Inter Miami has become the most valuable football club in the United States, with an estimated valuation of $1.45 billion ahead of the 2026 season. The Florida-based team, led by Argentine captain Lionel Messi, has seen its brand value and revenue surge following his arrival. According to a survey by sports business outlet Sportico, Inter Miami has overtaken Los Angeles FC, which now ranks second with a $1.4 billion valuation.

The club’s market value has grown by about 22 percent in just one year, marking a significant rise for Messi and teammate Luis Suárez’s side. In contrast, Los Angeles FC recorded only a 9 percent increase, allowing Miami to surpass it in overall worth. The top five most valuable MLS clubs now include Inter Miami, Los Angeles FC, LA Galaxy ($1.17 billion), Atlanta United ($1.14 billion), and New York City FC ($1.12 billion).

The report highlights how Messi’s influence has extended beyond the pitch, transforming Inter Miami’s financial and competitive standing within Major League Soccer.

Argentina and Inter Miami have been hit by a major setback as Lionel Messi sustained a left hamstring injury during a friendly match against Ecuadorian club Barcelona last Saturday. The injury forced Messi to miss Miami’s Wednesday training session, prompting concern from Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni and Miami coach Javier Mascherano. The club has not yet announced a timeline for his return, while Messi confirmed on social media that the team postponed its next friendly due to his condition.

According to Argentine outlet TyC Sports, Messi is expected to recover before Argentina’s March 27 Finalissima match against Spain, though uncertainty remains about how quickly the 38-year-old can regain full fitness. The injury occurred late in Miami’s pre-season, a period Messi had planned to use to decide whether to play in the 2026 World Cup. The setback may influence that decision.

Inter Miami, owned by David Beckham, stated that Messi’s return to training will depend on his physical progress in the coming days. The club’s friendly against Independiente del Valle in Puerto Rico has been rescheduled to February 26.

India and Pakistan’s cricket relations have sharply deteriorated since their four-day cross-border conflict in May 2025. The tension resurfaced during the T20 World Cup and Asia Cup, where political overtones overshadowed the matches. The controversy began when India’s Suryakumar Yadav refused the customary handshake with Pakistan’s Salman Ali Agha, citing the April 22 attack in Indian-administered Kashmir. The Indian team later avoided post-match handshakes, and Pakistan protested against match referee Andy Pycroft, delaying their next game.

Subsequent encounters saw heated exchanges, symbolic gestures referencing the May conflict, and mutual complaints to the International Cricket Council (ICC). The Asia Cup final escalated tensions further when India refused to accept the trophy from Pakistan’s Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the Asian Cricket Council president and Pakistan’s interior minister. The ICC later fined several players, including Yadav and Haris Rauf, for breaching its code of conduct.

The political strain extended to the T20 World Cup, with Pakistan initially announcing a boycott of its February 15 match against India in solidarity with Bangladesh, before reversing the decision after appeals from other cricket boards.

Sri Lanka defeated Oman by 105 runs in a Group B match of the T20 World Cup, securing their second consecutive victory and moving closer to the Super Eight stage. Batting first after losing the toss, Sri Lanka posted 225 for 5 in 20 overs, the highest team total of the tournament so far. Kusal Mendis scored 61 off 45 balls, Pawan Rathnayake hit 60 off 28, and captain Dasun Shanaka added 50 off 20 balls.

In reply, Oman struggled from the start, losing three wickets for 36 runs in the powerplay and finishing at 120 for 9 in 20 overs. Mohammad Nadeem remained unbeaten on 53 from 56 balls, while Wasim Ali contributed 27. For Sri Lanka, Maheesh Theekshana and Dushmantha Chameera took two wickets each. Rathnayake was named Player of the Match.

With this win, Sri Lanka lead Group B with four points and a net run rate of +3.125, followed by Australia and Zimbabwe. Oman and Ireland remain winless after two matches.

European football fans witnessed an eventful night as Manchester City, Liverpool, and Aston Villa all recorded important victories, while Bayern Munich advanced to the German Cup semifinals. Manchester City defeated Fulham 3–0 at the Etihad Stadium, with goals from Antoine Semenyo, Niko O’Reilly, and Erling Haaland. The win lifted City to 53 points from 26 matches, three points behind Arsenal, who have played one game fewer.

Liverpool edged Sunderland 1–0 at the Stadium of Light thanks to a 61st-minute header from Virgil van Dijk off a Mohamed Salah corner. The result kept Liverpool in the top-four race with 42 points, two behind fifth-placed Chelsea. Aston Villa earned a 1–0 win over Brighton through an 86th-minute own goal by Jack Hinshelwood, moving them to third place with 50 points from 26 matches.

In Germany, Bayern Munich beat RB Leipzig 2–0 in the German Cup quarterfinals to reach the semifinals for the first time in six years. Harry Kane scored from a penalty in the 64th minute, and Luis Díaz added another four minutes later to seal the victory.

West Indies defeated England by 30 runs in their T20 World Cup Group C match at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Wednesday. Sherfane Rutherford’s unbeaten 76 off 42 balls, featuring seven sixes, powered the West Indies to a total of 196-6. Gudakesh Motie then led the bowling effort with figures of 3-33 as England were dismissed for 166 in 19 overs. The victory marked West Indies’ second consecutive win in the tournament, placing them at the top of Group C, while England slipped to third behind Scotland after their first defeat.

Rutherford and Jason Holder added 61 runs for the fifth wicket, with Holder contributing 33 off 17 balls. Earlier, Shimron Hetmyer and Roston Chase steadied the innings after both openers fell early. For England, Adil Rashid impressed with 2-16 from four overs, but their batting faltered against West Indies’ spinners. England captain Harry Brook admitted disappointment, noting that the pitch conditions did not favor their chase as expected.

Rutherford credited his preparation and clear mindset for his performance, adding that the team’s bowlers executed their plans effectively to secure the win.

West Indies secured a 30-run victory over England in a T20 World Cup match held in Mumbai. Batting first, the Caribbean side recovered from an early collapse at 8 for 2 to post 196 for 6 in 20 overs. Sherfane Rutherford led the innings with an unbeaten 76 off 42 balls, supported by Roston Chase’s 34. For England, Adil Rashid took two wickets for 16 runs.

Chasing 197, England made a strong start with openers Phil Salt and Jos Buttler scoring 38 runs in the first three overs. However, regular wickets halted their progress, and the team was bowled out for 166 in 19 overs. Sam Curran top-scored with 43 runs, while Gudakesh Motie claimed three wickets for 33 runs for West Indies.

With this win, West Indies climbed to the top of the T20 World Cup table after previously defeating Scotland. England, who had narrowly beaten Nepal in their earlier match, missed the chance to build momentum in the tournament.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Aminul Islam Bulbul returned to Dhaka after a joint meeting with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the International Cricket Council (ICC) in Lahore. Following the talks, BCB confirmed that Bangladesh would not face any sanctions for missing the recent World Cup. Bulbul stated that the ICC, unable to provide direct financial compensation, offered Bangladesh opportunities to host upcoming tournaments, including the Women’s Under-19 World Cup next year and the 50-over World Cup jointly with India in 2031.

Bulbul described the meeting as a success that strengthened Bangladesh’s position within the ICC, asserting that the country had proven itself a “cricket power house.” He thanked the PCB for its support, noting that Pakistan had advocated for Bangladesh’s participation and even considered boycotting a match against India in solidarity. Bulbul emphasized that this outcome was not a “win” but recognition of Bangladesh’s importance as an ICC member.

He added that cricket’s popularity in Bangladesh and the region’s high player and viewership numbers made the country indispensable to the global cricket structure.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) avoided a major financial setback after Pakistan withdrew its decision to boycott the upcoming match against India. Following a meeting between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and ICC officials in Lahore, the Pakistan government granted permission for the national team to play. The high-profile encounter will now proceed as scheduled on February 15 in Colombo, ending uncertainty surrounding one of cricket’s most lucrative fixtures.

According to the report, the ICC earns its largest revenues from India-Pakistan matches. Had Pakistan maintained its boycott, the organization faced an estimated loss of $174 million, equivalent to about 1,985 crore Bangladeshi taka, from broadcasting, gate receipts, and sponsorships. The decision to participate came after appeals from the Bangladesh Cricket Board, Sri Lanka Cricket, and the Emirates Cricket Board urging Pakistan to reconsider.

With the match confirmed, the ICC has averted a major financial crisis and ensured that one of the sport’s most anticipated rivalries will continue as planned.

Bangladesh’s Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul has praised the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) for what he called a brilliant diplomatic achievement following the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) decision not to impose any penalties on Bangladesh for missing World Cup matches. The ICC meeting in Lahore, attended by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and BCB President Aminul Islam Bulbul, resolved the crisis triggered by Pakistan’s announcement to boycott its match against India in the T20 World Cup. The ICC also confirmed that Bangladesh would receive hosting rights for one of its future tournaments, while Pakistan agreed to play against India.

Speaking to the media at the Ministry of Youth and Sports on Tuesday evening, Nazrul said Bangladesh had no regrets about its earlier decision, emphasizing that the choice was made by the country’s players and board to protect national dignity and safety. He described the move as an exemplary act of sacrifice and national responsibility.

The adviser reiterated that such decisions, prioritizing national interest and security, should be repeated if similar situations arise in the future.

Pakistan confirmed it will face India in the T20 World Cup on February 15 in Colombo, ending uncertainty over the high-profile match. The decision followed a meeting in Lahore between Bangladesh Cricket Board president Aminul Islam Bulbul, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), and the International Cricket Council (ICC). PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Peshawar that Pakistan agreed to play only after the ICC acknowledged that Bangladesh had been treated unfairly.

Naqvi said all of Bangladesh’s demands were accepted and that Pakistan’s stance was solely to ensure justice and respect for Bangladesh. He emphasized that the government’s decision to proceed with the match was based on this acknowledgment. Earlier, Bangladesh had demanded to move its World Cup matches out of India due to security concerns after Mustafizur Rahman was dropped from the IPL under controversial circumstances.

The ICC’s handling of Bangladesh’s exclusion from the tournament and replacement by Scotland had sparked criticism. Pakistan’s support for Bangladesh’s position and the ICC’s eventual admission appear to have paved the way for the India-Pakistan fixture to proceed.

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake expressed gratitude to Pakistan after the country agreed to play against India in the ongoing T20 World Cup in Colombo. Following the announcement, Dissanayake posted on the X platform, saying he was delighted that the much-anticipated India-Pakistan match would take place as scheduled and thanked Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for his cooperation.

Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath also extended appreciation to Pakistan’s leadership, government, and foreign ministry for positively considering Sri Lanka’s request. He thanked the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and sports authorities for their support, describing the decision as a reflection of sportsmanship, friendship, and the strength of bilateral relations between the two nations.

Earlier, Pakistan’s government said it reviewed formal requests from the Bangladesh Cricket Board and supportive messages from Sri Lanka, the UAE, and other member countries before withdrawing its decision to boycott the India match, aiming to ensure an effective resolution to recent challenges.

The Netherlands secured their first win in the T20 World Cup by defeating Namibia by seven wickets. After losing their opening match to Pakistan by three wickets with three balls remaining, the Dutch side bounced back strongly. Namibia, batting first after losing the toss, posted 156 for eight in 20 overs, which the Netherlands chased down with 12 balls to spare.

Bas de Leede was the standout performer for the Netherlands, scoring an unbeaten 72 off 48 balls with five boundaries and three sixes. Captain Scott Edwards remained not out on 18 from nine balls. Earlier, Namibia’s top scorer was Nicol Loftie-Eaton with 42 off 38 balls, while Jan Frylinck added 30 from 26 deliveries. For the Netherlands, Logan van Beek and Bas de Leede each took two wickets.

The result gave the Netherlands a much-needed boost in the tournament after their narrow loss to Pakistan, keeping their campaign alive with a dominant all-round display.

Pakistan has agreed to play against India in the upcoming T20 World Cup, reversing its earlier boycott decision. Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi welcomed the move, calling it a triumph for cricket. In a post on his X account, Afridi said the government’s decision to participate preserved the sanctity of the tournament and ensured global stability for the sport. He added that cricket had won and would continue to play a role in bridging divisions.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan also praised the decision, describing it as positive for both competition and cricket. Vaughan expressed hope for a future Test series between the two rivals, suggesting that the United Kingdom could host a three-match series.

India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral series for more than a decade due to strained diplomatic and political relations. Their encounters have been limited to major ICC and ACC tournaments during this period.

The global footballers’ union FIFPRO has called on the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to eliminate disparities between men’s and women’s football by ensuring equal conditions, rules, and prize money. The appeal comes ahead of the Women’s Asian Cup, set to begin in March 2026 in Australia. In December last year, FIFPRO sent a letter to the AFC signed by players from seven of the twelve participating teams, requesting that 30 percent of the prize money be distributed directly among players.

FIFPRO also submitted a four-point framework aimed at accelerating professionalism in women’s football. According to its report titled “Opportunities of the AFC Women’s,” the upcoming tournament could generate around 82.4 million US dollars, marking a new milestone for women’s football in Asia. The report highlights that many female players in the region still face low pay and limited access to medical and professional support.

FIFPRO’s Asia-Oceania Secretary General Shoko Suji stated that the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup could serve as a defining opportunity to set new standards for valuing and supporting female athletes.