Real Madrid Beat Inter in Champions League, Haaland Scores Twice, Messi Named Ballon d'Or Candidate

Looking first at Real Madrid's match, the 2-1 scoreline may not suggest it, but the game was far from a one-sided contest. Inter goalkeeper Martinez's accidental own goal after Valverde's shot was a moment that would make anyone laugh and cry at the same time. Both of Real Madrid's goals came from opponents' mistakes, but Mourinho's post-match comment was quite realistic — "A 7-6 score would not have been surprising." Indeed, both sides created many chances, and the result was decided by a narrow margin.

Mbappe's sliding finish in the 14th minute was certainly one of the highlights of the season. Diaz won the ball and played a through pass, and Mbappe reacted quickly to score. The fact that he got such an opportunity itself showed the quality of Real Madrid's attack — only with effective pressing can teammates win possession. However, Real Madrid missed several counterattacking chances afterward, something Mourinho also openly acknowledged.

Looking at Manchester City, Haaland has truly become a Champions League scoring machine. Fifty-nine goals in 59 matches is a figure many people would find hard to believe. His performance against Porto was especially efficient, with only eight or nine touches and seven shots resulting in two goals. Porto's manager's post-match assessment was accurate — "His finishing ability is incredible." This is no longer just about talent; it is machine-like precision.

Interestingly, Haaland's brace also saw him draw level with Aguero as Manchester City's joint all-time top scorer in the Champions League. Aguero's status at Manchester City needs no explanation, and matching such a legend means Haaland's historical position at the Etihad is firmly established. Enzo's assist was also impressive. Since moving over from Chelsea, he has been in good form, suggesting Maresca's coaching has worked well.

Speaking of the Ballon d'Or, 39-year-old Messi has once again appeared on the candidate list, which is a story in itself. His previous nomination was in 2023, with several years in between. This is the 17th time in his career he has been nominated, and he already has eight Ballon d'Or awards. Given his age, nobody can say whether he will win, but simply remaining on the list is enough to show his importance. In football, age has never stopped truly great players.

This year's evaluation period runs from August 2025 to July 2026, with the ceremony taking place in London on October 26. The voters are professional sports journalists from various countries, and the men's award considers representatives from the top 100 FIFA-ranked nations. Although the system is not perfect, it ensures broad and professional participation. Kane, Bellingham, Rice, Yamal and other rising stars are all included, making the competition intense.

For China's national team, the most eye-catching name is Zhao Songyuan. A high school student still studying at Tsinghua University High School, he entered the senior national team squad ahead of schedule thanks to his strong performance at the U17 Asian Cup. This is extremely rare in Chinese football history. A non-professional player being selected for the national team would have been hard to imagine in the past, but it has become possible now if the player has the ability.

Among the 30 players on China's national team list, besides familiar names such as Wei Shihao, Jiang Guangtai and Serginho, there is also a significant number of newcomers. Yang Mingrui, born in 2007, Bunyamin and Wang Gengrui, born in 2008, and Zhao Songyuan, born in 2009, are all part of this group, whose combined ages are only just over 20. Shao Jiayi is betting on the future, but it is also a necessary choice — with key players called up by the Asian Games team, developing new players is the only option.

China's national team will next train in Wuhan and Chongqing, before playing four warm-up matches in April against Palestine, New Zealand, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan. The opponents are not among the strongest, but for these newcomers they provide a good opportunity to gain international experience. Whether they can show fighting spirit will depend on these young players.

At the WTT Macau Champions event, Chen Yi and Chen Yuanyu both advanced smoothly. Chen Yi defeated Chinese Taipei's Ye Yitian in straight games, winning 11-6, 11-8 and 11-8. After the match, she said she was mentally steady that day and had prepared thoroughly for her opponent's tactics. More experience in major events will be valuable for her development.

Chen Yuanyu faced a few difficulties but eventually swept Egypt's Omar Assar 3-0. He said he was able to handle uncomfortable situations during the match, showing improved mental maturity. Young players with this kind of pressure resistance have promising futures. China's overall depth in this event is indeed difficult for other countries to easily challenge.

There were also several upsets that day. Lin Yun-Ju lost 2-3 to French player Coton, while Wong Chun Ting narrowly defeated Uda Yukiya 3-2. Cheng I-Ching comfortably eliminated Doo Hoi Kem 3-0. Table tennis is like this: there are no completely safe matches, and every game must be taken seriously.

Tomorrow, Kuai Man, Wang Yidi and Huang Youzheng will face Han Ying, Meissner and Jaha respectively. These matches should attract considerable attention, especially Wang Yidi's match against Meissner, as the Egyptian player has improved quickly in recent years and will not be an easy opponent. China's overall situation remains positive, but attention to detail will be important.

From the Champions League to the Ballon d'Or, from China's national team to table tennis, this wide range of sports news shows how fortunate sports fans are in this era. There is no need to wait in front of a television; a quick look at a phone reveals major events around the world. Of course, this also means information overload, and choosing what to follow has become an important skill. What sports story are you most interested in recently?