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'Tired' Messi Exits MLS Game in Injury Scare ahead of World Cup

Inter Miami's Argentine forward Lionel Messi leaves the field after suffering an injury scare in his team's win over Philadelphia, less than three weeks before the start of the World Cup. CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP
Inter Miami's Argentine forward Lionel Messi leaves the field after suffering an injury scare in his team's win over Philadelphia, less than three weeks before the start of the World Cup. CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP
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'Tired' Messi Exits MLS Game in Injury Scare ahead of World Cup

Inter Miami's Argentine forward Lionel Messi leaves the field after suffering an injury scare in his team's win over Philadelphia, less than three weeks before the start of the World Cup. CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP
Inter Miami's Argentine forward Lionel Messi leaves the field after suffering an injury scare in his team's win over Philadelphia, less than three weeks before the start of the World Cup. CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP

Lionel Messi was at the center of an injury scare just weeks before the start of the World Cup on Sunday after abruptly exiting Inter Miami's Major League Soccer clash against the Philadelphia Union.

Argentina superstar Messi was substituted in the 73rd minute at a rain-soaked Nu Stadium in Miami after clutching the back of his left leg and requesting to come off, reported AFP.

The 38-year-old icon appeared to be walking normally as he headed straight down the tunnel after exiting the game, which Miami went on to win 6-4.

Inter Miami coach Guillermo Hoyos said after the game it was too early to determine if Messi was injured, and suggested the Argentine's substitution was precautionary due to the pitch conditions.

"As far as I know, we don't have a (medical) report on that yet, but we will have one shortly," Hoyos said after the game when asked for details of Messi's condition.

"He was genuinely suffering from fatigue in that regard -- it is indeed fatigue.

"He was tired; the pitch was heavy and when in doubt, the standard approach is always to ensure you don't take any risks."

Messi's Inter Miami team-mate Mateo Silvetti was unable to shed any light on his compatriot's condition.

"I'm just as in the dark as everyone else," Silvetti said. "At that moment, we were all focused on the match. I didn't know if it was an injury or if he was simply tired.

"We're hoping it turns out to be nothing serious. Given his mindset and everything else, we're going to wish him the very best."

Messi has carefully managed his workload since joining Inter Miami in 2023, with team staff regularly excusing him from games during particularly congested fixture periods.

He has spent multiple stints on the sidelines in the past few years due to problems with his hamstring, which caused him to miss parts of Miami's pre-season campaign earlier this year.

Any significant injury to the eight-time Ballon D'Or winner, though, would deal a huge blow to Argentina's hopes of defending their World Cup crown in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The tournament kicks off in Mexico City on June 11, with Argentina due to play their opening game against Algeria in Kansas City five days later.

Inter Miami's game on Sunday was the last before MLS takes a break ahead of the World Cup.

Messi has not formally confirmed he plans to play in the World Cup, but is widely expected to return for what will be a record-equaling sixth appearance at the finals.

Argentina's squad is due to be named next week, and the South American giants will head to the United States shortly afterwards for pre-World Cup friendlies against Honduras in Texas on June 6, followed by a game against Iceland on June 9.

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Japan Say Bring on Brazil at World Cup but Wary of Revenge Mission

Japan head coach Hajime Moriyasu smiles as he responds to a question during a news conference ahead of his team's World Cup Group F match against Sweden Wednesday, June 24, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP)
Japan head coach Hajime Moriyasu smiles as he responds to a question during a news conference ahead of his team's World Cup Group F match against Sweden Wednesday, June 24, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP)
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Japan Say Bring on Brazil at World Cup but Wary of Revenge Mission

Japan head coach Hajime Moriyasu smiles as he responds to a question during a news conference ahead of his team's World Cup Group F match against Sweden Wednesday, June 24, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP)
Japan head coach Hajime Moriyasu smiles as he responds to a question during a news conference ahead of his team's World Cup Group F match against Sweden Wednesday, June 24, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP)

Japan will give "everything we've got" and declared they have what it takes to beat Brazil in the last 32 of the World Cup in Houston on Monday.

Hajime Moriyasu's side reached the knockout rounds with a 1-1 draw against Sweden at the home of the Dallas Cowboys.

They finished runners-up behind Group F winners the Netherlands after one win and two draws.

Now the real competition begins when they face a Brazil team boasting Real Madrid striker Vinicius Junior and coached by the acclaimed Italian Carlo Ancelotti.

"There is no bigger stage," defender Yukinari Sugawara said following Thursday's nervy stalemate with Sweden.

"We need to give 120 percent against Brazil, and to do that we need to be together as one as a team and a country, and prepare with everything we've got."

Brazil, who have won the World Cup a record five times, will be favorites to reach the last 16 in North America.

But Japan are considered dark horses to go far at the tournament, and beat Brazil 3-2 at home in a friendly in October.

Moriyasu warned his men that a sense of revenge will be on the minds of the Brazilians.

"Perhaps because of that match, they will be motivated even more," said Moriyasu.

Veteran defender Shogo Taniguchi said it was all or nothing now.

"From here on, if we lose it's all over. We need to move into a higher gear for the next game," he said.

Japan took a second-half lead through Daizen Maeda only for Anthony Elanga to quickly level for Sweden with a shot that goalkeeper Zion Suzuki might have done better with.

Japan were hanging on by the end, but Suzuki said they can beat anyone on their day, having also defeated England at Wembley in the lead-up to the World Cup.

"We know that they're a strong team but if we do things right, we can definitely win," he said of the Brazilians.

"I want to approach this game as if it's the final."

Sports

Verstappen Wants to Stay at Red Bull, Says Mekies Amid McLaren Chatter

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands prepares at pit during the second free practice ahead of the Austrian F1 Grand Prix, in Spielberg, Austria, Friday, June 26, 2026. (AP)
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands prepares at pit during the second free practice ahead of the Austrian F1 Grand Prix, in Spielberg, Austria, Friday, June 26, 2026. (AP)
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Verstappen Wants to Stay at Red Bull, Says Mekies Amid McLaren Chatter

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands prepares at pit during the second free practice ahead of the Austrian F1 Grand Prix, in Spielberg, Austria, Friday, June 26, 2026. (AP)
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands prepares at pit during the second free practice ahead of the Austrian F1 Grand Prix, in Spielberg, Austria, Friday, June 26, 2026. (AP)

Max Verstappen wants to ‌stay at Red Bull but needs a fast car, team boss Laurent Mekies said on Friday amid fresh speculation about possible McLaren interest. At the start of the season the talk was all about whether the four-times world champion would remain in the sport, so unhappy was he sounding about the regulations in Formula One's new engine era.

Once-dominant Red Bull are fourth in the standings, triggering speculation that Verstappen could be looking to make a move elsewhere. Champions McLaren are third.

Mercedes are the in-form team but may not have an opening, with ‌19-year-old Kimi ‌Antonelli a superstar after five wins in the ‌first ⁠six races while ⁠teammate George Russell is adamant his seat is also secure for 2027.

The paddock chatter has turned to McLaren, who already have an agreement with the Dutchman's race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase, with the Daily Mail reporting "secret" preliminary talks for Verstappen to trade places with Australian Oscar Piastri.

McLaren have said publicly they are happy with both Piastri and world ⁠champion Lando Norris.

Speaking after first practice for this weekend's ‌Austrian Grand Prix, Red Bull's home ‌race, Mekies made clear he expected Verstappen -- who has had only one ‌podium finish in seven rounds this season -- to stay.

"Max has made ‌clear to us that he wants to continue with the team. It's equally clear that he needs a fast car for him to be happy with the team," he said.

"We are not asking Max every week. He's ‌there. He's pushing with us. He's helping us to find the right development space for the car... ⁠so it's ⁠not the topic for us. The topic for us is get the car back to where we want it to be."

Mekies would not be drawn on other reports that chief engineer Paul Monaghan was set to leave the team.

"I don't think it would be right for me to comment on every single rumor that comes out," he said. "If I look at the names that have been circulating in the last few months, most of them are still in the garage.

"Some had never wanted to leave, some have changed their mind, some are staying with us... Paul is actually here today. He has been working very hard to get our cars out this morning."

Sports

Ferrari's Hamilton Faces Mercedes in Austria Hoping to Turn F1 Win into a Title Shot

Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain crosses the finish line to win the Spain F1 Grand Prix race at the Barcelona Catalunya racetrack in Montmelo, near Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, June 14, 2026. (Manaure Quintero/Pool Photo via AP)
Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain crosses the finish line to win the Spain F1 Grand Prix race at the Barcelona Catalunya racetrack in Montmelo, near Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, June 14, 2026. (Manaure Quintero/Pool Photo via AP)
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Ferrari's Hamilton Faces Mercedes in Austria Hoping to Turn F1 Win into a Title Shot

Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain crosses the finish line to win the Spain F1 Grand Prix race at the Barcelona Catalunya racetrack in Montmelo, near Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, June 14, 2026. (Manaure Quintero/Pool Photo via AP)
Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain crosses the finish line to win the Spain F1 Grand Prix race at the Barcelona Catalunya racetrack in Montmelo, near Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, June 14, 2026. (Manaure Quintero/Pool Photo via AP)

The Formula 1 title race is turning into the ultimate battle of youth against experience.

On one side, Lewis Hamilton, who at 41 just became F1's oldest race winner since 1970. An eighth world title would make him the oldest champion since 1957.

On the other, Kimi Antonelli, the 19-year-old Italian who leads the standings, on course to be the youngest-ever to take the title.

“I’ve been here before. I know what I have to do, and there’s a long way to go,” Hamilton said Thursday ahead of this weekend's Austrian Grand Prix, set to take place as a “heat hazard” race as hot weather bakes Europe.

"We have a real battle on our hands, and it’s going to take everyone for the rest of the year to even come close to competing with (Mercedes), but I don’t think it’s impossible.”

Hamilton's win at Barcelona two weeks ago, his first with Ferrari after a year and a half of frustration, brought together smart strategy, Mercedes' reliability issues and innovation at Ferrari with key car parts that rivals have rushed to copy. Ferrari's bringing an upgraded engine to Austria, too.

According to The Associated Press, Antonelli's teammate George Russell said he was surprised how fast Ferrari is developing its car under F1's strict spending rules, but "at the end of the day, we’re still the team to beat. So this will be another good weekend to see if Ferrari are still on that good form or if that was a one-off.”

Hamilton's win just showed that anyone “writing him off” was wrong, said Russell, his teammate at Mercedes in 2024.

“For sure, he is a big threat. Ferrari are a huge threat. Kimi is still very much the driver out front and is performing really incredibly and consistently," Russell said. “Ferrari feel like they’re coming and Lewis is at forefront of that.”

How Austria shows Antonelli's growth What a difference a year makes.

Three corners into last year's Austrian Grand Prix, Antonelli smashed into Max Verstappen, ending the race for both. Verstappen accepted Antonelli's apology, saying “every driver has made a mistake like that” — though the points he lost that day arguably ended up costing him the title.

It was part of a disastrous run of summer results at European tracks for Antonelli, who admitted he felt overwhelmed by frustration. After Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff repeatedly called Antonelli's performance “underwhelming” at his home Italian Grand Prix, it prompted speculation about his future. Then came the turnaround.

Antonelli used Wolff's criticism as “fuel to do even better” and he did, scoring more points in the final eight rounds of the season than he had in the previous 16. That laid the foundations for his championship-leading breakout season in 2026.

Verstappen's future For the third year running, Verstappen arrives at Red Bull's home race with his future unclear.

The four-time champion's Red Bull deal runs through 2028 but could allow an earlier exit under certain conditions. The speculation's fueled by long-running interest from Mercedes and Verstappen's remarks about quitting F1 out of frustration with the 2026 cars.

In 2024 and 2025, Verstappen eventually committed to staying with the team which has overseen his entire F1 career.

Monaco dispute rumbles on It's three weeks since the Monaco Grand Prix and the results still aren't final. McLaren and Red Bull are protesting the ruling which handed Pierre Gasly back third place after canceling a time penalty.

Multiple drivers were penalized under a wrongly set-up timing system, but only Gasly's was overturned. If the decision's reversed, Red Bull's Isack Hadjar would be third and McLaren's Oscar Piastri fourth.