In 2007, a 20-year-old Lionel Messi posed for a Barcelona charity calendar, gently bathing a baby in a plastic tub. The baby’s family had won a UNICEF raffle. Nobody thought about the photo again for 17 years. The baby was Lamine Yamal. You could write fiction for a decade and never come up with that….
Entering its second consecutive World Cup final, Argentina’s journey to defending their 2022 title was nothing but wild. From Lionel Messi becoming the tournament’s all-time leading goalscorer to four straight comeback wins, it was going to be difficult to keep Argentina out of the final. Argentina will face Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup…
Spain is back in the World Cup final since winning it all in 2010 over the Netherlands in Johannesburg at the first ever edition to be hosted on the African continent. In those 16 years, much has changed (i.e, the number of qualified teams) while some things have stayed the same (Lionel Messi and Ronaldo…
With the sun obstructed by haze, Spain’s players practiced Thursday ahead of the World Cup final outside in northern New Jersey while air conditions are hazardous because of smoke from Canadian wildfires. It was not clear how fast-paced a practice Spain held. Media members are only able to observe the first 15 minutes of what…
Lionel Messi has a message for Argentina’s detractors: “Nothing was handed to us.” The Argentina superstar responded to critics who have been bashing the reigning World Cup champions over perceptions of beneficial officiating and favoritism by the soccer establishment. He said the team’s ability to overturn late-game deficits, most recently the semifinal victory over England,…
We have already discussed the All-Century performers, as well as the top All-Stars for each team since 2000. But what about those players who weren’t consistent All-Stars, the guys who couldn’t quite ascend to the level of all-time greats like Barry Bonds or Randy Johnson? Here is a lineup — as well as a starter…
A No. 10 jersey worn by Brazil icon Pelé in the 1958 World Cup final has been sold for $4.9 million, Sotheby’s said Thursday. Pelé, who died in 2022, was 17 when he scored twice in Brazil’s 5-2 win over hosts Sweden at the Rasunda Stadium and still remains the youngest player ever to score…
Sunday’s FIFA World Cup final is packed with storylines, from Lionel Messi facing teenage sensation Lamine Yamal battling for the sport’s biggest prize. But Argentina enters the match with a chance to accomplish something no men’s team has done in decades. A win would make Argentina just the third country to pull off back-to-back men’s…
The 2026 World Cup final is set as Argentina looks to defend its title against Spain. But after four wild comebacks, what was it about Argentina’s seminal performance that sealed its championship spot? Their X-factor, Lionel Messi. Although Messi has not scored since Argentina’s round-of-16 win over Egypt, he’s still managed to set up some…
Most teenagers spend their time studying, hanging out with friends or getting ready for college. On Thursday, Spain’s Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsí are expected to start in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final against Argentina at New York New Jersey Stadium. If Spain manages to win the World Cup final for just the second…
