Sports

By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — Manchester City striker Erling Haaland is clearly a confident man, but even he looked surprised by the moment of magic he produced as his team thrashed Sparta Praha in the Champions League Wednesday. While the 5-0 win is somewhat routine given City’s domination in recent years, Haaland’s goal was

By Thomas Schlachter, CNN (CNN) — With confetti falling from the rafters, a boisterous Brooklyn crowd bellowing and the victorious New York Liberty celebrating, the curtain fell on the 2024 WNBA season. But this was no ordinary year for women’s hoops. From record-breaking rookies to never-before-seen viewing figures culminating in a pulsating, back-and-forth finals that

By Matias Grez, CNN (CNN) — Kevin Durant led the Phoenix Suns to a nail-biting 116-113 overtime win to spoil the Los Angeles Clippers’ grand opening of their new arena, the Intuit Dome. In the arena’s first NBA game since construction was completed in August, the Clippers looked like they would begin this new era

By Jacob Lev, CNN (CNN) — North Carolina State University quarterback Grayson McCall has retired from football after suffering a concussion he “cannot come back from,” the 23-year-old announced on Wednesday. The senior was stretchered off the field during the Wolfpack’s game against Wake Forest on October 5 after taking a hit to the head.

By Wayne Sterling, CNN (CNN) — Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa returned to practice Wednesday for the first time since suffering another concussion in the game against the Buffalo Bills last month. Tagovailoa was all smiles during the practice session. Dolphins’ star wide receiver, Tyreek Hill, was very excited, saying having Tagovailoa back almost made

By Ben Morse, CNN (CNN) — The ball which Shohei Ohtani made baseball history with by becoming the inaugural member of the 50-50 club sold for almost $4.4 million at auction on Wednesday, despite its ownership being the subject of an ongoing lawsuit. On September 19, the Los Angeles Dodgers superstar went where no baseball

By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — The WNBA players union, known as the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA), has opted out of the current collective bargaining agreement early with the league, demanding a new deal which better reflects the growth of the game. The WNBPA announced the decision on Monday, saying it was looking

By Ben Morse, CNN (CNN) — Star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins is being traded from the Tennessee Titans to the Kansas City Chiefs, according to multiple outlets and first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. According to Schefter and NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport, the Titans will get a late-round draft pick in exchange for Hopkins.

By Matias Grez, CNN (CNN) — It was a night of celebration for the Boston Celtics. Ahead of the opening game of the new 2024-25 NBA season at home to the New York Knicks, the Celtics received their championship rings for winning the title last season and raised banner No. 18 into the rafters at

By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — There is just something about Real Madrid and the Champions League. No matter the opposition, no matter the situation, the Spanish giant usually finds a way to win. That was the case yet again on Tuesday as Los Blancos rallied from two goals down to win 5-2 against Borussia

By Ben Morse, CNN (CNN) — There was plenty for fans to get their teeth stuck into in Week 7 of the 2024 NFL season. From last-second victories and teams losing unbeaten streaks to season-ending injuries and the last game in London this season, it was a jam-packed slate of games. Here are the main

By Homero De la Fuente, CNN (CNN) — Fernando Valenzuela, the legendary pitcher whose incredible rise to stardom with the Los Angeles Dodgers captivated baseball fans and created the cultural phenomenon known as “Fernandomania,” died on Tuesday, according to the Dodgers. Valenzuela was 63. Prior to the Dodgers’ postseason run in 2024, the team announced Valenzuela would step

By Matias Grez, CNN Emirates Stadium (CNN) — It wasn’t pretty and at times it wasn’t pleasant, but Arsenal got the job done in the Champions League with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday. Shakhtar goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk suffered the most unfortunate of own goals as Gabriel Martinelli’s

By Wayne Sterling, CNN (CNN) — The Minnesota Lynx lamented Tuesday about losing to the New York Liberty in a winner-take-all Game 5 of the WNBA Finals on Sunday following a controversial foul call at the end of regulation. “That loss is something I’ll never get over, to have it end that way, where it

By Matias Grez, CNN (CNN) — The NBA has thrown up six different champions in the past six years, and this upcoming season, which tips off on Tuesday, will likely be just as unpredictable with several teams harboring genuine hopes of lifting the Larry O’Brien Trophy next June. Chief among them are the Boston Celtics,

By Jamie Barton, CNN (CNN) — Former Manchester United and Atlético Madrid striker Diego Forlán is set to make his professional tennis debut in November, when he will compete in an ATP doubles event in his native Uruguay. The 45-year-old, who retired from soccer in 2019, will play alongside men’s singles world No. 101 Federico

CNN By Kevin Dotson, CNN (CNN) — The Los Angeles Lakers, one of sports’ most prestigious franchises, have seen their share of historic moments, including 17 championships. But on Tuesday night in Los Angeles, the team produced a first in NBA history when Lakers star LeBron James and his son Bronny became the first father-son

By Jack Bantock, CNN (CNN) — TGL, the high-tech indoor golf league spearheaded by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, is set to tee off at last on January 7, 2025, after a schedule was released Monday. Originally slated to begin in January 2023, the televised venture was delayed by two years after the inflatable dome

By Sam Joseph, CNN (CNN) — Injuries always have a significant effect on the NFL season, but some teams are bearing the brunt of absences more than others. The San Francisco 49ers are in the midst of what could be classed as an injury crisis, with the team announcing Monday that star wide receiver Brandon

By Jamie Barton, CNN (CNN) — Brazilian soccer star Neymar made his return to the pitch more than a year after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and meniscus in his left knee, playing 20 minutes for Al-Hilal on Monday. The 32-year-old was introduced as a substitute in the 77th minute of the team’s 5-4

By Johannes Sasay-Wada, CNN (CNN) — It’s that time of year again. Fifty-eight young basketball players were drafted into the NBA at the end of June. They have met their new teammates, competed in the Summer League, and now await their official NBA regular season debut having played a few games of preseason action. While

By Ben Morse, CNN (CNN) — After a blockbuster Sunday, Week 7 of the 2024 NFL season concluded with two more high-profile games on Monday night. And between a scoring bonanza in Tampa Bay and a last-second game-winner in Arizona, there was a lot going on in the National Football League. Here are the main

By Kevin Dotson, CNN (CNN) — The Los Angeles Lakers, one of sports’ most prestigious franchises, have seen their share of historic moments, including 17 championships. But on Tuesday night in Los Angeles, the team produced a first in NBA history when Lakers star LeBron James and his son Bronny became the first father-son duo

By Wayne Sterling, CNN (CNN) — Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is set to return to practice Wednesday after missing the last four games as a result of suffering another concussion. Tagovailoa will still need to clear concussion protocol in order to play in Sunday’s home game against the Arizona Cardinals at Hard Rock Stadium.

By Jill Martin, CNN (CNN) — Once again, Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson’s season has been cut short. An MRI revealed that Watson has ruptured his right Achilles tendon, the team announced Monday. He will miss the rest of the season, and a full recovery is expected, the team said. Watson suffered the injury during

By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — More than 100 soccer players from the women’s game have signed an open letter to FIFA, urging the sport’s world governing body to end its sponsorship deal with Saudi oil and gas company Aramco. In April this year, FIFA announced a four-year global partnership with the majority state-owned oil

By Johannes Sasay-Wada, CNN (CNN) — This weekend, Lionel Messi scored his second hat-trick in four days, while Harry Kane also took home the match-ball to end Bayern Munich’s ‘mini-crisis.’ Former WNBA MVP Jonquel Jones finally got her ring at the fourth time of asking, while Saquon Barkley reminded Giants fans just what they’re missing

By Sam Joseph, CNN (CNN) — Lionel Messi and Inter Miami made Major League Soccer (MLS) history on Saturday night as they eased past the New England Revolution 6-2 on the final day of regular season action. Miami staged an incredible comeback after going two goals behind in the first half, scoring six unanswered to

By Matias Grez, CNN (CNN) — Liverpool remains one point clear of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League after both teams earned hard fought 2-1 wins on a weekend that the video assistant referee (VAR) returned to center stage. City had to come from behind against a struggling Wolves side at Molineux

By Jamie Barton, CNN (CNN) — A controversial five-second penalty for McLaren’s Lando Norris saw the English driver lose ground in his pursuit of Max Verstappen’s drivers’ championship title, on a day when Charles Leclerc eased to victory in the United States Grand Prix. Having relinquished pole position immediately at the start of the race,

By Ben Morse, CNN (CNN) — It was a week of huge match-ups between winning teams and Week 7 didn’t disappoint in terms of drama. One franchise lost for the first time, another maintained its unbeaten record and there were some huge injury blows too. The day’s action began with the Jacksonville Jaguars getting a

By Jamie Barton, CNN (CNN) — Long before endurance cyclist Lael Wilcox became the fastest woman to ever ride around the world, men at the bar she worked in used to tell her she was lying about her achievements. “That infuriated me,” she said in an interview with CNN Sport. “They didn’t believe I did

By Jacob Lev, CNN (CNN) — The Los Angeles Dodgers are heading to the World Series for the first time since 2020 after a 10-5 win over the New York Mets in Game 6 of the NL Championship Series. The Dodgers offense had been the story all series long, and it continued on Sunday at Dodger Stadium.

By David Close, CNN (CNN) — The long wait for the Liberty is over. After 28 years and five previous Finals appearances, New York are now champions. In front of a raucous Brooklyn crowd at the Barclays Center, the Liberty defeated a relentless Minnesota Lynx team 67-62 in overtime in a winner-take-all Game 5 of

By Thomas Schlachter, CNN Wembley Stadium, London (CNN) — The Jacksonville Jaguars returned to winning ways with a 32-16 victory against the New England Patriots in London’s final NFL game of the year. At Wembley Stadium, a venue that has become the Jaguars’ home from home in recent years, Jacksonville picked up a much-needed win,

By Issy Ronald, CNN (CNN) — Six-time Olympic champion Chris Hoy has announced that he has terminal cancer and that doctors have given him two to four years to live. The 48-year-old former cyclist, who is one of Britain’s most successful and recognizable Olympians, shared his diagnosis with The Sunday Times newspaper, saying that he

By Issy Ronald, CNN (CNN) — The No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs upset No. 1 Texas Longhorns 30-15 in Austin on Saturday evening as Bulldogs running back Trevor Etienne ran for three touchdowns in a game marred by Texas fans throwing trash on the field. The incident began late in the third quarter with Texas trailing

By Ben Morse, CNN (CNN) — The 2024 NFL season is in full swing now and Week 7 will once again offer an insight into who are the playoff contenders and who are the pretenders. There are plenty of high-powered match-ups on Sunday’s slate of games, with the Chicago Bears and Dallas Cowboys on bye

By Jamie Barton, CNN (CNN) — For someone ranked No. 2 in the world, playing competitive games of chess sits curiously low on grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura’s list of priorities. “I look at it as something to do to get away from streaming, versus the other way around,” he laughed during an interview with CNN Sport.

By Homero De La Fuente, CNN (CNN) — The New York Yankees are World Series bound for the first time since 2009 after defeating the Cleveland Guardians 5-2 in extra innings of Game 5 of the AL Championship Series on Saturday. A dramatic game-tying home run from Giancarlo Stanton in the sixth inning and a go-ahead

By Sam Joseph, CNN (CNN) — San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall will be activated for the team’s Week 7 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs, according to head coach Kyle Shanahan, seven weeks after he was shot in the chest during an attempted robbery in San Francisco’s Union Square. Pearsall was hospitalized overnight

By Issy Ronald, CNN (CNN) — No. 2 Oregon Ducks coasted to a dominant 35-0 win over the Purdue Boilermakers on Friday, delivering the school’s first road shutout victory since 1992. Quarterback Dillon Gabriel starred again, finishing 21-of-25 for 290 yards and two touchdowns while running back Jordan James added two scores. With the win,

By Sam Joseph, CNN (CNN) — Bronny James, son of all-time NBA leading scorer LeBron James, had the best showing of his young professional career on Friday, posting 17 points in the Los Angeles Lakers’ final preseason game. In his first preseason start, James was 7-for-17 from the field and also recorded four rebounds, one

By Homero De la Fuente, CNN (CNN) — The New York Yankees are just one victory away from reaching the franchise’s first World Series since 2009. The Yanks held off a resilient Cleveland Guardians team to secure a thrilling 8-6 win in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series on Friday night. Powered by

By David Close, CNN (CNN) — The Minnesota Lynx defeated the New York Liberty 82-80 in Game 4 of the WNBA Finals to force a winner-takes-all decider on Sunday. The packed crowd at the Target Center in Minneapolis almost had their hearts broken in a consecutive Finals game. With the Lynx up two and two

By Jacob Lev, CNN (CNN) — Another game, another blowout. This time it was the New York Mets who bombarded the Los Angeles Dodgers 12-6 to force a Game 6 in the NLCS best-of-seven series. Despite the losses in Game 3 and 4 in front of the home crowd, the Mets faithful at Citi Field

By Jacob Lev, CNN (CNN) — Former National Football League (NFL) quarterback Jay Cutler was arrested and charged with driving under the influence and possession of a firearm, among other charges, after police say the car he was driving rear-ended another vehicle in Franklin, Tennessee, on Thursday. The Franklin Police Department, in a statement, said that

By Sam Joseph, CNN (CNN) — Two athletes died while participating at the World Triathlon Championships in Spain on Thursday, the sport’s governing body has confirmed. Both competitors – one from Mexico and one from Great Britain – were participating in the sprint category on the first day of competition at the Torremolinos-Andalucia Triathlon Championship

By Jill Martin and Homero De la Fuente, CNN (CNN) — One day after the University of Virginia announced the surprise news that men’s basketball head coach Tony Bennett was retiring – effective immediately – after 15 seasons at the helm, an emotional Bennett explained why. “I’m no longer the best coach to lead this

By Matias Grez, CNN (CNN) — Despite Angel Reese being one of the major factors in the WNBA’s surge in popularity this season, alongside rival Caitlin Clark, the Chicago Sky star said that her rookie salary doesn’t cover her rent. Speaking on an Instagram live on Wednesday, Reese said her monthly rent is $8,000 –

By George Ramsay, CNN (CNN) — Kansas City Chiefs owner Clark Hunt has said that he has no concerns with kicker Harrison Butker forming a political action committee (PAC) based on Christian values. Butker announced the formation of UPRIGHT PAC during the Chiefs’ bye week last weekend, which, according to its website, intends to “reclaim

By Jamie Barton, CNN (CNN) — Joel Dahmen is in danger of losing his PGA Tour card after he was penalized four shots at the Shriners Children’s Open on Thursday for having too many clubs in his bag. It was a mistake that could prove decisive for a player who is on the bubble. Dahmen

By Matias Grez, CNN (CNN) — Tennis world No. 9 Danielle Collins has postponed her retirement from the sport and will be back competing on the WTA Tour in 2025. The American announced in January that she would be retiring at the end of the 2024 season due to a number of health issues, including rheumatoid

By Patrick Snell, CNN (CNN) — It’s with a renewed sense of purpose in life and a truly heavy heart that former UFC champion Francis Ngannou makes his eagerly awaited return to an MMA cage this weekend in Saudi Arabia. The Cameroonian will make his Professional Fighters League debut against heavyweight champion Renan Ferreira in

By Ben Morse, CNN (CNN) — The Denver Broncos gave head coach Sean Payton the perfect present upon his first return to New Orleans, claiming an emphatic 33-10 victory on Thursday Night Football. Payton is a legend in the Big Easy having coached the Saints for 15 seasons, leading them to the playoffs nine times

By Jacob Lev, CNN (CNN) — For the third time in four games, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ bats proved to be alive and well. The Dodgers blew out the New York Mets 10-2 on the road to take a commanding 3-1 National League Championship Series lead on Thursday night. A raucous New York crowd packed

By Homero De la Fuente, CNN (CNN) — Down to their final out and on the verge of a 0-3 series hole, the Cleveland Guardians stunned the New York Yankees with two dramatic pinch-hit home runs. Jhonkensy Noel and David Fry provided the power to win Game 3 of the American League Championship Series 7-5

By Homero De la Fuente, CNN (CNN) — University of Virginia men’s basketball head coach Tony Bennett is set to announce his sudden retirement on Friday, according to the university. A three-time national coach of the year, Bennett has posted a 364-136 record with the Cavaliers. He guided the men’s program to their first NCAA national championship

By Amy Woodyatt, CNN (CNN) — Paul Pogba is determined to return to soccer following a ban from the sport after testing positive for a banned substance in August 2023. The Juventus star was handed a four-year suspension in February having been provisionally suspended by Italy’s national anti-doping tribunal (NADO Italia) in September last year.

By Jamie Barton, CNN (CNN) — Barcelona Femení equaled the largest Women’s Champions League victory in the club’s history on Wednesday night, crushing Swedish side Hammarby 9-0 at the Estadi Johan Cruyff. Two goals each from Caroline Graham Hansen and Clàudia Pina, as well goals from five other players, ensured the holder picked up its

By Andy Scholes and Ben Morse, CNN (CNN) — A Vince Lombardi Trophy-winning coach returns to his previous stomping grounds, a Super Bowl rematch and a possible preview at a future championship match-up are just some of the underlying storylines in Week 7 of the 2024 NFL season. There’s also the final game in London

By Matias Grez, CNN (CNN) — Tennis legend Serena Williams says she recently underwent surgery to remove a branchial cyst “the size of a grapefruit” from her neck. Williams said she found the lump back in May and initially opted against surgery after several tests confirmed it was benign. However, she was later advised by

By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark has become the first rookie in 16 years to be named to the All-WNBA first team. The 22-year-old received 52 first team votes, making her the fourth-most voted player overall. Clark joins unanimous selections Napheesa Collier and league MVP A’ja Wilson, as well as

By Jacob Lev, CNN (CNN) — Sabrina Ionescu and the New York Liberty are one win away from claiming the franchise’s first WNBA title after a shocking 80-77 victory over the Minnesota Lynx in Game 3 of the finals on Wednesday, taking a 2-1 series lead. With the score tied at 77 at the Target

By Jacob Lev, CNN (CNN) — The Los Angeles Dodgers claimed a dominant 8-0 win over the New York Mets in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series (NLCS) on Wednesday to take a 2-1 series lead. Powered by home runs from Shohei Ohtani and Kiké Hernández, the Dodgers are now two wins away

CNN By Matias Grez, CNN (CNN) — Mexico ended a seven-match winless run against bitter rival the United States, winning 2-0 in front of a raucous home crowd at Akron Stadium in Guadalajara. Striker Raúl Jiménez broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute with a stunning 30-yard free kick into the top corner, before turning

By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — The New York Police Department (NYPD) is investigating “homophobic death threats” sent to New York Liberty star Breanna Stewart’s wife, Marta Xargay, via email after Game 1 of this year’s WNBA Finals. Stewart told ESPN’s NBA Today on Tuesday that the message was sent to Xargay, a former WNBA

By Jamie Barton, CNN (CNN) — Washington Capitals winger Alex Ovechkin reached 700 career assists on Tuesday, recording two in a 4-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights at Capital One Arena. The Russian is the 60th player in history to reach the milestone, and only the sixth to have also scored at least 700

By Ben Morse, CNN (CNN) — Week 6 in the 2024 NFL season saw another game in London, division rivals clash and some disastrous results. There were none more so than in Texas where the Cowboys suffered their worst home loss in the Jerry Jones era, losing 47-9 to the Detroit Lions, on the Dallas

By Matias Grez, CNN (CNN) — Mexico ended a seven-match winless run against bitter rival the United States, winning 2-0 in front of a raucous home crowd at Akron Stadium in Guadalajara. Striker Raúl Jiménez broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute with a stunning 30-yard free kick into the top corner, before turning provider

By Ben Morse, CNN (CNN) — The Buffalo Bills announced on Tuesday that they finalized a trade for wide receiver Amari Cooper from the Cleveland Browns, strengthening their offense for the rest of the season. The Bills received Cooper and a 2025 sixth-round draft pick with a 2025 third-round pick and a 2026 seventh-round pick

By George Ramsay, CNN (CNN) — Thomas Tuchel is set to tackle one of the most demanding coaching jobs in sport: overseeing the England men’s national team. The English FA announced on Wednesday that Tuchel would be taking on the high-pressured, high-stakes position, three months after Gareth Southgate resigned from the role. This will be

By George Ramsay, CNN (CNN) — A Romanian chess grandmaster was expelled from a national-level competition after being accused of using a mobile device during play, organizers announced on Monday. Kirill Shevchenko, currently 69th in the chess world rankings, was competing at the Spanish Team Championship in the Spanish enclave of Melilla when the alleged

By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — Lionel Messi rolled back the years with a vintage performance for Argentina on Tuesday, scoring three goals in his nation’s 6-0 thrashing of Bolivia in a 2026 World Cup qualifier. It was the 37-year-old’s 10th international hat-trick, a tally which draws him level with Cristiano Ronaldo’s record in men’s

By Kevin Dotson, CNN (CNN) — The New York Yankees continued to look like the American League’s best team with a 6-3 Game 2 victory over the Cleveland Guardians to take a 2-0 lead in the AL Championship Series (ALCS). For a team that already looked well-positioned to coast into an MLB-record 41st World Series,

By David Close and Kevin Dotson, CNN (CNN) — If there were dry eyes at Nationwide Arena, the game broadcast didn’t show them. Ahead of Tuesday night’s home opener against the Florida Panthers, the Columbus Blue Jackets hosted a ceremony to honor and remember a pair of brothers whose recent deaths have impacted so many

By Kevin Dotson, CNN (CNN) — Seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady has joined the ranks of NFL team owners after his purchase of a minority share of the Las Vegas Raiders, the NFL has announced. Brady’s purchase, which the Associated Press reports is for a 5% ownership stake in the franchise, was approved Tuesday

By Wayne Sterling, CNN (CNN) — The city of Atlanta will host Super Bowl LXII in 2028, the NFL announced Tuesday. The 62nd edition will be played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, home of the Atlanta Falcons. “This is a tremendous honor for the city of Atlanta and the state of Georgia to be selected as host for Super

By George Ramsay and Saskya Vandoorne, CNN (CNN) — A representative for Kylian Mbappé has denounced reporting in the Swedish press about the French soccer star as “totally false and irresponsible.” Several Swedish outlets – including Swedish public broadcaster SVT, who cite “documents obtained,” and CNN affiliate Expressen, who cite a police report – reported that Mbappé is “suspected

By Ben Morse, CNN (CNN) — Davante Adams was reunited with his former Green Bay Packers teammate, Aaron Rodgers, after the Las Vegas Raiders traded the wide receiver to the New York Jets on Tuesday. The Raiders receive a 2025 conditional third-round draft pick for the standout wide receiver, according to Las Vegas. “I love (Davante). He’s

By Sam Joseph, CNN (CNN) — The PGA of America is facing backlash and accusations of pricing out fans, with a single day ticket for the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, New York, costing just under $750. Golf fans can attempt to purchase tickets by entering the event’s Random Selection.If successfully selected

By Ben Morse, CNN (CNN) — Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh said on Monday that he will wear a heart monitor for the next two weeks after leaving his team’s game on Sunday with an “atrial flutter.” Harbaugh left the sideline during the first quarter of the Chargers’ 23-16 win against the Denver

By Matias Grez, CNN (CNN) — Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard will miss the rest of the preseason due to inflammation in his right knee, head coach Ty Lue said on Monday. Leonard, a two-time NBA champion, is yet to play for the Clippers this preseason and will sit out the team’s final warmup

By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — Daniel Maldini became the third generation of his family to represent Italy on Monday, as the Azzurri thrashed Israel 4-1 in the UEFA Nations League. The 23-year-old followed his father Paolo and grandfather Cesare in pulling on the famous blue shirt, making his debut by coming off the bench