Real Madrid starlets rapid rise continues in pre-season under Jose MourinhoAlexis Ciria has emerged as one of the revelations of the short pre-season at Real Madrid under new manager Jose Mourinho this summer.The 18-year-old winger from Badajoz has enjoyed one of the fastest rises seen in Real Madrids academy in recent years. Signed from Sevillas youth system in January as one of La Fbricas marquee additions, Ciria has gone from playing for the Juvenil A side to scoring for the first team in just seven months.His goal against Fiorentina came in only his second start under Mourinho, marking another milestone in a remarkable ascent.Reflecting on the moment, Ciria admitted the emotions nearly got the better of him. At first, I was a little nervous, but once I stepped onto the field, the nerves went away because I was doing what I love. When the ball came to me, everything else disappeared, and once I saw it go in, it was such a relief,he said.Alexis Ciria joined Madrid only in January. (Picture credit: Instagram/@alexisciria11_)A meteoric rise through the academyCiria announced himself almost immediately after arriving in Madrid.He made his debut for the Juvenil A on 28 January against Mallorca in the Copa del Rey round of 16 and scored the extra-time winner. From there, his progress accelerated at astonishing speed. He became a starter in key UEFA Youth League knockout ties, forming a dangerous wing partnership with Dani Yanez that repeatedly troubled opposition defences.Soon after, he earned starts for Real Madrid C before receiving his first call-up to Castilla. The entire climb took just 38 days, a journey that typically requires several seasons.Success at every levelCirias momentum never slowed. He marked his Castilla debut with an assist before quickly opening his scoring account for the reserve side.His outstanding first half-season culminated in UEFA Youth League glory, where he played a key role in Alvaro Lopezs Juvenil A team as they defeated Club Brugge on penalties in the final in Lausanne.Winning Europes top youth competition confirmed his emergence as one of Real Madrids brightest young talents.International recognitionCirias performances also earned recognition with Spains Under-18 national team.During the European Championship qualifying round in March, Ciria scored twice and established himself as an important player in David Tenorios squad.His rapid development had already caught the attention of Alvaro Arbeloa, who had planned to invite him to train with the first team during the international break.Instead, Spains Under-18 call-up prevented that opportunity, delaying his first experience with the senior squad.With another composed performance against Fiorentina and his first senior goal now behind him, Cirias remarkable rise is no longer just an academy story. It has officially reached Real Madrids first team.

The English Football Association (FA) is set to withdraw its support for Gianni Infantinos re-election as Fifa president after his scrapped World Cup privatisation bid.Infantinos leadership is under intense scrutiny with a widespread loss of confidence coming as a result of his failed attempt to sell off stakes in the World Cup to private investors.Wales became the first member association to officially retract its support of the Swiss-Italian in an attempt to force him out, and England are expected to follow suit, as first revealed by Sky News.The FA is preparing to send a letter to Fifa to withdraw its backing, piling more pressure on Infantino.FA chief executive Mark Bullingham (left) next to Infantino (centre) (PA)Infantino, whose decade-long reign faces increasing scrutiny, announced on Friday night that he was shelving the widely-denounced plan, which had been rejected by three confederations after first being revealed earlier in the week.Concacaf, the confederation for North America and the Caribbean, along with the Asian Football Confederation fumed over the lack of consultation while Europes governing body Uefa threatened to boycott all Fifa competitions, including next years Womens World Cup and the 2030 World Cup, before Infantinos eventual climb-down.Uefa confirmed after Infantino went back on his plans that it had lost confidence in his leadership, slamming the shabby, backroom deal, and has now written to the Fifa president confirming it is actively considering legal action in regard to the sell-off scheme.The letter orders Infantino and Fifa to take immediate steps to identify, locate, and preserve all documents and electronically stored information described in this notice that are in your or Fifas possession, custody, or control.Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated Infantino is the "wrong man" to lead Fifa, while the FA called for a "full and robust review" into his leadership in the fallout of the U-turn.Infantino also became the subject of criticism from within his administration, with senior advisor Carlos Cordeiro resigning over the plans, while Fifa chief operating officer Kevin Lamour claimed the president had deceived Fifa staff.The proposal involved establishing Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) and selling a 20 per cent stake to private investors, with Joshua Kushners Thrive Eternal reportedly earmarked as the lead investor group. Joshua Kushner is the brother of Jared Kushner, who is the son-in-law of United States president Donald Trump.Trump, however, insisted he had not spoken about the sell-off plan with Infantino before it was scrapped.US president Donald Trump (right) insisted he had not spoken to Infantino about the sell-off plan (PA Wire)There are calls for Infantino to resign but as things stand he will stand for re-election in March 2027.Uefa has indicated that "no option should be off the table" regarding the future of Infantino, hinting at the possibility of a no-confidence vote. Such a move, if triggered by just 43 national associations, would necessitate an Extraordinary Fifa Congress. However, this action is considered improbable unless there is a strong conviction, if not certainty, that a majority among Fifa's 211 member nations would vote to remove Infantino at such a gathering. Several African and Asian football bodies, including those from Morocco, Egypt, and Qatar, have meanwhile publicly voiced their support for Infantino over the weekend.

Welcome back to the Monday Tennis Briefing, where The Athleticwill explain the stories behind the stories from the past week on court.This week, the start and end of tournaments fell victim to rain, a cult figure stuck to his lore and a calendar quirk could have an effect on a big comeback.If youd like to follow our fantastic tennis coverage, click here.How did rain wreak havoc across the tennis world?As the D.C. Open in Washington saw its finals postponed due to rain, the Canadian Opens two-city setup couldnt stop more delays. The ATP and WTA 1000 event rotates its mens and womens draws between Toronto and Montreal, and both venues saw cancellations Sunday. The mens event in Montreal saw just two completed matches, and the womens event in Toronto had little luck of its own.At 2:27 p.m. local, Venus Williams played the first point of the womens event against Uzbekistans Kamilla Rakhimova in Toronto, kicking off Day 1 of the tournament. But just seven matches were completed in the day session, including Williams losing 6-4, 6-1.Before the night session, the opening ceremony took place at 7 p.m., with an appearance from 2025 champion Victoria Mboko, who is unable to compete due to a left-knee injury. Hometown favorite Bianca Andreescu and Nikola Bartkov of the Czech Republic walked on to the main court at Sobeys Stadium, only for raindrops to return. After sitting in their chairs, the players exited the court.The spitting rain turned to a light drizzle before intensifying, forcing fans to huddle inside the concourse. At 7:55 p.m., tournament organizers canceled the night session, postponing the matches to Monday. A few stragglers snapped photos inside the stadium before exiting.For night-session ticket holders, the cancellation meant they never got to see any tennis. For the tournament, it meant refunding a whole lot of tickets.Ilia, from Ukraine, and Lindo, from Portugal, who spoke on condition that their last names not be used, traveled from Barrie, Ontario, a city one hour north of Toronto, to be at the Canadian Open. For Ilia, it was his first time attending this tournament while it was Lindos second appearance.As they watched the rain continue to fall from the concourse, the inevitable reality was starting to creep in.Its disappointing, Lindo said.Although night-session ticket holders will receive a full refund because no matches were completed, many still missed the opportunity to experience professional tennis in person an outing they had planned months in advance.For seven-time major champion Williams, who experienced a three-hour delay before her first-round match, it wasnt anything new.In tennis, we play outside, so you cant control the weather, she said in a news conference. Lukas WeeseHow did a cult player perfectly adhere to their lore?Any tennis fans who came to the sport after the mid-2010s that were watching Bernard Tomic carve his way through the Los Cabos Open in Mexico last week might have been waiting to learn about the story of a resurgent Australian who has spent the past few years bouncing around ATP Challenger Tour events and qualifying draws.Tomic, 33, a two-time junior Grand Slam champion from Australia, is the definition of a tennis enigma, or less kind variations on that word for some. He was a much-heralded teen in the late aughts. In an interview at the 2012 U.S. Open, the late U.S. coaching great Nick Bollettieri spoke about how hard it was going to be to win Grand Slams during the next decade because of all the quality at the top of the mens game.He name-checked Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Tomic. His ability to massage the ball around the court and suddenly switch into a higher gear made him a danger to any player, but talent outweighed application with accusations of tanking and one 45,000 fine for it dogging him and he never went beyond a Grand Slam quarterfinal. Still, he has persisted, two weeks ago winning a Challenger Tour title and saying in his on-court interview that he had been planning 2026 as his last year but would have to reassess.But instead of requiring a dive into the history books, Tomic duly produced his career arc in miniature, adhering to his lore as best he could.In Mexico, entered the main draw as a lucky loser, despite having retired from his last match in qualifying with a stomach illness. Then he recorded the fastest ATP Tour win of 2026, by dispatching Mexicos Juan Alejandro Hernndez Serrano, 6-1, 6-1 in 46 minutes, before stunning No. 4 seed Karen Khachanov in straight sets with a vintage performance. He declined an interview request fromThe Athletic in order to focus on the competition.And then he lost his semifinal against Cameron Norrie in 50 minutes, 6-1, 6-0.The Athletictried to reach him again. He is yet to respond. Matt FuttermanWhat could a rankings quirk mean for the return of a star?With the Canadian Open a week later in the calendar than last year, players who did well in 2025 have seen the rankings points they earned drop from their totals before the 2026 event has started. This doesnt mean much for the event itself, but it does mean something for the possible return of a player named Carlos Alcaraz.Alcaraz, the seven-time Grand Slam champion, has been out with a wrist injury since April. He has now started hitting tennis balls in earnest and a return at the Cincinnati Open, which starts Aug. 13, is set to be the prelude to his U.S. Open title defense.After missing two majors, the 23-year-old Spaniard had dropped from No. 2 to No. 3, with French Open champion and Wimbledon finalist Alexander Zverev moving above him. But Alcaraz did not play last years Canadian Open, while Zverev reached the semifinals, and Zverevs 2025 points dropping from his ranking means that Alcaraz has returned to world No. 2 without playing.With the Cincinnati Open draw to be done before the Canadian Opens 2026 results are applied to the world rankings, Alcaraz would be the No. 2 seed there, in a resumption of the draw symmetry familiar to mens tennis fans before his injury: Sinner and Alcaraz on opposite sides, waiting for a prospective final meeting. James HansenThe winners of the weekATP: Arthur Ga def. Denis Shapovalov 6-3, 6-4 to win the Los Cabos Open (250) in Los Cabos, Mexico. It is his first ATP Tour title. WTA: Kristina Liutova (Q) def. Darja Vidmanova 1-6, 6-1, 6-3 to win the Memphis Classic (250) in Memphis, Tenn. It is her first WTA Tour title. On the rise Arthur Ga moves up 45 places from No. 127 to No. 82, a career high. Kristina Liutova ascends 103 spots from No. 229 to No. 126, a career high. Rafael Jdar moves up nine places from No. 24 to No. 15 also a career high. Darja Vidmanova rises 20 spots from No. 112 to No. 92. Coming upATPMontreal: Canadian Open (1,000) featuring Alexander Zverev, Alex de Minaur, Flix Auger-Aliassime, Ben Shelton. UK: Sky Sports; U.S.: Tennis Channel Tennis TV WTAToronto: Canadian Open (1,000) featuring Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, Linda Noskov, Iga witek. UK: Sky Sports; U.S.: Tennis ChannelTell us what you noticed this week in the comments below as the mens and womens tours continue.This article originally appeared in The Athletic.Sports Business, Culture, Tennis, Women's Tennis2026 The Athletic Media Company

NEW DELHI: Days after announcing his retirement from international cricket, former India batter Ajinkya Rahane has broken his silence with an emotional message for fans, admitting he was overwhelmed by the outpouring of love that followed one of the biggest decisions of his career.The 38-year-old, who called time on an international journey spanning more than a decade, thanked supporters from across the cricketing world after receiving countless messages following his retirement announcement."A heartfelt thank you to everyone for your messages, wishes, and support. I'm overwhelmed by the love and will always cherish it," Rahane posted on social media.The message came after tributes poured in from some of the biggest names in world cricket, celebrating a career defined by quiet leadership, resilience and one of India's greatest overseas Test triumphs. ajinkyarahane88 (@ajinkyarahane88) Cricket fraternity salutes Rahane's remarkable careerAmong the many to pay tribute was former India captain Virat Kohli, who described Rahane as his favourite batting partner in Test cricket."Jinks, congratulations on a great career, buddy. You've done wonders for Indian cricket, and you can be very proud of your journey. The safest pair of hands in the slips and my favourite Test batting partner. Wishing you well always. God bless," Kohli wrote.The pair shared one of India's most successful middle-order partnerships, stitching together 10 century stands and 19 fifty-plus partnerships in Tests. Their highest partnership came against New Zealand in Indore, where Kohli scored 211 and Rahane registered a career-best 188 in a mammoth 365-run stand.Batting legend Sachin Tendulkar also reflected on Rahane's career, recalling the first time they batted together for Mumbai in domestic cricket."Congratulations on a remarkable career. The first time we batted together for Mumbai, I saw someone who never chased moments. They came to you because you were willing to do the hard yards for the team. That same quality defined your finest hour in Australia," Tendulkar wrote."You showed that composure isn't the opposite of aggression. It is often what gives a team the confidence to be fearless. Congratulations on a wonderful career! Wishing you and your family all the very best."A career built on composure and selflessnessRahane announced his retirement from all international formats after representing India in 85 Tests, 90 One-Day Internationals and 20 T20Is between 2011 and 2023.While his numbers 5,077 Test runs, 2,962 ODI runs and 375 T20I runs underline his consistency, his greatest contribution came during India's unforgettable 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy triumph in Australia.Stepping in as captain after Virat Kohli returned home following the Adelaide Test, Rahane led an injury-ravaged Indian side to a historic 2-1 series victory. His magnificent century in Melbourne sparked one of the greatest comebacks in Test history before India completed the famous triumph at the Gabba.Former opener Virender Sehwag hailed Rahane as "one of the most underrated cricketers" and praised him for leading India to "its greatest ever overseas Test series win." 132821813Cheteshwar Pujara, Shikhar Dhawan, PV Sindhu, Irfan Pathan, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Mumbai Cricket Association also paid tribute, highlighting Rahane's humility, calmness and unwavering commitment to the team.

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