During the preparations for the World Cup, reporters asked Kylian Mbappe about both legendary players in an interview with Sorare. They consulted him on who he preferred as a soccer player, and he offered a highly diplomatic response, completely avoiding selecting one over the other by considering them to be very different from each other.

Nevertheless, he also wanted to dismantle a completely false myth that surrounds both icons, specifically the widespread idea that Lionel Messi is pure talent and Cristiano Ronaldo is pure hard work. Addressing this view, he stated, “Without sounding condescending, that is something only someone who hasn’t played soccer would say. That isn’t something a true soccer person would say.

“Because if you tell me Ronaldo lacks talent or Messi hasn’t put in the work, it means you’ve never in your life laced up your boots to train day in and day out. I can’t fathom lacing up your boots every day and still thinking that way. I’m speaking from the heart.”

Mbappe offers his thoughts on the rivalry

Kylian Mbappe also referred to the iconic rivalry between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, explaining that it became legendary because both players contrasted with one another in a perfect manner. Describing their differences, he noted, “One is right-footed, the other left-footed. One is tall, the other shorter. One is stronger, the other slimmer. One with more power, the other with more vision.”

Kylian Mbappe now has the 2026 World Cup in mind, where he will also be one of the tournament’s biggest stars to watch as he looks to lead France back to the top of the soccer world. France are currently seeking redemption after their heartbreaking loss to Lionel Messi and Argentina in the 2022 World Cup final, a match widely regarded as one of the greatest in the history of the sport.

Messi and Ronaldo will make history at the 2026 World Cup

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are both set to make history at this year’s World Cup, as they will become the first players ever to appear in six World Cup tournaments during their respective careers. Within this historic achievement, they will also share this spectacular record with Guillermo Ochoa.

Peru struggled to create clear chances before the break, but their performance improved significantly in the second half. The visitors increased the pressure and began spending more time in the attacking third, forcing Haiti to defend deeper as the match progressed. Several substitutions also helped Peru gain fresh energy and momentum.

The comeback was completed through goals from Renzo Garces and Jairo Velez, both stemming from set-piece situations created by Yoshimar Yotun. Haiti pushed for a late equalizer but were unable to find a way through, while Peru held firm in the closing minutes to secure the 2-1 victory.

The impressive Kansas City venue hosts four group stage matches, one round of 16 match, and one quarterfinal match, with the schedule officially featuring the following matchups:

• Thursday, June 16, 2026, Argentina vs Algeria, Group J
• Saturday, June 20, 2026, Ecuador vs Curacao, Group E
• Thursday, June 25, 2026, Tunisia vs Netherlands, Group F
• Round of 32, Friday, July 3, 2026, 1st Group K vs 3rd Group D/E/I/J/L
• Quarterfinals, Saturday, July 11, 2026, Winner Match 95 vs Winner Match 96

Kansas City Stadium for the 2026 World Cup

The Kansas City Stadium is a football stadium located in Kansas City, Missouri. It primarily serves as the home venue for the Kansas City Chiefs of the NFL. It possesses a maximum capacity of 76,416 spectators, which officially makes it the 25th largest stadium located across the United States.

The Kansas City Stadium is officially certified by Guinness World Records as the loudest outdoor sports venue in the entire world. In addition to that historic distinction, the iconic facility has proudly hosted a record of five consecutive NFL conference championships over the years.

The stadium, home to the Kansas City Chiefs, reached a record level of 142.2 decibels when the Chiefs faced the New England Patriots in 2014. Also known widely as the soccer capital of the United States, Kansas City is the proud home of Sporting KC, two-time MLS champions, and the KC Current, who were NWSL finalists in 2022.

Kansas City a place with a significant sports culture

It is a city deeply passionate about soccer that features a rich history of highly successful professional soccer teams, spanning from the Kansas City Spurs of the North American Soccer League to the Comets and Attack of indoor soccer, all the way to the current Sporting Kansas City of the MLS and KC Current of the NWSL.

The city also features professional teams in three major sports, including Sporting Kansas City (MLS), KC Current (NWSL), Kansas City Chiefs (NFL), and the Kansas City Royals (MLB). The city has hosted multiple tournament qualifying matches, Concacaf Gold Cups (2011, 2015), men’s and women’s Concacaf Olympic qualifying matches, the 2013 MLS All-Star Game, and the 2013 MLS Cup Final.

Mitchell Robinson is listed as available for the game against the San Antonio Spurs. The New York Knicks saw how Mitchell Robinson performed in Game 1 and were likely encouraged by his output despite his injury. He finished the matchup with two points and six rebounds across 13 minutes of playing time, providing an incredibly important presence inside the paint whenever Karl-Anthony Towns rested on the bench.

There was a specific moment during the matchup when Mitchell Robinson attempted to go for a dunk but missed, and he was subsequently seen shaking his hand as if it hurt. Luckily for the New York Knicks, he was able to remain in the game and continue playing through the discomfort, ultimately providing his team with some highly productive minutes during his time on the court.

Data validating the importance of Robinson

According to the NBA’s official matchup statistics, Mitchell Robinson served as the primary defender on Victor Wembanyama for exactly 11.70 possessions during Game 1. The Spurs managed to score 14 points on those specific possessions, with seven of those points coming directly from Victor Wembanyama himself. That efficiency works out to an overall team scoring rate of approximately 120 points per 100 possessions.

The Knicks received massive performances from several of their key bench players in Game 1, which played a vital role in keeping the contest within striking distance when the Spurs were out in front. Landry Shamet and Miles McBride were both absolutely instrumental in fueling the second-half comeback, and both players will undoubtedly need to step up their production once again as the team heads into Game 2.

Head coach Mike Brown and the New York Knicks will likely keep their rotational patterns very similar heading into Game 2, which means fans can expect to see roughly 10 to 15 minutes of action for Mitchell Robinson. This projected playing time hinges entirely on whether Karl-Anthony Towns can successfully avoid picking up quick whistles and stay completely out of foul trouble over the course of the night against the Spurs.

Mitchell Robinson’s stretches on the floor were closely linked with Jalen Brunson’s minutes, a strategic deployment that makes perfect sense because the Knicks are not going to want Towns and Jalen Brunson resting on the bench at the same time if they can help it. Furthermore, 12 of the 13 total minutes that Mitchell Robinson logged in Game 1 were played alongside Landry Shamet, a combination that successfully kept an extra floor spacer out on the perimeter while Mitchell Robinson was busy battling down low in the paint.

The match started with Mexico controlling possession and creating the better chances, but Serbia struck first after Stanic capitalized on a defensive mistake. Mexico quickly found an equalizer through a Johan Vasquez header and completed the comeback before halftime when a misplayed back pass resulted in an own goal that gave El Tri a 2-1 lead.

In the second half, Mexico took full control of the contest and never looked back. Raul Jimenez extended the advantage after following up a rebound inside the box, while another Serbian own goal and a spectacular long-range strike from Luis Chavez sealed the 5-1 result in front of the home crowd.

Out of the 1,248 total players who were called up by the 48 participating squads for the tournament, the club that will have the most representatives in the World Cup tournament is Manchester City, as they feature 19 soccer players distributed among 12 different squads.

This specific number clearly confirms the global reach of the squad that, until the very end of this season, was managed by Pep Guardiola, whose roster currently counts on star figures from practically every single continent in the world.

The list of clubs with the highest contribution

Manchester City edge out Bayern Munich by a single player, as the German side contributes 18 soccer players to the tournament, while Arsenal and PSG, the recent finalists of the UEFA Champions League, share third place with 16 call-ups each.

The clear dominance of the major European clubs remains heavily evidenced throughout the entire ranking, where FC Barcelona occupy the fifth position with 15 players. In addition, four separate institutions reach 12 representatives, which include Crystal Palace, Manchester United, Al-Hilal, as the only club from outside Europe, and Atletico de Madrid.

Right behind them, three distinct teams appear with 11 call-ups: Liverpool, Borussia Dortmund, and Galatasaray. Meanwhile, the specific group of clubs with 10 representatives is composed of Slavia Prague, AC Milan, PSV Eindhoven, Real Madrid, and Fenerbahce.

This is the top:

1. Manchester City (England): 19
2. Bayern Munich (Germany): 18
3. Arsenal (England) and PSG (France): 16
4. Barcelona (Spain): 15
5. Al-Hilal (Saudi Arabia): 12
6. Atletico de Madrid (Spain): 12
7. Crystal Palace (England): 12
8. Manchester United (England): 12
9. Borussia Dortmund (Germany): 11
10. Galatasaray (Turkey): 11
11. Liverpool (England): 11

The most powerful leagues

The list also leaves a very clear conclusion, as the Premier League remains the championship with the greatest influence on international soccer. Five of the 17 clubs with 10 or more call-ups belong to England, spearheaded by Manchester City, Arsenal, Crystal Palace, Manchester United, and Liverpool. The English Premier League also solidifies itself as the tournament that released the most players for this World Cup, with a total of 205 out of the 1,248, which represents 16.45%.

Next appears the Bundesliga with 108 soccer players, followed by France’s Ligue 1 and Spain’s La Liga, both with 86, while Italy’s Serie A closes out the top five with 71 representatives. Additionally, the notable presence of the Saudi Pro League of Saudi Arabia stands out in the sixth spot with 49 players.

Stephon Castle spoke on the difference between guarding SGA and Jalen Brunson when it comes to their foul-drawing capabilities. “Jalen likes to use angles a lot more, pump fakes. Get to his spots. Not really trying to draw fouls as much, trying to get to his midrange and spots where he likes,” he said, per SNY Knicks on X.

Jalen Brunson spent a lot of time being defended by Spurs guard Stephon Castle, who had a strong defensive series against reigning NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of OKC in the Western Conference Finals. Stephon Castle played a great role there, preventing the MVP from shining.

Brunson and Shai utilizing physicality in different ways

The propensity of Gilgeous-Alexander to embellish contact and get to the free-throw line has been a major talking point throughout these playoffs, with some fans opining that the Thunder star was not being “ethical” in his scoring habits.

Jalen Brunson has been known to sell a call or two in his own time, but he still had plenty of complaints for the refs during and after the game on Wednesday, hitting the deck numerous times without getting a whistle. Furthermore, Jalen Brunson is quite physical when it comes to gaining space against his opponent, but he does not usually flop or simulate fouls.

The Spurs will want to keep Stephon Castle on Jalen Brunson defensively as much as possible moving forward in hopes of limiting the Knicks star to similar inefficient evenings as he had on Wednesday night.

Castle thinks they are better

Stephon Castle and the Spurs will need to go back to the drawing board for their game plan on Jalen Brunson. The southpaw had a game-high 30 points along with three rebounds and two assists, helping the Knicks overcome a 14-point deficit.

Not surprisingly, Stephon Castle isn’t panicking after one game. He thought San Antonio’s lack of collective postseason experience may have been a hindrance in the opener.

“We feel like we’re the better team,” he said. “We didn’t play well and still had a chance to win. … If we take one thing from that, just going back to being ourselves.” Game 2 of the NBA Finals is set for Friday evening in San Antonio.

Al Nassr revealed the video of the speech that Cristiano Ronaldo gave before the matchup on their social media platforms, where he assured the team that the trophy belonged to them. The veteran leader rallied his squad by stating, “Tonight is our night. Trust me, tonight is our night. We just need to be focus, no stupid things. And the rest, God bless us.”

Following those emotional words that transmitted the necessary confidence of an experienced captain to win, the video shows how the entire squad gathered together and united for one final shout of strength before heading out onto the field. This powerful moment demonstrated the deep connection shared among the players before their big win.

Ronaldo’s memorable moments this season, along with Al Nassr

Ronaldo did not make it three straight golden boots, but his season brimmed with moments. A penalty fourteen minutes into stoppage time beat Al Fayha, an overhead against Al Khaleej wowed, and a burst of 12 goals over nine games set the pace. A header in a 2-0 win over Al Ahli steadied the charge, and then a poacher’s finish at Al Shabab brought 100 RSL goals in 105 games, making Ronaldo only the third to do so in the Saudi Pro League era.

Jorge Jesus guided a cast that clicked perfectly during the season. Joao Felix produced 33 goal contributions and was named the 2025 to 2026 SPL Player of the Season, and a backline of Martinez, Mohamed Simakan, Abdulelah Al Amri, and Bento made Al Nassr tough to beat in 30 of 34 matches. Cristiano Ronaldo will remember this season in his heart.

Following his first Saudi Pro League triumph, the Portuguese forward took to social media to send a heartfelt message to all the fans. “Nassrawis… what a season. From day one, we knew what we wanted and what it would take to get there. We worked, fought and gave everything in every training and every game. It wasn’t an easy road, but we did it together. Thank you for believing in us and standing by our side every step of the way,” CR7 stated via X.

What is next for Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo has the 2026 World Cup ahead of him, where he is already in the Portugal camp preparing to fight for one of the few titles he is missing. He arrives in such a great form that even Roberto Martinez praised him for his physical condition and longevity.

Furthermore, the historic season finale with Al Nassr also brought him closer to the mythical four-digit milestone, leaving Cristiano Ronaldo in tears after scoring a brace and reaching 973 goals in his career.

After signing a lucrative two-year extension last summer, which consolidates him as the highest-paid athlete in the world, the 41-year-old icon remains totally committed to the Saudi project. He shows no signs of slowing down after successfully securing his first Saudi Pro League title.

Costa Rica managed to respond before halftime through Andrey Soto, who finished off a well-worked team move to cut the deficit to one goal. The visitors enjoyed some positive moments after the break and attempted to push their lines higher in search of an equalizer, but struggled to create clear scoring opportunities.

In the second half, Colombia introduced several substitutes, including James Rodriguez, who made an immediate impact on the game. The veteran playmaker delivered a precise through ball to Luis Suarez, who finished powerfully from a tight angle to seal the 3-1 victory and complete a successful evening for the hosts in Bogota.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Cristiano Ronaldo already arrived at the Portugal camp alongside Bruno Fernandes, a key teammate who will surely bring plenty of joy to CR7. Furthermore, on the Portuguese captain’s social media accounts, he uploaded a new image of himself arriving at the camp, adding that the search for his ultimate objective has officially begun: “The World Mission begins!”

The message remains entirely clear, as Cristiano Ronaldo knows that this represents his final opportunity to capture one of the very few trophies he is missing on a general level. Achieving this would ensure his legacy is even more deeply etched into history if he manages to secure Portugal’s first World Cup victory at 41, an outcome that would be truly historic.

Portugal still with an incomplete squad

This Monday, Portugal began their formal preparation for the 2026 World Cup. Head coach Roberto Martinez directed the training session with 23 of the 27 players called up to the squad and counted on the immediate presence of Cristiano Ronaldo, although four separate soccer players were absent from the session because they recently competed in the Champions League final.

The Spanish strategist will have the complete roster available starting on June 6, when Vitinha, Joao Neves, Nuno Mendes, and Goncalo Ramos are scheduled to join the squad’s concentration, finally. These players will join the rest of the group after successfully winning the Champions League title with PSG.

Ambition exists within the group

Before the practice session took place, midfielder Ruben Neves assured everyone that conquering the World Cup is the grand objective for Portugal. In addition to those statements, he highlighted that, despite the youth of the squad, the players are fully prepared to face the immense pressure that a tournament of this magnitude implies.

“We are a young group, but very experienced, and we know our qualities. It is a positive pressure, carrying an even greater responsibility, because we know we have the quality and can achieve great triumphs for Portugal,” asserted the soccer player from the Saudi club Al Hilal.

“We have to have high expectations, but with a certain responsibility. It is a competition that we know is extremely difficult, which has many factors at play, but our objective, being the team that we are, is without a doubt to reach the final and win,” he remarked, and he closed his media appearance with a strong phrase, stating, “We don’t plan to come back before July 19.”

As a part of their ongoing preparation for the upcoming World Cup held across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, Portugal will play two friendly matches in the coming days. They are scheduled to face Chile on June 6 and will later match up against Nigeria on June 10.

The inclusion of Guillermo Ochoa in the squad for Mexico ahead of the 2026 World Cup marks a major milestone in his career. With this tournament, the goalkeeper will reach his sixth World Cup appearance, joining Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, who will also have competed in six consecutive editions since 2006.

On Saturday, during the friendly matchup against Australia at the Rose Bowl where Mexico won 1-0, Guillermo Ochoa played again for El Tri after a 561-day absence, coming on as a substitute in the second half. His return was closely watched by both the coaching staff and the fans, following a prolonged period without participation in official matches for the squad.

The official 26-man squad list

There are no surprises in Javier Aguirre’s 26-man squad, although Guillermo Ochoa’s inclusion in goal stands out. Among the surprise call-ups are Carlos Acevedo, Obed Vargas, Armando Gonzalez, Alvaro Fidalgo, and young sensation Gilberto Mora, who managed to recover from pubalgia that affected him at the start of 2026.

Goalkeepers:

• Guillermo Ochoa (AEL Limassol), Raul Tala Rangel (Chivas), and Carlos Acevedo (Santos).

Defenders:

• Jorge Sanchez (PAOK), Israel Reyes (America), Cesar Montes (Lokomotiv), Johan Vasquez (Genoa), Edson Alvarez (Fenerbahce), Jesus Gallardo (Toluca), and Mateo Chavez (AZ Alkmaar).

Midfielders:

• Luis Romo (Chivas), Erik Lira (Cruz Azul), Brian Gutierrez (Chivas), Gilberto Mora (Tijuana), Alvaro Fidalgo (Real Betis), Obed Vargas (Atletico de Madrid), Orbelin Pineda (AEK), and Luis Chavez (Dinamo Moscow).

Forwards:

• Alexis Vega (Toluca), Cesar Chino Huerta (Anderlecht), Armando Hormiga Gonzalez (Chivas), Guillermo Memote Martinez (Pumas), Roberto Piojo Alvarado (Chivas), Julian Quinones (Al Qadisiya), Raul Jimenez (Fulham), and Santiago Gimenez (AC Milan).

With these 26 players, Mexico will look to make history in their home World Cup, aiming to reach beyond the famous fifth game. The combination of experience, youth, and international talent will be key for Javier Aguirre and his group to advance as far as possible in the 2026 World Cup.

Mexico’s 2026 World Cup schedule

Mexico will be in charge of getting the ball rolling in the 2026 World Cup. El Tri will inaugurate the World Cup at home by hosting South Africa on June 11, while a week later, they will travel to Guadalajara to face South Korea.

Group stage activity for Mexico will come to an end on Wednesday, June 24, once again in the Mexican capital and this time against Czechia in a matchup that could ultimately define the leadership of Group A.

With Jalen Williams surviving in only one full game of the Thunder’s seven-game series, due to a recurring left hamstring injury, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander highlighted the void left in Jalen Williams’ absence during the Thunder’s exit interviews on Sunday.

“Not having Dub for the whole year, basically, sucked. He’s just such a unicorn out there,” Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said. “He’s a 20-point-per-game scorer, guards 1 through 5. Last season, he got All-NBA for offense, All-NBA for defense, and was an All-Star all in the same season at maybe 24 years old. Losing a guy like that just hurts. He’s just uber talented. Having that Swiss Army Knife 24/7 is a luxury. We just didn’t have that luxury this time, and sometimes it just goes like that.”

The differential numbers during the matchup

Without Jalen Williams, the Spurs put the defensive clamps on All-Star Chet Holmgren, challenging the rest of the Thunder starters to rise to the occasion as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 35 points were met with Cason Wallace’s 17 points against a Spurs offense where seven players scored in double digits. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Cason Wallace were the only Thunder starters who scored in double figures.

On the side of the winners, and with plenty of reasons and arguments, Victor Wembanyama’s 22 points led San Antonio. Julian Champagnie finished with 22 points, and point guard Stephon Castle added 16 points.

Shai recognizes it was a failure

Despite another MVP season and another deep playoff run, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was not interested in celebrating individual accomplishments after the loss. During Oklahoma City’s exit interviews, the two-time MVP delivered a brutally honest assessment of his season.

“It was a failure. I failed at my goal. I didn’t achieve what I wanted to achieve. But in my experience, I learn the most about myself and make the biggest improvements in my career when I fail at a goal and don’t get what I want. I look at this no differently. I didn’t get where I wanted to go this season. There’s a reason for that.”

“Now I have to identify that reason and make sure it never happens again.” It is a mindset that helps explain why Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has become one of the NBA’s elite superstars. Individually, there was almost nothing left for him to accomplish this season.

Shortly after, when asked what he had understood most about himself through what was undoubtedly the most important basketball game of his young career, Victor Wembanyama reflected before responding. “I would say what I learned is I can go through hurdles that I didn’t know could get so high,” the generational talent shared.

“It’s just pushing through, you know. I found resources inside of me. Relentlessness. I already knew that, but doing it at this level, this is the best basketball on the planet that’s being played right now, and the crazy thing is, maybe I’m crazy for that, but I want to do that 15, 20 more times.” He then finished with a line that resonated in real time as much as for what could lie ahead. “Let’s hope it doesn’t become an addiction. Maybe it is already.”

An achievement with merit by Wembanyama

The 22-year-old center ended the regular season as the first-ever unanimous Defensive Player of the Year and placed third in MVP voting behind eventual winner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic. Wembanyama cited the loss of the MVP award to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as one of the motivating factors for him in the Western Conference Finals, averaging 27.3 points, 10.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.4 steals, and 2.7 blocks over the series and outplaying the league MVP.

Victor Wembanyama is proving to be on pace with some of the game’s greatest players with how soon he’s racking up major accomplishments. The series win over the Thunder and Victor Wembanyama’s crucial role in the victory, have made him the second-youngest player to lead his team to the NBA Finals, behind Magic Johnson, who did the same at 20 years old with the Los Angeles Lakers. This is the list:

1. Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers (1980): 20 years, 264 days.
2. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs (2026): 22 years, 146 days.
3. LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers (2007): 22 years, 169 days.
4. Shaquille O’Neal, Orlando Magic (1995): 23 years old, 94 days.
5. Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs (1999): 23 years, 61 days.

Wemby over Doncic for a relatively new award

The NBA introduced the concept of Conference Finals MVPs in 2022, so there have only been five recipients in each Conference since its implementation. Unsurprisingly, Victor Wembanyama is the youngest Conference Finals MVP, surpassing Luka Doncic, who led the Dallas Mavericks to the 2024 NBA Finals at 25 years old.

The match remained intense with both sides trading chances, as Panama briefly leveled the score before Brazil regained control through Casemiro’s header from a Vinicius Jr delivery. Brazil continued to dominate possession, with Lucas Paqueta orchestrating play and linking up effectively in the final third.

In the second half, Brazil completely took over the match after multiple substitutions, increasing their attacking pressure and extending the lead with goals from Rayan, Lucas Paqueta, Igor Thiago from the penalty spot, and Danilo. Panama managed to pull one back through Carlos Harvey on the counterattack, but it was not enough to change the outcome as Brazil closed out a comfortable 6-2 victory.

Mexico controlled possession for most of the match and spent long stretches in Australia’s half, although clear scoring opportunities were limited. Australia remained organized defensively and nearly found an equalizer before halftime when Mohamed Toure missed a golden one-on-one chance.

In the second half, both teams made several substitutions as they continued their preparations for the 2026 World Cup. Australia pushed for a late goal, but Mexico managed the match well and held on to secure the narrow victory in Pasadena.

El Vasco Aguirre and El Tri will look to string together another victory following their performance against Ghana, where they secured a 2-0 win, but they will do so with a different lineup in order to continue adjusting their ideal eleven for the most prestigious competition in the sporting world.

On the other side, the Socceroos have won their last two friendlies against Curacao and Cameroon, albeit unconvincingly. Before these victories, they had lost three matches in a row to the USA, Venezuela, and Colombia, scoring only one goal. The Aussies need to defeat this level of opposition to stand a chance of reaching the round of 32.

Mexico’s predicted lineup

Mexico’s players will be desperate to impress before Aguirre names his official World Cup squad. Edson Alvarez may come into the lineup for some much-needed game time after shaking off an ankle problem.

Mexico predicted lineup: Guillermo Ochoa; Jorge Sanchez, Johan Vasquez, Jesus Alejandro Gomez, Mateo Chavez; Edson Alvarez, Alvaro Fidalgo, and Luis Chavez; Alexis Vega, Raul Jimenez, and Julian Quinones.

Australia’s probable lineup

Australia will miss key player Riley McGree due to an injury. Meanwhile, manager Popovic is likely to rest the likes of Irankunda and D’Agostino. The former scored twice in their recent victory over Curacao.

Australia expected lineup: Mat Ryan; Lucas Herrington, Alessandro Circati, Kye Rowles, Kai Trewin; Jackson Irvine; Aiden O Neill, Connor Metcalfe; Aziz Behich, Awer Mabil, Ajdin Hrustic.

Following the match, Declan Rice had a message for his teammates: “It’s a lottery. Some of the best teams ever have lost on penalties in finals, and we were on the receiving end.” Rice added. “We gave absolutely everything… we win together, and we lose together,” Declan Rice affirmed. And, for good reason, not becoming champions without losing a match must be incredibly tough.

He also demonstrated why he is the captain of this great team led by Mikel Arteta, showing his support to everyone and not letting anyone down, ensuring that everything they achieved this season would have been possible. “I’m so proud of the boys. We will be back. We love them and we are with them. Without them, we wouldn’t have won the Premier League. We have to be proud.”

“Gabriel, I have run out of words for him as a player and with Eze, he’s got crucial goals for us this season. It’s cruel, but we’ll take the positives and keep going.” Rice concluded.

The devastating penalty shootout

Here, two sides exist: the one that wins and emerges successful from that penalty shootout, and the one that loses it with players who missed their respective spot kicks, which is the case for Gabriel Magalhaes and Eberechi Eze, who, despite being key pieces in the team, could receive a lot of blame from the fans. And also be runner-up after finishing as unbeaten runners-up.

Gabriel Magalhaes shot the last of his team’s penalties over the bar to hand PSG a 4-3 shootout victory. Eberechi Eze also missed an earlier spot kick, but David Raya saved from Nuno Mendes to let Arsenal stay level.

Lucas Beraldo scored the last of PSG’s spot kicks, meaning Arsenal‘s defender had to convert to take it to sudden death, but he missed to spark celebrations from PSG players and fans inside Puskas Arena.

The other side of the coin

PSG, on the other hand, consecrate themselves as back-to-back champions of the competition, a club that chased it for so many years and struggled for years to get over the line in the Champions League despite huge investment from their Qatari owners.

But they have flipped the script under Luis Enrique to become only the second side in the Champions League era to defend the trophy. And without star names from the start, we consider them as such now entirely because of the development given to them by Luis Enrique, such as Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Desire Doue, Vitinha, Nuno Mendes, and even Ousmane Dembele himself, who is currently having his prime.

In a recent chat with the media ahead of Game 1, Karl-Anthony Towns gave his own perspective on the situation, starting with how his team has handled the prolonged layoff between these Finals and the previous series, mentioning the new Spider-Man movie.

“We understand what happened last time we had a layoff like this,” said Karl-Anthony Towns, via SNY Knicks. “So, we’re trying to be better than we were last time by approaching it better and preparing better than we did last time. We’re obviously making tweaks to not have the same rust that we had in Game 1. Wake up, it was a brand new day, back to work,” Karl-Anthony Towns said on how he celebrated the win. “So, we all got back to work, and we are just preparing.”

Karl-Anthony Towns’ performance

Karl-Anthony Towns has provided a massive boost in the frontcourt, making an impact with his scoring, rebounding, and size at the position. The Knicks have not lost a Game 1 yet this year, going 3-0 through the first three series. They started rusty in the series opener, trailing by as many as 22 points in the fourth quarter, but rallied for a historic comeback win, going on to sweep the series 4-0.

Behind Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns is among their most reliable scorers, coming off a strong 2025-26 season with averages of 20.1 points, 11.9 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game on 50.1% shooting from the field and 36.8% shooting from three.

At 30 years old, the six-time All-Star is still in the prime of his career, and he will be fighting desperately to capture his first-ever NBA championship alongside Jalen Brunson, who is playing at an excellent level, accompanied by OG Anunoby and Josh Hart, who are doing their part.

The Finals are scheduled to begin on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, where the Knicks are still waiting for their opponent from the Western Conference, where the San Antonio Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder will determine the second finalist in Game 7 on Saturday, May 30.

It’s been hard for Mitchell to move past the feeling of disappointment. Even with all the talent in the world, the Cavaliers couldn’t pull through. The worst part is, they couldn’t even win a single game when it mattered the most, and it’s something that will stick with the seven-time NBA All-Star throughout the summer.

“It was very painful, the ending. To go out like that. You try to put on a smile and try to move past it,” said Mitchell, via Andscape. “They beat us, swept us, so I don’t want to diminish that, but we didn’t give ourselves a chance, ’cause we didn’t have any business. But it’ll take a little while, it’ll take a little bit. I think the worst part about it is just like the sweeps, like, we had an opportunity, right? And we were just right there.”

Will he win a ring with the Cavs?

Despite the trade rumors surrounding Donovan Mitchell, he insists that his loyalty lies with the Cavs. With only two years and $103 million remaining on his contract, including a $53.8 million player option, he is an attractive target for a potential trade, but neither Mitchell nor the Cavs are ready for a separation.

“I feel like this has been a consistent theme every single season I’ve been here,” Mitchell said. “I love it here, I see growth, I see a runway, I believe, I’ve made Cleveland home. Outside of just basketball, I don’t wanna go… We may win a ring here. We may never win a ring here. But I’ve won in life.”

Over eight seasons, he’s only been out of the second round once, and he has yet to actually win a game in the Conference Finals despite career averages of 25.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.4 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game on 45.3% shooting and 36.6% shooting from three. At this point, there’s a real possibility that Mitchell may never lead the Cavs to a title.

Now, the Cavs will try to secure upgrades this offseason to fight and be contenders once again, currently with reports of a potential arrival of Giannis Antetokounmpo in exchange for Evan Mobley, but it seems they are not in favor of that trade.

Gavi participated in a dynamic organized by streamer Ibai Llanos, where he made his predictions for the 2026 World Cup. Among the questions were the potential champion, the top scorer of the tournament, the breakout player, and the surprise team. When the moment came to choose the surprise team, Gavi did not hesitate to mention Ecuador.

“As a surprise team, I am going to tell you Ecuador. They have good players,” Gavi argued to support his answer. And one of those questions was also for the best player of the tournament, where he chose Lamine Yamal without hesitation.

Gavi’s complete prediction

Gavi‘s answers are not far-fetched at all, as they are responses that an average soccer fan would give, and while the pick of Lamine Yamal certainly gives people plenty to talk about due to him being so young, he is undisputedly one of the best players in the world, accompanied by a great national team.

Gavi’s complete prediction list:

• Winner: Spain
• Runner-up: Portugal
• Surprise team: Ecuador
• Top scorer: Mikel Oyarzabal
• Breakout player: Joao Felix
• Best veteran player: Neymar Jr
• Best player: Lamine Yamal

The numbers in Gavi’s career

It is worth remembering that Gavi remains one of those young talents at 21-years-old. His talent quickly caught the attention of several major clubs in Spain, until he entered La Masia, the youth academy of FC Barcelona, in 2015. He debuted with the first team in 2021, when he was just 17 years old, and since then, he has established himself as an important piece for the Catalan squad.

With Barcelona, he records 166 matches, 10 goals, and 16 assists, and he has conquered important titles at the club level, which are: three LaLiga titles, three Spanish Super Cups, and one Copa del Rey.

With Spain, he has accumulated 28 matches with five goals, participating in the Qatar 2022 World Cup, where he did not have a standout performance, and the 2023 UEFA Nations League title.

During an interview with El Larguero, Roberto Martinez spoke about his admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo’s longevity, as he remains a globally relevant player at 41-years-old at both the club and international levels.

“I think Cristiano Ronaldo does not play to win a specific title, collective or individual. It is the hunger he has. No matter what he wins, the next day he has the same hunger to improve,” the Portugal coach said. “Having that objective allows you to have longevity.”

Ronaldo’s presence at the 2030 World Cup is possible

Something that drew a lot of attention in the interview was what Roberto Martinez mentioned regarding a possible appearance by Cristiano Ronaldo in the 2030 World Cup, where he would already be 45 years old. “No one should doubt it. At least he has earned that,” the coach responded.

Roberto Martinez later acknowledged that multiple factors come together in Ronaldo’s case to make his level of performance excellent. “Of course, there is a genetic aspect, that is clear. There is also the work he does and everything he does to help his body. But it is more of a psychological aspect,” Roberto Martinez explained. “I have worked with many players who, after winning the Champions League or the Ballon d’Or, lose their hunger.”

The record Cristiano Ronaldo can establish

In the hypothetical case that Cristiano Ronaldo prolongs his career long enough to compete in the 2030 World Cup, which will be held in Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, he would have a real opportunity to become the oldest player to ever participate in a FIFA tournament.

The record is currently held by Essam El-Hadary, who played for Egypt in Russia 2018 at 45 years and 161 days old. By the summer of 2030, Cristiano Ronaldo will be around 45 years and 130 days old, meaning a standout performance with Portugal could allow him to reach the historic record.

This year, Cristiano Ronaldo will move into fourth place on the list. Behind Essam El-Hadary, Colombia’s Faryd Mondragon (43 years and 3 days), Cameroon’s Roger Milla (42 years and 39 days), and Northern Ireland’s Pat Jennings (41 years old).

Jannik Sinner struggled with dizziness and was beaten by 56th-ranked Juan Manuel Cerundolo 3-6, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1, 6-1 after wasting two chances to serve for the match. On Novak Djokovic‘s side, he was defeated by Joao Fonseca, who became the first teenager to beat Djokovic at a Grand Slam. He did it with power, poise, and from two sets down, winning 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 7-5.

With these results and the recent victory of Alexander Zverev, the fourth-round matchups are nearly set. Zverev will face Jesper de Jong, and Joao Fonseca will go up against Casper Ruud. Sinner’s conqueror is the only one left to play, as Juan Manuel Cerundolo will face Martin Landaluce in search of his ticket to the fourth round.

Updated bracket

The defeats of Novak Djokovic, who spoke about his retirement, and Jannik Sinner, who made no excuses regarding the schedule, surely position Alexander Zverev as one of the ultimate favorites to take home the Grand Slam. Here is how the bracket looks for the remainder of this great French Open:

Third Round (May 29-30)

• Juan Manuel Cerundulo vs. Martin Landaluce
• Matteo Berrettini vs. Francisco Comesana
• (19) Francis Tiafoe vs. Jaime Faria
• Raphael Collignon vs. Matteo Arnaldi
• (4) Felix Auger-Aliassime vs. (31) Brandon Nakashima
• Moise Kouame vs. Alejandro Tabilo
• (10) Flavio Cobolli vs. (18) Learner Tien
• (25) Francisco Cerundolo vs. Zachary Svajda

Round of 16 (May 31-June 1)

• (11) Andrey Rublev vs. (26) Jakub Mensik
• (28) Joao Fonseca vs. (15) Casper Ruud
• Pablo Carrena Busta vs. (27) Rafael Jodar
• Jesper de Jong vs. (2) Alexander Zverev

Remaining dates

The scheduled dates for the upcoming rounds of the Roland Garros are set for the following days, with the Quarterfinals taking place on June 2-3, the Semifinals on June 5, and the final on June 7. There are still many interesting players to watch, though the tournament feels a bit strange without the main protagonists present.

According to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report, the Cavaliers have “no appetite” to trade Mobley for Antetokounmpo. “I believe Cleveland does not have any real appetite or interest in that type of deal because Evan Mobley is really their only bridge to a future beyond Donovan Mitchell, who’s coming up on 30 years old. He’s already a major contributor to this group. A Defensive Player of the Year. A perennial All-Star candidate. I just don’t really see that happening.”

Fischer believes that the Cavs will hedge on the side of caution and youth with this situation. Evan Mobley is still a young star who has room to grow, and he also doesn’t have the same kind of injury concerns that Giannis Antetokounmpo has, as well. Additionally, according to reports, the preferred destinations for Giannis are Boston and Miami.

Koby Altman clears up the rumors

While speaking with reporters at his end-of-season news conference on Friday, Cavaliers president of basketball operations Koby Altman seemed to say plenty about the Evan Mobley for Giannis Antetokounmpo rumors. “I’m not going to speculate on any players outside these walls,” Altman explained, per Joe Vardon of The Athletic.

“All I can tell you is, since Evan’s been here, we’ve had the third-best record in the league for five years. Now, we don’t have a championship to show for that yet, right? Boston and Denver, the other two ahead of us, they have a championship to show for that, but all Evan has done is impact winning. He’s been remarkable for us in terms of our ascent the last five years. He’s a huge part of what we do.”

Almost immediately after the Knicks swept the Cavaliers, it was reported that February acquisition James Harden is expected to opt out of his current contract and receive a new multi-year deal from Cleveland. Additionally, Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell will become extension-eligible during the NBA offseason.

The moves of the Cavs will be interesting to follow as they remain a contender, and they will try to address what they are missing, especially while those rumors of a LeBron James homecoming remain in the air.

According to Shams Charania, Mitchell Robinson, who is one of the best rebounders in the NBA and a vital piece of the second unit under head coach Mike Brown, suffered the fracture earlier this week due to reasons that have not been disclosed.

At this moment, there is no projected date for his return, with the start of the Finals scheduled for next Wednesday. This position will be absolutely crucial regardless of whether the opponent turns out to be the Oklahoma City Thunder or the San Antonio Spurs.

The impact of Mitchell Robinson’s absence

The Knicks are qualified for their first NBA Finals since 1999, searching for their first championship since 1973. Mitchell Robinson closed the regular season averaging 8.8 rebounds per game and finishing as the fourth-best offensive rebounder in the league, but his struggles with free throws have made him a target for opponents during key moments of games.

If his absence is confirmed, the Knicks could find themselves at a disadvantage in the paint against the Thunder, who feature Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein, or the Spurs, who feature Victor Wembanyama and Luke Kornet.

In itself, the contribution of Mitchell Robinson is very strong, providing those solid numbers while serving as a guarantee of great defense and a physical presence inside the paint, which is completely proven by the statistics. Mitchell Robinson averaged 5.7 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game during the regular NBA season.

The Knicks and an incredible record

They hold a 12-2 record in the postseason with a victory margin of 19.4 points per game, and they have won 11 consecutive matchups. That impressive streak is currently tied for the third longest within a single postseason.

Last season, everyone expected Jalen Royals to be the natural replacement for Rashee Rice during Rice’s suspension. Knee tendinitis put a stop to that, but right now, he is taking advantage of the fact that Rashee Rice is not at OTAs.

“Yeah, so they’re rotating in with the first group,” Reid said. “And Rashee Rice is not here. It gives Jalen Royals some great reps with the wide receiver position. Strong, he looks strong out there and running well, and that whole deal. So, it’s great for him. It’s great for him and for the quarterbacks to see what he’s all about on repeated reps.”

When will the Chiefs return to their OTAs

The Kansas City Chiefs officially concluded their first of two weeks of OTAs on Thursday, May 28. The team will reconvene on Monday, June 1, for their second week of OTAs before a five-day break between OTAs and mandatory minicamp.

A golden opportunity for Royals

A fourth-round pick out of Utah State in 2025, Jalen Royals caught two passes on three targets for four yards during his NFL rookie season. This year, it seems like he will have an opportunity to secure a larger role in the offense.

He needs to stay healthy regarding his knee, but it feels especially true if he continues to take advantage of these early offseason practice days and builds on them going forward.

Andy Reid on Patrick Mahomes’ recovery

Patrick Mahomes is participating in practice, but only in a limited capacity. Coach Andy Reid does not like to use the “ahead of schedule” phrasing; however, it is clear that Patrick Mahomes is making tremendous progress as he returns from a season-ending knee injury. “I like what I’ve seen,” Reid said of Mahomes.

“He’s working hard. This is good for him, I mean, getting out there and throwing it’s good rehab, as he continues rehab, so he keeps a feel with the receivers, where he’s doing partial practice, and, but it’s important, it’s important to keep his timing up, and he’s busted his tail to put himself in this position, most guys wouldn’t even be able to do this, but he’s put himself in that position, and I know we’ve got good communication with the doctors, and they’re, you know, they keep a close eye on it, and what’s real and what’s not real, so and then we just, we listen to them.”

Patrick Mahomes participated in 7-7 team drills, but he is not cleared to participate in 11-11 yet. That is not so much about his ability to run or cut as it is to protect him from incidental contact, and Reid said it is to avoid plays with any fly or sweep motion that could lead to a collision in the backfield.

This new system will take effect starting with the 2027 NBA Draft and will initially apply to the 2027, 2028, and 2029 editions. The lottery expands from 14 to 16 teams, shifting from complex mathematical percentages to a simplified system where participating teams receive a specific number of lottery balls.

Teams that fail to qualify for the playoffs or the Play-In tournament will receive three lottery balls each, but the three teams with the worst records will face a “draft relegation” penalty and lose one ball, leaving them with only two balls to remove the reward for finishing last. The distribution of the lottery balls is structured as follows:

• Three balls: Allocated to teams that completely miss the postseason and the Play-In tournament.
• Two balls: Allocated to the ninth and tenth seeds of the Play-In tournament in each conference, and the three worst rosters.
• One ball: Allocated to the losing teams of the seventh versus eighth seed Play-In games in each conference.

Full lottery drawing

In the previous system, the lottery drawing only determined the top four selections, while the remaining positions were automatically ordered based on the worst records of wins and losses.

Under the new “3, 2, 1 Lottery” format, the drawing will completely determine the order of selection for all of the first 16 draft picks in the first round. The entire order of these selections will depend entirely on the random chance of which lottery balls are drawn from the machine.

Draft pick floors

To protect franchises that are legitimately performing poorly without intentionally losing games, the new system establishes strict limits on how far teams can drop if they face bad luck during the drawing.

The teams with the three worst records, who are penalized with two lottery balls, are guaranteed to receive, at worst, the number 12 pick. All other participating lottery teams can only fall as far down as the number 16 pick in the overall draft order.

Pick restrictions and trade protections

To prevent a single franchise from accumulating the best young prospects in consecutive years, the league implements strict rules regarding original draft picks, stating that no team can hold the number 1 selection in two consecutive drafts.

Additionally, teams will not be permitted to secure top five draft picks in three consecutive years, regardless of whether they kept the selections or traded them to other franchises. Furthermore, franchises will be completely prohibited from attaching top 12 through top 15 protections to any newly traded draft picks in the market.

League discipline and anti-tanking measures

The NBA league office will possess expanded disciplinary authority to closely investigate franchises, allowing the league to reduce lottery odds, alter draft positions, and impose significant financial fines if teams are caught intentionally losing games.

In front of the net, Franco Armani was left off the roster as Juan Musso earns his place, while the defensive unit will be without German Pezzella, Marcos Acuna, and Juan Foyth, who make way for Leonardo Balerdi and Facundo Medina. Meanwhile, the midfield features the absences of Guido Rodriguez and Alejandro Gomez, as their spots were taken by Giovani Lo Celso and Valentin “Colo” Barco.

Moving to the attacking line, which is spearheaded by Lionel Messi, the squad no longer features Angel Di Maria, Paulo Dybala, and Angel Correa, but instead counts on the presence of Nicolas Gonzalez, Nicolas Paz, Giuliano Simeone, and Jose Manuel Lopez.

Argentina final roster for the 2026 World Cup

Following the absence of several world champions from the previous edition, there are new presences and young players who have the hunger to fight for and conquer the most prestigious trophy in the world, combining with the experienced players from the group that achieved it.

There are several young names in Argentina, such as Juan Musso, Valentin Barco, Nicolas Paz, and Giuliano Simeone, who will have the opportunity to play in their first World Cup, surely fulfilling a dream while being alongside Lionel Messi. Here is the list of the 26 players called up:

Goalkeepers (3)

• Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa)
• Geronimo Rulli (Olympique de Marsella)
• Juan Musso (Atletico de Madrid)

Defenders (8)

• Gonzalo Montiel (River Plate)
• Nahuel Molina (Atletico de Madrid)
• Lisandro Martinez (Manchester United)
• Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica)
• Leonardo Balerdi (Olympique de Marsella)
• Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur)
• Facundo Medina (Olympique de Marsella)
• Nicolas Tagliafico (Olympique de Lyon)

Midfielders (7)

• Leandro Paredes (Boca Juniors)
• Rodrigo De Paul (Inter Miami)
• Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen)
• Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea)
• Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool)
• Giovani Lo Celso (Real Betis)
• Valentin Barco (Racing de Estrasburgo)

Forwards (8)

• Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)
• Nicolas Paz (Como)
• Thiago Almada (Atletico de Madrid)
• Nicolas Gonzalez (Atletico de Madrid)
• Giuliano Simeone (Atletico de Madrid)
• Lautaro Martinez (Inter de Milan)
• Jose Manuel Lopez (Palmeiras)
• Julian Alvarez (Atletico de Madrid)

Lionel Scaloni’s list includes 16 of the 26 players who were consecrated with the Albiceleste in Qatar 2022; however, nine were no longer in the orbit of the selection, with the only one remaining being Marcos Acuna, who doesn’t make it.

Jalen Williams is finally listed as available in the injury report. He surpasses the left hamstring injury that has been attached to him for the majority of the 2026 postseason.

According to Shams Charania, Williams continues progressing through workouts, but the Thunder are exercising extreme caution because of the recurring nature of the hamstring injury.

“If it does require a Game 7, he is doing more and more and progressing more and more in his pregame workouts,” Charania said. “But to have the second strain to the same hamstring just under one month just speaks to the severity of what this is, and how sensitive, how tricky an injury like this can be.”

Other bad news for OKC

The bad news is that Ajay Mitchell has been ruled out for the Thunder as well with a right soleus strain. Meanwhile, the Spurs have a clean injury report, trailing 3-2 in the best-of-seven series after suffering a 127-114 road loss on Tuesday.

But it is important to note that for OKC, the absences are not something they worry much about. The Thunder have survived, thanks in large part to their depth. In fact, they could very well eliminate the Spurs even without Williams, Sorber, and Mitchell in Game 6.

Spurs with a clean injury report

The Spurs have no major players who appear on the injury report. That being said, De’Aaron Fox is playing with a high ankle sprain, while Dylan Harper is also dealing with an injury; however, neither is expected to miss Game 6.

With the Spurs being relatively healthy, they are hoping to force a Game 7; moreover, they are hoping to take advantage of the Thunder being short-handed.

The Thunder will have their work cut out for themselves if Williams doesn’t play. Nevertheless, they may have a reason to sit him out for Game 6. If he were to sit out, then he would have more than two weeks to recover from his hamstring injury by the time the NBA Finals started.

It was not an easy road for a team that replaced Tom Thibodeau last summer amid a great deal of skepticism. However, Brown pointed out that the final stretch of the regular season was the moment when the locker room fully came together.

“It was always a little bit of a question, whether or not we’d be able to get over the hump, but down the stretch of the regular season with 6 or 7 games to go, we started to play good basketball and do more things that involved more sacrificing from the group,” Brown admitted.

The Knicks’ great postseason

After dismantling the Atlanta Hawks in the first round (six games) and demolishing the Philadelphia 76ers in the second round (four games), Jalen Brunson and company manhandled the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals, sweeping the Cavs in an absolutely dominant fashion.

In the Knicks’ series-clinching win in Game 4 on the road on Monday night, they left no doubt about who the best team was in the series, as they came out on top via a 130-93 score. That 37-point victory also represents the completion of a historic achievement by New York.

The Knicks become the first team in NBA history to win 3 series-clinching games by 20+ points in a single postseason, with the Hawks +51, 76ers +30, and against the Cavaliers +37.

Jalen Brunson: The star the Knicks needed

Jalen Brunson got his well-deserved recognition following his incredible performances after the Eastern Conference Finals series, winning the Eastern Conference Finals MVP.

Brunson is going through the eighth season of his NBA career, his fourth with the Knicks. He has elevated the franchise to serious playoff contention, getting to the East Finals in back-to-back years in 2025 and 2026.

This time, he got them over the hump by sweeping the Cavaliers after four games to punch their ticket to the NBA Finals. As a result, he ended the series as the MVP after averaging 25.5 points, 7.8 assists, and 3.3 rebounds per game.

Stein reports that the Heat have long been a potential suitor for the Bucks star, and that while Giannis Antetokounmpo might have legitimate interest in the Celtics, it’s not clear what level of interest the Celtics have in return.

Boston was one of the teams that reportedly reached out to the Bucks at the trade deadline regarding Antetokounmpo, but nothing materialized. A potential deal would almost assuredly mean the Celtics would have to part ways with Jaylen Brown, who has the Rockets interested in him and is up for a contract extension this offseason.

What the Heat can offer

As far as the Heat, a potential package would likely include Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Tyler Herro, and some combination of draft picks. This would be a considerable trade involving quality players, but the Bucks will likely look for a star in return, and that is where the Celtics could step in by offering Jaylen Brown.

Another factor that could play a role in where Antetokounmpo is traded is the fact that he reportedly wants to remain in the Eastern Conference, Stein reports. It’s viewed as the path of least resistance in terms of getting back to the NBA Finals as opposed to having to go through the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs.

Despite injury issues this past NBA season, the former No. 15 overall pick was still an elite-level player. He averaged 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 5.4 assists with splits of 62.4% shooting from the field, 33.3% shooting from the 3-point line, and 65 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

Another possible destination

The Dallas Mavericks also remain an interesting subplot in all of this. Stein reports Antetokounmpo has long been intrigued by the possibility of playing in Dallas, originally because of the opportunity to team up with Luka Doncic before Doncic was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2025.

Antetokounmpo’s close relationship with former Mavericks coach Jason Kidd also helped fuel that interest over the years. Kidd has since exited Dallas, though Stein reports that may not eliminate the Mavericks as a possibility.

NBA insider Marc Stein revealed Monday that three teams are said to have “legitimate interest” in trading for Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown, one of those being the Houston Rockets.

Brown was just named to the All-NBA Second Team Sunday night after posting 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and one steal in the regular season. With Jayson Tatum sidelined for most of the year, Brown took off, leading Boston to the second seed in the Eastern Conference and finishing sixth in the MVP voting.

The others interested in Brown

According to Marc Stein, the Celtics are not the only ones, as the Atlanta Hawks and Portland Trail Blazers also have real interest in the Finals MVP. Stein references Brown within a story largely centered on the uncertain future of Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is believed to have interest in joining Boston, though whether the Celtics feel the same way is not yet known.

The framework of a possible blockbuster trade between Milwaukee and Boston that sees Antetokounmpo land with the Celtics would likely have to involve at least three teams, according to Stein, with Brown rerouted to a third team, potentially Atlanta, Houston, or Portland, and the Bucks receiving unspecified assets.

Something that could define Brown as a trade player

With a projected salary of more than $183 million over the next three seasons, Brown would become a likely trade target if the Celtics considered his salary, combined with Tatum’s, to be too high.

Brown had a career season this past year, helping the Celtics finish with a 56-26 record, which earned them the second overall seed in the Eastern Conference, despite being without Jayson Tatum for most of the NBA season.

The Rockets face a tough offseason this summer, as they will have to decide whether to make yet another aggressive move for a proven superstar, like Brown, much like they did last summer when parting with some of their draft capital and young talent to the Phoenix Suns for Kevin Durant.

During a recent appearance on NFL Network’s ‘The Insiders’, Smith opened up about the importance of protecting Patrick Mahomes better this upcoming season.

“As an offensive lineman, you always feel the responsibility to keep your quarterback calm, protected, and allowing him to operate,” Smith said. “You have the best quarterback in the game right now, so you just want to give him every opportunity to do what he does best.”

Mahomes continues his recovery

Everything indicates that Mahomes‘ recovery is a success and that his competitive spirit is what keeps him afloat and hungry to return and triumph, as Mahomes is expected to be in attendance during OTAs, but will still be working his way back from knee surgery in rehab.

Once he’s back in the lineup, the offensive line, led by Smith, will focus on keeping him healthy. “At the end of the day, I think the pressure is on us just as a team, and individually, what we can do to get better every single day,” Smith said. “At the end of the day, Patrick Mahomes is the best competitor I’ve ever been around.”

There has been talk that Mahomes is ahead of what was expected in his recovery, but ESPN insider Adam Schefter warned Andy Reid and highlighted the differences between recovering and being at 100% for an NFL match.

“As much as we know Patrick Mahomes, and as great as he’s been, I don’t know that we know what we’re going to get from Patrick Mahomes early on. Let’s not diminish the fact that he tore his ACL, he tore his LCL, he’s had a toe injury. This is a major injury. How does a player come back from that?… When he comes back right away, assuming he plays that Monday Night opener, do you think we’re getting the full-on Patrick Mahomes in Week 1?”

Inter Miami’s official statement read: “After undergoing further medical tests this Monday, the initial diagnosis indicates an overload associated with muscle fatigue in his left hamstring. The timeline for his return to physical activity will depend on his clinical and functional progress.”

All things considered, this is the best possible diagnosis regarding the status of Lionel Messi, and for Argentina, it is clear that this is a case of accumulated fatigue. This indicates that rest before the World Cup will be crucial for Messi, while ensuring he does not lose his rhythm, meaning he will surely arrive more than ready for the debut.

What happened to Messi?

The scene that sparked concern occurred in the second half of the match played at the Nu Stadium. Under heavy rain, Messi asked to come off while clutching his left hamstring area, and, following the substitution of Mateo Silvetti, he headed straight to the locker room.

Although the press release does not mention specific timelines, in principle, he will need between 10 and 14 days of reduced workload, a period that initially does not jeopardize his presence in the debut against Algeria on June 16 for the 2026 World Cup. With that estimated recovery time, it remains to be determined whether Messi will be able to feature in the upcoming friendly matches against Honduras and Iceland.

What’s next for Messi and Argentina?

Messi is not the only player with physical issues among the regularly summoned squad members. Gonzalo Montiel, Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Nicolas Gonzalez, and Emiliano Dibu Martinez are also managing various ailments in their preparation to defend the title obtained in Qatar. Although the vast majority would make it to the debut, the case generating the most concern is that of Cuti, who could miss the opening matches.

Argentina‘s debut in the World Cup will take place on June 16 against Algeria for the first fixture of Group J at the stadium of the Kansas City Chiefs. After that encounter, the squad will travel to Dallas to face Austria on June 22 and will close the group stage in the same city against Jordan on June 27. Before the start of the World Cup, Argentina will play two prior friendly matches on June 6 and June 9 against Honduras and Iceland.

De la Fuente spoke reassuringly of Yamal’s inclusion on his 26-man World Cup roster, predicting that the winger will be given the all-clear before their first game of the tournament. “First and foremost, caution. We need to give him the time he needs, especially now,” De la Fuente told reporters after his roster was revealed.

“I believe he’ll be ready for the first match, and we hope he can live up to expectations, but without putting undue pressure on him. He’s very mature.” Spain, among the tournament favorites, begin on June 15 against World Cup debutant Cabo Verde in Group H.

How does Yamal arrive at the World Cup?

A hamstring injury has hindered Lamine Yamal’s World Cup preparations. However, the Barcelona superstar is still expected to be fully fit for the start of the tournament, which remains the primary expectation.

Supporters of Spain were cursing Hansi Flick when Yamal succumbed after taking a penalty in Barca’s 1-0 victory over Celta Vigo on April 22. The winger has been used relentlessly by the German since breaking into the senior setup and emerging as one of the world’s best players.

Yamal has already lit up the big stage for La Roja, earning Young Player of the Tournament honors at Euro 2024, which Spain won handsomely. However, it’s at the World Cup where legacies of soccer’s best are forged, and Yamal is readying himself for his first experience of the tournament this summer.

Spain without Real Madrid players

No Real Madrid players were picked by De la Fuente. For the first time in World Cup history, Spain’s most decorated club will not be represented at all, as there may be a scarcity of Spanish players at Madrid.

There were just three Madrid players in the Euro 2024 squad, and two of those, Joselu and Nacho Fernandez, are currently plying their trade in the Middle East. The other, veteran Dani Carvajal, did not make De la Fuente’s 55-man provisional roster, given his limited number of minutes this season.

Dean Huijsen was the most likely to make it, but his form has been spotty for Madrid since joining last summer. Pau Cubarsi and Marc Pubill were preferred. The other Spanish options at Real Madrid are uninspiring.

Raul Asencio has never been capped, Alvaro Carreras had a mixed first season with the club, while Fran Garcia is not of the requisite level. Striker Gonzalo Garcia is at least attending the early stages of camp as a training player.

The match was highly physical from the opening minutes, with constant fouls and intense battles across the field. Pumas opened the scoring through Robert Morales, while Cruz Azul controlled possession for large stretches of the game in search of the equalizer.

In the second half, Cruz Azul found the tying goal after an own goal from Ruben Duarte before continuing to pressure against a tired Pumas side that eventually went down to 10 men following Carlos Antuna’s red card. With the numerical advantage, La Maquina pushed until the very end and found the title-winning goal through Rotondi.

After the 0-0 draw in the first leg between Cruz Azul and Pumas, tension grew for both teams. While the Universitarios dream of breaking a long title drought at home, La Maquina want to lift a championship trophy once again and close out a tournament that consolidated them as one of the most solid squads in Mexican soccer. In addition to the trophy, the winner will also secure a direct ticket to the next edition of the Concacaf Champions Cup.

But the financial reward is even better, according to Marca, the championship club of Liga MX would receive a prize close to $4.1 million, equivalent to more than 70 million Mexican pesos at the current exchange rate.

What this amount of money means for Cruz Azul, Pumas

The figure represents one of the most important economic incentives in Mexican soccer and could be key to reinforcing squads, renewing contracts, or even investing in new signings heading into the Apertura 2026. It is also worth mentioning that the runner-up prize would be approximately $2 million.

In the case of Pumas, part of that money could be allocated toward special bonuses for the players, especially following the sporting and media impact generated by the arrival of Keylor Navas at the club.

For their part, Cruz Azul also contemplate significant internal rewards for the squad if they manage to crown themselves at Ciudad Universitaria. The Cementeros board considers this tournament an opportunity to consolidate the sporting project after several irregular semesters.

Everything points to a close and highly intense final. Pumas will try to take advantage of their fans‘ support and the great form of Keylor Navas, while Cruz Azul will look to impose their collective balance to conquer a title that is also worth millions both on and off the field.

Following the first leg, the fans of both teams are expecting a greater spectacle, as the initial encounter between Pumas and Cruz Azul ended without goals, meaning that tonight both the Universitarios and La Maquina will leave everything on the field.

The historical context also increases overall expectations. The Universitarios and Cementeros already know what it means to face each other in decisive stages, and recent history in the Liguilla keeps an increasingly intense rivalry alive.

What happens if Cruz Azul win vs Pumas?

If Cruz Azul win today’s match, regardless of the victory’s scoreline, they would become Liga MX champions, achieving the title they fought for until the very end. The exact result does not matter much because the first leg ended 0-0.

The Liga MX champion secures a cash prize of approximately $4.1 million. In addition, Cruz Azul would face Toluca at the Liga MX 2026 Campeon de Campeones game, which pits the 2025 Apertura champions against the 2026 Clausura winners. The match will take place on July 25 in Los Angeles.

What happens if Cruz Azul and Pumas tie?

In the Liga MX 2026 Clausura final, if the aggregate score remains tied after regulation, Cruz Azul and Pumas UNAM will play two extra time periods of 15 minutes each. If the draw persists in overtime, the teams will determine the winner from the penalty spot.

What happens if Cruz Azul lose vs Pumas?

In the event of a loss, Cruz Azul will finish as runner-up while Pumas will be crowned champions, sealing a place in the Campeon de Campeones final against Toluca on July 25.

Following the Timberwolves’ second-round loss to the Spurs this year, Anthony Edwards admitted the two teams were budding rivals. Still, when looking back on the series, he made sure to give them credit for a job well done, making it clear that a rivalry exists.

“Hell yeah, hell yeah, hell yeah, it’s a rivalry,” said Edwards. “I tip my hat to them young n****s, they came out to ball. Them boys balled. I have nothing bad to say about the Spurs; they balled. Like one thing about me, when you beat me, I ain’t no hating that, I ain’t got that in my blood. But we’ll be back.”

NBA rivalries may not be what they used to be, but animosity still exists between some teams and players. Today, some of the most recognized rivalries include Spurs vs. Thunder, Nuggets vs. Timberwolves, and Lakers vs. Warriors. Now, we can add the Timberwolves vs Spurs to the list, and it could produce content for many years.

How the series went between both teams

At this stage in the timeline, it’s impossible to say which team will get the upper hand between these teams, but we just saw a glimpse of what their future showdowns could look like. This year, Edwards led the Timberwolves to an impressive win in the first round against Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets.

They were underdogs in the series but still managed to pull off the upset thanks to strong leadership and balanced contributions across the roster. Coming off two straight runs to the NBA Conference Finals (2024 and 2025), the Wolves had their eyes set on making it a third, but the Spurs got in the way.

Other than Games 1 and 4, the Spurs controlled much of the series, limiting the effectiveness of key players like Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert. For his part, Edwards tried his best to carry his team to victory with averages of 24.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.7 assists across the 6-game Western Conference Semifinals.

In the end, the Timberwolves didn’t have enough firepower to topple the Spurs, and Victor Wembanyama was a huge part of that. His ascent is shifting the NBA’s balance of power, and Edwards found himself cheering when he got ejected in Game 4 of the series. Of course, that doesn’t change the fact that Victor’s team is currently still alive in the NBA playoff fight, while Edwards is watching from home.

Among the many talented veterans on the Oklahoma City Thunder roster, there was one who made a lasting impression on James: Alex Caruso, his former Lakers teammate. In the aftermath of watching Caruso close in on his third NBA Finals appearance, the 41-year-old legend found himself thinking fondly of the reunion and their brief time together in Los Angeles.

“I miss [Alex Caruso] every single day, every single day,” said James on the ‘Mind the Game’ podcast with Steve Nash. “To be able to compete against him, in a playoff series, it’s everything.”

LeBron recognizes Caruso’s great utility

LeBron misses him, and with good reason, as he is a difference-maker for OKC, which is already a team loaded with elite talent, but Caruso shines because of the additional areas he covers, serving as a defensive master who takes care of the heavyweights.

“Two things are for certain: if you wanna compete, AC’s gonna be right there. He’s gonna get underneath you, he’s gonna grab you, hold you, he’s gonna compete, and he’s gonna do it at a professional level. AC’s not gonna beat himself; you have to play that chess game with AC, understanding where he is on the floor. He’s damn good with his hands; you can’t play with the ball around him because he will take it from you. So, you have to be very strategic with your movements,” James added.

“Offensively, you have to be very strategic with your body positioning with him. But it was great to compete against him. I already knew he was guarding me every time he came off the bench, no matter if Dort was on the floor or not. I knew AC would check me because we have so much history.”

Caruso’s numbers

In total, over his first four seasons, Caruso averaged 5.9 points, 2.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game on 42.3% shooting and 29.3% shooting from three. He was considered a favorite among fans, but his stay would last only until 2021, when he joined the Chicago Bulls.

For his part, Caruso is making his case as one of the greatest role-players ever, and it’s a sentiment that LeBron himself might agree with. While he’s always been a consistent and reliable contributor off the bench, he’s been a hero for the Thunder this year, with Game 1 being his greatest performance with 31 points, two rebounds, one assist, two steals, and two blocks on 57.9% shooting and 57.1% shooting from three.

Devin Vassell got into a heated altercation with Ajay Mitchell in the third quarter after the Thunder’s second foul on Stephon Castle within a matter of minutes, where on both plays the former Rookie of the Year could have seriously injured himself.

Following the game, Devin Vassell spoke to the media and addressed the altercation that broke out. “Just have my teammates back. That’s my brother. The first play, it’s a basketball play, you try and make a play, but I mean two times in a row he’s about to go for a dunk, it just looked like he pushed him. That could be a dangerous play, so I just want to have my teammates back.”

How the altercation was resolved

The play was ruled a flagrant foul on Ajay Mitchell for pushing Castle in the back while he was in the air, making it an unnecessary play. Additionally, Mitchell and Vassell received a double technical foul, and the game continued with two free throws and possession for the Spurs.

On both possessions, the Thunder players did everything they could to stop Castle from going up for a fastbreak dunk or layup. However, Vassell felt that there was a certain level of hostility and recklessness on the second play.

“Yeah, I mean, it’s the playoffs, it’s a lot of stuff that physicality, grabbing, holding, all that, and all that just builds up. So it’s a lot of, I guess, a little bit of animosity building up, and I’m cool with that.”

Vassell’s great performance

Vassell’s solid start was pivotal in the Spurs’ 15-0 start to the game; however, he could not sustain the rhythm throughout the night as the defending NBA champions, the Thunder, eventually bounced back and stole Game 3 with a 123-108 win.

The 25-year-old wing ended the game with 20 points, seven rebounds, four steals, and two assists, while going 6-12 from the field (50.0 FG%) and 3-6 from the three-point range (50.0 3P%).

Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson expects both De’Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper to play against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday night, per ESPN’s Tim MacMahon.

A stout backcourt should give the Spurs a better chance of prevailing in what feels like a must-win contest at the Frost Bank Center. Fox made his series debut on Friday after nursing an ankle injury and scored 15 points on 7-of-14 shooting with seven rebounds and six assists in a 123-108 loss. He suffered a setback in the third quarter but returned a few minutes later.

Harper pushed through an adductor issue and totaled six points on 2-of-7 shooting in 17 minutes of action. Ideally, both guards will look like their normal selves the next time out.

The complicated situation for the Spurs

There will be a palpable sense of desperation permeating the building. Common sense dictates that no team, including a 62-20 Spurs squad, can defeat OKC three straight times, so Johnson must construct a sensible game plan. Fox and Harper would presumably be important components of that blueprint.

The former ranked second on the team in scoring and assists during the regular season and is an established veteran star who can ease the burden on Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle. The latter can attack the rim and force turnovers. If they fulfill their usual responsibilities, San Antonio should have a good opportunity to tie the NBA series.

In Game 4, what could be the first definitive turning point of the series is at stake. If OKC win, it would establish a 3-1 lead against the Spurs, something that is highly difficult to overcome, especially against this team that is incredibly tough to beat. If the Spurs win, we have a long series ahead with the scent of a Game 7.

Amid the uncertainty over his future with the Lakers, Austin Reaves was spotted at the airport, where a fan asked him questions about him and LeBron James. TMZ Sports acquired the footage and released it on social media, where Austin Reaves’ body language and words suggest he is fully inclined toward extending with the Lakers and wants them to sign the 41-year-old LeBron James as well.

“Yes,” Reaves said when the fan asked him if the Lakers want LeBron James back next year. “That’s the GOAT.” The fan then reminded him how sad it was to see the Lakers’ playoff run without Luka Doncic and asked him if he wants to have another shot with the Lakers’ Big Three next season. “Run it back,” Reaves responded. He was subsequently asked if he feels the Lakers should make roster changes in the offseason, replying, “I don’t get into all that. I’ve got to sign first.”

Austin Reaves and a decision to make

While LeBron James is already an unrestricted free agent, Austin Reaves has yet to pick up his $14.9 million player option for the 2026-27 season. The absolute deadline for him to decide on that player option is June 29. If the Lakers and Reaves do not come to terms on a potential extension before that time, and he does not exercise his player option, then even Reaves would become an unrestricted free agent.

All signs are that Reaves will exercise the player option if the negotiations do not yield fruit in time, as he has repeatedly suggested that he wants to retire in the purple and gold uniform.

Moreover, he would potentially be leaving $62 million on the table if he joins any other team than the Lakers. The Lakers could offer him a five-year, $240 million extension, while any other team can offer a four-year, $178 million contract at the most.

But whether LeBron James will “run it back” with him and the Lakers remains uncertain. The 41-year-old is mulling retirement, but sources suggest LeBron James will play at least one more year in the NBA.

The opening half was completely controlled by Mexico, who constantly pressured Ghana and created several dangerous chances throughout the first 45 minutes. Roberto Alvarado, Gilberto Mora, and Jesus Gallardo all came close to extending the lead, but goalkeeper Benjamin Asare delivered multiple important saves to keep the scoreline close before halftime.

In the second half, Mexico continued rotating their squad while maintaining control of possession and tempo. Ghana improved briefly with a dangerous attempt from Afena Gyan, but Carlos Acevedo responded with a strong save. After Guillermo Martinez scored the second goal, the pace of the match slowed down considerably, and El Tri comfortably closed out the victory.

The official status of OKC forward Jalen Williams for Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals against the San Antonio Spurs on Friday is out, as he is struggling to a left hamstring soreness.

Williams exited the first quarter of Game 2 on Wednesday and did not return. The Thunder ultimately secured a 122-113 home win to tie the Western Conference Finals series at 1-1. Unfortunately for OKC, the Spurs will have De’Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper available for the game.

What happened to Williams?

Williams suffered a Grade 1 strain in his left hamstring during Game 2 of the first round for the Thunder against Phoenix on April 22. He returned for the series opener against San Antonio on Monday, but he now runs the risk of missing more time.

With Williams unable to play on Friday, Ajay Mitchell will take on a larger role. The second-year guard started all four second-round games against the Los Angeles Lakers during Williams’ absence, averaging 22.5 points and six assists.

Jalen Williams scored 26 points and pulled down seven rebounds, showing signs of the player who put up 21.4 points per game during last year’s NBA championship run, while his role on the team is to serve as the second option behind Shai Gilgeous Alexander.

Williams’ situation

According to Shams Charania, he will be evaluated day to day and game to game. “It’s a recurring injury. If you think about it, Pat, the opposite leg, the right hamstring, he had two strains of the hamstring on that side as well during the course of the season that he missed four weeks at one point and six weeks at another point, so he’s been dealing with hamstring injuries on both legs. It appears more unlikely than likely that he plays in Game 3 tonight.”

Harper will available for Game 3. Harper, who was listed as questionable due to right adductor soreness, went to a pregame routine for the team to decide on his status, ESPN reported.

This was bad news for the Spurs, but fortunately they also got good news on De’Aaron Fox, who will be available for Game 3 against OKC. De’Aaron is set to debut in the best-of-seven series after missing the first two games due to a right ankle sprain.

What happened to Harper?

In the third quarter of Wednesday night’s Game 2 of the series at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, rising Spurs star Dylan Harper appeared to have suffered a lower-body injury while trying to attack the Thunder’s interior defense. Dylan Harper hurt his right adductor in Game 2. After that action, Harper was forced to exit in the third quarter and did not return.

Before he left the game, Harper scored 12 points on an efficient 5-for-10 shooting from the field, all inside the arc, to go along with two rebounds and three assists in 25 minutes.

In the Spurs’ 122-115 double-overtime win in Game 1 versus the Thunder, he had 24 points and 11 rebounds to go with six assists and seven steals in 47 minutes. In addition, this indicates that Stephon Castle will face an increased minutes load if Harper is ruled out.

The complicated situation for the Spurs

The Spurs could see both Harper and Fox play after they dealt with injuries at a crucial point in the season. Now San Antonio needs their two main ball handlers, but also does not want to risk further health concerns in this series and a potential NBA Finals series.

The opening half belonged mostly to Cruz Azul, who pushed aggressively in search of the opening goal and even saw a penalty overturned after a VAR review for offside. Pumas UNAM improved as the match progressed and nearly found the breakthrough in the second half, but Kevin Mier responded with a spectacular save in a one-on-one chance against Uriel Antuna.

During the final minutes, Cruz Azul threw everything forward looking for the winner, while Pumas UNAM defended deep to protect the result. In the end, both teams settled for a 0-0 draw, leaving everything to be decided in the second leg on Sunday, May 24.

Jalen Williams exited Game 2 in the first quarter with 1:34 remaining and never came back, and the update doesn’t sound good. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Williams will be evaluated day to day, game to game, with a left hamstring injury. He will undergo treatment, and his return will be determined entirely by how his body responds to the recovery process.

It sounds like Williams has a chance to be available for Game 3 on Friday, but it’s still unclear if he’s dealing only with soreness or another strain. If he’s unable to gut it out Friday, Isaiah Joe, Jared McCain, and especially Ajay Mitchell would all be candidates for increased roles.

Something that already happened to Jalen

The main problem is that this is the second injury to the same hamstring in less than a month, making the situation considerably more uncertain than a typical medical report would indicate.

Williams originally suffered a Grade 1 strain in his left hamstring in Game 2 of the first round against the Phoenix Suns, missing six games before returning for the series opener.

He played 27 minutes before the Thunder lost in double overtime, and his recovery seemed to be progressing well until Wednesday night, when Williams was receiving treatment on his left hamstring midway through the game, and the Thunder subsequently announced that he was ruled out for the remainder of Game 2 due to hamstring tightness.

Before the start of this season, Williams had already dealt with a wrist injury suffered during last year’s playoffs, in which they won the title, and he has now suffered three distinct hamstring injuries throughout the 2025-26 season.

Jalen’s numbers

Williams averaged 17.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 5.5 assists on 48.4% shooting during the regular NBA season, and had scored 20 or more points in two of his three playoff appearances before Wednesday’s exit.

With this Saudi Pro League title, Ronaldo reached a total of 36 trophies won in his career at club and national team level. Meanwhile, Messi holds the upper hand in this area with 46 career titles to his name.

Al Nassr put on a brilliant performance, featuring goals from Sadio Mane, Kingsley Coman, and Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored a brace and secured his 973rd career goal. The goal-scoring display from one of the best players in history, who has chased this title for so long, could not be missed.

Ronaldo and Messi’s club titles

Ronaldo had a much bigger journey across different clubs than Messi. The Portuguese star played for Sporting CP, Manchester United (two stints), Real Madrid and Juventus before landing at Al Nassr. Messi, on the other hand, has only played for three clubs: Barcelona, PSG, and Inter Miami.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s club titles

1. Man.United – UEFA Champions League (2008)
2. Real Madrid – UEFA Champions League (2014)
3. Real Madrid – UEFA Champions League (2016)
4. Real Madrid – UEFA Champions League (2017)
5. Real Madrid – UEFA Champions League (2018)
6. Real Madrid – UEFA Super Cup (2014)
7. Real Madrid – UEFA Super Cup (2016)
8. Real Madrid – UEFA Super Cup (2017)
9. Man.United – FIFA Club World Cup (2008)
10. Real Madrid – FIFA Club World Cup (2014)
11. Real Madrid – FIFA Club World Cup (2016)
12. Real Madrid – FIFA Club World Cup (2017)
13. Man.United – English Premier League (2007)
14. Man.United – English Premier League (2008)
15. Man.United – English Premier League (2009)
16. Real Madrid – LaLiga (2012)
17. Real Madrid – LaLiga (2017)
18. Juventus – Scudetto Serie A (2019)
19. Juventus – Scudetto Serie A (2020)
20. Man.United – FA Cup (2004)
21. Man.United – EFL Cup (2006)
22. Man.United – EFL Cup (2009)
23. Real Madrid – Copa del Rey (2011)
24. Real Madrid – Copa del Rey (2014)
25. Juventus – Coppa Italia (2021)
26. Sporting CP – Supertaca Candido de Oliveira (2002)
27. Man.United – FA Community Shield (2007)
28. Man.United – FA Community Shield (2008)
29. Real Madrid – Spanish Super Cup (2012)
30. Real Madrid – Spanish Super Cup (2017)
31. Juventus – Supercoppa Italiana (2019)
32. Juventus – Supercoppa Italiana (2021)
33. Al Nassr – Saudi Pro League (2026)

* The Arab Club Champions Cup won with Al Nassr in 2023 isn’t recognized as an official title by FIFA or the AFC.

Lionel Messi’s club titles

1. Barcelona – UEFA Champions League (2006)
2. Barcelona – UEFA Champions League (2009)
3. Barcelona – UEFA Champions League (2011)
4. Barcelona – UEFA Champions League (2015)
5. Barcelona – UEFA Super Cup (2009)
6. Barcelona – UEFA Super Cup (2011)
7. Barcelona – UEFA Super Cup (2015)
8. Barcelona – FIFA Club World Cup (2009)
9. Barcelona – FIFA Club World Cup (2011)
10. Barcelona – FIFA Club World Cup (2015)
11. Barcelona – LaLiga (2005)
12. Barcelona – LaLiga (2006)
13. Barcelona – LaLiga (2009)
14. Barcelona – LaLiga (2010)
15. Barcelona – LaLiga (2011)
16. Barcelona – LaLiga (2013)
17. Barcelona – LaLiga (2015)
18. Barcelona – LaLiga (2016)
19. Barcelona – LaLiga (2018)
20. Barcelona – LaLiga (2019)
21. PSG – Ligue 1 (2022)
22. PSG – Ligue 1 (2023)
23. Inter Miami – Supporters Shield (2024)
24. Barcelona – Copa del Rey (2009)
25. Barcelona – Copa del Rey (2012)
26. Barcelona – Copa del Rey (2015)
27. Barcelona – Copa del Rey (2016)
28. Barcelona – Copa del Rey (2017)
29. Barcelona – Copa del Rey (2018)
30. Barcelona – Copa del Rey (2021)
31. Inter Miami – MLS Cup (2025)
32. Barcelona – Spanish Super Cup (2005)
33. Barcelona – Spanish Super Cup (2006)
34. Barcelona – Spanish Super Cup (2009)
35. Barcelona – Spanish Super Cup (2010)
36. Barcelona – Spanish Super Cup (2011)
37. Barcelona – Spanish Super Cup (2013)
38. Barcelona – Spanish Super Cup (2016)
39. Barcelona – Spanish Super Cup (2018)
40. PSG – Trophee des Champions (2022)
41. Inter Miami – Leagues Cup (2023)

International titles

On the international stage, Messi and Ronaldo made a notable difference by winning titles, Messi leading Argentina back to world glory after so many years, and Ronaldo putting Portugal on the map by helping win the nation’s first titles.

Ronaldo’s international trophies with Portugal:

1. UEFA European Championship (2016)
2. UEFA Nations League (2019)
3. UEFA Nations League (2025)

Messi’s international accolades with Argentina:

1. Copa America (2021)
2. CONMEBOL-UEFA Cup of Champions (2022)
3. FIFA World Cup (2022)
4. Copa America (2024)
5. Olympic Gold Medal (2008)

* At the youth level, Messi also won the FIFA U-20 World Cup with Argentina in 2005.

Following the incidents, “La Familia” released an official statement establishing that they remained silent for 85 minutes not to stop supporting the club, but because they wanted to receive more consideration from the Inter Miami players.

Everything boiled over when they began to chant, “Players, respect your supporters, say hello to your people, who never ask for things.” The group made it clear that they are not looking to offend or insult the players or staff, but rather the fans are asking for the smallest sign of acknowledgement from the people inside the field.

What happened during the match with Lionel Messi?

All the tension exploded when the supporters began to sing the aforementioned chant, but of course, Messi and the others took it as a protest without understanding any of it, despite the club recently celebrating another major title.

Lionel Messi reacted visibly frustrated as the chants grew louder from sections of the crowd, with the captain immediately reacting toward the stands. Everyone quickly focused on Messi’s response as he appeared to confront the situation directly, showing he was not willing to accept the criticism aimed at his teammates.

The Argentine captain, upon hearing the chants, changed his posture and gait and headed toward the stands. With clear gestures of annoyance, he repeatedly made the well-known Italian and Argentine gesture with his hands, implying a lack of sense in what they were singing, making his displeasure evident. The scene dragged on until the tension dissipated, although the distance between the idol and part of his audience remained marked.

At the end of the match, the attitudes were varied, as while some players approached to greet the fans, Messi, accompanied by Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul, went straight to the locker room.

On Instagram, Joao Pedro posted a story admitting that it is a shame to be left out but made it clear that he will continue supporting Brazil. “I tried to give my best at all times. Unfortunately, it wasn’t possible to fulfill this dream of representing my country in a World Cup, but I remain calm and focused, as I always try to be.

“Joys and frustrations are part of soccer. From now on, I wish good luck to everyone who is there and I will be just another fan cheering for them to bring the sixth title home,” Pedro wrote, also partly responding to the message from Ancelotti after leaving him out.

Is Joao’s absence unfair?

The absence of Joao can be very noticeable for Brazil, as he is one of those clinical and unpredictable players that Brazil lack so much right now. To give an idea, throughout this season with Chelsea in the Premier League, he has recorded 15 goals and five assists.

And comparing him to the stars called up by Brazil, Pedro is the player with the third most goal contributions as a Brazilian this season, trailing only Vinicius Jr (32) and Raphinha (29), providing an attacking presence that could save Brazil even as a substitute.

Ancelotti’s message to Joao Pedro

Following the celebration and joy of everyone over the inclusion of Neymar, people remembered those who were left out by Brazil, including many players who participated at Qatar 2022.

Ancelotti addressed the absence of players like Joao Pedro, explaining that it was a tough decision to make. “I am sad for players who have been left out, like Joao Pedro,” Ancelotti said. “They will have chances in the future.”