Despite a packed holiday schedule, footballers still found heart-warming moments on and off the pitch. Liverpool shared a cheerful Christmas Eve photo on Wednesday, showing the squad in buoyant spirits during training, dressed in red practice kits and Santa hats while linking arms on the pitch. Manchester City striker Erling Haaland joined the celebrations by dressing up as Santa Claus and posing with a sack full of presents. Barcelona forward Robert Lewandowski struck a cosy note, posing with his family in matching red checkered pyjamas, while City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma smiled alongside his partner and child in front of a Christmas tree. Spain and Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella also shared a festive family photo in matching blue pyjamas, and Brazil winger Raphinha beamed with his family in a Christmas-themed snap. Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, however, did it differently as he was seen in shorts on a beach next to a Christmas tree. While such moments offered festive warmth, football’s relentless calendar rolls on, with the Premier League and Serie A set to stage Boxing Day fixtures even as much of the rest of Europe pauses for a winter break. Photos: Instagram

From a landmark debut of the FIFA Club World Cup that sent shockwaves through the sport, to a packed calendar of top-tier tournaments, 2024 delivered drama, passion, and spectacle.

Former Bangladesh national women’s football team captain Sabina Khatun tries to skip past a teammate during a futsal training session at an indoor facility in Dhaka on Monday. Sabina, along with 17 other football stars who have been ignored for the football team in recent times, were taken through the paces by the national futsal team coach Saeid Khodarahmi during the half-hour training session. The team will be taking part in the inaugural SAFF Women’s Futsal Championship, scheduled to take place in Bangkok from January 3 to 25 next year.

World Cup winners, iconic number 10s, and GOATs of two different sports -- football legend Lionel Messi and cricket great Sachin Tendulkar -- came together in one frame at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday. Following a chaotic experience in Kolkata the previous day, Messi’s ongoing three-day, four-city GOAT tour of India found its rhythm again in Hyderabad and Mumbai. The crowd, which had gathered at the stadium since the afternoon, erupted with excitement as Messi, Sachin, and India’s football great Sunil Chhetri shared the stage at different points during the event. Messi, accompanied by Inter Miami teammates Rodrigo de Paul and Luis Suarez, received a gift from Sachin -- the former Indian skipper’s iconic jersey from the 2011 Cricket World Cup -- in the presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Sachin described it as a “golden moment for Mumbai and India,” and the fans’ reaction reaffirmed the great batter’s words, with chants of “Messi… Messi… Sachin… Sachin” rising from every corner of the stadium. Photo: X 

Habibul Bashar, who had presented Mushfiqur with his original Test cap in 2005, handed him a special commemorative cap to mark the milestone

On a buzzing Dhaka night, Bangladesh rediscovered its footballing heartbeat.

The 38-year-old is set to become the first from the country to reach the milestone when Bangladesh face Ireland in the second Test on Wednesday. 

On Thursday, all lenses naturally were fixated on Bangladesh star midfielder Hamza Chowdhury, who delivered the shots of a lifetime for any Bangladesh fan -- a spectacular bicycle kick followed by a coolly taken Panenka penalty -- in Bangladesh’s 2-2 draw against Nepal in a FIFA friendly at the National Stadium. As the men in red and green gear up for their high-voltage AFC Asian Cup qualifier against India on November 18 at the very same ground, a buoyant Hamza -- known for scanning the field and sniffing out danger -- was spotted scanning through a different lens altogether, playfully turning into a shutterbug during training. With fans swept up in full-fledged Hamzamania, the Leicester City midfielder, ever cheerful in his jolly demeanour, greeted supporters with smiles, posed for selfies, and even signed a hand-drawn sketch of himself offered by a young fan. Hamza has four goals to his name in five matches for Bangladesh and expectedly, the onus will be on him to spur his team on against India. Photos: Firoz Ahmed  

Barefoot and unstoppable, these young players bring the spirit of the game alive in their own backyard, keeping Bangladesh’s football passion burning bright.

After a long spell away from red-ball cricket, the Tigers are back in whites as they prepare for the first Test of their two-match series against Ireland at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday. On Monday, the eve of the opener, the Tigers trained in high spirits, soaking in the gentle Sylhet sunshine. Naturally, the cameras found veteran Mushfiqur Rahim, poised to make his 99th Test appearance. The session included with a lively game of football, one even spin-bowling coach Saqlain Mushtaq could not resist. Newly-appointed specialised batting coach Mohammad Ashraful was seen sharing tips alongside outgoing senior assistant coach Mohammad Salahuddin, who maintained his familiar hands-on approach. Meanwhile, pace bowling coach Shaun Tait remained in his element, working closely with his pack of fast bowlers. Photos: Firoz Ahmed

Bangladesh eye their fifth straight T20I series win as they face West Indies on October 27, 29, and 31 in Chattogram.

Romana’s daughter, Falak Ahmed Ruzba, enjoyed splashing around in the pool, making her mother’s achievement even brighter.

The three-match ODI series will begin on October 18 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.

Leicester City's Bangladeshi midfielder Hamza Choudhury reached Dhaka this morning to take part in the national team's upcoming Asian Cup Qualifiers fixtures against Hong Kong, China. The 28-year-old trained with the team under lights at the National Stadium the same evening as the men in red and green gear up for the home fixture on October 9 before travelling to Hong Kong, China for the reverse fixture. Photos: Firoz Ahmed 

The turf has been supplied by the Green Field company of The Netherlands and laid by Bangladesh's Metaphor Sports. The company given the responsibility has assured it will be all prepared for the first match of Senior Division League on Nov 15.

The skies opened up over the capital on Tuesday afternoon, drenching the National Stadium in a torrential downpour that cut short Bangladesh’s first training session for the Asian Cup Qualifiers fixture against Hong Kong, China at home on October 9.

A hoick here, a pull there -- playing with gay abandon -- the pictures captured the free spirit that occasions like these bring out on cricket enthusiasts.

The 2025–26 National Cricket League (NCL) T20 trophy was officially unveiled yesterday at the Shahid Chandu Stadium in Bogura in the presence of the four divisional captains -- Zakir Hasan (Sylhet Division), Mahidul Islam Ankon (Dhaka Division), Salman Islam Emon (Barishal Division), and Akbar Ali (Rangpur Division). The tournament begins tomorrow with a double-header, as Rajshahi take on Dhaka Metro at the Rajshahi Divisional Stadium, while defending champions Rangpur lock horns with Sylhet in Bogura.

The Argentina captain walked out hand-in-hand with his children.

The 17th National Summer Athletics Championships 2025 concluded at the National Stadium in Dhaka on Saturday, wrapping up three days of action-packed events with seven new national records and Bangladesh Army emerging as the overall champions. Organised by the Bangladesh Athletics Federation, the competition began on August 22 and saw 40 events contested.