During a recent conversation on Romario’s YouTube channel, Marcelo was asked which player was the toughest to face, specifically between Ronaldo and Messi. The former left back did not hesitate: “Messi. He was, and is, extraordinary.”

Marcelo then explained the reasoning behind his choice of the Argentine forward. “He understands everything very well. Every position on the field,” the 37-year-old said. “When the ball is coming to him, he already knows where to go and what to do… Messi is incredible, very difficult.”

The matchups between Marcelo and Messi

During his years with Real Madrid and Brazil, Marcelo faced Lionel Messi on numerous occasions. In fact, Messi is the opponent he faced most often in his professional career: 33 matches, with the defender winning 10, drawing seven, and losing the remaining 16.

This matchup was especially demanding for Marcelo given their positions on the field. Messi typically starts his runs on the right side before cutting diagonally toward the center, which often puts him up against opposing left backs—who, if left-footed, must defend him using their weaker right foot.

That was exactly the situation the Brazilian defender found himself in during his battles with Messi, and it clearly left a lasting impression. “I’m still looking for him to this day, damn it,” Marcelo joked, recalling the moments when Messi would dribble past him.

Marcelo also praises Cristiano Ronaldo

In the same conversation, Romario asked Marcelo who the best teammate of his career was. “Cristiano. I played with Gaucho (Ronaldinho), with Roberto Carlos, with Ronaldo (Nazario), with many players. But Cristiano surprised me with his consistency. If he scored 30 goals one year, the next he scored 40,” the former left back said.

He then added that Cristiano Ronaldo is the most professional player he has ever seen: “He is. It’s unbelievable. And it’s not just about arriving earlier or leaving later. No, he’s professional in everything—every aspect shows dedication. Sleep, training, recovery, the game—everything.”

“The big absence from this morning’s training session is Tadeo Allende,” journalist Jose Armando reported on Wednesday in a post on his official X account. “Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul trained without any issues.”

Allende, alongside Messi, was Inter Miami’s most decisive player during last season’s playoffs, scoring nine goals in six matches that proved crucial in helping the club win its first MLS title. That prompted a significant investment in him, estimated at around $5 million to secure his transfer from Celta Vigo.

However, since then, the Argentine forward has struggled to replicate the level he showed at the end of 2025. In fact, this season Allende has yet to register a single goal contribution: he has played eight matches across MLS and the Concacaf Champions Cup without scoring or providing an assist.

Two pieces of good news for Inter Miami

Despite Tadeo Allende’s absence, Wednesday’s training session brought two positive updates for Inter Miami regarding other players who had recently been dealing with physical issues: Facundo Mura and Sergio Reguilon.

“Mura returned to train with the rest of the group,” Jose Armando reported. The Argentine right back missed the last match against Austin FC at Nu Stadium due to an ankle issue. That forced Javier Mascherano to start Ian Fray in that role, but his performance fell short, leading to Gonzalo Lujan coming on at halftime.

The other player who was able to train with the squad is Reguilon. The Spanish left back had also missed last Saturday’s match for the Herons due to muscle issues and is now aiming to return to the team.

Upcoming challenges for Inter Miami

This Saturday at 7:30 PM (ET), Inter Miami will play their second match at the newly inaugurated Nu Stadium at Miami Freedom Park, looking for their first win there after a 2-2 draw against Austin FC last weekend. Their opponent will be New York Red Bulls, who sit one point behind them in the standings. Following that match, the Herons will travel to face Colorado Rapids one week later.

It is a showdown between two of Spain’s giants, who have faced each other in crucial matchups across multiple competitions this season. In La Liga, Los Blaugranas hold the edge and, in fact, took a major step toward the title by defeating Atletico Madrid over the weekend. That result served as a measure of revenge after Atletico Madrid knocked them out in the Copa del Rey semifinals.

On Wednesday, the match remained level until just minutes before halftime, with both teams creating scoring chances—especially the hosts. However, the deadlock was broken when VAR intervened, prompting referee Istvan Kovacs to upgrade a yellow card shown to Pau Cubarsi to a red.

From that foul on the edge of the box came the moment that changed the match. Julian Alvarez, who had drawn the foul, stepped up and delivered a superb free kick, curling his shot into the top-left corner past Joan Garcia, who had no chance to stop it.

In the second half, Barcelona controlled possession but lacked the precision to find an equalizer, while Atletico Madrid stayed compact defensively and capitalized on their lone clear opportunity. In the 70th minute, Alexander Sorloth scored after a cross from the left by Matteo Ruggeri, sealing the 2-0 result.

Julian Alvarez perfects his free kicks

The goal he scored this Wednesday against Barcelona was not the first free-kick goal of Julian Alvarez’s professional career. On the contrary, in recent years he has refined that skill, turning it into a valuable weapon to break open tightly contested matches.

That ability, however, did not always define the Argentine forward, who failed to score a single free-kick goal during his four years with River Plate. Alvarez’s first free-kick goal came in September 2023—five years after his professional debut—in a match between Manchester City and Red Star Belgrade.

Since joining Atletico Madrid, Julian Alvarez has scored five free-kick goals in fewer than two seasons. In fact, during this campaign, he had already found the net from a set piece in another crucial match, against Real Madrid in La Liga.

“Vinicius is horrible,” the former Dutch midfielder said during an appearance on Ziggo Sport following Tuesday’s Champions League match in Spain. “He annoys me to no end when I see him.”

Van der Vaart went on to explain the reasons behind his criticism of the Brazilian winger. “As soon as he gets a little push, he throws himself down, hoping to see a red card for the opponent, and then gets up as if nothing happened,” he said.

However, the former Ajax and Real Madrid player did not hesitate to acknowledge Vinicius’ talent on the field. In fact, he emphasized how that behavior detracts from his ability: “That’s the part that I find sad about him. I find it incredibly sad because he’s a fantastic player.”

Vinicius’ performances this season

Criticism of Vinicius is common, and in most cases it is not related to his performances on the field or his ability on the ball, but rather to his behavior. The 25-year-old winger has often drawn the frustration of opponents, who believe he does not always conduct himself with respect.

However, Vinicius’ on-field production is beyond question, and that is reflected in his numbers. Even in a season in which Real Madrid have posted disappointing results and gone through a coaching change, the Brazilian has stood out: Vinicius has recorded 17 goals and 13 assists in 45 appearances.

Van der Vaart knows what he’s talking about

Criticism of Vinicius Junior coming from Rafael van der Vaart carries added weight compared to most opinions. The former Dutch international speaks from experience, having played for Real Madrid and understanding the club’s culture and its fanbase.

Van der Vaart began his professional career at Ajax in 1999 before moving to Hamburger SV six years later, where his performances prompted Real Madrid to pay around $15 million for him. In Spain, he spent two seasons with the club between 2008 and 2010, making 73 appearances, scoring 12 goals, and winning one title.

“This version of Neuer is world-class; he belongs in the national team,” said legend Lothar Matthaus after the match, according to Marca. He also sent a message to the Germany head coach: “I hope Nagelsmann watched the match. I would love to see Neuer in this kind of form at the World Cup… but I also know that won’t happen. Nagelsmann won’t open that door.”

That push comes nearly two years after Neuer’s retirement from international soccer. He chose to close that chapter of his career following Germany’s elimination from UEFA Euro 2024 in the quarterfinals against Spain.

In that way, the goalkeeper said goodbye to Germany after 15 years, having first been called up in 2009. During that span, he played in four World Cups and four European Championships, and won the sport’s biggest prize at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, defeating Argentina 1-0 in the final. In total, he made 124 international appearances and recorded 54 clean sheets.

“The best players have to go to the World Cup, and Manu is by far the best goalkeeper in the world,” said former star Benedikt Howedes, who was Neuer’s teammate at the 2014 World Cup. Even a current Germany and Bayern Munich player, Aleksandar Pavlovic, shared his view: “I would never say no to Manu, no matter his age. He is still an exceptional goalkeeper.”

What did Neuer say about a possible return to Germany?

Those calls for Manuel Neuer’s return to the Germany national team generated enough speculation that the 40-year-old goalkeeper addressed the topic himself after the match against Real Madrid in the Champions League.

“Everything has already been said about it,” Neuer replied when asked about a potential appearance at the 2026 World Cup. Instead, he chose to focus on his club objectives: “What matters now is finishing the rest of the season with Bayern. I’m enjoying my time with the team, at the club, with the coaching staff. It’s true that I’m 40 years old, but I’m still here.”

How have Germany replaced Neuer?

Since Manuel Neuer’s international retirement, Julian Nagelsmann has been forced to test different options in goal for Germany. Over the past two years, the coach has used three different goalkeepers in official matches and friendlies.

The most-used has been Hoffenheim’s Oliver Baumann, with a total of 11 appearances. Behind him is Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who has managed just four matches due to injury issues during his time with Barcelona, which have also kept him sidelined at Girona. The third goalkeeper selected by Nagelsmann is Stuttgart’s Alexander Nubel, who has featured in three matches.

During an interview with Diario AS, the former Juventus and Parma midfielder was asked about his view of modern soccer, particularly Serie A, comparing it with the 1980s and 1990s. Baggio acknowledged that it was more difficult to play in Italy back then: “Perhaps Messi could have had problems here in his day.”

That led the conversation toward the differences in soccer over the years. Dino based his opinion on the fact that a few decades ago referees were more lenient when it came to physical contact, resulting in a harsher sport for talented players.

“Today, fouls are called before contact, practically,” Baggio noted, before highlighting who he considered the best player in the world during those years. “Maradona, in modern times, would score a thousand goals per season. You can’t imagine what they would hit him with when he was at Napoli,” said the 1994 FIFA World Cup finalist.

Immediately, Dino Baggio compared the two Argentine superstars and pointed out the difference between them: “Messi, back then, would have been equally brilliant, but completely, absolutely crushed. That’s why I say Diego was the greatest. The God of world soccer.”

Comparisons between Messi and Maradona

Dino Baggio is not the first to highlight the contrast between the leniency of the past and the extreme caution of modern soccer. This is usually one of the arguments used to place stars from previous decades, like Diego Maradona, Pele, or Alfredo Di Stefano, above modern geniuses like Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo.

Some statistics support this view. FIFA shared an analysis on its official website a few years ago regarding the number of fouls committed in each edition of the World Cup (with records starting in Chile 1962) and the players who were most frequently fouled.

There is an indisputable leader in the rankings. Diego Maradona is the player who received the most fouls in World Cup history, totaling 152 across his four tournaments (1982, 1986, 1990, and 1994). He doubles the second player on the list, Lionel Messi, who was fouled 75 times across his five tournaments from 2006 onwards. Further down are Brazil’s Jairzinho (64), Neymar (60), and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo (58).

The most astonishing fact is that Maradona ranks first, second, and third for the most fouls received in a single World Cup. In Mexico 1986, he was fouled 53 times; in Italy 1990, 50 times; and in Spain 1982, 36 times. Only in fourth place does another player appear—curiously also Argentine—Ariel Ortega, with 33 fouls in France 1998.

In the 74th minute, Real Madrid were down 0-2 and Bayern Munich had chances to extend their lead, which would have all but sealed the tie. In that context, a low cross from Trent Alexander-Arnold found the French forward inside the box for Los Blancos’ goal.

That was Mbappe’s 14th goal in this season’s European campaign. So far, only six players had scored that many or more in a single Champions League edition since its creation in 1955, according to statistics expert Mister Chip on his X account.

Top scorers in a single Champions League edition

The first player to score 14 goals in a single Champions League edition was Jose Altafini, an AC Milan legend, who reached that mark in 1963 while leading the Italian side to its first European title. That record stood until 2003, when Ruud van Nistelrooy matched it with Manchester United.

From that point on, several other players have reached – and surpassed – the 14-goal mark: Lionel Messi, Robert Lewandowski, Karim Benzema, and Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese star holds a special place on this list, as he is the only player to achieve it on three separate occasions.

Mbappe can keep making Champions League history

Real Madrid’s 2-1 defeat at the Santiago Bernabeu does not mean the tie is settled in Bayern Munich’s favor. The teams will meet again next week in Germany, where anything can happen.

Kylian Mbappe will not only look to help his team reach the semifinals but also continue adding to his goal tally. At best, he could have up to four more matches left in the Champions League if Real Madrid reach the final.

That could allow him to challenge Cristiano Ronaldo’s record for most goals in a single edition of the competition. The Portuguese forward set the mark in 2013-14, scoring 17 goals during Real Madrid’s title run. Mbappe is just three goals away from that record, and at his current pace, he could realistically reach it.

At the same time, the French star is climbing the all-time scoring charts in European competitions. On Tuesday, he matched Filippo Inzaghi with 70 goals, placing him seventh on the list. His next target is another active player, Harry Kane, who has 75. Above them are Raul Gonzalez (76), Karim Benzema (92), Robert Lewandowski (117), Lionel Messi (132), and Cristiano Ronaldo (145).

“Chelsea are open to Enzo Fernandez captaining the side again this season and hope to reintegrate the midfielder after his comments over his future,” The Guardian reported on Tuesday. This means the midfielder would not only return to the team but could do so as one of the squad’s leaders.

Fernandez had been a key figure for Chelsea throughout the season, first under Enzo Maresca and then under Liam Rosenior. In fact, he has recorded 12 goals and 6 assists in 46 appearances for the Blues across the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, FA Cup, and EFL Cup.

Two additional stats highlight Enzo’s importance to Chelsea. First is his involvement: of the 46 matches he has played this season, 43 have been as a starter. He has also captained the team in 17 of those games, particularly in the absence of Reece James.

Chelsea downplay Enzo’s captaincy role

Despite those strong numbers, reports about the possibility of Enzo Fernandez regaining the captaincy have been reportedly downplayed by Chelsea. “The situation is regarded as more nuanced. Fernandez was never officially made vice-captain and is viewed as one of several co-captains,” The Guardian reports.

With Enzo unavailable due to disciplinary action in Saturday’s FA Cup match against Port Vale, combined with the injury that sidelined Reece James, Cole Palmer wore the captain’s armband. And Moises Caicedo is expected to be the captain next weekend in the Premier League clash against Manchester City.

What did Enzo Fernandez say?

The punishment imposed by Chelsea was explained by Liam Rosenior last Friday. “I have got no bad words to say about him but a line was crossed in terms of our culture and what we want to build,” said the coach. “It’s disappointing for Enzo to speak that way.”

The decision stemmed from a series of public comments by Fernandez regarding a potential move to Real Madrid. He initially said he did not know what would happen with his career after the World Cup, despite being under contract with Chelsea. Days later, he described Madrid as his favorite city in Europe and admitted he would feel more comfortable there than in London due to language reasons.

On Tuesday, Atletico Madrid announced their 22-man squad for the trip to Camp Nou via social media, highlighting the absence of the Slovenian goalkeeper, who will miss the match due to physical issues.

Oblak has missed Atletico Madrid’s last four matches – as well as the FIFA break with Slovenia – due to a muscle injury suffered nearly a month ago. He was hurt on March 13 during training ahead of the game against Getafe, forcing him to sit out three La Liga matches and one UEFA Champions League match.

Wednesday’s clash with Barcelona will mark the fifth consecutive match Atletico Madrid will have to play without their star goalkeeper. This has impacted the team’s results, as they have lost three of the previous four games (including defeats to Real Madrid and Barcelona in La Liga) and won just one.

Oblak’s replacement

In Jan Oblak’s absence, the goalkeeping duties will fall to Juan Musso. The 31-year-old Argentine has appeared in 11 matches this season for Atletico Madrid across La Liga, Copa del Rey, and the Champions League, recording seven wins and four losses. Backup goalkeepers Salvi Esquivel and Mario de Luis were also included in the squad.

For Musso, this is a key opportunity, especially with the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaching in the next two months. The goalkeeper was part of Lionel Scaloni’s most recent squad during the March international break after over a year away and has a chance to be included in the final 26-man roster.

Other Atletico Madrid injuries

In Atletico Madrid’s  squad for the Barcelona match, there are two additional notable absences besides Jan Oblak. Midfielders Pablo Barrios and Johnny Cardoso are both sidelined due to physical issues.

With these absences, coach Diego Simeone will need to explore alternatives to shape his starting eleven. According to Marca, the main options to fill the gaps are Koke and Marcos Llorente, though players like Rodrigo Mendoza and Obed Vargas also have a chance to feature.

“Carlo Ancelotti will be the coach of the Brazilian National Team until the 2030 World Cup. The intention to renew the current contract – valid until the end of July this year – has already been verbalized by the CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation) and the Italian coach himself,” ESPN Brazil reported on Tuesday.

With the agreement already in place, the official confirmation only depends on both parties meeting and signing the paperwork, which is expected to happen in the coming days. “The confederation finalized the details of the new contract earlier this week and sent the draft to Ancelotti,” the report adds.

The coach himself has been clear about his intention to continue in the role, when asked about it during a press conference in the March FIFA break. “CBF has no problem renewing, and I have no problem either. When we have something we want to pursue, I think there’s no problem,” said Ancelotti.

According to the same report, the contract between Ancelotti and Brazil will follow an unusual format: it will be divided into two phases. The first will be for two years, until the summer of 2028 (presumably coinciding with the end of the Copa America that year), with an automatic renewal clause for an additional two years, until the 2030 World Cup.

Ancelotti’s record salary in Brazil

With the signing of the new contract, Carlo Ancelotti will maintain the salary he has earned since joining the Brazil National Team in the summer of 2025. He currently earns – and will continue to earn through 2030 – €10 million per year (around $11.5 million), making him a record-breaking coach for two reasons.

Ancelotti is the highest-paid coach in the history of the Brazil National Team, according to ESPN. In addition, he is the highest-paid national team coach in the world, far surpassing his main competitors: second is England’s Thomas Tuchel with $6.8 million, and third is Germany’s Julian Nagelsmann with $5.6 million.

Ancelotti’s first major challenge is near

Beyond having his long-term future secured, Carlo Ancelotti knows that in just two months he will face his first major international challenge. He will aim to improve Brazil’s World Cup performances, where they have gone 24 years without a title and reached only one semifinal in that span.

Brazil will debut in the 2026 FIFA World Cup on June 13 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey against Morocco. Six days later, they will play Haiti at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, and they will close their group-stage campaign on June 24 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami against Scotland.

Things did not start well for the Herons. Pre-match expectations and nerves affected the team, and in the opening minutes, they were outplayed by their opponents. In fact, Austin FC needed just six minutes to open the scoring, with a header from Guilherme Biro following a corner kick.

That setback seemed to wake Inter Miami, who did not need long to level the score. Messi launched an attack with a pass to Telasco Segovia, who in turn set up Tadeo Allende. A cross from the right found Messi’s head, and he scored his first goal at Nu Stadium.

In the following minutes, both teams had chances to take the lead but were unable to convert, either due to lack of precision or strong performances from the opposing goalkeepers. Mateo Silvetti had the clearest chance for the Herons after a brilliant run by Messi, but his shot was cleared off the line. For the visitors, Facundo Torres came closest with a shot that struck the post.

In the second half, Austin struck first again, with Jayden Nelson scoring in the opening minutes. Messi then led Inter Miami in pursuit of the equalizer, creating several opportunities, but was unable to make the difference. It was Luis Suarez who scored the second goal, capitalizing on a rebound inside the box just minutes after coming on.

In the final minutes, Inter Miami made massive efforts to secure the victory and had multiple chances to do so, but lacked precision. As a result, they had to settle for a draw in the inaugural match at Nu Stadium.

Inter Miami have structured their schedule this season with the stadium opening as a focal point. As a result, their first five MLS matches were played on the road while construction was completed at Miami Freedom Park. The day has finally arrived and, despite some last-minute complications related to administrative permits for Nu Stadium, everything is now set for the grand opening.

Beyond the occasion, the match also carries clear sporting significance. The Herons currently sit third in the MLS Eastern Conference standings with three wins, one draw, and one loss, and are aiming to close the gap on the leaders, Nashville SC.

On the other side, Austin FC have endured a disappointing start to the season, managing just one win, two draws, and two losses in their first five matches. That record leaves them in 11th place in the Western Conference standings.

Confirmed lineup for Inter Miami

Last week, Inter Miami were without several players who left to join their national teams during the March FIFA international break. That included Lionel Messi, who played 45 minutes for Argentina against Mauritania last Friday and the full 90 against Zambia on Tuesday. Despite the workload, head coach Javier Mascherano confirmed that Messi is in good physical condition.

Inter Miami’s confirmed lineup is: Dayne St. Clair; Ian Fray, Maximiliano Falcon, Micael, Noah Allen; Rodrigo de Paul, David Ayala, Telasco Segovia; Lionel Messi, Mateo Silvetti, Tadeo Allende.

Confirmed lineup for Austin FC

Austin FC face the dual challenge of improving on recent performances—they have taken just one point from their last nine available—while also finding a way to neutralize Inter Miami, one of the strongest sides in MLS.

With that in mind, head coach Nico Estevez will opt for the following lineup: Brad Stuver; Guilherme Biro, Brendan Hines-Ike, Oleksandr Svatok, Jon Gallagher; Joseph Rosales, Ilie Sanchez, Nicolas Dubersarsky, Facundo Torres; Myrto Uzuni, Christian Ramirez.

At 25 years and 257 days old, Haaland has already recorded 27 hat tricks across his professional career at both club and international level. That total slightly surpasses what Messi had achieved at the same age and far exceeds Ronaldo’s numbers at that stage of his career.

Haaland first scored three or more goals in a single match just before turning 18. At the time, he was playing for Molde FK and netted four goals in a league match against SK Brann in Norway’s Eliteserien.

From that point on—across his stints with Molde FK, Red Bull Salzburg, Borussia Dortmund, and Manchester City—Haaland has tallied 21 hat tricks, including five matches with at least four goals. With the Norway national team, he has added another six.

The hat tricks of Lionel Messi

Looking at the career of Lionel Messi through age 25 years and 257 days—the same age Haaland is now—the Argentine forward posted similar numbers. Messi scored his first hat trick at 19, in a Clasico against Real Madrid.

From there, with Barcelona, Messi scored three or more goals in 22 matches, including five games in which he surpassed that mark. That means, at the club level, the Argentine forward actually edged Haaland’s current total at the same age.

The difference in Haaland’s favor comes at the international level. With the Norway national team, he has six hat tricks, while by age 25 Messi had only recorded two with Argentina. As a result, Messi had a total of 24 hat tricks at that point in his career. Over time, he added significantly to that number: Messi now has 60 hat tricks.

The hat tricks of Cristiano Ronaldo

In this comparison, Cristiano Ronaldo is the most disadvantaged. At 25 years and 257 days old, he had recorded just two hat tricks in his career. That can largely be explained by his role early on, when he played primarily as a winger and was less focused on goal-scoring.

After his early years with Sporting CP and Manchester United, CR7 evolved into a prolific scorer at Real Madrid, where his numbers surged dramatically. In total, Ronaldo now has 65 hat tricks across his club career and with the Portugal national team.

Son has just one goal — a penalty in the Concacaf Champions Cup against Real Espana — so far in the 2026 season, including his appearances with the South Korea national team during the March international break.

However, the LAFC coach does not see it as a major issue and instead offered a tactical assessment of Son’s role within the team. “There’s his role with LAFC and his role with the national team that are kind of similar. He went from almost in his early career being a winger, to now being more central,” said Dos Santos during Thursday’s press conference, shared by the club on YouTube. “That happens a lot with players getting at a certain age, it’s normal.”

The coach then pointed to several examples. “You saw it even with Cristiano Ronaldo, playing more wide and now more central. You saw at some stage in his career with Gareth Bale,” Marc began. “You see it a lot with Messi, a lot in his big years in Barcelona drifting from the right side inside, and now being more central. And it’s happening the same with Sonny.”

Following that explanation, a reporter asked Dos Santos whether that meant Son’s role had changed compared to last season — when he scored 12 goals in 13 matches. “He was a number 9 with us last year. He is a number 9 with us this year,” said the coach. “Nothing changes.”

LAFC coach confident Son will return to scoring form

Beyond the tactical explanation, Dos Santos acknowledged that certain aspects of Son Heung-min’s performances differ from the version he showed last year: “I don’t think he’s a robot. He’s not a machine. He had a different and challenging preseason that nobody was expecting. And maybe things are coming slower and we have to manage it.”

In particular, he highlighted specific difficulties the South Korea forward is facing. “Last year, sometimes when he would beat a player, he would get the extra half yard to release the shot. And now it seems that a lot of shots are being blocked,” Marc said.

Still, the coach struck an optimistic tone looking ahead. “He wants to score, he wants to do well… I know that at the right moment, he’s going to be ready. I trust him, I know he performs well,” said Dos Santos. Son’s next opportunity to end his drought will come this Saturday, when LAFC host Orlando City.

During an interview on The Bridge Show, which also featured Aurelien Tchouameni and Achraf Hakimi, the players were asked about those who inspired them as children and whom they have tried to emulate throughout their careers.

“At first it was Zidane, then Cristiano,” Mbappe said. His first choice is clear: a French legend who led his country to their first World Cup title in 1998 and starred for Real Madrid. However, Ronaldo later emerged as Kylian’s main inspiration.

“I think for a striker, he’s shown everything possible, because he played in different styles,” Mbappe added, referring to Cristiano’s versatility throughout his career. “He knows how to do everything, and he’s done everything.”

The evolution of Cristiano Ronaldo

Ronaldo began as a winger whose main strengths were speed and dribbling. That style of play took him from Sporting CP to Manchester United and helped him become the best player in the world after winning the Ballon d’Or in 2008.

Following his move to Real Madrid in 2009, however, he began a gradual transformation into the center forward he is today at Al Nassr. That shift is reflected in his numbers, with his goal-scoring output increasing as his role moved from the wings to a more central position.

The similarities between Mbappe and Cristiano Ronaldo

When Kylian Mbappe speaks about the different styles Cristiano Ronaldo has adopted throughout his career, he is also, in a way, describing a path that could apply to his own development as a soccer player.

Early in his career at AS Monaco, he was also a forward who spent more time operating near the wings than in the center of the box. This continued during his early years at Paris Saint-Germain and even with the France national team.

In fact, during France’s 2018 World Cup triumph in Russia, Mbappe primarily played as a right winger, with Ousmane Dembele or Blaise Matuidi on the left, and Antoine Griezmann and Olivier Giroud occupying central attacking roles.

However, over time, Kylian has gradually transitioned into a central striker. That transformation began at PSG while playing alongside Neymar and Messi, and has now been completed at Real Madrid. Since his arrival in Spain, there is little doubt that Mbappe’s natural position is inside the box, and his numbers speak for themselves: 38 goals in 35 matches with the Spanish side this season.

This Friday, Chelsea coach Liam Rosenior revealed that Enzo Fernandez has been disciplined by the club and will not be part of the squad for the next two matches, against Port Vale in the FA Cup and Manchester City in the Premier League. The decision stems from comments made by the midfielder regarding his future that were not well received within the club.

Fernandez recently admitted that he is unsure whether he will still be playing for Chelsea next season, while also fueling rumors of a potential move to Real Madrid by stating that the Spanish capital is his favorite city in Europe.

“It’s disappointing for Enzo to speak that way,” Rosenior said Friday, according to BBC Sport. “I have got no bad words to say about him but a line was crossed in terms of our culture and what we want to build.”

The Chelsea coach later revealed that the decision was made collectively within the club. “It’s not all about me, or the sporting directors. The ownership, the players, we are aligned in our decision,” Rosenior said. However, he shared an optimistic message regarding Fernandez’s future: “The door is not closed on Enzo. It’s a sanction. You have to protect the culture, and in terms of that, a line was crossed.“

Alexis Mac Allister also faces uncertainty at Liverpool

Another Premier League standout in recent seasons is Alexis Mac Allister, a key figure for Liverpool during last year’s league title run. However, the current season has not been as successful at the team level, which could lead the club to make significant decisions in the near future.

“Liverpool are preparing changes, and Salah will not be the only departure. Cody Gakpo, Joe Gomez, Alexis Mac Allister and Federico Chiesa are all on the transfer list,” Spanish outlet Diario AS reported Friday. “The inclusion of the Argentine midfielder is particularly surprising.”

Indeed, a restructuring at Liverpool following the departure of Mohamed Salah would signal a shift into a new era. However, Mac Allister’s potential exit is unexpected, given his importance in recent years and his continued role under coach Arne Slot.

Interestingly, as in Fernandez’s case, speculation surrounding Mac Allister’s future has also linked him with a move to Real Madrid. The Spanish side are known to be targeting midfielders capable of providing a similar level of quality to what Toni Kroos and Luka Modric have delivered, and the Argentine players appear to fit that profile.

With the match tied 2-2 at the start of the second half, the Portuguese striker took a free kick from the edge of the box. The ball struck the arm of an opposing defender, prompting the referee to award a penalty, a decision later confirmed by VAR.

As usual, Ronaldo stepped up to take the penalty and converted it without issue. In the 56th minute, he scored Al Nassr’s third goal with a powerful right-footed strike that left goalkeeper Victor Braga with no chance, despite having guessed the direction of the ball.

Just a few minutes later, Cristiano extended his team’s lead after receiving a pass inside the box from Sadio Mane. The 41-year-old star took his time to control the ball, settle himself, and unleash a powerful, high shot that was impossible for the goalkeeper to stop.

Al Nassr maintain top spot in the Saudi Pro League

Al Nassr did not get off to a strong start, as Rakan Rajeh Altulayhi opened the scoring in the 44th minute for the visitors. In first-half stoppage time, however, Al Nassr turned the game around thanks to goals from Abdullah Al Hamdan and Sadio Mane. Still, the visitors equalized again after the break through Felippe Cardoso.

Then came Cristiano Ronaldo’s brace, which proved decisive for Al Nassr, as well as the fifht goal from Mane. With that, they surged toward a victory that allows them to remain the sole leaders in the Saudi Pro League standings. They now have 70 points, six more than Al Hilal, who are set to play on Saturday against Al Taawoun.

Ronaldo closes in on 1,000 goals

After a month sidelined with a muscle injury, Cristiano Ronaldo made up for lost time by adding two more goals to his tally. He now has 10 goals for Al Nassr so far this year and 967 in his professional career, just 33 shy of the 1,000 mark.

In addition, Saturday’s brace helps Ronaldo climb closer to the top of the Saudi Pro League scoring chart. Ivan Toney of Al Ahli leads the rankings with 25 goals, followed by Julian Quinones of Al Qadsiah with 24. Cristiano now sits third with 23 goals, with seven matches still remaining in the season.

“Inter Miami’s match on Saturday may have to take place under a ‘limited event permit… with restrictions and additional precautions’ if Nu Stadium does not receive a temporary certificate of occupancy, city officials say,” reporter Andy Slater wrote on his X account Friday.

The core of the issues Inter Miami are facing ahead of the Austin match relates to the stadium’s construction and the subsequent administrative permits. In particular, the problem involves the Temporary Certificate of Occupancy (TCO), a document issued by local authorities that allows partial or temporary use of a facility before final inspections are completed.

“The city is working diligently with the representatives of Nu Stadium to issue the TCO by April 4th’s inaugural game,” Slater’s post on X added. “However, if the TCO is not issued there is an avenue to proceed under a limited event permit, which is limited to that day, with specific hours, restrictions, and additional precautions. This is a recourse often used in these situations.”

Despite these last-minute administrative permit complications for the use of Nu Stadium, there are no reports suggesting that the Inter Miami vs Austin FC match will be postponed or rescheduled to a future date.

Inter Miami have been waiting for this moment for a long time

The construction of the new stadium at Miami Freedom Park has been a priority for the Herons practically since Lionel Messi’s arrival in the summer of 2023. As the construction progressed, the issue gained increasing importance in the club’s day-to-day operations.

In fact, Inter Miami executives coordinated with MLS to schedule this season’s fixtures so that the team’s first home game would occur after the completion of Nu Stadium. That’s why the Herons played their first five league matches away from home, with Saturday’s match against Austin FC marking their first as hosts.

The only exception they couldn’t avoid was in the Concacaf Champions Cup. There, they had no choice but to host Nashville SC in the second leg of the Round of 16 at Chase Stadium on March 18, where they were eliminated after a 1-1 draw.

The striker suffered an ankle injury during training with the England national team over the FIFA March international break, and his availability for upcoming club matches is in serious doubt.

“That will affect tomorrow’s match, and he won’t be available,” Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany said during Friday’s press conference ahead of the Bundesliga match against SC Freiburg.

“Nevertheless, I’m optimistic about Tuesday’s match,” Kompany added in reference to the Champions League clash against Real Madrid, though he admitted: “Of course it’s not an ideal situation—I would have liked him to play against Freiburg—but given the current situation, that won’t be possible.”

The impact of Harry Kane on Bayern Munich

Since arriving in Germany from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2023, Harry Kane has established himself as Bayern Munich’s undisputed leader on the field. His numbers make that clear, and this season has been no exception.

Across the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal, DFL-Supercup and UEFA Champions League, the English striker has made 40 appearances during the 2025-26 campaign. He has scored an impressive 48 goals, along with five assists, averaging 1.32 goal contributions per match.

How have Bayern Munich dealt with Harry Kane’s absence before?

This season, Harry Kane has missed just two matches for Bayern Munich. Both came in March due to a calf issue. Coach Vincent Kompany replaced him on both occasions with Nicolas Jackson, who scored in each match against Borussia Monchengladbach and Atalanta.

L’Equipe published an analysis this Wednesday of the highest salaries in Europe’s top leagues. When focusing specifically on La Liga, they created a top-five list that shows the dominance of one club: four of the five highest-paid players in the Spanish league play for Real Madrid.

At the top of the ranking, for now, are Mbappe and Vinicius, both with a gross monthly salary calculated at €2,670,000 (around $37 million per year). However, this parity between Real Madrid’s two stars could change soon, as Vinicius’ contract includes a raise starting next season.

It’s worth noting that when additional earnings beyond the fixed salary are included, Mbappe holds an advantage. “The French national team captain (27 years old) remains, however, the highest-paid player at the Madrid club, thanks to bonuses included in his contract, which runs until June 2029,” L’Equipe notes.

The top three in La Liga salaries is completed by another Real Madrid player: David Alaba, with a gross monthly salary of €1,880,000. Next is the first player from another club, Robert Lewandowski, who earns about €1,730,000 at Barcelona. Finally, tied for fifth are Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham and Atletico Madrid’s Jan Oblak, both at €1,670,000.

Salary rankings in other top European leagues

In addition to calculating the highest salaries in La Liga, L’Equipe performed the same analysis for Europe’s other top leagues. Across all of them, the only player approaching the numbers of Mbappe and Vinicius is Erling Haaland. The Manchester City striker has a reported monthly salary of €2,630,000 (around $36.4 million per year).

Haaland clearly leads the Premier League ranking, followed by Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah (€2,000,000), Manchester United’s Casemiro and Liverpool’s Virgil Van Dijk (both €1,750,000), and finally Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes and Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka (€1,500,000).

In Italy, the numbers are more modest. Dusan Vlahovic leads with €1,850,000 at Juventus, followed by Lautaro Martinez with €1,390,000 at Inter Milan and Paulo Dybala with €1,080,000 at AS Roma.

Finally, France presents a unique case: the highest salary is not a player, but a coach. “With his upcoming contract extension worth around €20 million annually, PSG coach Luis Enrique will soon be the highest-paid figure in our league,” L’Equipe reports. Ousmane Dembele follows with €18 million per year.

“Phil tried everything. I would say he was excellent in camp but he struggles to show it on the pitch,” Tuchel admitted, according to The Guardian, following the March friendly matches against Uruguay and Japan. “He struggles to have the full impact.”

Tuchel was then asked whether a player going through this kind of period in their career could still be considered for the World Cup roster. “I can,” he responded, but then clarified: “The question would be if we will. It’s not a guarantee that he will come.”

On Foden’s recent club performances, the coach offered his analysis: “He didn’t have a lot of minutes for City recently.” Yet he praised the midfielder’s attitude: “Then he came to camp with the brightest smile and was so good in training, and I thought he would just surprise us and play with the same verve and excitement.”

Foden not at his best

At Manchester City, Phil Foden appears to have lost some of the prominence he had until a few months ago. He has 10 goals and 5 assists in 41 matches this season, but in the last 10 games he has started only twice. He even remained on the bench without playing in four of those matches.

That did not stop Thomas Tuchel from calling him up for the March FIFA break and giving him minutes in both England games. Foden started against Uruguay and played 56 minutes before being replaced by Cole Palmer. A similar situation occurred against Japan, with Dominic Solanke coming on for him in the 59th minute.

England have plenty of options in that area

Questions about Foden’s inclusion in the 2026 FIFA World Cup squad are not only related to his current form at Manchester City but also to the wide array of options Tuchel has at the position.

In recent call-ups, the attacking midfielders included Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham, Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers, Morgan Gibbs-White, and Eberechi Eze. Tuchel has even left the door open for 16-year-old Arsenal wonderkid Max Dowman.

It’s clear that England will not have room for everyone. In fact, the coach was asked months ago about the possibility of including five No.10s in the roster. “I don’t see how this will help us,” he replied, making it clear that some players will inevitably be left out of the World Cup. That makes the next two months of club competition crucial in determining who claims the coveted spots.

“Raphinha’s injury is a shame,” Laporta said during a recent interview with Mon Esport. “It’s a friendly match, and one of the team’s best players suffers an injury. Of course it’s annoying… It’s infuriating!”

The Barcelona president was quick to make clear that Raphinha was not at fault. “You can’t blame the players. They are professionals and they give their all for their country,” he explained.

Instead, Laporta pointed to where he believes the main responsibility lies in these situations. “The problem is the crowded schedule, in the time of the season where we are playing for everything,” he said. “FIFA must make their calendar considering that these players play for big clubs.”

Raphinha will miss key Barcelona matches

Barcelona’s complaints are understandable given, as Laporta noted, the timing of Raphinha’s injury. This Saturday, they will face Atletico Madrid in a crucial La Liga clash that could be decisive in maintaining their lead with nine matches remaining.

And that’s not all: just four days later, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid will meet again in an even more significant matchup. They are set to play the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals at the Camp Nou, with the decisive second leg scheduled for Tuesday, April 14, in Madrid.

By then, Raphinha will have been recovering from his hamstring injury for just over two weeks—a timeframe typically insufficient for a full recovery from this type of issue. As a result, Barcelona are effectively ruling out the winger for the entire series against Atletico Madrid, representing a major setback for Hansi Flick.

The FIFA calendar

While Joan Laporta’s complaints are understandable given the impact on Barcelona, his criticism does not fully reflect how the FIFA calendar is structured. Most leagues around the world run from September through May, with the early months of the year typically representing the most decisive stretch of the season.

During that period, FIFA schedules only one international break—the March window. It is the first of the year, with the next not coming until June, after club competitions have concluded. In contrast, the bulk of international fixtures takes place in the second half of the year, aligning with the early stages of the club season, when overall demands are lower.

The Argentine forward did not join Thursday’s training session with his teammates, raising concerns about his participation in Saturday’s game. However, the coach offered a reassuring explanation.

“We had it already planned that way,” Mascherano began during the press conference, shared by reporter Jose Armando on X. “Leo is fine. We’re simply taking the usual care with him, as we do with everyone.”

Mascherano then explained that the differentiated exercises Messi completed during training, alongside Noah Allen and Alex Shaw, were due to their recent game load during the March FIFA break: “They are the three players who played on Tuesday and had the most minutes. Less than 48 hours have passed since they finished playing; we just wanted them to move a little in a regenerative way.”

Inter Miami receive good news

The situation with Messi, as well as Allen and Shaw, does not raise any concerns for Inter Miami ahead of upcoming matches. Additionally, the other players who represented their national teams during the FIFA break in recent days are also in perfect condition.

“The rest of the players who played had fewer minutes. Or, like in the case of Telasco (Segovia), they played on Monday,” Javier Mascherano explained in the same press conference. “All of them are in good condition.”

With that in mind, the Herons have positive prospects ahead of Saturday’s clash against Austin FC. According to reporter Jose Armando, two of the players who had recent physical issues—Maximiliano Falcon and Sergio Reguilon—participated in Thursday’s session alongside the rest of the squad. The only player missing full training was Facundo Mura, who completed differentiated exercises.

Falcon has been out of action since March 11, when he was substituted in the opening minutes of the first leg against Nashville SC in the Concacaf Champions Cup. Reguilon, meanwhile, had to leave in the first half of the second leg on March 18 and had not played since.

“Almeria owes Flamengo around €1.8 million for 590 days. In February, the athlete Cristiano Ronaldo acquired 25% of the Spanish club,” Flamengo said in a statement published on its official website this week.

According to the Brazilian giants, the situation stems from the transfer of Lazaro in August 2022. The left winger was transferred at the time from Flamengo to Almeria in a deal reported to be around $8 million. As part of that transfer, the Brazilian side had to cover taxes applied in Spain and has since been seeking reimbursement from Almeria for those expenses.

“Even after Flamengo was compelled to bear such amounts — totaling over €1.5 million — and following a formal FIFA decision fully recognizing its right to reimbursement, Almeria chooses not to fulfill its obligation,” the statement added. “The debt after 590 days of default exceeds €1,800,000.00.”

Flamengo outline next steps

After providing context for the claim against Almeria, Flamengo detailed the steps it plans to take in its attempt to recover the more than $2 million it had to pay at the time for Lazaro’s transfer.

“Flamengo trusts that the competent bodies, particularly the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), will provide the appropriate response to this behavior, ensuring compliance with the decisions already issued within FIFA and the observance of the commitments undertaken,” the official statement said.

Almeria’s debt predates Ronaldo’s arrival

As made clear by Flamengo’s account of events, the claim originated long before Cristiano Ronaldo became one of the owners of Almeria. Between Lazaro’s purchase in August 2022 and Ronaldo’s appearance as the owner of 25% of the Spanish club, three and a half years elapsed.

Nevertheless, Ronaldo’s new role in Almeria’s structure necessarily makes him involved in this conflict, which could become a headache for him in his first foray into this type of ownership activity.

According to Diario AS, the consolidation of Apollo Sports Capital as Atletico Madrid’s majority shareholder this year will allow the club to make a major investment to strengthen the squad. In that context, signing a forward to replace Griezmann has become a top priority.

Martinez has been on Atletico Madrid’s radar since his days at Racing Club in the Argentine league. At the time, negotiations were advanced, but in 2018 Inter Milan completed his signing for $25 million.

Since then, Lautaro has developed into one of Serie A’s top stars, scoring 171 goals in 370 appearances for Inter, but Atletico Madrid’s interest has never faded. Now, with his Argentina teammate Julian Alvarez already in the squad, the two could form a formidable attacking partnership.

However, any move for Lautaro Martinez will not be easy, given his importance to Inter and his high market value, estimated at €85 million ($98 million) by Transfermarkt. “An insatiable goalscorer, but very difficult to prise away from Inter, where he is captain and under contract until 2029,” Diario AS reports.

Other alternatives to replace Griezmann

If a deal for Lautaro Martinez does not materialize, Atletico Madrid have reportedly been monitoring another Argentina forward: Joaquin Panichelli, who plays for RC Strasbourg in France.

Panichelli has impressed this season, scoring 20 goals in 39 appearances across Ligue 1, the Coupe de France and the UEFA Europa Conference League. Those performances earned him call-ups from Lionel Scaloni for the FIFA international breaks in November 2025 and March 2026.

That had put him in strong contention to be Argentina’s third striker at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, behind Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez. However, a serious knee injury has ruled Panichelli out, something that likely also impacts any potential move to Atletico Madrid.

The Spanish side could also opt for players with different profiles and, instead of a traditional striker, target more versatile options. Among them are 20-year-old Bayer Leverkusen star Ibrahim Maza, an attacking midfielder, as well as Olympique Marseille forward Mason Greenwood and Paris Saint-Germain winger Lee Kang-in.

Italy’s elimination in the European playoffs came via penalties after a 1-1 draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, things had started well for the Azzurri, who took the lead through a goal from Moise Kean. Bastoni, though, was sent off in the 41st minute of the first half, severely hurting the team’s chances.

With the result decided, Bastoni became the focal point of criticism. The Italian press singled him out as one of the main culprits, labeling his red card as “stupid.” In addition, La Gazzetta dello Sport wrote: “Bastoni and a disastrous 2026.”

Italian fans also made their frustration clear, flooding his social media posts with aggressive comments. According to Mundo Deportivo, the player’s latest post received more than 13,000 comments, prompting Bastoni and his wife to restrict interactions on their Instagram accounts to stop the harassment.

Barcelona are interested in Bastoni

The difficult situation surrounding Alessandro Bastoni, amid widespread criticism from both media and fans in Italy, could prove decisive for his future. In that context, Barcelona are circling, waiting for the right opportunity to open negotiations.

“At the club, they believe they can land Bastoni for a fee capped at €55–60 million, and Italy’s elimination along with the public backlash could ease the player’s exit,” Mundo Deportivo report.

It is well known that Barcelona are in the market for a left-footed center back to fill the void left by Inigo Martinez, who joined Al Nassr at the start of the season. Bastoni is considered one of the top priorities, although he faces competition from other targets such as Borussia Dortmund’s Nico Schlotterbeck and Bournemouth’s Marcos Senesi.

Bastoni left out of the World Cup again

Despite being one of the most sought-after defenders in the world, Alessandro Bastoni’s international career has been far less accomplished than expected. At 26, he has yet to play in a World Cup, with Italy having missed the tournament since 2014.

Bastoni made his international debut in 2020 and, a year later, won the UEFA Euro 2020 with Italy, defeating England on penalties. However, in World Cup qualifiers, he has been unable to help his national team secure qualification for 2022 and 2026 FIFA World Cups.

At best, Bastoni could make his World Cup debut in 2030 at age 30, a situation similar to that of other stars from the country such as Gianluigi Donnarumma, Sandro Tonali, Nicolo Barella and Moise Kean.

After giving playing time in friendlies against France and Croatia to several players who had not previously been considered, the coach was candid in admitting: “The new players have contributed a lot, they’ve taken their opportunity and, obviously, it increases the doubt over the final list.”

These remarks only add to the uncertainty in Brazil, with just over two months remaining until the start of the tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. And considering that the deadline to submit the roster is May 30, the timeline is even tighter.

Ancelotti expressed satisfaction with the team’s performances. “The idea was to play like this. There are things to improve, obviously, but we’re on the right track,” he said, according to TyC Sports. “Everyone contributed, which is a positive sign for the team.”

Regarding the next steps in the coming months, the coach was clear: “Now we will continue evaluating what happens in the European leagues and in the Brazilian league… We have a good team structure, a good atmosphere, we’re working very well; for now, we’re calm.”

Endrick fights for a place in Brazil

Among the players who were given their first opportunity under Carlo Ancelotti during this March FIFA international break is Endrick. The Real Madrid forward, on loan at Olympique Lyon, did not feature in Sunday’s 2-1 loss to France but did see minutes in the match against Croatia.

Endrick came on in the 76th minute to replace Luiz Henrique and played a key role: he won the penalty that led to the second goal and assisted Gabriel Martinelli on the third. “He played very well,” Ancelotti said when asked about the young forward.

In addition, other players also earned their first minutes in this cycle and made positive impressions. Botafogo midfielder Danilo Santos scored one of the goals against Croatia, while Brentford forward Igor Thiago featured in both matches during the international break and also found the net.

Poland failed to overcome Sweden in one of the European playoffs, losing 3-2 at the Strawberry Arena in Stockholm. This was their last chance to secure a spot in Group F alongside the Netherlands, Japan, and Tunisia.

As a result, Robert Lewandowski missed the opportunity to take part in what would almost certainly have been his last World Cup. By 2030, he will be nearly 42 years old, making it unlikely he will still be competing internationally.

“It’s hard to say anything after a match like that. I don’t know if the words I find would reflect what we feel. Soccer can be cruel,” Lewandowski admitted after the defeat to Sweden. Asked about his future with Poland, he was completely honest: “I don’t know. I need to think carefully, reflect.”

North America 2026 would have marked Lewandowski’s third World Cup, having led Poland in Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022. Alongside the Barcelona forward, other top stars will also miss this summer’s FIFA tournament.

Gianluigi Donnarumma

The Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper was at the center of another disappointment for Italy, who lost on penalties to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the European playoffs and failed for the third consecutive time to reach the World Cup. At 27, Donnarumma has yet to play in a World Cup, a situation shared by other Italian stars such as Sandro Tonalli, Nicolo Barella, and Alessandro Bastoni.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia

Another PSG star who has not yet found the same level of success with his national team. Kvaratskhelia was unable to help Georgia even reach the European playoffs, as they finished third in their group behind Spain and Turkey.

Victor Osimhen

One of the most surprising absences for the 2026 World Cup is Nigeria, one of Africa’s strongest teams in recent decades. They failed to secure a spot for the second consecutive time, having also missed the Qatar 2022 edition. Victor Osimhen, the national team’s star, has yet to play in a World Cup at 27 years old.

Dominik Szoboszlai

Despite being one of Liverpool’s top stars in the Premier League, Szoboszlai could not guide Hungary to the 2026 World Cup. They were eliminated in the early stage of the European qualifiers, finishing behind Portugal and Ireland in Group F. Although Hungary were twice runners-up (1938 and 1954), they have now gone 40 years without appearing in a World Cup.

Stars missing the World Cup due to injury

In addition to players whose teams failed to qualify for North America 2026, several stars will miss the tournament due to injury. This group includes Brazil’s Rodrygo Goes, who is sidelined with a serious knee injury. Also absent are England’s Jack Grealish, Japan’s Takumi Minamino, and Argentina’s Juan Foyth and Joaquin Panichelli.

In the 43rd minute of the first half, Messi pounced on a rebound inside the box and, from a very tight angle, fired a left-footed shot to make it 2-0 for Argentina. That goal was his 116th at international level in 198 appearances, and his first of 2026.

Messi has now scored in 21 consecutive years for Argentina, placing him second on the all-time list in this category. The top spot, unsurprisingly, belongs to Cristiano Ronaldo, who has scored in 22 straight years for Portugal.

In that ranking led by Cristiano Ronaldo (22) and followed by Lionel Messi (21), other stars have also left their mark. The top three is rounded out by Edin Dzeko, who has scored in 20 consecutive years for Bosnia and Herzegovina between 2007 and 2026. Further down the list are Ireland’s Robbie Keane (19) and Poland’s Robert Lewandowski (19).

Messi’s numbers with Argentina

Messi made his senior national team debut on August 17, 2005, in a friendly against Hungary, where he was sent off just one minute after coming on. He failed to score in his six appearances that year, so his first international goal came in March 2006, in a friendly against Croatia.

Since then, there hasn’t been a single year in which Messi has failed to score for Argentina, whether in friendlies or official competitions. His best year came in 2022, when he scored 18 goals — including seven at the World Cup in Qatar — followed by 2012, when he netted 12.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s numbers with Portugal

As impressive as Lionel Messi’s numbers with Argentina are, they still fall short of Cristiano Ronaldo’s production with Portugal. He has scored 143 goals in 226 appearances for his national team and has done so across 22 consecutive years.

After making his international debut in 2003 in a friendly against Kazakhstan, CR7 scored his first goal the following year at UEFA Euro 2004 against Greece. From that point on, he began a streak that has, for now, extended through 2025. He has yet to play internationally this year, but will have the chance to extend that run in the coming months.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s most prolific year with the Portugal national team came in 2019, when he scored 14 goals. Most of them came in European qualifiers and the UEFA Nations League, a competition Portugal went on to win.

Pathway 1 of the interconfederation playoffs held its final this Tuesday. There, Jamaica (who advanced to this stage after defeating New Caledonia) faced DR Congo. The match at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara, Mexico, ended in a 1-0 victory for the African side.

Now Congo DR will join Group K of the World Cup, where they face the difficult challenge of opening their campaign against Cristiano Ronaldo. That matchup against Portugal is scheduled for June 17 at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.

Six days later, they will take on Colombia at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara—coincidentally the same venue where they secured their historic qualification. Finally, the Group K finale will take place on June 27, when Congo DR will face Uzbekistan at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

How many times have DR Congo played in a World Cup?

With Tuesday’s 1-0 win over Jamaica, DR Congo have earned the right to play in their second World Cup in history. Their only previous appearance came at Germany 1974, when they competed under the country’s former name at the time: Zaire.

On that occasion, they were drawn into Group 2 alongside Brazil, Yugoslavia and Scotland. Their performance fell well short of expectations, as they lost all three matches, conceding 14 goals and scoring none. They were beaten 2-0 by Scotland, 9-0 by Yugoslavia and 3-0 by Brazil.

A new experience for Cristiano Ronaldo

In his 23 years with the Portugal national team, Cristiano Ronaldo has never faced DR Congo, either in friendlies or in official competitions. At the World Cup level, he has played six matches against African national teams, recording four wins, one draw and one loss.

In each of his World Cup appearances, Ronaldo has faced at least one African opponent in the group stage. In 2006, it was a 1-0 win over Angola, while in 2010 he played to a 0-0 draw against Ivory Coast. Four years later, he faced Ghana and won 2-1, while at Russia 2018 it was a 1-0 victory over Morocco. At Qatar 2022, Portugal faced two CAF opponents: they defeated Ghana 3-2 in the group stage before falling 1-0 to Morocco in the quarterfinals.

In the first half, Mexico were the absolute dominators of the game. They controlled possession, neutralized their opponents’ strengths, and created a significant number of goal-scoring opportunities.

Julian Quinones was the team’s most dangerous player, with several shots and key passes for his teammates. In that context, the opener came in the 19th minute, when, following a corner kick, Jorge Sanchez pounced on a rebound inside the box and calmly pushed the ball past the goalkeeper.

In the following minutes, Javier Aguirre’s side had plenty of chances to extend their lead but were undone by their own inefficiency—a mistake that would later prove costly. At the start of the second half, Belgium created their first clear chance and made it count: Dodi Lukebakio scored a brilliant goal to level the match at 1-1.

For the remainder of the game, the intensity from both teams dropped as the coaches made substitutions that slowed the pace. Mexico ended the March international break with positive results and performances, competing head-to-head with two top-ten European national teams. Belgium impressed against USMNT and secured a draw with Mexico, leaving them in strong form ahead of the World Cup.

[Watch Mexico vs Belgium online in the US on Fubo]

Mexico face added pressure as one of the host nations of next summer’s FIFA tournament, and are especially focused on delivering strong performances to avoid disappointing their fans. Their most recent outing met expectations, as they played to a 0-0 draw against Portugal at the Estadio Azteca.

After passing that test against one of the world’s top national teams, Javier Aguirre’s side now look to take another step forward on Tuesday and push for a win against another strong European opponent, albeit one with fewer stars than Portugal.

Belgium are currently ranked No. 9 in the FIFA rankings and aim to be contenders at the next World Cup, just as they were at Russia 2018. Their latest performance supports that ambition: a 5-2 win over USMNT in which they delivered a dominant and efficient attacking display.

Confirmed Mexico lineup

Mexico’s performance against Portugal just three days ago appears to have satisfied Javier Aguirre, meaning several players from that match will retain their spots in the starting XI on Tuesday.

Mexico’s confirmed XI to face Belgium is: Raul Rangel; Jesus Gallardo, Cesar Montes, Johan Vasquez, Jorge Sanchez; Erik Lira, Alvaro Fidalgo, Orbelin Pineda; Julian Quinones, Raul Jimenez, Brian Gutierrez.

Confirmed Belgium lineup

While Javier Aguirre had reason to be pleased with his team’s previous performance, Rudi Garcia can be even more encouraged. However, following the emphatic win over USMNT, the French coach will change much of his starting XI.

Belgium’s confirmed lineup is: Matz Sels; Timothy Castagne, Koni De Winter, Nathan Ngoy, Maxime De Cuyper; Axel Witsel, Youri Tielemans, Kevin De Bruyne; Dodi Lukébakio, Mika Godts, Lois Openda.

From the first half, it was clear that Portugal would face a tough challenge. Mexico set up with a physically intense and tactically disciplined strategy, making it difficult for stars like Bruno Fernandes and Joao Felix to stand out. In that context, Portugal’s clearest chance came from Goncalo Ramos, who controlled the ball inside the box but fired wide.

Mexico tried long-range shots but lacked the precision to trouble goalkeeper Rui Silva. In the second half, their best opportunity came when Armando Gonzalez met a cross from the left with a header, but sent it over.

Roberto Martinez’s side brought on other stars in the second half, including Pedro Neto, Vitinha, Joao Cancelo, and Diogo Dalot, but they were unable to make an impact. Cristiano Ronaldo’s absence was obvious, as his presence in the box has been a key weapon for Portugal in recent years.

For Mexico, the next challenge comes on Tuesday, when they face Belgium in another friendly. Portugal will travel to Atlanta, Georgia, to take on the USMNT at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Unfortunately for Mexican and American fans, Cristiano Ronaldo will not be part of these matches. The Al Nassr forward was not included in coach Roberto Martinez’s squad as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury that has sidelined him for exactly one month.

Even so, Portugal will field an extremely competitive side, with most of their stars available. Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes will be one of the main attractions, alongside other top-level players such as Ruben Neves, Joao Felix, and Nuno Mendes.

On the other side are Mexico, who remain in the process of building a clear playing identity. Head coach Javier Aguirre knows he faces the difficult task of shaping his squad into a serious contender ahead of a World Cup that will be especially meaningful, as they are one of the hosts. That makes this test against one of the world’s top national teams, Portugal, particularly valuable.

Confirmed Mexico lineup

While facing Portugal will require Mexico to be more cautious than they typically are against Concacaf opposition, Javier Aguirre will not sacrifice attacking firepower. Key players such as Raul Jimenez and Roberto Alvarado will feature in the starting lineup.

Mexico’s confirmed XI: Raul Rangel; Johan Vasquez, Cesar Montes, Jesus Gallardo, Israel Reyes; Erick Lira, Obed Vargas, Alvaro Fidalgo; Brian Gutierrez, Roberto Alvarado, Raul Jimenez.

Confirmed Portugal lineup

In addition to Cristiano Ronaldo’s absence, Roberto Martinez must also cope with missing key players such as Bernardo Silva and Ruben Dias during this March international break. However, that will not prevent him from naming a lineup filled with top-tier talent.

Portugal’s confirmed XI to face Mexico: Rui Silva; Matheus Nunes, Renato Veiga, Antonio Silva, Nuno Mendes; Samu Costa, Ruben Neves, Bruno Fernandes; Joao Felix, Francisco Conceicao, Gonzalo Ramos.

Ronaldo has been out of action for exactly one month. He last played an official match for Al Nassr on February 28, in a 3-1 win over Al Fayha in the Saudi Pro League. Following that performance, the forward was diagnosed with a hamstring injury that he is still recovering from.

This physical issue forced CR7 to miss his club’s last two league matches, but it has had an even bigger impact at the international level. Portugal coach Roberto Martinez was unable to include him in the squad for the March FIFA international break, during which the national team is facing Mexico and the USMNT.

That means Ronaldo will not return to action with Portugal before Martinez finalizes the 26-man roster that will represent the country at the 2026 World Cup, a decision that must be made by May 30. While this does not affect the forward’s chances of making the squad, it does represent a setback in the team’s preparation, as they will be without their biggest star at a key stage on the road to the FIFA tournament.

Possible return date for Cristiano Ronaldo

At the time Ronaldo’s injury was confirmed in early March, Al Nassr avoided providing a specific timeline for his return, instead stating that “he started a rehabilitation program and will be under evaluation day by day.”

Days later, Jorge Jesus was candid in acknowledging that the situation was not encouraging. “After tests, we see the injury suffered by Cristiano Ronaldo was more serious than expected,” said the Al Nassr coach.

Several weeks have passed since then, and Ronaldo has shown positive signs of nearing a full recovery with an optimistic message. “Good to be back! Looking good,” he said in a social media post. Based on that latest update, reports now indicate that CR7 could return on April 3, when Al Nassr face Al-Najma in the Saudi Pro League.

Who will replace Cristiano Ronaldo for Portugal?

For Saturday night’s matchup vs. Mexico at Estadio Azteca, Roberto Martinez faces the challenge of finding a replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo. Reports indicate that Goncalo Ramos will take the center forward role in the starting lineup, supported in attack by Joao Felix and Pedro Neto.

“Good thing it wasn’t played,” Martinez said when asked about the scrapped matchup against Spain in an interview with TyC Sports following Friday’s 2-1 win over Mauritania in Buenos Aires. “If we played like that, we would have lost.”

The goalkeeper was visibly frustrated with Argentina’s performance in the friendly, in which they barely secured a narrow win against an opponent ranked No. 115 in the FIFA Rankings and one that failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

“It was one of the worst friendlies we’ve played. We lacked intensity, buildup play, speed, and defensive solidity. It’s something we have to analyze,” Martinez admitted. “Every time we put on the national team shirt, we have to do a little better—we need to show more heart.”

Dibu Martinez confident in Argentina ahead of the World Cup

Despite his criticism of Argentina’s performance against Mauritania, Emiliano Martinez expressed confidence heading into the 2026 World Cup. In particular, he was asked about the opinion of some Spanish journalists, who argued after the Finalissima cancellation that Lionel Scaloni’s side are unlikely to advance beyond the quarterfinals this summer in North America.

“The last World Cup was similar—we didn’t play many big matches beforehand and still had a great tournament,” said the Aston Villa goalkeeper, before delivering a pointed message toward Spain: “It’s one game at a time. We have experience going deep in the World Cup—they don’t.”

What’s next for Argentina?

Following the 2-1 win over Mauritania, Argentina will now have several days to rest and train before their next challenge. On Tuesday, they will face Zambia, also in Buenos Aires, in what will be their final home match before the 2026 World Cup.

By late May, Lionel Scaloni will have to finalize the 26-man roster that will represent Argentina in this summer’s FIFA tournament. During the June international break, they will play two friendlies in the United States before their group-stage opener. One of those matches will likely be against Serbia, as Scaloni acknowledged earlier this week.

On Friday, FIFA released the updated ranking of the world’s top national teams. The biggest news is that France jumped from third to second, pushing Messi and his teammates slightly further from the top, though they remain in the top three.

France’s victory over Brazil in the first friendly of the March international break was decisive in this shift, giving the Europeans an extra 3.96 points. With that addition, Mbappe’s side now has 1,873.96 points, just ahead of Argentina’s 1,873.33.

Spain remain at the top. The European champions hold first place with 1,879.12 points, a small but significant margin over their closest rivals. England sit fourth with 1,832.62 points after their 1-1 draw against Uruguay at Wembley Stadium.

Portugal also climb in the rankings

France’s victory over Brazil this week not only boosted Kylian Mbappe and his teammates to second place, it also negatively impacted Carlo Ancelotti’s side. Brazil lost 3.96 points as a result of the match, dropping them from fifth place. Portugal took advantage of this and, even before their game against Mexico this Saturday, moved into the top five with 1,760.38 points.

Top 10 FIFA rankings after the latest update:

1- Spain – 1,879.12

2- France – 1,873.96

3- Argentina – 1,873.33

4- England – 1,832.62

5- Portugal – 1,760.38

6- Netherlands – 1,759.42

7- Brazil – 1,756.49

8- Morocco – 1,753.07

9- Belgium – 1,730.71

10- Germany – 1,728.49

During the first half, there were few moments when the teams were able to get their game flowing. England took the initiative and tried to control possession, but they lacked the clarity to create dangerous chances. Dominic Solanke had the clearest opportunity, with a shot saved by goalkeeper Fernando Muslera.

Uruguay focused on solid defending and looking for counterattacks, but they were only able to do so a few times, with shots from Agustin Canobbio outside the box that were off target.

After the break, things didn’t change much. Constant interruptions due to physical issues and substitutions made it difficult for both teams to find a rhythm. This was reflected in the flow of the game, with clear chances being scarce, except for a header from Dominic Calvert-Lewin that went wide.

However, just when it seemed the match would end goalless, England created an attack from a corner kick. After a series of rebounds inside the box, Benjamin White pounced on the ball and slotted it home to score the opener. Minutes later, a foul on Federico Viñas led to a VAR review and a penalty award, which Federico Valverde converted to seal the 1-1 draw.

The Bayern Munich striker, along with other squad stars such as Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka, are likely to feature in England’s second friendly during the March FIFA break, next Tuesday against Japan.

For Friday, however, head coach Thomas Tuchel will give players who have yet to secure their spot for the 2026 World Cup a chance to compete against a strong opponent like Uruguay and prove their worth for the 26-man roster.

On the other side, Uruguay likely face their final major test before traveling to North America. Coach Marcelo Bielsa, known for his demanding style, will aim for his team to perform at the highest level against one of the world’s top national teams as preparation for the big challenge this summer.

Confirmed England lineup

The absence of Harry Kane and other English stars from the starting XI this Friday does not mean the Three Lions will field a weak team. On the contrary, several top-level players will be included in the XI against Uruguay, such as Marcus Rashford and Phil Foden.

Thomas Tuchel’s confirmed lineup for England is: James Trafford; Tino Livramento, Fikayo Tomori, Harry Maguire, Djed Spence; James Garner, Jordan Henderson; Noni Madueke, Phil Foden, Marcus Rashford; Dominic Solanke.

Confirmed Uruguay lineup

Unlike England, Uruguay will field their key stars for this match. That means Federico Valverde of Real Madrid will be one of Tuchel’s main concerns, given his recent form at club level.

Marcelo Bielsa’s confirmed XI is: Fernando Muslera; Guillermo Varela, Ronald Araujo, Matias Olivera, Joaquin Piquerez; Federico Valverde, Manuel Ugarte, Giorgian De Arrascaeta; Agustin Canobbio, Rodrigo Aguirre, Maximiliano Araujo.

“The tests carried out today on forward Joaquin Panichelli confirmed a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee,” Argentina announced Friday through their official X account. “Stay strong, Joaco! We’re with you.”

This represents a blow not only for the March friendlies against Mauritania and Zambia in Buenos Aires, but also for his upcoming club and international commitments. The knee injury will require Panichelli to undergo surgery and begin a lengthy recovery process expected to take at least six months.

As a result, the striker has been ruled out for the remainder of the 2025-26 season with RC Strasbourg in Ligue 1, as well as the early months of the following campaign. More importantly, it will also keep him out of the 2026 World Cup.

Scaloni’s options to replace Panichelli

Joaquin Panichelli was part of a group of players competing in recent months for one of the final spots on the 26-man roster set to represent Argentina in North America this summer. Lautaro Martinez and Julian Alvarez are the two center forwards whose places, barring any unexpected issues, are all but secured. However, a third option at the position still needs to be determined to provide depth if needed during the tournament.

Panichelli was among those in contention, earning consideration thanks to his performances with RC Strasbourg. He received his first call-up and made his debut for Argentina in November 2025, coming on in the final minutes of a 2-0 win over Angola. He was looking to solidify his place during the March friendlies. With his injury, the leading candidate to fill the third striker role for the World Cup is Palmeiras star Jose Lopez.

Third absence for Argentina ahead of the World Cup

Panichelli’s situation mirrors that of two other Argentina players who suffered serious injuries in recent months. On January 24, defender Juan Foyth ruptured his Achilles tendon during a La Liga match between Villarreal and Real Madrid.

A month later, during a Racing Club training session, Valentin Carboni tore the cruciate ligaments in his right knee—similar to Panichelli—and was also ruled out of the 2026 World Cup.

In all three cases, the players were competing for a spot on the 26-man roster that will represent Argentina in North America this summer. None were expected starters in Lionel Scaloni’s plans, but they were viable options depending on each match’s needs.

The 2026 World Cup will be the first in history without a single Brazilian coach. With the national team being led by a foreigner for the first time in a major tournament—Italian Carlo Ancelotti—Albania had represented the last hope, as their coach is former Barcelona player Sylvinho.

However, that chance has now disappeared, and barring a last-minute change among the national teams already qualified, there will be no Brazilian representation among the 48 head coaches competing for the title in North America 2026.

Brazil’s perfect World Cup coaching record

Brazil’s unbroken streak of having at least one Brazilian coach at every World Cup from Uruguay 1930 to Qatar 2022 was largely driven by the performances of their own national team. Brazil is the only country to have competed in all 22 World Cups held over the last 92 years, and in each edition, a Brazilian coach was on the sidelines—usually leading Brazil themselves.

In many editions, there were even more Brazilian coaches. In 1998, for example, there were four: Mario Zagallo led Brazil to the final against France, while Carlos Alberto Parreira managed Saudi Arabia, Paulo Cesar Carpegiani coached Paraguay, and Rene Simoes was in charge of Jamaica.

The same happened in 2006. Carlos Alberto Parreira managed Brazil, while three other Brazilians coached other teams in the tournament: Luiz Felipe Scolari at Portugal, Alexandre Guimaraes at Costa Rica, and Zico at Japan.

How many foreign coaches will lead teams at the 2026 World Cup?

With the final six spots still to be decided in the UEFA and inter-confederation playoffs during the March FIFA break, 42 teams have already qualified to compete this summer in North America.

The split between teams led by native-born coaches and those with foreign managers is currently very close. Twenty of the 42 qualified teams have head coaches born in their own country, including Argentina with Lionel Scaloni and France with Didier Deschamps.

On the other side, 22 national teams will compete with foreign coaches. Notable examples include Brazil with Carlo Ancelotti, England with Thomas Tuchel, and the United States with Mauricio Pochettino.

The Real Madrid forward, who had been at the center of attention this week due to concerns over his fitness, was ultimately named in Didier Deschamps’ starting lineup and quickly made his quality felt.

In the 32nd minute of the first half, Mbappe received an excellent assist from Ousmane Dembele, allowing him to get past the Brazilian defenders and enter the box. One-on-one with Ederson, Mbappe showed composure, delicately lifting the ball over the goalkeeper to make it 1-0.

This goal reflected the balance of play between the two teams. France had been the better side in the first half, a trend that became even more evident after the opener. Brazil, meanwhile, despite featuring stars such as Raphinha and Vinicius, struggled to impose their style.

In the opening minutes of the second half, head coach Didier Deschamps decided to rest Mbappe and replaced him with Marcus Thuram. That substitution, along with those of other stars such as Dembele, did not affect France, who extended their lead through Hugo Ekitike. However, late in the match, Brazil pulled one back through Bremer.

Mbappe adds to his numbers with France

Thursday’s goal against Brazil was Kylian Mbappe’s first for France in 2026. With it, the forward has now scored in ten consecutive years for his national team, a streak that began with his senior debut in 2017.

Mbappe is also now closing in on equaling Olivier Giroud as France’s all-time leading scorer. The 27-year-old forward reached 56 goals, just one behind his former teammate from the 2018 World Cup-winning squad in Russia. In addition, Mbappe has recorded 40 assists, bringing his total to 96 goal contributions in 95 international appearances.

France’s next challenge

After the match against Brazil in Massachusetts, Kylian Mbappe and his teammates are set for another friendly on U.S. soil. This Sunday, they will face Colombia at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland. Meanwhile, Brazil will take on Croatia on Tuesday in Orlando.

“I’ll do everything possible to make sure he’s there,” Scaloni said at Thursday’s press conference when asked about Messi and his chances of playing in the next World Cup. “I believe that, for the good of soccer, he should be there. All Argentines want to see him, and so does the world.”

A journalist then pointed out that, regardless of what happens, Scaloni will be the last coach to manage Messi at a World Cup—whether it ends up being Qatar 2022 or North America 2026. “I won’t cry this time,” Scaloni said with a smile, referencing previous occasions when he became emotional speaking about his relationship with Messi. “Hopefully I’ll be his coach at this one, his last World Cup. That’s what we all want.”

Finally, Lionel Scaloni spoke about the factors the Inter Miami forward will consider when deciding whether to be part of Argentina’s 26-man squad: “It will be up to him. His mindset, his mental state, his physical condition. Then we’ll see if he’s able to play every match. He has earned the right to decide—we’re in no rush.”

Scaloni warns Argentina players ahead of the World Cup

At the same press conference, Lionel Scaloni discussed the composition of the 26-man squad for the World Cup. He made it clear he will not limit himself to the players called up for the March FIFA break, as injured absentees such as Giovani Lo Celso, Lisandro Martinez, and Lautaro Martinez could return, along with others who have not yet been involved.

“For now, it’s this group, but we’re open to looking at other players… It will all depend on their physical and sporting condition,” the coach said. He also emphasized that even members of the 2022 World Cup-winning squad could be left out if necessary to build the best possible team.

“Unfortunately, the players who helped us win—we’re grateful to them—but we need to win another World Cup, and we need players who are in top condition,” Scaloni warned. “It’s important that they arrive in the best possible shape in every aspect. Based on that, we’ll decide the squad.”

World Cup favorites, according to Scaloni

Argentina, as the reigning champions, are among the favorites to win the 2026 World Cup. However, Scaloni believes the competition will be fierce. “You may think I’m calm, but I just appear that way. What’s coming will be very difficult,” he said.

“No fewer than 10 teams can win the World Cup,” Scaloni added. “I might even be underestimating it, I have no doubt. There are at least 10 teams with top-level players, and the one that plays best—and has the right amount of luck—will win.”

“The LA Galaxy and Inter Miami are both serious suitors for Brazil int’l midfielder Casemiro,” MLS reporter Tom Bogert said on his X account this week. “Casemiro will be a free agent this summer after his Manchester United contract expires.”

Inter Miami’s interest seems to have a clear goal: solving their midfield struggles. In the club’s new era since Lionel Messi arrived in the summer of 2023, that area of the pitch had never been a concern, thanks to an undisputed starter: Sergio Busquets.

But after winning the MLS title in December 2025, the Spanish midfielder followed Jordi Alba’s footsteps and left the club to retire from professional soccer. That departure left a void that has yet to be satisfactorily filled.

Inter Miami’s current midfield options

Ahead of the 2025 MLS season, Inter Miami’s management opted to sign David Ayala. This marked a huge contrast with Busquets: the team went from a world-renowned player arriving in MLS for the final stages of his career to a 23-year-old with less pedigree but MLS experience.

So far, that decision has not paid off. Low performances and personal issues have limited Ayala’s chances of securing a place in the team, and he has played only 3 of the Herons’ 7 matches across MLS and the Concacaf Champions Cup this season.

Javier Mascherano has entrusted Yannick Bright with replacing Busquets as the team’s defensive midfielder, but the Italian player’s performance and the team’s overall functioning have fallen short of expectations. For these reasons, acquiring another internationally proven player like Casemiro could be key to raising the team’s level in the second half of the year.

Another option for Casemiro: The Saudi Pro League

In addition to reports linking him with Inter Miami and LA Galaxy, Casemiro could find an attractive destination in the Saudi Pro League. According to ESPN, Al Ittihad are also interested in the Brazilian midfielder and are open to signing him as a free agent for the next season.

However, that move depends on Fabinho’s departure, another Brazilian star who plays in the same position as Casemiro. The former Liverpool player’s future with the club remains uncertain, as his contract expires this summer.

“We are not the favorites based on the results we’ve had,” Vinicius said this week about Brazil’s chances of competing for the title in North America in 2026, citing the performances the team has shown in recent years, especially before Carlo Ancelotti took over as coach in mid-2025.

“Brazil is never a surprise among the favorites,” Endrick said, according to Diario AS, ahead of Thursday’s friendly against France. “The surprise would be a World Cup without Brazil in the final stages. I can’t think any other way.”

The forward then reiterated his optimism: “In Brazil, we can’t think of anything other than the title. Even with the poor results in recent World Cups, everyone expects to see Brazil reach the final stages as a favorite. There are many players in the best clubs in the world. Being part of a group that is seen this way is an honor.”

Endrick seeks his first World Cup

At just 19 years old, Endrick has already had a significant journey as a professional player. After starting with Palmeiras, he had the chance to play for Real Madrid for a season and a half, but limited opportunities led him to go on loan this year to Olympique Lyon.

There, the forward found good form, scoring 6 goals and providing 5 assists in 14 matches for the French side. His performances caught Carlo Ancelotti’s attention, who decided to call him up for the first time since taking over as coach for the March international break.

Now Endrick will have these days with the national team—possibly playing minutes in at least one of the two friendlies—and two months of competition with Lyon to convince Ancelotti that he deserves a place at the 2026 World Cup.

How have Brazil fared in recent World Cups?

Despite his optimism, Endrick acknowledged that Brazil’s recent performances have not been satisfactory. Since their last World Cup title in South Korea–Japan 2002, the South American giants have not returned to a final.

Their best performance since then was in the 2014 tournament they hosted, when they reached the semifinals—where they lost 7-1 to Germany—and then fell to the Netherlands in the third-place match. In all other editions from 2006 to 2022, Brazil were eliminated in the quarterfinals.

“Given his body of work to this point, I am not concerned,” Hong said during a press conference this week, according to Korea Herald, when asked about Son’s form at club level. The forward has scored just one official goal this year across Major League Soccer and the Concacaf Champions Cup, which came from the penalty spot against Real España of Honduras.

However, at international level, things have gone well for Son lately. He has scored three goals for his national team in 2025, in addition to registering two assists in nine matches. In fact, he found the net in his most recent call-up for South Korea, in the win over Bolivia during the November international break.

“He has a clear understanding of his role,” the head coach added regarding Son’s impact on the pitch for South Korea, as well as his importance as a leader. “It’s really important for us to determine the right moment when Son can optimize his strengths.”

What position will Son play for South Korea?

The dip in Son Heung-min’s goal output with LAFC is partly related to his role on the pitch. He has not been playing as a striker, but rather in a deeper position, using his vision and playmaking ability to create chances for teammates. He has recorded six assists in nine matches this year.

This has raised questions about the role Son will have with South Korea for the March friendlies. “He has been a striker or a left winger for the national team so far,” Hong said. “At the moment, we have some in-form strikers with Oh Hyeon-gyu and Cho Gue-sung. So Son may be asked to play on the wing this time.“

South Korea’s upcoming challenges

The March FIFA break will allow South Korea to make final evaluations ahead of naming their World Cup squad in late May. They will face Ivory Coast on Saturday, followed by a match against Austria on Tuesday.

“In terms of our collective confidence, winning these matches will be really important,” Hong said during the same press conference. At the same time, it will be an opportunity to draw conclusions looking ahead: “There are some players not on this squad who can still make the World Cup team. We will be keeping close tabs on all the players and put together a group of our best players in May.”

A total of six spots remain available for the World Cup. Four of them will be decided among national teams competing in Europe, while the remaining two will go to teams from other confederations facing off in Mexico.

The inter-confederation playoff is a tournament consisting of just four matches divided into two independent brackets. Pathway 1 will begin this Thursday at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara, with the clash between New Caledonia and Jamaica.

The winner will then face DR Congo in the decisive match, to be played at the same venue next Tuesday. The team that prevails in that final will qualify for the World Cup, joining Group K alongside Portugal, Colombia and Uzbekistan.

Pathway 2 of the inter-confederation playoff will be played entirely at Estadio BBVA in Monterrey. There, the semifinal matchup will feature Bolivia against Suriname, while Iraq await in the final. The winner of this bracket will be placed in Group I at the World Cup, alongside France, Senegal and Norway.

PATHWAY 1:

• Semifinal: New Caledonia vs Jamaica

• Final: DR Congo vs semifinal winner

PATHWAY 2:

• Semifinal: Bolivia vs Suriname

• Final: Iraq vs semifinal winner

European playoffs explained

At UEFA level, the playoff format will differ from the inter-confederation structure. A total of 16 national teams have qualified for this stage, divided into four independent brackets, from which four teams will advance to the World Cup.

Unlike the inter-confederation playoffs, which are played entirely at neutral venues, in Europe each bracket includes teams with home advantage and others forced to play away. All ties are single-leg matches and are played at the venue of the team listed first.

Path A features Italy vs Northern Ireland and Wales vs Bosnia and Herzegovina. The winners of those ties will meet in the decisive match on March 31 (to be played in Cardiff or Zenica), with the winner joining Group B alongside Canada, Switzerland and Qatar.

The Path B semifinals include Ukraine vs Sweden and Poland vs Albania. The final will be played in Valencia (where Ukraine are hosting due to security reasons) or Solna. The winner of this bracket will join Netherlands, Japan and Tunisia in Group F of the World Cup.

In Path C, the semifinal matchups will be Turkey vs Romania and Slovakia vs Kosovo. In the final, the possible venues are Bratislava and Pristina. The winner of this path will join Group D alongside United States, Australia and Paraguay.

Finally, Path D features Denmark vs North Macedonia and Czech Republic vs Republic of Ireland. Prague and Dublin are the potential venues for the decisive match, which will grant the winner a place in Group A alongside Mexico, South Korea and South Africa.

PATH A:

• Italy vs Northern Ireland

• Wales vs Bosnia and Herzegovina

PATH B:

• Ukraine vs Sweden

• Poland vs Albania

PATH C:

• Turkey vs Romania

• Slovakia vs Kosovo

PATH D:

• Denmark vs North Macedonia

• Czech Republic vs Republic of Ireland

“We are not the favorites based on the results we’ve had,” Vinicius acknowledged during Wednesday’s press conference ahead of the friendly against France, according to Diario AS. This refers to Brazil’s performance during the World Cup qualifiers, where they finished fifth, suffering six defeats in 18 matches.

“But the weight of the shirt, the quality of the players we have here… We just needed to get in sync,” added the Real Madrid winger, showing satisfaction with the team’s current form. “Since Ancelotti arrived, we have a better idea of how to play. It takes a lot of pressure off us. We have to give everything we can.”

The impact of the Italian coach’s arrival was quickly evident. In June 2025, when Ancelotti was hired, Brazil were at serious risk of missing the World Cup. However, an away draw against Ecuador in the debut match under the new coach and a key win over Paraguay set them on the right path.

Since Ancelotti took charge, Brazil have recorded four wins, two draws, and two losses, considering World Cup qualifiers and friendlies. Beyond the 58.3% win rate, Ancelotti’s major contribution has been to give solidity to a team that previously appeared vulnerable, allowing the talent of their stars to shine more effectively.

Vinicius praises Ancelotti

For Vinicius, Carlo Ancelotti’s arrival at Brazil was a breath of fresh air. The coach was instrumental in the winger’s adaptation at Real Madrid, and together they experienced a successful period that included two UEFA Champions League titles.

Asked about Ancelotti’s influence on the Brazil national team, Vinicius was clear. “He’s in charge. He’s an important coach with many titles and experience,” said the 25-year-old. “You always learn when you talk with Ancelotti. He asks us about the position we want to play, how we prefer to defend, but the decision is his. We hope his ideas are absorbed as quickly as possible.”

Vinicius on his role with Brazil

Despite being an undisputed global soccer star and a key player for Real Madrid, Vinicius still needs to replicate that performance with Brazil. He has registered just 8 goals and 7 assists in 45 matches, and since his debut in 2019 has not won any titles.

“I imagine everyone wants me to be one of the leaders. I’m ready for all the challenges in my career,” Vinicius said, before sending a clear message about his ambitions for this summer’s FIFA tournament: “I’ve already played in a World Cup; I don’t want to lose again. I’ve been working hard at home, I don’t want to get injured.”

“I observe and hear everything that is said about Neymar,” Ancelotti began, during the pre-match press conference ahead of Thursday’s game against France, shared by Diario AS. “It’s normal. Everyone can have an opinion on soccer. There is no clear science. I have to respect everyone’s opinion.”

Many expected Neymar to have the chance to return to the national team during this March FIFA break, after two and a half years away. However, the coach decided not to call him, arguing that he is not in optimal physical condition, while clarifying that there is still a chance Ney could join ahead of the World Cup.

Among the critics of that decision are several icons of Brazilian soccer, including Romario, who sent a strong message to Ancelotti: “I want to make it clear that while I am fully in favor of Neymar going, I will continue to support the pursuit of the ‘Hexa’ even if he doesn’t. But the message is clear: Pay attention, mister!”

Similarly, Fabinho also defended Neymar’s inclusion in the Brazil roster. “He can make a difference at any moment, so he can be very important in a World Cup. If he is in good form and physically ready, he is the best,” said the former Liverpool star during an interview with L’Equipe.

Ancelotti reflects on his work in Brazil

In the same press conference, Carlo Ancelotti reviewed his first months in charge of the Brazil national team, which is his first international coaching experience. “Many of us regret that there is little time to train, and we have to focus on the quality of training sessions, meetings… It’s more a matter of quality than time,” he explained.

Regarding the next challenge against France, Ancelotti admitted he has not yet finalised the lineup and spoke about his priorities when planning strategy. “We want to play a good game by controlling the match and maintaining balance,” said the coach. “Playing against France is an important game, especially against a team that is a favourite to win the World Cup. We want to show good attitude and quality.”

Vinicius speaks on Neymar’s absence

After Carlo Ancelotti, it was Vinicius’ turn to face the press in the conference room. The Real Madrid winger was also asked about Neymar’s absence and did not hesitate to praise his teammate.

“Ney is one of my idols. He is doing everything possible to be at 100%, to return to the national team… Now, the decision is in the hands of the coach,” Vini said, placing the responsibility for the decision on Ancelotti.

During a recent interview with Diario AS, Garcia was asked about his chances of winning the Zamora Trophy, with the Real Madrid goalkeeper currently seen as his main rival. “Courtois is a top-class goalkeeper,” the Barcelona player said. “Everyone can see it. He’s been performing at the highest level for many years.”

The Zamora Trophy was created by Diario Marca in 1959 in honor of legendary goalkeeper Ricardo Zamora, who played for Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Espanyol. It is awarded each year to the best-performing goalkeeper in La Liga, based on the ratio of matches played to goals conceded. To qualify, players must meet a minimum number of appearances—currently set at 28—and play at least 60 minutes in each.

“Of course it would be an honor to win a Zamora,” Joan Garcia added in the same interview. However, he emphasized that the team’s objective of winning the league with Barcelona remains the priority: “But it would be even more special if it also helped us win La Liga.”

How the Zamora Trophy race stands this season

With 29 of 38 matches played in the 2025–26 La Liga season, the teams with the fewest goals conceded are Real Madrid (26), Barcelona (28), and Atletico Madrid (28). However, that does not necessarily reflect the Zamora race, as those teams have rotated goalkeepers at times during the season.

Thibaut Courtois has played 28 of Real Madrid’s 29 matches, conceding 24 goals for a 0.85 ratio. At Atletico Madrid, Jan Oblak holds a 0.96 average after allowing 25 goals in 26 matches. The best numbers so far belong to Joan Garcia (0.73), with 17 goals conceded in 23 matches, though he has the fewest appearances and little margin for error if he hopes to reach the 28-match threshold required for eligibility.

Top winners of the Zamora Trophy

In this year’s race, Joan Garcia faces the added challenge of being the only one among the top contenders who has never won the award. Jan Oblak holds the all-time record with six Zamora trophies since 2016, while Thibaut Courtois has won three. Antoni Ramallets and Victor Valdes each stand out with five titles apiece.