Steve Luckings

Deputy Sports Editor

Abu Dhabi

Steve is one of the of The National “originals”, arriving in Abu Dhabi in January 2008 to help launch the paper three months later. He has held a number of positions including online editor, page editor, senior sports editor and now deputy sports editor. Steve has more than 15 years’ experience across a variety of media platforms. He writes comment and analysis on everything from football to rugby to boxing and is a regular guest on The National’s sport podcasts.

'Leo loves Barca': Joan Laporta elected Barcelona's president and sends message to Messi

Laporta returns for a second stint having secured 54.28% of the vote

March 8, 2021

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - Borussia Dortmund v Arminia Bielefeld - Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund, Germany - February 27, 2021 Borussia Dortmund's Erling Braut Haaland reacts Pool via REUTERS/Ina Fassbender DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-video.

10 of the youngest players to score 100 goals - in pictures

Haaland reaches milestone quicker than Ronaldo, Messi and Neymar

March 8, 2021

The image of Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi voting for FC Barcelona presidential election is displayed at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on March 07, 2021. / AFP / LLUIS GENE

Lionel Messi votes as Barcelona members go to the polls to elect new president

Barca captain shown arriving at Camp Nou to cast his choice

March 7, 2021

Soccer Football - Serie A - Juventus v Lazio - Allianz Stadium, Turin, Italy - March 6, 2021 Juventus' Cristiano Ronaldo during the warm up before the match REUTERS/Massimo Pinca

Cristiano Ronaldo was rested ahead of Porto game, says Juve coach Andrea Pirlo

Ronaldo benched for 3-1 win over Lazio ahead of Champions League last-16 return leg with Porto

March 7, 2021

Quetta Gladiators' Usman Khan plays a shot during the Pakistan Super League (PSL) T20 cricket match between Quetta Gladiators and Multan Sultans at the National Stadium in Karachi on March 3, 2021. / AFP / Asif HASSAN

PSL 2021 postponed due to rising Covid-19 cases

Pakistan Cricket Board chief executive Wasim Khan says players and officials 'under no obligation' to have the vaccine

March 4, 2021

Soccer Football - Serie A - Juventus v Spezia - Allianz Stadium, Turin, Italy - March 2, 2021 Juventus' Cristiano Ronaldo reacts REUTERS/Massimo Pinca

Cristiano Ronaldo scores 20th Serie A goal of the season to net another record. Here are 52 others he holds - in pictures

Ronaldo scores in win over Spezia to become first player to score at least 20 goals in each of the last 12 seasons in Europe's top five leagues

March 3, 2021

Soccer Football - Serie A - Juventus v Spezia - Allianz Stadium, Turin, Italy - March 2, 2021 Juventus' Cristiano Ronaldo in action REUTERS/Massimo Pinca

Cristiano Ronaldo marks 600th league game with landmark goal as Juve beat Spezia

Ronaldo, 36, becomes the first player to score at least 20 goals in each of the past 12 seasons in Europe's top five leagues

March 3, 2021

Tennis - Australian Open - Men's Singles Final - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, February 21, 2021 Serbia's Novak Djokovic celebrates with the trophy after winning his final match against Russia's Daniil Medvedev REUTERS/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake

Novak Djokovic ties Roger Federer record of 310 weeks as world No 1

Serb will surpass Federer's record next week after winning last month's Australian Open

March 1, 2021

epa09040302 Sergio Aguero of Manchester City looks on during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and West Ham United in Manchester, Britain, 27 February 2021. EPA/Martin Rickett / POOL EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications.

Sergio Aguero needs time to return to best form, says Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola

Manager says team's 20-match winning run may be greatest accomplishment

March 1, 2021

Tottenham Hotspur's Welsh striker Gareth Bale (C) celebrates scoring his team's fourth goal, his second, with Tottenham Hotspur's Spanish defender Sergio Reguilon (L) and Tottenham Hotspur's Danish midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Burnley at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on February 28, 2021. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / AFP / POOL / MATTHEW CHILDS / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications.

Tottenham v Burnley player ratings: Gareth Bale sensational, Son Heung-min shines; woe for Jay Rodriguez

Bale double helps set Spurs on their way to crushing 4-0 win

February 28, 2021

David Beckham is preparing for his second season as co-owner of Inter Miami. AFP

David Beckham refuses to rule out signing Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo for Inter Miami

Co-owner says producing home-grown players must be cornerstone of the team though

February 28, 2021

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said non-fossil fuel sources were contributing more to India's electricity grid. AFP

World's biggest cricket stadium in India renamed Narendra Modi Stadium - in pictures

Capacity of Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad, which is hosting the Day-Night Test between India and England, increased to 132,000

February 24, 2021

epa09030375 Danny Welbeck (R) of Brighton in action against Gary Cahill of Crystal Palace during the English Premier League soccer match between Brighton Hove Albion and Crystal Palace in Brighton, Britain, 22 February 2021. EPA/Frank Augstein / POOL EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications.

Roy Hodgson defends Crystal Palace smash-and-grab at Brighton, says the only stats that matter are goals

Palace had only three attempts on goal to Brighton's 25, with substitute Christian Benteke's 95th-minute volley securing all three points

February 23, 2021

Tottenham Hotspur's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho gestures on the touchline during the English Premier League football match between West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur at The London Stadium, in east London on February 21, 2021. RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / AFP / POOL / Kirsty Wigglesworth / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications.

Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho: 'My methods still second to none'

Defeat to West Ham was Spurs' fifth in last six Premier League games

February 22, 2021

epa09026231 Bayern's Robert Lewandowski reacts during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Eintracht Frankfurt and Bayern Muenchen in Frankfurt, Germany, 20 February 2021. EPA/RONALD WITTEK / POOL CONDITIONS - ATTENTION: The DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-video.

Champions League predictions: Lewandowski, Suarez and Immobile all up, Manchester City to keep winning

A look ahead to the last-16 ties taking place on February 23-24

February 22, 2021

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