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Neymar Returns from Injury, Santos Future Unclear

(FILES) Santos' forward #10 Neymar gestures during the Campeonato Paulista football match between Santos and Botafogo de Ribeirao Preto at the Urbano Caldeira Stadium in Santos, Sao Paulo state, Brazil on February 5, 2025. (Photo by Nelson ALMEIDA / AFP)
(FILES) Santos' forward #10 Neymar gestures during the Campeonato Paulista football match between Santos and Botafogo de Ribeirao Preto at the Urbano Caldeira Stadium in Santos, Sao Paulo state, Brazil on February 5, 2025. (Photo by Nelson ALMEIDA / AFP)
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Neymar Returns from Injury, Santos Future Unclear

(FILES) Santos' forward #10 Neymar gestures during the Campeonato Paulista football match between Santos and Botafogo de Ribeirao Preto at the Urbano Caldeira Stadium in Santos, Sao Paulo state, Brazil on February 5, 2025. (Photo by Nelson ALMEIDA / AFP)
(FILES) Santos' forward #10 Neymar gestures during the Campeonato Paulista football match between Santos and Botafogo de Ribeirao Preto at the Urbano Caldeira Stadium in Santos, Sao Paulo state, Brazil on February 5, 2025. (Photo by Nelson ALMEIDA / AFP)

Neymar returned to action on Thursday after more than a month on the sidelines due to a thigh injury but the Brazilian was unable to prevent Santos from exiting the Copa do Brasil after they lost 5-4 in a penalty shootout against CRB.

The former Barcelona and Paris St Germain forward has had a horrible run of injuries, and left the pitch in tears last month after suffering his second significant injury of the year.

The 33-year-old returned to his boyhood club Santos after a stint at Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal, with his contract at the Brazilian side running until June 30 according to media reports.

Neymar was giving little away when asked if he would extend his stay at Santos, who drew with CRB in both legs of their third-round tie.

"I don't know yet," he told Amazon Prime, according to Reuters.

Santos are currently second bottom of the league, having lost six of their first nine matches of the 2025 season.

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Jordan Coach Sellami in Awe of Argentina Despite Possible Messi Absence

Jordan head coach Jamal Sellami responds to a question during a news conference Friday, June 26, 2026, ahead of his team's World Cup Group J match against Argentina in Arlington, Texas. (AP)
Jordan head coach Jamal Sellami responds to a question during a news conference Friday, June 26, 2026, ahead of his team's World Cup Group J match against Argentina in Arlington, Texas. (AP)
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Jordan Coach Sellami in Awe of Argentina Despite Possible Messi Absence

Jordan head coach Jamal Sellami responds to a question during a news conference Friday, June 26, 2026, ahead of his team's World Cup Group J match against Argentina in Arlington, Texas. (AP)
Jordan head coach Jamal Sellami responds to a question during a news conference Friday, June 26, 2026, ahead of his team's World Cup Group J match against Argentina in Arlington, Texas. (AP)

Jordan coach Jamal Sellami is relishing the prospect of closing out his side's debut appearance at the World Cup against defending champions Argentina on Saturday, even if Lionel Messi is likely to start the game at Dallas Stadium on the bench.

The Jordanians lost both of their opening Group J games against Austria and Algeria and have no ‌chance of ‌advancing to the knockout rounds ‌despite ⁠having one match ⁠left to play.

"We have no idea what the Argentina coach will do with regards his initial line-up but, whoever the players are, the team is exceptional and every player deserves his place in this team," ⁠Sellami said.

"They all dream of winning ‌the World Cup, ‌so no matter who the player is he will ‌be carrying the dreams of the ‌Argentina team."

"Of course, if Messi is playing he's one of the best players in the world and if not, we will still be playing ‌against a very strong and solid team."

Captain Noor Al-Rawabdeh said ⁠he wanted ⁠to leave the world with a positive impression of Jordanian football and the nation as a whole.

"Being able to be here is a message that we would like to convey about the Jordanian people and about Jordanian culture, to show to the world who we are," he said.

"The Jordanians are people who have dreams and perseverance and we're happy that we have been able to reflect this image."

Sports

Senegal’s Quiet Man Sarr Becomes His Nation’s Leading World Cup Scorer

Ismaila Sarr #18 of Senegal applauds fans after being substituted during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group I match between Senegal and Iraq at Toronto Stadium on June 26, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario. (Getty Images/AFP)
Ismaila Sarr #18 of Senegal applauds fans after being substituted during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group I match between Senegal and Iraq at Toronto Stadium on June 26, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario. (Getty Images/AFP)
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Senegal’s Quiet Man Sarr Becomes His Nation’s Leading World Cup Scorer

Ismaila Sarr #18 of Senegal applauds fans after being substituted during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group I match between Senegal and Iraq at Toronto Stadium on June 26, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario. (Getty Images/AFP)
Ismaila Sarr #18 of Senegal applauds fans after being substituted during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group I match between Senegal and Iraq at Toronto Stadium on June 26, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario. (Getty Images/AFP)

‌Ismaila Sarr's quiet dedication finally got its loudest moment on Friday, as the striker became Senegal's all-time leading scorer at the World Cup in a 5-0 pounding of Iraq and his teammates could not have been prouder.

Sarr's fourth World Cup goal, scored just before the hour mark, moved him past the late Papa Bouba ‌Diop as ‌his country's record marksman at ‌the ⁠tournament.

Those who share ⁠a dressing room with him say the milestone was richly deserved.

"He really, really deserves it," said midfielder Idrissa Gueye. "Yeah, he puts everything into what he does."

The 28-year-old Sarr had drawn level with Diop four ⁠days earlier with a brace ‌against Norway, which ‌made him the first Senegalese player to score ‌at two World Cups.

Defender Moussa Niakhate ‌offered a telling portrait of a man who lets his football do the talking.

"He's an inspiration," said Niakhate. "He's like someone who is really ‌shy, really quiet, but the most important thing is what you ⁠do ⁠on the pitch, and on the pitch he is not shy. He just shows what he can do, always gives his best for the country."

Goalkeeper Mory Diaw, deputizing for the injured Edouard Mendy, echoed the sentiment.

"He deserves it because he's a very good player," said Diaw. "Every day, he works a lot, so he deserves this goal, and I hope for more for him."

Sports

Iraq Should Be Proud of World Cup Display Despite Early Exit, Says Coach

Iraq's head coach Graham Arnold looks on during the FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage match Senegal against Iraq, in Toronto, Canada, 26 June 2026. (EPA)
Iraq's head coach Graham Arnold looks on during the FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage match Senegal against Iraq, in Toronto, Canada, 26 June 2026. (EPA)
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Iraq Should Be Proud of World Cup Display Despite Early Exit, Says Coach

Iraq's head coach Graham Arnold looks on during the FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage match Senegal against Iraq, in Toronto, Canada, 26 June 2026. (EPA)
Iraq's head coach Graham Arnold looks on during the FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage match Senegal against Iraq, in Toronto, Canada, 26 June 2026. (EPA)

Iraq coach Graham Arnold said the country should be proud of how its team played at the World Cup following their elimination from the tournament after a 5-0 loss to Senegal on Friday.

Arnold ‌said his ‌side performed well ‌against ⁠high-profile players from ⁠France, Norway and Senegal who they usually only see on television, saying, "Everyone in Iraq should be proud of the fact that ⁠we made it ‌here and ‌we performed very well in ‌two out of the ‌three games."

Iraq's red card in the 13th minute led to the team's downfall against ‌Senegal, the coach said.

Arnold noted that many ⁠of ⁠the 12 goals they conceded at the tournament came from individual mistakes.

The coach also said that leagues in the Middle East still have a lot of work to do in order to improve player development.