Sports
Messi Retires from Argentina National Team for Second Time at 39
Messi Retires from Argentina National Team for Second Time at 39
Football legend announces emotional departure after 2026 World Cup final loss, citing father’s death as confirmation of his decision
Argentina football legend Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from the national team for the second time in his career, bringing an emotional chapter of his illustrious international career to a close at the age of 39. Messi made the announcement on Monday, August 31, 2026, in a heartfelt statement shared on his official Instagram account, ending nearly two decades of representing La Albiceleste. The 39-year-old forward revealed that he had written the retirement message on July 21, just two days after Argentina’s heartbreaking 1-0 defeat to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final at the New York/New Jersey Stadium. However, he chose to wait before publishing the statement. Messi explained that subsequent events involving his father, Jorge Messi, who tragically passed away on August 8 at the age of 68 following a long illness, made him even more convinced that retiring was the right decision.
“It was a decision that hurt and still hurts deep inside, but I understand that this is the right moment,” Messi wrote in his statement. “I swear to you that I always gave everything, not just in these last few years when we won everything, but before that too. I always fought and gave everything for this shirt, to bring you joy and make you feel proud to be Argentine through football.” Messi’s decision comes after he led Argentina to a second successive World Cup final in 2026. He previously led the Albiceleste to glory at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where Argentina defeated France in a dramatic penalty shootout to secure the nation’s third world title. During his international career, he also won two Copa América titles in 2021 and 2024, as well as the 2022 Finalissima.
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The star cited the emergence of a new generation of Argentine players as another factor in his decision. “There isn’t much time left, and different chapters are coming to an end. This is one that hurts me a lot. I love, loved, and will always love being part of the national team. I gave everything I had, and I don’t have anything more to give,” Messi stated. “Also, there are great young players coming through who deserve to be there.” Messi ends his senior Argentina career with a record of 207 caps and 125 goals, making him the nation’s all-time leading scorer. He also holds the record for the most assists in international soccer history with 65, and the most assists in FIFA World Cup history with 12. He has won six titles while representing the national team: the World Cup in 2022, two Copa Américas, the Finalissima, as well as two youth titles (Olympic Gold Medal in 2008) and the U-20 World Cup in 2005.
In his farewell message, Messi thanked Argentina’s supporters, his family, coaches, teammates, and directors who accompanied him throughout his 20-year international journey. “Thank you for all the affection over these 20 years. I’m going to miss hearing you from the inside very much. Now I’m going to be one of you, cheering and supporting from the outside (through thick and thin, even more so).” He concluded his message with a powerful expression of national pride: “I leave with the peace of mind and pride of having given you, along with my teammates, moments we once only dreamed of. It was crazy to experience it all with you. Thank you, God, for making me Argentine. Vamos Argentina!” This marks the second time Messi has retired from international football. He previously stepped away from the national team following Argentina’s Copa América defeat to Chile in 2016, where he missed a crucial penalty in the shootout. However, he swiftly returned just six weeks later following a collective effort by fans, teammates, and even national hero Diego Maradona to convince him to reconsider. Messi’s contract with Major League Soccer club Inter Miami runs until the end of the 2028 season, and his retirement from international football does not, by itself, confirm his retirement from professional club football.
Messi Retires from Argentina National Team for Second Time at 39
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Sports
Yamal Inspires Barcelona Comeback to Sink Osimhen’s Galatasaray
Yamal Inspires Barcelona Comeback to Sink Osimhen’s Galatasaray
Barcelona delivered a stunning second-half performance to defeat Victor Osimhen’s Galatasaray 4-1 in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday night, October 13, 2026, recovering from an early setback to silence the home crowd in Istanbul.
The Spanish giants fell behind in the first half but responded with four goals to secure an emphatic victory at RAMS Park, extending their winning run across all competitions to 10 matches.
Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen played the full 90 minutes for Galatasaray but failed to score as Barcelona overturned the deficit with an impressive attacking display led by teenage sensation Lamine Yamal.
Galatasaray took the lead in the 28th minute when Aleksey Batrakov finished off a counterattack initiated by Rafael Leão. His effort took a deflection off João Cancelo before beating Barcelona goalkeeper Joan García.
The Turkish champions appeared poised to extend their advantage when Osimhen threatened from a corner, but a subsequent goal was ruled out for offside following a video assistant referee review.
Barcelona capitalised on the reprieve and restored parity shortly before half-time. In the 43rd minute, Cancelo collected a pass from Dani Olmo inside the penalty area and curled a superb finish into the far corner.
The equaliser transformed the contest, and Barcelona returned from the break with renewed intensity.
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In the 50th minute, Yamal delivered an excellent cross that Fermín López headed into the net to put the visitors ahead for the first time.
Just three minutes later, Yamal produced another decisive contribution, creating the opportunity for Anthony Gordon to score Barcelona’s third goal and put the visitors firmly in control.
Gordon, who was making his first Champions League start for Barcelona, recovered from an earlier missed opportunity to find the net and extend the lead.
Barcelona completed the scoring in the 65th minute when substitute Karim Adeyemi fired home after coming off the bench, putting the result beyond Galatasaray’s reach.
Yamal’s two assists proved crucial to the comeback, with the young winger repeatedly exposing the home side’s defence after the interval. His performance earned him the Man of the Match recognition in Flashscore’s report of the encounter.
Osimhen, meanwhile, endured a frustrating evening as Galatasaray struggled to respond to Barcelona’s attacking pressure. The Nigerian forward had opportunities to threaten the visitors but could not find the breakthrough needed to revive his team’s hopes.
The defeat leaves Galatasaray without a point after their opening two matches in the Champions League league phase, increasing the pressure on the Turkish side ahead of their next European fixture.
Barcelona, by contrast, have collected six points from their first two matches after opening their campaign with a 5-1 victory over Feyenoord.
The result strengthens the Spanish club’s position in the early Champions League standings and provides another indication of their attacking strength under manager Hansi Flick.
Barcelona will next face Paris Saint-Germain in a potentially decisive European test, while Galatasaray are scheduled to visit Lille on October 21 as they seek to recover from their difficult start.
For Osimhen and his teammates, the immediate challenge will be to address their defensive shortcomings and regain momentum before their next European outing.
Yamal Inspires Barcelona Comeback to Sink Osimhen’s Galatasaray
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Sports
Ronaldo Hits 980th Career Goal as Al-Nassr Win After Portugal Fallout
Cristiano Ronaldo has moved closer to the historic 1,000-goal milestone after scoring for Al-Nassr in their 3-0 victory over Al-Diriyah in the Saudi Pro League, following a controversial fallout with Portugal’s national team coach, Jorge Jesus.
The 41-year-old Portuguese forward scored his 980th career goal on Friday, October 9, 2026, as Al-Nassr returned to domestic action with a convincing victory in Riyadh.
Ronaldo’s goal came midway through the first half when Al-Diriyah goalkeeper Waleed Abdullah parried a long-range effort from Kingsley Coman. Ronaldo reacted quickly to the rebound and finished from close range to give Al-Nassr the lead.
The goal brought the five-time Ballon d’Or winner 20 goals away from his publicly stated target of scoring 1,000 goals in official matches, further extending a remarkable career spanning club and international football.
Al-Nassr doubled their advantage shortly before half-time when Samu Costa headed home from a corner delivered by João Félix. Coman subsequently added the third goal with 13 minutes remaining to seal the 3-0 victory.
The result kept Al-Nassr level on points with Saudi Pro League leaders Al-Qadsiah after eight rounds, although they remained behind on goal difference. Al-Qadsiah had earlier strengthened their position with a 5-0 victory over Al-Kholood.
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Ronaldo also received support from Al-Nassr supporters, who displayed banners celebrating his achievements before the match. The Portuguese Football Federation’s acknowledgement of his goal on social media also attracted attention against the backdrop of the recent controversy surrounding his national team involvement.
The club performance offered a positive response from Ronaldo after an international break dominated by reports of a disagreement with Jesus over his role in Portugal’s squad.
The dispute followed Portugal’s 2-1 Nations League victory over Norway, during which Ronaldo was not introduced despite warming up. He was subsequently informed that he would not start against Denmark.
In a statement reported by Reuters on October 6, Ronaldo alleged that Jesus had broken his word on two occasions. According to the forward, they had initially agreed that he would miss the two matches to manage his fitness, but the coach later indicated that he would play for 30 minutes against Norway.
Ronaldo said a subsequent meeting involving Jesus and Al-Nassr sporting director Simão Coutinho produced an understanding about how the coach would explain the situation publicly. He alleged that Jesus failed to follow the agreed explanation.
Jesus disputed Ronaldo’s account, denying that such an agreement had been made.
Ronaldo later apologised for leaving Portugal’s training camp and for failing to acknowledge supporters after the Norway match. He also accepted that the Portuguese Football Federation could impose disciplinary measures over his conduct.
Despite the disagreement, Ronaldo insisted that he had not retired from international football and remained willing to represent Portugal after serving any punishment that might be imposed.
Portugal’s coach and federation president Pedro Proença have indicated that the forward remains welcome in the national team setup. The federation has also described the episode as a misunderstanding to be resolved internally.
Ronaldo remains Portugal’s all-time leading scorer, with 146 goals in 234 international appearances. His next steps with the national team will depend on the resolution of the dispute and any disciplinary decision by the federation.
For now, his return to club action has put the focus back on his scoring record and Al-Nassr’s league campaign. With 980 career goals, Ronaldo continues his pursuit of the 1,000-goal landmark while uncertainty remains over the timing of his next Portugal appearance.
Ronaldo Hits 980th Career Goal as Al-Nassr Win After Portugal Fallout
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Sports
Fury-Joshua Showdown Sells Out in 60 Minutes as 500,000 Fans Queue for Tickets
Fury-Joshua Showdown Sells Out in 60 Minutes as 500,000 Fans Queue for Tickets
More than 80,000 tickets for the highly anticipated Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua heavyweight boxing showdown reportedly sold out within 60 minutes, as more than 500,000 fans queued online to secure seats for the long-awaited clash between the two British boxing stars.
The extraordinary demand highlights the global interest in the proposed December 2026 contest, which is expected to bring together two of Britain’s most recognisable heavyweight fighters.
The bout is scheduled to take place at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, with the event expected to attract a global audience. The reported ticket prices range from £88.50 to £13,128, including booking fees for the most expensive seats.
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The rapid sell-out means many prospective spectators were unable to secure tickets, despite joining the online queue. The reported figures also underline the commercial appeal of a fight that boxing fans have anticipated for years.
Fury and Joshua, both former heavyweight world champions, have been linked to a potential showdown for more than a decade. However, negotiations and repeated delays have prevented the two fighters from meeting in a professional bout.
The proposed encounter is expected to draw significant international attention, with Netflix reported to be the global broadcaster. Organisers have also indicated that the timing of the event is intended to accommodate audiences in different parts of the world.
The fight is expected to be one of the major boxing attractions of 2026, provided the announced arrangements proceed as planned. Its ticket demand has already generated considerable interest, even before the fighters enter the ring.
For boxing supporters, the contest represents an opportunity to see two heavyweight rivals finally face each other in a professional bout after years of speculation and anticipation.
Fury-Joshua Showdown Sells Out in 60 Minutes as 500,000 Fans Queue for Tickets
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