Portugal great Cristiano Ronaldo once again topped the Forbes highest-paid footballers list for the 2025-26 season, as one of three members of the top 10 plying their trade in Saudi Arabia.

Indonesia were looking to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since the country claimed independence from the Netherlands in 1945.

He has also been fined £8,000 ($10,685) and the Football Association said Maresca openly admitted the misconduct charge.

The final will pit tournament heavyweights Argentina against history-making Morocco — a clash between pedigree and passion, with world youth football’s biggest prize on the line.

Topu said he was "not happy with the overall results" in the 2026 AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers "because, as a team, we expected better."

Following Bangladesh’s 1-1 draw against Hong Kong in a crucial away fixture of the Asian Cup Qualifiers on Tuesday, both coach Javier Cabrera and goalscorer Rakib Hossain rued the fact that they failed to get at least four points from the two matches against Hong Kong, which would have still kept them in the hunt for qualification.

Africa produced the biggest drama, as Cape Verde stunned Cameroon to qualify for the first time, joining continental heavyweights Egypt, Ghana, and Senegal.

These moments frame a larger picture of our sporting mindset.

“Yesterday I asked him if he was ready to play, and he said yes. It’s always a joy for us,” said coach Lionel Scaloni, praising his captain’s readiness and leadership.

Ronaldo netted his 40th and 41st qualifying goals, overtaking retired Guatemala international Carlos Ruiz, who scored 39 between 1998 and 2016.

Over 1,000 police officers and army personnel were deployed while helicopters and drones flew overhead to keep a watch on a demonstration which was kept several kilometres away from the Bluenergy Stadium hosting the Group I fixture, won 3-0 by Italy.

Elsewhere, pro-Palestinian demonstrations prefaced Italy's vital win over Israel and Spain took another step towards qualification with a big victory against Bulgaria.

Coach Carlo Ancelotti said Brazil "mentally collapsed" in their 3-2 friendly defeat to Japan on Tuesday and warned that they need to learn from their mistakes before the World Cup.

Bangladesh held Hong Kong, China to a 1-1 draw in their AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers third-round fixture at Kai Tak Sports Park in Kowloon on Tuesday, thanks to an equaliser from Rakib Hossain that kept their faint qualification hopes alive.

Rakib Hossain scored an 84th-minute equaliser as Bangladesh drew 1-1 against Hong Kong in their fourth match of the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers on Tuesday.  

The new turfs are expected to last around 15 years.

Japan claimed their first win over Brazil after roaring back in the second half to stun Carlo Ancelotti's side 3-2 in a friendly in Tokyo on Tuesday.

The men in red and green are set to face hosts Hong Kong at the Kai Tak Stadium today at 6:00pm (Bangladesh time).

FIFA President Gianni Infantino pledged the governing body’s support to rebuild football infrastructure in Gaza as part of wider post-war reconstruction efforts following Monday's peace summit in Egypt.

Hong Kong coach Ashley Westwood has shot down suggestions that Bangladesh have been ill treated ahead of their AFC Asian Cup qualifier against Hong Kong at a packed Kai Tak Stadium on Tuesday night.