On Friday, Argentina looked to continue its quest for back-to-back World Cup titles, and to do it, they had to get through one of the darlings of this year’s tournament, Cape Verde.

The small island nation off the coast of West Africa came into the match as the No. 64-ranked team in the world, and they managed to hold Argentina — the No. 2 team behind France at the moment — scoreless for almost thirty minutes.

But in the 29th minute, Lionel Messi scored to give Argentina the lead.

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That was the 20th World Cup goal of his career, and it also made him the first player to score seven or more goals in multiple World Cups, having done it in Qatar as well.

It was also Messi’s eighth-straight World Cup match with a goal.

Argentina’s Lionel Messi scored in his eight-straight World Cup match and potted the 20th World Cup goal of his career. (Photo by Pablo Morano/BSR Agency/Getty Images))

Well, typically when Argentina takes the lead, they don’t cough it up, but early in the second half, Cape Verde’s Deroy Duarte pulled off a stunner and tied the game at 1-1.

HARRY KANE RESCUES ENGLAND FROM SHOCK WORLD CUP EXIT WITH TWO GOALS IN 11 MINUTES AGAINST DR CONGO

While there was some late pressure from Argentina, that included an always-dangerous Messi free kick from just outside the box that Cape Verde managed to stop.

And with that, it was off to extra time.

Cape Verde celebrates after scoring one of their two tying goals against Argentina. (Photo by Pablo Morano/BSR Agency/Getty Images)

However, it only took moments for Cape Verde to find themselves once again battling from behind.

Lisandro Martinez found the twine in the 92nd minute to give Argentina the lead.

It looked like that would be all she wrote… but Cape Verde had other plans.

They stuck with the defending World Cup champs, and in the 103rd minute, Sidny Lopes Cabral scored an unbelievable goal to tie the game again.

Coming into this game, Argentina had given up just two goals in their ten-match World Cup winning streak.

Cape Verde did that in one match.

Argentina’s Cristian Romero gets his head on what proved ot be the game-winning goal. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

But in the 111th minute, Messi took an Argentina corner kick and put it in the perfect spot for Cristian Romero to head it to the back post and into the back of the net.

This was eventually updated to an own-goal, as it went off the Cape Verde defender’s arm, but it counts the same on the scoreboard.

Despite a late flurry of chances, Argentina held on to avoid what would have been potentially the biggest upset in World Cup history.

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What a match, and what a run Cape Verde had in the tournament.

Argentina will now have to recompose and get ready for a tough Round of 16 match against Egypt, which will take place on Tuesday in Atlanta.

The 2026 John Deere Classic continues on Saturday, July 4, with the third round at TPC Deere Run. You can find full John Deere Classic tee times for Saturday’s third round at the bottom of this post.

John Deere Classic tee times: What to know

What to know? Your leader through two rounds is Lucas Glover — who, after play on Friday, didn’t exactly know what he shot a day earlier. 

It was only a 63, the lowest round of the day. 

The revelation came after he was asked whether he was happier with that round, or the one he shot on Friday, when he shot a 65.  

“Honestly, probably just the difference between playing in the morning and the afternoon,” Glover said. “I mean, that’s completely honest and transparent. The ball was going forever this afternoon, just with the heat, and just the ball is going a long way.

“I hit a couple of nice shots on 7 and 8. My 16, 17th hole, thought they were going to be good and ended up missing the green. Just misjudged them 2 or 3 yards too far.

“Yeah, I think it was just a difference in that. I think yesterday morning if I’d have played this morning and played the same round, I might have shot one more instead of 3 or 2. I don’t know what I shot, but yeah, I think that was the only difference.”

That easy-going nature is how Glover does his business. It should be useful this weekend, too. 

“I mean, this is my 23rd year,” he said. “There’s nothing I hadn’t been there, done that, to be fair. I’ve played in the last groups and played great, and I’ve played in the last groups and played terrible.

“There’s no formula other than hydrate and rest and keep the pedal down this week, because it’s not going to be able to hang on. There’s going to be birdies and eagles. It’s going to be fun.”

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2026 John Deere Classic tee times for Saturday: Round 3 (ET)

Tee No. 1

Tee No. 1

7:31 a.m. – Michael Feagles, Adrien Dumont de Chassart

7:42 a.m. – Max McGreevy, A.J. Ewart 

7:53 a.m. – Jordan Spieth, Mackenzie Hughes, Erik van Rooyen 

8:04 a.m. – Mark Hubbard, Nick Dunlap, Eric Cole 

8:15 a.m. – Zach Bauchou Keita Nakajima, Fabian Gómez 

8:26 a.m. – Will Gordon, Keegan Bradley, David Skinns 

8:37 a.m. – Jonathan Byrd, Rickie Fowler, Keith Mitchell 

8:48 a.m. –  Camilo Villegas, Trace Crowe, Lanto Griffin 

9:05 a.m. – Ryan Voois, Davis Thompson, Matt Wallace 

9:16 a.m. – Tony Finau, Kevin Yu, Matt Kuchar 

9:27 a.m. – Joel Dahmen, Tom Hoge, Austin Eckroat 

9:38 a.m. – J.T. Poston, Jacob Bridgeman, Davis Riley 

9:49 a.m. – Ryan Brehm, Beau Hossler, Pierceson Coody 

10: a.m. – Mac Meissner, Nicholas Lindheim, Rafael Campos 

10:11 a.m. – Sungjae Im, Karl Vilips, Peter Malnati 

10:28 a.m. – Gordon Sargent, Stephan Jaeger, Patrick Fishburn 

10:39 a.m. – Emiliano Grillo, Chandler Phillips, Zecheng Dou 

10:50 a.m. – Luke Gutschewski, Steven Fisk, Christiaan Bezuidenhout

11:01 a.m. – Blades Brown, Preston Stout (a), Chan Kim 

11:12 a.m. – Andrew Putnam, Austin Smotherman, Aaron Wise 

11:23 a.m. – Harry Higgs, Tom Kim, Davis Chatfield 

11:34 a.m. – Michael Brennan, Doug Ghim, Hayden Springer 

11:51 a.m. – Pontus Nyholm, William Mouw, Ben Griffin

12:02 p.m. – Max Homa, Zach Johnson, Chris Gotterup 

12:13 p.m. – David Lipsky, Ryo Hisatsune, Ben Kohles 

12:24 p.m. – Jackson Suber, Tyler Duncan, Troy Merritt 

12:35 p.m. – Lucas Glover, Lee Hodges, Zac Blair 

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Muhammad Ali is viewed by many as the greatest heavyweight of all time, but another boxing legend has disputed that claim.

Ali became a three-time world heavyweight champion, with iconic wins over George Foreman in the ‘Rumble In The Jungle’ and Joe Frazier in the ‘Thrilla In Manila’ helping to add to his legacy.

There are several others who managed to earn world honours in the banner division on three occasions, including Lennox Lewis and Vitali Klitschko, but the only man who has managed it on four occasions has stated his case for why he is greater than Ali.

That fighter is Evander Holyfield, and he explained to Seconds Out why he believes nobody is on his level.

“I’m the only four-time heavyweight champion of the world but they are still talking about Ali when I broke his record. I’ve been the only four-time heavyweight champion of the world for 24 years.

“You can’t talk about it until you break someone’s record, they don’t say nothing about me. How do you cut somebody out of history? Now I didn’t even know I was the first person to be undisputed in two weight divisions, until Usyk did it.

“They keep saying Ali is the best fighter, no I am. He was three times, I’m four.”

It is hard to argue with Holyfield’s view, as he was undisputed cruiserweight champion before moving up and achieving that status at heavyweight too, claiming wins against fighters such as Mike Tyson, Riddick Bowe, George Foreman and Larry Holmes along the way.

Despite those memorable triumphs, Holyfield once revealed another name when he was asked who his greatest ever victory came against.

The race for the golden boot at the World Cup is hurtling towards an epic contest during the knockout stage as Lionel Messi went back ahead of Kylian Mbappe at the top of the standings with Vinicius Jr and Erling Haalandalso very much in the race.

The stars continue to dominate at this tournament, none more so than Messi after backing up a hat-trick against Algeria with a double against Austria to highlight one of his greatest traits after a penalty miss. Another arrived off the bench against Jordan before he inevitably scored again in their slender knockouts win over Cape Verde.

Not to be outdone, Mbappe has been in excellent scoring touch and a brace against Sweden propelled France to a 3-0 victory and a spot in the last-16 as he once again thrives on the biggest stage. It briefly sent him above Messi in the standings, pipping him on assists while tied on goals scored, before the Argentinian bulged the net for a seventh time this tournament.

Elsewhere, Haaland scored for the 13th straight international when he netted an 86th-minute winner in Norway’s last-32 clash with Ivory Coast to send his side into the next round and move on to five goals for the tournament – just one behind Mbappe. Harry Kane is right there with him, too, having saved England with a double against DR Congo.

Mikel Oyarzabal has thrown his hat into the ring as his brace against Austria brings his total to four. And while he does have some catching up to do, Cristiano Ronaldo scored from the spot in his side’s dramatic knockout win over Croatia to keep himself somewhat into the mix.

If players are tied for goals, the number of assists will determine who ranks higher. If there is still a tie, it comes down to minutes played and the goals-per-minute ratio. Here are the latest 2026 World Cup golden boot standings:

World Cup 2026 golden boot standings

1. Lionel Messi (Argentina), 7 goals

2. Kylian Mbappe (France), 6 goals, (2 assists)

= 3. Erling Haaland (Norway), 5 goals

= 3. Harry Kane (England), 5 goals

5. Ousmane Dembele (France), 4 goals (2 assists)

= 6. Vinicius Jr (Brazil), 4 goals (1 assist)

= 6. Mikel Oyarzabal (Spain), 4 goals (1 assist)

= 6. Ismaila Sarr (Senegal), 4 goals (1 assist)

9. Deniz Undav (Germany), 3 goals (2 assists)

= 10. Johan Manzambi (Switzerland), 3 goals (1 assist)

= 10. Cody Gakpo (Netherlands), 3 goals (1 assist)

= 10. Julian Quinones (Mexico), 3 goals (1 assist)

= 13. Jonathan David (Canada), 3 goals

= 13 Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), 3 goals

= 13. Ismael Saibari (Morocco), 3 goals

= 13. Matheus Cunha (Brazil), 3 goals

= 13. Brian Brobbey (Netherlands), 3 goals

= 13. Elijah Just (New Zealand), 3 goals

= 13. Yoane Wissa (DR Congo), 3 goals

= 13. Kai Havertz (Germany), 3 goals

= 13. Folarin Balogun (USA), 3 goals

Vidit Gujrathi Exclusive (Graphic designed by TimesofIndia.com)

NEW DELHI: The race for a place at the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026 in Paris through the India Rising: Road to EWC Chess qualifiers has boiled down to a blockbuster final between two established Grandmasters.India’s Vidit Gujrathi will take on Benjamin Bok of the Netherlands. Both have booked their places in the LAN Finals in Mumbai after coming through a stacked playoff field featuring some of the biggest names in professional chess. The winner of Saturday’s showdown will thus earn a coveted spot at the final stage of EWC 2026, which will include 14 players in total. Indian Grandmasters Aravindh Chithambaram, Nihal Sarin, and Arjun Erigaisi have already qualified for the EWC main event. En route to the summit clash, Vidit defeated the likes of M Pranesh and Raunak Sadhwani to seal his spot, while Bok produced arguably the standout run of the tournament, defeating Karthikeyan Murali before knocking out India No. 1 Arjun Erigaisi.Ahead of the high-stakes Mumbai showdown, TimesofIndia.com caught up with Vidit Gujrathi to discuss his journey through the qualifiers so far, the growing convergence of chess and esports, the significance of India’s dedicated EWC qualifier, and much more. Excepts.Q. What was your first reaction when you heard about India Rising and its EWC connection?I remember in May, I was planning some tournaments, and I got to know about the India Rising Championship. I was really pleased because the finals were going to be held in Mumbai. There are very few major tournaments held in India, so I was excited about the opportunity. At the same time, I knew it would be a difficult journey because there were multiple qualifying stages. I was hoping to make it to the finals in India so that my friends and family could come and watch me play in person.Q. How different did this event feel compared to a traditional chess tournament?Online events are very different compared to over-the-board chess. Also, this format is 10 minutes plus zero-second increment, so this event is very different from traditional chess tournaments because, even if you get low on time, you usually have some increment. Here, you can have a completely winning position but only 10 seconds left on the clock, and you might still lose the game. So it requires a different strategy and a different kind of play, which is very modern. This style of play has only come to the surface in the last three to five years, and it’s picking up. So I can predict that maybe, in the future, there will be more events like this.

Vidit Gujrathi on chess in esports (Graphic by TimesofIndia.com)

Q. How important is it for India to have its own pathway to the Esports World Cup?India is a powerhouse when it comes to chess. We have won the Olympiad gold medal. We are the current champions. The World Champion is from India, the Women’s World Cup winner is from India, and challenger Vaishali is also from India. So India is very important in the chess landscape. With the sheer number of players as well, I think India is one of the top places. I feel the competition is much higher here, and it makes a lot of sense that we have our own pathway to the Esports World Cup. As esports is such a global event, it’s very important to have Indian representation there. I think we are among the favourites in the chess world, so it makes sense that we have this event for India.Q. What was the toughest challenge during the qualification stage?For me, the qualification stage was not easy at all because the first qualifier was a nine-round event. I was feeling very rusty as I had not played for a very long time and in the second round itself, I lost a game, which kind of shook me up. I made a comeback, but in the last four games, I could only manage four draws. It was by an absolute miracle that my tie-breaks were better than the others and I managed to get the last qualifying spot, which was fourth place.

Vidit Gujrathi on India’s influence on chess world (Graphic by TimesofIndia.com)

I think that moment could have changed everything. If my tie-breaks had been worse, I would not have been part of this tournament. So I had a bit of luck there. The next day, I played much better, but I definitely needed that luck in the initial qualifying phase. I almost thought that I had botched the opportunity.Q. How significant is the opportunity to play a LAN final in Mumbai?I don’t recall a big event apart from the Global Chess League being held in Mumbai. Mumbai is the financial capital of India and such a major hub, so it makes sense to have a global event there. I think the esports scene has been on the rise in India since the pandemic, and having a LAN final in Mumbai that garners a lot of attention will definitely encourage more events like these to happen here. I’m very pleased to see that.Q. What does qualifying for EWC mean at this stage of your career?The Esports World Cup is a very interesting tournament. Last year, I tried to play the Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ). I was leading the tournament, but in the last three rounds, I messed up and fell short. I was in Riyadh, I had flown there specifically from the US, and it was very painful to know that after all those efforts, I couldn’t qualify. Now I have another chance to qualify, and I’m really preparing well for it. I’m hoping that this time around I can make it and that all the efforts pay off because the Esports World Cup has a very different audience compared to usual tournaments. It’s a unique opportunity, and I would really love to be a part of it.

Vidit Gujrathi on India’s potential in esports

Q. How do you see the relationship between chess and esports evolving?I think chess has this untapped opportunity. No other sport was booming during the pandemic the way chess was because it could be played online, and esports is a very natural fit for it.Last year, if I remember the statistics correctly, chess was one of the top-viewed games, at least among the top five or top ten, and that was just in its first year. Many other sports have been part of the Esports World Cup for years, and for chess to receive such a warm reception in its first year showed that there is good product market fit. Chess has a global audience, so the viewership is spread throughout the world. I feel we should explore more opportunities for esports and chess working hand in hand. Q. Do you think India can become a global hub for esports-chess events?I think India is still far from being a global hub for esports events. You need to have a culture, like-minded people, and a complete ecosystem, including organisers, players, sponsors, and more. Right now, I feel we still haven’t had a major breakthrough when it comes to esports.ALSO READ: ‘This is India’s moment’: Why the nation of 1.4 billion now has a dedicated pathway to Esports World CupAlthough I know that a couple of esports players are leading very good lives in different domains, we are slowly getting there. But I feel we are still some way from becoming a global hub. It will require more tournaments, more grassroots work, and greater viewership to reach that stage. That said, I feel it could happen in the next five years.

Chad Schofield and Zac Lloyd, who typically share the Sydney jockeys’ room, will be competing against each other this weekend in South Africa’s premier racing event, the Durban July.

The talented cousins are both set to participate in the prestigious 2200m race. Schofield will partner King Pelles for trainer Gareth van Zyl, while Lloyd is aboard Regulation, trained by Justin Snaith.

“It will be kind of funny sitting with him in the rooms in South Africa,” Schofield commented. “Obviously, we do it here every week, but to be over there together is sentimental.”

Their venture to South Africa is somewhat of a homecoming for both. Schofield and Lloyd are sons of former leading South African jockeys, Glyn Schofield and Jeff Lloyd respectively, both of whom achieved significant success in Australia.

Chad Schofield, who spent his childhood in South Africa and still has family there, will be making his second appearance in the feature race. He previously rode The Conglomerate in the 2015 Durban July when he was still an apprentice.

“My family came to Australia when I was about fourteen, and I have been back once, but it’s going to be really cool to get back again,” Schofield stated. “I’ve got a gran and aunt there, so I’ll be able to see them too. I used to go to that racecourse often when Dad was riding there. Even this particular race meeting, it’s a big deal over there, and to be able to go back and be amongst it is pretty cool.”

Schofield is scheduled to arrive in South Africa late on Thursday, with a chance to test King Pelles in a track workout the following day.

King Pelles, a proven stayer with a victory over 3200m, is listed at double-figure odds for Saturday’s 2200m Grade 1 event. However, Schofield has been encouraged by positive reports from his trainer.

“He’s a really good stayer. His form over the staying trips is the best in the country,” Schofield said. “He is running over a distance that looks to be too short for him, but I know the stable has freshened him right up and kept him as sharp as they could. It’s a handicap, and he’s got 59 (kilos). He is a 20-1 chance, but he’s got the class.”

King Pelles is one of seven rides for Schofield on the 12-race Greyville card. Lloyd, who recently notched his first winner at Royal Ascot during their June carnival, has eight mounts.

Both jockeys will be aiming to better their fathers’ performances, as neither Glyn Schofield nor Jeff Lloyd managed to win the Durban July during their successful racing careers. The Durban July is a major event, and punters can find competitive betting sites for the race.

Defending champions Argentina narrowly avoided one of the biggest upsets in FIFA World Cup history after defeating heroic debutants Cape Verde 3-2 after extra time in a thrilling Round of 32 encounter in Miami.

The South American giants, ranked second in the world, were pushed to the limit by Cape Verde, who are ranked 64th by FIFA and were making their first appearance in a World Cup knockout match.

After the match ended 1-1 in regulation time, Argentina appeared to have secured victory when defender Lisandro Martínez scored just two minutes into extra time.

However, Cape Verde refused to give up. In the 103rd minute, Sidny Lopes Cabral produced one of the goals of the tournament, cutting inside from the left before curling a stunning effort into the top corner beyond Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez to level the score at 2-2.

With penalties looming, Argentina were handed a dramatic lifeline in the 111th minute when Cape Verde defender Diney Borges accidentally turned the ball into his own net, sending the reigning world champions through to the last 16.

Argentina had taken the lead in the 29th minute thanks to another moment of brilliance from captain Lionel Messi. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner expertly controlled a long pass from Lisandro Martínez before firing home his 20th World Cup goal.

Despite falling behind, Cape Verde continued to fight and deservedly equalised in the second half through Deroy Duarte, who finished brilliantly from a tight angle after making a late run into the penalty area.

Just two minutes into extra time, Lisandro Martínez restored Argentina’s lead after reacting quickest to a flick-on from Alexis Mac Allister following a corner kick.

But Cape Verde stunned the thousands of Argentina supporters inside the stadium when Cabral produced his sensational equaliser. The Cape Verde forward nearly completed an unforgettable comeback moments later, forcing a superb save from Emiliano Martínez with only minutes remaining.

Although Cape Verde could not force a third equaliser and a penalty shootout, they exited the tournament with their heads held high after one of the greatest debut campaigns in World Cup history.

The African nation went unbeaten in regulation time throughout the tournament and earned draws against Spain, Uruguay and Argentina before eventually bowing out after extra time.

Argentina will now face Egypt in the Round of 16 on Tuesday, July 7, as they continue their defence of the World Cup title.

Progressive Lindsay Park stayer The Western Front is set to continue his demanding campaign in Saturday’s $150,000 Banjo Paterson Series Final at Flemington.

This 2600-metre event marks the tenth start of a preparation that began with a fourth placing in a benchmark 70 over 1600m at Flemington on January 10.

The five-year-old gelding has since achieved four victories, notably the Listed Sandown Cup (3200m), and while co-trainer Ben Hayes expressed surprise at the campaign’s longevity, he remains pleased with the horse’s condition and believes there are more goals to pursue.

“When you get them fit you keep them happy and in a rhythm and these days, with technology, trainers are able to keep horses up for longer,” he said.

“It’s good for them, they enjoy being in work. Some don’t, so you put them in the paddock.

“He’s a horse we’d like to get his rating up a bit more to target maybe the back-end of spring with him.

“He could bob up over Cup Week running in one of those staying races.”

Hayes confirmed that the Group 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) on Champions Day is a more probable target this year than the $10m Melbourne Cup (3200m).

The Western Front enters the race following a second-place finish to Vegas Jack at Flemington on June 20, a run where he experienced a difficult passage from the outside barrier. Hayes is confident the gelding can improve his placing with more favourable racing luck.

“He probably had the hardest run in the race,” Hayes, who trains in partnership with brother Will and JD, said of the 1-1/4-length defeat.

“He had no luck at all. He was wide the whole trip, had to work in the middle stages, hit the front early and just got run over late.

“But he’s come through the run well.”

The Western Front, to be ridden by Daniel Stackhouse, will meet Vegas Jack 1.5kg better at the weights from their last start and will break from barrier six, while Vegas Jack is drawn in barrier nine.

The gelding is currently the $4.20 favourite, with Vegas Jack at $7. Wuddzz is rated at $5.

Consider placing a bet on The Western Front with leading online bookmakers for the Banjo Paterson Series Final.