As the sport's popularity spread across the world, it developed its own colourful language/expressions. From clever slang to bizarre nicknames, the game's changing culture has thrown up some rather unusual turn of phrase. Here are 8 of the strangest football terms ever used.
A struggling Indian team, yet to secure a win on their UK tour, is set to make a crucial change for the third T20 International against England, likely replacing out-of-form leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi with an additional pace bowler to strengthen their attack.
Bangladesh is actively pursuing a cricket series against India in September, utilising sports diplomacy to mend strained bilateral ties following a controversy involving Mustafizur Rahman and Bangladesh's subsequent T20 World Cup boycott.
Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman has been suspended for two Pakistan Super League (PSL) matches after being found guilty of breaching the code of conduct related to changing the condition of the ball during a match between Lahore Qalandars and Karachi Kings.
From Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to Cape Verde's fairytale run, VAR controversies and unforgettable fan moments, relive the memories that made the 2026 FIFA World Cup the biggest and most dramatic tournament in history.
Former India captain Gouramangi Singh offers his expert analysis on the upcoming FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and Spain. He highlights Spain's aggressive pressing game and defensive transitions against Argentina's champion's mentality and composure, predicting the match will be decided by small margins. Singh also discusses the individual strengths of both teams and downplays the Messi vs. Yamal narrative.
Patidar highlights bowlers' plight in high-scoring IPL, stays guarded on Ahmedabad final shift
Sai Sudharsan scored his second consecutive century, and Devdutt Padikkal added an unbeaten 94, guiding India A to a strong 247 for one on Day 2 of the second unofficial Test against Sri Lanka A, trailing by 119 runs.
KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane rued missed chances but lauded Mukul Choudhary's decisive innings as LSG chased 182 in a dramatic last-ball finish in IPL 2026.
Yastika Bhatia scripted history by becoming the first woman to score a Test century at Lord's. Here's the inspiring story of her journey from Baroda prodigy and ACL injury comeback to India's latest cricket hero.
Portugal coach Roberto Martinez defended the VAR decisions that helped his side beat Croatia 2-1, while FIFA explained how Connected Ball Technology confirmed the stoppage-time offside call that ended Croatia's World Cup campaign.
Indian middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer has completed 5,000 international runs across all formats, achieving this milestone during a T20I against England where he scored 68 runs. The article also highlights his impressive career statistics and mentions Abhishek Sharma's new record for the fastest 100 T20I sixes by a Test-playing nation player.
India wicketkeeper-batter Yastika Bhatia became the first woman cricketer to score a Test century at Lord's, hitting 113 against England. This remarkable achievement marks a significant comeback for Bhatia, who recovered from a career-threatening ACL injury sustained last year. She credited her family, teammates, and support staff for her successful rehabilitation and expressed her belief that her best is yet to come.
Senuja Wekunagoda's imposing unbeaten double hundred helped Sri Lanka Under-19 take control of the first Youth Test against India Under-19, posting a formidable 344/4 on the opening day in Galle.
India head coach Amol Muzumdar is baffled that it has taken this long to stage a women's Test at Lord's, 142 years after the 'Home of Cricket' hosted a men's Test.
Pankaj Advani continues his impressive form, reaching the semifinals of the 10-ball national championships after defeating reigning champion Shivam Arora. He will face Shahbaaz Adil Khan in the next round.
Defending champions New Zealand were knocked out of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 as England triumphed by nine wickets at the Oval in London on Sunday.
Sri Lanka A captain Sahan Arachchige scored an unbeaten 83, leading his team to 288 for 5 on the opening day of the second unofficial 'Test' against India 'A'. Indian bowlers Yash Thakur and Saransh Jain took two wickets each, but the hosts built strong partnerships on a slow Galle pitch.
Cricket's inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics is a strategic move by Olympic leaders to tap into India's massive fan base and commercial power, aiming to attract billions of new viewers and strengthen the Games' appeal in key markets.
Sobers excelled at many sports, including soccer and basketball, but cricket was his passion. His first memories of the sport were of playing in the road or on the beach, aged eight.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi got a taste of the fact that international cricket isn't always child's play as England pacers Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue were fast and furious in clinically decimating India by a record 125 runs in the third T20 International in Nottingham on Tuesday.
BCCI selectors have reportedly informed Rohit Sharma that they plan to move on from him after the ODI series against England.
England pace spearhead Jofra Archer attributed India's struggles in the T20I series to the return to 'normal' English conditions, contrasting them with the 'easy wickets and smaller boundaries' experienced during the IPL. Archer's 3/29 and Josh Tongue's 4/38 led to India's biggest T20I defeat by runs.
Southampton's Utilita Bowl will host a men's Ashes Test for the first time in 2025, as the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced the concurrent scheduling of the men's and women's Ashes series against Australia, mirroring the successful 2023 format.
Morocco's coach Mohamed Ouahbi expressed disappointment after their 2-0 World Cup quarter-final loss to France, acknowledging they faced a better team but stressing the need for self-criticism and progress despite leaving a 'good image'.
Following India's disappointing limited-overs tour of the UK, head coach Gautam Gambhir and the team management are facing intense scrutiny over selection decisions, particularly the omission of Kuldeep Yadav in the third ODI. Former cricketer Sadagoppan Ramesh criticised the team's logic, while also praising Rohit Sharma's century under pressure. The tour has sparked broader discussions about team selections and optimal talent utilisation.
India skipper Shubman Gill expressed confidence in his team's middle-order batters after Washington Sundar and Axar Patel successfully chased down a challenging target, highlighting their ability to perform under pressure and hinting at exploring various combinations for the upcoming ODI World Cup.
India pacer Mayank Yadav has described the two-year injury-enforced absence from international cricket as the most difficult phase of his young career, admitting that battling repeated setbacks at the age of 22-23 tested him mentally.
At 15, a talent like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi should play right through the year without being rested as it would help him learn from mistakes while gaining invaluable experience in all conditions, former India spinner L Sivaramakrishnan said on Sunday.
England are on the verge of defeat in Ben Stokes' final international match, needing 270 runs with only six wickets remaining against New Zealand at Trent Bridge. Despite Stokes' aggressive opening knock, England lost four quick wickets in their chase of 373, leaving New Zealand in a dominant position on day four. Daryl Mitchell's resilient century was a highlight for New Zealand.
Football legends Thierry Henry, David Beckham, and Rivaldo have lauded Lionel Messi's extraordinary performance in Argentina's dramatic FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 comeback against Egypt, with Henry stating Messi is 'not human' for his ability to elevate his game when it matters most.
Youri Tielemans struck a 125th-minute penalty as Belgium rallied from two goals down and defeated Senegal 3-2 after extra time in their World Cup last 32 clash in Seattle on Wednesday to keep alive their title hopes that had looked dead and buried.
Indian batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi acknowledges a period of 'several ups and downs' over the past four months but asserts his confidence remains high as he prepares for the T20I series against Zimbabwe.
Spain forward Ferran Torres dedicated his World Cup-winning goal to the entire nation after his extra-time strike secured a 1-0 victory over Argentina in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final. The 26-year-old's solitary goal of the tournament proved decisive, ending Argentina's hopes of retaining the title and delivering Spain's first World Cup triumph since 2010. The win also extended Spain's unbeaten run to a European-record 38 international matches.
VVS Laxman will lead India's support staff for the upcoming Zimbabwe T20I series and the Asian Games, providing a break for the senior team's regular staff. This arrangement allows for simultaneous international commitments, with Gautam Gambhir coaching the ODI squad against West Indies.
RajKummar Rao is set to portray Sourav Ganguly in the upcoming biopic Dada: The Sourav Ganguly Story, with the first look poster dramatically recreating Ganguly's iconic shirtless celebration at Lord's after India's historic 2002 NatWest Trophy victory.
Australia has announced a 13-man squad for the upcoming two-Test home series against Bangladesh, featuring the return of captain Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Nathan Lyon from injury. The series, part of the World Test Championship, sees competition for fast bowling spots with Scott Boland's strong performance, while Jake Weatherald and Cameron Green retain their places despite recent struggles. The squad aims to solidify Australia's top position in the WTC standings.
Former India Women's cricketer Reema Malhotra has hailed the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side's historic Test victory over England at Lord's, drawing parallels between their win and Sourav Ganguly's iconic balcony celebration in 2002, stating, 'July 13 has become a memorable date in Indian cricket history.'
India all-rounder Deepti Sharma emphasised the importance of the first hour on day two of the one-off women's Test against England, aiming for early wickets to pressure the hosts. India posted 285 in their first innings, with half-centuries from Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur, and Deepti herself, before taking an early England wicket. Sharma also discussed the variable pitch conditions, which she expects to continue assisting bowlers.
Ireland produced one of the biggest wins in their T20I history, edging India by just one run in a thrilling second T20I in Belfast to complete a historic 2-0 series sweep.
