SPORTS

Barcelona, Spain | AFP | Lionel Messi could make an earlier return than expected against Inter Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday but Barcelona have hardly missed him. Four wins out of four, including a stroll past Inter Milan and a hammering of Real Madrid so severe it cost …

Tokyo, Japan | AFP | Boxing superstar Floyd Mayweather Jr said Monday he will come out of retirement to fight a Japanese kickboxer half his age, Tenshin Nasukawa, on New Year’s Eve in Saitama. The 41-year-old unbeaten American, who captured world titles in five different weight divisions and was considered …

New York, United States | AFP | Ethiopia’s Lelisa Desisa edged compatriot Shura Kitata to win the men’s title and Kenya’s Mary Keitany captured her fourth women’s crown Sunday at the 48th New York City Marathon, on Sunday. It was a historic day in perfect running conditions for 50,000 entrants …

London, United Kingdom | AFP | Wayne Rooney is to come out of England retirement for a final one-off appearance against the United States in an international friendly at Wembley this month, the Football Association announced Sunday. Rooney, a record goalscorer for both Manchester United and England, has not played …

  London, United Kingdom | AFP |  English football came together to join Leicester in mourning the death of owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha in a helicopter crash while Manchester City returned to the top of the Premier League table with a 6-1 rout of Southampton. City are two points clear of …

  Manchester, United Kingdom | AFP | Raheem Sterling scored twice fresh from agreeing a new five-year contract with Manchester City as the champions swept aside Southampton 6-1 on Sunday to return to the top of the Premier League table. Sergio Aguero, with his 150th league goal, David Silva and …

Thunderbolt goal gives Chiefs another crack at Pirates Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | A Ramahlwe Mphahlele thunderbolt gave Kaizer Chiefs a 1-0 South African League Cup win over SuperSport United Sunday, and booked a semi-final showdown with arch-rivals Orlando Pirates. The biggest crowd-pullers in the republic were paired in …

Wolverhampton, United Kingdom | AFP | Mauricio Pochettino hailed the character of his Tottenham team after they withstood a Wolves fightback to grind out a 3-2 win at Molineux. Pochettino was keen for his players to learn the lessons on Saturday’s thrilling clash after they threatened to throw away a …

London, United Kingdom | AFP | Arsenal are still waiting for a first statement win of the Unai Emery era, but the progress made by the Spaniard in his first three months in charge was clear to see as Liverpool left the Emirates content with a point from Saturday’s thrilling …

Bournemouth, United Kingdom | AFP | Jose Mourinho is struggling to understand why Manchester United have developed a habit of starting games slowly after they hit back to snatch a dramatic 2-1 win against Bournemouth. Mourinho acknowledged United could have been three or four goals behind by half-time at Dean …