Kevin De Bruyne's shot flew like a missile, skimming just above the turf in a trajectory not dissimilar to Carlos Alberto's glorious goal for Brazil in the 1970 World Cup final.

Of course, this was no title match for Manchester City — it was the first leg of the Champions League semifinals — but with the eyes of the world on the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, it sure felt like one.

With speculation over Lionel Messi's potential next destination turning into a frenzy his father intervened to say no deal has been agreed over a move to Saudi Arabia or return to Barcelona.

Messi's contract with Paris Saint-Germain runs until the end of June, and his father Jorge Messi said nothing will be decided before PSG's season finishes on June 3.

Anthony Davis and LeBron James powered the Los Angeles Lakers in a rout of defending champion Golden State on Saturday while Jimmy Butler returned from an ankle injury to spark Miami's romp over New York in the NBA playoffs.

Two of the best attacking teams in Europe face off in the Champions League semifinals this week, with Manchester City's record-seeking Erling Haaland going against Real Madrid's red-hot trio of Vinícius Júnior, Rodrygo and Karim Benzema.

Tuesday's first leg at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium will be a rematch of last year's semifinal, when Madrid got the better of a City team that didn't have Haaland. City fell short of European success yet again, while Madrid went on to win a record-extending 14th title.

Lionel Messi has won a top accolade as world Sportsman of the Year and picked up another award as a member of the team of the year following Argentina's World Cup soccer victory in 2022.

Jamaican sprinter Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce finally broke through to win the Sportswoman of the Year award on her sixth nomination.

Inter Milan's LuLa attack appears back to its best ahead of the Champions League semifinal showdown against city rival AC Milan.

The partnership of Romelu Lukaku and Lautaro Martínez earned the LuLa nickname during the former's first spell at the club, when their goals drove Inter to the Serie A title in 2021.

Lionel Messi returned to training Monday with his Paris Saint-Germain teammates less than a week after being suspended by the French league club.

PSG announced Messi's return on its website, posting a picture of the former Barcelona player running with a ball at the club's training ground.

A resurgent James Harden scored 42 points, including a last-gasp three-pointer to lift the Philadelphia 76ers over Boston 116-115 in overtime on Sunday to level their NBA playoff series.

Carlos Alcaraz is paving his way back to the top of the world rankings after a second-straight Madrid Open title.

Alcaraz beat lucky loser Jan-Lennard Struff 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 in the Spanish capital on Sunday to guarantee his return to the No. 1 spot by playing at least one match at the upcoming Italian Open in Rome.

A display of character and resilience from Arsenal has ensured there's plenty of life left in the Premier League title race.

The fight to finish in the Champions League qualification positions is far from over, too, after David De Gea's latest mistake in another away loss for Manchester United.