Read 3 minutes18 Jul 2026 11:19 AM IST The 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina could be Lionel Messi’s last game in the blue and white stripes of the national team. Messi, 39, fulfilled his World Cup dream by lifting the trophy at Qatar 2022 and set his sights on the next chapter in history in a record-tying third World Cup final. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni answered questions about Messi’s future with the national team after Sunday’s final, insisting that only the best man can answer for his talismanic captain. Also read | Scaloni criticized FIFA for

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Read 3 minutesUpdated: 18 July 2026 12:30 PM IST Lionel Messi has literally won everything there is to win in international and club football as he reaches his third World Cup final with Argentina in New Jersey on Sunday. The 39-year-old looks in high spirits ahead of the summit clash in Spain, carrying the burden of winning a multi-continental title with the Albiceleste four years ago. When he starts the final at MetLife Stadium, Messi will touch another World Cup record, becoming only the second man after Brazil’s Cafu to appear in three tournament finals. Also read | Never mess

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Taking a mouthful of water from the table, Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni cleared his throat and told the media manager sitting next to him: “You need to translate this, it’s important now, into English. Very clean English.” The media manager looked at him amused, though he could sense the premeditation. “I have no superstitions,” he explained, fighting back a laugh and trying to keep a stern face but failing miserably. The reporter’s question was about Scaloni’s habit of wearing the same shoe (or rather sneaker) for every game. The manager, after taking another sip of water, explained how he left

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Read 3 minutes18 July 2026 10:59 AM IST Two days out from a second consecutive World Cup final in New Jersey, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni expressed his displeasure with FIFA over the “forced” training session when he arrived in the city after a 2-1 semi-final win over England in Atlanta. Speaking at an event on Friday ahead of the summit clash against Spain at MetLife Stadium, Scaloni criticized the training session he ran earlier in the day, which came before mandatory media commitments. “We are resting now because We arrived around 11:00pm last night. Today they forced us to train

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Read 3 minutesUpdated: 18 July 2026 09:24 AM IST The cinematic sub-plot in Sunday’s FIFA World Cup final featuring Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal is too good to be true, even for the Argentine superstar. In 2024, for the first time since a photo of them together nearly two decades ago went viral, Messi spoke about meeting a young Yamal in late 2007 when he showered for a promotional charity photo shoot. In that fleeting moment, neither knew that the world would one day look back on this image and see the beginning of something extraordinary. Lionel Messi, 20, with

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Read 6 minutes18 Jul 2026 07:46 AM IST First Published: 18 Jul 2026 at 07:46 am IST A cold stare, pursed lips and a gentle nod of the head. That’s what Messi did to England star Jude Bellingham for a foul in stoppage time in the dying moments of the first half. Those who knew, knew – these were the early signs that the storm was about to hit the football field. This time it was in Atlanta, and it would take until almost the end of the night for that storm to break through. England were not defeated by

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France were knocked through the ringer by Paraguay in their round of 16, but came out smiling. Despite cynical, ferocious defending with several episodes of Paraguay scullery, this marked the first World Cup match in which no Paraguay player received a yellow card since 1998. After the final whistle, the assistant coach was only shown a yellow card. The official record had 11 fouls committed by Paraguay, compared to 13 for France – but this required the referee to blow the whistle to register a foul. Wounded but helpless in their campaign. But they did take some tremendous hits, and

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Read 3 minutes5 Jul 2026 05:42 PM IST First Published: On 5 Jul 2026 at 05:42 PM IST Along with European champions Spain, co-hosts Mexico are the only teams yet to concede a goal at the World Cup, which illustrates the enormity of the task ahead of Harry Kane and his England side in their Round of 16 tie at the Azteca Stadium. In modern football, teams usually attack and defend as a unit. But there are still some individuals who are key to the effectiveness of the effort. In the case of the Mexican defence, they are Cesar Montes

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Read for 5 minutes5 Jul 2026 08:13 PM IST First Published: On 5 Jul 2026 at 08:13 PM IST Most teams go into the match against Spain with forewarning and a crucial question – how to include Lamine Yamal? Portugal arrives with answers. England brought Wayne Rooney back from injury at the 2006 World Cup. They felt that their golden generation needed the inspiration of a red-faced Evertonian destined for greatness to fuel their campaign. That World Cup ended with Cristiano Ronaldo blinking one eye, Rooney’s fire consuming itself and England’s generation of Premier League talent being shown their place

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Read 3 minutes5 Jul 2026 08:47 PM IST First Published: On 5 July 2026 at 08:46 PM IST Paraguay may have yellowed him for a fake foul, but Michael Olis tops the list with the most assists at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with 5. Supporting actors rarely get the limelight and in the World Cup Messi, Ronaldo, Haaland, Mbappe and KaneMay be completely forgotten, but his talent for lighting fires with spark-plugs, switch-starters, flintstones and match sticks has left an impression on fans. Ollis is chasing Pele’s all-time record of 6 since 1970. It started with Olis’ braided ponytail

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