Sports
Messi’s final symphony as he chases 1 last World Cup dream at 39
At 38, Lionel Messi still refuses to let time dictate his destiny.
Nearly two decades since his debut, Argentina’s enduring icon remains both the architect and heartbeat of his nation’s football dreams – now with one last summit in sight: the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
In an interview with NBC News’ Tom Llamas, Messi revealed he is seriously considering extending his international career into a sixth World Cup – a feat no outfield player has ever achieved, unless his longtime rival Cristiano Ronaldo joins him
“I would like to be there, to be well and be an important part of helping my team,” Messi said, his tone equal parts ambition and humility. “I’ll assess that day by day when I start preseason with Inter Miami next year. I want to be 100%, to be useful. I’m eager because it’s the World Cup. Defending it is spectacular – it’s every player’s dream.”
New chapter in Miami
If his heart still beats for Argentina, his body is being fine-tuned in Miami.
Messi’s influence on Major League Soccer has been seismic.
When he joined Inter Miami in July 2023, the club was languishing near the bottom of the Eastern Conference.
Two years later, it has become a continental attraction, its matches sold out weeks in advance and its pink No. 10 jersey the best-selling in MLS history.
His latest two-year contract extension, announced on last week, keeps him in Miami through 2028.
At 41, he would be the oldest player ever to sign such a deal in MLS.
But the contract isn’t just about playing – it’s a transition plan.
Insiders say the agreement includes equity stakes and a post-retirement ambassadorial role, allowing Messi to continue shaping both Inter Miami and the broader football landscape in the United States.
Since arriving, the “Messi Effect” has doubled Inter Miami’s valuation from $600 million in 2023 to roughly $1.2 billion by late 2025.
Attendance figures across MLS have risen by 35%, and streaming subscriptions spiked when Apple secured exclusive rights to air Messi’s matches.
On the pitch, his numbers remain extraordinary.
The Argentine captain won the 2025 MLS Golden Boot with 29 goals in 28 games, along with 20 assists – 49 direct goal contributions in a single season.
His precision remains unmatched: one goal every 97 minutes, a free-kick conversion rate of 35%, and a 91% pass completion in the attacking third.
Last week, his brace against Nashville SC in the playoffs propelled Miami into the Eastern Conference semifinals.
He’s also a top contender for the Landon Donovan MVP Award, leading the league in combined goals and assists.
Beyond statistics, Messi has turned Inter Miami into a movement.
Children wear his name across playgrounds from Los Angeles to Buenos Aires, and MLS viewership has risen 30% since his arrival – a surge that coincides perfectly with the continent preparing to host the 2026 World Cup.
Country and redemption
But Messi’s truest devotion remains with Argentina – the colors that made him immortal.
His two-decade journey with La Albiceleste has been nothing short of cinematic: a tale of heartbreaks turned to halos.
The prodigy from Rosario first wore Argentina’s senior shirt in 2005, and his early years were shadowed by near misses – the 2007 Copa America final loss to Brazil, the 2014 World Cup defeat to Germany, and the consecutive Copa America heartbreaks in 2015 and 2016 that nearly drove him to international retirement.
Then came rebirth.
The 2021 Copa America victory on Brazilian soil, where Messi recorded six goals and five assists, broke the drought.
One year later, at Qatar 2022, the crown finally rested on his head.
Argentina’s triumph over France in that unforgettable 3-3 final, sealed on penalties, was his masterpiece.
He scored twice, converted his penalty in the shootout, and lifted the World Cup amid tears and confetti. “It was the dream of my life,” he told NBC. “It was the only thing missing.”
That triumph marked the start of a new golden chapter.
In 2024, Argentina retained the Copa America title in the United States, with Messi leading by example.
His assist to Lautaro Martinez in the 1-0 final win over Colombia was a study in vision and patience.
This year, he has guided Argentina to the top of the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying table, scoring eight goals and providing five assists, including a curling free kick against Brazil that drew global acclaim.
Messi’s international resume is staggering.
He has 195 caps for Argentina and 114 goals, making him South America’s all-time leading scorer.
He holds the world record for most assists in international football with 60, and has produced 10 hat tricks and 14 braces in national colors.
His consistency over two decades, through different generations and tactical systems, remains unparalleled.
He also tied Ivan Hurtado’s record for most CONMEBOL qualifying appearances with 72 and shows no signs of slowing down. “As long as I feel I can contribute, I’ll keep playing,” he told NBC.
Off the field, he’s also become a symbol of consistency and grace.
His 778 matches and 672 goals for Barcelona yielded 10 La Liga titles, four Champions League crowns, and seven Copa del Rey trophies.
Add to that eight Ballon d’Ors, six European Golden Shoes, and FIFA’s 2025 “All-Time Men’s World Best Player” honor from the IFFHS, and Messi’s legacy feels beyond reach.
“It’s something extraordinary to be in a World Cup,” he said. “And I would love to.”
Ivory Coast coach Emerse Fae has launched a strong rebuke against former Germany international Bastian Schweinsteiger, after comments made during World Cup punditry sparked accusations of stereotyping African football and reignited debate over bias in sports broadcasting.
The controversy emerged ahead of Germany’s Group E match against Ivory Coast in Toronto, when Bastian Schweinsteiger, working as a television analyst for German broadcaster ARD, described the Ivorian team as playing a style he labeled “a bit African football, a bit unorthodox, a bit wild, a bit perhaps not so conditioned by tactics,” adding that Germany should prepare for an unpredictable and chaotic opponent.
The phrasing immediately drew scrutiny for its generalization of an entire continent’s football identity. Critics said it reduced African teams to long-standing cliches about physicality and unpredictability, while downplaying tactical sophistication and structured play that many national teams, including Ivory Coast, now consistently demonstrate at elite level.
On the pitch, the match itself undercut any notion of imbalance. Germany edged a 2-1 win in Toronto, with substitute Deniz Undav scoring twice late on, including a stoppage-time winner after Ivory Coast captain Franck Kessie had put his side ahead. Ivory Coast still progressed from the group and later secured a historic milestone by reaching the knockout stage for the first time in their World Cup history following a 2-0 victory over Curaçao.
Fae addressed the remarks after that qualifying win in Philadelphia, expressing both personal disappointment and professional disagreement. He said he had long admired Schweinsteiger’s playing career, noting how deeply he respected the former Bayern Munich midfielder, making the comments even harder to accept.
“When I heard his comment, I was disappointed in the man,” Fae said. “It is odd he would speak that way.” He added that while he could not control outside opinions, Ivory Coast’s performances demonstrated a balanced identity built on tactical discipline, technical execution, and physical strength.
Fae went further in questioning the intent behind the remarks, suggesting they may have been “clumsy” or influenced by the pressures of punditry. He also pointed to what he described as a modern tendency among some analysts to lean on simplified narratives that generate attention but do not reflect the complexity of teams on the pitch.
The backlash extended beyond Ivory Coast’s camp. Journalist Philipp Awounou wrote in Der Spiegel that language such as “wild” and “unpredictable” carries historical weight rooted in colonial-era stereotypes that portrayed African societies as undisciplined or less developed. He emphasized that even when not intended as racist, such framing can reinforce harmful assumptions.
Anti-discrimination organization Kick It Out also criticized the remarks, highlighting ongoing concerns in football over how Black and African players and teams are described in media analysis.
Commentators and journalists in Germany similarly debated whether unconscious bias still shapes the vocabulary used to describe teams outside Europe.
Former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp also reacted indirectly, declining to engage when questioned during a media appearance, calling the issue too serious for off-the-cuff comment.
Schweinsteiger later posted on social media acknowledging Ivory Coast’s technical quality and physical strength, but he did not directly address the wording that triggered criticism. As of the latest reports, neither he nor ARD had issued a formal apology or detailed clarification.
The incident has become part of a broader conversation in global football about how language shapes perception.
Ivory Coast’s squad, featuring players with top-level European experience such as Kessie and others, has been widely cited as an example of how African teams now operate with tactical structure comparable to the world’s elite.
A pre-match moment involving England defender Djed Spence and Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey has sparked widespread discussion after footage circulating on social media appeared to show Spence declining to take part in the traditional handshake before their World Cup Group L clash in Boston on Tuesday.
The video shows both squads lining up in the customary pre-kickoff greeting, with players moving down the line exchanging brief handshakes.
As Partey approached, Spence appeared to keep his hand in his pocket and did not visibly engage, instead moving past him. The moment was brief, partially obscured in broadcast coverage, but alternative angles shared online quickly amplified the incident and triggered debate among fans and pundits.
Neither Spence nor the Football Association addressed the moment publicly after the match, and there has been no official explanation from the England camp regarding the apparent snub. The lack of comment has only intensified scrutiny, particularly given the wider context surrounding Partey’s presence at the tournament.
The Ghana midfielder, 33, was met with a hostile reception throughout the match at Gillette Stadium. He was booed during the announcement of the starting lineups and again whenever he touched the ball in the opening stages of the Group L encounter. It marked his first appearance of the tournament after missing Ghana’s opener against Panama.
Partey’s participation has been closely watched due to ongoing legal proceedings in the United Kingdom. He has pleaded not guilty to multiple counts of rape and sexual assault relating to allegations involving four women between 2020 and 2022. He is scheduled to stand trial next year and remains on bail, with the case continuing to draw significant public attention whenever he appears in a high-profile setting.
The midfielder’s travel and eligibility have also been a talking point during the tournament. Earlier in the competition, he was denied entry into Canada ahead of Ghana’s match against Panama before later being allowed into the United States after border officials confirmed his visa status and noted he had no criminal conviction.
Before the match against England, Partey said he felt “ready to play” despite the scrutiny surrounding him. Ghana coach Carlos Queiroz has repeatedly defended his selection, arguing that players should be judged on the pitch while the legal process runs its course, and emphasizing the presumption of innocence.
The match itself ended in a 0-0 draw, a disciplined and physical contest that left both sides level in Group L heading into a decisive final round of fixtures.
Ecuador pulled off a major upset against Germany on Thursday to secure a place in the round of 32 of the World Cup, as the Netherlands, Japan and Ivory Coast also advanced and the knockout bracket began to take shape.
The Netherlands completed their group stage with a 3-1 win over Tunisia to finish top of Group F, just ahead of Japan, which earned second place after a 1-1 draw with Sweden.
Sweden also moved on as one of the best third-place finishers.
The Dutch will now meet 2022 World Cup semifinalists Morocco in the round of 32, while Japan will take on Group C winner Brazil for a place in the round of 16.
In Group E, Ecuador sealed a tense 2-1 win over group winner Germany at MetLife Stadium. The breakthrough came 13 minutes from time when Gonzalo Plata poked home from close range, sending Ecuador through and shaking up the group standings.
Plata’s winner came after Ecuador recovered from an early setback when Germany took the lead through a controversial Leroy Sane goal in the second minute before Nilson Angulo equalized.
The result means Ecuador finished Group E with four points, securing a place in the round of 32 as one of the eight best third-place teams.
“The significance of this is not for me, it is for the people,” Ecuador coach Sebastian Beccacece said after the win.
“The players gave huge happiness to the people. We have to enjoy it and celebrate,” the Argentine coach added.
Germany had already been assured of winning the group after victories over Ivory Coast and Curacao.
But coach Julian Nagelsmann was left dismayed at what he described as “tactical suicide” against Ecuador.
“We got off to a great start,” Nagelsmann said. “Unfortunately, right after scoring, we started committing tactical suicide with our positioning. That makes things difficult.
“Ecuador had everything to play for, and you could tell. They had their foot on the gas.”
Ivory Coast, meanwhile, sealed the runners-up spot in Group E after defeating Curacao in Philadelphia, with Nicolas Pepe scoring twice in a 2-0 victory. It is the first time the West African nation has reached the knockout stage.
Curacao, the smallest country by population ever to play in the World Cup, departed the tournament with one point, finishing bottom of the group.
A packed slate of six games across the tournament on Thursday wrapped up in California in Group D.
The United States, which had already secured first place in the group after wins over Paraguay and Australia, fielded a heavily rotated lineup in a 3-2 loss to already eliminated Turkey at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
Mauricio Pochettino made nine changes to his starting lineup and looked to have secured a draw until Kaan Ayhan scored in stoppage time to give the Turks the win in a match attended by a host of celebrities, including Brad Pitt.
In Santa Clara, Australia ground out a 0-0 draw with Paraguay to clinch second place in the group and a ticket to the round of 32.
Paraguay are also poised to advance as one of the best third-place teams.
Dutch attack firing
The Netherlands will head into next week’s duel with Morocco in Monterrey brimming with confidence after another strong attacking display in Group F, a 3-1 win over Tunisia in Kansas City.
An Ellyes Skhiri own goal was followed by goals from Brian Brobbey and Jan Paul van Hecke as Ronald Koeman’s side marched on against a Tunisia team that finished without a point.
Japan’s hopes of finishing top of the group and avoiding Brazil in the next round were frustrated in a 1-1 draw with Sweden.
A match in front of 70,000 fans in Texas came alive in the second half when Daizen Maeda gave Japan the lead with a well-worked team goal shortly after the break.
Sweden, which had been beaten 5-1 by the Netherlands in its second match, responded with a long-range effort from Anthony Elanga minutes later to secure third place.
“The boys were fantastic,” Sweden coach Graham Potter said. “Over the course of the game it was a fair result and arguably we were slightly the better team in the second half.”
Türkiye ended their FIFA World Cup campaign with a measure of redemption on Friday, as Kaan Ayhan struck with virtually the final kick of the match to seal a thrilling 3-2 victory over co-hosts the United States, handing Vincenzo Montella’s side their first and only win of the tournament.
Already eliminated after narrow defeats to Australia and Paraguay despite dominating long stretches of both matches, Türkiye finally found the cutting edge that had eluded them throughout the group stage. Ayhan’s dramatic winner, deep into the eighth minute of second-half stoppage time, ensured the Crescent-Stars left the tournament with three points and something positive to build on.
The result had no bearing on qualification. The United States had already secured top spot in Group D with victories over Paraguay and Australia and will face Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32 on July 1 in Santa Clara, California. Still, the entertaining contest delivered five goals, end-to-end action and a dramatic finale before a packed crowd in Southern California.
The Americans, heavily rotated by coach Mauricio Pochettino, struck almost immediately.
Auston Trusty needed just three minutes to open the scoring, meeting Sebastian Berhalter’s inswinging corner with a first-time finish at the near post for his first international goal in his 10th appearance.
The early breakthrough briefly energized the home crowd, but the makeshift U.S. lineup struggled to establish any rhythm as Türkiye began exploiting the spaces between midfield and defense.
Their persistence paid off in the 10th minute.
Real Madrid midfielder Arda Güler, one of Türkiye’s brightest performers throughout the tournament, collected a pass from Barış Alper Yılmaz before calmly finishing to score Türkiye’s first goal of the World Cup and level the match at 1-1.
The goal also placed Güler in the history books. At 21 years and 120 days, he became the youngest Turkish player ever to score at a World Cup, surpassing Emre Belözoğlu’s record set in 2002.
Türkiye continued to dictate the tempo after the equalizer and completed the turnaround in the 31st minute.
Orkun Kökçü’s effort took a slight deflection off Yılmaz before beating goalkeeper Matt Turner, who was making his first start of the tournament after Matt Freese featured in the opening two matches.
The United States thought they had reclaimed the lead moments earlier through Mark McKenzie following another dangerous set piece, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside.
Instead, Türkiye entered halftime ahead 2-1 after producing their most effective attacking display of the tournament.
The hosts responded quickly after the break.
Berhalter, who had already assisted the opening goal, capped an impressive performance in the 49th minute when Türkiye failed to clear a long throw-in, allowing the midfielder to unleash a powerful strike into the bottom-left corner from the edge of the penalty area.
Pochettino then welcomed back his biggest attacking weapon.
Christian Pulisic made his return in the 58th minute after missing the Australia match and recovering from the calf injury that forced him off at halftime against Paraguay.
The U.S. captain immediately injected pace and urgency into the attack. Within minutes, he burst behind the Turkish defense only to be denied by goalkeeper Uğurcan Çakır before forcing another superb fingertip save with a deflected effort moments later.
Despite the renewed pressure, Türkiye remained dangerous on the counterattack and continued to expose gaps in the American defense.
Montella, who made seven changes to his starting lineup after the team’s elimination, watched his substitutes make the decisive impact.
As stoppage time ticked away and the match appeared destined to finish level, chaos unfolded inside the U.S. penalty area.
Following sustained pressure, the ball broke kindly to substitute Kaan Ayhan at the far post, where the experienced defender calmly poked into an unguarded net in the eighth minute of added time, silencing the crowd and completing a memorable Turkish comeback.
The victory offered long-awaited reward for a Turkish side that had fired 62 shots across its previous two defeats but failed to score. This time, their attacking intent finally translated into goals and, ultimately, a victory.
For the United States, attention now quickly turns to the knockout stage, though concerns remain after Trusty was carried off on a stretcher late in the match with an apparent hamstring injury.
Pochettino had rested several regular starters, including Folarin Balogun, Tyler Adams, Chris Richards and Antonee Robinson, all of whom were carrying yellow cards and risked suspension before disciplinary records reset after the group stage.
Five Americans, Miles Robinson, Joe Scally, Brenden Aaronson, Mark McKenzie and Giovanni Reyna, made their first World Cup starts as part of the heavily rotated lineup.
Although the defeat denied the Americans a perfect group-stage record, their place atop Group D had already been secured.
For Türkiye, however, Ayhan’s last-gasp finish provided a fitting reward after a frustrating tournament, allowing Montella’s side to return home with renewed confidence instead of lingering regret.
Among those attending the match at Los Angeles Stadium were Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Will Ferrell, Owen Wilson and Paris Hilton.
Senegal arrive at BMO Field on Friday with no margin left for error, needing a win over Iraq and a strong goal swing to stay alive in the 2026 World Cup race from Group I.
The situation is stark. Only the top eight third-placed teams advance, and Senegal sit at the bottom of that mini-table after a campaign defined by defensive mistakes and missed chances. Anything short of a convincing result would almost certainly end their tournament in North America.
Expectations were different when the draw placed Senegal alongside France and Norway. Instead of competing for top spot or a comfortable second-place route, Pape Thiaw’s side have been dragged into survival mode.
The turning point came in key moments they failed to control. Against France, Senegal held shape early and matched intensity for long stretches, but the game tilted once Kylian Mbappe began finding space between the lines. Senegal’s structure collapsed in phases, and a competitive performance turned into a damaging defeat.
The pattern repeated against Norway. Senegal’s back line, led by Kalidou Koulibaly, struggled with transitions and set-piece pressure. A 3-2 loss exposed repeated breakdowns in concentration rather than tactical imbalance alone. Koulibaly’s substitution late in the match underlined a difficult night for the captain and a wider defensive unit under strain.
Across the group stage and recent matches, Senegal have conceded three goals in three of their last four outings. Only one clean sheet in that stretch, a 0-0 draw with Saudi Arabia, has added to concerns about game management rather than attacking output.
Even so, the attacking core offers a path back into contention. Sadio Mane has influenced phases of play without producing a signature tournament performance. Ismaïla Sarr has shown direct threat, bouncing back after his missed chance against France with a more aggressive display versus Norway. Nicolas Jackson continues to grow into a supporting role, adding movement and an assist even in defeat.
The defensive situation remains uncertain. Goalkeeper Edouard Mendy is out with a knee injury, removing a key voice and shot-stopper from the back line. Thiaw must decide whether to persist with Koulibaly at the center of defense or adjust with alternatives such as Mamadou Sarr or Abdoulaye Seck depending on balance and recovery.
For Senegal, the arithmetic is simple but unforgiving. They likely need not just three points but a multi-goal victory to climb the third-place ranking and stay in contention for a knockout berth. That reality shapes both selection and approach, pushing them toward urgency without defensive exposure.
Iraq arrive in an even tighter position, but with less external expectation. Their group stage has been defined by heavy defeats to Norway and France, conceding seven goals across those matches and struggling to sustain pressure for long spells.
Under coach Graham Arnold, Iraq have shown moments of structure and discipline, including a respectable draw against Spain in earlier international play. But at the tournament itself, those signs have not translated into consistency.
Their biggest concern now is fitness. Forward Aymen Hussein, their main attacking outlet and only scorer at the finals so far, is a major doubt after leaving the pitch early with injury. His absence would remove their focal point in transition and set pieces.
If Hussein cannot start, Iraq may turn to Mohanad Ali, whose experience offers presence in the box, or Ali Al-Hamadi to stretch Senegal’s back line and exploit space behind an aggressive setup.
Tactically, the match sets up as a contrast in urgency. Senegal must push, likely controlling possession and territory, while Iraq will look for counters and set pieces, especially given Senegal’s recent defensive volatility. The danger for Thiaw’s side is clear: overcommitment could open the same gaps that France and Norway already exploited.
South Africa reached the knockout stage of the World Cup for the first time with a 1-0 win over South Korea on Wednesday night.
Thapelo Maseko scored in the 63rd minute, finishing a precise cross from Tshepang Moremi, as South Africa secured second place in Group A behind Mexico, which swept all three group matches.
South Africa will face Canada, the Group B runner-up, in a knockout match Sunday in Inglewood, California.
Maseko finished with five shots in the match and now leads South Africa with eight in the tournament.
Asked what he would tell his younger self after the milestone, the Mamelodi Sundowns forward said: “The one thing I would say is ‘keep dreaming.’”
South Africa began its campaign with a 2-0 loss to Mexico, followed by a 1-1 draw with the Czech Republic before entering its final group match needing a win to advance. Known as Bafana Bafana, South Africa had previously failed to progress from the group stage in 1998, 2002 and 2010 as host.
South Africa coach Hugo Broos praised the belief within his squad despite the difficult start to the tournament.
“The mentality in this group is amazing,” Broos said. “Everybody is working for everybody. We are not afraid of other teams.”
Sphephelo Sithole, who was sent off in the opening match against Mexico, also earned a start and helped South Africa keep a clean sheet.
“In the first two, three days, it wasn’t easy,” Sithole said. “I needed to pick myself up. I’m very proud of myself because I did.”
Maseko, who plays for Mamelodi Sundowns, missed two early chances before scoring the winner.
The 22-year-old received the ball on the right side of the box, cut inside and struck a low left-footed shot through a defender’s legs into the bottom corner.
South Africa’s substitutes ran onto the pitch to celebrate Maseko’s first World Cup goal.
At the final whistle, players and staff embraced on the field in celebration.
“For me, the final whistle was a rush of emotions, not only because we won the game, but also because it will probably be one of the last games of my career,” said Broos, who is 74. “When you can end a career in this way, I think every coach dreams of it.”
South Korea coach Hong Myung-bo raised eyebrows by leaving Son Heung-min out of the starting lineup, opting instead to use him as a substitute. He said he preferred bringing Son on when South Africa’s defenders were tiring.
“If I knew the result beforehand, I probably would have made some different choices,” Hong said. “On the world stage like this, the responsibility is ultimately down to the head coach.”
South Korea opened the tournament with a 2-1 comeback win over the Czech Republic and lost 1-0 to Mexico in its second match. The Taegeuk Warriors could still advance, depending on other results this week.
South Korea became the first Asian team to reach the knockout stage in 2002, when they finished fourth. They also advanced from the group stage in 2010 and 2022, reaching the round of 16 both times.
-
Daily Agenda2 days agoEfficiency certificate for those who use water economically
-
Politics2 days agoTürkiye’s CHP launches election process as infighting mounts
-
Daily Agenda3 days agoAntalya and Kayseri Provincial Mayors were dismissed
-
Politics3 days agoTürkiye key to Middle Corridor, connectivity agenda: EU commissioner
-
Daily Agenda3 days agoSpeaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey Kurtulmuş met with Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Esedov
-
Daily Agenda3 days agoNo algorithm can replace maternal compassion
-
Politics3 days agoCHP lawmaker joins Türkiye’s ruling AK Party
-
Economy3 days agoUndoing over 40 years of Iran sanctions won’t be easy or quick