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MIAMI — As the 2026 FIFA World Cup draws closer, the eternal debate between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo has reached new heights, with the two all-time greats preparing for what is almost certainly their final appearance on football’s biggest stage. At 38 and 41 respectively, Messi and Ronaldo are chasing history in the expanded 48-team tournament hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, but current form, team depth and betting markets suggest Messi and Argentina hold a clearer path to lifting the trophy.

Messi himself recently named Portugal — led by his longtime rival Ronaldo — among the four teams he believes enter the tournament in stronger shape than defending champions Argentina. In a wide-ranging interview, the Inter Miami superstar highlighted France, Spain, Brazil and Portugal as better positioned, subtly lowering expectations on his own side while acknowledging Ronaldo’s enduring threat.

Current Form and Fitness Edge Messi

Messi has enjoyed a strong 2026 campaign with Inter Miami, contributing 11 goals and three assists in 15 appearances despite occasional muscular issues that sidelined him briefly. His efficiency metrics remain elite, particularly in chance creation and playmaking, where he still outshines most attacking players worldwide. At 38, Messi appears fresher and more integrated into a possession-based system under Tata Martino.

Ronaldo, playing for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, has scored 13-14 goals in roughly 18-20 appearances this season, maintaining his status as a prolific finisher. However, a recent hamstring concern — more serious than initially reported — raised temporary doubts about his fitness heading into the summer. He has since returned to scoring form and reassured fans he is “getting better every day,” but the injury underscores the physical toll at age 41.

Team Context Favors Argentina

Argentina enter as defending champions with a deep, balanced squad that reached the 2022 final and has continued evolving. Despite Messi’s modest self-assessment, bookmakers list La Albiceleste as joint third or fourth favorites around +800 to +1000 odds. The squad benefits from younger talents surrounding their captain, reducing individual burden compared to Portugal.

Portugal, while strong and featuring a talented supporting cast, relies heavily on Ronaldo’s leadership and moments of magic. They qualified convincingly but sit slightly behind Argentina in most power rankings and betting markets, typically around +1000 to +1200. Depth concerns and questions about Ronaldo’s role in high-stakes matches persist.

Potential Historic Clash

The expanded format increases the chance of a Messi-Ronaldo showdown. If both top their groups, they could meet in the quarterfinals. A final would represent the ultimate chapter in their rivalry — though prediction models see this as unlikely. Early knockout scenarios also exist if either side slips in the group stage.

Messi already has the 2022 title that eluded Ronaldo throughout his career. Another triumph would further cement his legacy, while a Portuguese victory would finally deliver the one major honor missing from Ronaldo’s glittering résumé.

Betting Markets and Expert Views

Major sportsbooks currently favor Spain (+450 to +500) and France (+550 to +650) as outright favorites, followed by England, Brazil and Argentina. Portugal trail slightly but remain firmly in the conversation. Messi’s Argentina are widely seen as more complete, while Ronaldo’s Portugal are viewed as dangerous but dependent on individual brilliance.

Xavi Hernández recently grouped both nations among the contenders alongside Spain, France and Brazil. Opta simulations and Monte Carlo models also place Argentina higher than Portugal in projected win probabilities.

Age, Legacy and Motivation

This will likely mark the sixth and final World Cup for both icons — a historic first. Messi turns 39 during the tournament, Ronaldo 41 at kickoff. Both have defied age through exceptional conditioning, but the physical demands of a month-long competition in varying North American climates will test their limits.

Messi has hinted this could be his last major international tournament, while Ronaldo continues chasing every record. A World Cup win for either would spark endless debate about the GOAT title, though most analysts believe Messi’s 2022 triumph and overall body of work already give him the edge.

What Lies Ahead

Qualification is complete for both nations, with Argentina and Portugal among the top seeds. Group draws have set intriguing paths, though the 48-team format introduces more variables and potential early exits.

Fans worldwide hope for one last memorable chapter — whether in direct confrontation or parallel quests for glory. As preparations intensify, Messi appears to hold the higher probability of ending his career with a second World Cup, but Ronaldo’s legendary mentality means Portugal can never be counted out.

The football world watches with anticipation. In what could be the final act of the greatest individual rivalry in sports history, one last dance awaits on the grandest stage. Whether Messi adds to his legend or Ronaldo finally claims the missing piece, 2026 promises drama, nostalgia and moments that will echo for generations.

Both players continue inspiring millions, proving age is just a number when talent and determination collide. As the countdown to June 2026 begins, the question remains: can either deliver one final masterclass to define their extraordinary careers?

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Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of FLO either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

I may take or change my position(s) in any of the stocks mentioned in this article in the near future.

Seeking Alpha’s Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

An organic ice cream brand has recalled select flavors over the potential presence of metal fragments, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Straus Family Creamery, based in Northern California, voluntarily recalled a limited number of production runs of its Organic Super Premium Ice Cream on Wednesday after the company discovered the potential presence of foreign metal material, according to an FDA report published Friday.

The recall impacts select pint and quart containers of vanilla bean, strawberry, cookie dough, Dutch chocolate and mint chip ice cream distributed to retailers in 17 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin.

Not all Straus Family Creamery ice cream products are affected by the recall. The company said the recall applies only to certain production runs identified by “best by” dates ranging from Dec. 23, 2026, through Dec. 30, 2026.

DOZENS OF ICE CREAM PRODUCTS RECALLED OVER UNDECLARED ALLERGENS POSING ‘LIFE-THREATENING’ RISK

Straus Family Creamery Vanilla Bean ice cream is one of the flavors included in the FDA recall over the potential presence of metal fragments. (U.S. Food & Drug Administration / Unknown)

The affected products began appearing on store shelves on May 4. Consumers can identify recalled products by the “best by” date printed in black on the outside bottom of the container.

According to the FDA, no injuries or illnesses have been reported in connection with the recalled products.

In its recall notice published by the FDA, Straus Family Creamery said it is “working with retailers to remove the potentially affected products from shelves.”

Consumers are urged not to eat the recalled ice cream and should discard the product rather than return it to stores.

ICE CREAM SOLD AT WALMARTS ACROSS 16 STATES RECALLED DUE TO UNDECLARED ALLERGEN

The affected products were sold across 17 U.S. states. (Getty Images  / Getty Images)

Customers seeking a voucher for a replacement product can visit the company’s recall website.

Consumers with questions can contact Straus Family Creamery at support@strausmilk.com or 1-707-776-2887 Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT.

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Last month, California-based Loard’s Ice Cream recalled dozens of products sold in Northern California over undeclared allergens including milk, eggs, wheat, peanuts and soy, according to the FDA. No illnesses were reported in that recall.

A representative for Straus Family Creamery did not immediately respond to FOX Business’ request for comment.

NEW YORK — Google Nest users across the United States and parts of Europe reported significant disruptions Friday as the popular smart home platform experienced intermittent outages affecting the Nest app, cameras, thermostats and connected devices, leaving many homeowners unable to monitor security feeds or adjust temperatures remotely.

Downdetector and other outage tracking sites recorded spikes in user complaints throughout the morning and early afternoon, with problems centered on app connectivity, live video streaming and device synchronization. While Google’s official Nest status page showed all services as operational, frustrated customers flooded social media and community forums with reports of offline devices and error messages.

The issues appear tied to broader Google ecosystem strain following recent high-traffic events, including major music releases and other platform spikes earlier in the week. Many users noted the problems began around mid-morning Eastern time and persisted for several hours before gradual improvement.

Scope of the Outage

Affected services included Nest Cam live video, video history playback, thermostat remote control and general app login functionality. Some users reported devices showing as “offline” despite stable home Wi-Fi connections, while others experienced delayed notifications or complete loss of access through the Google Home app.

The outage impacted a wide range of Nest products, from doorbell cameras and indoor security systems to smart thermostats and smoke detectors. Homeowners with integrated setups relying on routines and automations faced the greatest inconvenience, particularly those using the system for security while away from home.

Google Nest support acknowledged isolated issues on social channels and recommended standard troubleshooting steps, including restarting routers, updating the app and checking device firmware. However, many users reported that local resets failed to resolve server-side problems.

User Frustration Mounts

Social media platforms lit up with complaints. “My entire Nest system is down again — can’t see my baby’s room camera,” one parent posted. Others expressed safety concerns, noting reliance on the devices for elderly family members or home monitoring during work hours.

The timing amplified irritation for many. With summer approaching and travel season underway, families using Nest for vacation home oversight found themselves temporarily blind to potential issues. Security-focused users worried about delayed alerts during the outage window.

Google’s Smart Home Challenges

This is not the first time Google Nest has faced connectivity headaches. The platform, which integrates former Nest and Google Home products, has encountered growing pains as the user base expands and features become more complex. Recent software updates aimed at improving AI features and energy management have occasionally introduced stability trade-offs.

Analysts note that smart home systems remain vulnerable to cloud dependency. Even with local processing improvements in newer devices, core functions like remote access and notifications still rely heavily on Google’s servers. A single point of failure in the backend can cascade across millions of households.

Google has invested heavily in its smart home division, positioning Nest as a cornerstone of its ambient computing vision. However, reliability issues continue to draw criticism compared to competitors like Amazon’s Ring ecosystem or Apple’s HomeKit, which some users claim offer more stable performance.

Troubleshooting Tips During Disruptions

Google support recommends the following steps when Nest services falter:

• Restart your Wi-Fi router and modem
• Force close and reopen the Nest or Google Home app
• Check for app and device firmware updates
• Verify account login status across devices
• Test connectivity on cellular data to isolate local network problems

For persistent issues, users can visit status.nest.com or contact support directly. In widespread outages, patience often proves most effective as backend teams work to restore service.

Broader Context of Tech Reliability

Friday’s Nest problems form part of a pattern of high-profile service disruptions across major platforms. Earlier in the week, Google experienced broader outages affecting Search, Meet and other services, highlighting the fragility of cloud-dependent technology even from industry leaders.

As smart home adoption grows — with millions relying on connected devices for security, energy efficiency and convenience — expectations for uptime have risen sharply. Industry experts urge companies to invest more in redundancy, edge computing and transparent communication during incidents.

Consumer advocates recommend homeowners maintain backup systems, such as traditional locks, battery-powered cameras or non-connected thermostats, to mitigate risks during outages. Diversifying across ecosystems can also reduce single-vendor dependency.

What Comes Next

As of late Friday afternoon, most users reported gradual restoration of services, though some continued experiencing spotty connectivity. Google has not issued a formal statement on the root cause or duration of the disruption.

The incident serves as a reminder of the trade-offs in smart home technology. While offering unprecedented convenience and control, these systems remain susceptible to internet and server issues beyond users’ direct control.

For now, affected customers are advised to monitor official status pages and prepare alternative monitoring methods until full stability returns. As Google continues refining its Nest platform, reliability will likely remain a key focus area to maintain consumer trust in an increasingly connected world.

Homeowners with critical security needs should consider redundant systems during this period of occasional instability. The smart home revolution promises seamless living, but as Friday’s events demonstrated, occasional hiccups in the cloud can quickly bring that vision back down to earth.