Lionel Messi scored a stunning free-kick in the 95th minute to secure Paris Saint-Germain a 4-3 victory over Lille in an extraordinary Ligue 1 clash on Sunday. The game witnessed Kylian Mbappe score twice, but PSG’s Neymar was taken off on a stretcher due to an ankle injury.

PSG went two goals up, but their lead was squandered as Lille made an impressive comeback to take the lead, leaving the home side trailing 3-2. However, Mbappe managed to level the score in the 84th minute before Messi’s 95th-minute winner.

The victory has ended PSG’s run of three straight defeats and has taken them seven points clear at the top of the league, ahead of second-placed Monaco, who beat Brest 2-1 away.

Despite the win, PSG manager Mauricio Pochettino admitted that it wasn’t a great performance by his side. Meanwhile, Mbappe, who was happy with the result, acknowledged that PSG made a lot of mistakes in the game.

While PSG’s victory was undoubtedly sweet, the Parisians will be concerned about Neymar’s injury, which forced him to leave the field early in the second half. The Brazilian forward was in tears as he was helped onto a stretcher after turning his right ankle.

PSG will play Marseille in their next game, and a win for the latter could put them back up to second place, within five points of the league leaders.

Former Pakistani fast bowler, Shoaib Akhtar, emphasized the importance of confidence and communication skills for sportsmen during media interactions.

The Rawalpindi Express noted that current Pakistani cricketers struggle to respond to questions from the media and there is currently no superstar in the national team as no one can speak on camera.

Shoaib, who is now 47 years old, believes that if a sportsman lacks the courage to answer questions in front of a camera, it could impact their performance on the field.

When asked about recent management changes in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Shoaib commented on the unpopularity of Ramiz Raja when he was Chairman of PCB.

However, he stated that the current situation in the PCB is turbulent and unstable, and it is not the right time for him to accept any responsibilities within the board.

Rumors circulated that Shoaib was likely to join the PCB as Chief Selector for the national team after the interim management period ended last month.

However, Shoaib’s recent comments suggest that he is not currently interested in the role due to the prevailing situation.

 Shoaib Akhtar was known for his aggressive and intimidating pace during his playing days and is considered one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time.

Babar Azam’s impeccable batting technique has been lauded once again as it became a part of an international cricket coaching lecture at the prestigious International Coaching Cricket Center in the UK.

The Pakistani captain’s remarkable batting prowess has earned him a reputation as one of the finest batsmen of the modern era.

A recent viral video features a coach breaking down the subtleties of Babar Azam’s batting technique in a lecture titled “Track the ball early and move to the finishing line.” The coach emphasizes Azam’s incredible ability to hold his stance and remain still, even when the ball is halfway down the pitch, and stresses the importance of mentally processing the delivery before playing the ball.

Babar Azam’s extraordinary batting technique is highly regarded by cricket enthusiasts and experts around the world, and the fact that it is being taught at an international cricket coaching center is evidence of his ability and prominence in the game.

His exceptional performances with the bat have earned him recognition as one of the best batsmen in the world, and his technique continues to be analyzed and admired by cricketing professionals.

Tim David, a flamboyant Singaporean-Australian player, will be absent from Multan Sultans for a minimum of the initial seven games of this year’s Pakistan Super League (PSL).

The adjustment came just after the cricket player’s trainer advised that he consider about reducing his effort.

Presently, Tim is in South Africa to play for MI Cape Town in South Africa’s T20 league (SAT20). After participating in the Big Bash Series in Australia, he promptly booked a trip to South Africa and has appeared in over forty games in the past six months.

According to insiders, his trainers first advised him to choose between the PSL and the SAT20, but the flashy all-rounder said he couldn’t miss the PSL due to his connection with the league.

Tim David now will join the team in the initial week of March, albeit he will forgo the team’s first seven games, as per Multan Sultan’s official.

If we make it to the playoffs, he’ll be available for the final three games, according to Multan Sultans CEO Haider Azhar.

Daren Sammy, a two-time T20 World Cup captain, is enjoying his time as Peshawar Zalmi’s head coach as they attempt to capture their second Pakistan Super League championship (PSL).

In preparation for the eighth season of the PSL, Sammy is presently leading a training camp in Karachi for Zalmi’s team. Sammy imitated Cristiano Ronaldo’s reaction by pulling off his jersey and sprinting around the field as the Peshawar team was playing football during a training session.

The amusing video makes Sammy’s love of cricket and his powerful personality very obvious.

The 39-year-old is considered one of cricket’s greatest T20 leaders in history and is quickly making a name for him as one the game’s most acclaimed trainers.

Prior to taking a year off in 2022, Sammy had served as Zalmi’s head trainer in PSL 2020 and 2021.

On February 14 at the National Bank Cricket Arena, Peshawar Zalmi will play their season opener against Karachi Kings. The Yellow jersey team is committed to winning their first championship since 2017

Karim Benzema of Real Madrid, Kylian Mbappe of Paris St. Germain, and forward Lionel Messi of Argentina make up the shortlist for the FIFA Best Male Player award, the world governing body of soccer said on Friday.

Messi may receive his second The Best award after enabling Argentina to win their 3rd World Cup championship by defeating Mbappe’s France in last year’s finale in Qatar, netting seven goals during the tournament, and receiving his second Golden Ball.

The French 2022 Ballon d’Or winner Mbappe and the World Cup Golden Boot winner Benzema both make their first debuts as among 3 finalists.

The Spain player Alexia Putellas may win the Best Women’s Player title for the second season in a row despite losing to a knee injury in July. 

Forward another contender is Beth Mead, who was the top scorer and best player at the Euro 2022 championship and contributed to England’s victory.

Forward Alex Morgan of the United States, a finalist in 2019, completes the list.

The winners will be revealed at an event in Paris on February 27.

Cristiano Ronaldo netted all four goals as Al Nassr defeated Al Wehda 4-0 on Thursday in the Saudi League, hitting the 500-goal mark for his footballing career.

As of now, the 38-year-old Portuguese best has 503 goals over five teams and five divisions.

For Al Nassr, the squad he joined following the World Cup Final and his departure from Manchester United, Ronaldo has had five goals.

He netted his 500th goal on Thursday in the 21st minute with a left-footed strike with his right foot; he made it 2-0 just before halftime.  It was his 61st career hat trick.  Soon after the end of the half, he added a fourth as he was the first one to a rebound.

Ronaldo has become the icon of the conservative kingdom’s drive to improve its reputation through sports, which has provoked accusations of a campaign to downplay its record on human rights.

Saudi has been planning to host 2023 world cup and the massive amount, according to the sources, includes 200 million euros to achieve the plan to host it.

Russian athletes have a lengthy history of exclusion from international competitions, and the potential for a suspension from the 2024 Summer Games as a result of the invasion of Ukraine has only contributed to their long tradition of displeasure with international sports regulating bodies.

Since the International Olympic Committee (IOC) authorized Russia’s and Belarus’ request to compete as neutrals at the 2024 Summer Games in Paris, there have been growing calls to outlaw this practice.

The US, Germany, and Australia are among the 35 countries that, according to the Lithuanian sports minister, will increase pressure on the IOC by requesting that Russian and Belarusian athletes be barred from competing in the 2024 Olympics.

Ukraine and some of its supporters have already vowed to quit the Paris Olympics if Russian and Belarusian participants compete, despite the IOC leaving it up to global federations to determine whether they should be given a path to qualify.

Former sprinter and four-time Olympian Irina Privalova has been appointed as the Russian athletics association’s deputy director. She vehemently disagreed with the notion of allowing Russian athletes who doesn’t support the annexation to compete under the guise of refugees.

She informed the media that athletes as well as any citizen who disagrees with Vladimir Putin’s choice must not represent the country.

As Pakistan’s most popular and awaited t20 cricket series, the Pakistan Super League’s 8th edition is about to begin on 13th February, and the trophy for the game has been unveiled.

In a ceremony held at the historic architectural site, Shalimar Gardens all cricketers and franchise owners came together and the PCB management chairman, Najam Sethi unveiled the trophy titled the ‘24-Karat Supernova’.

The fans are super hyped for the event and just yesterday, PSL also announced the star-studded artists’ lineup for the official anthem this year which will feature Asim Azhar, Faris Shafi, and Shae Gill with music by Abdullah Siddique.

The 24-Karat Supernova Trophy is made in Pakistan to support local businesses as well as promote the skilled craftsmanship of the country.

The three pillars of the trophy stand for the motto of the Pakistan national cricket team which is ‘Unity, Passion, and Strength’.

PSL 8 is set to begin on the 13th of this month with the opening game between Lahore Qalandars and Multan Sultans at Multan Cricket Stadium.