Football

Florian Thauvin’s first-half goal was enough for Lens to defeat Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 and lift the Trophée des Champions for the first time in club history. Thauvin Gives Lens the Lead PSG started brightly and looked to control the match, but Lens struck first in the 32nd minute. Abdallah Sima linked up with Matthieu Udol, whose delivery found Florian Thauvin at the far post. The forward finished past Matvey Safonov to put Lens 1-0 ahead. Lens Reduced to 10 Men The game changed

The Royal Dutch Football Association confirmed the appointment on Wednesday, ending its search for a successor to Ronald Koeman. Xavi, 46, returns to management for the first time since leaving Barcelona in 2024. The Spaniard described the role as a tremendous honour and said his football education at Barcelona, shaped by the ideas of Johan Cruyff and Rinus Michels, had given him a special connection to Dutch football. Xavi said the Netherlands’ tradition of attacking, possession-based football strongly appealed to him. While winning

Lionel Messi made an emotional return to Inter Miami on Wednesday, only days after the death of his father, but it was not enough to keep the club in the Leagues Cup: a 3-2 defeat to Club León at Nu Stadium sent the Herons out of the tournament. Named among the substitutes, the Argentine captain was introduced at halftime with Miami leading 1-0, replacing Dániel Pintér — the scorer of the home side’s opener — and drawing a thunderous standing ovation from the

MIAMI — Lionel Messi has been given time away from Inter Miami following the death of his father and longtime representative, Jorge Messi, with the MLS club confirming there is currently no timetable for the Argentine captain’s return. Jorge Messi died in Argentina at the age of 68 after a prolonged illness. Messi subsequently returned to Rosario to be with his family, while Inter Miami players, coaches and staff publicly expressed their support for their captain. No Timetable for Messi’s Return Inter Miami

Argentine football star Lionel Messi has returned to his home country following the death of his father and longtime agent, Jorge Messi, who passed away aged 68. Messi, 39, travelled to Argentina for his father’s funeral after Jorge’s death was reported in Rosario. Messi’s childhood club, Newell’s Old Boys, confirmed the news and paid tribute to Jorge’s important role in the footballer’s career. Newell’s Old Boys Pay Tribute to Jorge Messi Newell’s Old Boys described Jorge as a key figure behind Lionel Messi’s

Leverkusen: Bayer Leverkusen are reportedly considering a summer move for Konstantinos Mavropanos as the Bundesliga club explores options to strengthen its defence ahead of the new season. The Greek international centre-back has emerged as a potential target for Leverkusen, with his previous experience in German football making him an intriguing option for the club. Mavropanos is currently with West Ham United, but speculation surrounding his future could intensify as clubs begin shaping their squads for the upcoming campaign. Leverkusen Consider Defensive Reinforcements Leverkusen

Lionel Messi made a successful return from injury as Inter Miami battled to a 2-2 draw against Columbus Crew in a thrilling Major League Soccer (MLS) encounter, marking the Argentine superstar's first appearance after missing several matches. The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner returned to the starting lineup after recovering from a muscle injury, receiving a warm welcome from fans as he helped Inter Miami earn a valuable point in a hard-fought contest. Messi Back in Action Messi had been sidelined in recent weeks,

Returning To Club Duties After The International Break Joao Cancelo will politely link back up with Al-Hilal this week. The Saudi Pro League club continues its intense pre-season preparations in Austria. The talented defender enjoyed a short rest following the 2026 World Cup. He expects to rejoin the squad and begin training this Wednesday. Al-Hilal focuses on building peak squad fitness ahead of the upcoming domestic campaign. Cancelo spent a highly successful loan stint at Barcelona last season. He played 23 fantastic matches

The Iranian national football team arrived in Los Angeles today. They will play their opening World Cup match against New Zealand. The sporting event takes place amid ongoing regional conflicts. The United States and Iran recently engaged in military hostilities. Squad Relocates Training Camp The Iranian squad faced significant logistical challenges before the tournament. They originally established their base camp in Arizona. The team temporarily relocated to Tijuana, Mexico, due to safety concerns. They stayed in Mexico until organizers guaranteed their security. The

Match officials wore bright pink shirts in Miami today. They officiated the Group H match between Uruguay and Saudi Arabia. FIFA stated the color choice pays tribute to the city of Miami. Fans Note Inter Miami Similarity Many fans noticed the shirts match the local Inter Miami uniforms. Lionel Messi currently plays for this specific American club. Adidas manufactures both the Inter Miami kits and the referee uniforms. Some critics argue the color choice inadvertently advertises the local club. Uruguayan Fans Express Frustration

Saudi Arabia delivered a strong performance against Uruguay today. The Green Falcons currently lead the opening World Cup match in Miami. Abdulelah Al-Amri scored the first goal just before halftime. Uruguayan goalkeeper Fernando Muslera dropped a routine corner kick. Al-Amri capitalized on the mistake and sent the ball into the net. Al-Owais Anchors Saudi Defense Saudi goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais successfully defended his net against multiple attacks. He punched away a powerful free kick from Federico Valverde. Al-Owais also deflected a strong shot from

The Egyptian national team played Belgium to a thrilling draw today. Emam Ashour scored an early goal for the African side. He sent a powerful strike past the Belgian goalkeeper. The Egyptian squad played with intense physical energy and tactical discipline. They successfully challenged the highly ranked European team for ninety minutes. Strong Attacking Statistics Belgium controlled ball possession slightly more throughout the match. However, the Egyptian attackers recorded four accurate shots on target. Belgium only managed three clear shots against the Egyptian

Frustrating the European Champions Spain faced absolute humiliation tonight in Atlanta. The European powerhouse completely failed to break down Cabo Verde. This highly anticipated Group H opener ended in a scoreless draw. Fans expected a massive, high-scoring Spanish victory. Instead, the tournament debutants delivered a brilliant defensive masterclass. Spain controlled the ball for 72 percent of the match. Ferran Torres attacked the wide flanks relentlessly. However, the compact African defense absorbed the pressure easily. They blocked every single passing lane into the penalty

Five years after he suffered a cardiac arrest at the European Championship, Christian Eriksen translated into distressing memories on Saturday night when he collapsed in Denmark's friendly against Ukraine but was eventually able to leave the field on foot. The 34-year-old former Manchester United midfielder, who has the type of pacemaker, endured the collapse in Odense during the 64th minute on Sunday. Medics flooded the pitch while players surrounded him from both teams to protect the area from TV or phone cameras. With

Brazil midfielder Casemiro believes that not being considered one of the leading favourites for the upcoming FIFA World Cup could work to the team's advantage. The five-time world champions are aiming to secure a record-extending sixth World Cup title at the tournament, which will take place in North America from June 11 to July 19. However, bookmakers currently rank Spain, France, and England ahead of Brazil among the favourites to lift the trophy. "We're a Step Behind, But That's Good" Speaking to FIFA's

Lionel Messi is big enough that he trained solo as the defending World Cup champion Argentina held its first practice in the U.S. The Inter Miami captain has been struggling with fatigue in his left hamstring since May 24 but should be fit for Argentina's World Cup opener against Algeria in Kansas City on June 16. Messi, 38, went to Argentina's training base in Kansas City on Monday and did "targeted work" with a number of team mates also nursing fitness issues. Argentina's

Dalic confirmed an unchanged 26-man squad that sees Croatia captain Luka Modric set to lead his country in what is expected to be the Ballon d'Or winner's final World Cup appearance. Dalic retained the provisional list announced on May 18 and cut seven players from a standby list as Croatia set their sights on building upon recent tournament achievements. The 40-year-old will have one final opportunity to take Croatia to World Cup success after guiding his country through to the runners-up spot in

Qatar suffered a hard-fought 1-0 defeat against the Republic of Ireland in an international friendly at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium. Early Goal Decides Match Ireland took the lead in just the fifth minute when defender Nathan Collins headed home a dangerous free-kick delivered by Jack Moylan. The goal proved enough to secure victory for the hosts in front of 28,981 fans. Match Highlights Despite several attacking efforts from Qatar, including chances created by captain Akram Afif, Ireland defended strongly throughout the match. The game

Brazil’s preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup suffered a major concern on Wednesday after Neymar missed the national team’s first training session due to a calf injury scare. The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) confirmed that the 34-year-old forward underwent medical imaging tests at a private clinic in Teresopolis after experiencing discomfort in his right calf. Neymar Under Medical Assessment In an official statement, the CBF said: Neymar’s absence quickly became the biggest talking point at Brazil’s World Cup camp as fans and

Following Inter Miami CF's wild 6-4 win over the Philadelphia Union on Sunday, Lionel Messi raised an injury flag before this month's FIFA World Cup. The Argentine sensation was replaced in the 73rd minute after he appeared to hold the back of his thigh following one of his signature free kicks. Coach Says Messi Was Suffering From Fatigue Inter Miami manager Guillermo Hoyos had no immediate medical report to provide but indicated the switch was largely precautionary. According to Hoyos: Messi was clearly