Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Lewis Hamilton and Mystic Guide: 25 of the best sports images of the week

We pick out the most spectacular pictures from the last seven days

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  Villanova Wildcats Jermaine Samuels goes up for a dunk against the Baylor Bearsat the NCAA basketball tournament at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indiana on Saturday, March 27. Getty

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  Jockey Luis Saez (centre right, blue cap) guides Mystic Guide to victory in the big race at the Dubai World Cup on Saturday, March 27. EPA

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  Alpine's Spanish driver Fernando Alonso during qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix on Saturday, March 27. Getty

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  The peloton during Stage 6 of La Volta a Catalunya on Friday, March 27. EPA

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  French skier Leo Slemett competes in the Verbier Xtreme Freeride World Tour final on the Bec de Rosses mountain on Tuesday, March 23. AFP

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  Bangladesh batsman Afif Hossain is bowled by Lockie Ferguson of New Zealand during the T20 match at Seddon Park on Sunday, March 28. Getty

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  Surfers at The Wave artificial wave pool, in Bristol, England, on Tuesday, March 23. AP

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  Wests Tigers' David Nofoaluma scores a try in the NRL match against Newcastle Knights at the McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday, March 28. Getty

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  Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain after winning the Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix in Sakhir, on Sunday, March 28. AP

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  Sweden forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic during training in Stockholm on Tuesday, March 23. AFP

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  France's national cycling team trains as people get a dose of the Covid-19 vaccine at the indoor Velodrome National of Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines in Montigny-le-Bretonneux, southwest of Paris, on Friday, March 26. Reuters

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  The peloton at the start of the Volta Catalunya's final 133-km stage in Barcelona, on Sunday, March 28. AFP

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  Cameroon's Francis Ngannou lands a kick on his way to victory over Stipe Miocic of the US in their UFC heavyweight championship fight at UFC 260 in Las Vegas on Saturday, March 27. USA TODAY Sports

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  Sweden's Kristofer Turdell on his way to victory during the Verbier Xtreme Freeride World Tour on the 'Bec des Rosses' mountain near Verbier, Switzerland, on Tuesday, March 23. AP

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  Luis Saez rides Mystic Guide to victory in Dubai World Cup's showpeice race at Meydan Racecourse on Saturday, March 27. Reuters

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  People take surfing lessons in Arpoador beach in Rio de Janeiro on Friday, March 26. Reuters

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  Hornchurch goalkeeper Joseph Wright saves a penalty from Jake Reeves of Notts County during the FA Trophy semi-final at Meadow Lane on Saturday, March 27. The match finished 3-3, with Hornchurch winning 5-4 in the penalty shottout. Getty

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  England's Mel Reid on the 18th green during Round 3 of the KIA Classic at the Aviara Golf Club in California, on Saturday, March 27. AFP

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  Italy's Fabio Fognini during his match against Sebastian Korda, of the United States, at the Miami Open on Saturday, March 27. Korda won the match 1-6, 6-4, 6-2. AP

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  Dallas Stars goaltender Anton Khudobin in action against Florida Panthers in their NHL game at the American Airlines Center on Saturday, March 28. Florida won the match 4-3. USA TODAY Sports

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  Carlton Blues' Tayla Harris tackles Jessica Dal Pos of the GWS Giants during the AFLW match at Blacktown International Sportspark in Sydney on Sunday, March 28. Getty

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  Action from practice for the Nascar Camping World Truck Series Pinty's Truck Race at Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee on Friday, March 26. AFP

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  Slovenia's Bor Pavlovcic competes during the second round of the FIS Ski Jumping World Cup in Planica, on Sunday, March 28. AFP

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  India's Shardul Thakur drops a catch during the third and final one-day international against England in Pune on Sunday, March 28. India won the match bu match by seven runs and clinched the series 2-1. Reuters

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  Lewis Hamilton during the Bahrain Grand Prix in Sakhir on Sunday, March 28. Reuters

One of the biggest horse races on the calendar took place in the UAE this week, with the Dubai World Cup finally able to enjoy its 25th anniversary.

Cancelled last year due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the silver jubilee event this time round was tinged with sadness due to the passing of Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid, Minister of Finance and Deputy Ruler of Dubai – a leading owner and breeder of race horses.

Godolphin continued its domination of the main race at Meydan Racecourse with Mystic Guide taking the honours in impressive fashion. From Godolphin's American operation, the Michael Stidham-trained runner could now target the Breeders' Cup in November.

In football, it has been an emotional week for Sweden's veteran attacker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who returned to the international scene for the first time in nearly five years.

The AC Milan forward, 39, broke down in tears during a press conference earlier in the week, then set up the winning goal as Sweden defeated Georgia in Thursday's World Cup qualifier.

This weekend saw the return of Formula One as the new season kicked-off with the Bahrain Grand Prix.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen secured the opening pole position, but usual service resumed in the main race with Lewis Hamilton winning for Mercedes in a thrilling contest.