"For me, Lamine has played one of the most important matches of his life," de la Fuente said. "Beyond whether he was brilliant or not, for me it has been one of the matches that will help him grow the most."

Cristiano Ronaldo spent more than two decades deciding matches, dragging teams through difficult moments and defying time itself to remain among soccer's elite even past his Real Madrid, Manchester United and Juventus prime.

Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo's final World Cup ended with a Spanish sting in the tail, courtesy of Mikel Merino's last-gasp winner that earned a 1-0 round-of-16 win on Monday, but he was unwilling to make a hasty call on his international future.

Portugal manager Roberto Martinez said he was leaving his role after Spain beat his side 1-0 in the World Cup last 16 on Monday, calling the defeat the end of a cycle for the team.

Much like seafaring 8th-century Norse warriors who raided and conquered across continents, this modern-day Viking delivered two clinical blows late in the game to alter his nation's football history

Substitute Mikel Merino scored a late winner to put Spain in the quarter-finals with a 1-0 victory over Portugal and end Cristiano Ronaldo's World Cup career on Monday.

They say it is difficult to breathe at 7,350 feet. England climbed higher on the night. By the final whistle, they were on cloud nine, having left the football world breathless.

Lionel Messi looked to the sky, fists clenched, as Argentina’s Round of 32 clash against Cape Verde in Miami on Saturday came to an end. There had been tears in his eyes just a few minutes earlier. Messi’s reaction was not merely one of relief washing over him but that of a survivor emerging from great turmoil. The Blue Sharks had awakened a fear Argentina did not know still existed within them.

Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz admitted he was "a little disappointed" with his side's batting after the Tigers slipped to a 25-run defeat in the first ODI against Zimbabwe in Harare on Monday, squandering a record-breaking bowling performance from Nahid Rana.

President Donald Trump confirmed Monday he asked FIFA boss Gianni Infantino to review the "horrible" decision to hand a red card to star US striker Folarin Balogun, but said he did not request it be overturned.

A woeful batting display overshadowed a record-breaking bowling performance from Nahid Rana as Bangladesh suffered a 25-run defeat to Zimbabwe in the low-scoring first ODI of the three-match series at the Harare Sports Club on Monday.

France and Morocco head into their quarterfinal meeting having provided very different answers.

‘We will remember those who stood by us when the night was hardest,’ embassy’s message says

Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal will be facing another tough test when they take on in-form Spain in a blockbuster Round of 16 clash of the FIFA World Cup 2026 at Dallas Stadium tonight.

FIFA's ruling, which came after the intervention of Donald Trump, permits Balogun to play in the co-hosts' World Cup last 16 match with Belgium later on Monday.

Mexico impressed at this World Cup by winning Group A with a 3-0-0 record (9 points) and a six-goal differential.

The rescinding of USA forward Folarin Balogun's suspension on US president Donald Trump's request shows how much corruption and greed has eaten into the sport's showpiece event.

He is no longer the winger who breezed past defenders at will for Manchester United. Nor is he the unstoppable force Real Madrid relied upon to change a game in an instant.

The twenty-fifth day of the FIFA World Cup 2026 had everything -- heavyweights crashing out and a knockout classic that went down to the wire.

The Tigers enter the match looking to bounce back from their innings-and-85-run defeat in the one-off Test