Transfermarkt portal has updated the ranking of the world's most expensive footballers. Lamine Yamal, Erling Haaland, and Kylian Mbappé are each valued at 200 million euros. The most expensive Ukrainian, Illia Zabarnyi, ranks 105th with a value of 50 million euros.
"Roma" is looking for an opportunity to sell the 28-year-old Ukrainian forward, a former Girona player, in January.
Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže announced a ban on entry for 14 Russian citizens. This decision was made ahead of the Luge World Cup stage in Sigulda, which the International Federation allowed "neutral athletes" from Russia to participate in.
Former German footballer Sebastian Gaertner died in Montenegro after falling from a ski lift at a ski resort. His wife, who witnessed the accident, suffered a broken leg.
Zhytomyr's "Polissya" has signed a three-year contract with Kosovar midfielder Lindon Emërllahu, who will play under number 14. According to Transfermarkt, the transfer of the Kosovo national team player, who played 24 matches for CFR "Cluj" this season, cost 2 million euros.
Burundian midfielder Igiraneza Aime Guerric died after collapsing during a match. According to eyewitnesses, the cause of death was swallowing a gris-gris coin, which is used in witchcraft rituals.
Oleksandr Usyk became the first in The Ring's P4P ranking, and significant changes occurred in the heavyweight division. Tyson Fury and Joseph Parker dropped out of the list.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy stripped Sofiia Lyskyn and Oleksandra Sendziuk of presidential scholarships. This decision was made after Lyskyn announced her renunciation of Ukrainian citizenship and her intention to represent Russia.
The president of the Turkish football club Fenerbahçe, Sadettin Saran, has been detained in Istanbul as part of a drug investigation. The detention occurred after traces of drugs were found in his hair samples.
The draw for the group stage of the 2026/2027 Nations League will take place on February 12, 2026, in Brussels. The Ukrainian national team will compete in League B.
Anatoliy Bondarchuk, an outstanding Ukrainian athlete, has died at the age of 86. He was the 1972 Olympic champion, a two-time world record holder in hammer throw, and an Honored Coach of the USSR.
The National Olympic Committee of Ukraine recognized Oleksii Sereda and Liudmyla Luzan as the best athletes of 2025. Sereda won a silver medal at the World Championship, and Luzan became a four-time world champion.
The Ukrainian national football team remained in 28th place in the FIFA ranking with 1557. 47 points, occupying 14th position among European teams. This comes ahead of the March play-off matches for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, where Ukraine will play Sweden, and then the winner of the Poland-Albania pair.
Police in London are investigating a case involving one of the executives of a Premier League football club, who is suspected of sexually exploiting minors and producing indecent materials. One of the alleged victims was 15 years old at the time of the crime, and the suspect remains in office.
The head of one of Turkey's most titled football clubs, Sadettin Saran, was interrogated in a drug case. He is suspected of providing and facilitating drug use, and has been placed under "forced supervision."
British heavyweight Anthony Joshua secured his 29th career victory, knocking out Jake Paul in the sixth round. The fight was broadcast on Netflix, earning Joshua £210 million.
Russian figure skater Ivan Desyatov, who represents the USA, has been banned from competition for life since December 19 over allegations of sexual misconduct. Estonian figure skater Solene Masing accused him of sexual harassment in 2023.
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine appealed to the heads of states, parliaments, and governments of democratic countries of the world, as well as the International Paralympic Committee. This appeal concerns the ban on the participation of athletes from Russia and Belarus in international sports competitions.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stopped the payment of state scholarships to Serhiy Bubka and Yana Klochkova, according to decree No. 967 of December 17. Other Olympic champions and medalists have also been deprived of scholarships.
FIFA has approved a record budget of $727 million for the 2026 World Cup, a 50% increase from the previous tournament. The champion will receive $50 million, while group stage participants will each get $9 million.
The XXV Winter Olympic Games in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo will take place from February 4 to 22, 2026, with 116 gold medals to be awarded across 16 sports. For the first time since 2014, NHL players will return to the ice, and ski mountaineering will make its debut.
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine appealed to UEFA and European governments with a demand for a complete ban on the participation of Belarusian national teams and clubs in international tournaments. It is also proposed to restrict the entry of Belarusian athletes until the restoration of Ukraine's sovereignty.
FIFA has announced the launch of a new competition for players under 15, open to all 211 member associations. This decision effectively lays the groundwork for the return of Russian teams to world football after their suspension in 2022 due to aggression against Ukraine.
Ihor Kostyuk has been appointed full-fledged head coach of FC "Dynamo", as announced by the club's president Ihor Surkis. The club's management trusts Kostyuk, who has nurtured many talented players and knows the Dynamo youth well.
FIFA has reduced the price of some World Cup tickets to $60 following a global backlash from fans. These tickets will be available for every game of the tournament in North America and will be distributed through national federations.
FIFA presented the symbolic men's world team of 2025 according to FIFPro. PSG delegated the most players to it.
Santiago Montiel, a player for Argentina's Independiente, won the Puskas Award for the best goal of 2025. His sole goal in the match against Independiente Rivadavia brought victory to the team.
The French forward of Spanish "Real" Kylian Mbappé sued his former team - Parisian "PSG" for more than 60 million euros in compensation.
The General Assembly of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) has allowed Russian chess players to participate in international tournaments using their national flag and anthem. The decision was made on December 14, with 61 delegates voting in favor and 51 against.
Wrestler John Cena had his final match in Washington, ending a 23-year career in the ring. The 48-year-old athlete lost the fight to Austrian Walter Hahn, but will continue to work for WWE as an ambassador.
