Jos Buttler labelled Ben Stokes the "ultimate competitor" after his first T20I half-century saw England beat Pakistan to win the T20 World Cup at the MCG.
Chasing a target of 138 after bowling first, England captain Buttler had hit 26 from 17 deliveries himself but departed with his team still needing 93 more runs.
After a slow start, Stokes eventually took the game to Pakistan along with Moeen Ali (19 from 12). Stokes then hit the winning run to end on an unbeaten 52 from 49 balls.
There were five fours and a six in that knock, which finished with the final ball of the 19th over.
"He's the ultimate competitor in anything he does," Buttler said at the post-match presentation.
"He's got a hell of a lot of experience to bank on, he can take a lot on his shoulders. He timed it perfectly, that impetus he and Moeen Ali had at that phase of the game just took it away from Pakistan."
Speaking to Sky Sports after the presentation, Buttler was asked if he had been comfortable leaving Stokes at the crease after his own dismissal.
"I was comfortable after 10 overs, and then I said to someone: 'If he played like that in a Test match, he'd drop himself'," Buttler joked. "He managed to get it done in the end."
Buttler shared the praise around, with England's success scarcely seeming imaginable after a Super 12 loss to Ireland.
"To be able to win the T20 World Cup, I'm just immensely proud of everyone here," he said. "It's been a long journey and a few changes of how we've played over the last few years, and we're reaping the rewards of that.
"It's been a fantastic tournament. We've been away for a long time; we went to Pakistan before coming here, which was a really valuable time for the group.
"This felt a long way away after the Ireland match, but the character we've shown from that point on in must-win games has been amazing."
England limited Pakistan to 137-8 from their 20 overs, with the turning point coming at the start of the 12th over when Adil Rashid (2-22) caught and bowled Babar Azam for 32 before completing a maiden over.
"Absolutely that was a huge swing in the game, that was a fantastic over from Adil," Buttler said. "The last three games especially, he's been outstanding for us. He's always been the guy that we've thrown the ball to to make things happen.
"It certainly wasn't easy, we managed to get away to a decent start, which controlled the run rate. We bat deep as well, which gave us a lot of options and trust."
Paris Saint-Germain restored their five-point lead at the top of Ligue 1 ahead of the World Cup break with a routine 5-0 win over Auxerre at the Parc des Princes on Sunday.
Kylian Mbappe opened the scoring early on following some good build-up play from Lionel Messi, who returned from injury to join the France forward and Neymar in attack.
A seventh win in a row for PSG in all competitions never looked in doubt when Carlos Soler added a second goal and then assisted Achraf Hakimi for the home side's third.
Christophe Galtier made full use of his squad depth and substitutes Renato Sanches and Hugo Ekitike added gloss to the scoreline with a couple of late goals.
The serene nature of the contest ensured Galtier could replace a number of PSG's Qatar-bound stars, with no players sustaining an injury problem of any sort.
Messi sent a delightful lofted ball over the Auxerre defence for Nuno Mendes to deliver a first-time pass towards Mbappe, who in turn helped it over the line with 11 minutes gone.
The goal stood following a VAR check for a possible handball against Neymar, but Auxerre nearly levelled as M'Baye Niang forced Gianluigi Donnarumma into a fine save.
PSG toiled before Mendes took the ball past a couple of players and picked out Soler to glance a header away from Benoit Costil and in off the far post early in the second half.
Soler turned provider six minutes later when playing in Hakimi to coolly slot past Costil from a one-on-one position.
Messi hit the post but could not get his name on the scoresheet, though Sanches fired in off the post before fellow substitute Ekitike profited from some poor defending to coolly add a fifth.
Two Edin Dzeko goals helped Inter move clear of Atalanta and into Serie A's top form with a 3-2 win at Bergamo going into the World Cup break.
Inter trailed to Ademola Lookman's penalty on Sunday, but Dzeko scored either side of half-time to swing the game back in the visitors' favour.
Dzeko's second effort benefited from a deflection off Joakim Maehle, and Atalanta helped the Nerazzurri out again when Jose Luis Palomino put through his own net for the third.
Although Palomino later scored at the right end, it was too little, too late, as Inter opened up a three-point gap to Atalanta, level on points with second-placed Lazio ahead of the rest of the day's action.
Atalanta had started the brighter of the two sides, with Duvan Zapata seeing a pair of early chances blocked before he was caught by Stefan de Vrij's outstretched leg for a penalty that Lookman cleanly converted.
The goal stunned Inter out of their torpor, pushing them onto the front foot, and they were rewarded with Dzeko's finish after the ball was helped into his path by a Lautaro Martinez header.
Atalanta had hoped to reassert their hold on the match following the interval but instead contributed to their own downfall as a combination of Dzeko and Maehle sent Inter in front from Federico Dimarco's cross.
Palomino then glanced an Inter corner past goalkeeper Juan Musso, meaning his own riposte – a diving header with 13 minutes to play – was not enough to recover an Atalanta result.
Ben Stokes says England's bowling attack was the key factor in their victory over Pakistan in the T20 World Cup final on Sunday, despite his crucial half-century.
Sam Curran (3-12) and Adil Rashid (2-22) bowled superbly to restrict Pakistan to just 137-8, though England's chase did not get off to the greatest of starts as openers Alex Hales and Jos Buttler were removed within the powerplay.
Stokes came in with England 32-2 after 3.3 overs, but smashed a sublime 52 off 49 deliveries to record his first ever T20I half-century and help his country to their second T20 World Cup title.
Stokes was keen to highlight England's bowlers as the reason for the win at the MCG in Melbourne, telling Sky Sports: "I think when you chase totals in games like this, you forget the hard work that goes in before.
"I thought the way that we bowled, Adil Rashid, Sam Curran, that's what won us the game. To restrict them to whatever we did, bowlers have got to take a lot of credit for that.
"We didn't feel under too much pressure with the run chase. I never felt it was out of our hands at all. It's never really panic stations when it's under eight an over."
England's triumph comes after a shock defeat to Ireland in the group stage that threatened to derail their tournament, having come in as one of the favourites.
Stokes referenced that loss after the final victory, saying: "I think with that [Ireland defeat] being so early in the competition, we obviously had to address it, say what we said and then let it go.
"In tournaments, you can't carry baggage. That was a little blip, but the best teams learn from their mistakes, they take it on the chin but they never let it affect them and they just let it go and move onto the next challenge."
England's success comes in new captain Jos Buttler's first tournament since taking over from previous incumbent Eoin Morgan, who led the team to ODI World Cup glory in 2019.
Stokes says Buttler has built on Morgan's good work to create history of his own, adding: "Jos has now created his own legacy.
"When the great man stepped down [pointing to Morgan] and Jos took over, you look how quickly he's managed to take control of the team and progress it from the legacy that Morgs [Morgan] has left.
"He's a guy who everyone follows. I think it shouldn't be taken for granted how hard it can be to make tactical decisions under pressure in this format. Ninety-five per cent of his decision-making he's got right. We're lucky to have him."
Ben Stokes says England's bowling attack was the key factor in their victory over Pakistan in the T20 World Cup final on Sunday, despite his crucial half-century.
Sam Curran (3-12) and Adil Rashid (2-22) bowled superbly to restrict Pakistan to just 137-8, though England's chase did not get off to the greatest of starts as openers Alex Hales and Jos Buttler were removed within the powerplay.
Stokes came in with England 32-2 after 3.3 overs, but smashed a sublime 52 off 49 deliveries to record his first ever T20I half-century and help his country to their second T20 World Cup title.
Stokes was keen to highlight England's bowlers as the reason for the win at the MCG in Melbourne, telling Sky Sports: "I think when you chase totals in games like this, you forget the hard work that goes in before.
"I thought the way that we bowled, Adil Rashid, Sam Curran, that's what won us the game. To restrict them to whatever we did, bowlers have got to take a lot of credit for that.
"We didn't feel under too much pressure with the run chase. I never felt it was out of our hands at all. It's never really panic stations when it's under eight an over."
England's triumph comes after a shock defeat to Ireland in the group stage that threatened to derail their tournament, having come in as one of the favourites.
Stokes referenced that loss after the final victory, saying: "I think with that [Ireland defeat] being so early in the competition, we obviously had to address it, say what we said and then let it go.
"In tournaments, you can't carry baggage. That was a little blip, but the best teams learn from their mistakes, they take it on the chin but they never let it affect them and they just let it go and move onto the next challenge."
England's success comes in new captain Jos Buttler's first tournament since taking over from previous incumbent Eoin Morgan, who led the team to ODI World Cup glory in 2019.
Stokes says Buttler has built on Morgan's good work to create history of his own, adding: "Jos has now created his own legacy.
"When the great man stepped down [pointing to Morgan] and Jos took over, you look how quickly he's managed to take control of the team and progress it from the legacy that Morgs [Morgan] has left.
"He's a guy who everyone follows. I think it shouldn't be taken for granted how hard it can be to make tactical decisions under pressure in this format. Ninety-five per cent of his decision-making he's got right. We're lucky to have him."
Barcelona president Joan Laporta has reiterated Lionel Messi "always has his home" at the club.
The Argentina superstar left Camp Nou in August 2021 to join Paris Saint-Germain, after financial issues left Barcelona unable to tie their academy graduate to a new contract.
Speculation of a return to Catalonia has been present ever since and have heated up ahead of 2023, when Messi is set to become a free agent unless he agrees to a fresh contract in the French capital.
Whether an emotional return materialises remains to be seen but Laporta is keen to stress that Messi will always be welcome.
"Leo knows that at Barca he always has his home," he told Sport.
"But let me not talk about Leo because he is a player of another team and we would enter again into a series of statements and counter-statements that would not benefit us at all. He has a current contract with a European club.
"I can only say that Leo has been the best player in the history of Barca."
Barcelona waved goodbye to another stalwart last week in Gerard Pique, who decided to retire, and Laporta made it clear the decision was solely down to the defender.
"Pique's departure has been decided by him. Motivated surely by a sports theme. If Gerard had had the confidence of the coach and played as an undisputed starter, he obviously would not have left," he added.
"Pique has decided what he wanted to do and we, from the board of directors, respect it.
"Xavi has been very honest with him. From the first moment the technician told him that he did not count on him and I also commented with him about his situation.
"But Gerard is a competitive man, a winner, and he still saw himself as a starter and wanted to continue. Although in the end he has seen reality and made a decision.
"He has had a way of saying goodbye to the club, given the haste, very nice. We always want our heroes to be eternal but it is impossible."
Barcelona head into the mid-season break for the World Cup top of LaLiga, two points ahead of Real Madrid, and return to action in late December against city rivals Espanyol.
Marcus Rashford thinks Erik ten Hag's tactical approach at Manchester United has helped him cement a turnaround in form this term, ahead of the final Premier League game before the break for the World Cup.
The forward struggled across a difficult 2021-22 campaign at Old Trafford, struggling to hold down a place in the United team and slipping out of the England reckoning.
But a superb start to the new season, with eight goals across 18 matches in all competitions, has seen him emerge at the spearhead of Ten Hag's United revolution.
Rashford certainly feels the Dutchman's arrival has helped reignite his talents and believes it comes down to the shift in play developed by his new manager.
"I am more effective," he told The Sun. "I am in more dangerous positions and that's what it's about for me. I can help the team win games. I can score goals and get assists, and that's the aim.
"It's probably the playing style we have created, better quality of chances and playing forward-thinking football. "He likes possession, but he is also in favour of us going for the kill. I am enjoying my time under him."
A defeat to Aston Villa last week checked United's momentum in the Premier League, though they gained revenge by dumping Unai Emery's side out of the EFL Cup in midweek, with Rashford finding the net again.
Ahead of a trip to Fulham on Sunday in their last match before the World Cup, the forward was determined to ensure there was no further slip-up, adding: "We dropped points last weekend and we can't afford to drop more back-to-back.
"So it's important for us to put in a big performance and get a win. It will be the last time we play together for a while, so it is important to leave with good energy, positive vibes, and momentum. You don't want to leave on a loss."
Rashford will have a busy mid-season break, having been recalled to the England fold by manager Gareth Southgate for the World Cup in Qatar.
The Three Lions get their campaign underway in Group B against Iran on November 21, before further matches against the United States and Wales.
Antonio Rudiger admits it would come as a "surprise" if Germany win the World Cup in Qatar, as the Real Madrid defender gears up to play a key role for his nation.
A member of the squad four years ago, Rudiger has been elevated into a starting berth for the 2014 champions and is one of the more experienced players within Hansi Flick's side.
Germany fell flat as defending champions in Russia, exiting at the group stage, and are not ranked among the favourites to go all the way in Qatar, with that honour falling to Brazil, Argentina and France.
While Rudiger is keen to go all the way in the tournament, he has conceded it would be a shock outcome if Germany were to end victorious for a fifth time in their history.
"It's exciting. In 2018 I was in the team, but always on the bench. I was young. Now I enjoy a different role, the role of leader," he told AS.
"I've worked all my life for this and it's something that makes me very happy. I'm ready.
"It's a new era. In 2014 there was an excellent generation, people like [Toni] Kroos, [Mario] Gotze, [Phillip] Lahm, [Bastian] Schweinsteiger.
"But I think now there is also a great generation of players capable of achieving something important.
"You can never get Germany out of the potential winners. But if we look at what we have done in recent months, it may be a surprise [if] we win.
"We haven't managed to do a good stage lately. In good shape, for me, is for example Brazil."
Germany have little room for mistakes in Group E as they sit alongside fellow European juggernauts Spain, along with Costa Rica and Japan, with Rudiger aware of the threat La Roja pose.
"It's a World Cup. If you want to win it you have to also beat the best, and it doesn't matter when you face them," he added.
"Spain is very, very high. Now, playing in Spain, I can see how many good players there are.
"Like Germany, it is a new generation. In football, it's hard to give things time. But I think they have a good team, a young team that may need time."
Germany's World Cup campaign begins against Japan on November 23, before then facing Spain four days later and closing the group stage against Costa Rica.
England won the T20 World Cup after Ben Stokes' first ever T20I half-century helped them to a five-wicket victory over Pakistan in Sunday's final at the MCG.
Excellent bowling in particular from Adil Rashid and Sam Curran held Pakistan to just 137-8, and England overcame some nervy moments in the chase to win their second T20 World Cup.
After England won the toss and opted to bowl in Melbourne, Pakistan struggled to get going, mustering just four boundaries on their way to 68-2 after 10 overs.
Despite Shan Masood's best efforts (38 runs from 28 balls), England then tore through Pakistan's middle order, Curran finishing with excellent figures of 3-12.
Pakistan required early wickets, and Shaheen Afridi found just what they needed with the final ball of the first over, sending an absolute ripper crashing through Alex Hales' middle stump.
Jos Buttler and Phil Salt steadied the ship before Salt was dismissed in the fourth over when smashing Haris Rauf's delivery straight to the waiting Iftikhar Ahmed, before Rauf then claimed the key wicket of Buttler (26 off 17) as the England skipper nicked behind.
England were now in real peril of letting the game and tournament slip through their fingers, though an important third-wicket stand took them to 84-4 before Brook fell for 20 from 23 deliveries, Afridi taking the catch off Shadab Khan's bowling.
Afridi injured himself in his role in that dismissal, and though he tried to return, he could only bowl one ball of his third over before being forced off the field.
Stokes and Moeen Ali took full advantage, nailing boundaries as they closed in on the target, with Moeen hitting three fours in the 17th over to take England within 12 of victory.
He was removed in the 19th over by Mohammad Wasim, but Stokes and Liam Livingstone finished the job, with Stokes hitting the winning run to end on 52 off 49 deliveries and win the tournament for his nation.
Curran shines in brightest moment
In the biggest game of his young career, Curran's 3-12 and 15 dot balls were key in restricting Pakistan to a score of just 137.
Along with Rashid (2-22), England's bowling attack set their star batting order up to go and win the game, which they just about managed.
Stokes comes up trumps again
Stokes, one of England's main men over recent years, came up huge for his country yet again with a vital innings to help them to victory.
Coming in with England 32-2 after 3.3 overs, Stokes' first ever T20I half-century came at the perfect time to add another historic performance to his already impressive resume.
The Seattle Seahawks are keen on signing quarterback Geno Smith for next season after his stellar campaign so far.
Arriving as part of a trade deal with the Denver Broncos that saw franchise QB Russell Wilson depart after nine years in the Pacific Northwest, Smith edged fellow new arrival Drew Lock to a starting berth and has excelled in 2022.
A campaign that began with a surprise win against the Broncos has seen Seattle stand 6-3 for the year and top of the NFC West ahead of Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Munich.
Smith has been a major part of the Seahawks' success, completing 73.1 per cent of his passes and throwing for 2,199 yards, with the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport stating Seattle are keen to secure him to a new contract.
An offer is yet to be made to Smith, who is a free agent in 2023, but discussions are set to take place following the conclusion of the season – which may be later than was initially expected given the team's surprise playoff push.
Victory against the Bucs on Sunday would extend the Seahawks' win streak to five, with only the Philadelphia Eagles (eight) and Minnesota Vikings (six) on a longer run.
Jamal Musiala can become a Bayern Munich club legend in the vein of Lionel Messi at Barcelona after notching a century of Bundesliga games, says Lothar Matthaus.
The teenager became the youngest-ever player to notch 100 matches in the top flight for the Bavarian giants against Schalke on Saturday.
At just 19 years and 259 days, it marks the latest feat for the Germany international, who set up both goals in his side's 2-0 win at the Veltins Arena.
Having made history, Musiala was in line for plaudits from Matthaus, who believes the midfielder can enshrine his legacy if he chooses to remain with the club across the rest of his career.
"That's like Messi. That's Hollywood. He must never leave Bayern," he told Sky. "He always has to play. His value is a quarter of a billion."
With 20 goal involvements across all competitions, Musiala leads German players across all competitions for the season, underscoring his value for club and country.
He will head to the World Cup with Hansi Flick's national team following this weekend, with Germany's campaign set to open against Japan on November 23.
Mauricio Pochettino wants his next coaching job to be with a club capable of winning the Champions League after his experience of working with Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Neymar at Paris Saint-Germain.
Pochettino departed PSG in July, having won the Ligue 1 title last season having failed to recover their title bid the previous year.
The former Tottenham boss paid the price for another lacklustre campaign in Europe, however, with his star-studded squad eliminated by Real Madrid across a dramatic last-16 encounter.
Pochettino has been out of work since despite offers, and he has now outlined exactly what he is looking for in a new project.
"Talking about projects in football is very difficult," he reflected. "There are [a] few lucky ones who can be involved in a project in the medium or long term.
"[But] there is more and more demand and less patience in the clubs. The main objective is to win and at the same time create a structure that gives you a livelihood to maintain it.
"After being at a club with Mbappe, Messi, Neymar, it is normal that I would seek to maintain that level. A club that gives the chance to aim for the biggest, like winning the Champions League [would be ideal]."
On countryman Messi, who is likely to have his final shot at winning a World Cup with Argentina at Qatar 2022 later this month, Pochettino feels his narrative helps La Albiceleste sit among the favourites.
"You always have to count on Argentina," he added."[But there is also] Brazil, [and] I would include England, France, Spain and Germany.
"Argentina is more favoured than four years ago, especially having won the Copa America. When you have Messi, and everyone understands they have to play for him, dreams can come true."
Success for Messi would see him follow Diego Maradona – another of the sport's all-time greats – in leading Argentina to glory.
Pochettino would not be drawn into any discussion around how the two compare as players, as he added: "For me, that debate never existed.
"They are the best in their respective contexts. How do we measure it?
"According to results? If he won the World Cup? Ballon d'Or? Both are in the same place, and it is in the first position."
Pep Guardiola believes he would struggle to find a better club than Manchester City, but he still will not discuss his long-term future at the Etihad Stadium.
The Spaniard's contract with the Premier League champions expires at the end of this campaign, by which point he will have had seven years at the helm.
In that period, he has four league titles, four EFL Cups and one FA Cup, although the Champions League crown he was brought in to help secure continues to elude him.
Guardiola's stay at City now matches the time he spent at former clubs Barcelona and Bayern Munich combined, and he acknowledges his working conditions could hardly be better.
"[Would I] stay in another place for seven years? No, I don't think so," he told The Athletic. "It is difficult to find what I have here as a manager.
"To be a manager for a long time, you need to be so supported. The results help a lot, that is undeniable. In this world, they sack you, they fire you, we know that.
"But at big clubs, part of the success of the manager is the chairman, the sporting director especially, the CEOs and all the people here.
"It goes to the media, fans and players. There is stability. This is why I think only in few clubs this can happen."
With the club season set to take a hiatus for the World Cup imminently, City could move to tie Guardiola down to a new long-term deal.
The manager dodged the question on imminent talks, however, only adding: "I've said many times, I don't talk about that.
"Everything is under control. The decision will be made together with the club the moment it has to be made. When we have time, when the moment we feel it both sides, we take a decision."
Israel Adesanya lost to Alex Pereira for a third time on Saturday, costing the UFC champion his middleweight belt, but he is already looking forward to a rematch.
Pereira is the only fighter ever to have stopped Adesanya, knocking him out in one of a pair of kickboxing wins.
And at UFC 281 at Madison Square Garden, the Brazilian repeated the trick, winning by TKO in the final round of a bout Adesanya had enjoyed the better of to that point.
Adesanya was not impressed by the stoppage, saying: "I'm grateful. What a life, what a moment.
"It's f***ing crazy, isn't it? It's similar to the last time – same story. It's crazy. I was fine, I was still lucid, but s*** happens.
"I talked to my coaches, and I trust them, but I was fine. I could see everything. My eyes might have rolled back a little bit, but I was lucid."
It was only a second UFC defeat for Adesanya and his first at middleweight, where he had been champion since 2019. Pereira only entered the UFC for the first time last November.
But Adesanya accepts the risk of defeat as part of the role as champion, replying when asked if he would be pursuing a rematch: "Of course, of course. Come on, man.
"This was my third fight in 10 months. Every time I fight, I risk losing what you guys deem as the prestigious belt.
"I put it on the line because I'm not trying to just fight once and then chill, do my lap around and parade as a champion and not risk so much.
"I put it on the line, and this is what happens. Dare to be great – and I am."
Adesanya referred to Leonardo DiCaprio's portrayal of Jordan Belford in The Wolf of Wall Street as he added: "'I'm not f***ing leaving'. Yeah, I'm still right here. I'm not going anywhere."
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