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Stuttgart ready to battle Hoffenheim for Leo Sauer transfer

Published

4 hours ago

21 July 2026

Stuttgart entered the race for Leo Sauer alongside the negotiations with VfL Wolfsburg for Dženan Pejčinović. The Slovak international scored three goals for Feyenoord in 20 Eredivisie appearances last term.

Hoffenheim are already on the track as the potential alternative to RB Salzburg’s Adam Daghim, who spent last season on loan at Wolfsburg. According to several reports, the Sinsheim club are currently prioritizing the deal for the Danish winger.

Saur had his breakthrough season in 2024/25 when he scored seven league goals in his loan stint at NAC Breda. The now 20-year-old was one of the top performers when Slovakia stunned Germany in the opening fixture for the World Cup qualifiers last year.

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Were Argentina under more pressure than usual in World Cup final? Lionel Messi’s tunnel pep talks fuel fan theories – WATCH | Football News

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4 minutes ago

21 July 2026

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Were Argentina under more pressure than usual in World Cup final? Lionel Messi's tunnel pep talks fuel fan theories – WATCH

Lionel Messi’s pep talks during World Cup final spark theories. (Video grabs)

Fresh footage of Lionel Messi‘s pre-match and half-time team talks has reignited debate over whether Argentina entered the 2026 FIFA World Cup final carrying more baggage than just the weight of defending their title.The newly surfaced videos, recorded inside the dressing room and players’ tunnel before Sunday’s final against Spain, have prompted widespread fan speculation after Messi repeatedly urged his teammates to “forget everything” and focus solely on football. The footage has gone viral after Argentina produced one of their most subdued performances under Lionel Scaloni, eventually losing 0-1 after extra time to Spain at MetLife Stadium.While Spain dominated proceedings throughout, Argentina failed to register a meaningful attacking threat for long periods, with their first shot arriving only deep into extra time.

Messi’s repeated message raises questions

The first video, filmed moments before the players left the dressing room, shows Messi attempting to calm an unusually tense-looking squad.“Calm, let’s stay calm, lads. Let’s think about playing, nothing else. Stay calm. Let’s forget about everything, let’s forget about everything. Let’s focus on playing,” the Argentina captain told his teammates.Another clip from the tunnel captures Messi delivering a similar message moments before kick-off.“Come on, boys, let’s forget what happened, as if nothing had happened,” Messi was heard telling his teammates.The wording immediately caught the attention of supporters, particularly because several players — including Lisandro Martinez and Enzo Fernandez — appeared visibly emotional and unusually subdued.Martinez was later forced off injured during the first half, while Fernandez was sent off late in normal time after receiving a second yellow card.

Half-time rally alongside Emiliano Martinez

Messi’s leadership continued during the interval as television cameras picked up another motivational speech before Argentina returned for the second half.“Come on, lads. Personality, people, personality. We’ve always had it, so why wouldn’t we have it now? We have the personality to play,” Messi urged.Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez also attempted to inspire the squad with an equally passionate message, saying, “With heart, lads. Let’s move forward, not backward… Only cowards play backward.”Despite the rallying cries, Argentina struggled to impose themselves before Ferran Torres eventually scored the winner in the 106th minute.The unusual nature of Messi’s comments has triggered numerous theories on social media. Adding to the mystery, Scaloni remarked after the final that “things happened” before the match but declined to elaborate “out of respect for the tournament.”

Emotional aftermath

Messi later reflected on the defeat in an emotional Instagram message.“The pain is immense, and it will take time for this wound to heal,” he wrote. “But I also hold on to all the good… this group reached two consecutive World Cup finals.”Midfielder Rodrigo De Paul also dismissed accusations surrounding Argentina’s tournament run, criticising those who spread “baseless conspiracy theories” during the World Cup.For now, the viral footage has only deepened intrigue. Messi’s repeated plea to “forget everything” remains unexplained.

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2026 SEC Media Days schedule, where to watch: When coaches, teams take stage

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18 minutes ago

21 July 2026

NewsAdmin

SEC Media Days serves as college football’s unofficial opening ceremony — a four-day traveling roadshow where coaches, star players, television personalities and reporters descend on one city to shape the sport’s biggest narratives before a single snap is played.

The 2026 version kicked off on Monday, with Tampa, Florida hosting the event for the first time. Dallas, Nashville and Atlanta have served as hosts for the previous three years.

No conference does theater quite like the SEC. Media Days has evolved from a routine preseason obligation into one of the sport’s premier annual events, where perception often matters almost as much as production. Before anyone wins a game this fall, the race for headlines begins in Florida.

Six new coaches, four years without a title: The biggest questions facing each SEC team at 2026 media days

Brandon Marcello

Oklahoma’s Brent Venables began the festivities on Monday morning. Four coaches will speak in the main room each day. Steve Sarkisian and Texas finish out the week on Thursday afternoon. Several preseason Heisman candidates will also be in attendance, including Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning, Ole Miss star Trinidad Chambliss and Oklahoma’s John Mateer.

Here’s a look at where to watch 2026 SEC Media Days, along with a breakdown of the full appearance schedule ahead of the anticipated event.

Where to watch 2026 SEC Media Days

Dates: July 20-23
Location: Tampa Marriott Water Street + JW Marriott | Tampa, Florida
TV: SEC Network | Live stream: ESPN+

2026 SEC Media Days schedule

All times Eastern

Wednesday, July 22

Alabama (9:05 a.m.) – Kalen DeBoer | Zabien Brown, DB; Ryan Coleman-Williams, WR; Bray Hubbard, DB

Florida (10:30 a.m.) – Jon Sumrall | Jadan Baugh, RB; Myles Graham, LB; Vernell Brown III, WR

Ole Miss (1:30 p.m.) – Pete Golding | Trinidad Chambliss, QB; Will Echoles, DT; Kewan Lacy, RB

Texas A&M (2:55 p.m.) – Mike Elko | Daymion Sanford, LB; Marcus Ratcliffe, S; Marcel Reed, QB

Thursday, July 23

LSU (9:05 a.m.) – Lane Kiffin | TJ Dottery, LB; Trey’Dez Green, TE; Whit Weeks, LB

Arkansas (10:30 a.m.) – Ryan Silverfield | Caden Kitler, OL; Quincy Rhodes Jr., DE; Sutton Smith, RB

Mississippi State (1:30 p.m.) – Jeff Lebby | Anthony Evans III, WR; Kelley Jones, CB; Kamario Taylor, QB

Texas (2:55 p.m.) – Steve Sarkisian | Trevor Goosby, OL; Arch Manning, QB; Colin Simmons, DE

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4 golf stats you should track to shoot lower scores

Published

31 minutes ago

21 July 2026

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Here’s a truth most recreational golfers don’t want to hear: playing more rounds is not the same as getting better. Without understanding why your scores are what they are, playing more golf reinforces the same inefficiencies, round after round. That’s where golf statistics come in.

Don’t track just the “fun” stats, either. We’re talking about the numbers that tell the real story of your round. The patterns that show up will tell you a lot about your game, and what’s costing you shots.

Below are four stats I recommend keeping track of to shoot lower scores.

1. Bogeys on Par 3s and 5s

Of the 18 holes in any round, par 3s and par 5s represent eight unique scoring opportunities. And for most recreational golfers, they are also the eight most misunderstood.

Par 3s are not birdie holes for the average golfer. Rather, they are bogey-avoidance holes. A 15-handicapper makes bogey or worse on roughly 50-60 percent of par 3s. That’s more than six times the rate of a PGA Tour professional who posts bogey or worse on fewer than 8 percent of these holes. Every bogeyed par 3 is a stroke handed back unnecessarily.

On par 5s, the damage cuts the other way. These are the holes where recreational golfers should be picking up shots. Tour professionals make birdies or better on nearly 50 percent of all par 5s. Most 15-handicappers bogey par 5s at a rate of 40-45 percent.

If you bogey half your par 3s and nearly half your par 5s, that’s three to four shots lost on holes you could reasonably play at even par or better with the right approach.

Start tracking your par-3 and par-5 results separately. You may find that these holes, not the par 4s, are where your round is being won or lost every week. If you can start playing these holes just a bit better, you’ll instantly post lower scores.

2. First putt distance

I often tell my clients, “Every putt starts with your approach shot.” That statement captures why proximity to the hole, or how close your iron shots actually finish to the hole, is one of the most revealing golf statistics in the game.

Tour pros average approximately 30-35 feet from the hole on approach shots. That leaves manageable two-putts and a chance at birdie. Golfers at the 15-handicap level and above typically average 50-70 feet on their approach shots, which is prime distance for three-putts. That means that even though you may be hitting the green, you’re still likely to make bogey.

The root cause of your three-putt tendencies is not always poor putting. Sometimes, it’s a matter of approach shots that aren’t precise enough. The farther you are from the hole for your first putt, the more likely you are to three-putt. During your next round, note how far from the hole your approach shots are finishing. If you’re consistently leaving yourself 50+ feet, you will likely have your fair share of three-putts.

3. Greens in regulation

Greens in regulation is arguably the single most important of all the golf statistics in the game. A green is “in regulation” when your ball is on the putting surface in the appropriate number of strokes: one on a par 3, two on a par 4, three on a par 5.

Tour pros hit greens in regulation roughly 66 percent of the time, or about 11-12 greens per round. A 15-handicapper hits approximately four to five greens per round, or about 25 to 30 percent.

The downstream impact is compounding. Every missed green means a chip or pitch to save par. And those up-and-downs happen far less often than golfers expect. Recreational golfers scramble successfully only 15 to 20 percent of the time, while Tour pros convert at around 55-60 percent. That gap alone accounts for three or four dropped shots per round for the average player.

Every additional green you hit in regulation is a genuine opportunity to keep your score lower. Missed greens put your score on life support. The math is unforgiving.

4. Birdies in position

Birdies in position is a statistic good players use to measure how efficient a golfer is while playing and how often they capitalize on being in a scoring position. The approach defines this stat. Every time you use an 8 iron or less for an approach shot from any distance to the green, with a fairly easy lie relative to your current skill level, you’re now “in position.”

Now that you’re in position, how many times will you convert this opportunity to a birdie? Converting means finishing an approach shot within 15–20 feet of the hole: close enough that a one-putt birdie is a genuine possibility.

Tour pros get into birdie position six to eight times per round and convert roughly 25-30 percent of these chances. A 15-handicapper might get into birdie position two to three times per round and convert fewer than 10 percent of the time.

Tour players know how to create more birdie opportunities and capitalize on them at a far higher rate. For the average golfer, when the rare birdie opportunity arrives, you often squander it by being underprepared to capitalize, or your mechanically unsound stroke doesn’t hold up under pressure.

Tracking birdies in position combines several golf statistics into a single revealing category, letting you know if your scoring problem is a ball-striking issue, a putting issue, or both. Once you know, you know precisely where to invest your practice time.

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Mammoth D John Marino signs 8-year, $54M extension

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45 minutes ago

21 July 2026

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Nov 18, 2025; San Jose, California, USA; Utah Mammoth defenseman John Marino (6) warms up before the game against the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Bob Kupbens-Imagn Images

The Utah Mammoth signed defenseman John Marino to an eight-year, $54 million contract extension on Tuesday.

The deal carries an average annual value of $6.75 million and begins with the 2027-28 season.

Marino, 29, had a career-high 36 points (four goals, 32 assists) and finished tied for fifth in the NHL in plus/minus (plus-42) in 80 games with Utah last season.

“We value John’s long-term commitment to Utah and what he brings to our group every day,” president of hockey operations Chris Armstrong said. “His professionalism and competitiveness as well as the stability and puck-moving ability that he provides on our blue line, makes him an invaluable cornerstone for our franchise.”

Marino has 157 points (23 goals, 134 assists) in 443 career games with the Pittsburgh Penguins (2019-22), New Jersey Devils (2022-24) and Mammoth.

“We view John as a foundational piece of our future,” general manager Bill Armstrong said. “His ability to control the game from the back end, his play in transition and our trust in him to make the right decisions in critical situations allows him to be a difference maker on most nights. Beyond his skill, John brings a level of calmness under pressure that our group feeds off of and that’s exactly what you need from your veteran players.”

The Edmonton Oilers drafted Marino in the sixth round in 2015 and he played at Harvard from 2016-19.

–Field Level Media

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The Hundred MI London vs SunRisers Leeds: Abrar spoils Gleeson’s hat-trick attempt

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59 minutes ago

21 July 2026

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MI London bowler Richard Gleeson is on for his hat-trick after dismissing SunRisers Leeds’ Zak Crawley and Benny Howell in two balls, only for number 11 batter Abrar Ahmed to spoil his moment by hitting a six.

FOLLOW LIVE: MI London v Sunrisers Leeds

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World Cup 2026: Spain return to Madrid in triumph – Sports

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1 hour ago

21 July 2026

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Spain reunited with their supporters in Madrid less than 24 hours after winning the World Cup final against Argentina (1-0, after extra time). The players of La Roja, alongside head coach Luis de la Fuente, displayed the trophy upon their arrival at the airport before taking part in celebrations across the capital. More than 1 million people attended the parade, which ended with a major concert at Cibeles Square.

Lionel Messi has spoken after Argentina’s defeat in the final, describing his feelings as immense pain and admitting the loss would leave a deep mark.

In the FIFA rankings, Spain have returned to first place ahead of Argentina. France remain third despite their defeat against England in the third-place match (6-4).

Rudi Garcia will leave his position as Belgium manager despite guiding the team to the World Cup quarter-finals.

The football world has also paid tribute to Kevin Keegan, who has died at the age of 75.

In cycling, Jonas Vingegaard will undergo collarbone surgery after his crash on the Tour de France. Stage 16 features a 26.1-kilometre individual time trial this Tuesday.

In tennis, Océane Dodin claimed her first victory on the WTA Tour in two years at the Prague tournament, while Mayar Sherif won the Iași tournament after Paula Badosa retired in the final.

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Lalit Modi Cleared In Key 2009 IPL South Africa Case After Tribunal Verdict

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1 hour ago

21 July 2026

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New Delhi:

Former chairman Lalit Modi was cleared in the principal proceedings arising from the 2009 Indian Premier League’s staging in South Africa after the Appellate Tribunal under SAFEMA set aside the penalties imposed on him, rejecting the Enforcement Directorate’s core case that the foreign remittances were capital account transactions.Announcing the verdict after more than 16 years of investigations, proceedings, and litigation, Modi said the tribunal found that the main remittances related to IPL 2009 were current account transactions. It also determined that he was not responsible for the BCCI’s statutory FEMA compliance or given the financial authority as alleged by the Enforcement Directorate.

Calling it the end of the largest legal dispute stemming from the 2009 South Africa edition of the IPL, Modi said, “This marks the end of what has been the single most significant legal matter arising from the 2009 South Africa IPL.”

He added, “For over sixteen years, I have consistently maintained one simple position: I acted in good faith, in the best interests of Indian cricket and the IPL, and committed no personal wrongdoing.”

Modi explained that the decision to move the tournament to South Africa came under extraordinary circumstances when India’s general elections made it impossible to host the event at home.

“The successful staging of that season ensured that the IPL survived and ultimately became one of the world’s most valuable sporting properties,” he said.

Emphasising his full cooperation with the legal process throughout the proceedings, Modi stated, “Throughout these proceedings, I have cooperated with the legal process and remained confident that the facts and the law would ultimately prevail.”

He expressed gratitude to “my legal team, my family, my friends and the many people who continued to believe in me during what has been an extraordinarily long journey.”

Describing the ruling as more than a personal win, Modi said, “This judgment is not simply personal vindication. It reaffirms the importance of due process, objective legal analysis, and the principle that allegations must ultimately be tested against evidence and law.” He added, “I have always believed that time is the greatest judge. Today, after more than sixteen years, that process has spoken.”

Looking ahead, Modi mentioned that his focus had shifted beyond the case. “My focus remains firmly on the future. I will continue pursuing opportunities in global sport, business, and philanthropy while leaving this chapter behind with dignity and gratitude.”

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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Jon Rahm on verge of LIV title, takes cryptic tone on future

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2 hours ago

21 July 2026

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May 10, 2026; Sterling, Virginia, USA; Jon Rahm hits a drive in the rain during the final round of LIV Golf Virginia golf tournament at Trump National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Jack Power-Imagn Images

Jon Rahm has an outside shot at clinching another individual championship at LIV Golf United Kingdom this week, but the Spaniard doesn’t expect a lot of clarity on or off the course at this point in the season.

Rahm, who won consecutive LIV Golf titles and leads Bryson DeChambeau in a bid for his third in a row this season, stuck around after playing the Open Championship for LIV’s UK event at JCB Golf and Country Club. He holds a 928.58 to 644.40 lead over DeChambeau and is well clear of Joaquin Niemann in third place (344.66).

Rahm beat Niemann and DeChambeau was third in the individual race in 2025.

“It means a lot more than the simple fact that you’re winning. It means that you’re playing good golf consistently, and it means that the process has been working. I’ve always taken a lot of pride in being consistent and having a lot of top 10s, and I think that reflects on those wins,” Rahm said Tuesday in Rocester, England.

“But to wrap it up this early, I still need to win, and I still need to expect a bad week from Bryson, which based on how he’s been playing last week most likely won’t happen. I would expect a fight from him and other players, and I still need to perform at my best to finish it off.”

LIV Golf has been on scheduled hiatus with only tournaments in New Jersey at Trump National in Bedminster (Aug. 6-9) and LIV Indianapolis (Aug. 20-23) before the team championship is staged in Michigan the final weekend in August.

What the future holds for Rahm and all of LIV Golf appears to be up in the air as early as September.

Rahm confirmed he was “in contact” with the decision-makers steering the purported PGA Tour competitor as LIV seeks to find a funding stream or two following the exit of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.

“We know a lot of what’s going on, yeah,” Rahm said, but as for those details, there are none “I can share with you guys right now,” he said.

“I’m always optimistic. I play a game for a living. I can’t really be too upset about how things are going in life. Even though I’m very frustrated on the course very often, off the course I’m very different to what a lot of people think.”

Rahm finished tied for 46th at Royal Birkdale last week to walk away with $51,707, a disappointment considering he entered the weekend in a tie with several players in eighth place. The wheels came off with a bogey barrage on Sunday.

“If there was an overall (theme) for the week, it was just I simply couldn’t hole enough putts,” Rahm said of his performance at the Open Championship. “I think I did a lot of good things, and just not seeing the ball go in did get a little frustrating, as it would for anybody, and then on Sunday starting with a double and finishing with a double — it’s just killer. Having three doubles on the weekend is going to kill you.”

–Field Level Media

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Remco Evenepoel shows time trial chops in Stage 16 at Tour de France

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2 hours ago

21 July 2026

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Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe’s Remco Evenepoel won Stage 16 individual time-trial at the 2026 Tour de France.

Belgium’s Remco Evenepoel dominated the Stage 16 time trial Tuesday, finishing the technical 26.1-kilometer course at Thonon-les-Bains, France, in 32 minutes, 19 seconds to strengthen his grip on second place in the overall standings at the Tour de France.

The time trial opened the third and final week of the Tour de France after an off day Monday, with the concluding Stage 21 set for a Sunday finish at Paris.

A three-time world champion in the time trial who also won both cycling events at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Evenepoel was a full minute faster than the closest competitor until Slovenia’s Tadej Pogacar finished right behind him in second at 32:47.

Evenepoel was somewhat subdued after the victory at the news that Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe teammate Florian Lipowitz of Germany had to abandon the Tour de France following a crash on the time trial course.

Pogacar, who nearly crashed at the same corner where Lipowitz went down, remained in the overall leader’s yellow jersey, with Evenepoel 4:32 behind after winning his second consecutive stage. Evenepoel won Sunday’s Stage 15 by edging Pogacar on a closing climb in the mountains.

Mexico’s Isaac del Toro remained third in the overall standings after finishing fifth on Tuesday, while 19-year-old Paul Seixas of France was fourth overall after finishing fourth in the time trial.

Juan Ayuso of Spain is fifth overall, just ahead of Denmark’s Mattias Skjelmose, who finished in third place on Tuesday.

Lipowitz entered the time trial fifth in the overall standings, after finishing third overall last year, but is now out with an apparent right shoulder injury after crashing and sliding into a curb alongside the road.

Wednesday’s Stage 17 is a relatively flat 174.7-kilometer route with an early climb from Chambery to Voiron.

–Field Level Media

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Lionel Messi Tried To Divert Referee’s Attention Using ‘Fake Injury’ As Enzo Fernandez Got Red Card. Video

Published

2 hours ago

21 July 2026

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The Argentina vs Spain FIFA World Cup final was a heated affair. There were yellow cards, a red card, and even a full-blown fight. Enzo Fernandez‘s dismissal in second-half stoppage time left Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina with 10 men for the closing stages before the European champions clinched the title. In a new video that has emerged, Lionel Messi can be seen telling the referee to look at Nicolas Tagliafico, who was lying on the ground just as Fernandez received the red card. However, in the video, it can be clearly seen that Tagliafico was faking his injury.

Este es, quizás, el vídeo más descarado de la Final de la Copa del Mundo. Todos vimos cómo Enzo Fernández casi mata a Pau Cubarsí, pero si te fijas, más abajo, un jugador de Argentina, Nicolás Tagliafico, ve la tremenda patada de su compañero y, sabiendo que la ha cagado, se le… pic.twitter.com/5Ae5itK0LB
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— Javier Rubio Donzé (@Sr_Donze) July 21, 2026

Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez has vowed to keep giving everything for his country after breaking his silence following the FIFA World Cup final defeat to Spain, a match that saw him sent off late before the team’s title defence ended in heartbreak. Spain edged Argentina 1-0 after extra time at New York New Jersey Stadium on Monday, with Ferran Torres scoring the decisive goal.

The Chelsea midfielder had already been booked for dissent before receiving a second yellow card for a late challenge on Spain defender Pau Cubarsi. A day after the defeat, Fernandez took to Instagram to thank the fans and reflect on Argentina’s campaign, insisting the team’s commitment extended beyond the final result.

“As time goes by, you understand that there’s something much bigger than a result. For years, this group has represented us in the best way. They teach us that competing isn’t just about winning, but about giving everything for the shirt and never giving up. Being part of this group that always showed its mettle, that competed at the highest level, and that defended these colours with pride, humility, and commitment is an honour.”

The 25-year-old also expressed his gratitude to the Argentina faithful, who backed the team throughout the tournament.

“I want to thank all the Argentine fans. Thank you for always being there, for supporting us in every match, for your affection, your unconditional support, and for making us feel like we’re at home anywhere in the world.”

Fernandez signed off with a promise to continue serving the national team with the same commitment despite the painful end to Argentina’s World Cup campaign.

“Wearing my country’s shirt is the greatest honour of my career, and I will continue to give my all every time I have the opportunity to defend it.”