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More Than Rs 267 Crore: Lionel Messi’s MLS Salary Gets Huge Increase, Double Of Any Other Player

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Lionel Messi more than doubled his salary to $25 million (approx. Rs 257 crore) in his new contract with Inter Miami and earns more more than twice as much as the second-highest-paid player in Major League Soccer, Los Angeles FC’s Son Heung-min. Messi’s new contract includes $25 million in base salary and $28,333,333 (approx. Rs 267 crore) in guaranteed compensation, the MLS Players Association said Tuesday in its first release of 2026 salaries. Miami’s $54.6 million payroll is more than $20 million higher than LAFC, which is second at $32.7 million, and nearly five times as much as Philadelphia’s league-low $11.7 million. Miami’s payroll is up from $46.8 million at the start of last season.

Toronto cut payroll to $21.4 million from $34.1 million at the start of 2025, and LAFC boosted its spending to $32.7 million from $22.4 million.

Total league compensation was $631 million and the average guaranteed compensation of $688,816 on April 16 was up 8.9% from $632,809 as of last Oct. 1.

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Messi’s initial MLS contract, agreed to in July 2023, included a $12 million base salary and annualized guaranteed compensation of $20,446,667. Messi agreed last October to a three-year contract through the 2028 season, then led the team to its first MLS title.

An attacker who turns 39 next month, Messi is captain of defending World Cup champion Argentina and is expected to play in his sixth World Cup. Messi has 59 goals in 64 regular-season games with Miami, including nine in 11 matches this season. He led MLS with 29 regular-season goals last season and won his second straight MVP award.

His salary figures are for his MLS contract and include any marketing bonus and agent’s fees but do not account for any additional agreements with the team or its affiliates, or for any performance bonuses.

Son is second at $10,368,750 in base salary and $11,152,852 in total compensation, the same as his figures last season. The 33-year-old winger joined LA last August.

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Midfielder Rodrigo de Paul, who signed with Miami last summer, is third at $7,569,000 in salary and $9,688,320 in total compensation, followed by Atlanta winger Miguel Almirón ($6,056,000, $7,871,000), San Diego winger Hirving Lozano ($6 million, $9,333,333), New York Red Bulls winger Emil Forsberg ($5,405,000, $6,035,625), Nashville forward Sam Surridge ($5.27 million, $5,933,000), LA Galaxy midfielder Riqui Puig ($5,125,000, $5,792,188), Vancouver attacker Thomas Müller ($5,000,004, $5,152,504) and Chicago winger Jonathan Bamba ($5 million, $5,581,806).

Cincinnati defender Miles Robinson topped MLS players in contention for spots on the U.S. World Cup roster at $3.5 million in base salary and $3.95 million in total compensation, followed by New England goalkeeper Matt Turner ($1,776,136, $1,942,886), Seattle midfielder Cristian Roldan ($1,645,000, $1,766,000), Charlotte midfielder Tim Ream ($1 million, $1,127,750), Columbus goalkeeper Patrick Schulte ($900,000, $1,032,083), Columbus left back/winger Max Arfsten ($800,000, $895,000), New York City goalkeeper Matt Freese ($675,000, $795,833), Cincinnati goalkeeper Roman Celentano ($525,000, $574,000), Salt Lake midfielder Diego Luna ($450,000, $500,833), Vancouver midfielder Sebastian Berhalter ($480,000) and Chicago goalkeeper Chris Brady ($250,000, $348,333).

Newcomers to the league include Toronto forward Josh Sargent ($3.21 million, $5,265,667), San Jose forward Timo Werner ($3,738,872, $4,268,039), Salt Lake winger Morgan Guilavogui ($2.2 million, $2,225,500), Houston forward Guilherme ($1,528,572, $1,925,230), LAFC midfielder Stephen Eustáquio ($1.8 million), D.C. forward Louis Munteanu ($1.19 million, $1,634,100) and Minnesota midfielder James Rodríguez ($684,000).

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Man City vs Crystal Palace LIVE Premier League latest, early team news and how to watch

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They could be the kingmakers in this title race, if the Eagles take points off either City tonight or Arsenal on the final day they could determine the destination of the title.

Palace have a Conference League final just days after that final day visit of the Gunners, prompting a fear that maybe Oliver Glasner will rotate, while it remains to be seen how strong a side the Eagles boss opts for tonight given the busy schedule they have had this term with a deep and historic run in Europe.

One thing is for sure, Glasner is not in the least bit bothered about City or Arsenal.

“I don’t think [about the title race]. If we get a point, we can’t equal our points records, so that’s what we are looking at.,” he said in the build up.

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LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - APRIL 25: Crystal Palace Manager / Head Coach Oliver Glasner reacts during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace at Anfield on April 25, 2026 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)

(Image: Oliver Glasner reacts during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace at Anfield on April 25, 2026)

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Umpire collision helps Mets beat Tigers 10-2 in dominant blowout win

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The New York Mets’ offseason priority for this year was run prevention, and with a little help from an umpire, that’s exactly what they got.

Just about everything has gone badly for the Mets this season, as they boast one of the league’s worst records at 16-25 despite their league-high $334.8 million payroll.

But finally, something broke their way.

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Detroit Tigers third baseman Colt Keith tagged out by New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez at Citi Field

Detroit Tigers third baseman Colt Keith is tagged out by New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez while trying to score during the fifth inning at Citi Field in New York City on May 12, 2026. (John Jones/Imagn Images)

The Mets led the Detroit Tigers, 3-2, in the top of the fifth inning when Detroit’s Riley Greene singled into right field, and Colt Keith headed to third.

Keith was safe, beating the throw that got away from third base, so Keith took a gamble and started sprinting toward home.

Detroit Tigers third baseman Colt Keith hitting a single at Citi Field

Detroit Tigers third baseman Colt Keith hits a single against the New York Mets during the fifth inning at Citi Field in New York City on May 12, 2026. (John Jones/Imagn Images)

EX-MLB PITCHER ACCUSED OF ‘CONTROLLING BEHAVIOR’ IN UGLY DIVORCE BATTLE AMID NUMEROUS 911 CALLS TO HOME

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However, when Keith started heading toward the plate, he crossed paths with third-base umpire Rob Drake. The two collided, and Drake fell right to the infield grass.

That held Keith up for just a couple of seconds, and it was enough for Keith to be thrown out by pitcher Freddy Peralta at home, ending the inning and killing a rally the Tigers could have needed.

The game wound up getting away from the Tigers later, as the Mets scored three runs in both the sixth and eighth innings, and the Mets’ bullpen was able to hold Detroit scoreless for the rest of the game for a 10-2 New York win.

Colt Keith of the Detroit Tigers reacting during a baseball game at Truist Park in Atlanta

Colt Keith of the Detroit Tigers reacts during the game against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia, on April 29, 2026. (Kathryn Skeean/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

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The Mets are the owners of the league’s longest losing streak of the season at 12 games, but they have now won six of their last 10 as they desperately try to turn things around.

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

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Miles traveled for all 32 NFL teams, with 49ers set for grueling season

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The 2026 NFL schedule is set to be released this Thursday night. Several games have been leaked, such as the full international schedule, which includes an NFL-record nine games. We also know the first few primetime matchups, such as the Cowboys at Giants on “Sunday Night Football” in Week 1, and Broncos at Chiefs on “Monday Night Football.”

While we don’t know the full NFL schedule just yet, we do know the opponents each team will play — home and away. Now that we also have the full international schedule, we know which teams will have the toughest travel schedules this upcoming season. 

Bill Speros of Bookies.com has calculated all of the miles each NFL team will travel in 2026, measuring from stadium to stadium. He discovered that teams will travel a total of 628,873 miles this year, which equals 25.2 trips around the circumference of the Earth. Let’s take a look at Speros’ research:

1

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San Francisco 49ers

38,105

2

Los Angeles Rams

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34,847

3

Houston Texans

28,470

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4

Dallas Cowboys

27,980

5

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New England Patriots

27,590

6

Miami Dolphins

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27,568

7

Los Angeles Chargers

24,816

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8

Jacksonville Jaguars

23,392

9

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Philadelphia Eagles

22,115

10

Seattle Seahawks

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22,056

11

New Orleans Saints

21,892

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12

Las Vegas Raiders

21,099

13

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Buffalo Bills

19,734

14

Denver Broncos

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19,129

15

Detroit Lions

18,958

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16

Washington Commanders

18,491

17

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Kansas City Chiefs

18,401

18

Tennessee Titans

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18,157

19

New York Giants

18,109

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20

Atlanta Falcons

17,431

21

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Baltimore Ravens

17,422

22

Indianapolis Colts

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15,868

23

Arizona Cardinals

15,646

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24

Cincinnati Bengals

15,177

25

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Minnesota Vikings

14,852

26

Pittsburgh Steelers

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14,183

27

New York Jets

14,038

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28

Green Bay Packers

12,673

29

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers

12,185

30

Chicago Bears

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10,676

31

Cleveland Browns

9,073

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32

Carolina Panthers

8,740

49ers set to make travel history

The 49ers are expected to break an NFL record with over 38,100 miles traveled. A big reason why is because they are participating in the first NFL Australia game, but also make a trip to Mexico City in Week 11. The 49ers will become the first NFL team to play multiple international games in non-consecutive weeks. Speros says the 49ers will cross 58 time zones, breaking the record of 42 set by the Chargers last year. 

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There is a caveat, however. If the 49ers bundle their two trips east (Giants and Falcons), they would not break the miles traveled record, per CBS Sports Research. However, we don’t know if those games will be close together on the schedule. Maybe the NFL gives San Francisco a break and puts those road matchups on back-to-back weeks so the 49ers can stay on that side of the country.

Panthers winners of the travel lottery

While the 49ers will travel the most miles in 2026, the Panthers will travel the fewest with 8,740. San Francisco travels 4.4x more miles than Carolina this year! The Panthers will make just six time zone changes, and don’t travel west of Minneapolis.

It’s a pretty nice benefit for the Panthers, who surprised many by clinching the NFC South last year for the first time since their last Super Bowl appearance with an 8-9 record. The Panthers kept up their momentum in the offseason, luring former Eagles pass rusher Jaelan Phillips and Jaguars linebacker Devin Lloyd to Charlotte with lucrative contracts in free agency. This is a team that wants to continue to improve, and the league has handed the franchise a big bonus with a lax travel schedule. 

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Vikings Add 3 More Candidates to GM Interview List

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Lions assitant GM Ray Agnew in 2025
Detroit Lions assistant general manager Ray Agnew watches warmup ahead of the Washington Commanders game at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Md. on Sunday, November 9, 2025. © Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Minnesota Vikings began interviews for their open general manager post on Monday, followed by a request to interview three more men on Tuesday.

Minnesota’s search now features nine names, including several assistant GMs from playoff-caliber front offices.

For now, Rob Brzezinski holds the interim title, but that could change before too long.

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Minnesota’s Front Office Search Gets Crowded

The Vikings’ search has become more expansive.

Lions assistant general manager Ray Agnew walks beside Graham Glasgow after training camp practice in Allen Park. Vikings GM candidates
Detroit Lions assistant general manager Ray Agnew walks off the field beside offensive lineman Graham Glasgow after practice during training camp on July 22, 2025, at Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, Michigan. Agnew remains one of the league’s notable front-office evaluators as Detroit continues building around one of the NFL’s deepest rosters entering the 2025 season. Mandatory Credit: Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.

Agnew, Burckardt, Smith Enter GM Mix for Vikings

The search is growing. NFL Network‘s Tom Pelissero tweeted, “The Vikings requested interviews with Lions assistant GM Ray Agnew, Broncos assistant GM Reed Burckhardt and Dolphins assistant GM Kyle Smith for their general manager job, sources say. Minnesota’s initial round of virtual interviews is underway and the list has now expanded.”

A to Z SportsTyler Forness added, “It shouldn’t be much of a surprise that Burckhardt is on the list. The Vikings would have seriously considered Broncos general manager George Paton for the position after being in Minnesota for 14 years, but he signed an extension. His No. 2 is an obvious choice to interview, not to mention spending 13 years with the Vikings himself.”

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Who’s Agnew?

Agnew was actually 1st-Round draft pick as a player in 1990 — a defensive tackle taken by the New England Patriots before they morphed into a dynasty.

Here’s Agnew’s recent employment history:

— Los Angeles Rams (2017–2020)
Director of Pro Personnel

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— Detroit Lions (2021–present)
Assistant General Manager

He’s had a front-row seat to the Lions’ turnaround, going from a bottom-dweller and laughingstock to one of the league’s premier rosters and teams in the last half-decade.

How about Burckhardt?

As mentioned by Forness, Burckhardt is no stranger to the Vikings, serving in various capacities from 2009 to 2022, including these positions:

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  • Operations Intern
  • Personnel Department Assistant
  • BLESTO Scout
  • Area Scout
  • Pro Scout
  • Assistant Director of Pro Scouting
  • Director of Pro Scouting

He followed George Paton to Denver, taking part in the recent transformation when Sean Payton took over three years ago. Given his background, the man should know how to draft, which the Vikings need.

Vikings owner Mark Wilf attends the NFL Annual League Meeting at the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix. Vikings GM candidates
Minnesota Vikings owner Mark Wilf stands during the NFL Annual League Meeting on March 30, 2026, at the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix, Arizona. Wilf participated in offseason discussions involving league business, scheduling, and organizational planning as the Vikings prepared for another pivotal offseason featuring roster decisions and front-office changes around the franchise entering the summer. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.

SI.com‘s Zack Kelberman on Burckhardt, “Burckhardt, a Minnesota native who spent 13 seasons working in the Vikings’ personnel department, is one of multiple candidates for the job. The Vikings also requested interviews with Detroit Lions assistant GM Ray Agnew and Miami Dolphins assistant GM Kyle Smith. Burckhardt’s candidacy is closely linked to George Paton, who served as the Vikings’ assistant GM from 2007 to 2020 before taking over as Broncos GM in 2021.”

“Paton brought Burckhardt to Denver the following year as director of player personnel, and the latter steadily rose through the ranks. Promoted to assistant general manager in 2025, he now oversees both pro personnel and college scouting.”

And Smith …

The Vikings onboarded Smith as an undrafted free-agent wide receiver in 2006, sticking around for a few months before continuing his brief NFL journey. He’s the current assistant general manager in Miami, a job he just obtained this offseason.

Here’s his resume as an executive:

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— Washington Commanders (2010–2020)
Scouting Intern (2010)
Scout
(2011–2016)
Director of College Personnel
(2017–2019)
Vice President of Player Personnel
(2020)

— Atlanta Falcons (2021–2025)
Vice President of Player Personnel (2021–2022)
Assistant General Manager (2023–2025)

Miami Dolphins (2026–present)
Assistant General Manager

Smith crossed paths with Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell in Washington before O’Connell took the offensive coordinator job with the Los Angeles Rams, which later propelled him to the Vikings.

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Vikings fans wearing Justin Jefferson and T.J. Hockenson jerseys gather outside White Hart Lane station in London. Vikings GM candidates
Fans wearing Minnesota Vikings jerseys gather outside White Hart Lane station before kickoff on Oct. 5, 2025, ahead of an NFL International Series game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England. Supporters wearing T.J. Hockenson and Justin Jefferson jerseys packed the surrounding streets as Minnesota continued expanding its international footprint with another overseas appearance. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.

A to Z Sports‘ Kyle Crabbs on Smith: “If Minnesota ends up sniping Kyle Smith just months into his tenure with the Miami Dolphins, the only thing to do will be to laugh. It’d be a cruel twist for Sullivan to lose his right hand man, especially after the glimpses we got of Smith in the Dolphins’ draft room appeared to show a strong rapport with Sullivan.”

“Smith also impressed during draft weekend for how he handled the press availabilities after Miami’s selections. He’s impressive. And a general manager job feels probable in his future. It shouldn’t be too much to ask from the football gods to request that it doesn’t happen in 2026, though.”

The Full List of Combatants

To level set, here’s the full list of known Vikings general manager candidates:

  • Chad Alexander (Chargers Assistant GM)
  • Rob Brzezinski (Vikings Interim GM)
  • Ray Agnew (Lions Assistant GM)
  • Reed Burckhardt (Broncos Assistant GM)
  • RJ Gillen (49ers Assistant GM)
  • Terrance Gray (Bills Assistant GM)
  • John McKay (Rams Assistant GM)
  • Kyle Smith (Dolphins Assistant GM)
  • Nolan Teasley (Seahawks Assistant GM)
  • Dave Ziegler (Titans Assistant GM)

At the current pace, Minnesota should have a decision announced within a week.


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Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker
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Teddy Atlas ranks one man above Mayweather and Crawford as the best welterweight of all time

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Teddy Atlas has named who he believes to be the greatest welterweight of all time, surpassing the likes of Floyd Mayweather and Terence Crawford.

Mayweather and Crawford are viewed by many as two of the best 147lb fighters in history, with Mayweather having claimed huge wins over fighters such as Manny Pacquiao and Shane Mosley, while Crawford notably beat Errol Spence to become undisputed champion.

Despite those accolades, Atlas believes neither Mayweather or Crawford are deserving of the number one spot when it comes to welterweight’s greatest ever competitor, instead revealing on his YouTube channel that he gives that honour to Sugar Ray Robinson.

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“[He] may be the greatest fighter of all time, Sugar Ray Robinson. 173 wins, 19 losses, most of ‘em when he was old, six draws, 108 knockouts. That is a lot of knockouts. That is a lot of fights.

“He had a 91-fight unbeaten streak – that is pretty good. Those losses, like I said, most of ‘em came when he was old, way beyond his prime. Welter and middleweight champ, he would have won the light-heavyweight title too.

“He was fighting [Joey Maxim] at Yankee Stadium, it was about 105 degrees in the ring on a summer night outdoors in June. The referee got carried out earlier from heat prostration, he got carried out of the ring – it was that hot, it was that brutal.

“I forget what round it was, it was a very late round [13] and Robinson collapsed. He was ahead in the fight, he was going to win the light-heavyweight title and he collapsed from heat prostration, just like the referee had done four or five rounds earlier.”

It is certainly hard to argue with the assessment of Atlas, with Robinson holding the world welterweight title for five years from 1946 to 1951, where he went on a remarkable 91-fight unbeaten streak.

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At one stage he had recorded 129 wins from 132 fights, with 85 knockouts along the way, before finally hanging up the gloves in 1965 having won 174 of his 201 fights, making it clear why so many rightfully hold him in such high regard.

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Carrick on brink of permanent Man Utd job: reports

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Michael Carrick is expected to be recommended as Manchester United’s permanent manager by club chiefs after overseeing a dramatic improvement in the club’s fortunes, it was widely reported on Wednesday.

The 44-year-old took over for the rest of the campaign in January following an acrimonious end to Ruben Amorim’s rocky Red Devils reign.

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United clinched Champions League qualification with three matches to spare after being out of the competition for two seasons.

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Carrick, appointed on January 13, has won 10 of his 15 matches in charge in all competitions, losing just twice, to guide United from seventh to third in the Premier League table.

The Athletic reported that chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox would recommend to co-owner Jim Ratcliffe that Carrick be offered the role at an executive meeting this week.

United have explored other options but Carrick has long been considered the frontrunner for a job that he has been publicly backed for by a number of players.

Some bookmakers have suspended betting on his appointment.

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Carrick is set to face the media on Friday ahead of Sunday’s final home game of the season against Nottingham Forest.

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“Mohammed Siraj Was Terrible With RCB, Has Become Deadly Bowler”: India’s World Cup Winner’s Big Remark

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File photo of Mohammed Siraj.© X (formerly Twitter)




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Mohammed Siraj has been one of the impressive pacers in the ongoing season of the Indian Premier League. He has scalped 13 wickets in 12 matches while bowling at an economy rate of 8.23. India’s 1983 World Cup winner Kris Srikkanth has credited Gujarat Titans for the transformation of the fast bowler. Siraj made his IPL debut for Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2017. He then moved to Royal Challengers Bengaluru and played seven seasons for the side before being bought by Gujarat Titans.

Srikkanth also praised GT for picking players like Sai Sudharsan and Washington Sundar and giving them opportunities. He made the remarks in a video on his YouTube channel, as quoted by Sportskeeda.

“(Mohammed) Siraj was terrible with RCB. But here, he has become a deadly bowler. Similarly, no other team would have even taken Sai Sudarshan. Yet, GT have transformed him to a different level. He has made Washington Sundar score at No.4 and turned him into a batting allrounder,” the former India opener said in the video.

Despite lacking big stars in the team, GT have players to challenge any side in the IPL. Shubman Gill has been leading the team since IPL 2024. Before that, Hardik Pandya was the team’s skipper.

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“They have a brilliant bowling lineup. And they still have Washington Sundar, who they don’t use only. Jason Holder doesn’t even give 25 to 30 runs every match. He bowls brilliantly in the middle overs and takes wickets for them,” Srikkanth added.

Gujarat Titans have been one of the most consistent sides in IPL history since their inception in 2022. In their very first season, the side won its maiden title. In the following three editions, GT made it to the playoffs twice. They have nearly booked their spot in the IPL 2026 playoffs as well. Gujarat have 16 points from 12 matches, and just one more victory will put an official stamp on their entry into the next round.


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Errol Spence names the champion he was targeting before signing Tszyu comeback fight: “I’m not crazy”

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Errol Spence Jr will end three years of inactivity in July when he faces Tim Tszyu in Australia.

The main event will mark Spence’s first time bouncing back from defeat, following a conclusive stoppage loss to Terence Crawford in 2023 for the undisputed welterweight title.

Due to the nature of that loss and past injuries, many felt Spence’s time as a fighter had come to an end, and were expecting a retirement announcement rather than the confirmation of a comeback.

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Despite fears he will no longer be the same elite fighter – worries Spence has admitted he shares – the former unified champion was angling for an even tougher test than Tszyu.

Speaking to former opponent Shawn Porter on FOX Sports, Spence confirmed that the long-rumoured clash with Sebastian Fundora was top of his hit list.

“[Tszyu] wasn’t the best that I could get. I’m not crazy, but I bar nothing. So I was looking at Fundora, I was looking at top names.

“I’m the type of guy I really don’t believe in ring rust. If I look good in the gym for nine, ten weeks, why I can’t look good in the fight? That’s a mental thing … I feel like come fight night I’m gonna show everybody that ring rust is not a thing. It’s not a thing for me at all.”

WBC super-welterweight champion Fundora had openly discussed the Spence fight, with several rumoured dates coming and going over the past twelve months. ‘The Towering Inferno’ instead faced Keith Thurman back in March, retaining his belt by sixth-round stoppage.

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Should Spence beat Tszyu and look good doing it, he may well look to re-enter those talks. His return will be set at a catchweight of 158lbs with a view to making it down to 154.

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O’Ree finalist Sonny Sekhon is building community with the Punjabi Elite League

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Sonny Sekhon still remembers the moment it took hold, this love that’s governed the past three decades of his life.

He was four years old, sitting on the couch beside his grandfather in his family home in Edmonton. The Oilers were on the TV, and the city, in 1990, was still basking in the glow of a dynastic run that had seen the club amass five Stanley Cups in seven years.

“My dad’s dad, he came to Canada in 1983. I don’t know what the fascination was, I don’t know why he was so quick to gravitate to the Oilers,” Sekhon says. “My uncles, they all play field hockey, so that was one theory. The other theory is just that it was the ’80s Oilers — how could you not love them?”

Sekhon remembers seeing that love in his grandfather that day on the couch.

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“I can remember it vividly,” he continues. “Watching these hockey games. I remember him yelling at the TV in Punjabi. This guy — who never saw ice in his life, didn’t speak English, wore a turban and had a full beard — I remember his passion for this game that at that point had probably no place for someone like him.”

Growing up in a city whose love for the sport had reached a fever pitch, Sekhon found himself at a rink a few years later, ready to take the ice for the first time. He got a sense then of his own place in the game, too.

“I remember going to my first-ever tryouts,” he says. “My actual legal name is Harinder Singh Sekhon — Sonny is my [nickname]. And I remember going to Clare Drake Arena, my mom dropping me off. I’m all ready to go, and the coaches come in and do a roll call. You know, it’s ‘Brady,’ ‘Matt,’ very Canadian English names — and then the instructor says ‘Harinder.’ And these kids start giggling. And I just remember feeling upset. I remember sitting in the room and crying.”

But in the same moment he first felt the game’s ability to push him away, Sekhon felt its capacity to bring a room together, too, when the father of another kid at the skate came over to offer some words of encouragement.

“He sat beside me on the bench and put his arm around me, and he just told me about how much he loved the game,” Sekhon says. “He said, ‘You know, I bet you’re going to get out there and I bet you’re going to love it. And if you don’t, that’s okay.’ So, I bought in, I was like, ‘Yeah, I’ll give it a try.’

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“And here we are, 33 years later, talking about why I love the game.”

In those 33 years, Sekhon’s passion for the sport has become a foundational piece of his life in Edmonton. On Monday, he was announced as one of three Canadian finalists for the NHL’s Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award, an honour granted by the league to those who positively impact their community through hockey.

Sekhon’s nomination comes as a result of his role in founding the Punjabi Elite League, a ball hockey program in Edmonton aimed at fostering connection within the city’s Punjabi community and creating opportunities for Punjabi youth in the sport.

The seeds of the league were first planted eight years ago, when Sekhon and some friends started organizing three-on-three ball hockey tournaments in Edmonton as an off-shoot of a larger tournament held down the road in Calgary. A league eventually took shape, the Punjabi Ball Hockey League, run by others in the community, bringing together hundreds of players — including Sekhon, who suited up as a captain for one of the PBHL’s squads.

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Then, in 2025, a plot twist thrust Sekhon into a far more central role.

“I wasn’t even playing anymore — I have a small son, my focus was him,” he says. “It was April 1st — I thought these guys were playing a joke on me. I was standing in the lobby of the Bellagio [in Las Vegas], I was going to the Oilers game that day, and my phone starts to ring. One after another, I’m getting phone calls from different captains in the PBHL and they’re saying, ‘Check your email, check your email.’ Out of nowhere, the league had decided to fold.”

Sekhon, who’s long been involved in community organizing in Edmonton and has spent a decade-and-a-half helping to organize the city’s hallowed Brick Invitational Hockey Tournament — which hosted the likes of Steven Stamkos, Auston Matthews and Macklin Celebrini as 10-year-olds — was called on to chart a path forward.

“That’s where the [Punjabi Elite] League started,” Sekhon says. “I already had all this infrastructure from the tournaments. … I didn’t promise anything, but I said I would try. We had a very tight turnaround. And it’s a very expensive venture to start a league.

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“But we made it happen.”

In addition to founding the PEL, Sekhon has spent a decade-and-a-half helping to organize Edmonton's Brick Invitational Hockey Tournament, which hosted the likes of Steven Stamkos, Auston Matthews and Macklin Celebrini as 10-year-olds. (Photo courtesy of Sonny Sekhon)
In addition to founding the PEL, Sekhon has spent a decade-and-a-half helping to organize Edmonton’s Brick Invitational Hockey Tournament, which hosted the likes of Steven Stamkos, Auston Matthews and Macklin Celebrini as 10-year-olds. (Photo courtesy of Sonny Sekhon)

It wasn’t easy. Logistics aside, there was also life to deal with. Sekhon’s young son was navigating some health issues at the time. The family was stretched thin, looking for answers. 

If Sekhon was going to take on trying to fill the gap left by the PBHL, he knew he couldn’t do it alone. He reached out to Arjun Atwal, a junior hockey and USports standout who’s heavily involved with Edmonton’s community sports scene as well — and a former O’Ree Award nominee himself — to help get the new league off the ground.

“The first two weeks were such a blur,” Sekhon says. “It was a lot of us calling anyone we knew. A lot of phone calls asking for favours, trying to get ice time, trying to get floor time, trying to find referees. No exaggeration, literally hundreds of hours combined. … We knew that if we could pull it off and we could just get it going, then we could sustain it. So, we put everything we could into it.

“We’re in Season 2 now. The games are going on — we’ve got five games tonight, five games tomorrow. We love it.”

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Now in full flight, the Punjabi Elite League consists of eight teams, each run by its captain, the rosters sorted through a live draft. Players can be traded, and there’s a waiver wire in case injuries shake up a roster. The squads play a 14-game season, with a social-media team working to tell players’ stories along the way.

The goal for the future is to keep building — the league is planning on expanding to add a women’s hockey season and growing its programming for kids. And while the PEL charges for men’s hockey, on par with other men’s leagues in the city, all its current programming for women’s hockey development and youth hockey is free, says Sekhon.

The impact has already been clear to Sekhon in the kids he’s seen fall in love with the game like he once did.

“You just see the growth and development in the players. You see them coming out of their shells,” Sekhon says. “We have one kid in our program — this is a guy that was a little nervous to play, took time away from the game, came to one of our summer summits, played ball hockey, played ice hockey, we did some seminars with him. And then this year he actually was the Rona Skater [at an Oilers game].

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“We got to watch this kid who wasn’t sure if this was his jam — and he’s taking a warm-up lap with the Oilers flag and standing on the ice with the players. You know, it’s very surreal.”

For Sekhon, it goes beyond hockey. It’s about something more deeply rooted, a philosophy that’s long guided his understanding of what it means to be part of a community.

“I don’t go to the Gurdwara often, but I grew up in a Sikh family. And there’s a tenant [in Sikhism] — it’s called seva, which means selfless service to the community,” he says. “I always liked that. For me, the spiritual connection was always just doing work for the people around you. That was always in the back of my mind.”

It’s much the same story for the others helping to run the Punjabi Elite League, too.

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“You can see that belief in seva echo through the whole league,” Sekhon says. “On April 1st this year, we had our largest kids’ game ever. We had 63 kids sign up and we had 47 show up. We anticipated we would have 30, so we were slammed. It was way more than me and Arjun could possibly handle ourselves. So, I put the call out, I sent a message to all the captains. To no surprise, every single captain came. We had our female coaches from the ice-hockey side come, we had sponsors come, we had parents of kids come. All of a sudden, we have like 75 people there — no one’s getting paid, people are taking half-days off work, no questions asked.

“Because they all also believe in seva, also believe that we have to do these things. We have to pay it forward. If no one’s willing to roll up their sleeves, these opportunities don’t just arrive for their kids.”

Sekhon helps coach a session for AZ1 Hockey, along with Arjun Atwal (left) and Dampy Brar (right). (Photo courtesy of Sonny Sekhon)
Sekhon helps coach a session for AZ1 Hockey, along with Arjun Atwal (left) and Dampy Brar (right). (Photo courtesy of Sonny Sekhon)

It’s not only the kids in the community feeling the impact of this work, though, this effort to expand the ideas of who the game belongs to and who belongs to the game. Sekhon got an unforgettable reminder of that a few years back, during a conversation with his father. 

“My dad came from Ludhiana, Punjab, in 1974. You know, like so many stories, he took any job he could get — cutting grass, driving a taxi — and eventually made his way out west,” Sekhon says. “I remember three years ago, when the Oilers did their first-ever South Asian night, I requested they do a jersey with ‘Sekhon’ on the back and ‘74.’ … I tried to give it to him, and my dad was like, ‘No, no, you keep it. It’s yours.’ But I remember when he turned it around and he looked at the number, I thought he was going to cry.

“I think just, for him, within a generation, just being able to see his culture, see his son,” Sekhon continues, his voice breaking for a moment, overcome with emotion. “I just don’t think he ever would have imagined it.”

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Sekhon’s hope is that one day these gestures won’t seem so moving, that the sport will get to a place wherein there will be no need for such displays of acceptance — no need, even, for the Punjabi Elite League.

“My long-term goal is to put myself out of business,” he says. “Because I would love to live in a world where we don’t have to organize community-based leagues, because everybody is just so accepted.

“But the need exists because that’s not the case. Until it is the case, I’m there. I’ll always be there.”

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‘A celebration of French football’ as Lens host Paris Saint-Germain – Sports

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Paris Saint-Germain face Lens on Wednesday in a rescheduled match from the 29th round of Ligue 1, with both teams’ league positions already decided. It will be “a celebration of French football”, according to PSG coach Luis Enrique.

Also in this sports roundup:

The Ligue 1 dream continues for Rodez after beating Red Star in the first round of the Ligue 2 playoffs. In tennis, Jannik Sinner continues to break records. The fourth stage of the Giro d’Italia has concluded. The NBA is in mourning after the sudden death of Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke at the age of 29.

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