Sports
Messi stands alone at top, donning exclusive FIFA World Cup patches
Lionel Messi broke another World Cup milestone on Monday night while wearing a jersey unlike any other on the pitch, as Argentina defeated Austria in Group J and the veteran forward extended his place in football history.
The 38-year-old Lionel Messi became the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history, moving past Germany’s Miroslav Klose after netting his 17th and 18th goals in the competition during a 2-0 win over Austria.
The landmark strike came in a match that began with frustration, as Messi missed an early penalty, before ending with another decisive display of his enduring influence on the global stage.
What set the night apart visually was his shirt. Unlike any other player at the tournament, Messi wore a customized jersey featuring four FIFA-issued commemorative patches.
The design included a FIFA World Champions badge honoring Argentina’s 2022 triumph, a gold tournament sleeve badge reserved for former world champions, a Legacy patch marking his sixth World Cup appearance, and a Golden Ball patch recognizing his player-of-the-tournament award in Qatar.
The record-breaking goal arrived in the 38th minute, finishing a move that exposed space in Austria’s defensive line and showcased the timing that has defined his career. He added a second in stoppage time, sealing both the match and his place alone at the top of the tournament’s scoring charts with 18 goals, surpassing Klose’s long-standing mark of 16.
Messi’s journey to this moment spans two decades at the World Cup. He debuted in 2006 as a teenager and scored on his first appearance, becoming Argentina’s youngest player at the tournament. Now in his sixth edition, a record for any player, he continues to produce decisive moments deep into his career.
His 2022 campaign remains his defining chapter, leading Argentina national football team to the title with seven goals and three assists. This time, he has already shown similar sharpness, including a hat trick earlier in the tournament against Algeria, reinforcing his status as the focal point of Argentina’s attack.
Austria coach Ralf Rangnick had warned his side about Messi’s ability to find space even in tightly structured systems. Those concerns proved accurate, as Argentina controlled key phases despite a missed penalty that briefly silenced the crowd.
Messi later described the match as tense and demanding, stressing the intensity of World Cup football at this stage of his career. With his 39th birthday approaching, this tournament is widely expected to be his final World Cup appearance, though his form continues to suggest otherwise.
Even after winning the sport’s biggest prize, multiple Ballon d’Or awards, and redefining expectations over two decades, Messi continues to add layers to his legacy. This latest night, defined by both history and a unique jersey detail, only reinforced how central he remains to football’s biggest stage.
Kylian Mbappe later equaled Klose’s previous record of 16 goals, but the night belonged entirely to Messi, who now stands alone at the summit.
Brazil head into their final Group C match at the 2026 World Cup with qualification control in their hands, while Scotland arrive in Miami still chasing a breakthrough that has eluded them for generations, setting up a high-stakes meeting at Hard Rock Stadium on Wednesday.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side have done what was required so far, opening with a 1-1 draw against Morocco before producing a more complete display in a 3-0 win over Haiti.
Matheus Cunha’s brace and a sharp finish from Vinicius Junior underlined Brazil’s attacking range, while Lucas Paqueta’s influence between the lines gave balance to a performance that combined control with speed in transition.
The result also reinforced a familiar trend for the five-time champions, who have now scored three or more goals in 41 World Cup matches, more than any other nation.
Despite that statistical dominance, Selecao’s path has not been without unease.
Their opening draw exposed moments of vulnerability, and history offers a warning sign: their last three World Cup group-stage defeats have all come on matchday three.
Even so, the equation is simple. Match or better Morocco’s result against Haiti and Brazil finish top of Group C. Anything less tightens the margin and opens the door to complication.
Scotland enter the fixture with less control but more urgency. Steve Clarke’s team began their campaign with a disciplined 1-0 win over Haiti, but a narrow defeat to Morocco exposed their limits in attack.
An early strike from Ismael Saibari decided the contest inside 70 seconds, and Scotland failed to register a shot on target despite periods of second-half pressure. Clarke defended the performance, pointing to competitiveness against elite opposition, yet the lack of cutting edge remains the central concern.
Their World Cup history only sharpens the challenge. Scotland have never reached the knockout stage in eight previous appearances and have never beaten Brazil in eight meetings, losing six and drawing two.
Three of those defeats came at World Cup finals, including a 2-1 loss in 1998 during Brazil’s run to the title match.
The path forward remains open but narrow. Victory would guarantee a top-two finish and automatic progression.
A draw would likely be enough for a place in the expanded knockout rounds. Even defeat could be survivable depending on goal difference, but it would leave Scotland vulnerable in a tightly packed group.
Selection issues add another layer for Clarke. Scott McKenna, Aaron Hickey and Lewis Ferguson have all been managed carefully due to fitness concerns, though Ferguson is expected to remain central in midfield if cleared.
Clarke is likely to keep his flexible structure, alternating between a back three and a back four depending on Brazil’s pressure.
John McGinn and Scott McTominay are expected to operate in advanced midfield roles, supporting Che Adams, who is battling for his place up front.
Canarinhos’ selection picture has shifted slightly.
Raphinha is out after a hamstring injury sustained in the win over Haiti, forcing adjustments on the right side.
Teenage winger Rayan is the leading candidate to replace him.
Neymar has returned to full availability after injury, though he is expected to start on the bench as Brazil continue to rely on Vinicius Junior and Matheus Cunha as their primary attacking threat. Paqueta is expected to remain the central connector in Ancelotti’s system.
At the back, Brazil are likely to stick with a settled unit featuring Danilo, Marquinhos, Gabriel Magalhaes and Douglas Santos, shielded by Casemiro and Bruno Guimaraes.
The structure has provided stability, but the real test will be whether it can withstand Scotland’s direct pressure and set-piece threat in a match where margins are expected to be thin.
Lionel Messi scored his 17th and 18th World Cup goals on Monday to break the tournament’s all-time scoring record and lead Argentina to a 2-0 victory over Austria, sealing the defending champions’ place in the last 32.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner had an early opportunity to make history after Lautaro Martínez won a penalty in the ninth minute, but Messi dragged his spot kick wide of the post.
Austria, marshaled by veteran defender David Alaba, frustrated Argentina for much of the first half, with Messi denied on several occasions before finally breaking the deadlock in the 38th minute. Thiago Almada allowed Facundo Medina’s pass to run through, leaving Messi to calmly finish past goalkeeper Alexander Schlager.
Austria pushed for an equalizer after the break, but Argentina remained in control as the South Americans moved closer to securing their place in the knockout rounds.
Messi wrapped up the victory deep into stoppage time, reacting quickest after a scramble in the penalty area to force the ball over the line and score his second of the night.
The goal moved him clear of Germany’s Miroslav Klose as the outright leading scorer in World Cup history and also saw him surpass Brazilian legend Marta as the top scorer across men’s and women’s World Cup tournaments combined.
Messi’s late strike extended his scoring streak to six consecutive World Cup matches, further cementing his place among the game’s greatest players as Argentina continue their title defense.
Turkish tennis player Zeynep Sönmez has reached a new career milestone, climbing to No. 54 in the latest WTA rankings, the highest position ever achieved by a Turkish woman in singles and a reflection of her steady rise on the professional circuit.
The 24-year-old gained seven places in the updated standings following a productive grass-court swing, highlighted by her run at the Lexus Nottingham Open.
There, Sönmez produced one of her most significant wins of the season, defeating second seed Leylah Fernandez in straight sets, a result that underlined her growing confidence against top-ranked opposition.
She advanced to the second round before being edged out in a tightly contested three-set match by Switzerland’s Viktorija Golubic.
The ranking surge pushed Sönmez beyond her previous personal best of No. 59, set earlier in 2026 after strong performances during the clay-court swing, including the WTA 1000 event in Rome. It also extended her standing as the leading figure in Turkish women’s tennis, building on the benchmark once held by Çağla Büyükakçay.
Sönmez’s progress this season has been shaped by consistency rather than isolated breakthroughs. She has remained a steady presence in main draws across multiple surfaces, compiling a positive win-loss record and strengthening her position inside the WTA top tier. Her 2026 campaign has also included a notable victory over Italy’s Jasmine Paolini, further evidence that she is capable of challenging established names on the tour.
Her improvement on grass has been particularly significant. The surface, often a difficult adjustment for players who build their games on clay or hard courts, has instead become a platform for Sönmez to accelerate her rise, with her Nottingham performance serving as a key ranking catalyst ahead of the Wimbledon Championships.
Beyond individual events, Sönmez has also contributed to Türkiye’s national efforts in the Billie Jean King Cup, adding experience in high-pressure match environments that have translated into more composed performances on tour.
Group L reaches a decisive early turning point on Tuesday at Gillette Stadium, where England national football team and Ghana national football team meet with both sides knowing a second straight win would effectively secure a place in the 2026 World Cup knockout rounds.
England arrive in Foxborough with confidence rising after a chaotic but statement 4-2 win over Croatia that underlined both their attacking edge and lingering defensive fragility. The performance, their first World Cup four-goal outing since 1966, also ended a damaging run of results against elite opposition and restored belief in a squad long judged by its performances in high-pressure games.
Under Thomas Tuchel, England’s approach has tilted firmly toward vertical, aggressive attacking play. The Croatia match reflected that identity shift. Harry Kane continued his record-equalling international scoring form, while Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford supplied pace and directness that repeatedly exposed Croatia’s back line.
The numbers reinforced the dominance. England produced 20 shots inside the penalty area, the highest such tally recorded in a single World Cup match, a sign of sustained pressure rather than isolated moments. Yet the concession of two goals also exposed defensive gaps that Tuchel will be reluctant to ignore, particularly in transition moments where England were repeatedly stretched.
The stakes are now clear. Victory guarantees progression with a match to spare and would extend England’s winning streak to four games in all competitions, while also reinforcing a growing sense that Tuchel’s side are beginning to translate attacking intent into consistent output at major tournaments.
Ghana, however, arrive with their own momentum and growing belief after a narrow but significant 1-0 win over Panama that came only after 94 tense minutes. The breakthrough arrived through 20-year-old Caleb Yirenkyi, whose late counter-attacking finish delivered three points that could prove pivotal in a tight Group L race.
That result was more than just a win. It halted a four-match winless run and restored defensive confidence after a stretch in which Ghana had conceded heavily. It also marked another milestone, with back-to-back clean sheets at World Cup level now within reach for the first time in their history.
For Carlos Queiroz’s side, the equation mirrors England’s. A second straight victory would guarantee a top-two finish and allow them to approach their final group match against Croatia without pressure. Their challenge, however, remains consistency in attack. Ghana have struggled to score multiple goals in matches, relying instead on narrow margins and defensive control.
Personnel issues add further complexity. England continue to manage fitness concerns around Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and Rashford, though Rice and Rashford have returned to full training after precautionary issues. Saka’s limited involvement in group sessions has opened the door for Noni Madueke to retain his place on the right, offering a different profile of direct running and ball progression.
In defence, Tuchel faces a more delicate decision. Errors from Ezri Konsa and John Stones against Croatia have prompted internal reassessment, with Marc Guehi emerging as a strong candidate to reshape the back line.
Ghana’s situation carries its own uncertainty. Midfield anchor Thomas Partey has been at the center of off-field complications tied to ongoing legal proceedings in the United Kingdom, though he is expected to be available for selection in the United States portion of the tournament.
There is also concern in goal. First-choice keeper Lawrence Ati Zigi was substituted at halftime against Panama after discomfort, and while official assessments remain cautious, reports suggest a longer recovery window. If he is unavailable, Benjamin Asare is likely to step in for a match that could demand composure under sustained pressure.
The possibility had been the talk of tennis since Serena Williams announced nearly three weeks ago that she would return to professional competition after nearly four years away from the sport.
Even so, the official confirmation still came as a shock.
In a brief announcement Sunday, the All England Club revealed that the 23-time Grand Slam champion had been awarded the final women’s singles wild card for Wimbledon, just eight days before the tournament begins.
“Serena Williams (USA) receives the final ladies’ singles wild card,” the statement read.
At 44, Williams is set to compete in both singles and doubles at Wimbledon. She had already accepted a wild card into the doubles draw, where she will partner with her older sister, Venus Williams.
“This is not a drill,” Wimbledon said on its social media accounts Sunday.
The WTA Tour commented: “Name a more iconic return … we’ll wait.”
Wimbledon held open the eighth and final women’s singles wild-card spot until Williams made up her mind. As recently as this week, after losing a doubles match in Berlin, she appeared uncertain about the decision.
“Oh my gosh, there are some left?” she replied when told there was still a wild-card spot available.
Wild cards are special invitations handed out by tournament organizers that allow former champions and others access to the main draw without meeting the usual entry requirements. But Williams then questioned whether she was ready.
“Do you think I’m ready for singles?” she asked a reporter before turning to doubles partner Karolina Muchova for her opinion.
“I think I would be interested in it,” the Czech player responded.
“That’s the question of the hour, right?” Williams said. “I don’t know. I don’t know. I wonder why there’s … I don’t know.”
Now that Williams has made up her mind, the biggest remaining question is how she will physically handle singles competition after such a long absence.
Williams’ most recent singles match was a loss to Ajla Tomljanovic in the third round of the 2022 U.S. Open. At the time, she said she did not want to use the word “retiring” and instead declared that she was “evolving” away from tennis. Her second daughter was born in 2023.
“Just finished a mean game of duck duck goose,” Williams wrote on X after the wild-card announcement.
Of Williams’ 23 Grand Slam singles titles, seven came at Wimbledon: 2002, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015 and 2016. She also won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles, all with Venus, including six at Wimbledon.
Williams also swept the singles and doubles titles with Venus at the 2012 London Olympics, when the tennis competition was held on the grass courts of the All England Club.
In her most recent Wimbledon appearance in 2022, Williams lost in the first round to then-No. 115 Harmony Tan in her first match since being forced to retire less than a set into her opening-round contest at the All England Club the previous year because of an injury.
Williams won a doubles match with partner Victoria Mboko at Queen’s Club last week, but the pair later withdrew after Mboko injured her knee in a singles match.
In another doubles match at the Berlin Open on Tuesday, Williams and Muchova lost to Giuliana Olmos and Erin Routliffe.
As of Sunday, Williams had not entered the singles draw of any grass-court warmup tournament before Wimbledon.
She will learn her first-round opponent Friday when the Wimbledon singles draws are held.
While Williams is No. 593 in the doubles rankings following her victory last week, she does not have a singles ranking after such a lengthy absence.
Iga Swiatek is the defending Wimbledon champion, while Aryna Sabalenka is ranked No. 1.
Because Williams is unranked, she could potentially face Swiatek, Sabalenka or another top-ranked player in the opening rounds.
Portugal arrive in Houston under immediate pressure to stabilize their World Cup campaign when they face Uzbekistan on Tuesday, with Roberto Martinez’s side already needing a sharper response after a flat opening performance left them searching for rhythm and authority in Group K.
Portugal national football team opened their 2026 FIFA World Cup journey with a 1-1 draw against DR Congo national football team, a result that felt heavier than the scoreline suggested given their early lead and late drop in intensity. Joao Neves put them ahead inside six minutes, but Yoane Wissa’s equalizer exposed familiar lapses in game management and left Portugal third in Group K after the opening round.
The performance quickly shifted focus onto structure, tempo, and leadership, with Martinez openly facing questions about balance between control and aggression in midfield and attack. While Portugal spent long stretches in possession, they struggled to turn territory into sustained pressure, a concern that has followed them into the second matchday.
Attention, however, has also centered on Cristiano Ronaldo, whose influence became the dominant talking point after a subdued outing in which he failed to register a shot on target from three attempts and rarely found decisive space in the final third. At 41, his role continues to divide opinion, especially in high-tempo matches where Portugal’s attacking rhythm depends heavily on quick combinations around him. The scrutiny intensified following a tense on-field exchange involving Bruno Fernandes, adding another layer of pressure to an already scrutinized frontline.
For Martinez, the challenge is no longer about selection alone but about restoring cohesion in a team still widely considered among the tournament contenders. Defensive stability also remains under review, with Rúben Dias a potential return after missing the opener due to fitness concerns. His availability could influence how aggressively Portugal push their back line, particularly against opponents likely to sit deeper and counter.
The opponent, Uzbekistan national football team, arrive with their own urgency after a 3-1 defeat to Colombia in their first-ever World Cup match, a debut that mixed historic breakthrough with structural fragility.
Under coach Fabio Cannavaro, Uzbekistan showed early nerves, failing to register a single touch inside the opposition penalty area in the first half while posting an expected goals figure of just 0.02 before the break. Yet their response carried historical weight. In the second half, sustained pressure led to their first World Cup goal, finished by Abbosbek Fayzullaev after a sequence involving Dostonbek Khamdamov and Eldor Shomurodov, offering a glimpse of attacking potential once they settled into the pace of the tournament.
That brief momentum did not last. Colombia’s quick counterattacking quality restored control almost immediately through Luis Diaz, exposing defensive gaps that Uzbekistan struggled to close for the remainder of the match. Still, the debut was not without value, giving Cannavaro a clearer picture of where his side can compete and where they remain vulnerable against elite opposition.
Tuesday’s meeting in Houston carries added historical context. It is the first-ever clash between Portugal and Uzbekistan, and Portugal’s recent World Cup record against AFC opposition adds subtle caution, with no wins in their last two such encounters. While the gap in experience and squad depth is clear on paper, Uzbekistan’s unpredictability in their debut appearance introduces an element of uncertainty Portugal cannot afford to ignore.
Team selection remains a key talking point for Martinez. Portugal are weighing whether to reinstate Rúben Dias into the starting lineup or continue managing his workload, while Ronaldo is expected to retain his place despite external criticism. The wider debate within the squad centers on tempo and fluidity, particularly how quickly Portugal can transition from midfield control into decisive final-third actions.
For Uzbekistan, continuity appears more likely. Cannavaro is expected to stick with much of the side that faced Colombia, with Utkir Yusupov set to continue in goal and the defensive pairing of Abdukodir Khusanov and Rustam Ashurmatov likely retained. The focus will be on tightening structure early and limiting the spaces that proved costly in their opening defeat.
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