France captain Kylian Mbappé has become the highest goalscorer in the history of the FIFA World Cup after taking his tally to 22 goals.
The landmark achievement came during France’s 2026 FIFA World Cup third-place match against England, where Mbappé scored twice to move past the previous all-time record and write his name into the history books.
The goals also strengthened his position in the race for the tournament’s Golden Boot. Mbappé now leads the scoring chart with 10 goals, opening a two-goal advantage over his closest challenger, Lionel Messi.
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France produced a spirited second-half comeback after trailing 4-0, with Mbappé leading the fightback. His goals, along with strikes from Bradley Barcola and Ousmane Dembélé, reduced the deficit, but England eventually secured a 6-4 victory to claim the bronze medal.
In addition to becoming the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer, Mbappé also finished the tournament with 14 goal contributions, setting a new record for the most goal involvements by a player in a single FIFA World Cup.
The latest milestone further cements Mbappé’s place among football’s greatest players and adds another remarkable chapter to his already outstanding World Cup career.
On the other hand, England are unlikely to tinker with the winning combination.
England Probable XI: Ben Duckett, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook(c), Jos Buttler(w), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Saqib Mahmood.
Young was so hyped out of Houston Madison High School, he was was weekly feature on local TV news.
“You can’t turn on a television in Houston without seeing Vince Young. You might see him more than the Texans. He was like LeBron James in Houston when he was coming out of high school.” - Rodrique Wright former Texas defensive tackle.
VY was the only dual-threat quarterback in history with a perfect composite recruiting rating. He picked Texas over Florida State, LSU, Arkansas and Kansas State. Young was part of one of Mack Brown’s best recruiting classes, that included Rodrique Wright, Justin Blalock, Brian Robison, Kasey Studdard, Lyle Sendlein, David Thomas, Selvin Young, and Aaron Ross.
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Now, the national champ is working his way though the recruiting process again. This time as a dad. VY’s son Jordan “Jayman” Young is going to be a junior at Kinkaid High School in Houston this fall. So far, Jordan’s playing time at Kinkaid has come mostly at wide receiver and as a kick returner. He want viral last season with an electrifying 100-yard kickoff return that evoked visions of his famous dad.
Just, like his father, Jordan wants to play QB. Recently, VY has been sharing posts about Jordan’s progress at the position. This summer, the Young family has been hitting the camp circuit.
“I take him to the camps in the summertime. I try to get him to whatever camp he said he wants to go to; he wants to go to the Texas camp. I make sure I’m filling that information out and getting his butt there wherever he wants to go.” – Former Texas Longhorns QB Vince Young
Young says he’s tried not to use his fame or connections to pressure anyone involved in his son’s recruitment. He’s also trying not to pressure Jordan.
“I’m just being a dad who is getting him there and trying my best as much as I can to communicate with him, teach him how to be a professional at a young age,” Young said. “So when you do step in front of these college coaches, they say, ‘Oh wow, I’m very impressed with your son,’ and that’s not just him as an athlete, but his character.”
Jordan’s recruitment is still in progress. The 2028 prospect has yet to receive any official offers. But with increased playing time in the upcoming season at one of the best private schools in the state, the offers should start rolling in. He’ll never be as coveted a recruit as his old man, but with his Dad’s guidance, Jordan should a college player soon.
Manchester United could be set for a further financial windfall should Alejandro Garnacho leave Chelsea this summer.
Former Manchester United forward Alejandro Garnacho has reportedly turned down a move to Aston Villa this summer as part of the deal which will see Morgan Rogers move to Stamford Bridge. Chelsea have agreed a £117m deal with Unai Emery’s side to sign the England international after an impressive campaign at Villa Park.
Fabrizio Romano claims that Emery’s side enquired about Garnacho as part of those transfer talks, but the player does not want to move to Europa League champions.
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Romano claims that Garnacho would prefer a move to Serie A side AS Roma, having struggled since his move from United to Chelsea.
The Argentinian winger made 43 appearances in all competitions for the Blues last season, scoring eight goals and setting up four for his teammates.
However, Garnacho struggled in the Premier League, scoring just once and found himself in and out of the side towards the end of the season.
Roma are said to be keen on a loan deal with an option-to-buy the 22-year-old, with United keeping a keen eye on proceedings with Chelsea ready to sell him if offers of around £42.5m are made.
United sold Garnacho for £40m last summer and they could be in line for a further financial windfall, having negotiated a 10 per cent sell-on clause as part of the deal.
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Michael Carrick’s side recorded pure profit under the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) from Garnacho’s move to Chelsea, due to being an academy graduate.
The same accounting benefit would apply to any sale-on income they receive down the line from the aforementioned sell-on clause.
United have already strengthened their squad ahead of a return to Champions League football following the arrivals of Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos.
The Reds are still in the market for further signings and any financial boost will play a key part in their ability to secure their main transfer targets.
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Thousands of Man United fans upgraded their matchday last season. This is how they did it.
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Jake Paul had some terse words for Tom Brady after the NFL legend decided to slap Logan Paul during a heated moment at Fanatics Fest in New York City on Friday.
Paul briefly spoke to Fox News Digital at Sports Illustrated Beyond the Pitch, which featured a 50 Cent and Diplo concert.
Logan Paul and Jake Paul attend a celebrity party hosted by Todd Graves, owner and founder of Raising Cane’s, at Zero Bond in New York City on July 18, 2026.(Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for Raising Cane’s)
“I’m honestly p—ed. I wish I was there to back him up,” he said. “But I have one message for Tom. The Paul brothers are coming for you and revenge is sweet. Tom, keep your head on a swivel.”
Brady and Logan Paul met on stage with New York Knicks star Karl-Anthony Towns coming in between them. The NFL legend then attempted to slap the WWE star before they were pulled apart before things could really escalate.
“This happened bc I was roasting Tom for beating him in flag football. And he tries to smack me ?? Horrible example for the kids,” Paul wrote on X. “Aura -100 + Blocked. With a torn tricep.”
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Tom Brady attends Fanatics Fest NYC 2026 at Jacob Javits Center in New York City on July 18, 2026.(Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Fanatics)
“I tried America… will try again next time I see this nerd,” he added.
Brady suggested in an interview on WWE star Cody Rhodes’ podcast “What Do You Wanna Talk About?” that he would want to get involved in a match.
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“I need to get an invite. I’ve been waiting for (WWE president) Nick Khan to come up with some storyline for me to get in the mix,” Brady said Thursday. “I feel like I’m retired from football, and I have an opportunity to go out there and still showcase that I’m a little bit of an athlete.”
Tom Brady attends Fanatics Fest NYC 2026 at Jacob Javits Center in New York City on July 16, 2026.(John Nacion/Getty Images for Fanatics)
Keralam has declared July 20 a holiday for schools and colleges in the state, allowing students to stay up and watch the FIFA World Cup 2026 final between Argentina and Spain, which kicks off after midnight India time.
The holiday for schools under the General Education Department was declared, considering the requests from students who are football enthusiasts. The announcement was made by the Office of the Keralam Education Minister.
Chief Minister VD Satheesan wrote on social media: “As Keralam catches the ultimate football fever ahead of the grand Argentina-Spain finale. To ensure our young fans can enjoy the midnight thriller without worrying about school or college the next morning, the Government has declared a holiday for all educational institutions tomorrow. Stay up, cheer out loud, and enjoy the game.”
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The State’s Minister for General Education, N Shamshudeen also took to his social media platform and said, “Aren’t you happy now, children? …..Since the World Cup football final match is being held at midnight today, considering the request of sports-loving students, the State’s public education department has declared a holiday for schools under the department tomorrow (Monday, July 20)…”
Football fans and associations across Kerala greeted the government’s decision with much fanfare.
The World Cup final between Spain and Argentina will be played at the New York New Jersey Stadium on Sunday at 12.30 am Indian Standard Time. The reigning European champions Spain are aiming for their first FIFA World Cup crown since 2010, while Lionel Messi’s Argentina seek back-to-back titles.
In Alappuzha, Argentinian fans gathered together to cheer for their favourite team. Dressed in jerseys, supporters were seen celebrating the World Cup spirit with enthusiasm and joy before the final.
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One Argentinian supporter told ANI, “… We are eagerly waiting for this match. For our haters, this will be a proud moment. Tonight we will win the match, and Messi will lift the World Cup…”
The Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram, Shashi Tharoor, said, “I’m not a football expert… All I know is that Keralam has more Argentina fans than Spain fans. So know where Keralam will be. I’m safely flying out to Parliament in Delhi. I will try and avoid the drama, whatever is going to happen here, when the results come out. But by all accounts, it’s going to be a very remarkable match because these are two extraordinarily successful teams. I think, frankly, for our football fans, one of the sad things is we don’t have our own national team to identify with at these levels. I only hope that watching this world-class football will inspire more youngsters in India to become world-class footballers themselves…”
Meanwhile, the state’s Electricity Minister Sunny Joseph today assured that there would be no power disruption during the FIFA World Cup final and that all necessary arrangements had been made to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply across the state.
Addressing reporters in Kannur, Joseph reassured that arrangements were in place for people to watch the match.
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Responding to a query by a reporter on the final match, while regular games last for 90 minutes, there is a possibility of extended playtime due to strong teams, necessitating preparations for extra time.
Joseph said special instructions had been issued to the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) to maintain an uninterrupted power supply throughout the match.
Ohtani had his knee drained over the All-Star break
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Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani will not return to the Dodgers’ starting rotation as scheduled. Ohtani, who had his knee drained over the All-Star break and is managing the injury while he continues to serve as their designated hitter, was supposed to start on Wednesday, but that plan has changed.
“It’s gonna be some time, and I’d say that it’s not gonna be a day-to-day thing,” manager Dave Roberts told reporters Sunday (via MLB.com).
“We just want to continue to give (the knee) the best chance to get into a good spot,” he said (via The Athletic).
Ohtani served as the Dodgers’ DH and leadoff man on Friday and is in that spot for the first game of the doubleheader on Sunday. Whatever discomfort he’s still feeling while pitching is clearly not enough to stop him from hitting.
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Some things to keep in mind here:
Ohtani only threw 67 ⅓ innings last season in his return from Tommy John surgery. He did not have a minor-league rehab assignment, as he and the Dodgers prioritized getting him back into the lineup as quickly as possible as the full-time DH, so that was the entirety of his pitching output in 2025.
This season, Ohtani has already worked 85 ⅔ innings on the mound.
The two-time defending champion Dodgers have a 12-game lead in the NL West, which is to say that they have the luxury to slow play Ohtani’s return to the mound as they eye another deep October run and don’t want to overtax his arm.
Do the math. If this were any other starter, the Dodgers would use the knee injury as an opportunity to put Ohtani on the IL and preserve his workload. But he’s not, so they’re keeping him in the lineup.
Something else to watch? With Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell currently on the injured list and concerns around a few other starters, it’s always possible the Dodgers try to grab a frontline starter before the Aug. 3 trade deadline.
Ohtani was originally scheduled to pitch on Wednesday against the Philadelphia Phillies, But his left knee hasn’t recovered enough for him to feel comfortable pitching. As a result, his next start has not been determined. Roberts said that he does expect Ohtani to pitch again this season.
Trey Yesavage and the Toronto Blue Jays go for the series win over the Chicago White Sox on Sunday. Live coverage on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+ begins at noon ET / 9 a.m. PT, or follow along with our live tracker.
But Fifa President Gianni Infantino has modernised the tournament with influence from its co-hosts United States and the way some of its biggest sporting events operate, including the Super Bowl in the NFL.
This will mean a half-time show appealing to more forms of culture and new fans.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Fifa World Cup 2026 final half-time show:
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When and where is the half-time show?
The half-time show will be on Sunday, 19 July 2026 at New York New Jersey Stadium, USA, the location for the final match, with kick-off set at 8pm BST (3pm ET), the half-time show is due to start from 8:50pm BST (3:50pm ET), with stoppage time and additional time to set up the stage and infrastructure perhaps leading to a start time after 9pm BST (4pm ET).
A view of MetLife Stadium in New Jersey (AFP/Getty)
How long will the half-time show last?
Sources tell the Independent that the show will be around 20 minutes. There is the prospect of the usual 15-minute half-time break, followed by the planned 11-minute show, with Infantino emphasising the figure is inspired by 11 players on the pitch for each team.
Due to the laws of the game, governed by Ifab (the International Football Association Board), it is understood half-time breaks should “not exceed15 minutes,” but Sunday is due to break that law.
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There is a precedent set from last year’s Club World Cup final between eventual winners Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain, which was also organised by Fifa and held in the same venue in New Jersey. That show lasted 24 minutes, with Coldplay, J Balvin, Doja Cat, Tems and Emmanuel Kelly featuring.
Tems, Doja Cat, Emmanuel Kelly, Chris Martin of Coldplay and J Balvin perform during the halftime show during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Final (Getty)
Where can I watch the half-time show?
The game is on both BBC and ITV in the UK, with ITV revealing that it will broadcast the entire World Cup half-time show at the New York New Jersey Stadium, as well as match analysis.
The BBC will confirm its plans in the coming hours. Alternatively you can follow The Independent’s coverage in our live blog, which will be packed with updates from the show and reaction from social media and our reporters in the stadium.
Who is performing at the half-time show?
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The 11-minute Super Bowl-style show will be co-headlined by Madonna, Shakira and K-pop boy band BTS.
Justin Bieber was added to the bill, while Burna Boy, Gustavo Dudamel and the PS22 Chorus featuring Coldplay also involved, and Chris Martin has curated the show.
Singer Shakira and her sons Sasha and Milan in the stand during Argentina v Austria (Reuters)
Is there a closing ceremony and how is performing?
The closing ceremony starts at 18:30 BST (1:30pm ET), with the show including Tom Cruise, Laura Pausini, Nicole Scherzinger, Robbie Williams and IShowSpeed. And Jennifer Hudson is to sing the United States’ national anthem.
India pacer Gurnoor Brar endured a difficult outing at Lord’s on Sunday, registering the most expensive bowling figures by any bowler in the venue’s ODI history during the series-deciding third match against England. The right-arm seamer finished with figures of 0 for 97 from his 10 overs as England piled up 387 for 3, eclipsing the previous unwanted Lord’s record held by former India all-rounder Karsan Ghavri, who conceded 81 runs in 11 overs against England in 1975. Brar’s spell also entered India’s record books. His return of 0/97 is now the third most expensive spell by an Indian bowler in ODI cricket, behind only Bhuvneshwar Kumar‘s 1/106 against South Africa at the Wankhede Stadium in 2015 and Vinay Kumar’s 1/102 against Australia in Bengaluru in 2013.Most expensive figures by an Indian bowler in an ODI1/106 (10) Bhuvneshwar Kumar vs SA Wankhede 20151/102 (9) Vinay Kumar vs Aus Bengaluru 20130/97 (10) Gurnoor Brar vs Eng Lord’s 20261/92 (10) Bhuvneshwar Kumar vs NZ Kanpur 2017 The expensive spell came as England’s top order dominated an inexperienced Indian bowling attack in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, who missed the match because of reactive swelling in his left knee following an impact injury sustained during the second ODI. Ben Duckett led England’s charge with a superb 141, while Jacob Bethell contributed 91 as the pair stitched together a commanding 192-run opening partnership that laid the platform for a massive total. Brar found little relief throughout his spell as England’s batters continued to attack in the closing overs. Joe Root accelerated with an unbeaten 74 from just 49 balls before Jos Buttler hammered 41 not out off only 13 deliveries, taking the hosts to 387 for 3, the highest ODI total recorded at Lord’s. India’s pace attack struggled collectively. Prasidh Krishna returned figures of 2 for 69, Arshdeep Singh went wicketless while conceding 72 runs, and Prince Yadav claimed one wicket but leaked 79 runs. Together, the four fast bowlers, with a combined experience of just 51 ODIs, were unable to contain England’s aggressive batting. England’s 387 for 3 also surpassed their own previous highest ODI total at Lord’s of 334 for 4 against India in 1975, setting a new benchmark at the iconic venue. For Brar, the outing marked a harsh learning experience, with his figures becoming an unwanted part of both Lord’s and Indian ODI history.
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