Expecting big things from outside linebacker Dallas Turner in 2026? How about second-year wideout Tai Felton? Neither of those men is the most logical breakout candidate for the 2026 Minnesota Vikings — because that distinction belongs to left tackle Christian Darrisaw, says CBS Sports.

It’s a bizarre selection for a breakout player, as Darrisaw broke out five years ago.

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CBS Sports: Vikings Breakout Player = Christian Darrisaw

Zachary Pereles nominated a breakout player for each NFC team this week, landing on Darrisaw for Minnesota: “If you ask Vikings fans, they’d probably say it’s past time for Christian Darrisaw to become a star. The left tackle showcases elite talent when he’s on the field. The issue is he hasn’t been on the field enough: zero full seasons.”

“He has played in just 17 games total the past two seasons after signing a four-year, $113 million extension in July 2024. He then tore his ACL and MCL in October and struggled with knee issues for seemingly all of 2025.”

Pereles is correct with his first sentence. Minnesotans are not looking for Darrisaw to achieve stardom. They want him to be healthy.

“He’s an absolute road grader in the run game; since Darrisaw arrived in 2021, the Vikings have a 46% rushing success rate with him on the field and a 41% rushing success rate without him,” Pereles added.

“In 2025, that would have been the difference between the NFL’s 17th-best rushing attack and its 31st-best rushing attack.”

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Pereles is right about one thing — Vikings fans considering Darrisaw a stud. From their perspective, he broke out sometime in mid-2021 as a rookie.

In fact, during the dark years of 2021 and 2023, Darrisaw was a bright spot, a player fans could tout as, “At least we have Darrisaw.” That crowd spends more time wondering why Darrisaw has never reached a Pro Bowl, despite a Pro Bowl resume, than labeling him as a breakout candidate.

Most would’ve picked the aforementioned Turner for the “breakout” candidacy, as outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard was traded in late April. It’s finally time for Turner to start after the Vikings traded the farm to get him in 2024.

But nope — CBS Sports says Darrisaw could be on the cusp of something big in 2026.

Career Resume for Darrisaw

Darrisaw’s track record is clear: when healthy, he is one of the best left tackles in football.

Since 2021, the Vikings have witnessed his prowess over 3,440 total snaps — 2,216 in pass-blocking and 1,224 in run-blocking. His performance has been exceptional, highlighted by an overall grade of 90.4 in 2022, followed by 82.4 in 2023 and 81.4 in 2024. PFF ranked him seventh among all offensive tackles after the 2023 season, noting his career-best 85.3 pass-blocking grade, which was third in the NFL.

The 2023 season is particularly significant, as Darrisaw maintained his elite blindside protection despite Minnesota cycling through four quarterbacks: Kirk Cousins, Joshua Dobbs, Nick Mullens, and Jaren Hall.

His run-blocking grades have been consistently strong: 90.6 in 2022, 73.9 in 2023, 82.3 in 2024, and 69.8 in 2025. His pass-blocking grades show even greater consistency: 82.4, 85.3, 79.9, and 71.3 from 2022 to 2025.

PFF recognized his potential early, ranking him among rookie left tackles with the lowest pressure rates since 2010 after his first season.

The primary concern, of course, revolves around his recent availability. Darrisaw has played in 58 games and started 56 over five years. His talent undeniably qualifies him as a franchise left tackle; the Vikings simply need him to complete a full season.

Actual Breakout Candidates?

If one classifies Darrisaw’s breakout label as bogus, here’s the real list of possible Vikings contenders in 2026:

• Tai Felton (WR)
• Jordan Mason (RB)
• Myles Price (WR)
• Bo Richter (OLB)
• Dallas Turner (OLB)
• Jay Ward (S)

Rookies, too — the Vikings have about 30 on the roster right now — could break out, but no one considers a rookie shining for the first time all that remarkable. It happens.

Darrisaw said last week that his knee feels its best in two years, notable because he tore his ACL in October 2024. Mankato Free Press‘s Abbie Parr noted, “Darrisaw, who’s entering his sixth season with the Vikings after being drafted in the first round in 2021, wore a leg sleeve but no knee brace during Thursday’s organized team activities practice.”

“He participated in everything from O-line drills to 7-on-7 work. Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said the team had planned on Darrisaw being available in this part of the NFL calendar and that he’s been participating ‘pretty much in totality.’”

He turned 27 last week.

Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker

PV Sindhu in action© Badminton Photo

It seemed a bit, let’s say, irregular over the past few years to see NFL quarterbacks who had never won or even played in a Super Bowl surpass Patrick Mahomes as the league’s highest-paid quarterback.

That’s changing starting in 2027.

On Wednesday, Mahomes vaulted over the entire quarterback pack in agreeing to a new contract with a two-year extension that is worth $504.75 million and ties him to the Kansas City Chiefs through the 2033 season. ESPN was first to report the news.

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Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes walks off the field after an NFL game against the Las Vegas Raiders in Kansas City, Mo., on Oct. 19, 2025. (Reed Hoffmann/AP)

The deal is not yet signed but has been in the works for weeks between Mahomes’ representatives at Equity Sports and Chiefs general manager Brett Veach and his team.

The extension means Mahomes now has a contract from 2026 to 2033 worth over half a billion dollars over eight seasons. That represents the first NFL contract to climb over the half-billion-dollar mark.

Mahomes can climb as high as $522.25 million if he meets incentives.

And this: When $239.05 million in new money kicks in starting in 2027, Mahomes will be averaging a reported $64 million per season.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes takes off his helmet after defeating the Buffalo Bills during the AFC Championship game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., on Jan. 26, 2025. (Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images)

That beats the $60 million per year on an annual average basis Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott gets as the NFL’s current highest-paid quarterback.

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And it certainly blows away the $45 million per year average Mahomes has been getting since signing his current contract in 2020.

Back then, Mahomes signed a 10-year contract worth $450 million. It made him the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL.

But in the ensuing years, players including Lamar Jackson, Justin Herbert, Brock Purdy, Tua Tagovailoa, Jared Goff, Trevor Lawrence, Josh Allen, Jordan Love and Prescott signed deals worth more on an annual average basis.

And you know how many Super Bowl championships all those higher-paid QBs boast?

Zero.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is interviewed by Netflix reporter Stacey Dales after a win against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on Dec. 25, 2024. (Barry Reeger-Imagn Images)

Mahomes has helped the Chiefs reach five Super Bowls. And they’ve won three.

That alone suggests Mahomes was underpaid while averaging $45 million per season. That, of course, can be debated because Mahomes hasn’t exactly posted career statistics in recent years.

His annual passing yards have declined each of the last three seasons since he posted a career-high 5,250 passing yards in 2022.

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But the statistics are affected by the talent level around him. The Chiefs have had offensive line issues and the wide receiver cast has been in flux and often inconsistent in recent years.

The important thing is whether the Chiefs believe Mahomes to be worthy of a raise. They’ve answered that question.

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The panels are decorated with vibrant colours and the official FIFA World Cup 2026 logo to commemorate this year’s tournament

With the FIFA World Cup 2026 finally kicking off, fans all over the world will be tuning in over the next month to cheer on their nation’s team. While those across the UK will be cheering on their home teams, especially after England’s stellar performance that reached the quarter-finals, there are a variety of ways to get immersed in this year’s tournament.

While there is plenty of merch out there to commemorate this year’s World Cup, football fans could get their hands on their very own FIFA World Cup 2026-branded football. Better yet, they could save as much as £15 in the process, practically making it a steal.

Argos is currently offering the Hy-Pro Official FIFA World Cup 2026 PVC Football for £15. However, a cashback deal could see you grab it free of charge.

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TopCashback is giving new customers to the brand, who are also new to Argos, the chance to grab the ball for £0. Meanwhile, new TopCashback members who are existing Argos members can also get the ball for free after cashback has been calculated.

Shoppers should keep in mind, though, that while the item itself is free of charge, that doesn’t include standard delivery, which is £3.99. However, click and collect is also free of charge if you want to save money on delivery.

The officially licensed football is made from durable PVC, allowing it to hold its shape when used for sports rather than just as a display piece. It comes with an included pump to keep it in the best condition and ready to play.

The ball itself is made with 32 panels and comes in size five, meeting the official regulation standard for competitive matches and allowing proper training for older kids and adults who want to improve their skills. The panels are also decorated with vibrant colours and the official FIFA World Cup 2026 logo to commemorate this year’s tournament.

If you want a slightly different style to commemorate the World Cup, you could also opt for the adidas FIFA World Cup 2026 Trionda Training Ball, which is currently discounted on Amazon from £26.99 to £24.98. This training ball is designed to help you improve your football skills and comes with official FIFA World Cup 2026 branding.

If you’re not too fussed about the World Cup branding and simply want a ball with various size options, you could opt for the PUMA Orbita Cup, which is available on Amazon for £14. This ball comes in sizes three and four, making it suitable for both older and younger kids who want to train at home.

While no reviews are currently available for the Hy-Pro Official FIFA World Cup 2026 PVC Football, serious training customers should note that the PVC material can become stiff in cold weather, making kicking the ball more difficult. PVC can also feel slicker than other ball materials, which might make it more difficult for some players to properly practice their control when compared to grippier materials.

How to get the Hy-Pro Official FIFA World Cup 2026 Football for free via TopCashback

• Sign up as a new member at Top Cashback for free via this link.
• Search for Argos on the site, click through and buy the item normally.
• Get £15 cashback when you spend £15 or more on an item.
• The cashback will track to the TopCashback ‘Earnings page’ within seven days of your purchase.

NEW YORK – The New York Knicks do not die.

After trailing by as many as 29, the Knicks had yet another comeback — this one perhaps the greatest of all-time, to steal a 107-106 win over the San Antonio Spurs and take a 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals.

The winning moment came at the fingertip of OG Anunoby, whose tip-in off a missed Jalen Brunson three-pointer put Madison Square Garden in an absolute frenzy.

But it sure was a grind to get to that point.

New York Knicks PG Jalen Brunson shoots over San Antonio Spurs PG De’aaron Fox in Game 3 of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden. (Vincent Carchietta/Imagn Images)

Karl-Anthony Towns was hit with two fouls in just the first 62 seconds of the game, one which the Knicks faithful were not happy with. And while there was plenty of ball left after that, the game changed from that moment.

The refs certainly did not help the case, but the Spurs opened the game on a 41-20 run, mostly while Towns was off the floor. Combine that with the team knocking down 54% of its three-pointers in the first half, and you have a 76-49 Spurs lead at halftime, and they got up to a 29-point lead.

But we’ve learned to never count out New York. As they cut the deficit to 15 to close out the third quarter, the crowd that was dying to pounce was finally alive. A slow start to the fourth put San Antonio up 20, but the Knicks went on a 13-2 run to cut it to just nine with a little less than seven minutes to go. And then it was seven with 5:15 to go.

Members of the New York Knicks celebrate their 107-106 victory against the San Antonio Spurs in Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York on June 10, 2026. (Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)

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And then it was four with 4:32 to go.

Then one with two minutes.

And then the lead with just 90 seconds left.

Pandemonium.

The Spurs hit two free throws to regain the lead with 30.3 seconds left. Yet again — it’s the Knicks.

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson reacts after making a three-point basket against the San Antonio Spurs during the fourth quarter of Game Four in the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York on June 10, 2026. (Al Bello/Getty Images)

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Then came what head coach Mike Brown dubbed the greatest play in the history of Knicks basketball.

San Antonio was unable to get a shot off the inbound, and Madison Square Garden was the loudest it may have ever been, as the greatest comeback in NBA Finals history was complete.

After the game, head coach Mike Brown dubbed Anunoby’s tip-in the biggest play in the history of Knicks basketball.

The Knicks outscored the Spurs 58-30.

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The FIFA World Cup is finally here.

Over the next month, the world’s best players will battle for football’s biggest prize, with national pride, history and immortality on the line.

Every tournament begins with a handful of favourites, a few dark horses and several nations hoping to spring a surprise. While the expanded format means more opportunities for shocks, history suggests the eventual winner is usually found among a select group of elite teams.

Here are SportsRation’s five leading contenders to lift the World Cup trophy.

1. Spain

If there is one team entering the tournament with the fewest weaknesses, it is Spain.

The European champions have blended youthful brilliance with proven experience, creating arguably the most balanced squad in international football.

Lamine Yamal has emerged as one of the game’s brightest stars, while Pedri continues to control matches with his intelligence and composure. Behind them sits Rodri, the midfielder many consider the most important player in world football.

Spain do not simply win games; they control them.

Their ability to dominate possession, dictate tempo and suffocate opponents makes them the team everyone will want to avoid in the knockout rounds.

2. France

France arrive at another major tournament carrying familiar expectations.

They reached the 2018 World Cup final, won it, then returned to the final again in 2022. No nation has been more consistently successful on the biggest stage over the last decade.

Kylian Mbappé remains the headline act, but France’s strength lies in their incredible depth.

Ousmane Dembélé is coming off one of the finest seasons of his career, while players such as Aurélien Tchouaméni, William Saliba, Michael Olise and Eduardo Camavinga’s replacements ensure Didier Deschamps has quality in every area of the pitch.

France know how to navigate tournament football, and that experience makes them genuine contenders once again.

3. Argentina

Writing off Argentina would be foolish.

The reigning world champions arrive with the confidence of a team that knows exactly what it takes to win football’s greatest prize.

While Lionel Messi may no longer be at his physical peak, his influence remains enormous. More importantly, Argentina are no longer dependent on him.

Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister and Julián Álvarez have become world-class performers in their own right, while manager Lionel Scaloni has built one of the most cohesive units in international football.

The motivation is obvious too.

Many within the squad have spoken openly about wanting to give Messi one final World Cup triumph before the curtain falls on his international career.

4. Portugal

This may be Portugal’s best opportunity since Cristiano Ronaldo first burst onto the international scene.

The spotlight naturally falls on Ronaldo, who is likely playing in his final World Cup, but Portugal’s strength extends far beyond their iconic captain.

Vitinha enters the tournament after a sensational season that has placed him among the world’s elite midfielders. Bruno Fernandes remains one of football’s most creative forces, while João Neves and Nuno Mendes have developed into world-class talents.

Portugal are no longer a team built solely around Ronaldo.

Instead, they possess quality throughout the squad, with the added emotional motivation of trying to deliver the ultimate prize for their greatest-ever player.

5. Germany

Germany are flying under the radar.

That is usually when they are most dangerous.

While Spain, France and Argentina dominate the headlines, Germany quietly possess one of the most exciting young cores in world football.

Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz are capable of deciding matches on their own, while Germany’s tournament pedigree remains unmatched by most nations.

Few teams understand World Cup football better.

If Germany gather momentum, they have the quality and experience to beat anyone.

Dark Horse: Colombia

Every World Cup produces a surprise package.

This time, Colombia could be that team.

Led by Liverpool star Luis Díaz, Colombia possess the attacking quality needed to trouble the world’s best sides.

They are physically strong, tactically disciplined and enter the tournament without the pressure facing traditional powerhouses.

A favourable draw could see them become one of the stories of the competition.

Why England and Brazil Miss Out

The absence of England and Brazil may surprise some readers.

England possess outstanding talent, but injuries and squad balance concerns leave questions unanswered. Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane and Phil Foden are capable of carrying the Three Lions deep into the tournament, but compared to Spain, France and Argentina, England still feel incomplete.

Brazil remain Brazil. They have stars, quality and history.

However, recent performances have lacked the consistency and cohesion that characterised their greatest World Cup-winning sides. Until they prove otherwise against elite opposition, they sit just outside our top five.

Prediction

Spain enter the tournament as the team to beat.

France have the depth.

Argentina have the belief.

Portugal have the emotion.

Germany have the pedigree.

One of those five nations is likely to be celebrating when the final whistle blows.

The only certainty is that football’s biggest stage is ready for another unforgettable chapter.

As Mexico City prepares to host the opening match of the World Cup on Thursday, teachers have pledged to continue their protests for increased wages and better labor conditions in the area surrounding the capital’s legendary Estadio Azteca (Aztec Stadium) as part of a national strike announced June 1 by the CNTE education workers union, which is demanding a 100% pay-rise. 

Over the past week, thousands of teachers have occupied the iconic Zocalo, or main square, blocked intersections and marched through the streets of the capital. Media report that security forces deployed tear gas against teachers who were attempting to occupy the Education Ministry. 

On the Paseo de la Reforma (Promenade of the Reform), teachers tore down meter-tall statues of soccer stars that had been erected ahead of the World Cup, ripping the jerseys off the plastic players and burning them.

“Without a solution, the ball won’t roll,” the teachers wrote on some of the fallen statues. 

Mexican teachers calling for higher salaries to cover cost of inflation

The teachers are protesting the education and pension policies of Claudia Sheinbaum, who was elected president with broad labor support as the successor to Andres Manuel Lopez-Obrador, founder of the anti-neoliberal National Regeneration Movement (Morena) party. In May 2025, Sheinbaum’s government announced a 10% raise for teachers by September 2026 — which the unions had rejected as wholly inadequate.  

Salaries vary widely by region and according to education levels. Early-career teachers in public schools in Mexico receive 8,000-14,000 pesos (€390-690/$460-800) per month.  

The rival SNTE teachers union, which has long enjoyed close relations with Mexico’s various ruling parties, has called for a 13% raise in 2026 to cover the increasing costs of inflation. 

Protests in the international limelight

With its protests at the World Cup site, the CNTE is attempting to use the national and global focus on Mexico City for leverage. As one of the tournament’s three co-hosts, alongside the United States and Canada, Mexico is expecting about 5 million international tourists in June and July.  

According to the administration of Mexico City, the Zocalo can accommodate up to 55,000 people for public viewings — though thousands more may attempt to cram in when the national team plays. The teachers’ protest camp threatens to disrupt those plans. The global football governing body, FIFA, has already called off a training for World Cup volunteers on the square. 

Sheinbaum won’t ‘fall for provocations’

In her daily press conference, Sheinbaum accused the teachers of trying to provoke the government while the international spotlight is on Mexico, but also ruled out a heavy-handed clampdown.

“We aren’t going to fall for provocations, ” Sheinbaum said. 

Instead, her government is negotiating with the teachers. The 100% raise has been ruled out as “incompatible with the federal budget.” The most probable compromise between the government and the teachers would be a package that combined raises with pension increases. 

Historic center teeming with protesters

Mexico City’s chamber of commerce has claimed that the disruptions to business in the area around the Zocalo and the blocking of traffic on main streets and to and from the airport have cost the private sector nearly €20 million. Some residents of Mexico City who oppose the protests have written on social media that they feel like they have been taken hostage by the teachers. 

The government has not blamed the union or the majority of the teachers for damage and destruction caused by affiliated groups. “There was a lot of provocation yesterday,” Sheinbaum said following the march. “The truth is that I don’t believe it was teachers who were behind the provocation.” 

Many media outlets in Mexico have defended the protests as a legitimate form of social expression. The right-wing press, on the other hand, has criticized the teachers. In his column for the newspaper Milenio, the journalist Hector Aguilar Camin accused the teachers of a “pedagogy of violence.” He said the Morena party was partly at fault because it had empowered the CNTE union in its efforts to win teachers’ votes.  

This article was originally published in German.

Man Utd have shifted their approach to recruitment over the past 18 months and there is now something transfer targets need to take into account.

One of the attractions for Manchester United when signing Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford last summer was just how clear he had made it that he wanted to come to Old Trafford.

Fresh off the back of a 20-goal season in the Premier League for the Bees, the Cameroon international had options, including a reunion with boss Thomas Frank at Tottenham. That also offered an immediate avenue into the Champions League.

But Mbeumo only had eyes for United, and he made that clear throughout the process. In the end, a deal for an initial £65million, with £6million in add-ons, was secured in the third week of July.

That is a lesson that the transfer targets United are eyeing up in this window would do well to heed. United place considerable weight on just how keen players are to sign for them and that has been evidenced again with the decision to step away from the pursuit of Elliot Anderson.

The 23-year-old’s priority is to join Manchester City this summer, but United could have complicated matters. Had they outbid City and done a deal with Forest, Anderson could have easily ended up at Old Trafford, just as Harry Maguire, Fred and Alexis Sanchez did.

Instead, United’s recruitment chiefs baulked at the idea of paying more than £120million for a player who wasn’t all-in on joining the club. As City raised the stakes, United’s director of football Jason Wilcox and the people in charge of transfers at Old Trafford stepped back.

Instead, they will look at targets below Anderson on the list, but crucially, some or all of those players have made it clear they want to come to Old Trafford. That is certainly the case for Carlos Baleba, who wanted to leave Brighton for United last summer.

Mateus Fernandes has also given the impression that he would like to link up with his idol and namesake, Bruno, at Old Trafford. The 21-year-old West Ham midfielder now slots in at the top of United’s options in midfield.

This is another welcome change in United’s recruitment. For too long it has been back of the fag packet stuff, with little joined-up thinking in why players were being pursued and little to no discipline when it comes to fees and wages.

That is changing under Ineos. The football executives blundered with Ruben Amorim, but transfer business last summer was excellent and the £35million deal for Ederson looks a bargain compared to some of the fees being quoted for other midfielders this year.

It’s easy to imagine the United of a few years ago pushing hard for Anderson and trying to make a statement against City. Instead, this version of the club have followed Omar Berrada’s instructions to be “really disciplined”.

United wanted Anderson to be the man to step into Casemiro’s shoes next to Kobbie Mainoo. He looks like an excellent player and a good fit in that midfield, but there are other options there, and it might be they can sign two midfielders for a little more than the Forest man would have cost on his own.

This is clearly the right decision from United, and another sign that the approach to transfers within Old Trafford is beginning to change.

Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package

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Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.

Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.