Lionel Messi has received an honorary doctorate from the University of Buenos Aires, the institution’s highest honorary distinction, recognising his extraordinary football career and the values he represented while playing for Argentina. The award was presented on October 6 at the Argentine Football Association’s training complex in Ezeiza, shortly before his farewell appearance for the national team.
Nepali mountaineer and outdoor educator Jagan Nath Timilsina has received the 2026 NOLS Alaska Merit Award for his work as an instructor and role model in outdoor education.
HORAA Esports completed an impressive double by winning both the PUBG Mobile and Free Fire titles at the Esports Festival held in Kathmandu from October 2–4, 2026. The two championships add to a strong year for the Nepali esports organization, which has continued to make its presence felt in major domestic and international competitions.
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Portugal star Rafael Leão wore Cristiano Ronaldo’s iconic No. 7 shirt during Portugal’s 4–2 UEFA Nations League win over Denmark on October 1, describing the experience as special because Ronaldo has been his idol since childhood. Leão also revealed a personal connection to the number, explaining that his children were born on the seventh day of the month.
Nepal has announced a 15-member squad led by Sandeep Lamichhane for its final ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 series in Oman, where it will play four ODIs against Canada and Oman. Nepal currently sits seventh with 24 points from 32 matches, making the final series crucial as it tries to climb into the top six.
Nepal is set to miss the 2026 SAFF Men’s Championship after its FIFA suspension remained unresolved by the September 30 deadline set by SAFF.
The First Battalion, The Royal Gurkha Rifles (1 RGR) won the Military TAB team category at PARAS’10 2026 in Catterick, UK, finishing first among more than 115 competing teams. The battalion also recorded a runner-up result in the Free Run team category, while Gurkha personnel delivered strong individual performances at the event. Gurkha Brigade Association
Nepal’s Abhishek Bastola has reached a major career milestone by competing at his fourth consecutive Asian Games, becoming the first Nepali tennis player reported to achieve the feat. He also made a winning start at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, partnering with Pradip Khadka to defeat a Mongolian pair in a dramatic men’s doubles opener.
Nepali bodybuilder Sagendra Singh has won the gold medal in the men’s 75 kg category at the 58th Asian Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Championship held in Bangkok, Thailand. The victory marks Singh’s second international gold medal of 2026, adding another achievement to Nepal’s growing presence in international bodybuilding competitions.
Nepal defeated Afghanistan in their opening men’s cricket match at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan, defending their bowling effort and completing a successful chase of the 103-run target after restricting Afghanistan to 102/7 in 20 overs. The victory marked Nepal’s first T20 International win over Afghanistan in 12 years, bringing back memories of their historic 2014 ICC World T20 victory.
Nepali boxer Khagendra Roka Magar defeated Macau’s Alvin John Reyes Salinas by a unanimous 5–0 decision in the men’s 60kg preliminary round at the 20th Asian Games in Japan. The victory marked Nepal’s first boxing win at this edition of the Asian Games and kept the country’s hopes alive in the competition.
Man Kumar Roka Magar won the Vietnam Mountain Marathon 100K with a new course record, while Ram Maya Budha secured the women’s 50K title in a remarkable double victory for Nepal.
Nepali MMA fighter Yuki “The Gurkha” Angdembe will face China’s Buhuogubu “The Yi Eagle” in a bantamweight main-card fight at JCK Fight Night 123 in Lüliang, Shanxi, China, on September 19. Angdembe enters the bout with an 8-3 professional record and two straight wins, as he looks to strengthen his case for bigger opportunities in Asian MMA.
Former Nepal para taekwondo champion Shrijana Ghising, who made history by winning Nepal’s first major international gold in the sport in 2022, is now an Australian citizen and competing for Australia. The 26-year-old has already delivered Australia’s first-ever World Taekwondo Para Grand Prix gold and is now aiming to represent her new country at the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympics.
All Nepal Football Association Warns It Will Resume Essential Football Activities From Monday Under FIFA Directives If Government Fails To Act, As More Than Rs 10 Crore Remains Unpaid And Nepal’s SAFF Championship Participation Faces Risk
Lionel Messi has been called up by Argentina for a farewell appearance against Benin at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires on October 6, giving the 39-year-old one final opportunity to wear the national shirt after announcing his international retirement last month. The match will close a remarkable 21-year senior journey that took Messi from painful final defeats and a brief retirement to becoming Argentina’s World Cup-winning captain and one of the defining figures in the country’s football history.
Australian cricket superstar David Warner has joined the Kathmandu Gorkhas for the third season of the Nepal Premier League, becoming the franchise's biggest international signing so far.
Nepal’s Yugeen Sharma defeated India’s Khushi Singh at Karma Fight League 9 in Colombo, adding another international victory to a journey that began with boxing at the age of 16 and later expanded into kickboxing and mixed martial arts. The 20-year-old Nepali fighter has already won national boxing gold, competed several times at KFL and has spoken publicly about her bigger dream of eventually reaching the UFC.
Nepali fitness athlete Niral Thapa has added an international silver medal in Thailand to a journey that already includes national-level Sports Physique success, professional fitness certification and leadership in Nepal’s calisthenics community. Representing Nepal at the PCA BKK Naturals 2 competition in Bangkok, Thapa’s latest achievement also strengthens the message he has been promoting: athletes can pursue international recognition while remaining committed to natural fitness.
Education and Sports Minister Sasmit Pokhrel is set to travel to Japan as part of Nepal’s 211-member delegation for the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, where 135 Nepali athletes will compete across 21 sports. Nepal heads to the continental event with an ambitious goal of reaching a double-digit medal tally and challenging for its first-ever Asian Games gold.
AS Roma will carry the World Food Programme logo and “Together for Nepal” message during their Champions League match against Fenerbahçe in Istanbul on September 10, raising global awareness for communities affected by Nepal’s devastating floods and landslides. Roma’s match-worn shirts will later be auctioned to support WFP’s relief efforts, while fans can also contribute through ShareTheMeal.
