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Argentine President Javier Milei said on Thursday he won't be attending the World Cup final because of superstition, instead choosing to view Sunday’s match between Spain and Argentina from home — where he has watched the defending champion's previous seven games, all victories, in the tournament. In a bid to help his nation’s beloved soccer team secure its second consecutive title, Milei added, he'll be wearing the same heavy jacket, […]

The world's best have thrived this summer at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which has helped make this the best edition of the tournament ever. Ahead of the final between Spain and Argentina, we ranked the 50 best players in the tournament. Most of the players toward the top of this list have household names and are among the world's best. Others, though, have broken out and became stars during […]

New Virginia Tech coach James Franklin knows the Hokies' proud history going back to the Frank Beamer era. Annual bowl bids. A trip to the national championship game. Special teams play so reliably good that it spawned the name "Beamer Ball," and the beaten-up metal lunch pail symbolizing a blue-collar defensive ethic. "You guys all remember that Virginia Tech," Franklin said Thursday, "but none of the current players do." That […]

Lionel Messi has a message for Argentina's detractors: "Nothing was handed to us." The Argentina superstar responded to critics who have been bashing the reigning World Cup champions over perceptions of beneficial officiating and favoritism by the soccer establishment. He said the team’s ability to overturn late-game deficits, most recently the semifinal victory over England, is the result of championship pedigree and nothing more. After trailing 1-0 going into the […]

A No. 10 jersey worn by Brazil icon Pelé in the 1958 World Cup final has been sold for $4.9 million, Sotheby’s said Thursday. Pelé, who died in 2022, was 17 when he scored twice in Brazil’s 5-2 win over hosts Sweden at the Rasunda Stadium and still remains the youngest player ever to score in a World Cup final. Sotheby’s said the jersey worn by the Brazilian star is […]

Sunday's FIFA World Cup final is packed with storylines, from Lionel Messi facing teenage sensation Lamine Yamal battling for the sport's biggest prize. But Argentina enters the match with a chance to accomplish something no men's team has done in decades. A win would make Argentina just the third country to pull off back-to-back men's World Cup titles, something that hasn't been done since 1962. Messi has his squad right […]

The 2026 World Cup final is set as Argentina looks to defend its title against Spain. But after four wild comebacks, what was it about Argentina’s seminal performance that sealed its championship spot? Their X-factor, Lionel Messi. Although Messi has not scored since Argentina's round-of-16 win over Egypt, he’s still managed to set up some of their game-winning goals that led them to the final, including a pair of assists […]

The All-Star break is over, and with it, the excuses. Teams have roughly two weeks before the Aug. 3 trade deadline to decide whether they're buying, selling or holding. Surprise contenders have to figure out if their first-half magic was real, bubble teams have to decide which direction to turn and teams in the cellar need to have honest conversations about the future of their franchise. The possibility of reigning […]

Entering its second consecutive World Cup final, Argentina's journey to defending their 2022 title was nothing but wild. From Lionel Messi becoming the tournament's all-time leading goalscorer to four straight comeback wins, it was going to be difficult to keep Argentina out of the final. Argentina will face Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, marking the second time the two countries have competed on the World Cup stage. […]