Brazilian football superstar is back on the world stage. His country’s all-time leading goalscorer, he earned a dramatic recall to Brazil’s World Cup squad, returning to the national team after nearly three years away. The 34-year-old will headline Carlo Ancelotti’s roster as Brazil chases a record sixth World Cup title.

When putting into context the significance of Freiburg reaching their first ever European final, the words of Bayern Munich head coach Vincent Kompany feel the most pertinent.

“I think it [Freiburg’s success] embodies everything that is positive about football,” Kompany said recently. “It’s a small club that’s building itself up with its own resources. What Freiburg are doing is a great example for many other clubs.”

Much has been written about the small club from Baden-Württemberg in recent years. A local club in its origin, Freiburg have evolved from a team yoyoing between the divisions to an established Bundesliga side.

Despite a first-ever German Cup final in 2022 (one that ended in a dramatic defeat on penalties), a Europa League tie against Juventus the year after and a new stadium in 2024, Freiburg have never strayed from the core values of a local club. They are prudent with their business, growth always feels organic, and ultimately, in an era of staggering financial power, remain that rarest of all things in football: a sensible club.

Youth development, money management, cultural vibes

Freiburg have an excellent record of developing young players. It is estimated that 60 or more players currently in the top three divisions were either developed by or have played for the club. Then there’s the financial restraint the club has shown in recent years. Beyond their approach in the transfer market – their record signing is Ritsu Doan in 2022, for a reported fee of just over €10m ($11.6m) – the management of the books is truly an example for others.

In 2025, Freiburg reported a profit of €11.8 million despite not playing in Europe, where prize money is higher. Also, unusually, Freiburg have no bank liabilities.

Noah, who has had a season ticket since he was six, believes that this management is what helped steer the club through the coronavirus pandemic, a time when historically more powerful clubs like Schalke and Borussia Mönchengladbach struggled.

“I’d even go so far as to say that without the pandemic, this dramatic rise wouldn’t have happened, because the other clubs would have been able to continue operating as usual” Noah told DW.

Beyond that, there is also the way the city and the club work together.

“There are cafes in Freiburg where you know players go,” Noah said. “They don’t live a closed-off life. You can see them walk through the city and you can say hello. I think this is why many players stay at the club for years instead of taking the next step, even if they could.” Matthias Ginter and Vincenzo Grifo are the two most obvious players who both left but returned. Both have played their best football in Freiburg. “The club knows me, and I know the club,” is how Grifo summed it up to the Pforzheimer Kurier newspaper. “I feel like I never left.”

Head coach connection also key to development

The club’s success and recognition are also connected to their charismatic, emotional and outspoken head coach Christian Streich, who left in 2024 after 12 years in charge. Streich regularly spoke out about social issues in Germany and often reminded football of its place in the world. Now, the club quietly enjoying its tenth consecutive season in Germany’s topflight has a chance to win a major European trophy and qualify for the biggest show in club football, the Champions League.

“With Christian Günther, who is now the club’s all-time leader in appearances, with Vincenzo Grifo, who is our all-time leading scorer, and now with Nico Höfler, who has simply been the face of this club for years and who’s going to play his last game for the club in an international final in Istanbul, it’s emotional,” said Noah, who described the season as “incredible.”

And then there’s head coach Julian Schuster. A former playing legend who played under Streich, his transition to head coach has been seamless. 

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“I remember him as a player, as our captain. I still remember him scoring a bicycle kick. Then, in 2022, he was there in the away end in Hamburg for the German Cup semifinals, singing along to the songs at the top of his lungs,” said Noah, explaining why he’s such a natural fit.

A fairytale ending in sight?

This European run saw Freiburg finish seventh in the league phase, before seeing off Genk, Celta Vigo and Braga to make the final. Their opponents are Premier League side Aston Villa, who have a squad market value of nearly €550m – more than twice that of Freiburg’s.

To say they are the underdogs, would be an understatement.

“To be completely honest, I’d also be a little afraid of what would happen to the club if they actually won a game like that,” said Noah, admitting his Freiburg DNA might be getting the better of him. “With the club’s growing success and the ever-increasing number of members— I’m worried that it will eventually become a question of how to preserve our own identity and maintain realistic expectations.”

Emotion, not expectation will be the hardest thing for Freiburg fans to manage in the next few days.

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“The chance to share that with people I’ve been in the stands with since I was a little kid, with people who I’ve experienced all of this with, who I traveled to Sandhausen with, to Koblenz with, and who’ve been with me to all those away games, even in the second division, and who have simply been with this club for years… that’s real, and it makes me really happy and emotional,” said Noah.

Edited by: Matt Pearson

Athletics pitcher J.T. Ginn was on the brink of making history on Monday night, but the moment fell out of his grasp in the final inning of the game against the Los Angeles Angels.

Ginn took a no-hitter into the ninth inning, hoping to become the first pitcher to throw one by himself since Blake Snell did it for the San Francisco Giants on Aug. 2, 2024, and the first to complete one since three Chicago Cubs pitchers combined for one on Sept. 4, 2024.

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Athletics pitcher J.T. Ginn delivers a pitch during the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim, Calif., on May 18, 2026. (William Liang/AP)

The Angels were able to break up the no-no in the bottom of the ninth when Adam Frazier singled. Then, Zach Neto came to the plate and hit a walk-off home run, giving the Angels a 2-1 lead in dramatic fashion.

In almost an instant, Ginn’s shot was ruined.

“Obviously a tough game,” Ginn said after the game. “Just keep your head up and keep moving forward. It’s just the nature of the game that we play. I attack the zone and I live with that.”

Frazier lined a pitch over the shortstop facing an 0-2 count. Neto was up 2-0 in the count when he hit the game-winning home run.

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Los Angeles Angels’ Zach Neto is doused with liquid after hitting a walkoff home run during the ninth inning against the Athletics in Anaheim, Calif., on May 18, 2026. (William Liang/AP)

“Just a crazy game to play,” Ginn said. “I fell behind 2-0, threw a good sinker, and he was waiting on it and put a good swing on it. So, tip your cap to him.”

Ginn threw a career-high 105 pitches and struck out 10 batters. He became the sixth major leaguer since 1974 to allow no hits or runs in the first eight innings of the game and take the loss. Rich Hill last made the mark for the Los Angeles Dodgers in August 2017.

“J.T. dominated all night. For him to walk off the mound with a loss there, it hurts, obviously,” Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said. “He pitched probably the best game he’s pitched in his big league career, and to have an opportunity to get a no-hitter, and two hits later you walk off with a loss, it’s tough. I had full confidence in him going out there in that inning at 100 pitches and trying to get it done. It just didn’t work out.”

The A’s scored their lone run in the top of the ninth when Lawrence Butler drove in Zack Gelof. The A’s were able to record seven hits off the Angels.

Athletics’ Tyler Soderstrom reacts during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim, Calif., on May 18, 2026. (William Liang/AP)

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Los Angeles hasn’t been no-hit since Sept. 11, 1999.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Oleksandr Usyk has beaten both Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury twice, giving him a unique insight into how the all-British mega fight will play out should it happen this year.

Joshua now trains alongside Usyk and will have his first proper assignment under the new set-up – excluding a bout with Jake Paul last year – on July 25 when he faces Kristan Prenga.

It is very much considered a warm-up fight for the Olympic gold medallist, who has signed to face Fury towards the end of the year, assuming both win beforehand and are not injured.

Speaking to BBC Sport, Usyk backed his new training partner to win but had equal praise for Fury, who he calls ‘dangerous.’

“We will help AJ in training. My opinion is AJ [beats] Tyson Fury. Fury is an unbelievable fighter. A very dangerous guy. But, I look at how Anthony works and how he has changed. I like Fury, this is my greedy belly best friend … he’s an amazing fighter, but I want more Anthony to win. I think he deserves it.”

After returning with a win over Arslanbek Makhmudov in April, Fury has made it clear that he intends to fight in August to further prepare himself for the Joshua clash.

As all three men close in on retirement, ‘The Gypsy King’ still wants a trilogy with Usyk following two points losses. He has, however, stated that he will only sign to fight the Ukrainian if it takes place in the UK or the US, believing he will not get a fair rub of the green if they return to Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, Usyk takes on kickboxing icon Rico Verhoeven this weekend in Egypt. Should he win as expected, he will be ordered to face WBC mandatory challenger, Agit Kabayel.

The MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai is set for a major first© BCCI

Nigeria’s sports betting industry could be entering one of its most challenging periods yet following major regulatory and tax changes introduced in 2026.

The discussion around Nigeria’s changing betting market structure gained attention after sports-integrity and iGaming compliance consultant Kristof Szucs shared a LinkedIn analysis highlighting the growing pressure of taxation and multi-state licensing costs on operators across the country.

The country remains Africa’s largest betting market by scale and user activity, but new compliance costs, federal taxation adjustments, and state-level licensing structures are beginning to raise questions about long-term operating sustainability for betting companies across the country.

The discussion gained attention after sports-integrity and iGaming compliance consultant Kristof Szucs shared an analysis on LinkedIn warning that the economics of Nigeria’s betting industry may be changing rapidly.

According to Szucs, Nigeria’s new National Tax Act removed gaming’s previous special tax status, meaning operators could now face standard corporate taxation rates reaching as high as 30%.

At the same time, operators are also dealing with a federated licensing structure managed across 28 Nigerian states.

Why The Changes Matter

Nigeria’s betting industry has become deeply connected to the country’s wider sports economy.

Betting companies sponsor:

• football clubs
• media broadcasts
• prediction platforms
• fan engagement campaigns
• influencer marketing
• sports content ecosystems

Higher operational costs could eventually impact:

• marketing budgets
• sponsorship spending
• customer acquisition
• expansion plans
• local sports partnerships

The combination of federal tax pressure and multiple state-level compliance requirements may now force operators to rethink how aggressively they invest in the Nigerian market.

Nigeria Remains Africa’s Biggest Betting Market

Despite the growing concerns, Nigeria still represents one of the most valuable sports betting markets on the continent due to:

• football popularity
• mobile penetration
• young demographics
• strong engagement across EPL, Champions League, NBA, and local football

However, analysts increasingly believe profitability may become more difficult if compliance costs continue rising across multiple regulatory layers.

Szucs noted in his LinkedIn analysis that:

“The market hasn’t shrunk. The business case has.”

That line summarizes the concern many industry observers now have about balancing Nigeria’s massive scale with increasing operational costs.

Sports Sponsorships Could Eventually Feel the Pressure

Sports betting brands have become deeply integrated into Africa’s modern sports economy through football sponsorships, media partnerships, fan engagement campaigns, prediction platforms, and influencer marketing.

If operational costs continue rising, analysts believe some operators could eventually reduce marketing and sponsorship spending across sports properties.

That could impact:

• Football club sponsorships
• Sports media advertising
• Betting partnerships around EPL and Champions League coverage
• Influencer campaigns tied to sports audiences
• Local football activations and fan experiences

Nigeria remains one of Africa’s most valuable sports betting audiences, but the economics of operating in the market may now be changing.

For now, Nigeria remains Africa’s biggest betting market and one of the continent’s most important sports-business ecosystems.

But as taxation, compliance, and licensing costs continue rising, 2026 could become a defining year in determining how sustainable that growth model remains.

The market itself may still be growing — but the cost of participating in it is becoming a completely different calculation.

Rohit Sharma and Abhishek Nayar (Video grabs)

NEW DELHI: Rohit Sharma may be enduring a stop-start IPL 2026 campaign, but the former Mumbai Indians skipper ensured there was no shortage of laughter at Eden Gardens on match eve.Ahead of Mumbai Indians’ league game against Kolkata Knight Riders, MI shared a fun training-ground video featuring Rohit mimicking KKR coach Abhishek Nayar — one of his closest friends in Indian cricket. In the clip, Rohit copied Nayar’s bowling action during nets, running in theatrically before delivering to an empty set of stumps. To everyone’s surprise, the ball crashed into the middle stump, leaving players around him in stitches.Rohit, unable to contain his excitement, was heard shouting: “Kya middle stump udaya bey.” Even Nayar, watching from the KKR camp nearby, burst into laughter at the scene.WATCH:KKR’s season on the edgeWhile Rohit’s antics lightened the mood, Wednesday’s contest carries far greater weight for KKR. The side led by Ajinkya Rahane must beat Mumbai Indians to stay alive in the race for the final playoff berth.A defeat would officially end KKR’s campaign, while even a victory may still leave them dependent on other results. Punjab Kings’ clash against Lucknow Super Giants later this week could ultimately decide Kolkata’s fate.KKR have staged a late revival after a disastrous start, winning five of their last six matches. Yet that surge may have come too late after their six-match winless stretch at the beginning of the season.MI seek one final statementMumbai Indians, already out of contention, now have the chance to spoil KKR’s push. The five-time champions have endured a forgettable campaign, with injuries and inconsistent form hurting their season.Rohit has shown flashes of touch despite fitness concerns, while skipper Hardik Pandya is expected to return after injury.

Manchester United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir’s move to Besiktas this summer hinges on one key factor, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Unsafe Pair of Hands

Bayindir, 28, arrived at Old Trafford from Fenerbahçe for £4.3 million in the summer of 2023.

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The Türkiye international was signed to be the No. 2 to Andre Onana, signed in the same window from Inter Milan for £47.2m to replace long-term stalwart David De Gea.

Despite the 6’6 shot-stopper described as “top class” by Bruno Fernandes,  and Onana forging a reputation as one of Europe’s best goalkeepers in Italy, neither has proved to be a successful signing. Both have committed a series of costly mistakes when starting, often destabilising the defence they are designed to protect.

This led to the decision last summer to sign Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp, even with the 23-year-old Belgian having only one season of first-team experience under his belt.

Lammens’ capture led to Onana joining Trabzonspor on loan as then-head coach Ruben Amorim preferred Bayindir. The Turkish side are hoping to strike a permanent deal for the Cameroon international this summer.

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But Bayindir’s performance in Onana’s stead were as shaky, with Lammens quickly assuming the starting berth and proving transformative between the sticks. The Zottegem native is already one of United’s best signings in years.

Bayindir to Besiktas?

Both the player and club are open to Bayindir’s departure this summer, with a return to Türkiye the most likely destination. Interestingly, Trabzonspor have been linked with a move, though Super Lig giant Besiktas are understood to be the strongest suitor.

A report relayed by The Peoples Person revealed the Black Eagles have agreed personal terms with Bayindir, despite his previous allegiance with bitter rivals Fenerbahçe.

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However, Besiktas have parted ways with their manager, Sergen Yalçın, by mutual agreement after a disappointing campaign at the Tüpraş Stadium.

Italian transfer expert Romano claims this will affect the pursuit of Bayindir as the new manager will need to approve the 6’6 United star as a target.

North Korea‘s Naegohyang Women’s FC is due to play a South Korean women’s team in Suwon on May 20, the first time Pyongyang has permitted its athletes to travel to the South in more than seven years.

For some, it is an indication that the North is deploying “sports diplomacy” to ease strained bilateral ties.

The rare visit comes as North Korea has framed the South as its “primary foe and invariable principal enemy” in a recently rewritten constitution that removes notions of reunifying the peninsula, which has been divided since the 1950-1953 Korean War. 

Victor Cha, Korea chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, argued in an article published on the CSIS website on May 4 that, “sports diplomacy has always been an important tool of inter-Korean diplomacy.”

Pyongyang allowing the athletes to travel to the South “is significant, given North Korea’s shutdown of all dialogue with South Korea and its assertion of the enemy-state declaration vis-a-vis Seoul,” Cha said.

“In this regard, the football match could demonstrate the potential to separate cultural exchanges from politics,” he added.

The 27-strong North Korean team had been training in Beijing but arrived at Incheon airport on Sunday before travelling on to Suwon, some 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) south of Seoul, ahead of the semi-final of the Asian Football Confederation’s Women’s Champions League.

Signs of improving North-South ties?

While analysts broadly agree that a North Korean team visiting the South is a positive development, they caution against reading too much into Pyongyang’s decision.

“The likelihood of this football match becoming an immediate ‘breakthrough’ in inter-Korean relations is limited,” said Hyobin Lee, a professor at Sogang University in Seoul.

“But I also do not think it is meaningless, and I partially agree with Victor Cha’s analysis,” she told DW.

The first visit by a North Korean women’s football team since the 2014 Incheon Asian Games is “symbolically significant,” Lee noted.

She pointed out that some South Korean politicians have described it as “a possible opportunity to ease tensions in frozen inter-Korean relations.”

The limits of sports diplomacy

South Korean media reported that Unification Minister Chung Dong-young is also considering attending the match.

“There is understandable optimism that a soccer tournament could become a positive case of inter-Korean, people-to-people exchange after an extended suspension,” Leif-Eric Easley, a professor of international studies at Ewha Womans University in Seoul, told DW.

The rare visit by a North Korean women’s football team ​has been approved under the inter-Korean exchange law. All 7,087 tickets made available to the general public sold out within a day.

While Easley thinks it would be premature to call the event “successful sports diplomacy,” North Korea’s participation “could suggest a softening in Pyongyang’s portrayal of Seoul as a hostile enemy.”

Erwin Tan, a professor of international politics at Hankuk University, is more skeptical of the soccer match.

“Inter-Korean sports and cultural events have occurred quite frequently in the past, yet have not led to any diplomatic breakthrough, so I see no reason to see this development as signaling anything new,” Tan told DW.

2018’s missed opportunity

The last time North Korean athletes were in the South was when five table tennis players competed in Incheon, west of Seoul, in December 2018.

That tournament took place nine months after ten North Korean athletes participated in the PyeongChang Winter Olympics in the South.

Competitors from both countries took part in the opening ceremony under the Korean unification flag, and Kim Yo-jong, Kim Jong Un’s sister, headed a high-level delegation from Pyongyang.

And while the games appeared to herald a brighter diplomatic outlook, the cross-border relationship soon soured.

Kim Jong Un has since ditched the reunification rhetoric. Pyongyang has altered its constitution to codify its “hostile two-state” policy. 

Lee believes the North’s participation in the 2018 Winter Olympics “should be viewed as a limited but short-lived success” that ultimately fell short because of the collapse of the nuclear summit between President Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un in Hanoi in 2019 and “growing distrust between Washington and Pyongyang.”

However, Pyongyang agreeing to send the team south allows the country “to project an image to the international community that it is not completely isolated or closed off,” she added. 

What else could have prompted Pyongyang to send its athletes?

Lee believes Pyongyang has a number of reasons beyond attempting to encourage a diplomatic thaw for agreeing to send the team south.

She notes that since sports exchanges are politically less risky than formal diplomatic negotiations, these kinds of events are “useful for testing limited engagement.”

“There is likely a propaganda dimension as well,” she said. “North Korea has long used international sports participation as a way to promote national prestige and regime legitimacy domestically.”

It is also possible that Pyongyang wants to preserve “selective channels of communication with the South rather than completely severing all forms of contact,” Lee told DW.

“In that sense, the match may signal that North Korea is leaving a small diplomatic door open, even while maintaining its broader hardline stance,” she added.

Edited by: Emmy Sasipornkarn