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For nearly two decades, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have pushed each other to unprecedented heights at both the club and international level. Now, this year’s FIFA World Cup has become the latest stage for their rivalry, even without a head-to-head showdown. After Portugal’s surprising draw against DR Congo on Wednesday, Ronaldo walked off the pitch alone as frustration mounted. As he made his way toward the tunnel, where DR Congo fans could be heard chanting “Messi.” This only adds to the long-running rivalry between the two soccer legends. Ronaldo and Messi are considered rivals because, for over a decade, they were two of the greatest forces in the sport, pushing each other to break near-impossible scoring records while leading Barcelona and Real Madrid. The debate has consumed the soccer world for years and shows no sign of fading. Messi only added to it on Tuesday night, scoring a hat trick in Argentina’s 3-0 win over Algeria, a performance that also saw him tie the all-time FIFA World Cup scoring record. Messi delivered a historic statement performance on the biggest stage when it was expected of him. Ronaldo, meanwhile, had little impact in Portugal’s draw against DR Congo, finishing without a goal or assist and registering just three shots. For a rivalry defined by delivering on the biggest stages when it matters most, the opening week of the World Cup has offered another point of comparison between the two. With what could be Ronaldo’s final chance to win a World Cup, he has gotten off to quite a challenging start. Ronaldo had his own reaction to Wednesday’s disappointing performance as well, taking to social media to share a message to his fans. “It wasn’t the start we wanted, but this is far from over. Head up and focus on the next game,” Ronaldo wrote in a post to X.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

For 45 minutes, this had the makings of another England worry fest — two leads surrendered, two soft goals conceded, the old ghosts stirring. Then Thomas Tuchel gave the team the right motivation at the half. England stopped being generous, and the game tilted in their favor for good. The 4-2 scoreline at Dallas Stadium undersells how one-sided the second half became. Harry Kane has a brace. Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford supplied the rest. Croatia hung around, then got buried. Here are my takeaways from England’s World Cup opener win. 1. Harry Kane Is the Most Complete Striker on the Planet Two more goals, of course. A retaken penalty he buried without blinking, then a textbook finish off a Declan Rice delivery. A brace in a World Cup opener from a man who treats scoring like a chore he’s contractually obligated to complete. The Bayern Munich numbers have stopped being numbers and started being satire: 36 Bundesliga goals this season — a third straight Golden Boot, the most in Europe’s top five leagues — and 58 in all competitions. He is, right now, the most clinical finisher alive. But the finishing isn’t even the best part. Watch where he operates. Kane spent long spells dropping into midfield, spraying passes, setting tempo, springing Bellingham into space. A No. 9 who is also your best No. 10. That’s not a striker. That’s a two for one deal that England simply cannot live without. 2. Getting Forward For England Was Absurdly Easy The xG told one story; the eye test told a louder one. England piled up 22 shots, 11 of them on target. The only reason this wasn’t a rout was Croatia keeper Dominik Livaković, who at one point produced a save-rebound-save scramble to deny midfielder Nico O’Reilly, then winger Anthony Gordon, then center back Ezri Konsa in the span of seconds. The width was relentless — winger Noni Madueke constantly pushing on the right, and Gordon stretching on the left — making the middle of the field worse for Croatia because that’s where Jude Bellingham lives. Time and again he collected the ball, drove through the lines and arrived in the box, finishing the third himself and combining slickly with Rice, Kane and Elliot Anderson. When England clicks going forward, few teams on earth create chances this cleanly. This was a genuinely excellent attacking performance. 3. Croatia Won’t Reach a Final Like in 2018 — But They’re Far From Done Let’s be honest: the 2018 magic isn’t walking back through that door. This Croatia squad won’t grind its way to a World Cup final on penalties and sheer stubbornness like it did in Russia. The legs aren’t quite there. But write them off at your peril. Luka Modrić, 40 and playing his fifth World Cup, didn’t have a vintage performance and gave up a penalty, but still moves around like he’s 10 years younger. Around the veterans — Ivan Perišić, Mateo Kovačić — sits a genuinely exciting next wave. Como’s Martin Baturina announced himself with a thunderbolt of an equalizer. Petar Sučić is a complete box-to-box midfielder coming through the ranks. Josip Stanišić is a Champions League regular at Leverkusen. The quality is still there, but Croatia’s first test happened to be against one of the best five nations at the World Cup. Croatia conceded four and still looked like a team that won’t be fun to draw, assuming they advance from this group. That blend of veteran savvy and youth should cause problems to the middle of the pack. 4. The One Thing That Should Keep Tuchel Up at Night Here’s the catch on an otherwise glowing day: England fell asleep defensively. Twice in the first half they took the lead, and twice they switched off in midfield — the Petar Musa equalizer came straight from a snooze, Perišić slipping behind the line and heading it back for the first-time finish through keeper Jordan Pickford’s legs. There’s a pattern here that predates this match: England get ahead, get comfortable, and invite pressure they never needed to. Against Croatia, this team simply had the firepower to outscore the problem. Against a France or a Spain in a knockout, it won’t. The talent is overwhelming — the bench alone coughed up Rashford’s curler. Tuchel’s job isn’t adding more attack. It’s convincing this team that a two-goal lead is a reason to step on a throat, not ease off it.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

U.S. World Cup Team Training Base (IRVINE, Calif.) — Christian Pulisic emerged from the U.S. men’s national team’s pop-up training tent and jogged to the far side of the field. His teammates had already begun warming up ahead of Wednesday’s practice, making this the third day in a row that the squad had to work out without him. Pulisic is participating in “modified training” and is “day-to-day” according to a U.S. Soccer spokesperson. The superstar forward left the Americans’ 4-1 World Cup opening victory vs. Paraguay last Friday in the first half after he was kicked in the back of his leg. He wore what appeared to be some kind of black compression sleeve around his left calf on Wednesday while he went through light passing drills with team trainers. The USA faces Australia on Friday in Seattle for its second group stage match (3 p.m. ET on FOX/FOX One). The nations are tied atop Group D with three points, but the U.S. has a slight advantage on goal differential. At the moment, it’s unclear if Pulisic will be available to play. His teammates, a few of whom have spoken with the media this week, are hopeful. U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino is expected to address the issue at his press conference on Thursday. However, it’s unlikely he’ll reveal any trade secrets – and Pulisic’s status probably won’t be public knowledge until lineups are released on Friday about an hour before kickoff. “We’re really hoping that Christian’s gonna be back for the game,” attacking midfielder Brenden Aaronson told a group of reporters before Wednesday’s training session. “I don’t really know what’s going on in particular, but we know that he’s gonna give us his all to get back into the team and be there for the game. So we’ll see.” Pulisic contributed to the USA’s first two goals against Paraguay. He was dynamic and dangerous, showing the world that he’s in top form. He spoke with reporters following the match and was asked about his injury. “I’m really hoping that it’s nothing,” he said matter of factly at the time. Since then, the U.S. has been cautious with him. “We’ve still got a couple of days to see where he’s at and, you know, thankfully we’ve got a lot of boys on the bench who are eager and ready to get involved in helping the team and [we have] a lot of quality,” said fullback Antonee “Jedi” Robinson, who plays on the left side with Pulisic. Midfielder Sebastian Berhalter started the second half of the last match when Pulisic needed to come out at halftime. What will Pochettino do against Australia if he can’t play? There are several options depending on which way Pochettino wants to go, including Berhalter, Aaronson, Gio Reyna, Tim Weah or even Christian Roldan, who plays for the MLS club Seattle Sounders and will be anxious to get on the pitch in front of a home crowd. Pulisic, though, is irreplaceable. “Christian is a world-class player,” Weah said earlier this week. “Christian, for me, is top five wingers in the world. He’s one of my favorite players to watch. Being able to play alongside him for a long time has been amazing.” “It’s just the little things that he does,” Weah added. “I mean, he showed it against Paraguay. His ability and what he’s able to do on the ball is amazing for us, it helps the team, and for me, he’s one of the best players I’ve had the opportunity to play with. I’m super proud of him, and hopefully he’ll be ready for our next game.” Pulisic suffered an injury during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar while scoring the decisive goal in the final group stage match against Iran, which sent the Americans to the knockout round. Although he campaigned to play the second half, he went to the hospital instead to make sure he was okay. Pulisic is the face of the team and is highly motivated to help the United States make history at a home World Cup. He is the type of person who will be doing everything in his power to play on Friday. This isn’t an elimination game, but the U.S. wants to finish first in its group to potentially have a more favorable path in the knockout stage. But don’t be surprised if Pochettino plays it safe with his star – the matchup vs. Australia is expected to be physical and intense. In fact, the last time the teams met in October, Pulisic was forced off in the first half following a hard challenge. “It’s a long tournament,” Robinson said. “If we don’t have him back for the game, then you know we’re going to make sure we have him back for the rest of the way because we’re going to need him as we’re going to need everyone. Hopefully we have everyone available.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

STORRS, Conn. — It’s toward the end of his grueling incline-run workouts when UConn head coach Dan Hurley feels the familiar yearning for some self-inflicted pain. As he runs, sweat spewing, Hurley cues up “One Shining Moment” on his phone, the annual highlight video that accompanies each NCAA Tournament. The Huskies make their first appearance after exactly 90 seconds, with forward Alex Karaban embracing a teammate following the Round of 32 victory over UCLA. Hurley’s face flashes across the screen moments later, twisted into a comedic sideline expression. Next comes center Tarris Reed Jr. flicking home a hook shot. And then there’s freshman Braylon Mullins burying perhaps the greatest shot in program history: a 3-point buzzer beater against Duke that propelled the Huskies to another Final Four, their third in the last four seasons. For Hurley, the palatable portion of the video ends shortly thereafter. He relives UConn’s win against Illinois in the national semifinals and then quickly taps his screen to exit. Treadmill session over. He still can’t stomach the way this particular montage ends: scenes of Michigan prevailing in the championship game. Even for a coach who built his career on suffering, who thought he was the failure of the famed Hurley basketball family, the self-inflicted anguish can only go so far. “You’re disappointed because you were pretty close to winning three out of four championships,” Hurley told me last week. “Sending Tarris out with a ring and a parade, [sending] Alex out as the most decorated college basketball player of his generation. So that part of it is crushing. And then you look at the historical context of being in that game three out of four years [and realize] we are doing things as a program that haven’t been done since the ’90s. And we’re doing it during a really volatile time. “So I think two things can be true, you know? The run that we’ve been on has been historic, but man, it sucked that we didn’t win it.” This is the headspace Hurley occupies on a scorching afternoon in mid-June, partway through the Huskies’ first week of their first summer session, the de facto beginning of another championship pursuit. As a perpetually tortured soul, Hurley’s journey toward fulfillment always seems to land at the crossroads between overly critical introspection and the healthy acceptance that even seasons ending in defeat can be enjoyed. It’s a lesson imparted on him by colleague Geno Auriemma, head coach of the UConn’s women’s team. So here Hurley stands, halfway between the loss to Michigan and the blank slate of a fresh campaign, reconciling those conflicting parts amid widespread changes to the program. Though nothing about his hunger for a third national title has waned, so much of what’s around Hurley is different. Gone are Karaban and Reed, the two leading scorers and two most important players from last year’s team. Gone, too, is assistant coach Luke Murray, an offensive mastermind and ace recruiter now in charge at Boston College. Shooting guard Solo Ball, who would have been the Huskies’ most experienced returner, is taking a medical redshirt as he recovers from wrist surgery. Seven newcomers arrived via the transfer portal, two more from the high school ranks, and there are fresh names within both Hurley’s staff and the strength and conditioning department alike. “Parts of it do feel different: new faces, new guys,” point guard Silas Demary Jr. told me last week. “But it’s still the same standard. It’s still the same [level of] holding everybody accountable, running through every line. It’s still some of the same rules we’ve had even before the changes that are now in place.” Much of that approach can be attributed to the way Hurley is wired — his unflinching competitiveness quickly flipping from one season to the next within a few hours of the final buzzer against Michigan, at which point the transfer portal had already opened. Once the Huskies boarded their return trip from Indianapolis the following day, still wounded from a six-point loss that separated them from a seventh national title, Hurley began asking general manager Tom Moore for an overview of how to retool the roster. It was the same thing Hurley had done the year prior on the way home from Raleigh, North Carolina, after losing to eventual national champion Florida in the Round of 32. By then, Moore and a group of support staffers had spent months working the phones to better understand how the transfer market was likely to unfold dollar-wise and which players were keen on entering the fray. His small council included graduate assistant Andrew Hurley — one of Dan’s sons — along with student managers Khaliq Young and Jack Richardson. Additional insight came from assistant coaches Murray, Kimani Young and Mike Nardi, though Murray’s involvement curtailed once he accepted the job at Boston College. Still, Hurley and Murray traded names of potential transfer targets on the flight back from the Final Four, a reflection of their extremely tight bond. While the pros of reaching the national championship game will always outweigh the cons, making three such appearances in quick succession has complicated the Huskies’ involvement in the transfer portal. Moore estimates that UConn and other teams participating in the Final Four are often entering the race for high-profile transfers two or three weeks later than their competitors, which is reflected by lofty price tags that suggest bidding began a good while earlier. He jokes that the program would be flush with cash if the Huskies received a fundraising dollar for every time an agent told Moore, “You’re late — but we’ll let you in because you’re UConn,” which is a tradeoff the staff is happy to make. “Our athletic director, Dave Benedict, is extremely supportive of us and our efforts and finding a way,” Moore told me last week. “It’s not easy anywhere. Everyone is trying to figure the thing out as best they can. But we’ve had about five offseasons in this new model. We always go into it with an idea of what [the roster cost] might be in December. And then we sort of have to up it a little as we sort of start to talk to people in February. Then it seems like we go back to Dave again in March with another [request]. And then we have to go to him again in April and May when we’re in the heart of it and say, ‘It may be even more.” “And he’s never, ever once pushed back. He’s sympathetic of what we’re facing, and he’s in our corner. He understands that to have championship goals, you really have to have championship aspirations in terms of fundraising and revenue generation.” There also needs to be conviction — particularly when the Huskies have faced such pronounced time crunches for identifying, scouting and hosting players in the wake of sustained postseason success. This, according to Moore, is another area where Hurley excels. He watches film, pores over statistics and dives into the analytics of each potential transfer target before making a “strong, firm decision” that prevents the program from getting “paralyzed by guys wanting to take a visit and the whole thing,” Moore told me, which can begin to feel performative. Hurley’s unprecedented success in the modern era, when NIL and the transfer portal conspire to make roster construction more difficult than ever, has only strengthened his belief in the general framework fueling UConn’s ascent. He described his approach to building next year’s team as “almost slotting people in to fit the type of pieces that we’ve had success with here.”The product on display during practice last week certainly reflects such an endeavor. The power forward spot that was manned for ages by Karaban now belongs to Duke transfer Nik Khamenia, whom Hurley described as having “a lot of attributes that Alex had in terms of the feel, the size, the versatility, the competitiveness, the love of the game, the shooting.” The center position will be anchored by another hulking bruiser in Seton Hall transfer Na’jai Hines, whose 6-foot-10, 260-pound frame is in keeping with the imposing presence Reed provided over the last two seasons. His primary backup, Stanford center Oskar Giltay, complements that strength with similar athleticism and shot-blocking that former UConn big man Samson Johnson offered both of Hurley’s national championship teams. The ultra-confident, self-assured perimeter shooter is now Wofford transfer Nils Machowski, who steps into an archetype once filled by players like Cam Spencer and Joey Calcaterra in recent years, both portal gems. The instant-impact freshman is expected to be forward Colben Landrew, a rugged wing with enough talent for Hurley to place him in the same category as recent first-year standouts Stephon Castle, Liam McNeeley and Mullins, all of whom were five-star recruits. So while there have been plenty of changes at UConn ahead of the 2026-27 season, with new faces in new places at seemingly every turn, the Huskies’ profile still looks and feels largely the same. And if recent history is any indication, that might be enough for Hurley to reach another Final Four. Perhaps he’ll even win it all and watch the entire “One Shining Moment” video next spring. “You never want to lose championship people,” Hurley told me last week. “But I think that the change is refreshing, it’s invigorating, it gets you excited to do it with new people that haven’t experienced the way we do it, you know? You’re exposing new people to the UConn way of doing it. It’s kind of fun.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

As far as Portugal manager Roberto Martínez is concerned, I am sure he is saying: Houston, we have a problem. But for DR Congo? Houston: this is a DREAM. On Tuesday afternoon in Texas, Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal kicked off its World Cup campaign with a 1-1 result against DR Congo and once again, an African side delivered an inspiring performance against an Iberian squad to record the biggest result in its history. I think it’s obvious that Portugal needs to heavily improve and has so much to improve on. But it was yet another majestic performance from the early days of this tournament. DR Congo — just like Cape Verde’s draw against Spain — should be very, very proud. Here are my takeaways: 1. It Won’t Happen, But Ronaldo Shouldn’t Start For Portugal I am sure I will be getting a thousand messages from Ronaldo’s superfans, but here’s a statement I have made for a long time now. I think Portugal possesses so much more fluidity when the legendary captain comes off the bench. Portugal, looking to win its first ever World Cup title, is a team of stars — led by a 41-year-old Ronaldo who has joined Lionel Messi as the only male player to feature in six World Cups. But Martínez knows that with this deep squad at his disposal, which includes Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva, who’ll join José Mourinho’s Real Madrid next season, wants to go far. I also want to state that this is nothing against Ronaldo, it’s more about Martínez’s philosophy and how he prefers an interchangeable attacking lineup and the 41-year-old striker essentially slows this down because he is such a target man. I know it will never happen. But I just think Portugal would be much stronger with some younger, more mobile attackers such as Gonçalo Ramos and Rafael Leão. 2. DR Congo Deserved The Result And Inspired A Nation It was a celebration 52 years in the making as DR Congo was making its return to the World Cup for the first time since 1974, when it was Zaire. There’s no doubt that the Central African team had heart and an intent to earn something against this talented Portuguese side. It gave away nearly 80% possession but for many moments, it decided to gamble and push forward with a more direct approach. And then history. Having given up 15 goals at the World Cup stretching back to that 1974 tournament, Yoane Wissa forever etched his name into his country’s history with a first-half goal. At the start, Wissa was isolated, as was his teammate Cédric Bakambu, but then when a beautiful cross came in, Wissa took his chance. It was well executed by the Newcastle United man. But throughout the action, the African side stood tall and held a resilient performance. There’s so much to be proud of from The Leopards. 3. Disjointed Portugal Needs More Cohesion Portugal made the semifinals in 1966 and then again reached that feat 20 years ago, when the Seleção das Quinas (the Team of the Shields) finished the 2006 tournament in fourth place. Its fallen short of that stage since then, most recently when it lost to Morocco in the quarterfinals in 2022 as the Atlas Lions made history by becoming the first Arab and African nation to earn a final four spot. I already mentioned the embarrassment of riches of this squad, but for a large majority of the action, Portugal, with and without Ronaldo, looked like a collection of individuals, playing next to each other, not for one another towards an objective. The passing accuracy was there. In fact, it was statistically at 96%, which was its best ever since 1966 — but it came to nothing. Similar to Spain, it was passing for passing’s sake. It can’t act like that. If Portugal wants to make at least the semifinals again, it needs to feel more like a team. 4. Colombia Can Take A Lot Of Inspiration From Today If Colombia earns a win against Uzbekistan on Tuesday night, I think Nestor Lorenzo’s side can feel very confident that it can top the group and take something from Portugal in the final game, especially since the match will be played in Miami in front of what should be a pro-Colombia crowd. But as we witnessed on Wednesday, DR Congo won’t be a pushover and Colombia can’t overlook this team when those two meet next week in Guadalajara. As for Portugal, the team will return to Houston and face Uzbekistan in what feels like a must-win scenario.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

LOS ANGELES — Max Muncy wasn’t alive the last time a Dodgers third baseman started in the All-Star Game. Adrian Beltré belted a career-high 48 homers and finished second in MVP voting in his final season as a Dodger in 2004, but the Hall of Famer didn’t become an All-Star for the first time until six years later in Boston. In 2014, Justin Turner joined the Dodgers and proceeded to accumulate more than 1,000 hits over the next nine years with the team, but his two All-Star appearances during that stretch came as a reserve. For all of their sustained success over the past decade and standout play at third base over the years, the Dodgers haven’t had an All-Star starter at the position since Ron Cey in 1977. A month from now, that 49-year drought should end. At 35 years old, Muncy is playing arguably the best all-around baseball of his career. He leads all qualified National League third basemen in home runs, on-base percentage, slugging, OPS and FanGraphs’ version of wins above replacement. He also has the highest batting average of his career and, perhaps most strikingly, is grading out as one of the best defensive third basemen in the league by some metrics. The first All-Star balloting update reflects Muncy’s preeminence. As of Monday, Muncy already had accumulated more than 900,000 votes while every other NL third baseman had fewer than 400,000. After the update was announced, I asked Muncy what it meant to be playing at this level, in his mid-30s, five years since his last All-Star appearance. A smile crept across his face in the Dodgers’ dugout. “The truth is,” Muncy told me Monday afternoon before the Dodgers hosted the Rays, “it just means I’m healthy.” Muncy pointed out that after a slow start last year, he was on a similar pace to what he’s on right now until injuries slowed him down. Indeed, he produced an OPS over .900 from the start of May through the end of the 2025 season, aided by the addition of prescription glasses that he began wearing at the plate in late April to correct his vision — a “diamond-in-the-rough find,” as he described it. But oblique and knee injuries ultimately limited him to 100 games in 2025. The year prior, he hit 39% better than league average but missed three months with an oblique and rib issue. “For me, when you start getting older, and you’re finding it harder and harder to stay healthy, that always raises the question marks in your mind,” Muncy said. “So, it’s a big thing to just have been healthy so far this year.” Muncy has played in 68 of the Dodgers’ 74 games and is on pace for a 6.3-WAR season, which would make this the most valuable season of his standout 11-year career. His 148 OPS+ — hitting 48% better than league average — is the second-highest mark of his career behind only his breakout 2018 season (161 OPS+), when he rewarded the Dodgers for rescuing his career from the brink after he was released by the A’s. Eight years later, he’s continuing to reward the Dodgers in a season in which stars Mookie Betts, Kyle Tucker and Will Smith are all hitting well below their career norms. “He put in a lot of work with his body this offseason to put himself in a good spot, and that’s helped the consistency of the swing mechanics,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “But also, I think, Max has really matured as far as not letting things that he can’t control bother him. I think in years past, if it didn’t go well, it would start to speed up.” That could be evident both at the plate and in the field. Offensively, Muncy told me that it wasn’t until the beginning of the 2024 season when he finally felt like he had gotten his swing back, years after a collision at first base damaged the UCL in his left elbow and ended his All-Star 2021 season prematurely. He was constantly tinkering in an attempt to find his form again — “a lot of different Band-Aids,” as he described it — cycling through various bat models and even trying out a stepback move with his back foot in the box to assist with timing, looking for anything that could help get him back on track after averaging an .890 OPS and making two All-Star teams over his first four seasons as a Dodger. Defensively, meanwhile, he was struggling to translate his work from practice into the game after his transition from first to third base following Freddie Freeman’s arrival in 2022. “When I’d do my work, I’d feel very free with the glove, not afraid to field [the ball] at different positions, field it off-balance, field it on the wrong foot,” Muncy told me. “And then when the game would come, I just couldn’t find that freedom. The ball would get hit to me, and I would tense up. My feet would get stuck. I would be scared to field the ball one-handed, even though that’s how I do most of my work.” Conversations with Betts last year, as the six-time Gold Glove Award-winning outfielder made the full-time transition to shortstop, played a part in helping Muncy gain a better understanding of how he should be thinking about playing his own position. Then, early this spring, something clicked. A couple of balls were hit Muncy’s way that he said he “went out and got,” with his feet moving the way he wanted them to. “I’ve been able to take that ever since,” he said, “and just been kind of running with it.” More than his .266 batting average, his 16 home runs or his .891 OPS, it’s Muncy’s work at third base that he said he is most proud of this season. Better footwork has helped him improve his range, and he has made considerable progress on plays charging in. But it’s the routine ones — the balls hit right at him — that he feels much better equipped to handle this season. “You tend to get stuck at third base with the ball straight at you,” Muncy said. “When your feet are stuck, and you’re not moving, you’re always putting yourself at the chance of a bad hop. Going to my left, going to my right, I was always fine in years past. But it was the ball straight at me, that was the one you’d see bounce off my chest or I’m bobbling it. I just couldn’t find my rhythm because my feet would get stuck. So, now, I’ve been so much better at the one straight at me.” It’s not perfect. Last week, a potential inning-ending grounder got underneath Muncy’s glove in Pittsburgh and allowed a run to score. On Tuesday, the hardest-hit ball of the night from the Rays kicked off the heel of his glove, and he was unable to recover in time to make the play at first. Overall, though, those blunders are much more infrequent. He is producing his highest fielding percentage since making the full-time switch to third base, and Roberts said Muncy’s defense is as good as it has been since he can recall. By outs above average, Cleveland’s José Ramírez is the only qualified third baseman who has graded out better than Muncy this season. “Who I’ve been this year defensively is who I always thought I could be,” Muncy told me. “There’s been flashes of it and there’s been stints, but consistently it just hasn’t been there in past years.” There was no major technical change or transformation to get to this point. “A lot of it now is just about confidence,” Dodgers infield coach Chris Woodward told me. “He trusts that he can make any play.” He is also doing a better job listening to his body and understanding what it needs. Woodward said Muncy has learned that he has to throw every day, even on days when he’s not feeling his best, to have his arm where he wants it to be. But as Muncy has come to find out, more does not always mean better. “As I got older, part of the injuries happening the last couple of years was maybe me doing too much,” Muncy realized. There’s a balance that Muncy is finding between being prepared and not overdoing it, the way he had in previous seasons, in an effort to reduce injury risk. “Whether it’s weight room, cage, ground balls, throwing, running, there’s only so much your body can do,” Muncy told me. “For me, it was just maturing enough to realize there is a limit to that. “I used to come out here and take ground balls for an hour, trying to get better and trying to figure out what was going on. I’d be throwing for an hour, and I’d go into the cage, and I’d be hitting for hours, and my hands would be bleeding. And I had to understand that’s not the best way to stay healthy. You’re putting your body through so much stress.” Every year since suffering his elbow injury, Muncy has seen his batting average steadily rise: .196 in 2022, .212 in 2023, .232 in 2024, .243 in 2025 and now a career-high .266 to start the 2026 season. Five years after his last All-Star season, he has found a happy medium that is allowing him to excel as an all-around talent. The only Dodgers player worth more WAR than Muncy this season is Shohei Ohtani. “Now, he’s managed the lows, and the highs have been much more consistent,” Roberts explained. “I said this even last year, a year and a half ago, he’s just a better hitter now. I do think that he values getting a hit more than he used to.” And after making the All-Star team as a first baseman in 2019 and 2021, Muncy is now on track to become an All-Star third baseman for the first time in his career. “I’m happy to see him at the top,” Roberts said. “This All-Star Game, if it works out, this is going to mean a lot to him.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

With minicamps wrapping up around the NFL, it’s a fitting time to check in on the most intriguing quarterback competitions. After conducting a deep dive on each situation, here are my thoughts on the league’s best battles. The battle between the former No. 1 overall pick and the Vikings’ intended franchise QB could determine whether the team re-emerges as a title contender in 2026. While Kevin O’Connell has attempted to split the reps evenly to give each player a chance to seize the job, the noise around the Vikings suggests Kyler Murray is the frontrunner heading into training camp, particularly after Justin Jefferson raved about the eighth-year pro’s talent and experience before minicamp. The 2019 Offensive Rookie of the Year is coming off a disappointing 2025 campaign that was cut short by a foot injury, but he has flashed elite potential as a dual-threat playmaker with 20,000-plus passing yards, 3,000-plus rushing yards and 153 total scores on his résumé. J.J. McCarthy has started (and appeared in) just 10 games since his 2024 arrival as the No. 10 overall pick. After missing his rookie season because of a torn meniscus, he posted a 6-4 record last year but completed just 57.6% of his passes for 1,632 yards with 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. While those pedestrian numbers do not jump off the stat sheet, McCarthy did flash enough intriguing playmaking potential for the Vikings to remain optimistic about his future as a QB1. The third-year pro has not played enough to deserve an obituary as a player, but his inexperience and immaturity might prevent Minnesota from making a playoff push in 2026. Best Fit: Murray The former Pro Bowler is the most talented quarterback KOC has coached in Minnesota. As an electric dual-threat playmaker, Murray adds an explosive dimension to the offense as a big-play weapon who can produce highlight-reel-worthy plays inside and outside the pocket. With a supporting cast that features a premier WR1 (Jefferson) and a collection of complementary playmakers (Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson, Jauan Jennings and Aaron Jones) who will allow him to operate like a pass-first point guard leading a fast break, the Vikings can operate in attack mode with a dynamic athlete at the helm. Moreover, their creative play-action passing game and shotgun “RPO” (run-pass option) package should expand with a twitchy playmaker at the controls. If Murray can shake the injury bug that forced him to miss most of the 2022 (torn ACL) and 2025 (foot injury) seasons, the Vikings have upgraded the position with a more dynamic passer and runner leading the show. The competition between a three-time Pro Bowler and a polarizing second-year pro has the “Dawg Pound” clamoring for an answer before training camp. Although new head coach Todd Monken wanted to wrap up the competition before the preseason kicked off, the strong performances from each player have led to an extended battle that will continue through the first few weeks of training camp. To the surprise of many, Deshaun Watson has a legitimate opportunity to win the starting job after being summarily dismissed by Browns owner Jimmy Haslam a season ago. The veteran has benefited from the arrival of a new head coach who fondly remembers Watson’s spectacular moments in Houston. Given his dominance as a Texan (three-time Pro Bowler with a pair of 4,000-yard seasons), it is easy to see why the grizzled coach is smitten by Watson’s talent despite his struggles in Cleveland. At his best, Watson has been an elite quarterback who has flashed MVP-caliber potential, directing a spread offense that allowed him to push the ball downfield to a collection of speedsters and big-play merchants who thrived at tracking down deep balls. Despite starting his NFL journey at the bottom of the Browns’ depth chart, Shedeur Sanders finished 2025 as the team’s starter following an eight-game run that featured a mix of heroics, highlight plays and humble pie that will keep his supporters and detractors standing firm with their positions. The Pro Bowl alternate finished with a 56.6% completion rate, 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, while occasionally sparking a dormant offense with a fearless approach. Although his big-play hunting ultimately led to several negative plays (sacks and turnovers), Sanders also ignited the offense with downfield throws. He will need to improve his risk assessment and management skills to help the Browns improve significantly under his direction. Perhaps more game experience and first-team reps will lead to better individual and team results in 2026. Best Fit: Watson Despite facing long odds and an uphill climb to re-emerge as the Browns’ QB1, Watson is well-positioned to land the starting role based on his experience and schematic fit. As an accomplished quarterback with 72 career starts and a high-arcing deep ball, the 10th-year pro could help the Browns become the big-play machine Monken envisions with a revamped pass-catching corps possessing the size, speed and explosiveness to win their one-on-one battles on the perimeter. If Watson can shake off the rust that has accumulated from his extended layoff due to injuries and a suspension, the veteran could thrive in a collegiate-styled offense that features more spread and “Air-Raid” concepts that showcase his strengths as a quick-rhythm passer with a lethal deep ball. With Kevin Stefanski taking over as the Falcons’ new head coach, the offense will likely shift to more play-action, under-center concepts that complement a dynamic running game with Bijan Robinson as a centerpiece. Michael Penix Jr. was expected to take over as the franchise quarterback based on his anointed status as a top-10 pick in 2024. The left-handed gunslinger has shown promise as a part-time starter with 12 career starts under his belt, but a torn ACL threatens to keep him sidelined until the beginning of training camp. While Stefanski has kept the door open to a quarterback competition, the lack of offseason repetitions in a new system will prevent him from building on the positive flashes (2,757 passing yards, 12 touchdowns and six interceptions) he has displayed as a potential franchise player. Tua Tagovailoa came over on a cheap deal (signed for the $1.3 million veteran’s minimum) after being dumped by the Miami Dolphins following a disappointing 2025 campaign. Despite his recent struggles, the streaky passer has posted the NFL’s second-highest completion rate (68.6%) since 2021, directing a quick-rhythm passing game that helped him sometimes pile up gaudy stats while tossing the ball to a world-class track team on the perimeter. With the Falcons featuring an all-star collection of playmakers on the perimeter, Stefanski is hoping a change of scenery can help Tagovailoa rediscover his magical pocket passing skills this season. Best Fit: Tagovailoa Tagovailoa’s quick release and pinpoint passing skills make him a perfect fit in an offense that prioritizes accuracy and ball placement. The veteran peppers the strike zone with various throws that enable his pass catchers to shine as “catch-and-run” playmakers in a “grip it and rip it” scheme. Although the Falcons will utilize more traditional under-center concepts with various play-action fakes that require Tagovailoa to turn his back to the defense, the veteran’s savvy and experience should make the transition easy for him. Considering he led the NFL in passing yards (4,624) in 2023, the Falcons are well-positioned to shoot to the top of the division if Tagovailoa finds rhythm and confidence early in the season. The Raiders’ quarterback situation is more of an apprenticeship than competition, with Kirk Cousins serving as a mentor to Fernando Mendoza while the rookie acclimates to the pro game. As a former Pro Bowler who has flourished under Klint Kubiak, Cousins is the perfect role model because of his comparable playing style to Mendoza’s and the veteran’s success in the system. Cousins, in fact, enjoyed the best three-year run of his career with Kubiak serving as his QBs coach and then OC from 2019 to 2021. During that span in a Shanahan-style system, Cousins threw for 12,089 passing yards and 94 touchdowns with a 67.6% completion rate. Those eye-popping numbers made it easy for Kubiak to target him as a bridge quarterback to lean on until Mendoza is ready for a bigger role. The rookie is the mature prospect every coach wants to develop into a franchise QB. As a big-game performer with a knack for coming through in the clutch, the 2025 Heisman Trophy winner is built for the bright lights and big stage of the NFL game. History has shown, however, that a patient approach with young quarterbacks often yields solid results, particularly when they can sit back and learn before jumping into the fray as a starter. Given how well the process worked for the Raiders’ minority owner (Tom Brady), it is sensible for the franchise to utilize a similar plan for their QB1 of the future. Best Fit: Cousins The veteran’s success and belief in the system should make him the 2026 starter for the Raiders. Cousins not only played at an elite level for multiple seasons within the scheme but also earned Pro Bowl recognition while leading his teams to playoff appearances during that span. Although the veteran is no longer at the top of his game, his experience, expertise and management skills make him the perfect leader to guide Las Vegas and its future franchise quarterback through the rebuilding process. With Kubiak handpicking Cousins to be the mentor for his young quarterback, the only way Mendoza starts Week 1 will be due to injury or a markedly superior preseason performance from the rookie.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Wednesday marks the final day of the opening games at the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup and while it will be a tough act to follow Tuesday’s extravaganza, there will be plenty of star players who’ll do their best. Led by Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal hopes its game against the DR Congo will be the first step of a long run. England vs. Croatia is one of the most anticipated group stage games after deep runs in major tournaments over the past decade. Ghana and Panama will meet in the third game as the Black Stars could once again surprise in this tournament. The final opening game will see a Colombian team looking to get back on track when it takes on an Uzbekistan team that will likely be full of energy, coached by an Italian legend. Portugal vs. DR Congo: How to Watch When: Wednesday, June 17, 1 p.m. ETWhere: HoustonTV: FOXStream: Watch three days free on FOX One Group K gets underway on Wednesday with Portugal opening its much-anticipated World Cup campaign against DR Congo in Houston. Ranked fifth in the latest FIFA World Rankings, much of the team’s spotlight is on Cristiano Ronaldo, who will be playing in his sixth World Cup. At 41, Ronaldo is set to become the second-oldest outfield player in World Cup history behind only Cameroon legend Roger Milla, who played in the 1994 tournament in the United States at the age of 42. For Ronaldo, this is likely his last opportunity to win the tournament. His international career has been defined by leading Portugal to the 2016 European Championship. At the World Cup, the furthest he reached was the semifinals in 2006. In the four tournaments since, Portugal has had two group stage exits, one elimination from the Round of 16, and one quarterfinal exit. But Portugal is showing signs of returning to the world’s elite under head coach Roberto Martinez, who was hired in 2023. At Euro 2024, Portugal won its group and then advanced to the quarterfinals before being stopped by France on penalties. Portugal won the 2024-25 UEFA Nations League with a win over Germany in the semifinal, followed by a win over Spain on penalties in the final. Finally, the Portuguese won their World Cup qualifying group with ease, outscoring opponents 20-7 over six games. Ronaldo has shown few signs of aging in recent years. Under Martinez, Ronaldo has made 26 appearances and scored 22 goals for Portugal, with many goals coming in important games. Of course, Ronaldo has a strong supporting case that includes top playmaker Bruno Fernandes, 31, of Manchester United and Real Madrid-bound midfielder Bernardo Silva, 31, who will be playing in his third World Cup. Like Ronaldo, Silva and Fernandes might also be playing in their final World Cup. After this tournament, Portugal might see a massive change of the guard. Ranked No. 46 in the FIFA World Rankings, the DR Congo returns to the World Cup for the first time since 1974, when the country was called Zaire. While it was a significant accomplishment to become the first Sub-Saharan African team to qualify for the World Cup, Zaire was outscored by its opponents 14-0. DR Congo qualified for the World Cup after finishing second in CAF Group B behind Senegal. That put the Leopards into the intercontinental playoff, where they prevailed 1-0 over Jamaica. Most of the DR Congo consists of players who currently play for European clubs. Nine players played in Europe’s traditional top five leagues in the 2025-26 season. The team’s attack is led by Yoane Wissa, who joined Newcastle United in 2025 for a £50 million transfer fee. Real Betis striker Cédric Bakambu, 35, has a lot of experience but has scored just six league goals in his last three seasons. But another area of strength for DR Congo is its two wingbacks, West Ham’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Lens’ Arthur Masuaku, who are both effective in getting into the attack. DR Congo has several effective players, but Portugal is the heavy favorite. Portugal vs. DR Congo: Player To Watch Cristiano Ronaldo: One of the greatest players of all time will likely get his final World Cup underway in this game. At 41 years old and with 228 caps under his belt, Ronaldo is not simply a nostalgic act in this tournament. He is still a remarkably effective striker who has been playing terrific soccer for Portugal since Martinez came on board in 2023. But at this tournament and in this game, expect Ronaldo to play with intensity and desperation, knowing that time is running out. England vs. Croatia: How to watch When: Wednesday, June 17, 4 p.m. ETWhere: DallasTV: FOXStream: Watch three days free on FOX One In one of the marquee group stage games of this World Cup, England takes on Croatia on Wednesday afternoon at Dallas Stadium in a matchup of teams who are expected to advance out of Group L. Ranked 4th in the latest FIFA Rankings, England holds realistic ambitions of winning the tournament. The Three Lions were stellar in World Cup qualifying, winning all eight games and outscoring opponents 22-0. At Euro 2024, England advanced to the final, where it narrowly lost to Spain 2-1 in a hard-fought matchup against one of the world’s elite teams. Head coach Thomas Tuchel has done an impressive job with England since taking over at the start of January 2025, overseeing the perfect World Cup qualifying effort. He is just the third foreign manager of England, and his contract has already been extended through Euro 2028. The Three Lions are led by captain and top scorer Harry Kane, who is widely expected to contend for his second World Cup Golden Boot after winning the award in 2018. Kane’s scoring accomplishments, mostly with Tottenham and his current club Bayern Munich, place him among the best players of his generation. Kane has won the Premier League Golden Boot three times. He has been the Bundesliga top scorer three times, including this recent season with Bayern Munich. He won the European Golden Shoe twice as the continent’s most prolific scorer, including 2025-26. Beyond Kane, England has a very talented team that should go far. Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham and Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers are the team’s playmakers. Arsenal’s Declan Rice is one of the top holding midfielders at this World Cup. John Stones and Ezri Konsa are a very capable central defensive pairing. On top of it all, England will be extremely well-supported in each of its games at this World Cup. Managed by Zlatko Dalić, Croatia will be a much tougher test for England than anyone the Three Lions faced in World Cup qualifying. Croatia qualified for this World Cup also through a strong, unbeaten campaign with seven wins and a draw over eight games. The strength of this Croatian team is its experience and its tactical organization under Dalić. Luka Modrić, 40, is one of the many aging superstars of this tournament along with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Like those players, he is not simply along for the ride and he is expected to be a focal point of Croatia’s game plan. Croatia’s roster is a blend of youth and experience. On the older side, along with Modrić, there are Ivan Perišić, 37, Mateo Kovačić, 32, Andrej Kramarić, 34, and Mario Pasalić, 31, who have all been part of this highly accomplished generation of Croatian players. This tournament will also see Croatia turn to promising younger players such as Inter Milan midfielder Petar Sučić and Como attacking midfielder Martin Baturina. MLS fans might also be familiar with two Croatian players who currently play in the league – Petar Musa of FC Dallas and Marco Pašalić of Orlando City. Croatia is the underdog in this game, but this game will be a tactical battle. If England plays an up-tempo game, it will likely prevail through individual talent. If Croatia’s midfield can slow the game down, it might frustrate England and be a recipe for an upset. England vs. Croatia: Player To Watch Harry Kane: There are a lot of stars to watch in this game, but Kane is an elite forward who, at age 32, is in the best shape and form of his career. England will desperately want to make a deep run and contend for this World Cup. Those ambitions are completely tied to Kane, as there is a big drop-off in scoring options after him. Momentum is critical for all strikers and scoring against Croatia will be important not just for winning this game, but in setting the table as a contender this summer. Ghana vs. Panama: How to Watch When: Wednesday, June 17, 7 p.m. ETWhere: TorontoTV: FS1Stream: Watch three days free on FOX One With Group L heavyweights Croatia and England playing earlier in the day, the group’s other two teams, in Ghana and Panama, get underway on Wednesday night at Toronto Stadium in an important game that offers a path of advancement to the winner. With eight of 12 third-place teams qualifying for the knockouts, a win for either team might be enough. For both Panama and Ghana, this game is the best opportunity to secure three points. Since 2020, Panama has been coached by Thomas Christiansen from Denmark. Over those six years, Christiansen has built Panama into one of the stronger teams in CONCACAF. At the 2024 Copa América, he led his team out of the group stage after a win over the United States. At the 2025 Nations League, Panama again defeated the United States in an important game. This time in the semifinal, to advance to the final, where it was beaten by Mexico. With Mexico, Canada, and the United States qualifying automatically, CONCACAF World Cup qualifying was severely diluted. But Panama took full advantage in going unbeaten over 10 games with a 7-3-0 record. Ranked No. 34 in the FIFA World Rankings, Panama does not have any players currently with a club in Europe’s traditional top leagues. The biggest concern for Panama is simply age. With an average age of 30.4 years, Panama is the oldest team in the tournament. Alberto Quintero, 38, has 140 caps for the national team and captain Aníbal Godoy, 36, has been the team’s midfield anchor. José Fajardo, 32, and Cecillo Waterman, 35, have been the team’s best attackers over the past decade. Ranked 73rd in the FIFA Rankings, Ghana arrives at this tournament on the heels of making a coaching change on April 13. Now leading the team is Carlos Queiroz, who will be coaching in his sixth World Cup. He previously coached Portugal in 2010 and  Iran in 2014, 2018, and 2022. This is also the ninth national team he has coached. Ghana brings to this tournament very dangerous wingers and attacking midfielders. Antoine Semenyo, who joined Manchester City from AFC Bournemouth in January for a reported transfer fee of £64 million is the team’s most talented player. Attacking midfielder Mohammed Kudus, 25, scored two goals at the 2022 World Cup and has played the last three seasons in the Premier League with West Ham and now Tottenham. Atlético Bilbao forward Iñaki Williams is an established goal-scoring threat. While Ghana has one of the lowest rankings in the FIFA World Rankings at No. 73, the team could be much better than that if the players respond quickly to Queiroz. A win over Panama would hardly be a surprise. Antoine Semenyo: Semenyo has been a revelation in the Premier League this season. The London-born winger scored 10 goals in 20 appearances for Bournemouth before moving to Manchester City in January. England would love to have Semenyo in the fold for this tournament, but he made his debut for Ghana in 2022. He has become one of the best wingers in the world this season and will be the driving force behind any success Ghana has this summer. Uzbekistan vs. Colombia: How to Watch When: Wednesday, June 17, 10 p.m. ETWhere: Mexico CityTV: FS1Stream: Watch three days free on FOX One The final teams to get underway at the 2026 World Cup are Colombia and Uzbekistan, who will play each other on Wednesday night at Mexico City Stadium in Group K action. Uzbekistan has performed well in Asian tournaments, but this will be the team’s World Cup debut. The White Wolves have qualified for every AFC Asian Cup since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, with their best tournament coming in a run to the semifinals in 2011. Ranked 50th in the FIFA Rankings, Uzbekistan is the underdog in every game in Group K. Most of the players play domestically, while Manchester City defender Abdukodir Khusanov, 22, is the only Uzbek player to play in the top European leagues and is one of Asia’s best young players. Abbosbek Fayzullaev, 22, is another promising young Uzbek player who features as a winger for İstanbul Başakşehir in Turkey’s Süper Lig. Also on İstanbul Başakşehir is team captain Eldor Shomurodov, 30, who is the country’s all-time leading scorer with 44 goals from 92 caps. In Uzbekistan’s final pre-tournament friendly, Uzbekistan lost a tight game against the Netherlands. Uzbekistan equalized the game in second-half stoppage time, only to see the Netherlands find a winner from the penalty spot minutes later. Uzbekistan is managed by Italy’s Fabio Cannavaro, who was one of the best central defenders of all time where he won the 2006 World Cup and was awarded the Ballon d’Or that year. This will be his first time managing a World Cup team. Ranked No. 13 in the world, Colombia is the clear favorite in this game. Los Cafeteros are well established on the international stage and will be making their seventh World Cup appearance. Its best appearance came in 2014 with a run to the quarterfinals in Brazil. Its worst World Cup came in 1994 in the United States, when Colombia was heavily favored but suffered losses to Romania and the United States. The aftermath of that tournament was the darkest moment in team history when Andrés Escobar, who scored an own goal in the loss to the United States, was murdered in Medellín. Colombia failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup after a stunning sixth-place finish in CONMEBOL’s single-table qualification format. In the past cycle, Colombia has been attempting to get back on track, although the team is still very inconsistent. The 2024 Copa América was positive as Los Cafeteros advanced to the final before falling to Argentina in extra time. In 2026 World Cup qualifying, Colombia picked up impressive wins at home over Brazil and Argentina and then left Buenos Aires with a 1-1 draw against defending World Cup champs. But at one point, Colombia also went winless in six straight games, including a three-game losing streak. In March, Colombia played two friendlies in the United States but lost both times, first a 2-1 loss to Croatia, followed by a 3-1 loss to France in Florida. It was a pair of results that gave pause to Colombia’s ability to compete against top European teams. Bayern Munich winger Luis Díaz is the team’s best offensive player, while captain James Rodriguez, 34, remains a wild card. Rodriguez is one of the best players of all time for the Colombian national team, including winning the World Cup Golden Boot in 2014. But his club career in recent years has been very underwhelming, and it is hard to know what to expect. Colombia is the favorite in this game but is prone to prolonged slumps. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan has nothing to lose and should be full of energy under Cannavaro. Uzbekistan vs. Colombia: Player to Watch Luis Díaz: The Bayern Munich winger is the most talented player on either roster and is one of the world’s elite players at his position. He is a complete winger with his speed, dribbling skills, and defensive ability. He is coming off a 2025-26 season where he scored 26 goals in 51 appearances in all competitions for the Bundesliga champions. He remains critical to Colombia’s ambitions of making a run in the knockout stages.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Back in the heyday of their greatest moments, at the top of their game, South Americans birthed a saying in Spanish when talking about Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. But, for the sake of brevity, I will translate it. Ronaldo may be the best player in the world, but Messi? He’s from another planet. On Tuesday evening, therefore, under the Kansas City sky — a city famously coined as the capital of American fútbol — Lionel Messi, in a record-breaking sixth World Cup, reminded America and the world of his extraterrestrial qualities, scoring his first hat trick of his World Cup career during Argentina’s 3-0 win over Algeria. The three goals placed him at joint top of the list for most men’s World Cup goals (16) alongside Germany’s Miroslav Klose. A record he will surely break when La Albiceleste face Austria next Monday in Dallas. What’s more, Messi — at 38 years and 357 days old — became the oldest men’s player to score a hat trick at a World Cup, passing Ronaldo by five years. He now also holds the record for the youngest and oldest Argentina goalscorer (18 years old in 2006 and 38 now) and has scored in five consecutive World Cup matches. If he scores again, he will have a new record. Want another one? For Argentina, he is the first man from the national team to score in five straight World Cups, surpassing Hernán Crespo and Guillermo Stábile. It was his 11th overall treble for his national team. The hat trick itself was quintessential Messi. The opener came in the 17th minute, and it was a golden, left-footed rocket that was too much for Luca Zidane — the second son of Zinedine, who was there and could only marvel at what Leo had just done to his second-born. The second, in the 60th minute, was just an example of his quick instincts after the aforementioned Zidane spilled the attempt from Alexis Mac Allister and Messi was first to react. I want to remind everyone that he’s turning 39 in eight days, and his instincts remain intact. Then came the cherry on top in the 76th minute, where Messi took the ball from outside the box, and it was almost as if Algeria had accepted its destiny. Go ahead, Leo. It doesn’t matter what we do, you’re still going to score. And he did, as the Argentina captain looked up and, without hesitation, placed it on the bottom right of Zidane’s goal. The stadium erupted, and three minutes later, the world stood up to marvel and honor greatness as Messi was subbed off for Nico Paz. Some things, thought Lionel Scaloni, are better off with an earlier ending in order to fully appreciate them. Bigger obstacles will surely come in the tournament for Argentina and Messi, who knows the most important part of this particular World Cup is to take care of his physical condition. And as time waits for no man, we can only reflect on the fact that this indeed is his last tournament. But for tonight, in Argentina’s opening victory, as it looks to defend its glorious title, we thanked the fútbol gods once again that Lionel Messi has not left us. He is very much here. Luis Miguel Echegaray is the author of “Messi Mania,” his debut book about the World Cup champion, his incredible career and how his arrival to Inter Miami in 2023 impacted the U.S. sports landscape.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Norway marked its return to the World Cup in winning fashion with a 4-1 victory over Iraq on Tuesday night at Boston Stadium. The Norwegians have frequently been mentioned as a possible dark horse in this tournament after its perfect run through UEFA qualifying. While this game was far from perfect for them — and Iraq deserves some credit for that for their effort in the first 75 minutes — ultimately, Norway was clearly the deserved winners. With the win, Norway joins France atop the Group I table at the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup: 1. World Cup Haaland Was Worth The Wait Erling Haaland was one of the most eagerly anticipated players at this tournament. The Manchester City forward has accomplished everything possible at the club level. But the international side of the game is a completely different story. This is Norway’s first World Cup since 1998. The Scandinavian country has also not appeared for the European Championships since 2000. Two weeks after Euro 2000, Haaland was born and, just under 26 years later, he would bring the team back. Haaland has been exceptional for Norway, and he now has 57 goals in 51 games, but this is his first game in a major international tournament. His debut was exceptional as he scored twice in the first half help Norway pull ahead for good. The first goal was Haaland at his best when he made a run into the box that was almost impossible to stop. When a team is moving forward from a wide position, Haaland is special at making runs into the box where he can get behind just about any defense. Haaland’s second goal was all effort, as he closed down and forced a mistake. On the final goal deep into stoppage time, Haaland was pushing for the hat trick and his header eventually resulted in an own goal. With this game, Haaland showed the world that he is ready to be a force in the international game just as he is with Manchester City. The World Cup is better with him in it. 2. Norway’s Supporting Cast Was Mixed Norway’s game plan was well known coming into this game. The central midfielders try to find the wingers or fullbacks moving forward with speed into wide areas. Then the key play is to find Haaland as he makes a run up the middle towards goal. It was an extremely successful approach as Norway has historically been good in World Cup qualifying, winning all eight of its games with Haaland scoring 16 goals. Norway was particularly effective in the first half, attacking up the left side with left winger Antonio Nusa and left back David Møller Wolfe frequently finding space. Then in the 76th minute, Norway gave itself breathing room when Genoa defender Leo Østigard headed home a corner kick delivered by Martin Ødegaard, who is the captain of both Norway and Arsenal. Despite the corner kick delivery on the third goal, Ødegaard, along with Sander Berge, did not have a particularly effective first half in central midfield. This was close for the first 75 minutes as Iraq controlled the middle of the field for long stretches in the first half. After a 4-1 win, there is typically little to criticize. But for an ambitious Norwegian team, it will need to be better as elite teams await. Norway can depend on Haaland to always be good, but everything they do begins in central midfield. 3. Iraq Played Well, But Made A Huge Mistake But in this game, Iraq was prepared and made the focal point of trying to contain Ødegaard. Stopping Haaland is often impossible, so the approach is typically to try to cut off service into him or try to close passing lanes that often prevent the ball from getting out wide. For the first 75 minutes, Iraq put on a better performance than expected because of its strong play in the midfield. This was far from the case of an underdog sitting deep and bunkering to keep the score close. Iraq came to play against Norway. Amir Al-Ammari, who plays for Cracovia in Poland, had an especially strong performance as he helped in possession and in creating multiple chances. It was his assist to Ayman Hussein who pulled Iraq even in the 39th minute. But Iraq is surely asking itself the painful question of what could have been? With the score 1-1, defender Zaid Tahseen had the ball by himself wide right. Instead of playing the ball forward, he made an inexcusable error of playing the ball back to his keeper Jalal Hassan while under the pressure of an onrushing Haaland. Tasheen’s pass was too light and Hassan made an error to try to clear in the direction of Haaland. Instead, the ball went back into his own goal. Norway went on to score again on a set piece with Iraq pushing forward and the final goal came with Iraq worn down and defeated, but ultimately the error was extremely costly and things could have been different had it been avoided. 4. Norway And Iraq’s Path Forward Group I is widely considered the most difficult group at this World Cup with one of the best teams in the world in France, arguably the top team in Africa in Senegal, a Norwegian team that has many good players, and Iraq. With its two toughest games coming later, Norway needed to leave this game with three points. Four points is often considered the “magic number” to secure advancement. Three might be enough but four is likely enough to finish as one of the eight best third place teams. Norway next faces a Senegal team that should be desperate after a tough and hard-fought loss to France. It should be an excellent game. Iraq was very unlucky to be placed in a tough group where it is a heavy underdog in all three games. While it played well at times, it wasn’t close to being enough.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports