Kimi Antonelli, 20, becomes Formula One's youngest champion by finishing third in Mexico City as Max Verstappen wins

The stories

37 stories on this beat today.

Every story told the same way: what happened, who is involved, why it matters, how it works, the truth and the good news.

1. 01

   Kimi Antonelli, 20, becomes Formula One's youngest champion by finishing third in Mexico City as Max Verstappen wins

   20

   years old: Antonelli, the youngest champion in Formula One's history

   Sebastian Vettel was 23 when he set the old record in 2010 [7]

   9 of 19

   race weekends won by Antonelli this season

   he stood on the podium 16 times [7]

   $1 billion

   Mercedes' expected income this year

   the team took in $849 million last year [8]

   What happened

   • Kimi Antonelli, 20, became Formula One's youngest ever world champion on Sunday in Mexico City. [1]
   • He clinched the title by finishing third, behind Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton. [1]
   • Formula One still has 4 races left this season, so nobody can now catch him. [2]
   • Russell was the favourite before this season, with Mercedes starting in the best car. [6]
   • Antonelli then won 5 races in a row early on and took control. [6]
   • He has won 9 races and stood on the podium 16 times in 19 race weekends. [7]
   • Sebastian Vettel held the old record: he was 23 when he won in 2010. [7]
   • Antonelli is the first Italian champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953. [1]
   • It is Mercedes' 10th drivers' title, and its first since Hamilton won in 2020. [8]
   • On lap one, Ferrari's Charles Leclerc cut a corner to take the lead from Hamilton. [9]
   • The stewards, the race's referees, gave Leclerc a 5-second penalty. [9]
   • Hamilton said on the radio that Ferrari had "big, big problems". [10]
   • A crash by Valtteri Bottas's Cadillac stopped the race with a red flag. [9]
   • Verstappen held on for his 6th win in Mexico and moved up to second overall. [2]
   • He now trails Antonelli by 119 points. [2]
   • Mercedes' yearly income is expected to top $1 billion, a person who knows its finances said. [8]
   • Last year the team took in $849 million. [8]
   • Its profit last year, £167 million, was a Formula One record. [8]
   • New sponsors this year include Microsoft and Stripe, a payments company. [8]

   Who is involved

   Antonelli drives for Mercedes, which took him into its young driver programme at 12. [3]

   • Max Verstappen Red Bull's driver; won in Mexico and moved up to second
   • Lewis Hamilton a seven-time champion, now at Ferrari; second, and angry with his teammate
   • Kimi Antonelli a 20-year-old Mercedes driver from Bologna in Italy; the new world champion
   • Charles Leclerc Hamilton's Ferrari teammate; penalised for cutting a corner to take the lead
   • Microsoft new sponsor
   • Stripe payments company, new sponsor
   • Mercedes the team that signed Antonelli as a child; its income is heading for $1 billion

   How it unfolded

   His family could not afford to pay for every step on the way to Formula One. [4]

   Mercedes chose him last season to replace Lewis Hamilton, who left for Ferrari. [3]

   As a rookie he scored less than half the points of his teammate, George Russell. [5]

   1. 1953 Alberto Ascari
   2. Now Kimi Antonelli
   3. 2010 Sebastian Vettel becomes champion at 23 [7]
   4. 2025 Antonelli replaces Hamilton at Mercedes [3]
   5. Early 2026 five wins in a row put him in front [6]
   6. 1 Nov third in Mexico seals the title [1]

   Why it matters

   Russell, the pre-season favourite, finished sixth and fell out of the top three overall. [9]

   How it works

   Sports science calls it talent identification: spotting a child early and paying for each step. [4]

   A Mercedes scout flew to Italy to watch him race karts when he was 11. [4]

   Why Yamaha can stay home from a race its organiser calls safe

   Safety managers call it a duty of care: each employer must judge a danger for its own people, so one race can get two answers.

   The twist

   MotoGP can promise that the Qatar race is safe. It cannot take over Yamaha's duty to Yamaha's own staff, so Yamaha decides for itself, and it chose to stay away.

   The picture

   Yamahastays home

   vsvs

   MotoGPraces on

   Step by step

   1. 1 A hazard, something that can hurt people, exists: a war near the track, or a virus where a player has been
   2. 2 Each employer owes its own people a duty of care, so it makes its own risk assessment
   3. 3 Safety courses rank the controls: removing the hazard comes first, rules and promises come last
   4. 4 Staying away removes the danger; assurances only make it smaller
   5. 5 So two employers can judge one event and give two different answers

   The same force, elsewhere today

   Where this chain is also running, in today's other stories.

   • Yamaha pulls out of the Qatar race

     Yamaha kept its company-wide travel limits, the strongest control there is, while MotoGP relied on assurances from Qatar and its advisers.

   • Asa Tribe turned away over Ebola

     Saint Kitts and Nevis removed the risk at its border with a 21-day entry ban, so a player England picked could not come in.

   • Barbra Banda misses Orlando's last games

     US health rules applied the same 21-day control to her after a match in Uganda, and her club lost her for three games.

   • Formula One's last two races

     Formula One accepted security promises for Qatar and Abu Dhabi but readied Imola as a back-up, a second control in case the first fails.

   Where you've seen this

   Airlines and war zones

   each airline judges a country's airspace for its own crews, so some fly over it while others go around.

   Snow days at school

   one head teacher closes and the next school opens, because each answers for its own pupils.

   Building sites

   safety courses teach that removing a danger beats a hard hat, which only softens the blow.

   The catch

   Staying away is not free: Yamaha may be punished under its contract, and Tribe lost his place on a tour.

   And the whole of it

   Everyone travelling to Qatar next weekend is trusting a judgment that someone else made about a war none of them controls. The mechanics and staff of each team see least of how that judgment was made, and they are the ones who board the plane.

   The truth

   • What is really going on Mercedes won Formula One's title with a driver it has paid to develop since he was 12, and its income is heading for a record $1 billion. [3][8]
   • Mercedes gains twice: income heading for a record now, and this season's prize money next year. [8]
   • Nobody knows yet if the last two races, in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, will go ahead. [11]
   • Who gains Mercedes — A title season brings new sponsors such as Microsoft and Stripe, and income heading for $1 billion. [8]
   • Who gains Max Verstappen and Red Bull — Ferrari's two drivers fought each other on lap one, and Verstappen took the win and second place overall. [2]
   • Nobody knows yet

     Whether Formula One's last two races, in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, will go ahead.

     Formula One says it has security guarantees it considers suitable, but it is readying Imola in Italy in case the Gulf races cannot be held. [11]

   What comes next

   Imola, in Italy, is being readied in case the two Gulf races cannot go ahead. [11]

1. 02

   Florida State fires its coach and owes him $50 million

   What happened

   • Florida State University fired its American football coach, Mike Norvell, on Sunday. [23]
   • A day earlier, Clemson beat them 36-24 at home, leaving 3 wins and 5 losses. [23]
   • The university now owes Norvell about $50 million, money known as a buyout. [15]
   • Only Jimbo Fisher, near $77 million, and Brian Kelly, $54 million, were paid more to leave. [15]

   Who is involved

   • Florida State the university
   • Mike Norvell head coach, fired

   How it unfolded

   In 2023 his team won all 13 games and its conference, the ACC. [24]

   Since then Florida State has won 10 games and lost 23. [24]

   Why it matters

   Florida State gave Norvell a longer, richer deal after 2023, which made firing him costly. [25]

   How it works

   In contract law this is mitigation: the sum shrinks if Norvell finds another job. [15]

   The truth

   • Reports differ on the bill: about $50 million, or just under $49 million. [23][25]
   • Who pays Florida State University — It owes about $50 million to a coach it no longer employs, because it lengthened his contract after 2023. [15][25]
   • Nobody knows yet

     How much Florida State will finally pay Mike Norvell.

     The Athletic puts the buyout at about $50 million and CBS Sports at just under $49 million, and either falls if he takes another job. [23][25]

   What comes next

   Rick Stockstill, Middle Tennessee's head coach for 18 seasons, takes over for now. [24]

2. 03

   Arsenal win at Anfield for the first time since 2012

   What happened

   • Arsenal beat Liverpool 1-0 at Anfield, Liverpool's ground, in England's Premier League on Sunday. [26]
   • It was Arsenal's first league win there since September 2012. [26]
   • Kai Havertz scored the only goal, his first in 10 games. [26]
   • Arsenal are now 3 points clear of Manchester City at the top. [27]
   • Liverpool wanted a penalty when Arsenal's Jurrien Timber pulled Alexander Isak's shirt. [21]
   • Neither the referee nor the video referee, called VAR, gave the penalty. [21]
   • Liverpool's manager, Andoni Iraola, said he will now tell Isak to go to the floor. [21]

   Who is involved

   • Arsenal won 1-0
   • Liverpool lost at home
   • Jurrien Timber Arsenal, pulled the shirt
   • Alexander Isak Liverpool, stayed on his feet

   How it unfolded

   The win came four days after Arsenal lost to Fleetwood Town, a fourth-tier club. [28]

   1. 2012 Arsenal's last league win at Anfield
   2. Sunday the next one
   3. Tuesday out of the cup to Fleetwood
   4. Sunday win at Anfield

   Why it matters

   Liverpool finished without a shot on target and are fifth, 9 points behind. [27]

   How it works

   Economists call this an incentive: if falling wins penalties, players learn to fall. [21]

   The truth

   • Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister fell to try to get an opponent sent off, the Guardian reported. [26]
   • Who gains Arsenal — A first league win at Anfield since 2012 puts them three points clear at the top. [27]
   • Nobody knows yet

     Why the video referee did not look again at Isak's shirt being pulled.

     The Guardian's report called it a mystery, and the officials gave no reason in any report we read. [26]

3. 04

   Yamaha will not race in Qatar next weekend

   What happened

   • Yamaha, the Japanese motorbike maker, pulled its MotoGP team out of next weekend's Qatar race. [12]
   • Yamaha said it found no reason to lift its company-wide limits on travel there. [12]
   • Japan's government advises its people against needless travel to the region. [11]
   • MotoGP says Qatar and independent safety advisers have assured it the race can go ahead. [11]
   • Reports say 19 of the 22 riders signed a letter raising worries about racing there. [11]

   Who is involved

   MotoGP is motorbike racing's top series; the race at Lusail is set for 6-8 November. [11]

   • Japan's government advises against needless travel
   • Yamaha stays home
   • MotoGP race goes ahead

   How it unfolded

   The race was first meant to be held in April, and was put back. [11]

   The United States and Israel have been at war with Iran since February. [11]

   1. April first date, put back
   2. November new date

   Why it matters

   MotoGP warned Yamaha that it has a contract and could be punished. [12]

   How it works

   Yamaha kept its company-wide travel limits, the strongest control there is, while MotoGP relied on assurances from Qatar and its advisers.

   The idea, in story 01: Why Yamaha can stay home from a race its organiser calls safe →

   The truth

   • Nobody has said what punishment Yamaha faces; the FIM, the sport's governing body, will decide. [12]
   • Yamaha is last among the makers, on 105 points to leader Ducati's 537. [12]
   • Who pays Yamaha — Staying home breaks a contract to race, and MotoGP has warned of sporting consequences. [12]
   • Nobody knows yet

     What punishment Yamaha will face for missing the Qatar race.

     MotoGP says there will be sporting consequences, to be set by the FIM, the sport's governing body; no penalty has been named. [12]

4. 05

   Lamar Jackson hurts his thumb on his first play back

   What happened

   • Lamar Jackson, the Baltimore Ravens quarterback, hurt his throwing thumb on his first play back. [18]
   • He needs surgery and goes on injured reserve, the list for players out long-term. [18]
   • His coach, Jesse Minter, said the injury could "potentially" end his season. [18]
   • Backup Tyler Huntley was also hurt, so undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano played. [18]
   • Jackson is on a five-year, $260 million deal; Fagnano is paid $885,000 this season. [18]

   Who is involved

   • Tyler Huntley backup, hurt
   • Joe Fagnano rookie, played

   How it unfolded

   He had missed the Ravens' three previous games with an ankle injury. [18]

   Why it matters

   Jackson's deal runs out after 2027, and he and the Ravens have no new one. [18]

   The truth

   • Jackson has no agent and negotiates his own pay, now with surgery ahead of him. [18]
   • Who pays The Baltimore Ravens — They lost their quarterback on a $260 million deal and turned to a rookie paid $885,000. [18]
   • Nobody knows yet

     Whether Lamar Jackson plays again this season.

     His coach said the thumb injury could potentially end his season, and declined to give details of the surgery. [18]

5. 06

   Shooting outside a college game kills one in Alabama

   What happened

   • A shooting outside a college game in Alabama killed 1 person and wounded 8, police said. [29]
   • It happened on Saturday night near Legion Field, Birmingham's stadium, where vendors had stalls. [29]
   • Most fans and families had already left the stadium grounds, police said. [29]
   • Nearly 70,000 fans watched Alabama A&M win 31-28. [29]
   • Police detained one person and found several weapons. [29]

   Who is involved

   The game, the Magic City Classic, is played every year by two historically Black universities. [29]

   • Alabama State university
   • Alabama A&M university, won 31-28

   How it unfolded

   The rivals have met for more than 100 years. [29]

   Why it matters

   The police chief called it the city's largest event and "extremely taxing" on his officers. [29]

   The truth

   • Police have not said what led to the shooting. [29]
6. 07

   The league's top scorer misses the playoffs

   What happened

   • Ashley Sanchez of North Carolina Courage won the NWSL's Golden Boot with 20 goals. [14]
   • But the Courage finished 9th and missed the eight-team playoffs. [14]
   • Only once before has the top scorer missed the playoffs: Sam Kerr, in 2017. [14]
   • Barbra Banda of Orlando Pride, second with 17 goals, missed the last three games. [14]
   • Rules from the CDC, the US public health agency, kept her out for 21 days. [14]

   Who is involved

   • Seattle Reign won, last playoff place
   • Orlando Pride lost, without Banda

   How it unfolded

   That equals the league's single-season record, set by Temwa Chawinga in 2024. [14]

   Banda, from Zambia, had played for her country in Uganda on 8 October. [14]

   1. 2017 Sam Kerr
   2. Now Ashley Sanchez

   Why it matters

   Orlando lost 1-0 to Seattle, who took the last playoff place. [14]

   How it works

   US health rules applied the same 21-day control to her after a match in Uganda, and her club lost her for three games.

   The idea, in story 01: Why Yamaha can stay home from a race its organiser calls safe →

   The truth

   • Who pays Orlando Pride — US health rules kept their top scorer, Barbra Banda, out of the last three games, and Seattle beat them to the last playoff place. [14]
7. 08

   An England batter is turned away over Ebola

   What happened

   • Asa Tribe, a batter for Glamorgan, was barred from joining England Lions in the West Indies. [13]
   • Kenya has an outbreak of Ebola, a deadly virus. [13]
   • Saint Kitts and Nevis, the host, bars non-nationals who were in Kenya within 21 days. [13]
   • The rule covers Kenya and 7 other countries in Africa, England's cricket board said. [13]

   Who is involved

   England Lions is the national team's second string. [13]

   How it unfolded

   In late October Tribe played three one-day games for Jersey in Nairobi, Kenya. [13]

   Why it matters

   England Lions won the first T20 game without him, by eight wickets. [13]

   How it works

   Public health officials call this a travel ban: it keeps a risk out at the border. [13]

   Saint Kitts and Nevis removed the risk at its border with a 21-day entry ban, so a player England picked could not come in.

   The idea, in story 01: Why Yamaha can stay home from a race its organiser calls safe →

   The truth

   • What is really going on Away from the track, the Iran war and an Ebola outbreak in Kenya are now deciding who can turn up to play. [12][13]
   • Who pays Asa Tribe — A 21-day entry ban for anyone who had been in Kenya cost him his place on England Lions' tour. [13]

   What comes next

   Tribe is back in the UK, and the board is talking to the authorities. [13]

8. 09

   Irish runner Ciara Mageean dies at 34

   What happened

   • Ciara Mageean, Ireland's European 1500m champion in 2024, died on Sunday, aged 34. [30]
   • She won the 1500m at the 2024 European Championships in Rome, her first major title. [31]
   • She was Ireland's first individual European champion since Sonia O'Sullivan. [30]
   • She ran for Ireland at the 2016 and 2020 Olympics. [31]
   • An injury to her Achilles, the tendon above the heel, kept her out of Paris 2024. [31]
   • She married her partner, Thomas Moran, in October. [31]

   Who is involved

   Mageean came from Portaferry in Northern Ireland. [30]

   How it unfolded

   She had been diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer in May 2025. [31]

   1. 2016 Rio Olympics
   2. 2020 Tokyo Olympics

   Why it matters

   Ireland's prime minister, Micheal Martin, said he was "deeply saddened". [30]

9. 10

   Marquez wins in Malaysia and nears an eighth title

   What happened

   • Spain's Marc Marquez won MotoGP's Malaysian Grand Prix on Sunday by over four seconds. [20]
   • It was his first win in Malaysia since 2018. [20]
   • Pedro Acosta was second, and Marquez's brother Alex finished third. [20]
   • Marquez now has 399 points. [20]
   • His rival Jorge Martin could not race on a wrist he broke a week earlier. [20]

   Who is involved

   Marquez has won the MotoGP title seven times. [20]

   • Pedro Acosta second
   • Alex Marquez third, Marc's brother

   Why it matters

   Martin, the 2024 champion, cannot close the gap while his wrist heals. [20]

   What comes next

   Marquez seals the title in Qatar if he stretches his lead to 74 points. [20]

10. 11

    Larson must wait for Miami to clinch the NASCAR title

    What happened

    • William Byron won NASCAR's top-series race at Martinsville, Virginia, on Sunday. [32]
    • Byron led 362 of the 500 laps, for his first win of the season. [33]
    • His Hendrick team-mate Chase Elliott finished second. [32]
    • Kyle Larson, the points leader, finished 9th after his team's pit plan went wrong. [32]
    • His team kept him out on old tyres, hoping for a caution that never came. [32]
    • Larson leads Christopher Bell by 67 points and Denny Hamlin by 70. [32]

    Why it matters

    Four drivers, including Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney, were knocked out of the title race. [33]

    How it works

    The Chase is NASCAR's 10-race title run at the end of the season. [32]

    The truth

    • Bell and Hamlin can still win, but only if Larson has a very bad day. [32]
    • Who gains Kyle Larson — His rivals failed to gain much at Martinsville, so he needs only nine points in the last race. [32]

    What comes next

    Larson needs only 9 points at Homestead-Miami on 8 November. [32]

11. 12

    A first marathon wins New York

    What happened

    • Sweden's Andreas Almgren won the New York City Marathon on Sunday, in his first marathon. [34]
    • He finished in 2:06:01: 2 hours, 6 minutes and 1 second. [34]
    • Italy's Yemaneberhan Crippa was second, 13 seconds behind. [36]
    • Almgren's time was the 3rd fastest in the race's 50-year history. [36]
    • Kenya's Sheila Chepkirui won the women's race in 2:24:36, as she did in 2024. [36]
    • American Jessica McClain came second, the first US woman in the top three since 2018. [36]
    • Switzerland's Marcel Hug won the men's wheelchair race for the eighth time. [36]

    How it unfolded

    Almgren had raced half marathons and the 10,000 metres before. [35]

    Why it matters

    Both of New York's 2021 winners were suspended for doping this year. [37]

    How it works

    Under anti-doping rules, a banned runner loses results and prize money, and others move up. [37]

    The truth

    • Third place pays $40,000 and fourth $25,000, so a late ban moves real money. [37]

    Good news

    • Jessica McClain finished second in the New York City Marathon, the first American woman in the top three since 2018.
12. 13

    Manchester United keep Carrick for one more game

    What happened

    • Manchester United will keep Michael Carrick as head coach for Tuesday's game against Roma. [16]
    • United have not won in 9 games, their worst start to a season since 1988. [16]
    • Erik ten Hag, a former United manager, said relegation is "certainly possible". [38]

    How it unfolded

    They lost 2-0 at Chelsea on Saturday. [16]

    United have not been relegated since 1974. [38]

    Why it matters

    Only goal difference keeps United, 17th on seven points, above the bottom three. [16]

    The truth

    • Hiring Howe would cost United about £3m in payment to Newcastle. [16]
    • Nobody knows yet

      Whether Michael Carrick is still Manchester United's coach after the international break.

      His job is due to be reviewed in the break, after United host Aston Villa next Sunday. [16]

    What comes next

    Eddie Howe is the director of football's preferred choice if Carrick goes, the Guardian reports. [16]

    Carrick's job will be reviewed again in the international break. [16]

13. 14

    No NFL team is unbeaten any more

    What happened

    • The Minnesota Vikings lost 19-15 at Detroit, so no NFL team is still unbeaten. [39]
    • Minnesota spend $300.1 million on players, the 30th most of the 32 teams. [39]
    • The Dallas Cowboys spend the most, $391 million, against a $301.2 million cap. [39]
    • Minnesota's quarterback, Kyler Murray, earns $1.3 million, the minimum for his experience. [39]

    How it unfolded

    Minnesota had won their first 6 games. [39]

    The 1972 Miami Dolphins are still the only NFL team to finish a season unbeaten. [39]

    Why it matters

    The NFL's business is built on any team being able to win, Front Office Sports says. [39]

    How it works

    Economists call the goal competitive balance: teams share TV money and live under a pay cap. [39]

    A team can spend above the cap now, but it pays for it in later seasons. [39]

    The truth

    • Arizona still owes Murray $36.8 million this season, though it released him in March. [39]
14. 15

    Dallas blow a 14-point lead, and no coach is fired yet

    What happened

    • The Dallas Cowboys led Arizona by 14 points in the fourth quarter and lost 33-30. [40]
    • Arizona's Chad Ryland missed a kick to win at the end, then won it in overtime. [41]
    • Owner Jerry Jones, asked about coach Brian Schottenheimer, said: "I'm not pointing at Schotty." [40]
    • No NFL head coach has been fired so far this season. [17]

    Who is involved

    • Arizona Cardinals won 33-30
    • Dallas Cowboys lost a 14-point lead

    How it unfolded

    Dallas had been 202-0-1 at home when 14 points up in a fourth quarter. [40]

    The last season to go this late without a coaching change was 2017. [17]

    Why it matters

    The best-paid NFL coaches now earn around $20 million a season. [17]

    The truth

    • Owners may hold back because a fired coach is still owed his pay. [17]

    What comes next

    The NFL's trade deadline is 10 November. [17]

15. 16

    A late flag hands Denver first place

    What happened

    • The Denver Broncos beat the Kansas City Chiefs 28-24 in the NFL on Sunday. [22]
    • Kansas City reached Denver's 1-yard line with 15 seconds left. [22]
    • A pass from Patrick Mahomes to Rashee Rice looked like the winning touchdown. [22]
    • Officials called a false start, a player moving before the snap, on lineman Jaylon Moore. [22]
    • The penalty pushed Kansas City back five yards, and Malcolm Roach then sacked Mahomes. [22]
    • Chiefs coach Andy Reid said: "I didn't see it." [22]

    Who is involved

    • Denver Broncos won 28-24
    • Kansas City Chiefs lost

    How it unfolded

    Denver had trailed 24-13 in the third quarter. [41]

    Why it matters

    Denver are 6-2 and top of the AFC West, their group of teams. [41]

    The truth

    • It is unclear which move drew the flag: a stance shift or a head turn. [22]
    • Nobody knows yet

      Which move drew the false start that cost Kansas City the game.

      Jaylon Moore seemed to shift his stance and then turn his head, and he said he still had to watch it back. [22]

16. 17

    Chinese TV drops Spanish football after Mbappe's video

    What happened

    • Real Madrid won 3-0 at Racing Santander, their 6th win in a row. [42]
    • Kylian Mbappe scored a penalty, and Jude Bellingham and Yan Diomande also scored. [42]
    • Chinese state television did not show Spain's league games this weekend because of the row. [42]

    Who is involved

    • Harry Kane won the Ballon d'Or
    • Kylian Mbappe narrowly second
    • Chinese viewers lose the games
    • Spain's league loses an audience

    How it unfolded

    Mbappe had apologised for a video in which he joked about Mao Zedong, China's former leader. [42]

    Earlier that week Mbappe narrowly lost the Ballon d'Or, the top player award, to Harry Kane. [42]

    Why it matters

    Madrid are third, three points behind leaders Barcelona. [42]

    The truth

    • Spain's league loses its Chinese state TV audience for a weekend over one player's video. [42]
17. 18

    Messi sends Miami into next year's Champions Cup

    What happened

    • Lionel Messi scored the winner as Inter Miami beat New England Revolution 2-1 on Sunday. [43]
    • New England led through Daniel Gazdag in the 53rd minute. [43]
    • Messi helped set up Berterame's 69th-minute equaliser, then scored the winner in the 83rd. [43]
    • It was Messi's league-leading 26th goal of the season. [43]
    • Miami go second in the Eastern Conference with one game left. [44]
    • Nashville, already top, matched Miami's MLS record of 74 points in a season. [45]
    • Nashville came from two goals down to beat New York Red Bulls 3-2. [45]
    • Nashville finished unbeaten at home all season: 15 wins and 2 draws. [45]

    Who is involved

    • Inter Miami won 2-1
    • New England lost at home

    How it unfolded

    1. 69th minute Berterame equalises
    2. 83rd minute Messi wins it

    Why it matters

    The win also earns Miami a place in the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup. [44]

18. 19

    Gotham win their first NWSL Shield

    What happened

    • Gotham FC won the NWSL Shield for the first time on Sunday. [46]
    • Gotham beat Utah Royals 2-0 in Harrison, New Jersey. [46]
    • Guro Reiten scored in the 9th minute and Jaedyn Shaw in the 80th. [47]
    • San Diego Wave also won, but finished 3 points behind. [46]
    • Goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger said winning "should be our standard". [46]

    Who is involved

    The NWSL is the top women's football league in the United States. [46]

    The Shield goes to the team that finishes top before the playoffs. [47]

    • Gotham FC won 2-0
    • Utah Royals lost

    How it unfolded

    Gotham won last year's title as the lowest-ranked team in the playoffs. [46]

    1. 9th minute Reiten scores
    2. 80th minute Shaw scores

    Why it matters

    Gotham go into the playoffs as the top team for the first time. [47]

    How it works

    Decision Day starts all 8 games at once, so no team plays knowing another's result. [14]

    What comes next

    Gotham, San Diego, Washington and Kansas City will host playoff quarter-finals. [47]

19. 20

    Detroit's Jack Campbell carted off with a neck injury

    What happened

    • Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell was carted off with a neck injury on Sunday. [48]
    • He went limp after a tackle at the start of the fourth quarter. [48]
    • After about 10 minutes, medics strapped him to a backboard. [48]
    • He stayed in hospital overnight to be checked and watched. [19]
    • His coach, Dan Campbell, said: "He's breathing, he's alert when he left." [19]

    Why it matters

    Detroit won the game 19-15 against Minnesota. [48]

    Six months ago Campbell signed a four-year, $81 million contract. [48]

    The truth

    • Detroit has not yet said how badly he is hurt. [19]
    • Nobody knows yet

      How badly Jack Campbell is hurt.

      Detroit said only that he was being checked for a neck injury and would stay in hospital overnight. [19]

20. 21

    Philadelphia lose a sixth game in a row

    What happened

    • The Washington Commanders beat the Philadelphia Eagles 27-10 on Sunday night. [49]
    • Washington scored 27 points in a row after falling 10-0 behind. [49]
    • Philadelphia's quarterback, Jalen Hurts, is expected to miss the rest of the season. [17]
    • Doctors found blood clots in his lungs, and he takes blood thinners. [17]

    Who is involved

    • Washington Commanders won 27-10
    • Philadelphia Eagles sixth loss in a row
    • The NFL the league
    • The players' union speaks for the players

    How it unfolded

    It was quarterback Jayden Daniels's first win as a starter since October 2025. [49]

    Daniels had hurt the elbow of his non-throwing arm three times since then. [49]

    Why it matters

    The losing run puts more pressure on Eagles coach Nick Sirianni, who won a Super Bowl. [17]

    The truth

    • The NFL and its players' union are jointly reviewing his medical care. [17]
21. 22

    Tonga beat Samoa and England go out

    What happened

    • Tonga beat Samoa 20-18 at the Rugby League World Cup in Australia. [50]
    • Fans of both nations filled the streets of Parramatta, in Sydney, hours before kick-off. [51]
    • Both teams were already all but sure of the semi-finals. [51]
    • On points difference, the result knocked England out. [51]
    • England's women's team also went out in the group stage. [50]

    Who is involved

    • England's women out in the group stage
    • England's men out on points difference
    • Paul Sculthorpe ex-Great Britain captain
    • Jodie Cunningham retiring England captain

    How it unfolded

    England lost their first game to Tonga, which left them facing elimination. [50]

    Why it matters

    The RFL accepts that group-stage exits for both teams are not good enough. [50]

    How it works

    Points difference, points scored minus points let in, decided who went through. [51]

    The truth

    • England's coach, Brian McDermott, says the domestic game needs stronger structures. [50]

    What comes next

    Within minutes, the Rugby Football League, which runs the English game, announced a plan. [50]

    Former captains Paul Sculthorpe and Jodie Cunningham will help write it. [50]

22. 23

    Celtic lose again, at Falkirk

    What happened

    • Celtic lost to Falkirk on Sunday, their sixth defeat in 10 games. [52]
    • Celtic had 24 shots to Falkirk's 6. [52]
    • Falkirk had only 2 shots on target, and both went in. [52]
    • Falkirk's goalkeeper, Scott Bain, excelled against Celtic, his former club. [52]
    • Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton said the club "is in regression". [52]

    Why it matters

    Celtic, managed by Martin O'Neill, still lead the league by 4 points. [52]

    The truth

    • Former Falkirk manager Ian McCall blamed age and injury among Celtic's best players. [52]
23. 24

    Bottom-placed Hibs beat Hearts to reach a final

    What happened

    • Hibernian beat their Edinburgh rivals Hearts 2-1 at Hampden to reach the League Cup final. [53]
    • It was Hibs' first ever win over Hearts at Hampden, Scotland's national stadium. [53]
    • Hibs are bottom of the Scottish Premiership. [53]
    • Hearts' Claudio Braga missed a late chance to force extra time. [53]

    Who is involved

    • Hibernian finalist
    • Rangers finalist

    How it unfolded

    Last season Hearts beat Hibs with late goals in three derbies. [53]

    Why it matters

    It was rare joy for Hibs fans after a season of anger about the club's state. [53]

    What comes next

    Hibs will meet Rangers in the final. [53]

24. 25

    A teenager hands himself in over a Bradley Lowery taunt

    What happened

    • A 14-year-old handed himself in to police over a video at Coventry v Sunderland. [54]
    • It seemed to show a Coventry fan taunting Sunderland fans with Bradley Lowery's photo. [54]
    • West Midlands Police have opened an investigation. [55]
    • Coventry said it does not tolerate offensive behaviour. [55]

    Who is involved

    Bradley, a young Sunderland fan, died in 2017, aged 6. [55]

    He had neuroblastoma, a rare childhood cancer. [55]

    • West Midlands Police investigating

    Why it matters

    His mother, Gemma, said her son deserves "to be remembered with love, not hate". [54]

25. 26

    Australia rest their three fast bowlers

    What happened

    • Australia rested fast bowlers Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood for games against England. [56]
    • Australia play England in 3 one-day matches and 5 T20 games. [56]
    • The team will be on the road for more than 100 days, said selector George Bailey. [56]
    • Key batters Travis Head and Cameron Green will also be managed through the T20 series. [56]

    Who is involved

    • Pat Cummins Test captain, rested
    • Mitchell Starc rested
    • Josh Hazlewood rested
    • Travis Head batter, managed
    • Cameron Green all-rounder, managed

    Why it matters

    Ahead lie 10 Tests, cricket's five-day matches, in 14 weeks. [56]

    How it works

    Sports scientists call this workload management: resting players before a heavy run of games. [56]

    What comes next

    Young fast bowler Mahli Beardman will make his one-day debut for Australia. [56]

26. 27

    Alcaraz wins Vienna and keeps a perfect run

    What happened

    • Carlos Alcaraz beat Alex de Minaur 6-1 6-4 to win the Vienna Open on Sunday. [57]
    • The final took 87 minutes. [57]
    • Alcaraz has won 26 straight matches at ATP 500 events, one level of the men's tour. [57]

    Who is involved

    • Carlos Alcaraz won 6-1 6-4
    • Alex de Minaur lost

    How it unfolded

    His last loss at that level was to Holger Rune in Barcelona in 2025. [57]

    This year he also won events at that level in Doha and Tokyo. [57]

    Why it matters

    He has now beaten de Minaur in all seven of their matches. [57]

27. 28

    Harriet Dart wins her first title at 30

    What happened

    • Britain's Harriet Dart won her first WTA title, aged 30, at the Guangzhou Open in China. [58]
    • She beat Austria's Lilli Tagger, 18, 4-6 6-3 6-4 in the final. [58]
    • She now works with Marion Bartoli, a former Wimbledon champion. [58]

    Who is involved

    The WTA runs the women's professional tennis tour. [58]

    • Harriet Dart won, aged 30
    • Lilli Tagger lost, aged 18

    How it unfolded

    Dart had to come through the qualifying rounds just to enter the event. [58]

    She saved three match points in her semi-final against Sun Xinran. [58]

    Why it matters

    Dart, a qualifier, beat the event's fourth seed in the final. [58]

    Good news

    • Dart said even when people think she is "down and out", she can still come back. [58]
    • Harriet Dart, aged 30, won her first WTA title in Guangzhou, after saving three match points in her semi-final.
28. 29

    Tampa Bay win without completing a pass

    What happened

    • The Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat Atlanta 16-0 without completing a single pass. [59]
    • Heavy rain fell all through the first half in Tampa. [59]
    • Quarterback Baker Mayfield threw three passes, and none was caught. [59]
    • Running backs Bucky Irving and Kenny Gainwell ran 52 times for 310 yards. [59]
    • Atlanta's Michael Penix Jr threw 4 interceptions, passes caught by the other team. [59]

    How it unfolded

    No NFL team had won that way since the Buffalo Bills in 1974. [59]

    1. 1974 Buffalo Bills
    2. Now Tampa Bay Buccaneers

    Why it matters

    Tampa Bay coach Todd Bowles said: "There's a first time for everything." [59]

29. 30

    A final score the NFL had never seen

    What happened

    • The Cincinnati Bengals beat the Tennessee Titans 43-36 in overtime. [60]
    • No NFL game had ever ended 43-36 in the league's 107 years. [60]
    • It was the 1,098th different final score in NFL history. [60]
    • Joe Burrow threw for 462 yards and 5 touchdowns. [60]
    • Burrow also ran in the winning touchdown in overtime. [60]
    • Only one player before him had 450 passing yards, five touchdown passes and a scoring run. [60]

    Who is involved

    • Cincinnati Bengals won 43-36
    • Tennessee Titans lost

    Why it matters

    Fans track never-seen scores, and this was the 3rd new one this season. [60]

    The truth

    • Burrow also threw 3 interceptions. [60]
30. 31

    New Mexico enter the college football rankings for the first time

    What happened

    • New Mexico are in college football's AP Top 25 for the first time ever. [61]
    • The Lobos have won 7 and lost 1, and are ranked 22nd under coach Jason Eck. [61]
    • Their only loss was 14-6 at Oklahoma. [61]
    • Unbeaten Miami stayed first for a third week in a row. [62]

    Who is involved

    The AP poll, voted on by about 60 sports journalists, ranks the best teams. [62]

    How it unfolded

    There have been more than 1,200 polls since 1936. [61]

    1. 1936 the first AP poll
    2. Now New Mexico's first ranking

    Why it matters

    The committee decides which 12 teams play for the national title. [62]

    How it works

    The committee ranks teams on results, strength of schedule and head-to-head games. [62]

    Good news

    • New Mexico's football team is in the AP Top 25 for the first time, after more than 1,200 polls since 1936.

    What comes next

    The first College Football Playoff rankings, set by a 13-member committee, come on Tuesday. [62]

31. 32

    Andrew Novak wins in Mexico, and a rival keeps his job

    What happened

    • Andrew Novak won golf's Mexico Open by 5 shots, his first solo PGA Tour title. [63]
    • Three birdies in a row on the back nine settled it. [63]

    How it unfolded

    Rounds of 61 and 62 had given him a six-shot lead. [63]

    Why it matters

    Kristoffer Ventura came second and rose from 108th to 76th in the season standings. [63]

    How it works

    Golfers play for a "card": the right to enter next season's events. [63]

    Only the top 100 keep full playing rights for 2027. [63]

    The truth

    • Who gains Kristoffer Ventura — Second place in Mexico lifted him from 108th to 76th, inside the top 100 who keep their playing rights. [63]

    What comes next

    Mackenzie Hughes moved up to 101st, with three events left. [63]

32. 33

    Manchester City win a thriller at London City

    What happened

    • Manchester City beat London City Lionesses in England's Women's Super League on Sunday. [64]
    • Khadija Shaw and Lauren Hemp scored for City. [64]
    • London City, in only their second season, are now 6 points behind the champions. [64]

    Who is involved

    London City signed Alexia Putellas, a three-time winner of the Ballon d'Or. [64]

    • Manchester City the champions, won
    • London City Lionesses lost at home

    How it unfolded

    It was City's 3rd game in 8 days. [64]

    Why it matters

    Tottenham's Drew Spence made a record 217th appearance in the league on Sunday. [65]

33. 34

    Namibia beat Ireland to win the series

    What happened

    • Namibia beat Ireland by five wickets to win their one-day series 3-2. [66]
    • Ireland were all out for 129 in Windhoek, Namibia's capital. [66]
    • JJ Smit took 4 wickets for only 20 runs. [66]
    • Namibia passed Ireland's total in 21.2 overs. [66]
    • Ireland's captain, Lorcan Tucker, said his side had "learned a lot". [66]

    Why it matters

    Namibia host next year's qualifier for the Cricket World Cup in February. [66]

34. 35

    Scotland win curling gold, and Latvia a first medal

    What happened

    • Scotland's men beat Italy 6-5 to win the European Curling Championship in Ostrava, Czech Republic. [67]
    • Grant Hardie won his fifth European gold, equalling a Scottish record. [67]
    • Hardie has won seven medals from seven tries at the event. [67]

    Who is involved

    • Scotland won 6-5
    • Italy lost the final
    • Grant Hardie 5 golds
    • Mike Hay 5 golds
    • Hammy McMillan Sr 5 golds, Hardie's uncle

    How it unfolded

    Italy had handed the Scots their only defeat, earlier in the event. [67]

    Why it matters

    Hardie now matches Mike Hay and his uncle, Hammy McMillan Sr, on 5 Scottish golds. [67]

    Good news

    • Latvia's women won their first ever major medal, beating Scotland 8-6 for bronze. [67]
    • Latvia's women won their first ever major curling medal, beating Scotland 8-6 for bronze at the European Championship.
35. 36

    Baseball's Gold Gloves go to the best fielders

    What happened

    • The Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong won his second Gold Glove in a row on Sunday. [68]
    • Crow-Armstrong's fielding score of +26 was the fifth best in a season since 2016. [68]

    Who is involved

    Gold Gloves have gone to the best fielder at each position since 1957. [68]

    Why it matters

    Boston and Arizona won 3 Gold Gloves each, the most of any team. [68]

    How it works

    Managers and coaches cast 75% of the vote, and statistics make up 25%. [68]

    Team staff cannot vote for their own players. [68]

36. 37

    A referee breaks a player's leg by accident

    What happened

    • A referee slipped and broke a college player's leg during East Carolina's win over Temple. [69]
    • Defensive back David Coleman Jr was standing with team-mates between plays. [69]
    • The official, running in from behind, slid into him. [69]
    • An X-ray at half-time showed a fractured fibula, a bone in the lower leg. [69]
    • East Carolina won 17-9. [69]

    Why it matters

    Coach Blake Harrell said he had never seen that from an official. [69]