Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe walks on the pitch during the La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Malaga in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Kylian Mbappe was reportedly among 26 wealthy and high-profile individuals whose addresses and personal information were found by French investigators during an investigation into an alleged kidnapping plot. The Real Madrid and France star was said to have been one of several potential targets identified on mobile phones seized from an 18-year-old suspect who was allegedly continuing to run a criminal organisation from prison. The list reportedly also included a rapper, a Chinese businessman, jewellers and a Turkish meat trader.

Mbappe among 26 alleged targets

According to French newspaper Le Parisien, investigators discovered the addresses of 26 wealthy individuals on two mobile phones seized from the 18-year-old suspect, identified as Clément L.Mbappe was reportedly among the names on the list, alongside a rapper and several wealthy businessmen. Those other alleged targets included a Chinese businessman, jewellers and a Turkish meat trader, with investigators reportedly finding information that could have been used to identify or locate them.The discovery came as authorities investigated the activities of the teenager, who allegedly continued directing a criminal organisation despite being held in prison.The case therefore concerns an alleged plot rather than a kidnapping that was carried out. Investigators are now seeking to determine how far the organisation had progressed, whether any of the potential targets were actually approached or monitored, and what each person under investigation allegedly did.Mbappe’s inclusion is nevertheless particularly striking given his status as one of the most recognisable footballers in the world and his position as Real Madrid and France’s captain.

Suspect allegedly ran gang from his prison cell

Clément L was already in pre-trial detention in connection with allegations of pimping and organised robbery when investigators discovered that he was allegedly continuing to issue instructions from inside prison.According to Le Parisien, prison guards seized two mobile phones from him. Investigators then examined their contents and reportedly found information relating to the 26 alleged targets.The teenager was allegedly operating on Snapchat under the alias “Lester Z”, using the phones to communicate and issue instructions to people outside the prison.A source close to the case told Le Parisien that the contents of the phones were particularly revealing.“Two phones were seized by prison guards, and their contents were highly revealing,” the source said.The same source added: “He also wanted to go after a rapper and the footballer Kylian Mbappe.”The investigation reportedly began after authorities were looking into a separate robbery at a luxury watch shop in Neuilly-sur-Seine last April.Clément L had already been identified as one of two men allegedly involved in the attack on the watchmaker, which had led to his detention over armed robbery.The discovery of the phones subsequently opened a much wider line of investigation into the alleged criminal organisation and its potential plans.

What happened when the teenager was questioned?

During questioning, Clément L reportedly rejected the suggestion that he was the mastermind behind the alleged operation.He also asked to be released from solitary confinement, but that request was refused and he was ordered to remain there while the investigation continues.The teenager reportedly dropped out of school during the first year of a vocational qualification in cooking. He told investigators that he wanted to resume his education and eventually become a chef.Despite those claims about his future plans, he remains in pre-trial detention as authorities investigate the much more serious allegations surrounding the criminal organisation.His alleged accomplice has meanwhile been released under judicial supervision. That individual was challenging the measure on Wednesday before the Versailles investigating chamber.The investigation must now establish precisely how the alleged kidnapping operation was organised, how much preparation had taken place and whether the information found on the seized phones translated into concrete plans against any of the 26 people named.

First Published: Sep 02 2026 | 9:30 AM IST

Shinichi Suzuki: Level 72 —INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

The Philippine team trio in the 31st Nomura Cup all struggled in the second round, but being 10 shots down has only lit a fire in all of them as they begin chasing down Hong Kong-China and Japan starting Thursday.

“The putter was cold out there,” said Shinichi Suzuki, who missed just four greens on Wednesday but had to settle for a level-par 72 as the Filipinos tallied 146 to drop to third overall at 288. “Today wasn’t our day, but there’s still so much golf to be played.”

Jet Hernandez had a “weird day with drives going everywhere” but still ground out a courageous 74 for the second PH score, even as Rolando Bregente, who led scoring for the Filipinos with a 69 on Tuesday, failed to count after submitting a 75.

“My irons got a little cold during the second nine, speed of the putts was a little off,” Hernandez told the Inquirer in recounting his round at Bayhood No. 9 in Beijing, China, where Hong Kong-China padded its lead over Japan to six after a 138 for 278. “I just tried to work with what I had today and produce the lowest possible number.”

Bregente, meanwhile, triple-bogeyed the par-3 fourth hole, which practically threw away a round he tried to save even after a very cold start. Still, his struggles—and after learning those of his teammates—gave the 24-year-old more confidence heading into the third round.

“We still haven’t played our best yet, and I am sure we are due for that,” Bregente told the Inquirer in Filipino in a separate interview.

Hernandez, the 21-year-old who is an incoming psychology senior at University of Denver, shares Bregente’s views and is not about to throw in the towel.

“We talked about the deficit and we’re pretty confident that we can still make something happen,” he said. “Ten shots in two days is very doable [in team play], and I don’t think any of us have played to what we know we’re capable of yet.”

“We just have to keep on plugging away and win the little things and we have a good shot.”

Hong Kong-China fired a 138 boosted by the 67 of Ethan Tian as it takes a 278 aggregate into the third round, 10-under over the tough layout. Japan submitted a second straight 142 for 284.

Ronald Acuña Jr. hit a three-run homer to become the fastest player in major league history to reach 200 home runs and 200 stolen bases, and the Atlanta Braves beat the Washington Nationals 9-0 on Wednesday.

Sean Murphy homered for the third time in five games, a three-run shot in the sixth inning that broke a scoreless tie in a game that was interrupted by a 1-hour, 25-minute rain delay in the fourth.

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Acuña followed with a drive to left-center in the seventh, his 14th of the season, to make it 6-0. He needed 904 games to reach the 200/200 club. Alfonso Soriano set the previous record at 929 games in August of 2006 while playing for the Nationals against the Braves.

Acuña stole the 225th base of his career and 20th of the season, swiping second after his leadoff single in the sixth against Riley Cornelio (2-2), who struck out the next two batters. After Michael Harris II was walked intentionally, Murphy took Cornelio deep to left.

Acuña led off the fourth with a single off Nationals starter Brad Lord. A walk and an error loaded the bases before it started raining. When play resumed, Cornelio came in and retired Murphy and Mike Yastrzemski to escape the jam.

Grant Holmes needed only 26 pitches to retire the first nine Nationals before the delay. Dylan Dodd worked a scoreless inning and Elieser Hernández (2-0) pitched the next three, allowing two hits, including James Wood’s two-out single in the sixth for Washington’s first hit.

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Nationals catcher Keibert Ruiz left in the fourth inning after taking a foul ball off his mask.

Up next

The Braves will start LHP Chris Sale (13-9, 2.06) on Friday at Philadelphia opposite Phillies LHP Cristopher Sánchez (16-4, 2.52) in the opener of a four-game series. The Nationals begin a series at the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday.

First Published: Sep 02 2026 | 9:46 AM IST

Who runs college football? Can Indiana repeat as national champions? Which team is ready to make the leap? And is LSU officially college football’s new villain?

The 2026 college football season is here, and the biggest questions in the sport are waiting to be answered.

FOX Sports lead college football analyst Joel Klatt has plenty of thoughts. On the latest episode of “The Joel Klatt Show,” Klatt tackles 10 burning questions heading into Week 1, including which teams can actually win it all.

Klatt’s Thoughts: “I think this is the biggest question in college football. … The last three National Championships have come out of the Big Ten: Michigan, Ohio State and Indiana. But it’s been even more than that because, for so long, the SEC dominated. They were the premier conference in college football by a wide margin. They won everything. … It was also that way in the NFL Draft, every single year, it was the SEC with the most players drafted in the first round … Over the last few years, we’ve seen the shift happen, not just at the top winning the championships, but also in the records in these bowl games, and, last year, in the first round of the NFL Draft.

“In the last three seasons, the SEC is 0-4 against the Big Ten in the College Football Playoff. … Every single metric you used to hear about and, candidally, the ones that matter, these games that matter, the first-round draft picks, the elite talent, the Big Ten has overtaken the SEC. … I predict that the Big Ten is going to win another championship this year.”

Klatt’s Thoughts: “This is an emphatic ‘Yes.’ Indiana is a powerhouse right now. Curt Cignetti, I think, is the best coach in college football. That was proven last year. That roster was not as expensive as all the rosters that they were beating in the College Football Playoff. … Cignetti retained all of his staff. This is the one thing that I think is going to be hard to wrap your minds around. They were 16-0 and national champions last year, and the conversations that I’m having with people around the program at Indiana is that they’re quietly ahead of where they were each of the last two years right now with this team. There is a chance this is a better team. …

“Josh Hoover is further along in the offense and with his comfort in the offense than Fernando Mendoza was last year or Kurtis Rourke was two years ago. That’s something that they point to. The offensive line is further along. … Their front seven on defense might be better than last year, and this was one of the best defenses in college football.”

Klatt’s Thoughts: “I think the quarterback class is outstanding. You’ve got Dante Moore, Arch Manning, CJ Carr, Julian Sayin, Darian Mensah, Jayden Maiava, Sam Leavitt and John Mateer. It is littered with guys who could potentially become that guy in college football … Oh, by the way, I haven’t even mentioned the guy who is widely considered the best skill position player we’ve seen in college football, maybe in our lifetimes, but certainly in over a decade in Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. The potential is limitless for college football this year.

“It could be an unbelievable year, and the guy that grabs the sport and brings it down and becomes the face of the sport is going to be the one that plays the best in high-leverage moments and on big stages. That’s what it becomes, and that guy’s ultimately going to be the Heisman Trophy winner. … My pick to win the Heisman Trophy is Jeremiah Smith.”

Klatt’s Thoughts: “I think that [new defensive coordinator] Will Muschamp is going to have a huge impact on this season because if he fixes that defense, then, yes, Arch, Sark and Texas can raise their ceiling, but that’s really where it lies. It’s not with Arch and Sark. It’s with Will Muschamp, the offensive line and the defense. Those are the areas for Texas that have got to change. Obviously, they have a difficult schedule. They’ve got that Ohio State game. They’ve got to play at Tennessee. They’ve got Red River [Oklahoma]. They’ve got Ole Miss. They’ve got three road trips in November: Missouri, LSU and Texas A&M.

“So this schedule is daunting. There’s no doubt, but they are one of the more talented teams in the country. And if they run it and play good defense, then they could easily win a national championship.”

Klatt’s Thoughts: “Eric Morris at Oklahoma State. He goes from North Texas to Oklahoma State and takes a bunch of his guys with him. Does it remind you of anybody? Yeah, this is exactly what Curt Cignetti did when he went from James Madison to Indiana, and they popped right away and went to the College Football Playoff. Bob Chesney, now going from James Madison to UCLA. Now, I think it will be much more difficult for UCLA than it would be for Oklahoma State because I think the Big Ten is more difficult than the Big 12, but this is a guy who has a quarterback in Nico Iamaleava, and they can increase their win total drastically right away. This is a really good coach.

“I also feel the same way about James Franklin at Virginia Tech. James is a hell of a football coach. At Penn State, his only problem was that he couldn’t get all the way to the mountaintop, but, man, he’s a great climber. He built a really solid program at Penn State. He did a great job there, couldn’t get to the mountaintop, and now he’s at Virginia Tech, and I think he will immediately make them better. Those are guys I think could elevate their programs right away.”

Klatt’s Thoughts: “I’ve got seven teams that can absolutely win a national championship this year. They’ve got the roster and everything that you need. … Oregon, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Georgia, Indiana, Texas, Miami: I won’t be surprised at all if any of them win the national championship. It’s what makes the sport great this year, by the way. I think that’s a deeper, more eclectic list than we’ve had maybe ever in college football, but easily in multiple decades.”

Klatt’s Thoughts: “They’re absolutely the villain. … Now, you have the SEC actively against LSU and Lane Kiffin [the Tigers have been trying to add players who appeared on NFL rosters in training camp to their roster]. … There’s no doubt in my mind that he’s the villain in college football …

“It would be the shock of all shocks to me if they came together from a chemistry perspective to run the table, win the SEC and win the national championship. It is a different equation now. I think it takes more than talent and a great offensive mind to go and win a national championship. It takes everything. You’ve got to have chemistry, depth, experience and togetherness. All these things are really hard to build. That’s what it takes. Do they have that? I don’t know.”

Klatt’s Thoughts: “Maybe it’s BYU out of the Big 12? In the Big Ten, I look at USC, Michigan, Penn State and Washington trying to level themselves up. These teams are very good teams, but you got to prove to me that you can potentially beat one of the top dogs. In the SEC, you got Alabama, LSU, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, and all these different teams. My money would be on three teams that I think have the talent, coaching and potential to actually go up there and beat one of these top-tier teams in these conferences. In the Big Ten, that’s USC and Michigan, and in the SEC, it would be LSU, just because of that talent, but we’ll see about the chemistry.”

Klatt’s Thoughts: “How about Texas Tech and Ole Miss taking the next step? … I would not have told you at this point last year that Indiana had the roster or the chemistry or the experience or any of that to go win a national championship, and they did. Maybe that’s the case for Texas Tech? They beat up on teams that they should and lost to the best team that they faced in Oregon last year. Everyone’s overlooking Ole Miss because Lane Kiffin left. What if they galvanize around Pete Golding with their great quarterback, Trinidad Chambliss, and they move forward and win the SEC? Maybe they just run roughshod over college football, and they become this year’s 2025 Indiana.”

Klatt’s Thoughts: “It’s absolutely ‘Yes.’ For all the things that aren’t perfect in this sport, all of these changes, however hard they have been to swallow, to watch and work through, have made the sport better. There’s been more engagement than ever with college football. …

“Whatever you think about NIL and whatever you think about the transfer portal and whatever you think about the mess that is college football right now from a governance standpoint, these changes, however hard to swallow, have made the sport incredible. We’ve got great teams. We’ve got talent all over the country, and we have every single part of this country represented with high expectations and expectations all the way at the top, as high as winning the national championship. That makes it great. We’ve got great quarterbacks and players. This could be an epic season of college football.”

Chris Waller is hoping for a much-improved showing from Fangirl and Lindermann in the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.

The pair finished 10th and 9th respectively in the Winx Stakes behind stablemate Autumn Glow. While Waller was accepting of their runs in a strongly contested race, the veteran trainer suggested that the time might be nearing for the eight-year-old mare, Fangirl.

Fangirl, a four-time Group One winner, suffered her most significant defeat when she was beaten 7.4 lengths in the Winx Stakes.

“Fangirl, she’ll probably race and it’ll be a deciding run for her,” Waller commented.

“It was a strong run race and the backmarkers struggled to get into it.

“It’s a bit of a turning point for her, she owes us nothing, if she wants to race, she’ll race on but if she wants to be a mum then she’ll go be a mum.”

Lindermann, who claimed last year’s Chelmsford Stakes, managed to bounce back from a 10th place in the Winx Stakes behind Via Sistina, and Waller is expecting a sharp turnaround from the seven-year-old gelding.

“Lindermann was just at his top throughout, Hughy (Bowman) said he was just out of his comfort zone there,” Waller said.

“I think what we found on Saturday if you weren’t rock hard fit, it was a tough race.

“And that showed the class of Autumn Glow and obviously Sheza Alibi, because it showed up Aeliana, it showed up Fangirl and it showed up Lindermann, they were a bit soft but that’s a good starting point for the preparation.”

Asterix, who last competed when winning the Group 3 Tattersall’s Cup (2400m) at Eagle Farm, is also slated to join them. Waller indicated that the horse might be aimed at a Caulfield Cup campaign in Melbourne after Saturday’s run.

Lindermann is currently the second favourite for the Chelmsford Stakes, behind Ceolwulf, who finished fifth in the Winx Stakes and has been cleared to race after minor traces of blood were detected in a nostril post-race.

As the Chelmsford Stakes approaches, keen punters are checking the racing betting markets for the best odds.

Premier League clubs shattered their record of £3.1 billion ($4.2 billion) in transfer fees in one window on deadline day as Manchester City splashed out £125 million to Chelsea for Enzo Fernandez and signed Iliman Ndiaye.

City spearheaded a frantic final day of spending as they aim to arm Enzo Maresca with a squad capable of winning the Premier League for the first time in three seasons.

Fernandez, who previously thrived under Maresca at Chelsea, has been linked with a move to the Etihad for months.

But it took until the final hours before the 2200 GMT deadline for an agreement to be reportedly struck with the fee for the Argentine to match the British transfer record that Liverpool paid for Alexander Isak on the final day of the window last year.

Fernandez will form a completely revamped City midfield alongside England international Elliot Anderson and Moroccan Ayyoub Bouaddi, who themselves cost over a combined £200 million.

“He is a complete midfielder: technically gifted, hardworking, tenacious and a goalscorer,” said City’s director of football Hugo Viana.

City also added Senegal forward Ndiaye from Everton in a deal worth £65 million to bolster their forward options.

“I’ve worked my whole life for an opportunity like this,” said Ndiaye.

“To be able to write my own chapter in a story that special is the chance of a lifetime and I’m determined to grab it with both hands.”

Chelsea’s bid to replace Fernandez with Monaco‘s Lamine Camara collapsed when the French side reportedly pulled out of the deal.

The Blues did agree a £40 million deal to sign 18-year-old Honest Ahanor from Atalanta from 2027, with the Italy defender spending this season on loan at Crystal Palace.

Champions Arsenal, by contrast, had a quiet deadline day after their pursuit of Atletico Madrid‘s Julian Alvarez fizzled out.

The Gunners had been rivalling Barcelona for the Argentine’s signature, but the Spanish champions instead turned to Arsenal to fill their need for a forward with the signing of Gabriel Jesus.

“I had a chance 10 years ago and life took me in another direction, but now I can be here and it’s a dream for me,” said Jesus.

Read morePep Guardiola to step down as Manchester City manager after trophy-laden decade

Liverpool frustrated

Liverpool splashed out on France forward Bradley Barcola on Monday, spending £123 million to lure him from Paris Saint-Germain.

But the Reds’ attempts to further add to their squad look to have been frustrated with bids for Crystal Palace’s Ismaila Sarr and Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh knocked back, meaning Cody Gakpo is set to stay despite interest from City and Tottenham.

Liverpool did complete the signing of Belgian goalkeeper Lucca Brughmans, but the 18-year-old will be loaned back to Genk for the rest of the season.

Ibrahim Mbaye was another wide player linked with a move to Anfield, but he has instead joined Aston Villa for a reported £47 million.

Mbaye played 31 times in all competitions for PSG last season as the French club won the Champions League and the Ligue 1 title.

Villa also bolstered their defence by signing Southampton centre-back Taylor Harwood-Bellis in a £29 million deal.

Tottenham secured a loan move for Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk after missing out on Ndiaye and Gakpo, and a £7 million swoop for his Blues team-mate Tosin Adarabioyo.

Jack Grealish rejoined Everton on loan after his spell with David Moyes’s men last season.

Everton are still hopeful of adding United States international Folarin Balogun from Monaco.

Newcastle landed Belgium forward Matias Fernandez-Pardo from Lille in a £51 million swoop.

The Magpies, who are rebuilding following the close-season departures of Anthony Gordon, Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali, have also sent German striker Nicolas Woltemade on loan to Juventus.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)