Sports Express | November 5, 2026: Cristiano Ronaldo retires from international football

1. Cristiano Ronaldo retires from international football

Source: BBC

Portugal great Cristiano Ronaldo announced today that he is retiring from international football. In an Instagram video, the 41-year-old said: "To the Portuguese people, the day has come for me to hand back the number seven shirt of our national team." He said he never felt it belonged to him alone, but that for 23 years he had the privilege and responsibility of wearing it and carrying it into stadiums around the world.

Ronaldo scored 146 goals in 234 caps, both world records, since his debut in August 2003. "It was not an easy decision, because some decisions are not made with the mind alone - they are also made with the heart," he said. He walked out of the Portugal camp in September after being told he would not start the Nations League match against Denmark.

The Portuguese Football Federation said it refuses to "let this farewell take place without due tribute" and wants to organise a fitting celebration for fans and the country. Portugal are set to announce their squad on Friday for November's Nations League fixtures against Denmark at home and Wales away. Ronaldo's great rival Lionel Messi retired from international football in October.

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2. Wembanyama has career highs of 52 points, 24 rebounds as Spurs hold off Mavericks

Source: Sportsnet

SAN ANTONIO — Victor Wembanyama was battling a virus and rolled his ankle in the fourth quarter, and does not believe he is playing his best. All of which made his historic outing even more astounding: the Spurs star finished with career highs of 52 points and 24 rebounds plus eight blocks as San Antonio beat Dallas 112-111 on Wednesday night.

He had 29 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks in the first half, becoming the first player since the NBA's play-by-play era began in 1996-97 with at least 25 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks in a half. He shot 16 for 28 from the field, including seven dunks, but 1 for 8 on 3-pointers, and San Antonio was plus-23 with him on the floor.

He rolled his ankle after stepping on Walter Clayton Jr.'s foot and exited with 9:11 remaining, returned with 6:05 left, had two putbacks in the final 2:39 and made one free throw with 24 seconds remaining for the final margin. The Spurs have won six straight.

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3. Kucherov's agent: 'It's time to move on'

Source: Daily Faceoff

Nikita Kucherov's agent, Dan Milstein, said on Wednesday's DFO Insider that the time is now for Kucherov to move on from the Tampa Bay Lightning — the only team the Russian winger has ever played for — after his trade request shook the hockey world last week.

"I can't say anything bad about [Lightning GM Julien Brisebois]," Milstein said. "I believe we're on very, very good terms. We've done business for a very long time... But looking back at this past summer, I wish that both him and I did things a little bit different." He did not elaborate. Kucherov was selected by Tampa Bay in the second round of the 2011 NHL Draft and helped the club reach the Stanley Cup Final in 2015, 2020, 2021 and 2022, winning in 2021 and 2022.

Under the terms of his contract, Kucherov must provide the Lightning with a list of 10 teams with whom he will approve a trade. Milstein said Kucherov remains very close to his teammates and has a "phenomenal relationship" with coach Jon Cooper. He added that if Kucherov does not sign a new deal before the summer, trade or not, he will become one of the biggest unrestricted free agents in NHL history.

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4. Hellebuyck cites family reasons in letter to Jets fans

Source: The Globe and Mail

Star goaltender Connor Hellebuyck says "very challenging circumstances" involving his family were among the reasons he requested a trade out of Winnipeg. In a letter to Jets fans posted Wednesday on Instagram, Hellebuyck acknowledged his trade request disappointed those who had supported him throughout his career in Winnipeg.

"I understand those feelings, and I want everyone to know it was an extremely difficult decision," he said. "After a lot of thought and discussion, we ultimately felt that making a change was the best thing for our family. We've chosen to keep those personal circumstances private, and I hope people can respect that."

Hellebuyck was traded Oct. 23 to the New Jersey Devils for forwards Dawson Mercer, Alexander Command and Nick Bjugstad, goaltender Nico Daws, a 2027 seventh-round draft pick and a 2029 second-round pick. The trade came a month after the three-time Vezina Trophy winner and 2024-25 MVP publicly demanded a move; the Jets later suspended him for failing to report to training camp. The Devils visit Winnipeg on Tuesday.

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5. Report: LIV Golf relaunch set to be abandoned

Source: TSN

BC Partners Credit has ended its bid to relaunch LIV Golf after the tour's bankruptcy filing in September, according to the Financial Times' Sujeet Indap.

Sources told Indap the private capital firm faced a deadline to demonstrate enough player support to operate the tour in 2027. The group was prepared to inject as much as US$300 million into the new venture, but the interest was not there; FP had previously reported BC Partners received only 15 commitments. Abandoning the relaunch means the tour will now seek liquidation for its remaining assets.

LIV, backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund since its 2022 launch, lost its funding past the 2026 season this spring, with the PIF saying support was "no longer consistent with the current phase of PIF's investment strategy." LIV wrapped up its 2026 season in August and has since seen high-profile departures including Masters champions Jon Rahm and Sergio Garcia. Late last month, former LIV players led by Dustin Johnson sought negotiations with the PIF over severance, seeking more than US$100 million. A court hearing is scheduled for Thursday.

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6. Lions' Jack Campbell says he has full movement in lower body

Source: TSN

The Detroit Lions released a statement from Jack Campbell on Wednesday. The 26-year-old linebacker, still hospitalized after a scary injury in the fourth quarter of Sunday's 19-15 victory over the Minnesota Vikings, says he has regained full movement in his lower body and is now regaining movement in his upper body.

"I'm incredibly encouraged by the progress I've made in such a short period of time," Campbell said. "I have full movement in my lower body, and I'm continuing to make progress with movement in my upper body. I know there's still work ahead, but I remain very optimistic." He was injured making a tackle on the first snap of the final quarter, was tended to on the field and stretchered off to hospital.

Campbell thanked the athletic trainers and medical personnel who treated him: "I know those were difficult moments, and I'm incredibly grateful for the professionalism, compassion, and care you showed me." The Cedar Falls, Iowa native was the 18th overall pick in 2023 and was a first-team All-Pro in 2025. The Lions (5-2) visit the Miami Dolphins (1-6) on Sunday.

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7. Canada dismisses fears of blowback over Russian world junior ban

Source: CBC

Canada's secretary of state for sport, Adam van Koeverden, dismissed concerns Wednesday that barring Russian players from next month's world junior hockey championship in Alberta could hurt the country's chances of hosting future international events, including the Olympics. "No, we've been unequivocal with respect to our support for Ukraine and in our insistence that Russia as well as Belarus do not compete in international events while using their national symbols," he said.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled last week that Russia must be reinstated to international competition, starting with the world juniors. Russian and Belarusian teams have been banned since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Veteran sport lawyer Dick Pound said the court has no authority to dictate which athletes Canada allows into the country: "Short of stamping their feet and pouting, there's not much they can actually do."

Prime Minister Mark Carney said Tuesday at the Commonwealth Summit in Antigua: "So if you're asking specifically about the world juniors, the Russians will not be there." The IIHF reiterated its opposition to the ruling Wednesday but did not directly address Canada's refusal, saying it is consulting associations, organisers and host authorities. Skoda, the main sponsor of next May's men's world championship, said it would reassess its backing if Russia plays, while Strauss and Nokian Tyres threatened to withdraw. The tournament opens Dec. 26 in Edmonton and Red Deer.

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8. Ravens finalizing trade for Cardinals QB Jacoby Brissett

Source: ProFootballRumors.com

Down to undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano as their Week 9 starting quarterback, the injury-riddled Ravens will land an established option before the trade deadline. They are finalizing a deal to acquire Jacoby Brissett from the Cardinals, per ESPN's Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport.

The teams are expected to complete the trade after Baltimore's Thursday night matchup against the Jaguars, potentially as early as Friday, per Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer, with the Ravens' roster needs for that game likely the explanation for the delay. Arizona benched Brissett to third string Monday, elevating Gardner Minshew to starter and rookie Carson Beck to backup. The same day Baltimore lost Lamar Jackson (IR) and Tyler Huntley (turf toe, out for the season).

Brissett, 33, will join a seventh NFL team and likely be asked to move into an extended starting role on short notice, a specialty of the 11th-year veteran. In 2017 the Colts acquired him just before the season and he started the rest of the year after replacing Scott Tolzien. Ravens quarterbacks coach Israel Woolfork was Arizona's QBs coach from 2023-25, and the two will work together for a third time.

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9. Djokovic out of ATP Finals race as Zverev loses first match as No. 1

Source: Sky Sports

Novak Djokovic has failed to qualify for the season-ending ATP Finals for just the second time in 20 seasons after a shock second-round defeat at the Rolex Paris Masters. The 39-year-old, a seven-time champion in Paris, needed a run to the semi-finals to keep his Turin hopes alive but faded badly against 25-year-old Australian Rinky Hijikata, the world No. 83, losing the next two sets.

Alexander Zverev became the first male player in the history of tennis to lose in straight sets on his debut match as world No. 1. The 29-year-old German, who won the French and US Opens this year, was elevated to top spot on Monday but blew a 5-2 lead in a first-set tie-break on his way to a 7-6(5) 6-2 defeat by Italy's Lorenzo Musetti. "To put it simply, he played really well and I played really badly. It was perhaps one of my worst matches in the last few months," Zverev said.

Carlos Alcaraz opened with a 7-6(4) 6-3 win over Alex Michelsen and faces Matteo Berrettini next. Frances Tiafoe wasted four match points in a 6-3 1-6 7-6(11-9) loss to Quentin Halys, a result that qualified Arthur Fils for the ATP Finals as the first Frenchman since Gael Monfils in 2016. Fourth seed Daniil Medvedev lost 6-4 6-4 to Ignacio Buse.

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10. Canada forced to wear generic jersey at women's worlds

Source: Daily Hive

Canada's women's hockey team will have a different look when it takes the ice at this week's IIHF Women's World Championship in Denmark. Hockey Canada confirmed Wednesday that its players have been instructed to wear jerseys supplied by TRUE Hockey, the IIHF's official uniform manufacturer, instead of the new Bauer-designed uniforms recently unveiled by the organisation.

The decision stems from an ongoing disagreement between the IIHF and several member associations over commercial rights to national team uniforms. The IIHF signed an exclusive agreement with TRUE Hockey in 2025, but Hockey Canada already had a long-term partnership with Bauer that runs through 2033-34. Hockey Canada has argued that IIHF bylaws, specifically statute 24.3, give member associations control over the rights to their national team logos, emblems and uniform designs. Temporary injunctions sought by Hockey Canada and USA Hockey were subsequently lifted.

In a statement, Hockey Canada said its national women's team "must wear a jersey designed by the IIHF and its jersey supplier at the 2026 IIHF Women's World Championship," adding: "While we have yet to see the jersey Canada will be playing in on Friday, our team remains focused on the tournament and representing our country proudly on and off the ice." The new official Bauer jersey will be available online beginning Thursday. Canada opens its quest for a record 14th title on Friday.

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