Following Gonzalo Montiel’s injury, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni was forced to call up Agustin Giay.

Gonzalo Montiel’s injury forced Lionel Scaloni to abruptly change his plans and call up Agustin Giay for the matches against Mauritania and Zambia during the FIFA March international break, which has already proven problematic for Argentina following the cancellation of the Finalissima against Spain.

“Palmeiras player Agustin Giay has been added to the squad for the upcoming friendlies,” Argentina announced via their official social media accounts on Tuesday. The 22-year-old defender will get his first opportunity with the senior national team after impressing with San Lorenzo in the Argentine Liga Profesional and with Palmeiras in Brazil’s Serie A.

The need for a last-minute addition arose after Gonzalo Montiel suffered a muscle injury on Sunday, after playing 90 minutes –and scoring a goal- in River Plate’s 2–0 win over Estudiantes de Rio Cuarto.

Montiel’s absence left Argentina with just one natural right-back, Nahuel Molina, making another call-up at the position necessary. With Juan Foyth ruled out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup due to a ruptured Achilles tendon just two months ago, Giay emerged as a logical option thanks to his strong form at Palmeiras, where he has made 12 appearances — seven as a starter — this season.

#SelecciónMayor El futbolista del Palmeiras Agustín Giay se sube a la convocatoria para la doble fecha de amistosos. pic.twitter.com/f1EUyIwWiO

— 🇦🇷 Selección Argentina ⭐⭐⭐ (@Argentina) March 24, 2026

All Argentina absences for the March FIFA break

The March international break has proven to be a headache for Argentina. The controversies that ultimately led to the cancellation of the Finalissima against Spain were just the beginning, followed by difficulties in securing opponents for the friendlies in Buenos Aires.

With Mauritania and Zambia confirmed as opponents for March 27 and 31, respectively, Lionel Scaloni’s focus shifted to assembling the squad amid a growing list of injuries. From the outset, Lisandro Martinez, Giovani Lo Celso, and Lautaro Martinez were ruled out, with more names added in the following days.

Leonardo Balerdi was also sidelined after suffering an injury following Olympique Marseille’s match against Lille OSC in Ligue 1. The defender, primarily a center-back, can also play at right-back — something that would have been useful following Montiel’s injury.

Scaloni forced into four additional call-ups

Argentina announced their initial 28-man squad list for the March fixtures on March 18. Since then, head coach Lionel Scaloni has been forced to make four additions to address last-minute issues.

The first players added were Franco Mastantuono, a winger from Real Madrid, and Joaquin Panichelli, a striker from RC Strasbourg. Later, Leonardo Balerdi’s injury led to the inclusion of Lucas Martinez Quarta from River Plate, while Agustin Giay became the latest addition following Gonzalo Montiel’s withdrawal.

The arrival of Antoine Griezmann at Orlando City adds another World Cup winner to MLS, following the path of Lionel Messi and Thomas Muller, among others.

Orlando City officially announced the signing of Antoine Griezmann on Tuesday, with the French star set to join Major League Soccer after the conclusion of the 2025–26 European season. He will join Lionel Messi and Thomas Muller as one of the FIFA World Cup winners to play in the league.

Griezmann becomes the 20th player to compete in MLS after previously winning the World Cup. He achieved that honor at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, where he, alongside Kylian Mbappe, led France to a convincing victory over Croatia in the final.

During that triumph, the Atletico Madrid forward played a pivotal role with four goals and four assists, earning the Silver Boot as the tournament’s second-leading scorer, recognition as its top assist provider, and the Bronze Ball as the third-best player—behind only Luka Modric and Eden Hazard.

Interestingly, that same France squad also featured another World Cup winner who later moved to MLS: Hugo Lloris. The goalkeeper joined Los Angeles FC in 2024 from Tottenham Hotspur and has since made 99 appearances across all competitions.

ANTOINE GRIEZMANN IS A LION 🦁👑

We have signed global soccer icon and 2018 @FIFAWorldCup winner @AntoGriezmann from @Atleti. He will join the club in July 2026 on a contract through the 2027–28 season, with an option for 2028–29 as a Designated Player 👏

— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) March 24, 2026

Active World Cup winners in MLS

Once he joins Orlando City SC this summer, Antoine Griezmann will become the fifth active player competing in MLS with a World Cup title. His former France teammate Hugo Lloris is also part of that select group, while Thomas Muller—who won the 2014 World Cup with Germany—now stars for Vancouver Whitecaps FC.

At Inter Miami are the other two. Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul were crowned champions with Argentina at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, defeating Griezmann and Lloris in the final. They are also teammates at club level, with Messi joining the Herons in the summer of 2023 and De Paul arriving in mid-2025.

All World Cup winners to play in MLS

Beyond the four players currently active in MLS, another 15 World Cup winners have played in the league over the past decades, adding quality and prestige to a competition that continues to grow in stature.

The first World Cup winner to play in MLS was Branco, who joined MetroStars in 1997 after winning the 1994 World Cup with Brazil. That same club later featured German legend Lothar Matthaus in 2000. The team eventually rebranded as New York Red Bulls and continued to attract high-profile talent, including Youri Djorkaeff and Thierry Henry, both World Cup winners with France. From the same country, Blaise Matuidi (Inter Miami) and Olivier Giroud (LAFC) also made their way to MLS in later years.

Among Brazilian World Cup winners to play in MLS are Denilson (FC Dallas), Kleberson (Philadelphia Union), and Kaka (Orlando City). They are joined by Italian stars Alessandro Nesta (CF Montreal) and Andrea Pirlo (New York City FC), as well as Spanish standouts David Villa (NYCFC) and Sergio Busquets (Inter Miami). Germany’s Bastian Schweinsteiger (Chicago Fire) also featured in the league.

The final case deserves special mention. Thiago Almada was part of Argentina’s 2022 World Cup-winning squad, alongside Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul. What makes his case unique is that he lifted the trophy while still a player for Atlanta United FC, making him the only player in history to win the World Cup while playing in MLS.

The permanent transfer of Marcus Rashford from Manchester United to Barcelona may not happen after all.

Marcus Rashford’s future at Barcelona is now surrounded by uncertainty, amid reported concerns within the Spanish club over whether such a significant financial outlay is justified, combined with a recent dip in performances.

Since the start of the year, reports had indicated that Barcelona were firmly intending to trigger the €30 million (around $34 million) option agreed with Manchester United. However, time has passed and the deal has yet to be completed “because the sporting department wanted to evaluate his performances over the following months,” according to Sport.

And things have not gone in the English forward’s favor during that stretch. Rashford had recorded seven goals and 11 assists across all competitions in the first half of the season. However, since the start of 2026, those numbers have dropped significantly.

So far this year, Rashford has scored just one goal in the UEFA Champions League and two in La Liga, while adding only two assists. That amounts to just five goal contributions in 14 matches (0.35 per game), a sharp decline from the 18 he registered in his first 24 appearances (0.75 per game).

Coach Hansi Flick speaks on Rashford

Speaking at Saturday’s press conference ahead of the La Liga match against Rayo Vallecano, Hansi Flick addressed Rashford’s recent lack of involvement. “He had some issues in recent days and we managed him carefully. Now he’s back at one hundred percent,” the coach said.

Regarding Rashford’s future—as well as Joao Cancelo, who is also on loan through the end of the season—Flick avoided making any definitive statements. “For me, this is not the time to say who I want. I need everyone at their best level. We’ll talk at the end and see what happens. Now is not the moment to say if I want this player or not. Anything can happen,” he added, according to Sport.

Alternative solutions for Barcelona regarding Rashford

Amid this uncertainty, Barcelona president Joan Laporta has addressed Rashford’s situation and raised the possibility of negotiating with Manchester United to keep the player without paying the full $34 million fee this summer.

“We could extend the loan further,” Laporta said recently. “There are formulas, such as completing part of the purchase option with Manchester United and the rest we will see later.” However, the club president made it clear that the final decision will depend on the sporting director: “It depends on what Deco wants.”

Mauricio Pochettino remains focused on the USMNT ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but his future could lie in La Liga with Athletic Club.

Athletic Club will be without a head coach at the end of the current La Liga season, as Ernesto Valverde announced earlier this week. Following that news, speculation has begun over his potential successor, with USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino among the names mentioned.

According to Diario AS, the leading candidate to take over the Spanish club for the 2026-27 season is Edin Terzic, former Borussia Dortmund head coach. However, Mundo Deportivo adds a broader list of options. “Among them are Andoni Iraola (Bournemouth), Iñigo Pérez (Rayo Vallecano), Claudio Giráldez (Celta de Vigo), and Mauricio Pochettino (United States),” the report states.

This is not the first time Pochettino’s future has been the subject of speculation. It is widely expected that he will remain with the USMNT through the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where he faces the major challenge of leading the host nation, but beyond that, his next step remains uncertain.

The Argentine coach was hired in 2024 and has since managed 22 matches, recording 13 wins, two draws, and seven losses. During that stretch, the USMNT finished as runners-up in the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup, losing to Mexico. Pochettino’s contract runs for two years and is set to expire following the World Cup.

ℹ️ Ernesto Valverde will step down as Athletic head coach at the end of the season.

"It’s a decision which I’ve come to over time and which has been agreed with the club."

"There are ten games left and we have a lot to gain."

We'll give you a proper send-off soon, Gaffer!

— Athletic Club (@Athletic_en) March 20, 2026

Pochettino’s ties to La Liga

Pochettino being linked with a La Liga club comes as no surprise, given his long history in Spain. He was an icon for Espanyol during his playing career, making 318 appearances across 10 seasons in two different spells (1994 to 2000 and 2004 to 2006).

After retiring, Pochettino began his managerial career at Espanyol, where he worked from January 2009 to November 2012. He later moved to Southampton in the Premier League, and from there his career took off, leading him to Tottenham Hotspur, Paris Saint-Germain, and Chelsea before arriving in the United States.

Real Madrid, another potential destination for Pochettino

Recently, Mauricio Pochettino has also been mentioned as a potential candidate to take over at Real Madrid, possibly replacing Alvaro Arbeloa. However, that possibility—like the Athletic Club link—would only materialize after the World Cup.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will find Argentina in the middle of a stretch of matches against lower-level opponents.

Argentina will face the challenge this summer of defending the title they won in Qatar 2022. However, they will arrive at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the midst of an extended run of matches against weaker opposition, raising questions about their current competitive edge.

This week, Argentina confirmed their opponents for the March international break, during which they will play two friendlies at Boca Juniors’ stadium in Buenos Aires. The first will be on Friday, March 27 against Mauritania, followed four days later by a match against Zambia.

The choice of opponents was not driven by a desire to face strong competition. Instead, it was tied to the need to find available teams after the cancellation of the Finalissima against Spain and the inability to schedule matches against Honduras and Guatemala, as originally planned, due to FIFA regulations.

Mauritania are currently ranked 115th in the FIFA rankings, while Zambia sit 91st. This highlights a trend that Argentina have repeated in recent years during nearly every international break.

𝐑𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐝 ✅

See you to say goodbye at La Bombonera 🩵🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/1RzqiqJZLW

— Selección Argentina in English (@AFASeleccionEN) March 21, 2026

Argentina tend to face lower-tier opponents

Considering both competitive matches and friendlies, since the 2022 World Cup final against France, Argentina have faced just one top-10 FIFA-ranked team: Brazil. They have played them twice, both in South American qualifiers, winning both matches (1-0 away and 4-1 in Buenos Aires).

During that same span, they have faced only two additional top-20 opponents: Colombia and Uruguay. The rest of their matches have come against teams ranked outside that range, in some cases significantly lower.

The trend is even more pronounced in friendlies. Between 2023 and 2026, Argentina’s list of opponents during international breaks has included Curaçao (81st in the FIFA rankings), Indonesia (122nd), El Salvador (99th), Guatemala (94th), Puerto Rico (156th), and Angola (89th). Mauritania and Zambia now join that list.

Can Argentina repeat their 2022 success?

Argentina are currently the reigning champions of every major senior competition available to them: the World Cup, Copa America, and the Finalissima. That places them among the favorites heading into the tournament in North America this summer.

However, the advancing age of some key players—such as Lionel Messi, who will turn 39 during the World Cup—along with a dip in form from others, raises doubts about their chances of repeating the feat of Qatar 2022. The lack of meaningful tests against high-quality opposition only adds to those concerns.

Guillermo Ochoa has returned to the Mexico national team and is now in contention to match Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in a FIFA World Cup record.

With just over two months remaining until the start of the 2026 World Cup, Guillermo Ochoa has been recalled to Mexico’s squad. This puts him in a strong position to reach a record also coveted by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo: the most appearances in the FIFA tournament.

Currently, Ochoa, Messi, and Ronaldo are part of a select group of players who have featured in five different World Cups. Other legends from the past include Germany’s Lothar Matthaus and Mexico’s Antonio Carbajal, Rafael Marquez, and Andres Guardado.

Having started his World Cup journey in Germany 2006, Ochoa, Messi, and Ronaldo also featured in South Africa 2010, Brazil 2014, Russia 2018, and Qatar 2022. The Argentine forward and the Portuguese star appear likely to participate in North America 2026, putting them within reach of the historic record of becoming the first players to appear in six World Cups.

Ochoa, on the other hand, until just a few weeks ago seemed almost out of contention, having lost favor with head coach Javier Aguirre as one of Mexico’s goalkeepers. However, Luis Malagon’s serious Achilles tendon injury unexpectedly opened the door for his return.

Ochoa back with Mexico

This week, the Mexico national team officially announced its 26-player squad selected by Javier Aguirre for the FIFA March break friendlies against Portugal and Belgium. Guillermo Ochoa is listed as one of the three goalkeepers, alongside Carlos Acevedo and Raul Rangel.

For Ochoa, this marks his return to Mexico after several months away. He had not been included in the September, October, November, January, or February call-ups, and his World Cup hopes appeared uncertain.

His last call-up was for the 2025 Gold Cup, where he did not see any game time. To find the last occasion Ochoa played internationally, one must go back to November 2024, when he appeared against Honduras in the Concacaf Nations League.

These are the players chosen by our manager, Javier Aguirre, to face Portugal and Belgium. ⚽

Let's make our stadium shake on our return home! 🏟️#SomosMéxico 🇲🇽 pic.twitter.com/colLii4slE

— Mexican National Team (@miseleccionmxEN) March 19, 2026

Ochoa at club level

At 40 years old, it’s clear that Guillermo Ochoa’s prime days as a professional player are behind him. Nevertheless, he remains active in the Cypriot league: in the 2025-26 season, he has made 24 appearances—all as a starter—for AEL Limassol.

Inter Miami are preparing to face New York City FC in Major League Soccer, and Rodrigo De Paul was absent from the team’s final training session ahead of the match.

This Sunday, Inter Miami will take on New York City FC for Matchday 5 of the 2026 MLS season. In the final practice ahead of the clash, Rodrigo De Paul was missing, along with two other key players who did not train with the squad.

“Rodrigo De Paul is absent from this morning’s Inter Miami training,” reporter Jose Armando said via his official X account on Saturday. “Maxi Falcon and Sergio Reguilon will not be available against NYCFC.”

Falcon has been sidelined for over a week due to an injury sustained during the first leg of the Round of 16 in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, when he had to leave the match in the opening minutes against Nashville SC at Geodis Park on March 11.

Reguilon’s absence is also injury-related. After recovering from a knee sprain suffered during preseason, the Spanish left-back made his official Inter Miami debut last week, starting against Charlotte FC in MLS. He started again on Wednesday against Nashville, assisting Lionel Messi for his 900th goal, but had to leave the field minutes later with another injury.

🎙️ Javier Mascherano: “La desilusión de quedar fuera de la Champions tiene que llenarnos de energía para hacer un gran partido en Nueva York”. pic.twitter.com/9kRvLXWlor

— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) March 21, 2026

Amid these forced absences and uncertainty over Rodrigo De Paul’s availability for the NYCFC clash, there is good news regarding two of the team’s biggest stars. “Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez are available,” added Jose Armando.

MLS now Inter Miami’s main focus

Following their elimination from the Concacaf Champions Cup, Inter Miami now have two possible titles to chase this season: MLS and the Leagues Cup. The latter will take place after the 2026 FIFA World Cup, meaning the Herons’ focus is currently on the league.

They sit in third place in the Eastern Conference standings with seven points, the result of two wins, one draw, and one loss. Their opponents this Sunday will be none other than the Conference leaders: NYCFC, who have 10 points and share the top spot with Nashville SC.

Mascherano reflects on Concacaf Champions Cup exit

As usual, Javier Mascherano held a press conference the day before the match and reflected on the impact of the Champions Cup elimination. “What happened, we can’t change it anymore, there’s no point in regretting it. We’re still in the process of accepting the disappointment of being knocked out, but it’s soccer and it can happen,” the coach said.

In looking to move forward, Mascherano addressed Inter Miami’s goals for the rest of the season: “It’s on us to show that what happened was just an accident. The best way to prove that is to focus on the league now.”

Alvaro Arbeloa shared his thoughts on France’s call-up of Kylian Mbappe, which comes amid the forward’s recent injury issues at Real Madrid.

Real Madrid have been without Kylian Mbappe for most of their recent matches due to fitness concerns. Now, as he continues his recovery and gradually returns to action, the forward is set to join the France national team—something Alvaro Arbeloa addressed.

“It seems great to me,” the Real Madrid head coach said when asked about the situation during Saturday’s press conference, via Marca. “I don’t see any problem with him going to his national team. It’s good news.”

Arbeloa also offered reassurance regarding Mbappe’s physical condition. “He’s a player who is available to the coach, who has already played with us and who will definitely play tomorrow,” he added, referring to Real Madrid’s Matchday 29 La Liga clash against Atletico Madrid.

“Having many international players is positive because it means our players have a high level and quality. If they’re called up, it’s because they’re very good, which is good news for Real Madrid,” Arbeloa added.

𝐋𝐄𝐒 𝐁𝐋𝐄𝐔𝐒 𝐒𝐐𝐔𝐀𝐃 𝐈𝐒 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄! 💙🔥

Heading to the United States with 2 matches against Brazil 🇧🇷 and Colombia 🇨🇴

🔜 See you on Monday at Clairefontaine for the arrival 😄 pic.twitter.com/27BXT2xOHY

— French Team ⭐⭐ (@FrenchTeam) March 19, 2026

Real Madrid players called up for the FIFA break

Mbappe’s situation is just one of several Real Madrid are dealing with ahead of the March international break. In total, 12 players from the squad will travel to join their respective national teams for international fixtures over the next week.

Mbappe, along with Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni, will join France, while Antonio Rudiger has been called up by Germany. Dean Huijsen will represent Spain, while David Alaba joins Austria. The other European call-ups are Jude Bellingham (England) and Arda Guler (Turkey).

In South America, Vinicius Junior has been included in Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil squad, while Federico Valverde will represent Uruguay. Franco Mastantuono was not initially included in Argentina’s squad but was added at the last minute by Lionel Scaloni. The final case is Brahim Diaz, who returns to Morocco after the controversial AFCON final against Senegal.

Several additional cases are also worth noting. Rodrygo and Eder Militao were not included in Brazil’s squad due to fitness issues, while Thibaut Courtois misses out for Belgium for the same reason. Trent Alexander-Arnold is also among the most notable absences from Thomas Tuchel’s England squad.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal will be affected in the FIFA Ranking by Morocco’s AFCON title.

This week, the soccer world was shaken by CAF’s decision to award the Africa Cup of Nations final to Morocco, handing Senegal a defeat. As a result, the FIFA Ranking could be reshaped, particularly impacting Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal.

In the latest FIFA Rankings update, Morocco moved up three places to eighth, ahead of traditional powers such as Germany, Italy, Belgium and Croatia. However, that rise could become even more significant once the revised result of the AFCON final is factored in.

Going from runners-up to African champions will allow Morocco to gain an additional 26 points in the rankings. With a total of 1,763 points, they would climb three more spots into the top five for the first time in their history—and the first time for an African national team—trailing only Spain, Argentina, France and England.

That rise will come at the expense of some of the world’s top national teams. Vinicius’ Brazil (1,760), Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal (1,760) and the Netherlands (1,756) would all drop one place in the standings.

Senegal to lose points

Just as Morocco stand to benefit significantly from CAF’s decision in the FIFA Rankings, the opposite will be true for Senegal. Not only would they lose the AFCON title, but they would also fall in the standings.

In the latest update, Senegal had been one of the biggest risers, climbing seven spots to reach 12th place. However, much of that progress would be undone by the change in the final’s result.

The loss of 26 points from now being considered runners-up would see them drop several places in the FIFA Ranking. Their total would fall from 1,706 to 1,680 points, allowing Italy, Colombia and the USMNT to overtake them. Senegal, with that reduction, would slip to 15th place.

CAF decision could still be overturned

All of these potential changes in the FIFA Ranking depend, of course, on whether CAF’s ruling on the AFCON 2025 final stands. In that regard, Senegal still have a path to appeal, and reports indicate they plan to pursue it by taking the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland in an attempt to have the title reinstated.

Real Madrid could reportedly complicate Manchester United’s negotiations for Brazil midfielder Bruno Guimaraes.

Bruno Guimaraes was reportedly in talks to join Premier League giants Manchester United in a multi-million-dollar deal, but the move could collapse due to Real Madrid emerging as a potential competitor.

“Manchester United are in advanced talks to sign Newcastle United captain Bruno Guimaraes,” Reuters reported, detailing a fee close to €80 million (approximately $92 million). “But renewed interest from Real Madrid threatens to complicate the proposed move.”

The Red Devils are searching for a midfielder who can fill the void left by Casemiro, whose contract expires on June 30 and who has already stated he does not intend to renew for next season.

In fact, the former Real Madrid midfielder is reportedly behind Manchester United’s interest in Bruno, whom he knows well from their time together with the Brazil national team. “Casemiro has personally recommended Guimaraes as his ideal successor, citing his experience and leadership,” Reuters added.

Real Madrid also need midfield reinforcements

Just as Manchester United are set to lose Casemiro in the near future, Real Madrid are still looking to replace two legends who left the club in recent years: Luka Modric and Toni Kroos. Adding to that is the potential departure of Eduardo Camavinga, for whom Los Blancos are reportedly willing to listen to offers.

“Guimaraes has long been admired by the Spanish side, dating back to the Carlo Ancelotti era. The Italian coach recommended him three years ago as a successor to Luka Modric and Toni Kroos in Real’s midfield and the player came close to joining the club,” Reuters reported.

That deal fell through in the summer of 2022, when Newcastle United paid more than $50 million to Olympique Lyonnais to sign the Brazilian midfielder. However, Guimaraes’ performances in the Premier League have reignited Real Madrid’s interest.

Guimaraes is a key piece for Brazil

Although the move to Newcastle United initially prevented Carlo Ancelotti from bringing Bruno Guimaraes to Real Madrid, the two were reunited with the Brazil national team. Since taking charge in the summer of 2025, the coach has given the midfielder a prominent role in his squad.

Guimaraes has been included in every roster selected by Carlo Ancelotti since June of last year, across both World Cup qualifiers and subsequent friendlies. In fact, he has started all eight of Brazil’s matches during that span, recording one goal and two assists. That makes him one of the virtually certain names in the 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Max Dowman has a chance of playing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup with England, head coach Thomas Tuchel acknowledged.

This Friday, England announced their squad for the March FIFA international break and, although Arsenal wonderkid Max Dowman was not included, head coach Thomas Tuchel admitted he is considering him for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

“He’s a fantastic talent,” Tuchel said during Friday’s press conference, according to reporter Fabrizio Romano on his official X account. “We still have a chance to call him for the World Cup.”

However, the head coach clarified that he preferred not to include him at this stage: “At the moment he competes for minutes so he’s not a regular starter for Arsenal. He is in the best environment possible, he has to keep going. No need to call him up now and increase the pressure.”

The English attacking midfielder is currently one of the breakout stars in European soccer due to his performances with the Gunners. In fact, just a few days ago he became the youngest player to score a goal in Premier League history after netting in a 2-0 win over Everton.

Here we go. It's your #ThreeLions squad for March camp! 👀

— England (@England) March 20, 2026

Who are the youngest players to feature in a World Cup?

If Thomas Tuchel decides to include him in the 26-man squad that will represent England at North America 2026, Max Dowman would become the youngest player in history to appear in a FIFA World Cup.

By the time the Three Lions make their debut in the tournament this summer, on June 17 against Croatia, Dowman would be just 16 years and 169 days old. That would place him at the top of the all-time list by a significant margin.

At present, the record belongs to Norman Whiteside of Northern Ireland, who made his debut at the 1982 World Cup aged 17 years and 41 days in a match against Yugoslavia. He is followed by Cameroon’s Samuel Eto’o (17 years, 99 days in 1998) and Nigeria’s Femi Opabunmi (17 years, 101 days in 2002).

England’s squad for the March FIFA international break

Beyond Max Dowman’s situation, Thomas Tuchel’s squad for the matches against Uruguay and Japan in March includes a notable omission: Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has stood out in recent weeks with Real Madrid. The coach addressed the decision clearly: “I know what Trent can give us and I decided still to stick to the players with us,” Tuchel said, referring to Tino Livramento, Djed Spence and Jarell Quansah.

Among the main inclusions in the squad is the return of Jude Bellingham, who has been dealing with physical issues that affected his appearances for Real Madrid. Also included are Manchester United players Harry Maguire and Kobbie Mainoo, as well as Manchester City defender John Stones.

Argentina will face Mauritania in Buenos Aires in what will be Lionel Messi’s final match in his country before the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

In recent weeks, Argentina faced uncertainty regarding their fixtures for the March international break, following the cancellation of the Finalissima. On Friday, the friendly against Mauritania was confirmed, likely marking Lionel Messi’s last game on home soil before the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

“The team led by Lionel Scaloni is beginning to say farewell to their fans before departing to defend the World Cup title. On Friday, 27 March, at La Bombonera, the Argentina national team will take on Mauritania,” the Argentine Football Association said in a statement published on its official website.

The choice of Mauritania came from the need to find an opponent on short notice, after the Finalissima against Spain was cancelled and efforts to arrange friendlies against Honduras and Guatemala fell through.

Argentina had planned to play those two Central American national teams during the March international break in Buenos Aires, but the fact that both Honduras and Guatemala were scheduled to play matches in Europe during the same window made it impossible. FIFA rules prohibit a national team from competing on two continents during the same international break.

#FechaFIFA La Selección Argentina jugará un amistoso ante Mauritania el próximo viernes 27 de marzo, desde las 20.15, en La Bombonera.

📝https://t.co/B9lfoMdo0e pic.twitter.com/0I6iG6Wth7

— 🇦🇷 Selección Argentina ⭐⭐⭐ (@Argentina) March 20, 2026

One of Messi’s last matches in Argentina

As AFA noted when confirming that the friendly against Mauritania will serve as something of a farewell to the country before the World Cup, it will also be one of Lionel Messi’s final opportunities to play in front of local fans.

In fact, Argentina’s 3‑0 win over Venezuela in the World Cup qualifiers in September 2025 was his last official match on Argentine soil. Messi scored twice in that game in Buenos Aires, in what was widely described as his final competitive home appearance for the national team before the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

It’s likely that Scaloni’s team will not return to Argentina before the World Cup, as the next FIFA international break falls just before the start of the tournament and the squad will already be based in the United States for that period.

What about Mauritania?

It is clear that for Lionel Scaloni’s planning, facing Mauritania will not be the same as what the match against Spain in the Finalissima would have represented. Far from the level of challenge presented by playing the European champions, their newly confirmed opponent will pose a much smaller test.

Mauritania have never qualified for a World Cup. In fact, in the African qualifiers for this summer’s FIFA tournament, they managed only one win in 10 matches. Mauritania currently occupy 115th place in the FIFA rankings.

Conmebol president Alejandro Dominguez considered Argentina the winners of the Finalissima that was never played against Spain.

The cancellation of the Finalissima between Argentina and Spain continues to spark controversy, with conflicting accounts of the true reasons behind the failure to schedule the match. Now, the Conmebol president has made a statement targeting the European team.

During an interview with Radio La Red of Argentina, a journalist asked Alejandro Dominguez whether he thought it was a shame that the Finalissima had been canceled. “Why do you think it’s a shame?” replied the Conmebol president. “We are two-time champions of the Finalissima, they didn’t show up.”

With these words, Dominguez places the responsibility for the cancellation on Spain and UEFA, echoing comments previously made by Claudio Tapia, president of the Argentine Football Association, a few days earlier.

However, awarding the Finalissima title to Argentina is far from official. Formally, the match was suspended—with uncertainty about whether it will ever be played—and the trophy remains vacant. Regardless, Lionel Scaloni’s team remains the reigning champion following their victory over Italy in 2022.

Spain have a different version of what happened with the Finalissima

Almost simultaneously with Alejandro Dominguez’s interview, Luis De La Fuente held a press conference in Spain ahead of the FIFA March international break. Among other topics, he was asked about the Finalissima and provided conclusions that were completely different from those presented in South America.

“Two can’t play if one doesn’t want to, and we wanted to play. I’ve always said that,” said Spain’s coach, according to Marca. “You all know my willingness to play the Finalissima. I’ve always said it. Playing against Argentina, winning a title. Both I and the RFEF were aligned to play this match.”

De La Fuente added that, despite the forced changes in organization due to the inability to play in Qatar, Spain were always open to contesting the Finalissima: “I want to thank the Federation for trying to arrange the match against Argentina… We wanted to play in Doha, in Buenos Aires…”

Argentina and Spain’s plans in March

Following the suspension of the Finalissima and the cancellation of the friendlies originally scheduled in Qatar, Argentina and Spain adopted similar solutions: staying in their own countries and trying to organise new friendly matches there.

🚨 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗩𝗢𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗜𝗔 | Esta es la lista de jugadores para los partidos contra Serbia y Egipto.

ℹ️ Más información: https://t.co/oM5ARXivUM#VamosEspaña | #CopaMundialFIFA pic.twitter.com/VUXz8HM5bD

— Selección Española Masculina de Fútbol (@SEFutbol) March 20, 2026

Spain will face Serbia on 27 March at the Estadio de La Ceramica in Villarreal, and four days later they will play against Egypt at the RCDE Stadium in Espanyol de Barcelona. Argentina, meanwhile, had plans to play Honduras and Guatemala in Buenos Aires, but these matches are in doubt due to the impossibility of both opponents playing in two different continents during the same international break, something prohibited by FIFA.

VAR usage has become a growing concern for UEFA, something that will be addressed in a meeting with representatives from the Premier League and other major competitions.

UEFA has called a meeting with the referee chiefs from Europe’s five major leagues (the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga and Ligue 1) to reassess the application of VAR. The overuse of the technology is the main concern and will be the central focus of discussions.

“I believe that we forgot the reason why VAR was introduced,” said Roberto Rosetti, UEFA’s head of refereeing, recently, according to BBC Sport. “In objective decisions, it is fantastic. For interpretations, subjective evaluation is more difficult. That’s why we started to speak about clear and obvious mistakes — clear evidence.”

Current concerns are focused on determining in which situations VAR intervention is justified and what level of strictness should be applied. The technology was originally introduced to eliminate clear errors that could change the course of a match — or even a tournament.

That is why the initial VAR guidelines were limited to the most decisive moments in soccer: whether the ball crossed the goal line, whether a penalty should be awarded, or whether a foul warranted a red card. However, over time, its scope has expanded, along with the growing expectation for greater precision in decision-making.

VAR continues to grow in influence across soccer

While UEFA appears focused on reducing VAR intervention to only the most important situations — and as minimally as possible — other governing bodies in soccer are moving in the opposite direction.

The International Football Association Board recently approved a series of rule changes set to take effect this year. Among them is an expansion of VAR usage into two situations that were previously outside its scope.

One involves second yellow cards leading to dismissals, which were originally not subject to review. VAR will now be allowed to check the second caution. The other involves corner kicks, which may now be reviewed in terms of whether they were correctly awarded, provided it does not cause excessive delays to the game.

European leagues with the highest and lowest VAR intervention rates

As UEFA looks to reduce VAR intervention, the Premier League appears to be the model to follow. England’s top flight has the lowest rate of VAR usage among Europe’s five major leagues, averaging 0.275 interventions per match. La Liga and the Bundesliga follow with 0.38. Serie A ranks fourth at 0.44, while France’s Ligue 1 records the highest usage, with VAR intervening 0.47 times per match.

After Carlo Ancelotti left Neymar out of Brazil’s squad for the March FIFA international break, the forward’s agent addressed the situation with an eye toward the World Cup.

Carlo Ancelotti’s decision not to call up Neymar for Brazil’s March international break friendlies has prompted a public response from the forward’s agent, who sent a message to the Italian coach ahead of the World Cup.

“I have big respect for Carlo Ancelotti, and I also know how hard Neymar is working in order to help Brazil at the World Cup,“ said Pini Zahavi, as reported by journalist Fabrizio Romano on his X account.

“I believe Ancelotti will not make this mistake to give up the heart of Brazil, which is Neymar Jr,” the agent added, warning the national team coach about the impact Neymar can have in a major tournament.

These comments came just days after Neymar himself publicly admitted he was disappointed not to be included in Brazil’s March squad. “I’m going to speak out here because I can’t just let this slide. Obviously, I’m upset and sad that I wasn’t called up,” the forward said.

Does Neymar have a chance to play in the World Cup?

The March international break had long been viewed as Neymar’s last opportunity to keep his World Cup hopes alive. This is because Brazil’s next squad announcement is expected to be the final roster for the FIFA tournament, which is set to be revealed in late May.

This means Carlo Ancelotti will not have another opportunity to experiment and evaluate players before that deadline. And considering Neymar has not featured for the national team since the coach began his tenure, it seems unlikely that will change directly at the World Cup.

However, Ancelotti himself left the door open. “Neymar can be at the World Cup if he is 100%,” the coach said when the March squad was announced. “Why haven’t I called him up now? Because he’s not at 100%, we need players who are at 100%.”

Problems for Neymar at Santos

While Neymar looks to regain full fitness and form, Santos are struggling to deliver the desired results. On Wednesday, they fell 2-1 at home to Internacional in Brazil’s Serie A, a result that led to the dismissal of the head coach.

“Santos FC announce the departure of head coach Juan Pablo Vojvoda and his coaching staff. The club thanks them for their services and wishes them success in their future careers,” the Brazilian side said in a statement posted on social media.

O Santos Futebol Clube acertou nesta quinta-feira (19) a contratação do técnico Cuca para a sequência da temporada. O novo comandante assinou contrato válido até o final de 2026.

Cuca chega ao Peixe acompanhado pelo auxiliar Cuquinha e pelo preparador físico Omar Feitosa.… pic.twitter.com/8IxaxmRTCZ

— Santos FC (@SantosFC) March 19, 2026

Just a few hours later, Neymar’s new coach was confirmed. “Santos Futebol Clube confirmed this Thursday (19) the appointment of head coach Cuca for the remainder of the season,” the club announced. His debut will come on Sunday against Cruzeiro.

FIFA rules could stand in the way of the match between Argentina and Guatemala.

Argentina confirmed this week that they will play a friendly against Guatemala during the upcoming international break, scheduled in Buenos Aires on 31 March. However, their opponents also have a match planned in Europe during the same window, something prohibited under FIFA regulations.

The agreement to face Guatemala was made at the last minute, as Argentina found themselves without fixtures for the March international break after the Finalissima against Spain, which was set to take place in Qatar, was canceled, along with the friendly against the hosts that was scheduled four days later.

However, Guatemala had already arranged a match against Algeria at the Luigi Ferraris Stadium in Genoa, Italy, on 27 March. This prevents them from traveling to South America for a second match, as FIFA forbids a national team from playing on two different continents during the same international break.

“The Guatemalan federation submitted a special request to the world football governing body to allow an exception to the rule and play in Italy, then four days later face the world champions at La Bombonera,” ESPN reported on Thursday.

Past cases do not bode well for the Argentina–Guatemala fixture

Despite the efforts Argentina and Guatemala are making to obtain special permission from FIFA, recent precedents suggest it will be difficult to keep the 31 March friendly in Buenos Aires on the schedule.

Argentina have already been affected by this rule during the November 2025 FIFA break. At that time, they traveled to Africa to play Angola, a match that ended in a 2-0 victory for Lionel Scaloni’s team. Originally, they were scheduled to travel to India for another friendly, but those plans had to be canceled because it would have involved playing on another continent.

A similar situation occurred this week. Following the cancellation of the Finalissima, Spain agreed to play a friendly against Serbia at home on 27 March and intended to add another against Egypt four days later. However, Mohamed Salah’s team is scheduled to play a match in China, making it impossible for them to travel back to Europe afterwards.

Argentina look for another friendly in March

While doubts remain over the 31 March match against Guatemala, Argentina are seeking another opponent to play four days earlier in order to make the most of the FIFA break, which will be the final one before the official squad for the 2026 World Cup must be confirmed.

#SelecciónMayor 📋Lista de convocados por el entrenador Lionel Scaloni para la Fecha FIFA de marzo.

¡Vamos Argentina! 🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/dzyWhNClTD

— 🇦🇷 Selección Argentina ⭐⭐⭐ (@Argentina) March 18, 2026

Reports indicate that this search is proving difficult due to the limited time remaining. Most national teams already have their matches for the March international break finalized, meaning Argentina will almost certainly have to face a lower-level opponent.

Lionel Messi reached 900 career goals, a milestone previously achieved only by Cristiano Ronaldo.

Wednesday’s clash on March 18, 2026, between Inter Miami and Nashville SC will be remembered for a long time—not for what it meant to the Concacaf Champions Cup or the ambitions of both teams, but for the milestone reached by Lionel Messi. The Argentine forward scored his 900th official goal, something only Cristiano Ronaldo had accomplished before.

Leo reached that milestone in the opening minutes of the match against Nashville SC at Chase Stadium. Sergio Reguilon delivered the assist from the edge of the box; he controlled the ball and, with a precise left-footed strike, scored the opener.

Messi now has 900 official goals in his career, spread across the three clubs he played for professionally and his international career. With Barcelona is where Leo did most of his work: he scored 672 goals in 778 matches there.

Then, during his brief two-year stint in France, the forward scored 32 goals in 75 matches with Paris Saint-Germain. After that less-than-happy experience, Messi joined Inter Miami in the summer of 2023, and since then he has played 93 matches with 81 goals.

Finally, with the Argentina National Team Lionel Messi has logged 20 uninterrupted years. From his official senior debut in 2005 through his latest match on November 14, 2025, against Angola, the forward has recorded 115 goals in 196 appearances.

Cristiano Ronaldo was the first to score 900 goals

To understand the magnitude of Lionel Messi’s achievement, it’s necessary to put that record into context. Until this Wednesday, only one player in soccer history had surpassed the 900-goal mark as a professional: Cristiano Ronaldo.

The 41-year-old forward, still active with Al Nassr and the Portugal National Team, is the all-time leading scorer with 965 goals. He reached that total through his years with Sporting CP, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, Al Nassr and Portugal, beginning in 2002.

How long did it take Messi and Ronaldo to reach 900 goals?

The 900th goal of Lionel Messi’s career came this Wednesday in the match against Nashville SC. The Argentine forward reached that number at 38 years and 8 months old. In terms of matches played, he needed 1,142. That represents an average of 0.78 goals per game.

Cristiano Ronaldo, meanwhile, reached 900 official goals on September 5, 2024, playing for Portugal against Croatia. At that time, the forward was 39 years and 7 months old and had played 1,238 matches, which represents an average of 0.73 goals per game.

Inter Miami drew 1-1 with Nashville SC and were eliminated from the CONCACAF Champions Cup. Lionel Messi scored the 900th goal of his career.

Inter Miami drew 1-1 with Nashville SC and were eliminated from the Concacaf Champions Cup, following a 0-0 draw in the first leg. Lionel Messi had given the Herons the lead with his 900th career goal.

Things got off to a perfect start for Inter Miami, as they took the lead just three minutes in through Messi. The Argentine forward received a precise assist from Sergio Reguilon on the left, controlled the ball inside the box, and unleashed a left-footed shot that beat the goalkeeper.

With that goal, Messi reached 900 in his professional career, counting his years with Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Miami, and the Argentina national team. Only Cristiano Ronaldo had previously reached that total, but Messi achieved it in less time.

However, things didn’t go entirely smoothly for the Herons. In the second half, Nashville pushed forward and found the goal they needed: in the 74th minute, Cristian Espinoza pounced on a rebound inside the box to score the 1-1 equalizer, sending the visitors through to the quarterfinals.

For Inter Miami, it’s a major disappointment. The Concacaf Champions Cup was their primary goal this season, and they were knocked out early. Now, all their efforts will need to focus on the MLS and the Leagues Cup, titles they have already won in previous seasons.

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have fallen behind Robert Lewandowski in a historic UEFA Champions League record.

Robert Lewandowski scored a brace on Wednesday against Newcastle to reach a historic milestone in the UEFA Champions League, surpassing the previous record held by Lionel Messi and putting Cristiano Ronaldo even further behind.

Barcelona secured an emphatic victory over the Magpies at Camp Nou. They needed a win to advance to the quarterfinals of the European competition following the 1-1 draw in the first leg in England, and they delivered in style, winning 7-2.

Lewandowski started the match and only needed 66 minutes on the pitch before being replaced by Ferran Torres. In that time, he scored two goals that not only helped his team secure the victory but also made him the player who has scored against the most clubs in Champions League history.

Newcastle became the 41st European club to fall to the Polish striker, a total that even Lionel Messi could not reach. The Argentine star previously held the record with 40, while Cristiano Ronaldo is further back on the list with 38.

Lewandowski can continue to extend his record

While stars like Erling Haaland, Vinicius Junior, and Kylian Mbappe are achieving great things in the Champions League, they still have a long way to go before they can compete for the record Robert Lewandowski just set.

And it’s not just that. The Polish striker still has room to extend those numbers as long as Barcelona remain alive in the competition. In fact, in the quarterfinals there will still be two clubs he has yet to score against in the Champions League: Sporting CP — who could be Barcelona’s semifinal opponents — and either Galatasaray or Liverpool, depending on who advances from the Round of 16.

Can Lewandowski challenge Messi and Ronaldo’s Champions League goal record?

Robert Lewandowski has not only taken the record from Lionel Messi for scoring against the most different clubs in Champions League history; he is also the main threat to the Argentine forward on the competition’s all-time scoring table.

At the moment, Lewandowski is the active player in Europe with the most goals in Champions League history, with 109. In the all-time ranking, he sits third, 20 goals behind Lionel Messi. At the top remains Cristiano Ronaldo, currently the undisputed leader with 141 goals.

Inter Miami face Nashville SC in the decisive Round of 16 clash in the Concacaf Champions Cup, with Lionel Messi as the main attraction.

This Wednesday will determine the fate of Inter Miami and Nashville SC in the Concacaf Champions Cup. One of the two teams will advance to the quarterfinals, while the other will be eliminated. Lionel Messi will be the headline attraction at Chase Stadium.

The Argentine forward was rested by Javier Mascherano last Saturday, when the Herons visited Charlotte FC in Major League Soccer. After the 0-0 draw in North Carolina, the coach explained the decision not to include Messi or Rodrigo De Paul in the squad: “We preferred they avoid the trip and get some rest.”

That means both Argentine stars are fully fit and will be part of the lineup this Wednesday, aiming for a win that would send them through to the next round of the continental competition.

However, Inter Miami cannot afford to relax. Nashville SC have proven to be a dangerous side, and they hold the advantage of not conceding at home in the first leg, which ended 0-0. Concacaf Champions Cup rules state that, in the event of a tie, away goals carry more weight. Therefore, if Nashville score tonight, a draw will not be enough for Inter Miami, who would then need to win the match.

Confirmed Inter Miami lineup

As head coach Javier Mascherano explained ahead of the match, the entire squad is available to face Nashville except for Maximiliano Falcon. The Uruguayan defender suffered an injury during the first leg at Geodis Park and will not be available.

With that in mind, Inter Miami’s confirmed XI is: Dayne St. Clair; Facundo Mura, Gonzalo Lujan, Micael, Sergio Reguilon; Tadeo Allende, Yannick Bright, Rodrigo De Paul, Telasco Segovia; Lionel Messi, German Berterame.

Confirmed Nashville SC lineup

Head coach Brian Callaghan faces the challenge of setting up his team to contain Inter Miami’s attacking talent while also posing a threat going forward in search of a potentially decisive goal.

With that approach, Nashville‘s confirmed lineup is: Brian Schwake; Daniel Lovitz, Maxwell Woledzi, Jeisson Palacios, Andy Najar; Matthew Corcoran, Patrick Yazbek; Warren Madrigal, Hany Mukhtar, Cristian Espinoza; Sam Surridge.

Argentina have announced their roster for the March international break, with Lionel Messi included.

After weeks of speculation surrounding the Finalissima, which was ultimately cancelled, Argentina will spend the March FIFA break at home and play a friendly against Guatemala. Lionel Messi will be part of the squad, along with a few new faces.

On Wednesday, the official Argentina national team account on X released the list of 28 players called up by head coach Lionel Scaloni for the upcoming challenge, which is set to take place in just over a week.

As expected, Lionel Messi headlines the squad and is in full fitness at the start of the 2026 season with Inter Miami. Alongside several regular call-ups, two new names stand out: defenders Tomas Palacios and Gabriel Rojas.

Palacios is a 22-year-old center back who plays for Estudiantes de La Plata in the Argentine Liga Profesional de Futbol. He has been on loan there since the start of the year from Inter Milan. This season, Palacios has made eight appearances — seven as a starter — in the Apertura tournament.

#SelecciónMayor 📋Lista de convocados por el entrenador Lionel Scaloni para la Fecha FIFA de marzo.

¡Vamos Argentina! 🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/dzyWhNClTD

— 🇦🇷 Selección Argentina ⭐⭐⭐ (@Argentina) March 18, 2026

The other new addition is Gabriel Rojas, a left back for Racing Club, who also compete in the Argentine league. The 28-year-old defender brings extensive experience in his home country, as well as in Uruguay and Mexico, but has found his best form with Racing since 2023. Now, with less than three months to go before the World Cup, he has the opportunity to compete for a spot in the squad, in a position where depth is limited.

Prestianni once again included in Argentina squad

In addition to the first-time call-ups for Palacios and Rojas, another case deserves special mention. Gianluca Prestianni is part of Argentina’s squad, just as he was during the November 2025 international break, when he made his debut for the national team by coming on in the final minutes of the win over Angola.

The Benfica winger’s inclusion is particularly notable given the context: it comes just weeks after Prestianni was at the center of attention following a complaint made by Vinicius Junior over alleged racist remarks by the Argentine player, which resulted in a suspension imposed by UEFA.

Argentina absences for March international break

Lionel Scaloni’s squad for Argentina’s March 31 friendly against Guatemala at La Bombonera also features several notable absences. Injury issues have ruled out three players who are usually part of the team and are strong candidates to make the World Cup roster.

The most significant of them is Lautaro Martinez, who has not played for Inter Milan since February 21 due to a muscle injury. He is joined by Giovani Lo Celso, sidelined at Real Betis since January 25 for a similar reason, and Lisandro Martinez, who after returning in strong form for Manchester United following a serious knee injury, is now out again with muscle problems.

Franco Mastantuono’s situation is different. The Real Madrid winger featured for Argentina last year, even wearing the No. 10 shirt in Lionel Messi’s absence, but missed the October and November call-ups due to injury. Now fully recovered but having lost prominence with the Spanish side, Scaloni has opted not to include him.

CAF have awarded the AFCON 2025 title to Morocco, which had originally been won by Senegal.

Two months after that controversial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final, CAF have overturned the result and awarded the match to Morocco, stripping Senegal of the title, despite their 1-0 victory on the field.

“The Confédération Africaine de Football (“CAF”) Appeal Board decided today that in application of Article 84 of the Regulations of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the Senegal National Team is declared to have forfeited the Final Match of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations… with the result of the Match being recorded as 3–0 in favour of the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF),” CAF announced in a statement published on its official website this Tuesday.

This major decision stems from that final, in which Senegal’s players temporarily refused to continue playing after deeming a penalty awarded to Morocco during extra time illegitimate. Ultimately, Brahim Diaz missed the opportunity, and minutes later Pape Gueye scored the goal that saw Senegal emerge victorious and lift the trophy.

What do the AFCON regulations say?

After that controversial final, Morocco filed a complaint with CAF arguing that Senegal had violated the tournament’s regulations. Specifically, the claim pointed to the application of Articles 82 and 84 of the Regulations of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations.

Article 82 states: “If, for any reason whatsoever, a team withdraws from the competition or does not report for a match, or refuses to play or leaves the ground before the regular end of the match without the authorisation of the referee, it shall be considered loser and shall be eliminated for good from the current competition.”

Article 84 establishes the sanction in the event that this violation is confirmed: “The team which contravenes the provisions of articles 82 and 83 shall be eliminated for good from the competition. This team will lose its match by 3-0 unless the opponent has scored a more advantageous result at the time when the match was interrupted, in this case this score will be maintained.”

Can Senegal appeal this decision?

The decision to overturn the result in favor of Morocco and award them the 2025 AFCON final, despite Senegal’s on-field 1-0 victory, comes from the highest continental sporting authority, the CAF Appeal Board. This means that within CAF’s internal hierarchy, there is no further avenue for appeal.

However, that does not mean Senegal’s case is completely closed. They now have the option to request a review of the decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Based in Lausanne, Switzerland, CAS is the world’s top sports tribunal and has the authority to issue a final ruling on soccer-related disputes such as this one.

After Lionel Messi did not play against Charlotte FC, Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano addressed the situation ahead of the Concacaf Champions Cup clash against Nashville SC.

Inter Miami drew 0-0 last Saturday against Charlotte FC in Major League Soccer, a match highlighted by the absence of Lionel Messi. Now, with the Concacaf Champions Cup matchup against Nashville SC looming, head coach Javier Mascherano spoke about the situation.

At Tuesday’s press conference, shared by journalist Jose Armando on X, Mascherano was asked about Messi’s absence — as well as Rodrigo De Paul’s — in the previous match. “They didn’t travel, and it was a decision we made together with them,” he began. “We preferred they avoid the trip and get some rest.”

Expanding on that explanation, the coach added: “We felt we had been traveling a lot, and it was a synthetic field — always a tough one in Charlotte. We’ve been on the road quite a bit over the past month and a half, between preseason and the start of the season.”

With that MLS match behind them, the Herons are now focused on the Concacaf Champions Cup, where they will face Nashville SC this Wednesday at Chase Stadium. It will be a decisive matchup, as they look to advance to quarterfinals after a 0-0 draw in the first leg.

Regarding that game, Mascherano offered reassurance about the availability of both Messi and De Paul. “Leo and Rodrigo are in perfect condition, like everyone else except Maxi,” the coach said, referring to Maximiliano Falcon, who has been sidelined since last Wednesday. “Maxi is the only player unavailable.”

Inter Miami must be especially cautious against Nashville

Wednesday’s match will be Inter Miami’s most important of the year so far. They will be playing for a place in the Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinals — the club’s primary objective this season.

After a scoreless draw in the first leg at Geodis Park, the Herons face a tricky situation heading into the decisive match at Chase Stadium. In this competition, away goals carry more weight when tiebreaking level series.

As a result, if the second leg also ends in a draw with goals (for example, 1-1 or 2-2), Nashville SC would advance. That means a single goal from the visitors would force Inter Miami to win the match.

Rafael Leao could be on his way out of AC Milan, with reports indicating that Cristiano Ronaldo is looking to bring him to Al Nassr.

Cristiano Ronaldo has inspired many top-level players to leave Europe and begin new chapters in the Saudi Pro League. Now Portugal star Rafael Leao could follow a similar path and join Al Nassr, amid an uncertain situation at AC Milan.

Leao was involved in an unusual episode this past weekend when he appeared visibly frustrated after being substituted for Niclas Fullkrug in the second half of Milan’s loss to Lazio in Serie A.

“After Leao’s latest episode, reacting angrily to being substituted, his future is once again in doubt,” Diario AS reported on Tuesday. “Cristiano is looking to take advantage of the situation. The Portuguese star wants to convince his compatriot to join him in Saudi Arabia next summer.”

If confirmed, this would be a blockbuster move in the soccer world. Despite dealing with a disappointing, injury-hit season, Leao remains one of the most impactful players in Italian soccer, and a move from Europe to Saudi Arabia would certainly turn heads.

Across Serie A and Coppa Italia, the winger has made 24 appearances for AC Milan in the 2025–26 season, including 20 starts. In those matches, he has recorded 10 goals and 2 assists, averaging 0.5 goal contributions per game.

AC Milan’s stance on Leao

Valued at €70 million (around $80 million) by the specialized website Transfermarkt, Rafael Leao is one of AC Milan’s biggest stars alongside Christian Pulisic. However, his future at the club remains uncertain. “Milan would be willing to listen to offers,” Diario AS added in the same report, regarding the possibility of Leao being transferred once the current season ends.

If that happens, Al Nassr would not be the only club interested. In fact, for weeks there have been rumors that two Premier League giants are closely monitoring Leao: Arsenal and Manchester United.

Another Portuguese teammate for Cristiano Ronaldo?

A potential move from AC Milan to join Cristiano Ronaldo in the Saudi Pro League would be a significant boost for Al Nassr. The club already boasts a star-studded attack, and the 26-year-old winger would be a strong addition to that group.

Alongside Sadio Mane and Kingsley Coman, Al Nassr also feature two Portugal national team stars: Cristiano Ronaldo and Joao Felix. The arrival of Rafael Leao would unite three key attacking players from Roberto Martinez’s squad and further strengthen Al Nassr’s push for the elusive Saudi Pro League title.

James Rodriguez made his Major League Soccer debut with Minnesota United, and Thomas Müller had some thoughts on the matter.

More than a month after his arrival at Minnesota United was announced, James Rodriguez made his MLS debut this past weekend. Facing him on the pitch was Thomas Muller, who shared his perspective on the Colombian midfielder joining the league.

James Rodriguez came on in the second half for Tomas Chancalay and played just over 30 minutes in Minnesota United’s heavy 6-0 loss to Vancouver Whitecaps at BC Place. Muller, who also appeared in the final minutes, offered an unusually candid observation.

“I was a bit surprised he chose Minnesota,” the German forward said about Rodriguez’s move to MLS, according to BeIN Sports. “I remember in Munich he always said he was freezing. And now he goes to Minnesota, which is probably the coldest place in the United States.”

At that point, Muller isn’t entirely wrong. Minnesota is known for its harsh winters, with temperatures that can drop to 0°F. That’s even colder than winters in Munich, which usually see lows around 25°F. And it’s a massive contrast to the temperatures Rodriguez is used to in Colombia. In his hometown of Cucuta, the year’s lowest temperatures rarely fall below 59°F.

Muller and Rodriguez know each other well

Thomas Muller made the joke about Rodriguez’s move to MLS based on the close relationship they share. The two were teammates between 2017 and 2019 at Bayern Munich, when the Colombian midfielder arrived on loan from Real Madrid.

During those two seasons, Rodriguez struggled to fully adapt to the Bundesliga, which led the German club to pass on making the deal permanent. Still, James appeared in 67 matches, scored 15 goals, and contributed to two league titles and one DFB-Pokal victory.

The next challenges for Muller and Rodriguez

Thomas Muller’s MLS reality differs greatly from that of James Rodriguez. The German forward plays for one of the league’s top teams: Vancouver Whitecaps have won all four of their games this season and currently lead the Western Conference standings alongside Los Angeles FC.

On the continental stage, however, they face the tough task of overturning a 3-0 first-leg deficit in the Round of 16 of the CONCACAF Champions Cup against Seattle Sounders, who they will visit Wednesday night.

Minnesota United, by contrast, are fully focused on MLS. They started the season with one win, one draw, and two losses, leaving them near the bottom of the Western Conference. Their next match will also be against Seattle Sounders on Sunday.

After the Finalissima against Spain was cancelled, Argentina reportedly have plans in place for the March FIFA break.

The soccer world will miss out on what promised to be an unforgettable showdown between Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal in the Finalissima. Following the cancellation of that match against Spain, Argentina now appear to have a clear plan for the March FIFA break.

“The Argentina national team will train in Argentina during the FIFA window,” national team insider Gaston Edul reported Tuesday via his official X account. “There will be no travel.”

That puts an end to speculation surrounding the path forward for Lionel Scaloni’s squad. Originally, Argentina were set to face Spain in the Finalissima on March 27 in Qatar, and four days later they were scheduled to take on the hosts in a friendly. That second match was intended as preparation for their World Cup clash with Jordan, given the similarities in level and style between the opponents.

With those Middle East fixtures no longer viable due to the region’s ongoing tensions, and after talks to relocate the Finalissima fell through, Argentina are now targeting a single friendly on home soil.

“FIFA break: Argentina vs. Guatemala on March 31. The stadium will be confirmed soon,” added Gaston Edul, also via X. This means Lionel Scaloni will have the opportunity to put his players into action, albeit against a lower-level opponent than Spain.

Argentina choose a completely different path than Spain

While Argentina are heading into the March FIFA break with just one friendly against a lower-level opponent and prioritizing extended training time, Spain have taken the opposite approach following the Finalissima cancellation.

The reigning European champions moved quickly to line up two new friendlies for the upcoming international window. On March 27, they will face Serbia on Spanish soil, with the venue still to be confirmed. Four days later, they will take on Egypt, a team they were originally scheduled to face in Qatar.

Luis de la Fuente and Lionel Scaloni have opted for contrasting strategies amid the sudden changes. The Spain manager will have two matches to evaluate his squad before naming his final 26-man roster in late May, while his Argentine counterpart will benefit from extended training time to further refine his team’s on-field chemistry.