عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Sports

Di Maria Scores, Messi Returns in Argentina’s Copa America Warmup Victory Over Ecuador 

Argentina's forward #11 Angel Di Maria (2nd L) celebrates scoring his team's first goal with teammates during an international friendly football match between Argentina and Ecuador at Solider Field in Chicago, Illinois, on June 9, 2024. (AFP)
Argentina's forward #11 Angel Di Maria (2nd L) celebrates scoring his team's first goal with teammates during an international friendly football match between Argentina and Ecuador at Solider Field in Chicago, Illinois, on June 9, 2024. (AFP)
TT
TT

Di Maria Scores, Messi Returns in Argentina’s Copa America Warmup Victory Over Ecuador 

Argentina's forward #11 Angel Di Maria (2nd L) celebrates scoring his team's first goal with teammates during an international friendly football match between Argentina and Ecuador at Solider Field in Chicago, Illinois, on June 9, 2024. (AFP)
Argentina's forward #11 Angel Di Maria (2nd L) celebrates scoring his team's first goal with teammates during an international friendly football match between Argentina and Ecuador at Solider Field in Chicago, Illinois, on June 9, 2024. (AFP)

Angel Di Maria scored as Lionel Messi returned to the international stage for the first time in six months, helping Argentina to a 1-0 victory over Ecuador in a Copa America warmup match on Sunday night.

Messi was sidelined for the first half before replacing Di Maria in the 56th minute. A right hamstring injury kept the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner and Inter Miami star from participating in Argentina’s previous two Copa America warmup matches against El Salvador and Costa Rica in March.

“Sometimes there is no need to risk it, not only with Leo. It is about taking care of them so that they arrive in optimal conditions,” Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni said of his decision to sit Messi for the first half.

With Messi watching from the bench, Di Maria sent a reverse pass from Christian Romero into the net to open the scoring in the 40th minute.

“It helps to play against a rival like that, especially because Ecuador plays at a high level, they make it difficult for anyone,” Scaloni said. “And we needed to get together, compete, add minutes and feel the sensation of putting on the shirt before a Cup that is going to be difficult.”

It was Di Maria's second consecutive goal in an international match. He also scored against Costa Rica on March 26. With the 31st goal of his Argentina career, the 36-year-old midfielder is tied with Gonzalo Higuain for the fifth-most goals in the country’s history and sits just four scores behind Diego Maradona at No. 4 on the leaderboard.

Argentina — the reigning World Cup and Copa America champion — hasn’t fallen in its last seven meetings with Ecuador, a streak dating back to 2019.

“The goal is to continue competing, and these guys have competing in their blood,” Scaloni said. “Sometimes it turns out well and other times it doesn’t turn out well. But you have to keep playing. There are always things to play for. Now the Copa América, then the qualifiers. ... Our goal is always to compete at our best.”

UP NEXT

Argentina: Scaloni’s squad will wrap up its pre-Copa America slate in Washington D.C. on Friday with a warmup match against Guatemala before opening its group stage of the tournament against Canada on June 20.

Ecuador: A pair of international friendly matches remain against Bolivia on Wednesday and Honduras on June 16 before opening the Copa America schedule against Venezuela on June 22.

Most Viewed

 
 
Sports

Kompany Says Bayern Likely Won’t Need to Start 16-Year-Old Goalkeeper Amid Injury Crisis

Bayern Munich's Belgian head coach Vincent Kompany (R) reacts after Bayern Munich's Colombian forward #14 Luis Diaz (C) was sent off by the referee during the German first division Bundesliga football match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and FC Bayern Munich in Leverkusen, western Germany on March 14, 2026. (AFP)
Bayern Munich's Belgian head coach Vincent Kompany (R) reacts after Bayern Munich's Colombian forward #14 Luis Diaz (C) was sent off by the referee during the German first division Bundesliga football match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and FC Bayern Munich in Leverkusen, western Germany on March 14, 2026. (AFP)
TT
TT

Kompany Says Bayern Likely Won’t Need to Start 16-Year-Old Goalkeeper Amid Injury Crisis

Bayern Munich's Belgian head coach Vincent Kompany (R) reacts after Bayern Munich's Colombian forward #14 Luis Diaz (C) was sent off by the referee during the German first division Bundesliga football match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and FC Bayern Munich in Leverkusen, western Germany on March 14, 2026. (AFP)
Bayern Munich's Belgian head coach Vincent Kompany (R) reacts after Bayern Munich's Colombian forward #14 Luis Diaz (C) was sent off by the referee during the German first division Bundesliga football match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and FC Bayern Munich in Leverkusen, western Germany on March 14, 2026. (AFP)

Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany has indicated he'll likely avoid having to field 16-year-old goalkeeper Leonard Prescott in the Champions League against Atalanta after backup Jonas Urbig returned to training Tuesday amid an injury crisis in the position.

Urbig, normally Bayern's second choice in goal, sustained from concussion after colliding with an opponent when Bayern won the first leg 6-1 last week. Fellow goalkeepers Manuel Neuer and Sven Ulreich have injuries too ahead of the second leg Wednesday.

Kompany said it will be a “purely medical decision” whether Urbig is fit to play, and "if everything is fine tomorrow morning and it's going like it is currently is, then Urbig will be in goal as normal. And if not, then we need to use another solution and we'll do that as well.”

Kompany then confirmed that the “solution” would be New York-born 16-year-old Prescott, who usually plays for the club's under-19 squad.

Prescott was on the bench for the team's Bundesliga game Saturday when third-choice Ulreich tore an adductor muscle. A 19-year-old reserve player, Jannis Bärtl, has also been considered an option.

Bayern said Urbig trained with the team Tuesday and Neuer did a partial session as part of his recovery from a recurring calf injury. It's “obviously satisfying that Manu is back and Jonas can train just as normal,” Kompany said.

Bayern has also been dealing with injuries to left back Alphonso Davies and forward Jamal Musiala after last week's win at Atalanta.

Sports

Iran Negotiating with FIFA to Move World Cup Games to Mexico from US

The FIFA World Cup trophy is displayed at BBVA Stadium in Monterrey, Mexico, 14 March 2026. (EPA)
The FIFA World Cup trophy is displayed at BBVA Stadium in Monterrey, Mexico, 14 March 2026. (EPA)
TT
TT

Iran Negotiating with FIFA to Move World Cup Games to Mexico from US

The FIFA World Cup trophy is displayed at BBVA Stadium in Monterrey, Mexico, 14 March 2026. (EPA)
The FIFA World Cup trophy is displayed at BBVA Stadium in Monterrey, Mexico, 14 March 2026. (EPA)

Iran's football ‌federation is in discussions with FIFA about moving their World Cup matches from the United States to Mexico due to concerns about the safety of their players, Iranian football president Mehdi Taj said on Monday.

Iran's sports minister said last week it was not possible for ‌the Iranian ‌players to participate in ‌the ⁠tournament after the ⁠US launched airstrikes alongside Israel against Tehran, killing the country’s supreme leader.

US President Donald Trump has said Iran were welcome to participate but suggested it might ⁠not be appropriate for ‌them to play ‌in the US “for their own life ‌and safety”.

"When (US President Donald) Trump has ‌explicitly stated that he cannot ensure the security of the Iranian national team, we will certainly not travel ‌to America," said Taj in a post on the Iranian ⁠embassy ⁠in Mexico's X account.

"We are negotiating with FIFA to hold Iran's World Cup matches in Mexico."

Iran has qualified for the 48-team tournament to be held in the US, Canada and Mexico from June 11 and are scheduled to play two group matches in Los Angeles and one in Seattle.

Sports

Man City Must Be ‘Perfect’ to Stun Real Madrid, Says Guardiola

Football - UEFA Champions League - Round of 16 - First Leg - Real Madrid v Manchester City - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - March 11, 2026 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola looks on. (Action Images via Reuters)
Football - UEFA Champions League - Round of 16 - First Leg - Real Madrid v Manchester City - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - March 11, 2026 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola looks on. (Action Images via Reuters)
TT
TT

Man City Must Be ‘Perfect’ to Stun Real Madrid, Says Guardiola

Football - UEFA Champions League - Round of 16 - First Leg - Real Madrid v Manchester City - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - March 11, 2026 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola looks on. (Action Images via Reuters)
Football - UEFA Champions League - Round of 16 - First Leg - Real Madrid v Manchester City - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - March 11, 2026 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola looks on. (Action Images via Reuters)

Pep Guardiola admits Manchester City will have to play a "perfect" game when they face the "massive" task of overturning a 3-0 deficit against Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Guardiola's side are on the brink of elimination after the last-16 first leg loss in Madrid last week.

City must produce one of the greatest fightbacks in the history of the Champions League to avoid being knocked out by Real for a third successive season.

It is a daunting challenge against the 15-time European champions and City boss Guardiola knows only a sublime display in the second leg at the Etihad Stadium will give his team a chance of a miraculous escape.

"I have to admit the task is massive. To score more than three goals against Madrid is not easy," Guardiola told reporters on Monday.

"The result in the first leg was not the perfect one but at the same time we are here. It's a football game, everything can happen.

"We have to create as much momentum as possible with our people. It has to be a perfect game in many, many departments.

"Always we can create chances, we know that, but this season we're not finishing. If we are able to be clinical there and defend well, always we will be in the game."

Guardiola called on City to emulate the spirit of one of their most memorable fightbacks as they seek inspiration against Real.

City came from 2-0 down with three goals in the final 14 minutes against Aston Villa in the last game of the 2021-22 season to win the Premier League title.

- 'You never know' -

"Aston Villa, the last game to win the Premier League - 74 minutes 0-2 and we made three goals in in 12 minutes," Guardiola said.

"Of course we have to take more risk in terms of trying, but even if the results are not good in the first half we have to keep going, carry on, go, because you never know."

City captain Bernardo Silva echoed Guardiola's belief that the tie is not over yet.

"This sport has taught us that a lot of things can happen in a football game," he said.

"Even though the result in Madrid was really bad, we will fight until the end.

"After a big defeat, on the day you feel like everything is very dark, then it gets brighter and brighter. We know what this team is capable of."

City's preparations for the match have been unusual as Guardiola opted to give his players a day off on Monday and not train the day before the game.

That decision could potentially risk censure from tournament organizers UEFA as clubs are obliged to allow media access to a training session or match preparation for 15 minutes.

Guardiola's said the team's recent heavy schedule was behind his decision, with a lackluster 1-1 draw at West Ham on Saturday dealing a major blow to their Premier League title hopes.

"I prefer today everybody be at home. We'll train tomorrow," Guardiola said.

"Repetition for training will not make us play better in the game against Madrid because today in modern football, in the top teams, training doesn't much improve a lot."