Timo Werner is pushing for a move away from RB Leipzig this winter, with reports in Germany revealing a sensational interest in joining Lionel Messi at Inter Miami. The former Chelsea striker has fallen out of favour in Leipzig and sees MLS as his next destination despite rejecting a switch to the New York Red Bulls. With his future uncertain, Miami’s glamour and sporting profile appear to be drawing the German forward.

Werner eyes Miami move as Leipzig exit looms

The German forward's future at RB Leipzig is essentially over, and the 29-year-old is now reportedly targeting a high-profile move to Inter Miami, where he hopes to line up alongside superstar Messi. Werner has played just one minute of football this season and no longer features in Leipzig’s matchday squads, leaving a winter exit increasingly likely.

reported that Werner is especially tempted by Miami’s project and the global pull of playing with Messi, whose presence continues to reshape the MLS landscape. The glamour surrounding the club, both in sporting ambition and lifestyle appeal, is said to suit Werner and his wife Paula, making South Florida an attractive landing spot as he seeks a fresh start.

A move to MLS had already been on the table last summer, when the New York Red Bulls made inquiries through the Red Bull network. At the time, Werner remained reluctant to leave Leipzig due to his sizeable salary and the belief he could still revive his career in Germany. But his situation has deteriorated drastically, and with his contract expiring in 2026, a winter departure is now seen as essential to avoid drifting toward free agency.

AdvertisementWhy New York Red Bulls plan didn't work out

Werner’s most concrete MLS opportunity collapsed when the New York Red Bulls ultimately walked away from talks, a decision explained in detail by the club’s athletic director Julian de Guzman.

Last week, De Guzman confirmed that the forward had been on the club’s radar, saying: "There have always been rumors about Werner," before stressing that any deal had to suit New York’s long-term strategy. He added: "We have to make sure it makes sense for us here in New York."

The Canadian executive made clear that Werner’s profile was highly appealing from a fan standpoint, stating: "Werner is a great name. I think the fans would have loved him. The opportunity was there, but I don't think we were 100 percent convinced that this was the right thing for New York. That's why we didn't fully commit to it."

Salary considerations also played a key role, as Werner earns a reported €10 million per year in Leipzig, while New York were unable, and ultimately unwilling, to match anywhere near that level for a Designated Player slot. The striker was similarly unwilling to reduce his wage demands to complete the move, contributing to the breakdown of discussions.

Why Inter Miami now appeal to Wermer

With the Red Bulls stepping aside, Werner has shifted his attention to the other side of the MLS spectrum – Inter Miami, a club defined by star power, global attention and a clear pathway to compete for trophies. Messi’s presence remains the biggest draw, with the Argentine continuing to exert a transformative influence on the club’s recruitment and profile.

Inter Miami’s roster structure for 2026 provides a plausible opening. The imminent retirements of Jordi Alba and Messi's right hand man Sergio Busquets will free up two Designated Player slots, while Rodrigo De Paul is expected to occupy one if his loan becomes permanent. That leaves one DP spot available, a rare opportunity Miami could use on a high-profile attacker like Werner.

From a sporting perspective, Werner would offer flexibility across the front line, potentially replacing Luis Suarez if he departs and giving Miami an experienced, mobile option heading into the new MLS calendar cycle in 2026. The lifestyle component also weighs heavily in Miami’s favour, with the city viewed by Werner as an ideal environment to reset his career.

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AFPHow likely a move can take place?

The next steps hinge on Inter Miami’s internal evaluation and their willingness to commit a DP slot, and potentially a sizeable salary, to a striker whose performances have dipped since his Chelsea days. While Werner is eager to join Messi in Florida, the report stresses that Miami’s interest is not yet confirmed, leaving the possibility of alternative MLS suitors still open.

For Leipzig, the winter window will be decisive, and Marco Rose has already marginalised the striker, and a move abroad appears the only viable solution to avoid a stagnant final 18 months of his contract. Miami, meanwhile, must navigate a busy rebuild as they prepare for the 2026 season, with decisions looming on Suarez’s future, the DP structure, and several expiring contracts.

Glasgow Rangers made it four wins from four matches in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday when they beat Livingston 2-1 at Ibrox, thanks to goals from Emmanuel Fernandez and Mohamed Diomande.

Danny Rohl, who has now won all of his league games in charge of the club so far, was not entirely pleased with his team’s performance in the narrow win against Livi, though, as evidenced by his post-game comments below.

The former Sheffield Wednesday head coach wants to see improvement from his players in the weeks and months to come, as the Light Blues look to ensure that they can make something successful out of this campaign.

Rangers are already nine points adrift of first place in the Premiership, per Sofascore, but they are still in the Europa League and have the SFA Cup to play for in the second half of the season.

As Rohl said after Saturday’s game, the Light Blues simply need to improve their performances if they want to be in contention to win things by the business end of the season.

That means that individuals need to step up and become reliable performers, as too many of them have been inconsistent at best. One of those inconsistent players has been summer signing Djeidi Gassama.

Why Rangers should be concerned by Djeidi Gassama's form

After a return of four goals in six Champions League qualifiers, per Transfermarkt, the French forward looked like he was a steal of a signing at £2.2m from Sheffield Wednesday.

He was a shining light in those European matches during Russell Martin’s dismal tenure, and even added a goal in the league phase of the Europa League against Sturm Graz in a 2-1 defeat in the manager’s penultimate game in charge.

Unfortunately, though, Gassama has been unable to deliver consistent quality at the top end of the pitch in his time in the Premiership so far, with one goal and one assist in 12 appearances in the division, per Sofascore.

After his stunning start to life at Ibrox in the early European games, there may have been some hope that he could kick on to become the club’s new Ryan Kent, who produced 33 goals and 56 assists in 218 outings for the Light Blues, per Transfermarkt.

Appearances

12

Starts

11

Goals

1

Minutes per goal

972

Conversion rate

4%

Big chances created

0

Key passes per game

0.8

Assists

1

As you can see in the table above, Gassama has not provided a Kent-esque presence on the left flank for the Scottish giants in the Premiership this season, with two goal contributions in 12 matches.

His inconsistency, as evidenced by his contrasting form domestically and in Europe, should be a concern for Rangers, given that he is starting almost every league game yet failing to deliver quality on a consistent basis.

This is why Rohl may need to look at alternative options in the left wing position in the coming weeks, as the Gers may need a new starter in that role if Gassama is unable to add more consistency to his domestic displays.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

The Daily Record recently noted that Wales international Rabbi Matondo has returned to training after a lengthy injury lay-off that had seen him unavailable for the entirety of Martin’s tenure, and speculated that he could be in for a chance under Rohl.

Why Rangers should give Rabbi Matondo a chance to shine

It would be completely understandable if any Rangers supporters were not too enthused by the prospect of the Welsh forward returning to the team to get another chance, given that he has played zero minutes this season and spent the second half of last season on loan at Hannover.

However, if he is now back in training and is fit and available for selection, the German head coach should provide him with a chance to shine, because it has been his availability rather than his ability that has been an issue throughout his career in Scotland.

Per Transfermarkt, Matondo missed 20 games in his first season at Ibrox through injury, then 19 in his second, and 23 for Rangers and Hannover combined in the 2024/25 campaign, which shows that he simply has not been available enough in recent years.

When fit, though, the former Manchester City youngster has shown that he has the quality to be a difference-maker on the left flank, with eight goals and 11 assists in 64 appearances, per Transfermarkt, for Rangers.

Matondo, who was once lauded as “electrifying” by former manager Ryan Giggs, has averaged a goal or an assist for the Gers every 139 minutes on average, per Transfermarkt, which is an incredibly impressive return.

Appearances

218

24

67

Minutes

17,732

1,823

2,641

Goals

33

6

8

Minutes per goal

537

303

330

Assists

56

2

11

Minutes per assist

317

911

240

Minutes per goal contribution

199

228

139

As you can see in the table above, Gassama and Kent have both failed to deliver goals and assists as frequently as the Wales international in their respective Rangers careers.

One area in which Gassama particularly struggles is the creative side of the game, as evidenced by his return of an assist every 911 minutes, whilst Matondo has assisted goals even more regularly than Kent did.

This does not mean that the Welsh whiz will automatically become a star if he stays fit and plays week-in-week-out for Rohl, because he has not played a single minute this season and could need time to settle back in to playing competitive football.

However, his statistics for Rangers throughout his career suggest that he has the potential to be Rohl’s own version of Kent as a lightning-quick winger who can provide a threat as both a scorer and a creator of goals, which is something Gassama has failed to do so far.

Fewer touches than Butland: Rohl must bin "missing" Rangers flop after Livi

Rangers did claim another league win over Livingston on Saturday, but one player went “missing” at Ibrox, registering fewer touches than Jack Butland.

ByBen Gray Nov 23, 2025

Manchester United’s central midfield department has been one that has come into huge question over the last couple of months, with Ruben Amorim needing improvements in such an area.

The 40-year-old has often had to rotate the options to the heart of the side, with Bruno Fernandes often the man to start as a number eight on a regular basis.

The Portuguese international has mainly been joined by Casemiro in the two midfield roles in 2025/26, which has allowed the latter to make a name for himself in the Premier League.

However, at 33, the Brazilian is now entering the latter stages of his professional career, with the player set to leave at the end of the season upon the expiration of his contract.

As a result, the hierarchy will desperately need to target added reinforcements in the midfield department, especially with the January transfer window now approaching.

Man Utd looking to sign mega-money midfielder

Over the last couple of days, United have been named as one of the sides interested in a deal to sign RB Leipzig star Assan Ouedraogo in the January window.

The German star has endured a phenomenal start to the 2025/26 campaign, featuring in 11 Bundesliga outings and already posting a total of six goal contributions in the process.

However, it’s been reported that Ole Werner’s side are extremely reluctant to offload the 19-year-old, who is seen as a player with huge potential to explode into an elite-level talent.

He’s not the only player currently in the Red Devils’ sights at present, with Nottingham Forest sensation Elliot Anderson still firmly in their sights ahead of the winter window.

According to journalist Andy Mitten, Amorim’s men “would love” to sign the 23-year-old midfielder who has been a shining light at the heart of the Reds side in 2025/26.

It’s also been reported that such a deal could rise to around the £100m mark, which would be a club record for United, passing the figure forked out for one player in 2016.

Why Anderson could be Man Utd's new Paul Pogba

Paul Pogba joined United in a staggering £89m deal back in the summer of 2016, with such a deal becoming the most expensive in the club’s long-standing history.

The Frenchman arrived for his second spell at Old Trafford, amassing over 225 appearances and often catching the eye with various impressive moments over his six-year period.

From long-range strikes to vital efforts in Manchester derbies, he truly did capture the hearts of the supporters – that’s despite concerns over his fitness and attitude at certain times.

However, there’s little denying he’s one of the most technically gifted players to operate in the deep-lying midfield roles, as seen by his tally of 86 goals and assists for the Red Devils.

Despite Bruno operating in such a role, there’s little denying the first team have lacked a technical player of Pogba’s quality, but that could be about to change with a move for Anderson.

Like Pogba, he would be a massively expensive addition, but his underlying stats from the 2025/26 campaign showcase his incredible technical ability with and without the ball.

The Englishman, who’s been labelled “world-class” by one analyst, has completed 8.3 progressive passes per 90, with 8.2 of his efforts being made into the final third.

Games played

12

Goals & assists

2

Pass accuracy

83%

Progressive passes

8.3

Passes into final third

8.2

Take-ons completed

1.3

Ball recoveries

8.5

Tackles made

2.8

Duels won

7.2

Such numbers showcase his incredible ball-playing ability, with such talents allowing him to pick out numerous of the club’s £200m additions in attacking areas.

He’s also completed 1.5 key passes per 90 to date, with 1.3 of his passes being into the opposition’s 18-yard box, further highlighting his world-class talents in possession.

However, without the ball, Anderson has been just as impressive, as seen by his tally of 2.8 tackles made and 7.2 duels won per 90 in the Premier League this campaign.

The aforementioned figures showcase why he would be the perfect box-to-box option for Amorim’s side, which could get the best out of Bruno once again in the near future.

£100m for a player in the modern market is slowly becoming an acceptable choice, as seen by the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City, who have all spent such a figure on players in years gone by.

However, if United are to do it, Anderson would be the perfect player to spend such an amount on, with the midfielder having the immediate quality to impress, whilst potentially improving tenfold in the years ahead.

Alongside Zirkzee: Man Utd's "waste of time" must not start again for Amorim

Ruben Amorim has a bold decision to make over the future of one Manchester United flop.

ByEthan Lamb Nov 25, 2025

Everton have now been told that they’ll have to pay a record price to sign an attacking reinforcement, who’s also in the sights of German giants Bayern Munich.

Everton plotting attacking additions

Whilst Thierno Barry certainly did his job against Manchester United, his run for a first Everton goal only continued. The fact that the Toffees were down to 10 men didn’t help his chase for that vital goal, but questions about continuing to arrive as to whether David Moyes should look to January for key reinforcements in the striker’s position.

Ahead of the winter window, several names have already been linked with a move to the Hill Dickinson Stadium, including Troy Parrott. The Republic of Ireland striker has been in sensational form for club and country this season and grabbed Everton’s attention by scoring five goals in two games to help Ireland into the World Cup playoffs earlier this month.

The former Tottenham Hotspur youngster would be an excellent addition, but so would Celtic’s Daizen Maeda. The Japan international reportedly wants to leave the Scottish club and could do so for as little as £15m in January – allowing Everton to land a bargain deal.

At his best, Maeda scored 33 goals in all competitions for Celtic last season, before struggling to replicate that in an inconsistent side in the current campaign.

So, Everton certainly have options if they do want to add competition to Barry and Beto this winter. So much so that they may not even need to turn towards Parrott or Maeda. Instead, they could sign Franculino Dju from Midtjylland.

Everton told to pay record fee to sign Franculino Dju

According to Danish outlet Tipsbladet, as relayed by Sport Witness, Everton have been told to pay €35m (£31m) to sign Franculino in January, which would break Midtjylland’s transfer record.

Everton line up January move for England international who Alan Shearer called "world class"

The Toffees have spotted a low-cost opportunity.

ByHenry Jackson Nov 22, 2025

Joined by Bayern Munich and Manchester United in pursuit of the forward, it remains to be seen whether the Toffees are willing to pay such a price to secure his signature after sending scouts to watch him recently.

The Friedkin Group certainly weren’t afraid of splashing the cash in the summer, having made Tyler Dibling their second most-expensive ever signing at £42m and spent £27m on Barry’s arrival.

Dubbed “unstoppable” by scout Jacek Kulig earlier this month, Franculino is well worth the chase for Everton. The 21-year-old has recently taken his total to 19 games in 28 games for the season and that clinical form makes him someone to watch ahead of January.

Everton ready to replace £120,000-a-week star with key January signing

With the Lionel Messi-Cristiano Ronaldo duopoly now disappearing into the rearview mirror, the battle for the Ballon d'Or hasn't felt so open for the best part of 20 years, with countless players beginning the campaign believing they have a chance of claiming the most prestigious individual prize football has to offer. Ousmane Dembele emerged from a career plagued with inconsistencies to win the Golden Ball in 2025, and he is among a crowded field of contenders as the 2026 race gets going.

Dembele largely secured the award off the back of his performances in helping Paris Saint-Germain win their first European Cup, and the Champions League is yet again likely to have a big say on the Ballon d'Or battle this time around. However, it's also a World Cup year, so there is a chance that the eventual winner doesn't emerge until the summer in North America.

Don't forget, too, that there is the Africa Cup of Nations running from late December and into January, meaning there could be some players who don't only shine for their clubs but also impress at major tournaments over the course of the campaign.

The Ballon d'Or race is a marathon not a sprint, and it's worth bearing in mind that Dembele didn't emerge as a potential victor until midway through the 2024-25 campaign. However, with the European season fully up and running, so too are GOAL's Power Rankings, as we track the likeliest winners of the Golden Ball over the coming weeks and months:

• AFP
  

  10Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain) ↔️

  Widely regarded as the best right-back in the world, Hakimi placed sixth in the 2025 Ballon d'Or voting after a season in which he contributed as much to the PSG attack as he did to ensure they remained solid at the back. One of the leaders within Luis Enrique's squad, the Moroccan's performances will again have a large bearing on the French champions' fortunes at home and on the continent.

  Hakimi had made a decent start to the season before suffering an ankle injury in late October, and what places him so high in our rankings is the potential for him to shine on the international stage. Morocco reached the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup and have the strongest squad among the African qualifiers for 2026, meaning another deep run isn't beyond the realms of possibility. Before that, the Atlas Lions are the favourites to triumph on home soil at AFCON, with Hakimi – the newly-crowned African Footballer of the Year – set to be the face of the tournament if can prove his fitness ahead of kick-off.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  9Estevao (Chelsea) 🆕

  This might feel a little 'pie in the sky', but there is definitely a logic behind Estevao emerging as a Ballon d'Or contender over the course of the campaign. The teenager has quickly become a fan favourite at Stamford Bridge following a series of eye-catching performances, and he announced himself to the European audience with his superb strike in Chelsea's Champions League win over Barcelona.

  There is a world where Estevao becomes the Blues' main attacking outlet by the end of the season, while the evidence of the past few international breaks suggests that it will be he rather than Vinicius Jr that Brazil will be looking to for inspiration as they aim to win a sixth World Cup during the summer. That might be a lot to ask of an 18-year-old, but Estevao has shown so far that he is up to the task.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  8Luis Diaz (Bayern Munich) 🆕

  Liverpool fans might be forgiven for wondering whether their season might not be in such turmoil had Luis Diaz not been sold over the summer. The versatile forward played an important role in the Reds' title triumph of 2024-25, but his desire for a new challenge led to the Anfield outfit accepting a €75 million (£65.5m/$88m) bid from Bayern Munich for the Colombia international.

  Diaz hasn't looked back since, having struck up a fine understanding with Harry Kane and the rest of his Bayern team-mates. Some of his strikes in the Bundesliga have been stunning, while his double to beat PSG in the Champions League was the kind of match-winning display that catches Ballon d'Or voters' eyes, even if his subsequent red card means he won't be seen again in the competition until January at the earliest.

  Factor in Diaz will be playing at his first World Cup this summer, and he has all the makings of a Golden Ball contender.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  7Michael Olise (Bayern Munich) 🆕

  Anyone who predicted that Michael Olise would struggle to make the step up from Crystal Palace to Bayern Munich has been sorely mistaken, with the wideman having strung together a year or so of fantastic performances for the Bundesliga champions. Equally capable of scoring as he is creating goals for others, the 23-year-old has grown into one of the most fearsome forward players in the German top flight while also making his mark on the Champions League.

  Olise's club performances have also helped him lock down a starting spot despite intense competition for places in the France line-up. As such, he could be one of the stars of the upcoming World Cup for one of the favourites to lift the trophy.

Australia were 16 for 1 off 2.1 overs before rain ended the game after rain earlier in the day had delayed the start

Alex Malcolm03-Oct-2025 – No resultRain only allowed for 13 balls in the second T20I in Mount Maunganui with Australia retaining the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy over New Zealand after the match was abandoned, with one game to play on Saturday.Persistent rain for the entire day subsided just after the scheduled 7.15pm start which allowed for a toss to happen at 7.45pm with both teams planning for an 8.15pm start and an 18-over-a-side game. Michael Bracewell sent Australia in as New Zealand made three changes with Ben Sears returning from injury, Ish Sodhi becoming New Zealand’s most-capped men’s T20I player, and Jimmy Neesham called in to replace Kyle Jamieson, Zak Foulkes and Bevon Jacobs.Related

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Australia would have bowled on the same surface as game one but were forced to bat first after the pitch spent all day under covers. Australia made only one change with Sean Abbott called in to replace Ben Dwarshuis, who was rested.But rain returned just before the scheduled start and did not abate until 8.47pm. It took 43 minutes to dry the ground and set up a nine-overs-a-side game.The teams did not get through the 2.4 over powerplay. Australia struggled to 16 for 1 as Matt Henry and Jacob Duffy zipped the ball around on the moist surface. Travis Head was the only wicket to fall, slicing Duffy to Devon Conway at backward point.The rain returned and never stopped. The two teams will return on Saturday for game three but the forecast is not promising.

Shoriful Islam produced a miserly spell with the ball and added crucial runs with the bat as Bangladesh secured a two-wicket win over Afghanistan in the second T20I in Sharjah. The result gave them an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.Once again, Bangladesh had to recover from a collapse after a strong position in their chase, with Shamim Hossain, Jaker Ali, and Nurul Hasan playing key roles in the middle order. Shoriful’s all-round contribution proved decisive in a tense finish.

Shoriful takes Bangladesh home with bat

Bangladesh slipped from 102 for 4 to 129 for 8 in the space of four overs. Noor Ahmad removed Shamim for 33, before Nasum Ahmed, who looked competent with the bat until he unnecessarily slogged at Rashid Khan, fell in the 16th over. Azmatullah Omarzai removed both Mohammad Saifuddin and Rishad Hossain in the 18th over.Bangladesh needed 19 runs to win in 12 balls, with eight wickets gone, but Nurul Hasan kept them in the hunt. He started the 19th over with a six off Noor, before taking a single. At the time, it seemed like a dicey move. But with three runs coming off wides and seven off Shoriful’s bat – that included a straight boundary – it left Bangladesh with just two to win in the final over.Ibrahim Zadran scored 38 in 37 balls•ACB

Shoriful had kept the strike for the last over, and crashed Omarzai’s first ball down the ground for the winning runs. Nurul remained unbeaten 31 off 21 balls, while Shoriful smashed a decisive 11* in six deliveries.

Jaker, Shamim revive Bangladesh

Omarzai gave Afghanistan the perfect start with the ball, removing openers Tanzid Hasan and Parvez Hossain. Rashid took a good tumbling catch at mid-off to get Tanzid in the second over, before Omarzai trapped Parvez lbw in his next over. Saif Hassan struck a couple of sixes on either side of the wicket, but became Mujeeb Ur Rahman’s victim in the fifth over. Sediqullah Atal took a catch running back from extra cover, as Bangladesh slipped to 24 for 3.Shamim responded to the situation aggressively, hammering Rashid for a six to end the powerplay. Jaker then struck his first six in seven innings when he lofted Mohammad Nabi over long-on. It was followed by a flick over square leg off Abdollah Ahmadzai in the next over.Shamim struck his second six, a huge hit over midwicket, off Noor, as Bangladesh looked on the path to recovery. Jaker, who reached double figures after four consecutive single-figure scores, fell lbw to his opposite number Rashid for the second game in a row, as the fourth-wicket stand between him and Shamim ended on 56.Shoriful Islam gave just 13 runs in four overs•AFP/Getty Images

Rash shots upend Afghanistan’s start

Afghanistan started slowly, managing only 35 runs in the powerplay, but they did not lose a wicket. Atal tried to up the ante in the eighth over, hitting Rishad for a couple of sixes. But it was followed by his wicket next ball, as the left-hander was caught at long-on for 23. That broke the opening partnership on 55, before Nasum had Zadran caught at long-on, too, for 38 off 37 balls. When newcomer Wafiullah Tarakhil fell for 1, also taken at long-on, Afghanistan’s steady start had evaporated.

Shoriful leads Bangladesh’s squeeze

Three of Bangladesh’s five bowlers finished with great economy rates. Shoriful conceded just 13 runs in his four overs, while Nasum and Saifuddin also kept their economy rates below 6.50 in their respective four overs. Mustafizur Rahman and Rishad were expensive, though the latter picked up two wickets.Nasum removed Darwish Rasooli after he had struck him for a six the previous ball. Rahmanullah Gurbaz struck Rishad for two sixes, but fell to Shoriful in the 17th over, having made 30. Afghanistan made just 40 runs in the last five overs, losing one wicket, and hitting just two sixes during this phase.

The first 11 matches of the World Cup delivered a reach of 72 million, which, the ICC said, marked “a 166% increase from the previous edition”

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Oct-2025The India vs Pakistan women’s ODI World Cup game on October 5 has broken digital-viewing records with “a reach of 28.4 million and 1.87 billion minutes consumed, making it the most-watched women’s international cricket match of all time”, an ICC statement on Thursday said.That was the standout match in terms of viewership, but even outside of it, the first half of the league stage of the World Cup delivered “record-breaking numbers across digital and linear platforms”, the ICC said.The India vs Pakistan game has also become the highest-rated league-stage match in the history of the tournament when it comes to TV viewership, while the first 11 matches, including India’s matches against Sri Lanka, Pakistan and South Africa, delivered a reach of 72 million. That, the ICC said, marked “a 166% increase from the previous edition”. Also, “viewing minutes surged 327% to 6.3 billion”.Related

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Attendance at stadia has also been healthy, with stands filling up especially for India’s matches in India and Sri Lanka’s matches in Sri Lanka, though matches featuring visiting teams without any “home” interest have not always had too many people in the stands. In Colombo, when matches have not featured Sri Lanka or India, stadium attendance has been in four figures at times, though the weather has played its part in that.”According to data released jointly by ICC and JioHotstar, the first 13 matches of the tournament have already reached over 60 million viewers, a five-fold increase over the 2022 edition, while total watch-time has hit 7 billion minutes, up 12 times from the previous tournament,” an ICC statement said, adding that the India vs Australia game on October 12 “recorded 4.8 million peak concurrent viewers on JioHotstar, another all-time high for women’s cricket”.