The 41-year-old Portugal skipper, under pressure to find the net after a barren run at major international tournaments, pounced from close range after just six minutes to create a piece of World Cup history.

Lionel Messi looked down, a grin widening into a grimace. One wonders whether there was even a smirk after the miss. Nowhere close to what could be termed a good penalty, he wore the look of a man who knew he was overthinking.

England can secure a place in the World Cup knockout rounds with a game to spare when they face Ghana in a pivotal Group L clash at Gillette Stadium on Tuesday.

He is the ultimate symbol of relentless hard work, an unyielding never give up attitude, and a burning hunger for success that has redefined what it means to be an athlete. For over two decades, his arrogance on the pitch derived from a pure, unadulterated confidence and his insatiable obsession with winning title after title have made him a living blueprint for greatness.

England coach Brendon McCullum has denied his relationship with Ben Stokes was damaged by the nightclub controversy that forced the captain into exile for the second Test defeat against New Zealand.

Belgium’s Jeremy Doku is preparing to fly back to join the national team at the World Cup after the winger returned to England to be with his wife, who gave birth to a boy on Monday.

Saka, who is typically a first-choice starter for England, came on as a substitute in the 4-2 win over Croatia in the opening game of the tournament last week.

Cristiano Ronaldo enters Portugal's second Group K match at the FIFA World Cup against Uzbekistan tonight with questions swirling around him.

Messi, at his sixth World Cup, was still going strong in the 95th minute.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal will look to answer their critics when they face Uzbekistan in their second Group K match at the World Cup in Houston on Tuesday.

Norway have lost just one of their past 18 matches and will take on 2022 runners-up France in Boston on Friday to determine the winners of Group I.

Erling Haaland may be known simply as “Haaland” at club level, but fans watching Norway at the 2026 FIFA World Cup have noticed a different name on the back of his shirt: Braut Haaland.

England will aim to become the latest of the World Cup big guns to book their place in the knockout rounds on Tuesday as Portugal attempt to kickstart their campaign after a lacklustre opening draw.

Uruguay head coach Marcelo Bielsa finds himself under mounting pressure once again.

Modern football is a game of marginal gains, where elite teams invest millions into recovery, sleep management and carefully planned travel schedules. Standing in security queues and waiting for border clearance is not part of any high-performance preparation plan.

France manager Didier Deschamps suggested Kylian Mbappe will eventually claim the all-time World Cup goals record after the 27-year-old striker scored his second double of the tournament in Monday’s 3-0 win over Iraq.

Algeria stormed back to beat Jordan 2-1 and eliminate the World Cup debutants with a match to spare on Monday thanks to second-half goals from substitute Nadhir Benbouali and Amine Gouiri.

“For me, Lionel Messi is the best footballer of all time. Congratulations, champion,” Klose said in remarks quoted by German media outlet Süddeutsche Zeitung.

At their first finals since 1998, red-clad Norwegian fans have been doing their Viking row in stadiums, on escalators and even in New York's Times Square, but it has never been more emotional or joyous than after the final whistle on Monday.

The contrast between the two football icons adds another fascinating chapter to this World Cup.