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It all started in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Then it moved onto a muddy field in February against Sudbury Town in England – and eventually to facing Lionel Messi and playing every minute of a World Cup. My mentality was always the same: the tunnel mentality. When you get in the tunnel, you have a couple of minutes of calm before the storm. You have to go down deep inside and create an unshakable confidence. Someone chose you to be there, so while it’s easy to think “I’m going to get crushed,” sometimes, you have to convince yourself that you belong. At the 2010 World Cup, Bob Bradley was masterful at picking the right guys for the right situations. He knew that a good team does have all the same characters; it’s full of different ones. He knew which characters were needed at the right time. Anyone who knows me knows that I’m a character. I had no fear because I had gone through the hardest parts of my journey to get in the position where he could pick me. When you enter a career from the back of the line like I did, from Wisconsin, I had to fight to belong on the field from the time I was 17 or 18 years old. And at that age, you’re also trying to prove to yourself that you are good enough. What I learned through standing in those tunnels throughout my career is that while you line up opposite your adversaries and wait for the referee to come out, there’s a lull – a calm before the storm. That’s where the tunnel mentality comes into play. This also applies to all walks of life. If you’re walking into an interview for a job you’ve dreamed of, you’ve worked your ass off to get to that moment. For me, it was the tunnel. I’ve lined up opposite Lionel Messi, Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo – the best of the best. When it’s time to go to battle, you have to go deep inside and create the savagery and confidence necessary to make sure you are unshakable. It requires a lot of hyping yourself up. The First Moment When I got to Watford in 2004, I played two seasons in the Championship. There were some very good players in that league, and I got to play at Anfield in the FA Cup, as well. We got promoted to the Premier League in 2006, though, and the first time I looked over at the tunnel and thought, “Here we go,” was against Manchester United in our third league game of the season. It was at home at Vicorage Road, a 20,000-seat stadium. I was vice captain that year and later became the club captain. Not only is it a new league and better competition, but it’s also more responsibility. We were waiting in the tunnel for the United team, which was full of international stars. Edwin van der Sar was in goal. Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick were in midfield. On the wings for United were Ryan Giggs and Ronaldo. I saw the Manchester United badge on the jerseys, and thought, OK, you’re in the Prem now, big boy. You ready to go?” It’s very easy to look at Ronaldo and think, “Oh my gosh, he is that good-looking.” But my tunnel mentality kept me focused. Here are the two key steps to that mentality: 1. Gain Confidence The question I asked myself: How are you going to be the best version of you? And no one knew that better than I did. For me, it was to gain an immense level of confidence. I took confidence in the fact that someone believed that I could go out there in front of these people and play well – so I should too. 2. Work Ethic I always say, work on what you’re really good at in the light, and work on what you’re not so good at in the dark. For me, the light was very simple. My job was to win the ball and give it to somebody better than me. I had two rules to do that. I could be wiry and get in front of attackers, handchecking them and putting off that player’s first touch. In those moments, I imagine myself coming in as my best and winning those challenges. I always had the mentality of, “I get to do this.” I got to go out and kick Ronaldo. I went out and tested Rooney’s tenacity. I tested Didier Drogba in the air for 90 minutes. Do you know how many people would stand in line for that opportunity, would give their left leg for it? I’m going to go out there with purpose and confidence. It’s really easy to go into the idea of, “How are we going to beat these guys?” I always did my best to get my mind into a place where I could walk out under control and feel empowered. I think we’re missing that in the development side of the game, working on the stuff you’re not great at, whether it’s physical or mental. If you focus on that, when you get to those moments of light, you better be refined, you better be ready. Thrown Into The Fire With The USA My first start for the U.S. national team was against Lionel Messi and Argentina at the 2007 Copa América. That summer also included the Gold Cup, which saw me on the bench, so the second team was in action at that tournament. I played Messi when he was still No. 19. My job was to mark Hernán Crespo, who at the time was one of the best goalscorers in the world. In midfield, Juan Roman Riquelme was pulling the strings. It was a star-studded lineup. At the end of the day, like, if you don’t believe that you belong there and you can’t figure out how to convince yourself that you do, your performances will never be good. I was someone who really loved stepping into those environments as a renegade spirit. You will always know who the strongest and fastest players are at the highest level, but who can keep their mind right when it’s chaotic? Who can stay calm? I had this ability to stand in that tunnel and be the same player, whether I’m playing in front of two people or 100,000. I truly put a lot of mental effort into getting to that point.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

The 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup takes yet another turn as group stage finales get underway with several teams aiming to earn spots in the knockout round. Group B begins the day with co-hosts Canada taking on Switzerland facing off to decide the group winner. Meanwhile, Qatar and Bosnia and Herzegovina are both coming off bad losses but still have a path forward in Seattle. Then Group C will take center stage. In Miami, Scotland’s path to the knockouts likely requires digging deep to find a result against heavily favored five-time champions Brazil, who look to claim the group with a win. Semifinalists in Qatar, Morocco is also in contention to win the group, but that will probably require a lopsided win in Atlanta against an already-eliminated Haiti team. Finally, the focus shifts to Group A. Co-hosts Mexico already won the group but on Wednesday night in Mexico City, El Tri takes on a desperate Czechia team in need of a win for a realistic chance of advancing. Then there is South Korea, who can claim second place in the group with a win over South Africa, who – like Czechia – are in search of a win to have a chance of making the knockouts. When: Wednesday, June 24, 3 p.m. ET Where: Vancouver TV: FOX Stream: Watch three days free on FOX One Coming into this game, each team knows what it must do. The winner of this game in Vancouver wins the group. If there is a draw, Canada wins the group and Switzerland finishes second because Canada holds a goal differential tiebreaker on the Swiss. While it is not guaranteed, a loser in this game will almost certainly finish second. If Canada loses, only Bosnia and Herzegovina can overtake it with a win over Qatar, but that would also require overcoming Canada’s nine-goal advantage in differential. If Switzerland loses to Canada, only Qatar can surpass it with a win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, but that would also require overcoming Switzerland’s nine-goal advantage over Qatar. Both Canada and Switzerland come into this game with momentum. Canada played Bosnia and Herzegovina to a dull 1-1 draw in its opener but pounded Qatar 6-0 in an emotional game that was marred when midfielder Ismaël Koné suffered a broken leg. That incident could serve as an emotional rallying cry for the Canadian players, who were visibly shaken when Koné was stretchered off the field. The good news for Canada is that head coach Jesse Marsch opted to go with a two-striker formation against Qatar to get Cyle Larin and Jonathan David on the field together. That move showed a lot of promise as David broke out of his slump with a hat trick and Marsch might continue to use it. After a very disappointing 1-1 draw with Qatar in its opener, Switzerland looked headed for another bad result against Bosnia and Herzegovina but finally found its footing in the second half, scoring four goals after the 74th minute to pull away in a 4-1 victory. That win was fueled by second half substitutes Rubén Vargas and Johan Manzambi, who both scored, while Vargas also notched an assist. For over 70 minutes, it was not a convincing performance from Switzerland. It remains to be seen if the Swiss, predicted by many to be a potential dark horse team for a run, have completely found their footing at the tournament. Player To Watch The Villarreal winger from Ontario was Canada’s best player against Qatar in terms of getting the ball into dangerous areas for its strikers. Buchanan has been uneven with his performances for Canada since the start of 2025. This Swiss team is talented, but if Buchanan can continue to be effective from the right wing to set up Larin or David, it could be a key to a Canadian victory. When: Wednesday, June 24, 3 p.m. ET Where: Seattle TV: FS1 Stream: Watch three days free on FOX One Bosnia and Herzegovina meets Qatar on Wednesday at Seattle Stadium with each team hoping a win will lead to a spot in the round of 32 at this World Cup. Second place in Group B is mathematically possible for the winner of this game, but the realistic hope for each team is a win to move to four points and other results to break in a way that ensures that it is enough to finish among the top eight third-place teams. A draw would leave both teams on two points, with Bosnia and Herzegovina finishing third. But that would surely not be enough. Despite its struggles over the first two games, Bosnia and Herzegovina is the favorite in this game given that it managed to qualify out of UEFA, including a playoff win over Italy. Whether a win is enough to advance is a different question, but the odds increase with a larger margin of victory. The same is true for Qatar. The key for Bosnia and Herzegovina is to score early to ease pressure. If that happens, Qatar will need to come out of its typical deep-sitting, defensive formation because it also needs to win. That could open more space for Bosnia and Herzegovina to create more chances, which would be important given that goal differential will likely be important in ranking third-place teams sitting on four points. Player To Watch With 73 goals from 149 caps, Džeko is the all-time leading goalscorer and most capped player in the history of the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team. Now 40 years old, the forward boasts impressive experience at both the club and international levels. A game such as this is full of pressure and experienced players can often help in these situations. Look for Džeko to get the start and be a focal point of an attack that needs to score goals against an opponent which should be over-matched. When: Wednesday, June 24, 6 p.m. ET Where: Miami TV: FOX Stream: Watch three days free on FOX One Scotland is participating in its ninth World Cup but has never advanced out of the group stage. Could 2026 be the year the Scots will reach the World Cup knockouts by escaping Group C? It is not going to be easy as Scotland needs a result against the heavily favored, five-time champion Brazil at Miami Stadium to have a good chance. A close loss might also be enough, but that would depend on the point totals and goal differentials of the other third-place teams. After a difficult and hard-fought 1-0 win over Haiti in its opener, Scotland had a poor start in a 1-0 loss to Morocco in its second game. Scotland had its chances with 20 touches inside Morocco’s box, but it could not get any of its six shots on target. Against Brazil, Scotland’s attack will be driven by Scott McTominay. He is Scotland’s best player and if Scotland is to achieve an unexpected result, McTominay will have to play well. Meanwhile, Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti admitted afterward that its opening draw to Morocco was disappointing and even went so far as to apologize to fans for the result. In the second game, Brazil got its first win of this World Cup when it coasted past Haiti 3-0 on Friday night. The performance wasn’t great and Brazil never turned the game into a rout, but the multi-goal win was important. The best news for Brazil is that its best player, Vinícius Júnior, is living up to his billing, and the Real Madrid winger has goals in each of his first two games. This game promises to be intense, and both teams will have plenty of passionate supporters. Brazil is one of the world’s most popular teams and Miami is a favorite city to play among many South American teams. On the other hand, Scotland’s Tartan Army is large and travels extremely well. Player To Watch The Bologna defensive midfielder is another player key to Scotland’s plans and when going up against a team such as Brazil, Ferguson will be important to shielding Scotland’s backline and trying to contain Brazil’s attack in transition. If that’s not a big enough assignment, Ferguson will also be key to leading Scottish counterattacks and leading the transition from defense into offense. While Ferguson likes to sit deep, he has been known to get into the attack and score important goals. If Scotland is to get a result out of this one, Ferguson will have to turn in a good outing. When: Wednesday, June 24, 6 p.m. ET Where: Atlanta TV: FS1 Stream: Watch three days free on FOX One Having already earned four points at the World Cup, Morocco will be looking to finish atop Group C when it takes on Haiti at Atlanta Stadium on Wednesday. To win the group, Morocco needs to win and do so with a scoreline that overtakes Brazil in goal differential. Entering this game, Brazil has a two-goal edge on Morocco. With the talent Morocco has, a comfortable win over Haiti is not only possible, but it is likely. What is needed is for its top players to continue to step up. PSV Eindhoven forward Ismael Saibari has scored both of Morocco’s goals in this tournament, and he will be difficult for Haiti to stop. The central midfield duo of Neil El Aynaoui and Ayyoub Bouaddi need to not only control possession but also ensure that Morocco are regularly in the attacking third of the field. Morocco will have its chances as Haiti has been determined to play with a high line and go at its opponents. Even against Brazil in a 3-0 loss, Haiti did not want to sit deep in a bunker. Despite being overmatched in talent, Haiti admirably came into this tournament looking to play. With the loss to Brazil, Haiti has already been eliminated. It is always difficult to predict the mindset of a team that still has games to play after elimination, but unlike a team like Türkiye, Haiti was never expected to advance. The team was proud to be at the World Cup in the face of adversity when it hadn’t played a home game in Haiti in five years due to civil unrest. Haiti has nothing to gain by sitting deep and will likely want to continue to play the same way. That might make Haiti more dangerous, but it will give Morocco space and chances to score. Player To Watch Born in Spain to Moroccan parents but raised in Belgium, Saibari has been in terrific form for Morocco at this World Cup where he spearheads the team’s attack. Against Brazil, he put Morocco up 1-0 with an impressive chip over Alisson. Against Scotland, it was his rocket of a strike that put Morocco up early. Since debuting for Morocco in 2023, Saibari has 11 goals in 32 caps and is now one of the players to watch at this World Cup. In addition to the World Cup, Saibari is nearing the completion of a move from PSV Eindhoven to Bayern Munich, with him having reportedly undergone a medical this past week to complete the move to the Bundesliga champions. When: Wednesday, June 24, 9 p.m. ET Where: Mexico City TV: FOX Stream: Watch three days free on FOX One Mexico and Czechia have completely different objectives heading into their clash on Wednesday night at Mexico City Stadium. Co-host Mexico notched an impressive six points from two games and already clinched the Group A title and a spot in the round of 32. Meanwhile, for Czechia, its tournament life hangs entirely in the balance as the only way to have a realistic chance of advancing to the knockouts is a win. Miroslav Koubek’s team enters into this game with just one point from its recent 1-1 draw with South Africa. It opened the tournament with a 2-1 defeat to South Korea. A draw might still be enough for Czechia to advance, but it would require a lot of results in other groups to break in its favor. Of course, winning in Mexico’s capital city is not an easy task as the last time Mexico lost a competitive game at Mexico City Stadium was in 2013. Czechia’s offense is centered on set pieces as half of its World Cup qualifying goals and its first goal against South Korea were from set pieces. To beat Mexico, however, Czechia will need to be dangerous in other areas too. That starts with forward Patrik Schick, who is typically the team’s best goalscorer, but who hasn’t been effective in the team’s first two games. With Mexico having already clinched Group A, head coach Javier Aguirre is expected to rotate his squad to begin plans for the round of 32. But even with resting key players and experimenting with tactics, Mexico is the favorite in this game. Czechia’s defense does not inspire a lot of confidence, having failed to keep a clean sheet in six matches, with the team squandering second-half leads in each of its first two games at this World Cup. Player To Watch Czechia’s left midfielder has played well in his team’s first two games at this World Cup and will need to continue that in this game. Czechia will be without the ball most of the time against Mexico, but when it does take possession, it will have to get the ball quickly into the attack. For Sojka, he will be one of the players most responsible for getting the ball into the attacking half to find top scoring options in Schick and Adam Hložek. When: Wednesday, June 24, 9 p.m. ET Where: Monterrey TV: FS1 Stream: Watch three days free on FOX One Second place in Group A and advancement to the Round of 32 is likely on the line on Thursday when South Africa and South Korea meet on Thursday night in Monterrey, Mexico. While a draw is enough to send the Taegeuk Warriors through to the knockouts, Bafana Bafana finds itself in a must-win scenario to keep its World Cup ambitions alive. South Korea is favored in this game given its high-powered offense that features Son Heung-min, Lee Kang-in, LeeJae-sung, and Hwang In-beom, who all have experience in top leagues in Europe. The concern for South Korea is Son, as the team’s all-time leading scorer is not having a great year. Now with Los Angeles FC, Son did not score for his club in its first 13 league games. In the first two games at the World Cup, Son did not have a goal contribution. South Korea is likely to advance regardless, but to be a threat in the knockouts, Son needs to do more. Through its first two games, South Africa has struggled offensively at the World Cup. The team’s only goal came from a penalty against Czechia that originated with a handball. South Africa was also helped in that game by Czechia reverting to an overly defensive approach after it took a 1-0 lead. South Korea will try to control this game from the opening whistle and is unlikely to let up. To get the needed win, South Africa needs a big performance from its defense, and it will need to be remarkably efficient with the limited chances Bafana Bafana will likely have. The danger for Hugo Broos’ team is that it will need to come out of its defensive shape at times and that could give South Korea spaces to create chances. Player To Watch The Paris Saint-Germain midfielder will be key to running South Korea’s possessions. He has a lot of chemistry with the team’s attackers, and he knows how to get the ball into the final third. In this game, the Taegeuk Warriors need to be patient as South Africa must win this game to advance. There will be plenty of times when South Africa must take risks, and that will give Lee chances to pick Bafana Bafana apart.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

We’re not even two-thirds of the way into the group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but the early verdict is in. The stadiums are as electric as they are packed. The goals are flying in. Fans from every corner of the globe are mingling, partying together, transforming the downtown areas of cities across the continent into street parties. Superstars are scoring at will, seemingly trying to out-do one another with each passing match. The USA won its first two matches and its group with a game to spare. Same for Mexico, with Canada — the third co-host — cruising to its first World Cup victory. Some of the smallest nations on earth are holding their own against former champions. This has been a spellbinding tournament by any measure possible. And for my money, it might already be the greatest World Cup ever staged. Recency bias is real, to be sure. The sheer quality of play was probably higher four years ago in Qatar, where the planet’s biggest sporting event took place in the middle of the European season as opposed to after it. The players were fresher. They didn’t travel between matches, with all 64 taking place in or on the outskirts of Doha. That World Cup was also capped by easily the best final of all time, with the greatest player of all time, Lionel Messi, finally hoisting the only trophy that had eluded him to cement his GOAT status forever. There’s still a long way to go at this World Cup. It hasn’t been perfect. Tickets remain unaffordable for many soccer lovers. The mid-half hydration breaks, although necessary either because of blazing temperatures or for the sake of competitive consistency, can disrupt the flow of the game. There have been transportation issues and inconsistent messaging. Yet for all the negativity that surrounded the lead up to the first 48-team World Cup ever played, even the most cynical observers — if they have eyes — must know in their hearts that it has been an outstanding event so far. Most of the critics are awfully quiet now. The numbers to date are staggering. The group stage this summer has averaged 65,000 fans — more than 10,000 more than the entirety of Qatar 2022. That figure will only increase when the knockout stage contests begin and bigger venues get the bulk of them, putting the all-time mark of almost 69,000 (set the last time the U.S. hosted the World Cup in 1994) in jeopardy. Through the first 32 matches at this World Cup, the 16 venues across all three host countries have been filled to more than 99.5 percent of capacity. Despite fears, players have lauded the pristine grass fields, if they’ve mentioned the surfaces at all. Three goals per game have been scored on average, the most in 23 men’s World Cups. Some of that no doubt has to do with inviting 16 more participating nations than took part at any previous World Cup — another of the purists’ favorite pre-tourney beefs. They were wrong about that, too. Is there a better on-field story than Cape Verde, the tiny West African island nation with a population of about 500,000 and World Cup debutant that remains undefeated despite facing title-favorite Spain and former two-time champ Uruguay in its first two outings? Is there a better off-field story than Scotland’s fans? The Tartan Army took over Boston and Providence, Rhode Island, and, despite literally drinking the former dry, so endeared themselves to the normally parochial locals — in part by donating $10,000 to Hasbro Children’s Hospital — that Massachusetts Senator Paul Feeney proposed that the Scots return to Foxborough for an annual exhibition. Meanwhile, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft has petitioned the NFL to play a regular season game at Glasgow’s Hampden Park. The game’s brightest lights have balled out at every turn. Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland each scored twice on Monday; Messi’s second in a 2-0 victory over Austria made him the top goalscorer, men’s or women’s, in World Cup history. On Tuesday, 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo had a brace of his own, becoming the first man or woman to find the net at six World Cups. On a purely human level, in an increasingly divided world, this World Cup has been a display of shared joy and a reminder that we’re all more similar than different, wherever we happen to come from. A German tourist’s warm welcome in the American South went viral before the first ball had even been kicked. The people of Lawrence, Kansas, were so honored that Algeria decided to base its squad in their small city that they immediately adopted the Fennecs as their own. I could go on. It all makes you wonder, what’s next? Can the U.S. squad keep winning and creating millions of new supporters in real time? Can Messi lead Argentina to back-to-back titles, something no country has done since Pelé managed it with Brazil more than 60 years ago? Or might Portugal become the first new champion in nearly two decades, completing Ronaldo’s trophy case in the process? Lamine Yamal got his first World Cup goal on Sunday; how many more are in store for the 18-year-old before the competition wraps up in the New York area next month? Come to think of it, it would probably be harder to argue that this isn’t the most incredible World Cup ever. Here’s the best part: With almost four weeks left until billions tune in for that grand finale on July 19, it’s still just getting started.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

If college football held a fantasy quarterback draft and you owned the No. 1 overall pick, who would you take? That’s the exercise FOX Sports lead college football analyst Joel Klatt tackled on a recent episode of his podcast, “The Joel Klatt Show.” When creating his list, Klatt weighed talent, experience and the supporting cast each passer has around him heading into the 2026 season. Here’s a look at Klatt’s top quarterbacks entering the 2026 college football season, ranked from 10-to-1. Klatt: I think Leavitt is going to have a great season. He was banged up last year at Arizona State, which is why some people might not remember what a good player he is. He went 16-4 at ASU and made the CFP two years ago. He can throw it and run it. He averaged 50 rushing yards per game at ASU. Lane Kiffin is going to use him really well.I think we’re going to get to this season, LSU is going to play Clemson, and we’re going to realize how good of a roster LSU actually has. Granted, it’s probably the most expensive roster in college football, but with Leavitt and his experience, his ability to throw it down the field and run the football, he could have a huge year. Kiffin’s quarterbacks light up the stat sheet. Think about Trinidad Chambliss last year, and Jaxson Dart the year before that. He’s going to have a really successful year. Klatt: I think that Hoover at Indiana is a tremendous fit. He has a ton of experience, and he threw it all over the field at TCU. Hoover averaged over 300 yards per game throwing the football in his 31 starts for Sonny Dykes. The guy is certainly willing to go out there and produce at a high level. I think higher of Hoover than I did of Fernando Mendoza or Kurtis Rourke going into their lone season at Indiana. He’s in a better position to start the year than either of the two previous QBs, and we saw what they were able to do, including one of the great seasons we’ve seen in a long time from Mendoza a year ago.Nobody threw more RPO passes than Mendoza a year ago in college football. Second on that list was Hoover, so, he does what Indiana is going to do, and they have Mike Shanahan back as offensive coordinator. They’ve got Curt Cignetti there. He’s got a good core of wide receivers. Everyone has pointed to the turnovers from Hoover, who has thrown 33 interceptions over the last three years, but he’s going to have a better run game and a better defense than he did a year ago or in previous seasons at TCU. Cignetti and Shanahan can coach up scheme. Indiana has the fewest amount of interceptions per game in the country since those two guys got there. I think Hoover can curb those interceptions, and he’s going to have a great year. Klatt: Mensah is at his third school in three years, starting at Tulane, then Duke, and now in Coral Gables. He led Duke to the ACC title a year ago. He’s not afraid to rip it. When you couple a guy that is willing to chuck it down the field like Mensah with a team that likes to run to football, now you get some play-action passes. Mensah is different than Carson Beck, who was typically just trying to get the ball out quickly. This year, I think Miami is going to be able to attack down the field with a little bit better efficiency. The Hurricanes are going to pair Mensah up with Malachi Toney, who is an incredible player. They will have Mark Fletcher in the backfield behind him and a really good offensive line, even with some of those draft picks leaving. I think they are going to be just fine. Mensah is going to have a really solid year. Klatt: Maiava is a huge player at 6-foot-4, 230 pounds. He can run around when he needs to, although he doesn’t have to, because he has such great anticipation and touch in the middle parts of the field. He’s going to have to replace two really good players in Ja’Kobi Lane, as well as their slot receiver, Makai Lemon, who was absolutely phenomenal. Maiava is going into his third year in Lincoln Riley’s offense. He led the country in 25-yard passes last year. He’s going to have to find some guys on the outside, but I think we trust Riley and his history to find wide receivers that can go get it on the outside. He’s going to have his entire offensive line back from a year ago and his entire backfield. Waymond Jordan was tremendous before his injury, and King Miller came in and ran the football really effectively after Jordan’s injury. I think Maiava could have a huge year. Klatt: I was really high on Mateer last year and everything was all-systems-go before the hand injury. That obviously derailed his season and Oklahoma’s offense. I don’t love the fact that Mateer had to be everything for that offense last year. As dynamic as he was, that was unsustainable. The Sooners need to get better and more efficient around him, especially on the offensive line and at running back. If they can run the football more effectively with their backs, he’s going to really flourish and certainly could make a push for the Heisman Trophy. Before he got hurt, Mateer was leading the country in 20-yard completions. He has his No. 1 wide receiver, Isaiah Satenga, who is a guy that can go get it for him. He’s in Year 3 as a starter in Ben Arbuckle’s offense. I think that should serve him really well, in particular being in his second year in the SEC, seeing some of these teams. I think Mateer is going to have a quality year. Klatt: Carr is a really talented player. The biggest question surrounding Notre Dame is its ability to replace the offensive production it got from the run game. When you have two guys drafted in the first round — Jadarian Price and Jeremiyah Love — that’s going to hurt you. Notre Dame’s offensive line should be outstanding this year, and the Irish are going to have great players on the outside. They could be a more throw-oriented team than we’ve seen in past years, and Carr could certainly be the beneficiary of that. They have a couple of transfers who are really talented players, in particular Quincy Porter from Ohio State. The people in Columbus loved Porter. He’s a guy that could really break out for Notre Dame. Carr, in this offense, could have a big year. He’s certainly talented enough to do that. Klatt: How good was Chambliss in that run to the CFP semifinals last year? I get it, he’s going to be missing his offensive staff and some of those players that he had. However, he’s electric. I love watching Chambliss play this position. He’s got great leadership qualities, and he’s obviously great as a player. Against Georgia in the playoff, Chambliss had to be great, and he was. He had over 350 yards against the Bulldogs. He can definitely be a threat with his legs, but he’s absolutely capable of ripping it down the field. I think Chambliss could have been a first-round draft pick a year ago. He’s a fantastic player. Klatt: Sayin was a Heisman finalist a year ago. He was the most efficient passer in the country. There are two things that I think held Sayin back a year ago: The first one was that he was, at times, a little hesitant to let it rip down the field. He’s going to have a stable of people to throw to this year. He’s going to have an offensive line that is more experienced, and the Buckeyes should have a run game that’s more efficient with Bo Jackson back. My only other knock on Sayin is that he wasn’t Will Howard in the short running game, where he could just run it on fourth-and-short and get a first down. He struggled on the quarterback sneak, and it hurt them offensively because they weren’t great in short yardage. I don’t know if that’s necessarily going to improve, although I have heard and seen that Sayin has done a lot of work in the weight room, and he’s a little bit bigger. If he can just be proficient in the sneak game, that will help the entire offense.Ryan Day designs so many quality plays, and there are times when Sayin just plays safe and checks it down. If he lets it rip, he’s going to have a huge season. That could be one of, if not the best offenses in the country at Ohio State. Klatt: I love what I saw from Manning in the second half of the year. The early part of the season was a struggle for him and the entire Texas offense. They did not run the football well enough. Their offensive line wasn’t good enough. Their backs weren’t good enough. And because of that, I thought the pressure was on Manning. As good as the Longhorns’ wide receiver core has been in recent vintage, it wasn’t that last year. It should be a lot better this year, in particular, with Cam Coleman. I think Coleman might have a monster year for Texas. He hasn’t panned out like Jeremiah Smith has, in part because he was stuck at Auburn, but now he’s with Steve Sarkisian, who is going to dial it up.Texas has rebuilt its running back room. They’ve got Raleek Brown and Hollywood Smothers. If this team can get anything in the run game, that’s going to help Manning. We know that he can be dynamic with his legs and throw it down the field. I think this offense is going to take a huge step forward, and they’re going to need to because there wasn’t a lot surrounding Manning a year ago. They have to be better on the offensive line and in the backfield. If they are, then Manning is going to have a big year. Klatt: I know he made that massive mistake in the CFP last year, throwing that pick-six to D’Angelo Ponds. But this guy has experience, and he has gifts that you just can not teach. He has mobility and the ability to rip it down the field. He can make every single throw out there. Moore ranked in the top five in the nation in completion percentage a year ago at 72%, so he can be efficient. Now that he has two CFP starts under his belt, this is the exact type of guy that you would want under center going into the season, in particular with a team that is veteran around him. Moore had a lot of really talented players around him last year, but they were banged up. Oregon should be better on the outside at wide receiver this year. The running backs are tremendous, and the defense should be outstanding.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Ghana has positioned itself to become one of the most surprising teams in the group stage at the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup following a 0-0 draw with England on Tuesday at Boston Stadium. Two months ago, Ghana’s team was in chaos as the team was extremely poor in the March international window. The federation felt compelled to make a coaching change and went with the highly respected Carlos Queiroz. The Portugal native has now guided Ghana to a win over Panama and a draw with England to be on the verge of advancing to the knockouts. Here are my takeaways: 1. Give Credit To Queiroz For Reshaping Ghana Queiroz has coached nine national teams and this is his fifth time coaching in a World Cup. He has also managed top clubs, including Real Madrid and Sporting CP. Now 73, Queiroz is well experienced and knows the international side of the game well. When he was hired by Ghana in April, he inherited a team that kept allowing goals in the March international window (including a 5-1 loss to Austria). His priority was to improve the team’s defense extremely quickly. In the win over Panama in the opener, Ghana grew into the game and by the end, all the dangerous chances were from the Black Stars. Most importantly, the team kept a clean sheet. Against England, Ghana came into the game as the heavy underdog. Queiroz’s game plan involved having his team slow the game down and focus on closing down on the ball when England moved into the final third. That is not easy to pull off effectively, but Ghana found success early with how well its players rotated and covered for each other. It clearly frustrated the English players who struggled in the first half to pick up the pace and find space to operate in the attack. England had 78% possession in the first half, but Ghana gave the Lions nothing to show for it.  The first half ended without a shot on goal for either team, which was a success for Ghana. In the second half, it was a test of defensive discipline but combined more with the determination to block shots, make tired runs, win aerials, and engage in emergency defending. Late in the half, Ghana came close to finding a winner on a counterattack. At the start of the World Cup, Ghana was ranked 73rd in the latest FIFA World Rankings, which was one of the lowest in the tournament. Queiroz was given a near impossible task with Ghana, but he has helped to improve Ghana’s defense immensely in very little time. It is one of the most impressive coaching displays at this tournament. 2. Tuchel’s Tactics Felt Too Little, Too Late This was a very different test for England when compared with Croatia in the first game. Croatia came into that game looking to go directly at England and play them as equals. Ghana had no interest in attempting to impose itself on England. Rather, Ghana was content with sitting deep while looking to generate occasional chances on the counterattack or on set pieces. England’s head coach Thomas Tuchel had his team looking to play up the middle and find combination to open opportunities for Harry Kane or others in the box. It was somewhat surprising that he did not start wingers Marcus Rashford or Bukayo Saka after both performed well against Croatia. He also elected to start with two holding midfielders in a game where England was going to have plenty of possession deep in the attacking half. Throughout the first half, England was slow to adjust despite the opportunities not coming. Specifically, England’s first half struggles centered on the team not utilizing its wingers or fullbacks to unlock Ghana’s defense from wide areas where it could attack more in one-on-one situations. In the second half, England did not make any initial substitutions but began to attack more from out wide. In the 66th minute, Tuchel made significant adjustments when he replaced the team’s left side of the field when he took out winger Anthony Gordon and fullback Djed Spence and replaced them with Nico O’Reilly and Bukayo Saka. From there, England started to push forward more effectively. Ghanian goalkeeper Benjamin Asare had to make more saves as the half moved on. In one dramatic moment, the two subs of O’Reilly and Saka combined as O’Reilly sent a shot off the crossbar, and it was then followed by a shocking close-range miss from Kane. But the winner never came for England. Tuchel’s responses helped to generate chances, but the questions now arise about whether he waited too late and whether he got his initial gameplan correct. 3. Ghana Buckled Down And Prevailed While Queiroz deserves a lot of credit, the Ghanian players executed their gameplan brilliantly and with determination. Some of the areas where it achieved this result show up in the stats. Ghana finished the game making 22 tackles, blocking six shots, and making 39 clearances. Teams who get a result in a game with only that little percentage of possession tend to impress in these areas, but these numbers are very high. Even more impressive is that Ghana keeper Benjamin Asare only needed to make three saves. Ghana put forth a total team defensive effort. Any English player with the ball close to the box was swarmed, and the passing lanes were cut off. When England managed to have a good opportunity, Ghana players would dive to block shots. 4. Plenty At Stake In Group Stage Finales The teams next return to action on Saturday to complete group play. England remains in great shape as the Lions will once again be heavily favored in its Group L finale against Panama. A very pro-English crowd awaits the team at New York New Jersey Stadium, but the team clearly needs to play better than it did today because Panama is very likely to attempt to play in the same way. Tuchel will need to adjust and find ways to prevent Kane from being inactive for so long. As for Ghana, it now sits in great position with four points and a positive goal differential. Even a narrow loss to Croatia should be enough to send the Black Stars through to the knockouts. But a result against Croatia is not out of the question. Like against England, Ghana will be forced to defend for long stretches, but that does not seem to be a problem for Ghana either. Croatia should be the more concerned team.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Obviously, every MLB All-Star Game is filled with star players. However, the 2026 MLB All-Star Game might feature the greatest collection of pitchers that a league has ever assembled. Nine starting pitchers in the National League have a sub-3.00 ERA entering Tuesday’s slate (among pitchers with enough innings to qualify), and that doesn’t include the likes of Shohei Ohtani (1.47 ERA), Kyle Harrison (2.50 ERA) and Zack Wheeler (2.11 ERA). Which begs the question: Who will be the 12 pitchers selected in the National League? That’s just one of the many debates we tried to settle as we picked our rosters for both the American and National Leagues for the 2026 MLB All-Star Game in Philadelphia (July 14, 8 p.m. ET on FOX). Here’s how we see the All-Star rosters so far. Starters Langeliers leads the way behind the plate, posting the highest OPS (.864) among all qualified AL catchers while pacing the position with 18 home runs. Rice has arguably been the best hitter in the AL, which is why he earns the start in the league’s most loaded position-player group. He’s slashing .291/.390/.611 with 20 home runs, 49 RBIs and 53 runs, making him the clear choice at first despite some stiff competition. First basemen Nick Kurtz (Athletics) and Munetaka Murakami (White Sox) are both deserving and should join the All-Star festivities as reserves. At second base, Clement has been a cult hero for Toronto since last year’s World Series run and has carried that momentum into 2026, leading the AL with 20 doubles and 85 hits while slashing .294/.313/.443. Witt Jr. is the obvious pick at shortstop. The 26-year-old leads all players with a 17 Outs Above Average to go along with a 128 OPS+ and 28 stolen bases in 32 attempts. Caminero leads AL third basemen with an .855 OPS, continuing his emergence as one of Tampa Bay’s brightest young stars. The outfield and designated hitter spots are anchored by some familiar names. Buxton’s 25 home runs and .930 OPS lead all AL outfielders. Trout ranks in the top five among AL outfielders in both fWAR (2.1) and home runs (17). This could be his first All-Star start since 2019, which would be a feel-good moment for baseball fans everywhere. Bellinger’s 2.7 fWAR is the highest among all AL outfielders. Alvarez leads MLB with a 1.070 OPS while trailing only Kyle Schwarber with 25 home runs, making him the easy choice at DH and arguably the AL’s most dangerous hitter this season. On the mound, Schlittler’s case for starting the All-Star Game is historically unprecedented. Through his first nine starts, the Yankees right-hander reached at least 50 strikeouts with fewer than 10 walks, no more than one home run allowed and an ERA below 1.50 — a feat not accomplished since Hall of Famer Walter Johnson did it in 1913. Schlittler is coming off a 13-strikeout start against the Reds, a career high, and he currently sits at 8-3 with a 1.72 ERA (AL best), 109 strikeouts, and a 0.89 WHIP, slotting him as the early frontrunner for this year’s AL Cy Young Award. Reserves & Pitchers The AL has struggled to match the NL in star power this season, so there are only a couple of players on this reserves list who probably deserve a shot as starters. The first is Kurtz, the Athletics’ first baseman and last year’s AL Rookie of the Year. Rice and Kurtz are neck and neck in OPS so far this year, with the former edging out the latter by just nine points. The second position-player battle was a debate over whether emerging White Sox star Vargas should get the start over Caminero at third base. Ultimately, Caminero leads Vargas in almost all offensive categories besides RBIs and stolen bases. Both of these are races worth watching between now and the All-Star Game. There were also more AL outfielders to consider with Aaron Judge out with injury, giving a clear runway for All-Star newcomer Caglianone to make the reserves list. The Royals’ right fielder is batting .275 with a .829 OPS in his first full season in the major leagues, with his .480 slugging percentage ranked third among all AL outfielders, trailing only Buxton and Judge. It’s also a good time to give Diaz more love at DH, because if it weren’t for Alvarez’s monster year, the Rays’ slugger would certainly earn a start in Philly. Diaz is slashing .326/.406/.509 with 12 home runs and 49 RBIs, and his batting average leads all MLB designated hitters. It’s been an impressive season thus far for the 34-year-old, who should earn his second-career All-Star nod, and his first since 2023. There’s some real opportunity and turnover within the AL starting-pitching group this year with such established arms as Tarik Skubal and Garrett Crochet spending time out with injuries. (Skubal may still earn an All-Star nod after successfully, and shockingly, returning to the mound following elbow surgery at the beginning of May. But in his absence, other starters climbed the rankings.) Cease has been exactly what the Blue Jays signed up for, leading all AL starters in strikeouts while posting a 2.71 ERA in 13 starts. It’s his lowest ERA since 2022, when he finished second in Cy Young voting to Justin Verlander. It was a tough call between Rasmussen and Shane McClanahan, as both starters are major reasons why Tampa Bay owns the second-best record in the AL. Ultimately, Rasmussen’s 2.59 ERA and AL-best 0.88 WHIP gave him the edge. Now, as for deGrom, he’s making the list mostly as the Texas Rangers’ lone All-Star representative. Still, he’s been solid, ranking in the top 10 among all AL starters in strikeouts and WHIP. DeGrom’s 10.67 strikeout-to-walk ratio ranks fourth among all qualified MLB starters, which should line him up for his sixth career All-Star honor. Soriano has fallen off since his otherworldly start to the season, which featured a 0.24 ERA through his first six starts. But he’s still among the top starters in strikeout rate while emerging as an ace for the Angels. Among the AL relievers, there were no tough cuts. Smith has been fantastic for the Guardians, with his 24 saves leading all qualified closers and should get his first All-Star nod. Varland has been exceptional as Toronto’s closer, which is good for the Blue Jays because Jeff Hoffman hasn’t been the same pitcher since he gave up the game-tying home run to Miguel Rojas in Game 7 of last year’s World Series. Finally, Chapman has somehow improved in his age-38 season and his second year with the Red Sox, posting a 0.83 ERA while converting all 14 of his save opportunities. Starters Baldwin missed a month of action, but the Braves’ catcher is slugging over .500 with the highest OPS of any qualified catcher. On a rate basis, he has done enough to get the nod behind the plate. Freddie Freeman is in the lead in fan voting at first base and has had another solid year, but Olson leads all qualified NL first basemen in homers, slugging and WAR and would be my pick to start among a number of viable candidates. Turang is lagging behind in fan voting, but the 2024 National League Platinum Glove Award winner has fully blossomed into an all-around force. He leads all qualified second basemen in on-base percentage and wRC+ while starring for a Brewers team that is once again defying expectations atop the NL Central. Shortstop was a toss-up for me between Abrams and Otto Lopez (Miami Marlins), who leads the NL in hits and batting average. But what Abrams is doing — leading all NL shortstops in homers, RBIs, runs, on-base percentage, slugging and OPS — for a Nationals team that has stunningly scored the most runs in MLB can’t be ignored. There was no question at third base, where Muncy is an easy answer in an underwhelming field. He leads all NL third basemen in on-base percentage, slugging, OPS and homers. My starting outfield is a showcase of MLB’s incredible 25-and-under talent. Wood, 23, leads all NL outfielders in homers and on-base percentage, a rare combination for a rare offensive force. Crow-Armstrong, 24, is on pace for another 30-30 season after an extraordinary June surge that has him leading all NL position players in WAR. Carroll, 25, leads MLB with nine triples and ranks in the top three among NL outfielders in slugging, OPS, WAR and wRC+. Cardinals breakout Jordan Walker, who leads MLB with 58 RBIs, was my hardest omission from the starting lineup and would be my first choice if one of those top three outfielders missed the game. Kyle Schwarber has a legit argument to start at DH, especially after a three-homer game against the Mets on June 20, but I don’t really need to explain Ohtani here. He has the highest OPS in the National League while also pitching. I wanted to put Phillies ace Cristopher Sánchez as the starting pitcher for the game in Philadelphia. I really did. I think if it’s close, the hometown hero should win out. And I had it that way … until Misiorowski struck out 15 in a 95-pitch complete-game shutout against Sánchez’s Phillies. Misiorowski has just been too dominant. He’s the pitcher we’re all talking about. Reserves & Pitchers Goodman isn’t just here because the Rockies need a rep; he ranks second in the NL in home runs. Marlins slugger Liam Hicks was the toughest cut, but he has made fewer than 30 starts behind the plate. It’s impossible to envision an All-Star Game in Philadelphia without Harper, and his late surge has made him deserving of the backup spot at first base. Sorry to fellow first basemen Freddie Freeman, Alec Burleson and Jake Bauers, who were all difficult omissions, but Freeman will likely win the fan vote anyway. Second base is absolutely stacked. The Pirates’ offense is the story in Pittsburgh, and Lowe leads all NL second basemen in homers, slugging and OPS. Luis Arraez, JJ Wetherholt, Xavier Edwards and Ozzie Albies were all difficult omissions and would have strong cases to start the game at second base if they played in the AL. I would have any of those players over Chapman if I didn’t need to include a backup third baseman. Lopez is essentially playing the Arraez role on the All-Star team. He leads all NL players in hits and batting average and has an argument not only to make the team but also to start the game at shortstop. De La Cruz is back in action this week, and he will need to hit the ground running in his return from a hamstring strain to be worthy of an All-Star spot, but I think he did just enough before the injury to get in. (Also, who wouldn’t want to see that kind of talent in this environment?) If De La Cruz doesn’t look like himself upon his return, I would swap in Wetherholt. The NL outfield options are numerous, which means a ton of deserving candidates will unfortunately get snubbed. I still managed to put four backups on my roster. Walker and Soto both have legitimate arguments to start in right field, and though Pages has cooled off considerably, he still ranks in the top three among all NL position players in RBIs and bWAR. With a late charge, I added the Pirates’ Bryan Reynolds as my final reserve. As of Monday, he had an extraordinary .400 on-base percentage and ranked in the top eight among all NL position players in OPS, RBIs, wRC+ and bWAR. Michael Harris II and Brandon Marsh were the toughest outfielders to leave off. The NL pitching staff is exceptional, and the battle for Cy Young will be one of the most thrilling award races to watch. I have no problem with Sánchez starting the game in Philadelphia in front of his hometown crowd if that’s ultimately what happens. He leads all NL starters in bWAR and didn’t allow a run in June. Burns has allowed two runs or fewer in all but one of his 15 starts. At 37, Sale ranks fourth in the NL in ERA and is throwing even harder than he did last year. It may be a surprise to see a 2.86 ERA for Skenes, but don’t be alarmed; his expected ERA is even better than it was last year, and his underlying numbers are sensational. He ranks in the top five among NL starters in strikeouts, WHIP and opponents’ ERA. Wheeler is back and thriving once again, going 6-1 with a 2.01 ERA in his first 10 starts. What a huge lift he’s giving the Phillies. For the second straight year, Yamamoto took a no-hitter into the ninth inning. He ranks second in WHIP and opponents’ batting average, behind only Misiorowski. Harrison has the third-highest strikeout rate in the NL behind only Misiorowski and Skenes, and his 2.50 ERA would look a lot better if not for one clunker in Las Vegas (where they might as well have been playing on the moon). I’m not holding that one against him. Meyer is 8-0 and ranks fourth in the NL in strikeouts. Along with Pittsburgh’s Braxton Ashcraft (6-3, 3.18) and the Cubs’ Ben Brown (4-2, 1.85), both of Arizona’s top starters — Eduardo Rodriguez (6-2, 2.45) and Michael Soroka (8-3, 3.07) — were among the toughest starting pitcher cuts. Atlanta relievers Robert Suarez and Dylan Lee also have an argument to be there, but it’s tough to fit them in as non-closers with the way that Miller, Duran and fellow Braves reliever Iglesias are pitching.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has urged football fans to remain grounded despite firing Norway into the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The clinical forward netted twice in a thrilling victory over Senegal to guarantee progress, but he quickly dismissed any suggestions that his nation are genuine contenders to win the tournament. Haaland fires Norway through The 25-year-old forward continued his spectacular international form by netting a vital brace during Tuesday’s hard-fought 3-2 victory over Senegal. The crucial win moved the Scandinavian outfit to six points in Group I, sealing their progression to the round of 32 with a game to spare. This landmark achievement marks the first time the national team has successfully reached the knockout phase of a World Cup tournament since 1998. Striker demands total realism The prolific frontman dismissed any high expectations ahead of facing 2018 winners France, refusing to entertain talk of global glory despite  matching a historical record by scoring multiple goals in his first two World Cup appearances. Haaland said: “I don’t care, we are through. They’ll probably beat us and go on and win the whole tournament.” When subsequently questioned on whether this tournament will ultimately belong to him and Norway following his clinical individual start, the City attacker quickly shut down any excessive optimism. He added: “Depends on what you mean with that. To qualify for the first time in 28 years and going through the group stage, yes, I would say so. To win the World Cup, absolutely not. I think let’s be a little realistic here, and let’s be happy, every single Norwegian on the planet today.” Viking celebrations sweep planet The historic triumph triggered wild scenes of celebration, with supporters performing the iconic Viking Row routine. The emotional weight of the achievement was heavily felt within the squad, who joined traveling fans on the pitch to celebrate a momentous evening. Haaland stated: “It was crazy. Martin [Odegaard] and I talked a bit about it before the match, about whether we should join in if everything went the way it did, and it did, so a pretty special moment I would say for the whole of Norway. “I think it is right up there with the biggest nights I have had in my entire life. I have a bit of the same feeling that I had after the Champions League final. It is incredibly huge. I am incredibly proud and all of that.” Heavyweight group decider looms Norway now look forward to a blockbuster final group match against France on Friday to determine who secures top spot in Group I. Didier Deschamps’ side will present a formidable tactical challenge for the tournament underdogs. With qualification already guaranteed, the technical staff can approach the elite fixture with minimal pressure before learning their round-of-32 opponents.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

The GOAT continues to amaze the world as Lionel Messi now reigns supreme at the top of the list of all-time goalscorers at the World Cup. With his two goals against Austria in Argentina’s group-stage game on June 22, Messi surpassed the long-standing record held by Germany’s Miroslav Klose. It came a week after Messi scored his first career World Cup hat trick in a win over Algeria, while also setting the record as the oldest player (38) to record a hat trick at the tournament — passing Cristiano Ronaldo’s feat from 2022 when he was 33 years old. But this list could change even more. France’s Kylian Mbappé has 18 goals all time at the World Cup, which sits second all-time, and is already adding to his tally this summer. With that being said, here are the players with the most goals in World Cup men’s history. Let’s take a look. 1. Lionel Messi (Argentina): 19 Messi’s six goals at the 2026 World Cup have now given him yet another record on his résumé. Messi has played in every World Cup since 2006 and scored in all but one (2010). He scored seven goals at the 2022 World Cup. Messi is also Argentina’s all-time leading goalscorer with 123 to his name and additionally holds the record for most World Cup matches played with 29. 2. Kylian Mbappé (France): 18 Mbappé has scored an outrageous 18 goals in just 18 World Cup matches in his career. As a 19-year-old in 2018, he scored four goals for France, helping it win its first title since 1998, and then he scored eight goals in 2022 — most notably netting the second hat trick in a World Cup final ever against Argentina. At the 2026 tournament, he has six so far. 3. Miroslav Klose (Germany): 16 Playing in four straight World Cups from 2002 to 2014, Klose scored in all four editions of the World Cups he participated in and capped it off by lifting the trophy in 2016. His 71 goals for Germany are also the most in the national team’s history. 4. Ronaldo (Brazil): 15 Many consider Ronaldo the greatest striker of all-time, as he scored more than 350 goals in club play and 62 for Brazil. Fifteen of those international goals came in the World Cup, en route to winning the Golden Ball in the 1998 tournament and the Golden Boot in 2002. 5. Gerd Müller (Germany): 14 Arguably the greatest Bundesliga goalscorer of all-time, Müller scored an astonishing 10 goals in 1970 and then another four in 1974 in Germany’s title run. He was Germany’s all-time leading goalscorer with 68 goals until Klose passed him. 6. Just Fontaine (France): 13 Fontaine holds one of the most incredible stats in World Cup history, as all 13 of his goals came in the 1958 edition of the tournament — the record for most goals scored by a player at a single World Cup. It’s been 68 years since he set that record, and no one has come close to breaking it. 7. Pelé (Brazil): 12 The great Pelé scored in all four of his World Cup appearances from 1958 to 1970 and won three titles with Brazil in that span. Most notably, he scored in the final in 1958, as the youngest to ever do so at just 17 years old. T-9. Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal): 11 Ronaldo became the oldest player to score a goal in a knockout stage match at 41 years old when he converted a penalty at the 2026 World Cup. In his six World Cup appearances, he scored at least one goal in each edition. T-9. Jürgen Klinsmann (Germany): 11 Klinsmann scored in three straight World Cups from 1990 to 1998, helping Germany lift the trophy in 1990. His 47 goals for Germany overall are tied for the fourth-most in national team history. T-9. Sándor Kocsis (Hungary): 11 Kocsis’s 11 goals all came in 1954, when his Hungary side scored 27 in five matches before falling in the final to West Germany. He’s the only player to hit double digits in one World Cup besides Fontaine and Müller. Seven players have exactly 10 goals at the World Cup: Helmut Rahn (Germany), Gary Lineker (England), Gabriel Batistuta (Argentina), Teófilo Cubillas (Peru), Thomas Müller (Germany) and Grzegorz Lato (Poland).​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Cristiano Ronaldo has once again silenced the critics by etching his name into the record books as the first male player to score in six different World Cup tournaments. Despite mounting pressure regarding his age and international form, the 41-year-old icon proved that his clinical instincts remain sharp on the grandest stage of all. A Landmark Moment For The GOAT There is simply no stopping Cristiano Ronaldo when it comes to breaking records. By finding the back of the net in Portugal’s clash with Uzbekistan, the legendary forward became the first player to score in six different FIFA World Cup tournaments. It is a feat of unmatched longevity that sees him pull ahead of his long-time rival Lionel Messi in this specific category of historical consistency. The goal, a clinical strike in the sixth minute, served as a defiant response to those who suggested the veteran’s time at the elite level was coming to an end. It was a moment described by many as inevitable, as the Al-Nassr star once again proved that his appetite for goals on the international stage remains as voracious as it was during his debut tournament two decades ago. Silencing The Growing Circle of Critics Heading into the match, the narrative surrounding the Portugal captain was uncharacteristically negative. Statistical analysis had pointed to a goalless run in major international tournaments that had stretched across 10 games, leading some to question whether Roberto Martinez should consider a team without his talismanic number seven. Critics had highlighted his limited involvement in build-up play and a dwindling “post-shot xG” as signs of a sharp decline. However, Ronaldo’s ability to produce the decisive moment when the world is watching has always been his greatest strength. Martinez Stands By His Captain Amid the pre-match scrutiny, Portugal boss Roberto Martinez remained steadfast in his support for the 41-year-old. Martinez dismissed suggestions that the team would be better off without their most prolific scorer, insisting that Ronaldo’s presence provides tactical advantages that go beyond simple touch counts or distance covered in the final third. “It makes no sense to get the best goalscorer in world football out in a game that you need goals,” Martinez stated emphatically. “For us in moments like this, the experience of Cristiano in the box is important. The way that ​he attracts defenders is ​important, the way ⁠that we can use the space is important. And every player has a responsibility or a piece of quality on the pitch. And clearly ​when you look for goals, you need to have Cristiano.” A Must-Win Mission in Texas With a trip to Texas on the horizon, the pressure is on the European heavyweights to deliver a victory and secure their path to the knockout stages. The squad are well aware that their performance against DR Congo fell below the standards expected of a team boasting the likes of Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva. Full-back Joao Cancelo echoed these sentiments, demanding an immediate improvement in the final third. “We didn’t create chances, and that isn’t normal in a team like ours. We have high-quality players, among the best in the world, and we have to show that on the pitch. Tomorrow, only winning counts. We don’t have any margin for error,” Cancelo warned. Portugal burst out of the blocks against Uzbekistan, with Nuno Mendes crashing home a free-kick in the 17th minute. Ronaldo added his second of the game six minutes before half-time – with that clinical finish taking him to 10 in total at World Cup tournaments and above inconic countryman Eusebio.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to score in six different World Cup tournaments on Tuesday by scoring two goals in Portugal’s match against Uzbekistan. 41-year-old Ronaldo made history in the sixth minute when João Cancelo crossed it to him, and he shot with his right foot to make it 1-0. He ran toward the bench and celebrated with his teammates after the score. He scored again in the 39th minute when he got a pass from Bruno Fernandes and scored with his right foot just inside the near post to make the score 3-0. The goals make him the second-oldest player to score at a World Cup behind Cameroon forward Roger Milla, who was 42 when he scored at the 1994 tournament in the United States. Following his second goal, Ronaldo delivered a simple message: “I’m back.” Ronaldo repeated the message after the final whistle. “It’s so people don’t forget,” Ronaldo said postgame when asked about his comments. Ronaldo’s came after the criticism he received for his performance in Portugal’s first group stage match, in which he was held scoreless and Portugal settled for a shocking 1-1 draw against DR Congo. But for Zlatan Ibrahimović, Ronaldo had no reason to respond. “I thought he never left, I don’t know why he says ‘I’m back,'” Ibrahimović said. Ronaldo and Argentina captain Lionel Messi became the only men in history to play in six World Cup tournaments this year. Ronaldo’s scoring streak started in his debut in 2006, and he also netted goals in 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022. While he shares the record for most tournaments with Messi, he stands alone in scoring a goal in each edition after Messi failed to score a goal at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. “It’s always good to break records, but the most important is help the team and get our objectives,” Ronaldo said in the mixed zone on Tuesday. “God helps whoever works. I knew my teammates would help me too “It was a dark week difficult week. It seemed like I was retired from football, but I’m holding because I believe in work. Its was difficult, I can confess, but we are back.”” Ronaldo’s goals Tuesday gave him 10 career goals in the tournament. Messi has 18 after a hat trick in Argentina’s opener against Algeria and two more goals Monday against Austria that made him the all-time leading scorer in tournament history. Tuesday’s game was the 230th of Ronaldo’s international career, which is the most in history. “I’m very happy but the most important is the work that team did and our confidence in us,” Ronaldo said. “We battled with a lot during the week and and we knew that would happen but the team did well and we got better.” This is likely to be the final World Cup for Ronaldo, who won the European Championship with Portugal in 2016 and the Champions League five times with Manchester United and Real Madrid. The Associated Press contributed to this report.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports