The first two rounds of 2026 World Cup group-stage fixtures are in the books, and the tournament continues to provide plenty of thrilling moments. Despite a lack of eye-catching fixtures on paper in the new, expanded format, there has been drama aplenty, with all the big names showing up for their respective countries on football's biggest stage.

At an event in Belo Horizonte last week, Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva made a joke at the expense of Neymar, whom he described as a "work-from-home player". Unsurprisingly, it didn't go over well. Neymar's inclusion in the Selecao is no laughing matter in Brazil. The rights and wrongs of Carlo Ancelotti calling up a half-fit has-been have been the subject of heated debate for months now.

Anthony Elanga has shared his admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo, revealing the crucial lessons he learned during their shared time at Manchester United. The Sweden international is relishing the opportunity to feature at the same World Cup as Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, expressing his immense pride at sharing football's grandest stage with the sport's greatest players.

Natalia Belloli, the wife of Barcelona and Brazil winger Raphinha, has hit back at "absurd" reports suggesting that the family is currently enduring an economic crisis. The speculation began to swirl following comments from a former World Cup winner, but the family has now moved to definitively silence the noise.

Bruno Fernandes has expressed his relief after Portugal teammate Cristiano Ronaldo silenced his critics by scoring twice in a dominant World Cup victory over Uzbekistan. Following a tough opening draw, Fernandes highlighted the importance of seeing his captain find the back of the net, insisting that Ronaldo remains the ultimate go-to player for their national side.

David de Gea has reportedly made a definitive decision regarding his future, informing those close to him that he has no intention of leaving Fiorentina for anyone other than Manchester United. Despite attracting fresh interest from European heavyweights following a successful comeback in Italy, the Spaniard remains tethered to his former home at Old Trafford.

Fabio Cannavaro has urged Cristiano Ronaldo to prolong his illustrious career after watching Ronaldo dismantle his Uzbekistan side. Following a week of heavy criticism, Ronaldo answered his detractors by making World Cup history, prompting Cannavaro to praise his intelligence and reveal the heartfelt advice he gave him on the international stage.

Harry Kane’s uncharacteristic struggles in front of goal during England's World Cup stalemate with Ghana have been attributed to more than just a bad day at the office. A renowned Ghanaian spiritualist now claims he was the architect behind the captain's misfortune, having placed a hex on the striker to protect his nation's interests.