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Messi Quickly Scores in Return to Lineup, Inter Miami Tops Philadelphia Union 2-1

Inter Miami's Argentine forward #10 Lionel Messi controls the ball during the Major League Soccer match between Inter Miami FC and Philadelphia Union at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on March 29, 2025. (Photo by Chris Arjoon / AFP)
Inter Miami's Argentine forward #10 Lionel Messi controls the ball during the Major League Soccer match between Inter Miami FC and Philadelphia Union at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on March 29, 2025. (Photo by Chris Arjoon / AFP)
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Messi Quickly Scores in Return to Lineup, Inter Miami Tops Philadelphia Union 2-1

Inter Miami's Argentine forward #10 Lionel Messi controls the ball during the Major League Soccer match between Inter Miami FC and Philadelphia Union at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on March 29, 2025. (Photo by Chris Arjoon / AFP)
Inter Miami's Argentine forward #10 Lionel Messi controls the ball during the Major League Soccer match between Inter Miami FC and Philadelphia Union at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on March 29, 2025. (Photo by Chris Arjoon / AFP)

Lionel Messi made an immediate impact for Inter Miami against the Philadelphia Union on Saturday night, with what became the winning goal in a 2-1 victory that lifted the Herons into first place in Major League Soccer's Eastern Conference.
Messi returned to the lineup and scored less than two minutes after subbing into the match early in the second half. The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner took a pass from Luis Suarez on the right side of the penalty box, made a quick move and sent a right-footed shot past two defenders into the net for a 2-0 Inter Miami lead, The Associated Press reported.
It was Messi's second goal in three Major League Soccer matches this season. He did not start the match, but was cleared to play earlier in the week after missing some time — including two World Cup qualifiers for Argentina — with an adductor injury.
Daniel Gazdag got the goal for Philadelphia (4-2-0) in the 80th minute, but Inter Miami held on from there.
Messi also was dealing with an issue with his left thigh along with the adductor injury, which happened two weeks ago in an Inter Miami game against Atlanta. But the team did not play during that two-week stretch, so the only matches Messi missed were the World Cup qualifiers — when Argentina, which Messi captained to the 2022 title, qualified for the 2026 tournament.
Messi came on Saturday in the 55th minute, and the goal came in the 57th. He's had at least one point in all three MLS matches in which he has appeared this season for Inter Miami, which is 4-0-1 in MLS play and 8-0-1 overall this season when adding in four victories in CONCACAF Champions Cup matches.
Inter Miami jumped in front in the 23rd minute and took a 1-0 lead into halftime on a goal by Robert Taylor. Benjamin Cremaschi and Jordi Alba had the assists.
Messi came on for Taylor, and quickly stretched the lead to 2-0 with Suarez and Fafa Picault getting the assists.
The Union return home to play Orlando City next Saturday. Inter Miami — which continues CONCACAF Champions League play Wednesday at LAFC — will return to MLS play next Sunday, hosting Toronto FC.

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Mentality Shift Behind Rapid Rise, Fonseca Says After Reaching French Open Quarters

Brazil's Joao Fonseca celebrates his victory over Norway's Casper Ruud during their men's singles match on day 8 of the French Open tennis tournament on Court Philippe-Chatrier at the Roland-Garros Complex in Paris on May 31, 2026. (AFP)
Brazil's Joao Fonseca celebrates his victory over Norway's Casper Ruud during their men's singles match on day 8 of the French Open tennis tournament on Court Philippe-Chatrier at the Roland-Garros Complex in Paris on May 31, 2026. (AFP)
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Mentality Shift Behind Rapid Rise, Fonseca Says After Reaching French Open Quarters

Brazil's Joao Fonseca celebrates his victory over Norway's Casper Ruud during their men's singles match on day 8 of the French Open tennis tournament on Court Philippe-Chatrier at the Roland-Garros Complex in Paris on May 31, 2026. (AFP)
Brazil's Joao Fonseca celebrates his victory over Norway's Casper Ruud during their men's singles match on day 8 of the French Open tennis tournament on Court Philippe-Chatrier at the Roland-Garros Complex in Paris on May 31, 2026. (AFP)

Joao Fonseca said a ‌change in mentality and months of hard work have helped fuel his rise to a first Grand Slam quarter-final after the Brazilian teenager's breakthrough run at the French Open.

The 19-year-old reached the last eight of a major for the first time on Sunday with a 7-5 7-6(8) 5-7 6-2 victory over two-time runner-up Casper Ruud.

"Pre-season in December was pretty tough," he told reporters. "Australia can be an example, because I ‌was with ‌no rhythm at all. Practiced like ‌two ⁠days with 13 ⁠days off and tried to play.

"But what changed is doing a lot of physical stuff and working hard."

After winning the 2024 Next Gen ATP Finals, Fonseca burst into the spotlight with an upset of Andrey Rublev at the 2025 Australian Open.

He said ⁠his experiences over the past year had ‌helped shape his progress.

"The ‌mentality also changed a lot, focusing on the points and ‌not in the end of the match," he ‌said.

"I'm out of home since Monte-Carlo, but I think a lot of work came. Mentality improved a lot."

Fonseca said he felt more comfortable imposing himself against Ruud than ‌he had during his earlier victory over Novak Djokovic in Paris, repeatedly taking ⁠the initiative ⁠against one of the circuit's strongest clay-court players.

"Against Djokovic was more mental," he said.

"I was feeling more confident in today's match and more aggressive, going for the shots and trying to command on the points pretty soon."

Three-times champion Gustavo Kuerten watched Sunday's match from the stands and Fonseca enjoyed having the support of his countryman.

"Having Guga there supporting and cheering was amazing and super-nice experience today," he added.

"It's different. Of course my first time, but just living the moment."

Sports

Sabalenka, Osaka Clash in Blockbuster French Open Tie

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus celebrates winning her Women's 3rd round match against Daria Kasatkina of Australia at the French Open Grand Slam tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, 30 May 2026. (EPA)
Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus celebrates winning her Women's 3rd round match against Daria Kasatkina of Australia at the French Open Grand Slam tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, 30 May 2026. (EPA)
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Sabalenka, Osaka Clash in Blockbuster French Open Tie

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus celebrates winning her Women's 3rd round match against Daria Kasatkina of Australia at the French Open Grand Slam tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, 30 May 2026. (EPA)
Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus celebrates winning her Women's 3rd round match against Daria Kasatkina of Australia at the French Open Grand Slam tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, 30 May 2026. (EPA)

Four-time Grand Slam champions Aryna Sabalenka and Naomi Osaka will go head-to-head in the first French Open women's night match in three years on Monday, as a host of men's players eye a maiden major quarter-final.

World number one Sabalenka will likely face a stern test in her bid to win a maiden Roland Garros crown after suffering an agonizing loss to Coco Gauff in last year's final.

A resurgent Osaka has powered into the French Open last 16 for the first time in her career, looking more at home than ever before on the Parisian clay.

It will be only the fourth meeting, all at the last-16 stage of tournaments, between two of the biggest stars in the sport.

Osaka edged their first encounter en route to the 2018 US Open title and then they never met again until this year.

Sabalenka saw off her Japanese opponent in straight sets in Indian Wells, before fighting back from a set down to win at the Madrid Open.

They renew their rivalry with a quarter-final against either former Australian Open champion Madison Keys or Russia's Diana Shnaider up for grabs.

"It's great, great to see her back on her level. Maybe not at her best level, but she's back, she's fighting, she's building her level," said Sabalenka of Osaka, who took a break from tennis in 2023 to give birth to her daughter.

"It's nice to see her. She's a great player, great person. I feel like I really enjoy our battles. It's high-level matches, and I really enjoy when somebody pushes me to the limit."

Osaka struggled initially for form after rejoining the tour, but reached the US Open semi-finals last year, the first time she had made the second week of a Grand Slam event since winning her second Australian Open title in 2021.

"I really wanted to make it a goal to do really well on clay and grass," said Osaka, who has never got past the third round at Wimbledon.

"I don't want this to be my last round. I want to keep going. I just want to keep focusing on every match."

Osaka has been wearing a sequined, gold dress in Paris, which she likened to the Eiffel Tower at night, but has said she may switch things up for the night session.

The last remaining French player Diane Parry will be hoping to emulate last year's surprise semi-finalist Lois Boisson and continue her dream run, going up against Polish qualifier Maja Chwalinska.

Austrian 28th seed Anastasia Potapova looks to back up her win over defending champion Coco Gauff when she faces Anna Kalinskaya.

- Wide-open men's draw -

World number six Felix Auger-Aliassime is the highest-ranked player left in the top half of the men's draw after the shock exit of Jannik Sinner and an early defeat for Ben Shelton.

The Canadian will bid to reach his first French Open quarter-final when he plays Chilean Alejandro Tabilo, in the last 16 of a Slam event for the first time.

World number 85 Zachary Svajda had only won two Grand Slam matches before this tournament, but even he took notice of Sinner's loss.

"When I saw Sinner was out, I try to stay present and stay positive and just take it day by day, match by match," said the American, who takes on Italian 10th seed Flavio Cobolli.

"I knew the draw was open, but I just tried to keep doing my routines, keep doing what I've been doing, and just see what happens."

Former Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini targets his first Slam quarter-final since 2022 when he goes up against Sinner's conqueror Juan Manuel Cerundolo on Court Suzanne Lenglen.

Frances Tiafoe, who lost to Lorenzo Musetti in the last eight 12 months ago, plays another Italian in Matteo Arnaldi.

Sports

Konate to Leave Liverpool After Contract Not Renewed

Inter Milan's Argentinian forward #10 Lautaro Martinez fights for the ball with Liverpool's French defender #05 Ibrahima Konate during the UEFA Champions League phase day 6 football match between Inter Milan and Liverpool at San Siro stadium in Milan, on December 9, 2025. (AFP)
Inter Milan's Argentinian forward #10 Lautaro Martinez fights for the ball with Liverpool's French defender #05 Ibrahima Konate during the UEFA Champions League phase day 6 football match between Inter Milan and Liverpool at San Siro stadium in Milan, on December 9, 2025. (AFP)
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Konate to Leave Liverpool After Contract Not Renewed

Inter Milan's Argentinian forward #10 Lautaro Martinez fights for the ball with Liverpool's French defender #05 Ibrahima Konate during the UEFA Champions League phase day 6 football match between Inter Milan and Liverpool at San Siro stadium in Milan, on December 9, 2025. (AFP)
Inter Milan's Argentinian forward #10 Lautaro Martinez fights for the ball with Liverpool's French defender #05 Ibrahima Konate during the UEFA Champions League phase day 6 football match between Inter Milan and Liverpool at San Siro stadium in Milan, on December 9, 2025. (AFP)

France defender Ibrahima ‌Konate will end a five-year spell at Liverpool when his contract expires next month, the Premier League club said on Sunday.

The 27-year-old, who joined from RB Leipzig in 2021 for a fee of £36 million ($48 million), had said in April he was close to agreeing a new ‌deal.

However, British media ‌reported that discussions came ‌to ⁠an end over ⁠wages, with Konate becoming the third player after Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson to leave the Merseyside club as a free agent this season.

In a post on social media, ⁠Konate said he was deeply ‌saddened he ‌could not bid farewell to fans after ‌their final home game against Brentford.

"Anfield ‌is truly a special place, and playing in front of you was something I never took for granted... At ‌that moment, I didn't know it would be my final ⁠time ⁠wearing this shirt in front of you," he added.

Konate was an integral part of Liverpool's title-winning side in the 2024-25 season, forming a formidable defensive partnership with captain Virgil van Dijk.

He also won two League Cups and the FA Cup, and finished runner-up in the Champions League in 2022, during his time at Liverpool.