* Lionel Messi equalled Xavi Hernandez's all-time appearance record for Barcelona when he lined up for the La Liga match against Huesca on Monday (Mar 15). The Argentine, who joined Barca aged 13 in 2000 before making his first team debut four years later, moved level with the Catalan on 767 appearances.
* Liverpool breathed new life into their chances of a top-four finish in the Premier League as Diogo Jota returned to haunt Wolves with the only goal in a 1-0 win at Molineux on Monday (Mar 15).
* RB Leipzig defender Dayot Upamecano will be sidelined for up to two weeks due to a muscle injury sustained in Sunday's 1-1 home draw with Eintracht Frankfurt, the Bundesliga club said.
* Former champion Andy Murray has been granted a wild card for this month's Miami Open, tournament organisers said on Monday (Mar 15). The British ex-world number one, who has fallen to 116 in the rankings after long injury lay-offs because of hip surgeries, is a two-time Miami Open champion having won the title in 2009 and 2013.
* Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua have signed a two-fight deal to unify the IBF, WBO, WBA and WBC heavyweight titles, ESPN reported on Monday (Mar 15) citing boxing promoter Eddie Hearn. Joshua beat Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev in December to retain his IBF, WBO and WBA titles and set up the prospect of a mouth-watering clash with fellow Briton Fury, the WBC belt holder.
* Juventus midfielder Aaron Ramsey was on Monday named in Wales' squad for this month's World Cup qualifiers despite missing his club side's last game due to a thigh problem.
* Barcelona midfielder Pedri was called up to the Spain squad for the first time on Monday (Mar 15) ahead of World Cup qualifiers against Greece, Georgia and Kosovo. The 18-year-old Pedri has been one of the stars of the season in La Liga after establishing himself as a key creator in Barca's midfield.
* Spain's Garbine Muguruza rose three places to 13th in the WTA rankings on Monday (Mar 15) after winning the Dubai Open at the weekend. Former French Open and Wimbledon champion Muguruza ended a two-year title drought on Saturday by beating unseeded Czech Barbora Krejcikova.
* Luis Enrique has named four uncapped players in Spain's 24-man squad for the upcoming triple header of World Cup qualifiers against Greece, Georgia and Kosovo later this month.
* Tokyo Olympics organisers said on Monday (Mar 15) the torch relay would begin on Mar 25 from the J-Village training centre in Fukushima, as planned, setting into motion the build-up towards the opening of the Games four months later.
