United News of Bangladesh

Lionel Messi has sustained a minor muscle strain in his right leg, Inter Miami confirmed on Sunday, following an early exit from Saturday’s Leagues Cup clash against Necaxa. The injury occurred within the first few minutes of the match when Messi went down after a challenge from two Necaxa defenders. Although Inter Miami eventually secured a win via penalty shootout, the Argentine star was sent for tests after complaining of discomfort in his right leg. While the club described the injury as minor, it has not set a definite timeframe for Messi’s return. His availability for Wednesday’s upcoming Leagues Cup game against UNAM Pumas appears doubtful. In a statement, Inter Miami noted that Messi's return will depend on how he responds to ongoing treatment. PSG fined €150,000 for fan misconduct, 'UEFA Mafia' banner at Champions League final Visibly frustrated after the fall, Messi hit the ground with his hand before slowly making his way to the sideline. He sat down on the field as medical staff tended to his upper right thigh for a few minutes. In the 11th minute, he was substituted out for Federico Redondo and headed straight to the locker room. Despite the concern, Miami head coach Javier Mascherano said post-match that Messi was not experiencing significant pain. Source: Agency 

Inter Miami clinched a dramatic win over Necaxa in the Leagues Cup on Saturday night, prevailing 5-4 in a penalty shootout after star forward Lionel Messi exited early with a hamstring injury. Luis Suárez sealed the victory with the final spot-kick, while Jordi Alba’s stoppage-time header leveled the score at 2-2, forcing the match into penalties. Inter Miami converted all five attempts, with goalkeeper Rocco Ríos Novo making a key save against Tomás Badaloni in the third round. Messi sustained the injury around the eighth minute while challenging for the ball near the penalty area. He walked off the pitch and received treatment on his right thigh before being substituted in the 11th minute. Head coach Javier Mascherano later said Messi wasn’t in significant pain but felt a strain, and further evaluation is scheduled for Sunday. Inter Miami played most of the match with 10 men following a red card to Maxi Falcón in the early minutes. Necaxa also went down to 10 players after Cristian Calderón received a second yellow card in the 60th minute. PSG fined €150,000 for fan misconduct, 'UEFA Mafia' banner at Champions League final Telasco Segovia gave Inter Miami the lead shortly after Messi’s departure, scoring off an assist from new signing Rodrigo De Paul, who tallied two assists in his second match with the club. Badaloni equalized in the 33rd minute for Necaxa. Ricardo Monreal later put the Mexican side ahead in the 81st, but Alba responded with a powerful header from a De Paul free kick to level the score again. Despite winning their first two Leagues Cup matches, Inter Miami's progression depends on points accumulated in the Major League Soccer standings. Saturday’s result gave them five points, placing them at the top of the MLS table for now, with more matches remaining over the weekend. The Leagues Cup features clubs from Major League Soccer and Liga MX, with the top four teams from each league’s table after three matches moving on to the knockout stage. Source: Agency 

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), winners of this year’s UEFA Champions League, has been fined nearly €150,000 ($171,000) by UEFA over multiple incidents involving its fans during the final, including pitch invasions, fireworks, and the display of an offensive “UEFA Mafia” banner. The UEFA disciplinary panel ruled on six separate charges, including “transmitting a message not fit for a sports event” and “bringing UEFA into disrepute.” The incidents occurred during the May 31 final at Bayern Munich’s stadium, where PSG defeated Inter Milan 5-0 to claim its first-ever Champions League title. Among the most serious infractions was the display of a large banner reading “UEFA Mafia,” accompanied by a caricature of a pig. This banner appeared despite PSG club president Nasser al-Khelaifi being a member of UEFA’s executive committee and the head of the European Club Association. UEFA issued a €10,000 ($11,500) fine for the offensive message. Though UEFA often penalizes clubs for using the “mafia” slur, Norwegian club Brann successfully appealed a similar fine earlier this year, arguing that their fans’ chant at a Women’s Champions League match was satirical. U-20 Women's Asian Cup: Bangladesh Football team to fly for Laos Saturday The largest portion of PSG’s penalty — €100,000 ($115,000) — was imposed for combined offenses of fans invading the pitch and setting off fireworks. Following the final whistle, supporters entered the field and tore up pieces of the turf as souvenirs. An additional €8,000 ($9,160) fine was issued for “acts of damage.” UEFA also imposed a one-match ban on PSG selling tickets to their fans for a future away game in European competitions, though that sanction has been suspended on a two-year probation. Despite the fines, PSG’s Champions League triumph earned the club an estimated €140 million ($160 million) in UEFA prize money last season. Source: Agency  

Bangladesh Women's Football team will fly for Laos on Saturday to compete in the qualifying round of the AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup beginning on August 6 at the New Laos National Stadium in Vientiane, Laos. The SAFF U-20 Women's Champions Bangladesh team, which put in Group H of the continental youth meet along with stronger South Korea, Timor leste and hosts Cambodia, is going to Laos in a hope to qualify for the final round. Bangladesh to start their campaign in the U-20 Women's Asian Cup taking on hosts Cambodia on August 6, play Timor-Leste on Aug 8 and stronger South Korea on Aug 10 at the same venue. Addressing the pre tour press conference at the BFF House on Thursday, Bangladesh captain Afeida Khandakar said, "We are going to Laos to qualify (for the final round of the meet) after displaying a good football there. Bangladesh Head coach Peter Butler said, " In our group, South Korea is very strong team, so our match with hosts Laos is very important, we want to go ahead after beating Laos in the opening match" BFF and AFC Executive Committee member and Chairman of the BFF Committee for Women's Football Mahfuza Akter Kiron were also present on the occasion.. Bangladesh, is reportedly bring the same squad in the ensuing U-20 Asian Cup that played in the SAFF U-20 Women's Champions Bangladesh team recently. Thirty three Asian teams, split into eight groups, will compete in the first phase of the tournament . Later, eight group champions and the best three group runners up teams will play in the 12-team final round with the hosts Thailand. The final round of the biennial international youth football l championship, organised by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) for the women's under-20 national teams of Asia, is scheduled to be held in Thailand from April 1-18 next year. 3 more Bangladeshi women footballers to play in Bhutanese league DPR Korea are the defending champions. The top four teams of the tournament will qualify for the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup to be held Poland as the AFC representatives. Earlier, a brilliant hat-trick by Sagorika powered Bangladesh to retain the SAFF U-20 Women's Championship 2025 outplaying their main contender Nepal by 4-0 goals in the title-deciding last league match at the Bashundhara Kings Arena in the capital on July 21. Mossammat Sagorika, who appeared in the match after a three-match suspension for a red card, destroyed Nepal alone, scoring all four goals to raise her individual goal tally to eight amid huge enthusiasm among soccer-crazy local fans. Bangladesh Women's Football team is now passing through a golden time in the history of Bangladesh football, making records one after another in the recent time. Bangladesh senior women's football team, which tasted their maiden victory in the AFC Women's Asian Cup crushing higher-ranked Bahrain by 7-0 goals earlier this month and finally made their first-ever final round berth in the 12-team AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia 2026 as the unbeaten group champions shocking a much superior and hosts Myanmar. Bangladesh senior women's football team also brought laurels for the country by winning the SAFF Women's championship for the 2nd successive times last year.

Lionel Messi delivered two crucial assists — including one in the dying seconds — to help Inter Miami secure a dramatic 2-1 victory over Atlas in their Leagues Cup opener on Wednesday night. The match marked Messi’s return after serving a one-game suspension alongside teammate Jordi Alba for skipping the MLS All-Star Game. The Argentine superstar set up the game-winning goal for Marcelo Weigandt in the 96th minute, following a tense review by VAR that overturned an initial offside call. Messi had earlier assisted on Telasco Segovia’s goal in the 58th minute to give Miami a 1-0 lead. Atlas equalized in the 82nd minute through Rivaldo Lozano before Weigandt's late heroics sealed the win for the home side. The assist was Messi’s fifth of July, a month in which he also scored eight goals and was named Major League Soccer’s Player of the Month. Miami went 4-1-1 in league play during that span. João Félix joins Cristiano Ronaldo at Al Nassr in $34.6m move The first half saw both teams create opportunities in a physical contest, but neither side could find the net. Miami goalkeeper Rocco Ríos Novo made three key saves, including a crucial stop on a header from Eduardo Aguirre. Luis Suárez nearly put Miami ahead just before halftime, but his powerful strike rattled off the crossbar. The night also saw Argentine midfielder Rodrigo De Paul make his debut for Inter Miami. A close friend and national teammate of Messi, De Paul officially joined the club last week.

Portugal forward João Félix has joined Saudi club Al Nassr, linking up with compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo in a move that adds to his career transfer total of approximately $260 million. Al Nassr confirmed the signing on Tuesday, announcing that Félix has penned a two-year contract after a reported €30 million ($34.6 million) deal with Chelsea. “I’m here to spread joy. Let’s win together,” Félix said in a promotional video released by the club on social media. The 25-year-old becomes the latest high-profile European player to make the switch to Saudi Arabia, as the kingdom continues its ambitious efforts to establish itself as a powerhouse in world football. Félix arrives from Chelsea, fresh off a string of high-profile but ultimately underwhelming spells at major clubs. Despite holding the record as the fourth most expensive footballer in history—following his $140 million move from Benfica to Atletico Madrid in 2019—Félix has struggled to fulfill his early promise. Loan stints at Chelsea, Barcelona, and most recently AC Milan have failed to solidify his status among the game’s elite. Nigeria’s women’s team clinches African Title despite neglect and mismanagement According to Transfermarkt, Félix ranks behind only Neymar, Kylian Mbappe, and the duo of Philippe Coutinho and Ousmane Dembélé in all-time transfer spending. However, his market value has dropped significantly, with Chelsea acquiring him for $60 million last year and now his latest fee nearly halved again for the move to Al Nassr. While Saudi Arabia has revived the careers of some European stars—Cristiano Ronaldo and Aleksandar Mitrović among them—others like Neymar and Jordan Henderson faced injury setbacks or short-lived stints. It remains to be seen whether Félix can reestablish himself with this new chapter. Al Nassr, which stunned the football world by signing Ronaldo in late 2022, is still seeking a league title since the Portuguese icon’s arrival. Despite Ronaldo's prolific goal-scoring and influence in elevating the Saudi Pro League’s global profile, the club has watched rivals Al Ittihad and Al Hilal claim top honors in successive seasons. With the addition of João Félix, Al Nassr hopes to finally break through and reclaim domestic dominance. Source: Agency 

Bangladesh women's football team, who qualified for their AFC Asia Cup finals debut with aplomb earlier this month, have been  drawn in Group B for the tournament to be held in Australia next year, alongside North Korea, China and Uzbekistan. The ceremonial draw of the 12-team finals round of the 21st AFC Women’s Asia Cup, scheduled to be held from March 1-21, 2026, was held Tuesday at the Sydney Town Hall. Bangladesh will start their maiden campaign in the continental football taking on China on March 3 at  the Western Sydney Stadium at  7pm local time. 3 more Bangladeshi women footballers to play in Bhutanese league Bangladesh will play their 2nd Group B match against DPR Korea (North Korea) on March 6 at 1pm local time, also at the Western Sydney Stadium. In their last Group B match, Bangladesh will play Uzbekistan on March 9 at 5pm local time at the Rectangular Stadium in Perth. Complete Groupings of AFC Women's Asian Cup are: Group A: Australia, South Korea, Iran, the Philippines Group B: North Korea, China, Bangladesh, Uzbekistan Group C: Japan, Vietnam, India, Taiwan The top two teams from each group and the two best third-placed sides will advance to the quarterfinals.  The four semifinalists will also secure their places at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, while the losing sides from the quarters will advance to the playoffs.

Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu on Monday celebrated the national women’s football team with gifts and honors following their dramatic 3-2 victory over host Morocco, securing a record 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title — all achieved under difficult conditions marked by poor preparation and unpaid allowances. The Super Falcons' victory, achieved against a backdrop of administrative neglect, drew widespread praise from Tinubu and football fans across Nigeria. In a country where football is a national passion, such victories often reflect the players’ determination more than institutional support. Despite their success, sports analysts highlighted the persistent mismanagement of the women’s team by Nigerian authorities. “They have managed to dominate even though the Nigerian soccer authorities do not put as much funding, care, attention, and planning into the way the women’s national team is run,” said Lagos-based analyst Solace Chukwu in an interview with The Associated Press. Unequal Treatment The team has long faced delayed payments, with match bonuses going unpaid for years — a situation that led to a training boycott in 2022. Although the players were progressing through the tournament in Morocco, the backlog was only approved by the president just before the final. They also lacked proper training kits and were unable to arrange competitive friendly matches ahead of the tournament. Such challenges are not uncommon in Nigerian sports, which are frequently plagued by inadequate funding, corruption, and poor planning. These problems have even prompted some athletes to represent other countries. 3 more Bangladeshi women footballers to play in Bhutanese league Women’s teams are often the most affected due to deep-rooted societal biases, said African sports analyst Oluwashina Okeleji. “The argument from the (Nigerian) federation is that the men bring more money than the women, but the truth is the women bring most prestige, honours, and titles to Nigeria,” he noted. The Nigeria Football Federation, which governs soccer in the country, declined to comment on the accusations. Success Without Support The Super Falcons have long dominated women’s football in Africa, partly thanks to Nigeria launching the continent’s first women’s football league in 1978. But experts argue that this early lead has not been effectively leveraged for global success, largely due to the authorities’ failure to invest and plan. “The men’s team is huge generally within the administration of Nigerian football as the cash cow,” Chukwu said, underscoring how funding priorities still lean heavily toward the men’s game. Although the president has promised cash and property for the players, some fans remain skeptical about long-term change. Inter Miami plays Cincinnati to 0-0 draw without suspended Messi “This one-time payment and apartment does not make any sense. For what? What they need is investment in the facilities, the staff, and payment. The lack of investment in women’s football is one of the reasons why it is not as high quality as the men’s,” said Funmi Obasa, a supporter of the women’s team based in Abuja. Source: Agency 

Three more Bangladeshi national women's footballers will play in the ongoing Bhutanese National Women's League. Three players---Bangladesh captain Afeida Khandaker, midfielder Sapna Rani and forward Shaheda Akter Ripa---will play for the Royal Thimphu College FC team. Three players are expected to join their first- ever foreign club team in Bhutan on August 15 after participating in the qualifying round of the AFC U-20 Championship in Laos. Two Bangladeshi booters ---Tohura Khatun and Shamsunnahar Junior ---also playing for Royal Thimphu College FC. With the fresh inclusion, a record 15 Bangladeshi players will now play in the ongoing Bhutanese National Women' s league. But, Sanjida Akhter, another Bangladeshi booter played in the Bhutan League, now in Bangladesh to join a coaching course here.

Inter Miami played FC Cincinnati to a 0-0 draw without the suspended Lionel Messi on Saturday night. Messi was not available after he and teammate Jordi Alba were suspended one match by Major League Soccer for skipping the All-Star game. Messi was still in attendance on Saturday, watching from a suite at Chase Stadium. Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas called the punishment “draconian” on Friday, saying that Messi was “extremely upset" at the suspension that sidelined him for an important match as Miami pushes for its second-straight MLS Supporters' Shield. Miami and Cincinnati both entered the matchup as winners of six of their last seven. Cincinnati, which routed Messi and Inter Miami 3-0 last Wednesday — is second in the Supporters’ Shield standings with 49 points, while Inter Miami is fifth with 42 points. Cincinnati defender Miles Robinson nearly scored the winner a couple minutes into stoppage time on Saturday when he headed home MVP candidate Evander's free kick, but the goal was disallowed because of a foul. Euro 2025: Spain's style vs. England's will to win sets up fascinating final Veteran striker Luis Suárez made several incredible passes in the opening minutes, including one to Fafà Picault, whose header was denied by Cincinnati goalkeeper Roman Celentano. Before the match, Miami introduced Argentine midfielder Rodrigo De Paul, Messi's good friend and national team buddy who officially signed with the club on Friday. Fans at Chase Stadium cheered and waved welcome signs as the new Miami star walked onto the pitch. “I'm going to give everything I have,” De Paul told the crowd.