Cristiano Ronaldo has come under fire after Portugal were held to a draw by DR Congo in their opening match of the 2026 World Cup. Former England striker Jay Bothroyd claimed the veteran forward is becoming a burden on the team, while Roberto Martinez continues to back his captain despite growing scrutiny.

The family of Lionel Messi have confirmed that the Argentina captain's father, Jorge Messi, is currently "dealing with a health issue" that has required medical supervision. In a strongly-worded statement, the family hit out at the "irresponsible" speculation that has emerged regarding Jorge's condition during the 2026 World Cup in North America.

Thousands of Argentina fans turned Kansas City into a Lionel Messi pilgrimage, with banderazos, late-night parties and unwavering support ahead of the World Cup opener.

Brazil icon Cafu has waded into the eternal debate regarding the greatest players to ever grace the pitch, identifying the specific traits that separate the elite from the rest of the pack. While the usual suspects from Argentina and Brazil dominate his rankings, the legendary full-back has insisted that a fourth name deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as Lionel Messi, Diego Maradona, and Pele.

Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe has expressed his immense pride after breaking Olivier Giroud's record to become the all-time leading goalscorer for the France national team. Following his crucial brace against Senegal in their opening 2026 World Cup match, the prolific forward is now setting his sights on breaking the all-time tournament record currently held by Lionel Messi.