Mike DeCourcy

The tears were real. Switzerland striker Breel Embolo no longer was acting by then. He covered his face in horror, aware everything he'd dreamed

Lionel Messi stood just a few feet away, behind a barrier and under the television lights, when he issued the declaration that might have changed modern soccer forever.

In June 2016, the great Lionel Messi stood in a tunnel underneath MetLife Stadium and announced his retirement from international soccer. We're all blessed that he reconsidered that decision, but no one more so than Argentina's coaches, players and fans.

In the 90 minutes of soccer that advanced Spain to the second FIFA World Cup final in their history, the most impactful contribution from teenaged superstar Lamine Yamal was to be kicked firmly in the left thigh.

Teenaged Spanish superstar Lamine Yamal often performs wizardry on the soccer field with his left leg. This time, that leg came in handy for an odd reason -- but it was decisive in advancing Spain to its second-ever World Cup final.

He came all the way from Germany to make sure England remained England. That has been the journey of Thomas Tuchel since being hired to coach the Three Lions at the 2026 FIFA World Cup

If Bruce Meyer somehow is unsuccessful at transforming his interim position as executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association

From the time of the opening kickoff in Mexico to the end of the 2026 FIFA World Cup final Sunday evening at New Jersey's Meadowlands, most of 39 days will have passed.

NEW YORK – We think of Argentina as Lionel Messi's team, and how could we not? He is the greatest player in the history of world soccer, the guy who gradually turned Messi vs.

NEW YORK – A few weeks back, Lionel Messi celebrated his 39 th birthday, in the middle of dominating a World Cup at a point when Pele had been