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Eurosport India kicks off exclusive MLS Sundays with Messi magic
MUMBAI: Indian football fans, buckle up your boots and clear your Sunday night schedule—Lionel Messi is now part of your weekly primetime ritual. Warner Bros. Discovery just pulled off a neat bit of transfer business of its own, handing Eurosport India the exclusive broadcast rights to Major League Soccer’s (MLS) new crown jewel: Sunday Night Soccer.
Announced on 8 April 2025, the deal ensures that Indian audiences can now catch some of the world’s biggest football names—Messi, Suárez, Busquets, Alba and more—every Sunday, live and exclusive on Eurosport and Eurosport HD.
The MLS Sunday Night Soccer initiative is the league’s glitzy new primetime spectacle, pitting top-tier clubs and fierce rivals against each other in weekly headline fixtures. Expect fireworks from marquee matchups like El Tráfico (LA Galaxy vs LAFC), the Hudson River Derby (Red Bulls vs NYCFC), and the Cascadia Cup (Seattle Sounders vs Portland Timbers vs Vancouver Whitecaps).
The 2025 season builds on a blockbuster 2024 campaign where LA Galaxy snatched their sixth MLS Cup, while Inter Miami CF, co-owned by David Beckham and stacked with Barcelona alumni, topped the regular season to win their maiden Supporters’ Shield.
Sunday Night Soccer is Major League Soccer’s new prime-time initiative for 2025 season, showcasing the most high-stakes and headline-worthy match of the week. It also aims to become MLS’s marquee viewing event, drawing fans together across time zones.
With this high-profile addition, Eurosport India continues to flex its muscle as a destination for premium global sport, already home to world-class content across cycling, motorsport, wrestling and more. Now, with Messi’s left foot gracing Indian screens every Sunday, they’ve added a golden boot to the lineup.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
