” and vowed to boycott the Super Bowl LX halftime show.

Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., was among those fawning over the Grammy Award-winning artist’s act during a game that saw the Seattle Seahawks take home their second Super Bowl title in a 29-13 victory over the New England Patriots.

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AOC speaks to reporters

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez speaks to reporters at Newark Liberty International Airport on June 21, 2025. (Michael Karas/NorthJersey.com/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)

“A ‘fake American citizen?’ Didn’t you MOVE to Puerto Rico to avoid paying your taxes while kids across America go hungry?” the congresswoman wrote on X.

“Meanwhile Benito actually funds low income kids’ access to arts and sports programs, while you defund them. Of course you’re mad. He makes you look small.”

Paul later clarified that he was rebuking Bad Bunny because of his stance against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations despite being an American citizen.

Anthony Joshua goes head-to-head with Jake Paul

Jake Paul fights Anthony Joshua in their heavyweight bout at Kaseya Center on Dec. 19, 2025, in Miami, Florida. (Ed Mulholland/Getty Images for Netflix)

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“To clarify: I wasn’t calling anyone a ‘fake citizen’ because they’re from Puerto Rico. I live in Puerto Rico, and I love Puerto Rico. I have used my platform to support Puerto Rico time and time again and will always do so,” Paul wrote on X. “But if you’re publicly criticizing ICE who are doing their job and openly hating on America, I’m going to speak on it. Period. That’s the same reason I called out Hunter Hess.

“If you benefit from a country and the platform it gives you, but publicly disrespect it at the same time, that’s what I mean by being a fake citizen. And I agree love is more powerful than hate. Love America.”

Bad Bunny prominently spoke out against ICE when he received his Grammy Award for Album of the Year earlier this month.

Bad Bunny performs in California

Bad Bunny performs during halftime of Super Bowl LX, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, in Santa Clara, California. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

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“ICE out,” he said. “We’re not savage, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens — we are humans, and we are Americans.”

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

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Travis Kelce NFL retirement rumors rife as football star set to play Pebble Beach Pro Am 2026

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Travis Kelce’s retirement rumors have once again been fueled since the end of the 2026 NFL season. In 2025, too, it was rumored that the TE was considering leaving the league after the Kansas City Chiefs failed to make history after their loss in Super Bowl LIX. Later, he responded to the allegations and revealed his decision to stay for at least one more season.

This year, the rumors resurfaced again following the announcement of his increased involvement in golf. According to recent announcements, Travis Kelce will headline the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and tee off on the field. The tournament has a history of celebrity and amateur golfers matching up with pros for the first two rounds, but this season’s event is focusing more on the professional side of the game, thus there aren’t many celebs scheduled.

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Until February 9, Travis Kelce is the sole celebrity confirmed to attend the event, as reported by the Pebble Beach Pro-Am’s Instagram page. The caption on this post said,

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“Keeping it 100 at the @attproam. Special guest @killatrav officially joins the field next Thursday and Friday at Pebble Beach and Spyglass Hill.”

Kelce’s participation in this tournament has fueled speculation that if he decides to retire from football, he may be able to play golf more frequently. His contract with the Chiefs was for two years and valued at $34.25 million. This deal expires at the end of the 2026 season, and Kelce will be eligible for free agency starting from this March.

Aside from all of these considerations, Travis Kelce was also present at the WM Phoenix Open, where he swung one of the top shots on the course. Interestingly, before his involvement in this tournament, he also had an important conversation with his fiancée.


Taylor Swift gives Travis Kelce some critical advice concerning the WM Phoenix Open

Syndication: Arizona Republic - Source: ImagnSyndication: Arizona Republic - Source: Imagn
Syndication: Arizona Republic – Source: Imagn

Travis Kelce was present at the TPC Scottsdale, which hosted the 2026 WM Phoenix Open. He was participating in a pro-am event and made a great shot on the par-3 hole 16. This hole is regarded as one of the most difficult due to the buildup of pressure caused by the course being surrounded by fans. Interestingly, Kelce’s tee ball landed only a few shots from the hole. The Golf Channel’s X page reported on this with the caption,

“TRAVIS KELCE WITH AN ABSOLUTE DART ON THE 16TH. 🔥🎯 The 3x Super Bowl champ sticks it to within a few feet and wins the gold WM chain!”

Following this shot, the TE added that his fiancee Taylor Swift, offered him some critical advice before the event to enjoy. Kelce discussed it in an interview, and according to Newsweek, he stated:

“Just go and have fun, sweetie. That’s the only advice she can give on a day like today.”

For his impressive shot, Kelce also received the WM Phoenix Open’s iconic golf chain.

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