The international playoffs for the 2026 World Cup scheduled for March could end up facing a setback as Iraq national team has issued a postponement request to FIFA.

The 2026 World Cup kicks off on June 11, with just six spots remaining in the 48-team field to be decided during the March international window in matches hosted across the United States, Mexico and Canada. But the playoff process has hit a significant snag, with Iraq formally requesting a postponement from FIFA.

The Iraqi national team was scheduled to travel to Monterrey, Mexico, to compete for a World Cup berth in an intercontinental playoff against the winner of the Suriname-Bolivia tie on March 31. However, a combination of logistical hurdles has put the trip in serious jeopardy, with players and staff unable to secure their visas and the Iraqi transport ministry closing the country’s airspace amid the ongoing tensions in the region.

Speaking to CNN, Iraq head coach Graham Arnold laid out the scope of the challenges his team is facing: “If the match is held in Mexico, we will face difficulties leaving Baghdad. About 60% of my players play inside Iraq, and all of the backroom staff live in Iraq. The medical staff live in Qatar, and we are currently facing difficulties obtaining Mexican visas.“

With the playoff being Iraq’s only scheduled March fixture, a preparation camp in Houston had been planned to help the squad adjust to the time zone, weather and conditions ahead of the game. That plan has since been scrapped entirely. “My first plan before all of this was to hold a small preparation camp in the United States to adapt to the time difference, the weather and the conditions there. But all of that has now been cancelled, as the preparation camp has been cancelled because we cannot leave Baghdad,” Arnold said.

With the Iraqi government’s airspace restrictions creating a hard deadline, FIFA and relevant authorities have been in ongoing communication to find a workable path forward: “The communication with FIFA officials has been very good, as well as with the federation. We are dealing with it step by step and day by day. It has been stressful, and there have been many sleepless nights as we try to organize the planning properly, but it is very difficult to do that while the airspace in Baghdad, where many of the players and staff are located, will not reopen until April 1.“

Alternatives still being weighed

With the Iraqi government showing no flexibility on the airspace closure, both FIFA and the national team are exploring alternatives to avoid a postponement that could create downstream complications for World Cup planning. One proposal put forward by the Iraqi federation itself is to push the March 31 playoff to the May/June window, immediately ahead of the tournament.

“I believe FIFA should make a quick decision on this matter, because the current situation is a little unfair considering what we will have to go through. If we cannot get there, Suriname can play against Bolivia, and we can play against the winner directly before the World Cup in America, so that we can prepare properly and do everything required to achieve success,” coach Arnold stated.

FIFA also floated an alternative of its own: traveling overland from Baghdad to Istanbul, Turkey, and then catching a connecting flight to Mexico. That option has not been well received within the Iraqi camp, with Arnold making clear he has no intention of putting his players through a 25-hour journey through areas directly affected by the conflict.

In the meantime, Bolivia and Suriname are set to play their semifinal on March 26 at Estadio BBVA in Guadalupe, a result that will determine Iraq’s potential opponent. With the playoff winner set to be placed in Group I alongside France, Senegal and Norway, FIFA and all parties involved are working against the clock to find a resolution, with fewer than four weeks remaining until the scheduled match date.

Cristiano Ronaldo will be facing a long break due to FIFA calendar until his next game with Al Nassr.

Cristiano Ronaldo, even at 41 years old, remains a central figure for both his club, Al Nassr, and the Portugal national team. Still drawing global attention, the key question now is when the legendary striker will take the field again.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s next game is scheduled for Saturday, March 14, when Al Nassr will be visiting Al Khaleej for Matchday 26 of the 2025-26 Saudi Pro League at Al Khaleej Club Stadium. However, the Portuguese missed last game against Neom SC due to a hamstring injury suffered against Al Fayha, and it’s expected to be sidelined too.

Regarding the Portugal national team, Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to return during the March international break. After having his suspension lifted ahead of the 2026 World Cup, the veteran forward will be available for selection for Portugal’s two friendlies, one against Mexico, and the other one against the USMNT.

So far this season, the Portuguese icon has scored 22 goals and provided 4 assists in 26 games for Al Nassr, while netting 5 goals in 5 UEFA World Cup qualifiers for Portugal, with his personal account in 965 career goals. With the World Cup set for the USA, Canada, and Mexico at the end of the campaign, Ronaldo will be determined to arrive at what will likely be his final major tournament in top form.

Ronaldo faced long break due to FIFA schedule

After his stunning bicycle-kick goal against Al Khaleej, Cristiano Ronaldo was rested for Al Nassr’s midweek AFC Champions League Two match. But from that point forward, the Portuguese star endured a 24-day gap without competitive action, a result of the upcoming FIFA competition schedule.

From December 1 through 18, Qatar hosted the second edition of the FIFA Arab Cup, with the final between Morocco and Jordan played at Lusail Stadium, the same venue as the 2022 World Cup final.

With several Saudi Pro League players involved, including stars of the Saudi Arabian national team, clubs, including Al Nassr, were unable to meet domestic player requirements, forcing the SPL into a temporary pause during the tournament.

With Cristiano Ronaldo now forced to have a speedy recovery to be available, the date when coach Roberto Martinez will be revealing Portugal's squad for the friendlies against Mexico and the USMNT has been confirmed.

Cristiano Ronaldo had raised expectations for a highly anticipated return to North America ahead of the World Cup, with friendlies against Mexico and the USMNT on the schedule. But his injury situation has cast serious doubt over his availability, and the clock is now ticking after the date for Roberto Martínez to announce his Portugal squad was officially confirmed.

Alarm bells rang at Al Nassr after the club released a statement confirming that Ronaldo had suffered a hamstring injury during the match against Al Fayha, with no recovery timeline provided. The Portuguese star also missed the subsequent match against Neom SC and is expected to sit out further fixtures as he works to return to fitness ahead of the international window.

On Monday, the Portuguese Football Federation released a statement confirming that Martínez will announce his squad on Friday, March 20, at the Cidade do Futebol. That leaves Ronaldo fewer than two weeks to recover from his muscular injury and prove his fitness to the national team coach.

Portugal, who secured their place at the 2026 World Cup by topping Group F in UEFA qualifying, have organized a North American tour for the March international break, giving the squad an early look at the tournament’s host continent. The trip opens with a match against Mexico on Saturday, March 28, at Estadio Azteca Banorte.

The tour concludes with a game against the USMNT on Tuesday, March 31, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Portugal will then face Chile in a friendly on June 6 before their World Cup group stage debut on June 17.

Will Ronaldo recover in time?

The March window represents one of the final opportunities for Martínez to evaluate his options and refine the squad ahead of the 2026 World Cup. It also carries extra significance as one of the last times Cristiano Ronaldo is likely to represent Portugal on the international stage, with the 41-year-old widely expected to retire from international duty after the tournament.

With that in mind, the desire to see Ronaldo on the pitch one more time on this stage runs deep, from the player himself to his teammates, staff and supporters. Whether that happens, however, will depend entirely on how his recovery progresses, with Al Nassr’s next scheduled match before the international window, set for Saturday March 14, already expected to come too soon for the striker.

As Fabrizio Romano recently reported, Ronaldo could be sidelined for up to four weeks with his muscle injury. With the setback occurring on February 28, the worst-case scenario would see him approaching the Mexico match on March 28 at the very tail end of his recovery period, likely still short of full match fitness.

Ahead of Al Nassr’s game against Neom, Ronaldo offered a public show of commitment, posting a message of support on Instagram: “Recovering and ready to watch the game today. Let’s go, Al Nassr!” The message signaled his determination to return as quickly as possible and put himself in contention for Martínez’s call-up.

Inter Miami co-owner recently revealed to Bloomberg that he pays Lionel Messi in between $70M and $80M, opening questions over the biggest pay package the star has perceived over his career.

Lionel Messi‘s extraordinary performances on the soccer field have made him one of the highest-paid athletes in sports history, and even after leaving Europe behind, his earnings have kept climbing. Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas has revealed that the club pays the Argentine star somewhere in the range of $70 million to $80 million annually, raising the question of whether this represents the most lucrative deal of his career.

Inter Miami recently became the most valuable franchise in MLS history, according to Sportico’s 2026 rankings, with the club’s valuation reaching $1.45 billion. That financial structure, however, is built on far more than what happens on the pitch, with a range of commercial and business activities underpinning the club’s revenue model.

In a recent interview with Bloomberg, Mas offered a rare glimpse into the club’s finances, noting that sponsorships and commercial deals account for roughly 55% of Inter Miami‘s revenue. That commercial success has been fueled by the global appeal of world-class names like Luis Suárez, Rodrigo De Paul and, above all, Messi himself, while media rights make up just 2% of total revenue, according to the co-owner.

It was in that context that Mas dropped the headline figure. “The reason that I need to have sponsors and for them to be world class is because players are expensive. I pay Messi — worth every penny — but it’s $70 to $80 million a year. Across everything,” the Inter Miami co-owner said.

The MLSPA’s salary guide, released in October 2025 ahead of Messi’s contract extension through 2028, listed his base salary at $12 million and his guaranteed compensation at $20.5 million. Mas’ figure, however, takes a much broader view, encompassing not only salary but also equity rights and other forms of player compensation.

Is this Messi’s biggest deal in his club career?

Messi has long since transcended soccer to become a global brand in his own right, with business ventures spanning luxury hotels (MiM Hotels), his own clothing line (The Messi Store), sports drink brand Más+, and co-ownership of Uruguayan side Deportivo LSM alongside teammate Luis Suárez, among numerous other interests. But when it comes to direct compensation from his club, the numbers at Inter Miami are not quite unprecedented in his career.

In 2017, Messi signed what would turn out to be his final and most lucrative contract with FC Barcelona, running through June 2021. As revealed by El Mundo, the deal amounted to a total gross of 555,237,619 euros (around $673 million) over four seasons, working out to approximately €138.8M per year before taxes, or a net figure of around €74.9M annually (roughly $86.4 million), placing it above even the range Jorge Mas referenced for Messi’s current Inter Miami arrangement.

That contract was the largest in the history of soccer at the time it was signed. It incorporated a fixed salary, image rights, a series of unprecedented signing and loyalty bonuses, per diems and a wide range of performance-based incentives. Ultimately, the deal’s staggering financial weight contributed to Barcelona’s well-documented economic crisis, and played a central role in Messi’s abrupt and emotional departure from the club in 2021.

After winning the Champions League last season, PSG star Vitinha addressed the key difference between the current squad and the team when the attacking trio of Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappé were still part of it.

Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Neymar formed one of the most dangerous attacking combinations in recent soccer history at Paris Saint-Germain, yet their individual brilliance repeatedly failed to translate into collective European success. Now, with PSG finally having claimed the UEFA Champions League, squad star Vitinha has shed light on the key difference between that star-studded trio and the current crop of European champions.

The rationale behind assembling three of the world’s most expensive players was always to deliver Champions League glory, but across the two seasons the trio played together in 2021-22 and 2022-23, PSG failed to advance beyond the Round of 16 on both occasions. With all three since departed, a cohesive and tactically disciplined side built by Luis Enrique has delivered the trophy that Nasser Al-Khelaïfi’s project had long been chasing.

Speaking on the program Soltinhos pelo Mundo on Canal 11, Vitinha reflected warmly on sharing a locker room and a pitch with three of the most iconic forwards of the modern era: “It was a privilege to have shared a locker room and the pitch with them, to have learned from them. They really are players apart—they are extraterrestrials, they are stars, and they perceive things that we don’t.”

That admiration, however, came with a candid observation about where the arrangement fell short. “That doesn’t mean it’s always what’s best for the team. And that is what ended up happening. It’s very difficult when one, two, or three players don’t run or don’t help out on defense,” the midfielder stated.

Little has changed on that front for any of the three forwards since their time together in Paris. Messi and Neymar may be less relevant to the conversation given age and injury respectively, but Real Madrid have had to contend with the same issue from Mbappé this season. The reality is that, had the trio remained together, PSG’s defensive structure would have been carrying three significant voids from the front.

“Today’s game is increasingly competitive. Even a team fighting against relegation knows how to organize and make life difficult for the opponent. That makes it very hard in modern football when one, two, or three players aren’t running,” Vitinha added.

High pressing: PSG’s signature during the last Champions League

PSG caught the soccer world off guard in the second half of the 2024-25 season, emerging as one of the most compelling and fearsome sides in Europe through a combination of relentless intensity and technical quality spread across every line of the pitch. The numbers back it up: João Neves led the entire Champions League in ground covered, logging an extraordinary 106.17 miles (170.87 km) throughout the competition.

Vitinha, widely regarded as the second-best player at PSG behind Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé, summed up what makes this incarnation of the club so different from its predecessor: “You see the wingers chasing down the fullbacks when they attack. You see Ousmane Dembélé and Gonçalo Ramos dropping back to defend in our own box and being the first ones to press high up the pitch.“

While a new venue has emerged, the Finalissima between Lionel Messi’s Argentina vs. Lamine Yamal’s Spain is reportedly nearing a final decision.

The Finalissima has been shrouded in uncertainty due to the ongoing situation in Qatar, with the highly anticipated clash between Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal stuck in a prolonged state of limbo. As a new host venue has emerged as a frontrunner, the parties responsible for organizing the Argentina vs. Spain showdown are reportedly closing in on a final decision.

Given the proximity of the 2026 World Cup, all parties involved are keen to keep the Finalissima on its originally scheduled date of Friday, March 27. However, reports suggest Qatar has been reluctant to relinquish hosting rights, given the size of the commercial agreement already in place to stage the event in Doha.

Against that backdrop, RNE Deportes reports that a high-level meeting is set to take place on Monday to reach a definitive resolution. The meeting will bring together UEFA, representing Spain, CONMEBOL, representing Argentina, and representatives of the Qatari government, which has been a key stakeholder pushing to retain the match.

Estadio da Luz proposed as new Finalissima venue

Even though the situation in Qatar has not dramatically escalated since the incidents of early March, both continental confederations are prioritizing the safety and security of Messi, Yamal and all those who would need to travel to Doha, a city currently considered unsuitable for hosting the game. While Qatar would only walk away from its contractual obligations as a last resort, alternative venues have been actively surfacing.

According to the Spanish outlet, the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon, Portugal, has emerged as the leading candidate to host the Finalissima. Rome’s Stadio Olimpico has also been put forward as a potential alternative, though the Lisbon option is understood to be well ahead in consideration.

In recent days, a number of other countries have been floated as possibilities, including the United States, Spain, Argentina and England. The U.S. has been ruled out given its direct involvement in the same regional tensions affecting Qatar, while staging the game in either Spain or Argentina has been dismissed due to the home advantage it would confer on one of the competing nations.

A return to Wembley, where Messi lifted the Finalissima trophy in the 2022 edition, was also floated as a sentimental option, but the March 27 date is already occupied by a Uruguay vs. England fixture at the stadium, making it unavailable. With a decision now imminent, all parties are aligned on one priority: ensuring the Finalissima goes ahead, with the venue set to be the defining topic on the table come Monday.

Former coach Xavi Hernandez revealed that Lionel Messi could've returned to Barcelona after winning the 2022 World Cup, but the move ended up being turned down by president Joan Laporta over a "power war" between the two.

Lionel Messi‘s departure from FC Barcelona in 2021 was one of the most painful moments in the club’s recent history, and both the player and the institution were eager to find a way to reunite. But former coach Xavi Hernández has now revealed that a return following Messi’s 2022 World Cup triumph was ultimately blocked by club president Joan Laporta, who feared it would trigger a “power war” he could not afford.

With Messi’s two-year deal at Paris Saint-Germain set to expire at the end of the 2022-23 season and his relationship with the club increasingly strained, the conditions for a return to Barcelona appeared to be falling into place. Xavi confirmed that contact was made over the possibility of bringing the Argentine back as a free agent, and that progress was being made until a significant obstacle emerged.

In an interview with La Vanguardia, Xavi directly challenged Laporta’s version of events: “That’s another instance where the president isn’t telling the truth. Leo was a done deal. In January 2023, after won the World Cup, since we have a great relationship, we got in touch and he told me he was excited about coming back—and I could see it happening. We spoke until March, and I told him, ‘Look, as soon as you give me the green light, I’ll tell the president, because from a football perspective, I see the fit.‘”

The former coach then described the moment the deal collapsed, pointing squarely at Laporta’s intervention in negotiations. “The president began negotiating the contract with Leo’s father, and his deal was done, we had the green light from LaLiga, but it was the president who pulled the plug on everything. Once again, he isn’t telling the truth,” the former Barcelona boss continued.

He went on to paint a vivid picture of how the situation unraveled in its final stages: “Then, suddenly, Leo stopped picking up my calls because, on the other side, they had told him it couldn’t be done. I called his father and said, ‘Jorge, this can’t be,’ and he told me, ‘Talk to the president,’ and the president told me that he wasn’t going to do it. I insisted to him that we had been talking to Leo for five months—it was done. There were no doubts on the pitch; economically, we were moving to Montjuïc and we were going to have a ‘Last Dance’ just like Michael Jordan’s. Everything was ready.“

Xavi ultimately concluded that Laporta’s reluctance came down to a fear of losing control of the club’s narrative, given his standing as the man who had rebuilt Barcelona from the brink of financial collapse. “Laporta told me, verbatim, that if Leo returned, it would ‘start a war’ that he couldn’t afford. That’s the truth, I’m not trying to lie to anyone, I have no interest in returning to Barca, nor with Victor Font’s candidacy.“

“Leo didn’t come to Barca because the president didn’t want him to. Not because of LaLiga, nor Jorge Messi asking for more money. That’s not true. It’s the president and his people who said he couldn’t afford it, that he has all the power and that power would be poorly managed with Messi around, that there would be a war,” he candidly stated.

Xavi Hernandez and a situation that affected his relationship with Messi

During the 2022-23 season, Xavi Hernández led Barcelona to the La Liga title and was the driving force behind efforts to bring Messi back for the following campaign. Had the move gone through, Messi would have been reunited with a close friend and former teammate who had already been a cornerstone of the Barca squad when the Argentine made his debut against Espanyol back in 2004.

The failure to secure that return, however, left a mark on one of soccer’s most storied friendships: “It took a heavy toll on my relationship with Leo. We spoke recently and we’re on good terms now, but for a while, he thought I was part of the scheme—that I had deceived him. That couldn’t be further from the truth. I was dying for Leo to come back.“

Though reluctant to elaborate on what Messi shared with him regarding the Barcelona presidential elections, Xavi made clear that, in his view, the Argentine could still make a meaningful contribution even today. “Even now, I still believe he would help the team score goals and provide that final ball, without a doubt. I mean, he’s about to play in another World Cup! Leo would have triumphed once again at the Camp Nou; it was his dream and mine, and he knows that now. It was a shame, but it was because of those currently in charge,” he concluded.

After scoring against Athletic Club, Lamine Yamal has now reached the 50-goal milestone two years earlier than legends Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Lamine Yamal has been reshaping the boundaries of what is possible in world soccer since his sudden emergence in Barcelona‘s first team as a teenager, shattering records once thought untouchable. The Spanish winger has added another chapter to his remarkable story, reaching the 50-goal milestone at a younger age than both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

Back in action following their Copa del Rey elimination at the hands of Atlético Madrid, Barcelona needed to refocus quickly to maintain their grip on the La Liga title race. The Blaugrana traveled to San Mamés on Saturday to face Athletic Club, and it was Yamal who provided the decisive moment, curling home a composed finish in the 68th minute after a perfectly weighted pass from Pedri to secure a 1-0 victory.

That goal against Bilbao took Lamine Yamal to 50 career goals at just 18 years and 237 days old. The breakdown includes 44 goals for Barcelona across all competitions and six more while representing the Spain national team.

For context, Lionel Messi reached the same milestone in 2008 at the age of 20 years and 315 days, more than two full years older than Yamal was on Saturday. Cristiano Ronaldo, the all-time leading scorer in soccer history, netted his 50th career goal in 2007 at 21 years and 297 days old, nearly three years later than the mark Yamal has now set.

At club level, Yamal has scored 44 goals in 142 games for Barcelona since making his debut at 15 years old. Those goals span every competition he has featured in for the Blaugrana: 28 in La Liga, eight in the UEFA Champions League, five in the Copa del Rey and three in the Spanish Super Cup.

At international level, his six goals for Spain are spread across three competitions: three in the UEFA Nations League, two in the Euro qualifiers and one in the EUROs themselves. Yamal was absent from Spain’s World Cup qualifying campaign during the October and November windows, meaning he has yet to score in that competition, but the upcoming tournament in June will give him the opportunity to add yet another to his tally.

Yamal through his best goalscoring season

Despite the midweek Copa del Rey exit, Barcelona remain one of the most formidable sides in Europe and remain firmly in contention for Champions League glory. In Hansi Flick’s second season in charge, Yamal has been one of the primary driving forces behind the Blaugrana‘s La Liga surge, as they currently lead the table with 67 points, four clear of Real Madrid.

Saturday’s goal was his 19th of the season in all competitions, adding to 15 assists in 36 games and making it comfortably his most prolific campaign to date. His previous best was 18 goals across 55 games last season, and with at least 13 matches still to play, not accounting for potential Champions League progression, Yamal is well-placed to surpass that mark.

Early in his career, Yamal was viewed primarily as a creator rather than a finisher, with his goalscoring rate cited as one of the few areas for improvement. Ten goals in his last 11 games has put that notion firmly to rest. With Ronaldo sitting on 965 career goals and Messi on 899, it may be too early to speculate about those kinds of numbers, but at the rate Yamal is going, the question is at least worth asking.

Lionel Messi "effect" in the MLS keeps on going as star has now set back-to-back away attendance records in the first two 2026 MLS games with Inter Miami.

Now in his fourth MLS season since arriving in 2023, Lionel Messi continues to prove that the excitement surrounding him shows no signs of cooling off. With the 2026 campaign barely underway, the Inter Miami star has already set back-to-back away attendance records in the opening two matchdays of the season.

To launch the 2026 season, MLS arranged a marquee Matchday 1 showdown between LAFC and Inter Miami, bringing together two of the league’s biggest global stars in Son Heung-min and Messi on the same night. Seizing the moment, LAFC relocated the match from their regular home at BMO Stadium to the iconic LA Memorial Coliseum, a decision that more than justified itself.

The February 21 clash drew a crowd of 75,673 to the Coliseum to watch what turned into a dominant 3-0 home victory. The attendance set the record for the largest crowd at an MLS season opener, while also contributing to the biggest opening weekend attendance in league history, and ranking as the second-largest crowd ever recorded for a regular-season MLS match.

D.C. United took a similar approach, moving their home game against Inter Miami from the 20,000-capacity Audi Field to M&T Bank Stadium, home of the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens. The result was a crowd of 72,026 on Saturday, not only the largest in D.C. United’s history as one of the league’s founding clubs, but the biggest ever recorded at that venue.

The previous M&T Bank Stadium record had stood since January 15, 2012, when 71,547 fans packed the building for the Ravens’ 2011 AFC Divisional Playoff game against the Houston Texans, a 20-13 Baltimore victory that stood as the largest crowd in franchise history. Messi has now surpassed that mark after more than 14 years, a reminder that his influence on sport extends well beyond the soccer field.

Will Messi break another consecutive attendance record in the MLS?

Inter Miami will briefly shift their attention away from league play, with the first leg of the 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup Round of 16 against Nashville SC at Geodis Park coming up on Wednesday. But the next MLS attendance test is already on the horizon, with the Herons set to visit Charlotte FC at Bank of America Stadium on Saturday, March 14 for Matchday 3.

That fixture presents another opportunity for Messi to extend his remarkable away attendance streak. Bank of America Stadium holds 74,867 fans, and the venue record stands at 74,479, set during Charlotte FC’s inaugural home match against the LA Galaxy on March 5, 2022. Eclipsing that mark, however, will be far from straightforward.

In recent seasons, Charlotte have maintained a policy of limiting MLS regular-season games to a lower-bowl sellout rather than opening the full stadium, and that approach has applied to Messi’s visits as well. In 2025, for example, just 35,000 tickets were made available for his appearance. The only time Charlotte opened the full stadium for a Messi game, it drew 66,101, suggesting that unless the club changes its approach, the Argentine’s remarkable streak of away attendance records could come to an end.

After getting knocked out of the FA Cup by Premier League side Chelsea, Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds issued an encouraging message to Wrexham.

Hollywood co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney were in the stands at Racecourse Ground to watch Wrexham‘s FA Cup run come to an end against Chelsea, as the Blues ended what had been a memorable campaign for the Red Dragons. In the aftermath, Reynolds took to social media to send an uplifting message to his team and its fans.

While also chasing promotion to the Premier League, Wrexham had put together an impressive FA Cup run, reaching the fifth round for the first time in 29 years after knocking out top-flight side Nottingham Forest and Ipswich Town. Tuesday’s clash with Chelsea, the reigning Club World Cup champions, represented arguably the biggest test the club has faced since Reynolds and McElhenney took over, with a quarterfinal berth up for grabs.

Wrexham led twice at Racecourse Ground, but Chelsea fought back to level it at 2-2, and a red card shown to George Dobson in the 90th-plus third minute proved to be the turning point. In extra time, the Premier League side took advantage of the numerical superiority to go ahead 3-2, and after a Wrexham equalizer was chalked off by VAR, Chelsea sealed the tie at 4-2.

Despite the defeat, Reynolds turned to his X account to celebrate the progress his club has made “Three years ago this week, we battled Maidenhead United to a draw. Today we pushed Chelsea to extra time. So incredibly proud of Wrexham’s performance today.“

The post referenced a match played on March 4, 2023, when Wrexham traveled to York Road, a stadium with a capacity of just 4,500, to face Maidenhead United in the National League, ending in a 2-2 draw while still outside the English Football League. Fast-forward to today, and the Red Dragons are competing toe-to-toe with some of the best clubs in world soccer.

A first look at VAR

Having already eliminated Forest and Ipswich Town along the way, Wrexham encountered VAR for the first time in this cup run, as the technology is introduced from the fifth round onwards. Two key interventions tilted the tie against the Red Dragons: Dobson’s yellow card was upgraded to a red following a VAR review, and a Lewis Brunt goal that would have leveled the match at 3-3 was disallowed for a marginal offside call on his left foot.

In his post-match press conference, Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson defended his side’s performance. “In the second half I think we were the better team and I was confident we were going to win,” he said, before turning to the red card to Dobson: “The referee gave a yellow. I’m not sure of the rules, it’s the first time we’ve had VAR and it has to be clear and obvious to overturn it. I think the referee could have just kept it at a yellow.“

Parkinson also reflected on the opportunities that arose in extra time despite being a man down. “I said at the break in extra time there are still going to be chances for us. Unfortunately we didn’t take one but we have to take a lot of heart from that performance. It’s been a great cup run. Tonight was a great spectacle and we were competitive against a very good side. We will take a lot of positives from it,” he concluded.

What’s next for Wrexham?

With the FA Cup behind them, Wrexham can now channel all of their energy into the EFL Championship and the promotion push they have been building toward all season. The Red Dragons currently sit sixth in the table with 57 points from 35 games, firmly inside the playoff places and riding a strong run of nine wins, two draws and two defeats from their last 13 matches.

Next up is a pivotal six-pointer at home against Hull City on Tuesday, March 10 at Racecourse Ground. The Tigers are fifth with 60 points from 36 games, one spot and three points ahead of Wrexham, but with the Red Dragons holding a superior goal difference, a home win would be enough to leapfrog Hull and move them into the top five.

After sharing several seasons at FC Barcelona and Inter Miami, Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets have established a historic record in soccer history.

Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets have shared practically a lifetime on the pitch, first taking their earliest steps together at FC Barcelona, and then reuniting at the twilight of their careers on the other side of the Atlantic with Inter Miami. Beyond the countless trophies won along the way, the Messi-Busquets partnership has now cemented itself in the history books with a remarkable record.

It all began in 2008, when Messi was already emerging as one of the game’s most exciting talents and a 20-year-old Busquets, a product of La Masia, was still working to earn his place on the biggest stage. In the 2008-09 season, Pep Guardiola’s first in charge at the Camp Nou, the new manager turned to one of his former B team players, handing Busquets his debut on September 13 in a 1-1 draw against Racing Santander, the first time the two shared a pitch together.

From that point on, Messi evolved into arguably the greatest forward in soccer history, while Busquets reinvented the defensive midfielder position with a style so unique that no one has quite managed to replicate it. By the time of Messi’s emotional departure from Barcelona in 2021, the two had shared the pitch together for the Blaugrana on 569 occasions.

Their reunion came in 2023, when both arranged moves to Inter Miami, a franchise that was struggling at the bottom of the MLS standings at the time. Together, they helped transform the Herons into one of the league’s powerhouses, contributing to Leagues Cup, Supporters’ Shield and MLS Cup glory across the 84 games they shared in South Florida before Busquets made the decision to retire last season.

Messi, Busquets, and a record that will be tough to break

When combining their appearances together at Barcelona and Inter Miami, Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets have been confirmed by the IFFHS as the pair who have played the most games alongside each other in soccer history, with a staggering total of 653. The number speaks not only to their extraordinary chemistry, but to the remarkable consistency and longevity of one of the sport’s most iconic partnerships.

To put it in perspective, one of Messi’s most prolific attacking partners, Luis Suárez, has shared the pitch with the Argentine just 324 times according to Transfermarkt, fewer than half the appearances Busquets managed alongside him.

The previous record holders were Busquets himself and Gerard Piqué who made their Barcelona debuts at the same time as Busquets made his alongside Messi in 2008. With both playing not only at Barcelona but also as key figures in one of the greatest Spain national team sides in history, the two accumulated 533 club appearances together and another 87 with La Roja, for a combined total of 620, falling 33 short of the Messi-Busquets mark.

Third on the all-time list are Bayern Munich and Germany legends Gerd Müller and Sepp Maier, the striker and goalkeeper duo who shared 14 seasons to accumulate 611 games together. The only current pair with any realistic chance of threatening the list is Thomas Müller and Manuel Neuer, also on 611, but with Müller now at Vancouver and Neuer still at Bayern, adding to their tally would require one to follow the other, an increasingly unlikely scenario given where both find themselves in the final chapters of their careers.

With the move to the MLS currently stalled, Orlando City are reportedly offering Antoine Griezmann a salary that challenges the one from league star Lionel Messi.

Antoine Griezmann has been one of the defining names of the 2026 MLS primary transfer window, with Orlando City making a determined push to bring the French star to North America. While the move appears to have hit a significant snag, reports indicate the Lions have tabled a contract offer that would make Griezmann one of the highest-paid players in the league, rivaling even Lionel Messi‘s earnings.

With Marco Pašalić and Martín Ojeda already in the fold, Orlando still have one Designated Player slot to fill as the 2026 season gets underway. Holding Griezmann’s discovery rights and well aware of his long-documented admiration for MLS and American culture, the club has made him their primary target for the current transfer window, which closes later this month. But completing the deal is proving to be far more complicated than anticipated.

According to ESPN, Griezmann has put his potential move to Orlando City on hold. Atlético Madrid’s run to the 2025-26 Copa del Rey final, secured after eliminating FC Barcelona in the semifinals, has given the Frenchman pause, presenting him with the opportunity to end his decade-long association with the club on the highest possible note.

The Copa del Rey final will pit the Colchoneros against Real Sociedad at La Cartuja in Seville on April 18. That date falls well beyond the MLS transfer window deadline of March 26, forcing Griezmann into a decision: commit to Orlando City in the coming days, or wait and explore a summer move instead.

A massive salary that almost reaches Lionel Messi’s

In an effort to tip the scales in their favor, Orlando City are prepared to make a significant financial statement. As reported by Matteo Moretto on Radio Marca, the club’s contract offer to Griezmann falls in the range of 10 million to 15 million euros, which works out to roughly 7 million euros net after taxes.

For context, the MLSPA’s 2025 Salary Guide lists Lionel Messi with a base salary of $12 million and a total compensation of $20,446,667. At the top end of Orlando’s reported offer, approximately $17.4 million, Griezmann would sit just around $3 million shy of what Inter Miami’s star earns in total compensation.

That figure would also place him as the second-highest earner in the entire league. That spot is currently held by LAFC’s Son Heung-min, who carries a base salary of $10.4 million and total compensation of $11.2 million. With Sergio Busquets now retired, Atlanta United’s Miguel Almirón sits third at $7.9 million in total compensation, making clear just how extraordinary Orlando’s offer would be for a franchise of their size.

After Mauricio Pochettino revealing his expectations for the 2026 World Cup with the USMNT, Chicago Fire boss and former coach of the national team Gregg Berhalter highlighted the squad experience as one of the key factors for it.

Mauricio Pochettino has set an ambitious target for the USMNT, openly admitting that his goal is nothing short of winning the 2026 World Cup on home soil. Underlining that bold declaration, Chicago Fire head coach and former USMNT boss Gregg Berhalter identified squad experience as one of the most critical factors in turning that dream into reality.

Speaking on The High Performance Podcast, Pochettino revealed that he told U.S. President Donald Trump he believes the USMNT can win the World Cup. “When we accepted the challenge to go there, it was because we really believe that we can win it. After a year and a half working there, people start to feel that we can win. The last few camps in October and November… we competed against very good teams and we started to show that possibility to perform well,” he stated.

The comments quickly made the rounds across media outlets and among prominent voices in the sport, generating considerable excitement with the tournament fewer than 100 days away. One of those who weighed in was Berhalter, who did not hesitate to throw his support behind the Argentine when asked about Pochettino’s World Cup ambitions by Bolavip‘s Martín O’Donnell at Thursday’s press conference ahead of the Fire’s Matchday 3 clash against Columbus Crew.

“I love it. I mean, that’s the mentality we need, right? We go into any tournament, and you believe you can win. And I think that’s the most important thing for the mindset of any group entering a tournament,” Berhalter said.

The Chicago boss echoed Pochettino’s confidence, going as far as to say the USMNT “can beat any team in the world,” while expressing genuine enthusiasm about the direction of the program. “I think it shows intention,” Berhalter added, signaling his belief in the squad’s untapped potential.

The former national team coach also stressed the value of the experience accumulated during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where he guided the side to the Round of 16. “The group has had World Cup experience, the majority of that group. So they understand what a World Cup is like. We’ll have the home fans behind us, and I think it’s a great mindset to go into the World Cup with,” Berhalter concluded.

World Cup-proven stars and fresh legs, the bet of Pochettino

One of the moments that best illustrated the USMNT’s ceiling came during that 2022 World Cup, when Berhalter’s side held England to a 0-0 draw in the Group B clash, competing on equal terms with one of the tournament’s top contenders and the reigning European champions at the time.

That squad carried genuine quality, with the vast majority of players plying their trade in European clubs from the top five leagues. Berhalter’s starting lineup against England featured Matt Turner, Tim Ream, Walker Zimmerman, Antonee Robinson, Sergino Dest, Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, Yunus Musah, Timothy Weah, Haji Wright and Christian Pulisic.

Since then, the talent pool has grown considerably. New additions with European pedigree such as Mark McKenzie, Malik Tillman and Chris Richards have entered the picture, while Pochettino has also opened the door to MLS-based players including Matt Freese, Diego Luna and Gregg’s son Sebastian Berhalter, among others. The blueprint is clear: pair the World Cup-tested core from 2022 with a wave of hungry newcomers, and send a confident, well-rounded USMNT into battle in front of its home fans.

Thinking ahead of the 2026 World Cup, France national team has reportedly taken a decision on Kylian Mbappé’s presence in the upcoming March international window.

Kylian Mbappé‘s latest injury has forced both Real Madrid and the France national team to adjust their plans around the striker’s condition and recovery. With the 2026 World Cup fewer than 100 days away, Les Bleus have reportedly reached a final decision regarding Mbappé’s involvement in the upcoming March international window.

The March window represents the last opportunity for coaches of already-qualified nations to finalize and fine-tune their squads ahead of the tournament. For Didier Deschamps, who guided France through UEFA World Cup qualifying with a group stage victory, sweeping changes to a side considered among the favorites are unlikely, but one significant omission has been confirmed.

According to L’Équipe, Mbappé will not feature for France during the upcoming international break. The decision has been made to give the striker the best possible chance of recovering from the knee injury that has kept him out of action for Real Madrid in recent weeks.

The Spanish club recently released a medical update confirming that Mbappé is dealing with a knee sprain, the same issue that has troubled him since the end of 2025. With surgery already ruled out, considerable uncertainty remains over his precise return date, and the FFF, in agreement with the player, has determined that the risk of calling him up for friendlies outweighs the benefit, given the limited competitive importance of the fixtures.

That means there will be no Mbappé when France travels to the United States for the March window. Les Bleus are scheduled to face Brazil on March 26 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, before taking on Colombia on March 29 at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland.

The absences from those two friendlies will not raise alarm given the broader picture, but they do come at a personal cost for Mbappé. The striker currently sits on 55 international goals for France, just two shy of the all-time record of 57 held by Olivier Giroud, a milestone that will have to wait a little longer.

What about Real Madrid?

The situation at club level carries a different sense of urgency, not only because Mbappé has been Real Madrid’s top scorer in the 2025-26 season, but because Los Blancos are entering a pivotal stretch of the campaign. The first leg of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 takes place next week, in a tie that could define the remainder of their season.

With that in mind, reports from Diario Marca indicate that Mbappé is doing everything in his power to be available for the March 11 first leg, targeting at the very least a place on the substitutes’ bench. Speaking at his press conference on Thursday ahead of the Celta Vigo match, interim head coach Álvaro Arbeloa offered an encouraging update on the striker’s progress.

“I speak with him every day, and of course, we’re closely monitoring what’s happening and how he’s doing. He’s getting better every day; it’s a process where we’re just taking it day by day. As of right now, it’s nothing but good news, and he’s steadily improving,” Arbeloa said, raising hopes of a return sooner than initially anticipated.

FIFA will be implementing for the first time in the World Cup two guaranteed cooling breaks for the 2026 edition, prompting questions on how these will work.

FIFA has taken a significant step toward protecting player welfare with a notable rule change set to be exclusive to the 2026 World Cup, at least for now. Every match in the competition will feature two guaranteed cooling breaks, each governed by a specific protocol.

Cooling breaks have become a familiar sight in soccer over recent years, particularly when players are competing in extreme heat. However, this will mark the first time in the tournament’s history that two hydration breaks will be guaranteed in every single game of a World Cup.

The groundwork for this decision was laid during the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, played under conditions similar to what the upcoming World Cup is expected to present. With several players, including Enzo Fernández, voicing complaints about the heat, FIFA president Gianni Infantino flagged the issue publicly, stating that “cooling breaks are very important and we will see what we can do, but we have stadiums with roofs, and we will definitely use these stadiums during the day next year.“

How will cooling breaks work during the World Cup?

Under current practice, cooling breaks have no fixed trigger point and are typically called in dead-ball situations around the 30th and 75th minutes. For the World Cup, more specific guidelines will be in place to bring greater consistency to the process.

In terms of timing, the breaks will occur at roughly the midpoint of each half, meaning approximately the 27th minute in the first half and the 72nd in the second. The exact moment will not be identical in every match, as it will depend on the flow of play, with the referee responsible for calling the stoppage.

Each cooling break will last three minutes. From the moment the referee blows the whistle, players will head to the sidelines to hydrate, and coaches will be permitted to address their players and make tactical adjustments in what amounts to a brief mid-half team talk.

What about the spectators?

Those three minutes are designed to give players sufficient time to recover, rehydrate and reduce the risk of heat-related illness during what will be a summer tournament played in warm conditions across the United States, Canada and Mexico. The experience for those watching from home, however, raises its own set of questions.

According to The Athletic, broadcasters are not required to cut away from the match during a cooling break. They will have the option to stay on the field, return to a studio for analysis, or use the time as they see fit, at their own discretion.

When it comes to commercial advertising, however, certain rules will apply. The outlet reports that any ads shown must align with FIFA’s official World Cup sponsors. In addition, broadcasters must wait at least 20 seconds after the referee’s whistle before cutting to commercials, and must return to the match feed no later than 30 seconds before play resumes, leaving a maximum window of approximately two minutes and ten seconds for advertising during each break.

The Saudi Pro League has reportedly issued a key message to Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr, Karim Benzema's Al Hilal, and the rest of the clubs regarding the continuation of the competition.

The Saudi Pro League found itself at the center of a major decision as tensions continued to escalate across the Middle East, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema serving as the faces of a league now facing an uncertain path forward. Reports have now emerged claiming the SPL has issued a key message to Al Nassr, Al Hilal and the rest of the league’s clubs regarding the continuation of fixtures.

A pressing question hung over whether the SPL would follow Qatar’s lead and suspend its activities. The Qatar Football Association had already announced on Sunday the postponement of all tournaments, competitions and matches “effective from today and until further notice,” but Saudi authorities appear to have reached a different conclusion.

According to The Athletic, the Saudi Pro League has informed its clubs that upcoming fixtures will not be suspended and will proceed as originally scheduled. While the Asian Football Confederation moved to postpone matches in international competitions such as the AFC Champions League Elite and Champions League Two, the Saudi authorities have opted not to follow suit on the domestic front.

That said, the decision remains subject to change as the situation develops. As the outlet noted, security protocols are being followed to ensure the safety of all involved, but the landscape “continues to be monitored day by day.“

What’s next for the SPL?

Matchday 25 gets underway on Thursday with Al Kholood hosting Al Qadsiah and Damac FC welcoming Al Riyadh. Beyond the results on the pitch, both matches will also serve as an important gauge of how smoothly the league can operate and what protocols need to be in place going forward.

On Friday, Al Hilal will host Al Najma, who currently sit at the foot of the table. Benzema‘s side has been struggling for consistency of late, picking up back-to-back draws against Al Ittihad and Al Taawoun, dropping them from the summit to third place with 58 points from 24 games.

Then on Saturday, Al Nassr will welcome Neom SC to Al Awwal Park. Cristiano Ronaldo’s side has been in formidable form domestically, riding a 10-game winning streak in the SPL to sit top of the standings with 61 points from 24 matches.

Ronaldo himself, however, will not be part of it. The Portuguese star was recently diagnosed with a hamstring injury sustained in the win over Al Fayha, ruling him out of Saturday’s fixture. Head coach Jorge Jesus is expected to turn to Abdullah Al-Hamdan to fill the void up front as Ronaldo bides his time on the road to recovery.

With Kylian Mbappe as the main face, Real Madrid are heading to the Round of 16 Champions League series against Manchester City with a list of six stars injured.

Kylian Mbappé‘s latest injury has become a serious headache for Real Madrid in a season that has fallen well short of expectations. With Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City looming in the Champions League Round of 16 next week, the French star headlines a list of six Madrid players currently sidelined and in doubt for the tie.

After a blistering start to the season that saw him sitting atop both the La Liga and Champions League scoring charts, Mbappé’s momentum was halted at the turn of the year by a knee sprain. The same issue flared up again ahead of the playoff second leg against Benfica, prompting the club to enroll him in a specific recovery program while opting not to disclose a return date.

Adding to the growing injury concerns, Rodrygo has now been ruled out for the remainder of the 2025-26 season and the start of the next, after tearing his ACL and lateral meniscus in his right leg. The news sent shockwaves through the squad, drawing messages of support from Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior and Brazilian legend Neymar.

Rodrygo’s injury brings Real Madrid‘s walking wounded to six. Alongside Mbappé’s knee sprain, defender Éder Militão is also recovering from a torn ACL, while David Alaba, Jude Bellingham and Dani Ceballos are all sidelined with muscular problems.

Ceballos suffered a tear in the soleus muscle of his right leg in late February, with a recovery timeline of around seven weeks. Alaba, meanwhile, has been plagued by chronic muscular issues throughout the 2025-26 campaign, and despite managing to hold down a starting berth, he was substituted off in the 55th minute of the most recent match against Getafe.

Bellingham, for his part, is still managing an injury to the semitendinosus muscle in his left leg, one that appears likely to rule him out for the entire Manchester City series. According to Marca, the Englishman has decided to seek a second medical opinion on his hamstring, following a similar path to Mbappé, who recently consulted outside specialists to assess his knee.

Real Madrid hopeful to see Mbappe against City

With the 2026 World Cup fewer than 100 days away, Mbappé’s knee has become a focal point of concern not only for Real Madrid but also for the France national team, which has been closely monitoring his condition. With surgery already ruled out, both Mbappé and the club are firmly against taking any risks that could lead to a fresh setback or further damage to the same area.

That said, there is still a flicker of hope on the horizon for both player and club. As reported by Diario AS, Mbappé has not been entirely ruled out for the first leg against Manchester City on Wednesday, March 11, with the player acutely aware of just how much is at stake in what remains of Real Madrid’s season.

Initially, the expectation was that Mbappé might be ready to return, albeit not at full fitness, in time for the second leg on Tuesday, March 17. But the player’s own ambitions appear to go further than that, with reports suggesting he is pushing to be available for the first leg, at minimum as an option off the bench, in what would be a race against the clock.

Lionel Messi can still get handed a squad boost in the 2026 MLS season with Inter Miami reportedly eyeing the signing of a young Argentine prospect.

Lionel Messi has wasted no time making his mark on the 2026 MLS season, reigniting expectations with a stunning brace in Inter Miami‘s 4-2 comeback victory over Orlando City. With the club’s ambitions stretching across all competitions, reports have emerged linking the Herons to a young Argentine prospect as they look to add further depth to their roster.

The 2026 winter transfer window proved to be the most active in Inter Miami’s history from a spending standpoint. Messi’s squad was bolstered by the returns of key players like Tadeo Allende and Rocco Ríos-Novo, as well as marquee additions in Germán Berterame and goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair (among others), but the club’s business may not be done yet.

According to journalist Leandro Belli and transfer expert César Luis Merlo, Inter Miami have added Racing Club youngster Matías Acevedo to their list of potential signings. Having failed to secure the permanent transfer of Baltasar Rodríguez from the Argentine club, the MLS side is now turning their attention to the 18-year-old as a viable alternative.

The key question surrounding a potential move for Acevedo is timing. As both journalists report, Inter Miami are weighing whether to make an offer before the primary transfer window closes on March 26, or to wait until the summer window, with the move described as an attractive opportunity rather than an urgent priority.

Acevedo first announced himself as one of Racing’s brightest prospects when he made his debut in September 2024 at just 16 years old, logging 15 minutes of first-team action. While he has yet to return to the senior squad since, the offensive midfielder has since been promoted to the reserve team and continues to develop.

Standing 5-foot-5 and still just 18 years old, Acevedo is a technically gifted player capable of operating as an attacking midfielder or as a winger on either flank. With Tadeo Allende currently the primary option on the right side, the youngster would offer genuine competition and cover, particularly given his ability in one-on-one situations, an area where the current Inter Miami squad, Messi aside, lacks proven options.

Inter Miami still able to pull off one more signing

At a recent FIFA event, Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas suggested the club’s window activity may be winding down, saying he would not be “anticipating any more signings.” Still, the board member also noted that six of their seven identified targets for the current transfer window had already been secured.

That said, the door remains open for at least one additional move. Inter Miami acquired an international roster slot from the New England Revolution, with a club statement noting that the slot will return to New England when the secondary transfer window opens, leaving the Herons with the flexibility to make one more addition before the March 26 deadline.

Even though he surpassed LAFC legend Carlos Vela, Anders Dreyer has been unable to snub Lionel Messi from an unique MLS -contribution record.

Lionel Messi has already etched his name into the MLS record books in numerous ways, raising the bar for what the league’s fans have come to expect and standing as the only player in history to win back-to-back Player of the Season honors. One particularly unique goal-contribution record, however, remains his alone, even as Anders Dreyer surpasses LAFC legend Carlos Vela on the all-time list.

San Diego FC have burst out of the gates this season, sitting at the top of the league on goal difference after a crushing 5-0 win over CF Montréal and a 2-0 victory over St. Louis City. Dreyer was central to both performances, contributing two assists in the opener before adding a goal and an assist in the second.

Those contributions have elevated Dreyer to second on the all-time list for the fastest players to reach the combined milestone of 20 goals and 20 assists in MLS history. The San Diego forward hit the mark in just 36 games, a testament to the immediate and sustained impact he has made since arriving in the league in 2025.

Last season, Dreyer was the on-field engine of a San Diego side that not only reached the playoffs but topped the Western Conference and finished just four points shy of the Supporters’ Shield. The Danish star posted an exceptional 19 goals and 17 assists across 34 games in 2025, and has already added one goal and three assists in just two appearances this year.

Despite those remarkable numbers, the top spot on the list remains comfortably Messi’s. The Inter Miami star reached the 20-goal, 20-assist milestone in a staggering 26 games (six in 2023 and the following 20 in 2024) making him the fastest player ever to achieve the feat in MLS history.

Dreyer’s rise, however, has been enough to displace Carlos Vela from second place. The former LAFC standout reached the milestone in 41 games, five more than the Dane. The top five is rounded out by Italian star Sebastian Giovinco in 42 games and Kansas City Wizards legend Preki in 45, underscoring just how significant Dreyer’s achievement is — and how far ahead of the field Messi remains.

Dreyer, the leader of San Diego FC on the pitch

In under two years in North America, Anders Dreyer has established himself not only as the cornerstone of MLS’s newest franchise, but as one of the most dynamic players in the entire league.

San Diego secured Dreyer in January 2025 for a fee of around $5 million from Anderlecht, making him the club’s second Designated Player after Mexican international Hirving “Chucky” Lozano. While Lozano’s stint with the club seems to have reached a point of no return, Dreyer has more than filled the void, with his market value on Transfermarkt rising from €10 million to €15 million since his arrival.

Rodrygo's serious ACL injury has reportedly opened the door for Neymar to make his return to the Brazil national team under head coach Carlo Ancelotti for the March international window.

Neymar has once again become the center of debate in Brazil, with fans divided over whether he will earn a place in the 2026 World Cup squad with fewer than 100 days until the tournament begins. Now, with Rodrygo suffering a serious injury, reports suggest that Carlo Ancelotti is strongly considering recalling Neymar to the Seleção for the March international window.

On Tuesday, Brazil were dealt a significant blow when Real Madrid confirmed that Rodrygo had suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament and lateral meniscus in his right knee. The severity of the injury means the forward will miss almost the entirety of 2026 — and, barring a miraculous recovery, the World Cup itself.

With one of his regular starters now sidelined, UOL Esporte reports that Ancelotti is giving serious thought to calling up Neymar for the upcoming March fixtures. ESPN Brasil had previously indicated that the Santos forward was not in the Italian’s plans for the games against France on March 26 and Croatia on March 31, but Rodrygo‘s injury has reportedly prompted a rethink.

Beyond Rodrygo, another potential absence could further strengthen the case for Neymar’s recall. Estevao, the top scorer of the Ancelotti era with five goals, has already missed Chelsea’s last three Premier League matches with a hamstring injury, and if he is unable to return to fitness in time, it would open the door even wider for Neymar to force his way back into the picture.

Ancelotti and fitness as the key factor

From the moment Ancelotti took charge of Brazil, he made his stance on fitness abundantly clear. “We have very good players, but I need to choose those who are at 100%. And it’s not just about Neymar—it’s the same with Vinícius. If Vinícius is at 90%, I will call another player who is at 100%, because this team has a very, very high level of competition, especially in attack, where we have many very good players.” he said in an interview with Esporte Record back in December.

That philosophy has defined his eight games in charge of the Canarinha, and it has been the primary reason for his reluctance to bring Neymar back into the fold. With Rodrygo now ruled out and Estevao’s availability in serious doubt, however, the conditions for the former Barcelona man’s long-awaited return have never looked more favorable.

Neymar running against the clock for the March games

On the fitness front, Neymar has made encouraging progress since returning from arthroscopic surgery to address a meniscus issue, featuring in Santos’ last three matches and completing the full 90 minutes in each of the past two. Even so, the window to impress Ancelotti ahead of the squad announcement is an extremely narrow one.

Ancelotti is set to name his Brazil squad for the March window on the 16th — just 12 days away. Santos’ elimination from the Campeonato Paulista in the Round of 16 has significantly reduced Neymar’s remaining opportunities to make a case, leaving clashes against Mirassol on the 10th and Corinthians on the 15th as the only two matches available to him before the Italian coach finalizes his roster.

With Real Madrid links still growing, Jurgen Klopp’s future as Global Head of Soccer at Red Bull is reportedly being put in doubt to poor results.

Jurgen Klopp stunned the soccer world when he stepped away from the dugout to become Global Head of Soccer at the Red Bull group, despite his standing as one of the most influential coaches of his generation. Now, however, his future within the organization is reportedly in serious question, a product of underwhelming results across the group’s clubs, and persistent links to Real Madrid.

Announced on January 1, 2025 as Red Bull‘s Global Head of Soccer, Klopp was tasked with overseeing the soccer operations of a portfolio spanning six countries: RB Leipzig in Germany, Red Bull Bragantino in Brazil, the New York Red Bulls in the United States, RB Omiya Ardija in Japan, Leeds United in England and Paris FC in France, a role he was contracted to fill through December 2029.

When speculation over his future surfaced, Red Bull CEO Oliver Mintzlaff moved swiftly to shut it down. “That is complete nonsense and entirely made up. On the contrary, we are extremely satisfied with the work Jurgen Klopp is doing. He invests a great deal of time and effort, is in constant communication with our coaches and sporting directors, and continues to develop our Red Bull soccer philosophy in a sustainable way. We are convinced that he is the right man for this job. That is where we are putting all our focus and energy,” he said to Sky Germany.

Results are far from accompanying Klopp

Despite the public vote of confidence, results across the group’s flagship clubs have fallen well short of expectations since Klopp took the role. At RB Leipzig, the team sits fifth in the Bundesliga, well outside the title race and without European football to show for it, and his decision to appoint Ole Werner as head coach last summer continues to draw scrutiny.

At RB Salzburg, meanwhile, the situation has been equally disappointing. The Austrian side were eliminated in the Europa League group stage, a result that cost Thomas Letsch his job and led to the appointment of Daniel Beichler as his replacement, a chain of events that has placed Klopp squarely in the crosshairs of those questioning the direction of the project.

Against that backdrop, L’Équipe reports that Klopp’s tenure as Red Bull’s Global Head of Soccer could come to an end in the summer of 2026. The French outlet names Oliver Glasner, who has already announced he will be departing Crystal Palace at the end of the current season, as the leading candidate to succeed him in the role.

Real Madrid links still looming

From the moment Xabi Alonso was dismissed as Real Madrid head coach, Klopp’s name was among the first to emerge as a potential replacement. Despite his commitment to the Red Bull project, German journalist Florian Plettenberg reported in January that Klopp “is seriously considering a return as head coach should Real Madrid make a concrete move for the summer.”

The circumstances at the Bernabéu have done little to dampen that speculation. Interim coach Álvaro Arbeloa has struggled to convince, posting a record of eight wins and four defeats in 12 games (33 percent loss rate) while also suffering back-to-back La Liga defeats against Osasuna and Getafe and a Copa del Rey elimination at the hands of second-division side Albacete. With pressure mounting on Real Madrid’s hierarchy to make a statement appointment, Klopp’s name looks set to remain firmly in the conversation heading into the summer.

Lionel Messi could end up suffering a major setback for the 2026 World Cup, in this case due to the lack of preparation of the Argentina national team.

Lionel Messi will enter the 2026 World Cup carrying the weight of defending champion for the first time in his career, tasked with leading Argentina in pursuit of back-to-back titles following the triumph in Qatar. But the legendary forward could be heading into the tournament facing a significant handicap, with the Albiceleste’s preparation schedule increasingly at risk of falling apart.

Under normal circumstances, national teams not involved in playoff fixtures would have up to four friendly matches across the March and May/June international windows before the competition kicks off. While several federations have already confirmed their schedules and venues, Argentina find themselves in a far more precarious position.

For the upcoming March window, the centerpiece was set to be the Finalissima against Lamine Yamal’s Spain, scheduled for March 27 at Lusail Stadium in Doha, Qatar. However, the escalating tensions in the country have thrown those plans into disarray, with the venue now very much up in the air, even as both the Argentine and Spanish federations push to preserve the original date.

Further complicating matters, Argentina had also been slated to take part in the Qatar Football Festival alongside Spain, Serbia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the host nation, with a friendly against Qatar penciled in for Tuesday, March 31. But the Qatar Football Association has since announced the postponement of all tournaments, competitions and matches “effective from today and until further notice,” effectively wiping the event off the calendar.

What about the next international window?

With the Qatar friendly all but off the table, Argentina are racing against the clock to find both a replacement opponent and a venue for an additional match. As things stand, the Finalissima against Spain, itself still subject to logistical uncertainty, could end up being the only game on Argentina’s March schedule.

Looking further ahead, the plan had been to arrange friendly matches between June 1 and 10 against Mexico and Honduras, in Las Vegas and Miami respectively, as final tune-ups before the World Cup. However, as reported by TyC Sports, both of those fixtures have also fallen through, meaning that, at this point, the Finalissima could be the only preparation game before Argentina’s World Cup group stage opener against Algeria on June 16.

Argentina already struggled to organize friendlies

Given their status as one of the world’s elite national teams and the pulling power of Lionel Messi, one might assume arranging friendlies would be a straightforward task for Argentina. In practice, the AFA has repeatedly struggled to put games together, and the most recent example is not far back.

During the November international window, Argentina were set to travel to Angola for a friendly tied to the celebration of the African nation’s 50th anniversary of independence. Reports from Sport News Africa later revealed that the Angolan Football Federation paid approximately €12 million (around $12.7 million USD) to host the match, with Messi’s participation listed as one of the conditions of the deal.

That ultimately proved to be the only friendly of that window, after L’Équipe reported that Morocco, a late candidate to host Argentina, turned down the possibility after the AFA reportedly requested around €10 million to make the trip. With Venezuela, Puerto Rico and Angola representing Argentina’s most recent friendly opposition, the concern is no longer just about the quality of preparation, it is about whether there will be enough games at all.

Antoine Griezmann's move to the MLS with Orlando City has been put into question as head coach Diego Simeone is reportedly pushing him to stay at Atletico Madrid.

Antoine Griezmann has been one of the hottest topics in soccer over the past few weeks, with Orlando City making a strong push to bring the French star to Major League Soccer. However, his move to the Lions may be in jeopardy, with head coach Diego Simeone reportedly working to convince Griezmann to remain at Atlético Madrid.

Long coveted by MLS clubs, Griezmann has reportedly been the subject of advanced talks between Orlando City and Atlético Madrid. The move would represent a significant blow to the Colchoneros‘ squad mid-season, but with one Designated Player slot available, the Lions have been pushing hard to get the deal done before the primary MLS transfer window closes on March 26.

Adding to the intrigue, Simeone raised eyebrows last week when he appeared noncommittal about Griezmann’s future, saying he “doesn’t know” what will happen and suggesting the veteran forward is “in a position where he deserves to be able to choose” given everything he has contributed to the club. But Atlético‘s Copa del Rey run may have changed the calculus entirely.

Simeone to persuade Griezmann to stay

According to Cadena SER, Simeone is now close to convincing Griezmann to turn down an immediate move to Orlando City. The situation has shifted dramatically following Atlético’s Copa del Rey semifinal victory over FC Barcelona, a tie they advanced through despite losing the second leg 3-0, a game in which Griezmann underscored just how important he remains to this team.

Griezmann himself has shown no shortage of commitment to the Atlético cause. Following the elimination of Barcelona, the Frenchman posted an Instagram photo of himself celebrating alongside fallen Barça players with the caption “Does this photo go hard?,” a pointed callback to a similar post from last year when the Blaugrana knocked out the Colchoneros.

Now with a Copa del Rey final on the horizon, Simeone was asked whether Griezmann would be part of it: “I certainly hope so. He deserves it more than anyone. What he gave on the pitch today, the way he ran, was incredible. The quality and talent he possesses is something he will carry with him for the rest of his life.

“What more can I add to what you already know I feel for him? I love him dearly, I always want the best for him, and I truly hope he gets to play in that final,” Simeone added in his post-match press conference, sounding notably more optimistic about keeping Griezmann away from Orlando than he had in recent days.

The 2025-26 Copa del Rey final is scheduled for April 18 in Seville, with Atlético set to face either Real Sociedad or Athletic Club, presenting Griezmann with the opportunity to cap his time at the club with a trophy. The only catch is that the final falls well after the MLS transfer window closes. To complicate matters further, SER reports that Orlando have warned the offer will not be renewed in the summer window, forcing Griezmann into a difficult choice: stay and play in the final, or make the move to North America now.

Due to Lionel Messi's absence in a game back in May 2024, the Vancouver Whitecaps and the MLS will have to pay a $347K settlement.

Lionel Messi has proven time and again to be a box office draw across Major League Soccer, breaking attendance records at stadiums throughout the continent whenever Inter Miami come to town. However, one of his absences, back in May 2024, has now led to the Vancouver Whitecaps and MLS agreeing to pay $347,000 in settlements following a class-action lawsuit.

The episode dates back nearly two years, when Inter Miami were set to travel to Vancouver to face the Whitecaps at BC Place for Matchday 15 of the 2024 MLS season. It would have been Messi’s second appearance at the venue, coming just one month after the CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinal first leg, in which the home side claimed a 2-0 victory.

It was also set to be Messi’s first appearance against the Whitecaps in regular-season MLS play since his arrival in mid-2023. But the anticipation quickly deflated when then-head coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino decided to rest the Argentine for the match.

Why did the Whitecaps, MLS had to pay settlements?

In the buildup to the Vancouver visit, both the Whitecaps and MLS heavily promoted the May 25 fixture against Inter Miami, using Messi, Luis Suárez and Sergio Busquets as the faces of the marketing campaign. On the strength of that billing, fans paid significantly inflated ticket prices, some reportedly as high as $335 per ticket, according to The Athletic.

With not only Messi but also Suárez and Busquets left behind and not even making the trip, the Whitecaps found themselves in an uncomfortable position. In an attempt to appease frustrated supporters, the club offered all in-stadium food and beverages at 50 percent off, along with a free kids’ meal combo for anyone 18 and under.

The club also addressed the situation publicly. “While we haven’t received an official update on the availability of Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez, and Sergio Busquets for this weekend, we understand they will not make this trip. Unfortunately, we have no control over who plays for our opponent, and it was important for us to communicate to our fans as soon as possible,“ said Whitecaps FC CEO Axel Schuster on the club’s official website.

Fans who made the trip to BC Place left disappointed, and a class-action lawsuit was subsequently filed against the Vancouver Whitecaps and MLS. The complaint sought partial reimbursement of ticket prices, but both the club and the league denied any liability or wrongdoing, arguing that the promotion of the game did not constitute a guarantee of any player’s participation.

After a lengthy legal dispute, the British Columbia Supreme Court has approved a CAN$475,000 (approximately $347,000 USD) settlement to be paid by the Vancouver Whitecaps and Major League Soccer, though the funds will not go directly to the fans who attended the game. Instead, the settlement will be donated to three charitable sports organizations: KidSport BC, Canada SCORES and BGC South Coast BC.

Despite Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, and Marc Bernal shining in the 3-0 win, Barcelona fall short to complete the comeback in the Copa del Rey semifinals against Atletico Madrid.

Barcelona hosted Atlético Madrid in the second leg of the 2025-26 Copa del Rey semifinals on Tuesday at the Camp Nou. Despite starring performances from Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and Marc Bernal, the Blaugrana fell agonizingly short of completing the comeback, winning 3-0 on the night but bowing out of the competition.

Atlético arrived as clear favorites to advance after their emphatic 4-0 victory in the first leg. Still, Barcelona took the game to them from the opening whistle, with an electric Lamine Yamal causing havoc on both flanks and the home side pressing relentlessly in search of an early goal.

The breakthrough came in the 29th minute, when Yamal burst past Ademola Lookman on the right and delivered a pinpoint cross to the six-yard box for Marc Bernal to finish. Then, deep into first-half stoppage time, Pedri was brought down inside the area by Marc Pubill, and Raphinha stepped up to convert the resulting penalty and give Barcelona renewed hope at the break.

Atlético offered little going forward, and a composed Joan García ensured his goal remained intact whenever the visitors did threaten. Bernal then reignited the Camp Nou in the 72nd minute, converting from a João Cancelo cross to make it 3-0 on the night and bring the Remontada within touching distance.

Despite every effort, including coach Hansi Flick’s bold decision to deploy defender Ronald Araújo as an emergency striker, Barcelona could not find the fourth goal they needed, running into an Atlético side that defended resolutely and with numbers. With a 4-3 aggregate scoreline, the Colchoneros march on to the Copa del Rey final, where they will face either Real Sociedad or Athletic Club.