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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

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

Cristiano Ronaldo fired in two goals to secure Al Nassr the Saudi Pro League title on the final day of the season thanks to a 4-1 victory against Damac, with Sadio Mane and Kingsley Coman also netting for Jorge Jesus's side. With the victory, Al Nassr ended on 86 points, two ahead of local rivals Al Hilal, who beat Al Fayha 1-0 but were forced to settle for second place. The victory sees Al Nassr win their first league title since 2019, the

Tennis champs to protest "low pay" with media duties limit ahead of French Open, a source said on Wednesday. Players, who remain unnamed, will only talk to the press for 15 minutes on media day at Roland Garros before pulling out of interviews with Grand Slam tournament's TV rights holders (according to a source) During a row over prize money, Jannik Sinner earlier this month demanded that the Slam events show "respect" to players. Players have strongly stated that they are presently only

Mitchell Starc took 4-40 as Delhi Capitals waged defeat against Rajasthan Royals to keep their play-off hopes alive in the IPL on Sunday. Starc claimed three scalps in a four-ball burst, including the scalp of skipper Riyan Parag (51), to restrict Rajasthan to 193-8 at Delhi's home Arun Jaitley Stadium. Rajasthan has added 47 runs in their second innings till the end of day two. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (15) coming with a score of 46 off 21 balls, and wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel (53), who

Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru secured a much-needed 23-run victory against Punjab Kings on Sunday to reach the playoffs and veteran pace bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar was delighted. Superstar Virat Kohli and middle-order batter Venkatesh Iyer scored sparkling half-centuries as Kumar produced a devastating new-ball spell to send defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru into the IPL playoffs here on Sunday. Fresh from his ninth hundred in the IPL, Kohli scored a wonderful 58 off 37 balls (4 fours, 3 sixes), Iyer followed with a

Rory McIlroy, anxious to indulge in the benefits of life as an elite golfer, changed his competition schedule before this week's PGA Championship at Newtown Square, Pennsylvania on Tuesday He attended a Black Tie dinner with U.S. President Donald Trump and Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla The decision was made after he had filed mandatory entry papers for the event which is part of golf's tourney circuit The six-times major winner had been scheduled to play at the PGA Tour's Signature Event

Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mominul Haque dug in to take Bangladesh to 101-2 at lunch on the first day of the first cricket test against Pakistan on Friday. After Pakistan put the home side to bat, Shanto and Mominul added 70 runs for the unbroken third wicket, putting Bangladesh on track toward a daunting score. Shanto was 39 not out off 50 balls and Mominul was on 31, at lunch. The tall, lanky fast bowler also appeared to be a thorn in

Mitchell Marsh struck 111 as Lucknow Super Giants edged out defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru by nine runs in a rain-marred IPL clash on Thursday. Marsh plundered nine fours and nine sixes in his 56-ball onslaught to help Lucknow reach an impressive total of 209-3 in a rain-shortened clash that saw each team bat for 19 overs at Ekana Stadium at Lucknow. Chasing a revised target of 213, Bengaluru lost Virat Kohli for two as he was out to Prince Yadav on the

On Wednesday, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the IPL 2026 Playoffs schedule and stated that final has been moved out from Bengaluru. After 70 high-octane league-stage games, characterised by phenomenal individual displays and needle-in-the-haystack moments, the IPL statement cited here indicates that the tournament enters its utmost phase. Qualifier 1 (the teams finished 1-2 in the standings) is scheduled for May 26 at the HPCA Stadium, Dharamshala for a direct place into the Final. The Eliminator, meanwhile, will

Lamine Yamal will miss the rest of the season with a hamstring injury in his left leg but is expected to be available for this year's World Cup, Spanish side Barcelona said Thursday. Yamal hobbled off the pitch during Wednesday's 1-0 league victory over Celta Vigo — when the 18-year-old netted his side a penalty winner. Barcelona posted on X: "Tests carried out have confirmed that first-team player Lamine Yamal has a hamstring injury in his left leg (biceps femoris muscle)." The player

It's not the news Nottinghamshire were hoping for. Peter Siddle, the 41-year-old Australian quick who still finds ways to make batters uncomfortable, has pulled out of his planned overseas stint with the club for the 2026 Vitality Blast. For a team that had clearly earmarked him as a key piece of their bowling puzzle, it's a frustrating development — and one that arrives at an awkward time. What Nottinghamshire Were Getting When you sign Peter Siddle, you're not just signing a fast bowler.

Chennai Super Kings have taken a hit in the ongoing IPL 2026 season, with young batter Ayush Mhatre ruled out due to injury. Injury Cuts Season Short The 18-year-old picked up a left hamstring injury during CSK’s match against Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 18. After medical evaluation, it was confirmed that recovery would take around 6 to 12 weeks, ruling him out for the rest of the tournament. Why This Matters for CSK Mhatre wasn’t just another player in the squad—he was actually

In a thrilling third round of the 2026 RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, Matt Fitzpatrick kept his lead and went into the final day with a three-shot lead. Scottie Scheffler, the world's best golfer, made a spectacular charge up the leaderboard, setting the stage for an exciting end to the tournament. Fitzpatrick, who started the day with a small lead, was able to keep the competition at bay, even though he faced some problems early

Punjab Kings won by a huge 54 runs over Lucknow Super Giants, which helped them stay at the top of the IPL standings. Destructive Opening Partnership Sets Punjab on Course Priyansh Arya hit 93 runs off 37 balls, and Cooper Connolly added 87 runs off 37 balls. They put on a blazing second-wicket partnership of 182 runs, which helped Punjab get to a season-high total of 254–7 at New Chandigarh.  Lucknow's Chase Falls Apart When Things Get Tough Even though Mitchell Marsh (40)

The world number six became the first American to take home a clay title higher than ATP 250 level in more than two decades, igniting excitement for the French Open. For tennis fans, it was one of those moments that seemed totally lost on the whole world but for years they will quietly look back and say — anyway. Sunday in Munich felt like that moment, even if it wasn’t yet time to say it out loud. Ben Shelton, an impressive 23 years

Fueled by the cheering of Filipino fans, Alexandra Eala made a sensational start at the Linz Open in Austria on Tuesday, defeating its home bet Julia Grabher, 6-4, 6-3. Jabir’s straight sets win in her opening match here on clay this season puts her through to the last 16, where she is ranked world number 46. The Filipina sensation will next face the former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko, whom she defeated a year ago when she gained notoriety with her run to

Manny Pacquiao’s slated September fight with Floyd Mayweather won’t be an exhibition, the Philippine boxing star said on Thursday, days after his fellow hall of famer claimed their match would be purely entertainment. Netflix announced the long-rumored rematch of boxing’s highest-grossing bout last month, with Pacquiao and Mayweather — whose current ages are in their late forties — to meet at the Sphere in Las Vegas on Sept. 19. But Mayweather stunned the boxing world this week by proposing that the rivals, whose