SEATTLE — Alex Freeman spent a few anxious seconds waiting to learn whether the biggest goal of his life would count. By the time video review confirmed the U.S. defender had been onside, his United States teammates were already sprinting toward him.

Freeman’s first World Cup goal ended up being the capper on the United States men’s national team’s 2-0 victory over Australia on Friday. The victory secured a berth in the Round of 32 for the U.S.

Advertisement

Initially, Freeman — who followed through with the header after Sergiño Dest’s shot was blocked by an Australian defender — was called offsides. But review determined Freeman had been onside when Dest made the shot, making it a good goal.

That’s when Freeman and the USMNT reserves ran over to the opposite side of the field, celebrating the young U.S. defender’s goal.

“I was going to run to the side, and Cristian [Roldan] and some of the boys were like, ‘No, no, come to this side, to this side,’” Freeman said of the celebration. “And when [the goal] got accepted I turned back and they were all running at me, I was like, ‘I’m gonna run to the other corner flag.’”

“He was already kind of near us, so we’re just kind of telling him, ‘come, come, come, come, come,’” Auston Trusty confirmed to reporters after the game.

In many ways, Freeman was an unlikely hero. The United States’ first goal was officially credited as an own goal by Australian defender Cameron Burgess after a dangerous run and cross from Folarin Balogun, leaving the 21-year-old defender as the only American credited with a goal in the 2-0 victory.

Advertisement

Freeman is a relative newcomer to the U.S. squad: Friday was just his 19th cap, with the 21-year-old defender only a year or so removed from his first senior call-up. He started his career with the Orlando City academy, debuting for the senior team in 2022 at age 17, but completed a $7 million transfer to La Liga side Villarreal in January.

And at the same time, Freeman has become a key piece of the U.S. back line in a short amount of time. Of his 19 matches, he’s played the full 90 minutes in 10, including both group stage games at this World Cup. Friday’s goal wasn’t Freeman’s first — he scored twice for the USMNT during friendlies last year — but it was his most important to date.

Freeman spoke about his own rapid rise for both club and country, noting that he’s been moving at a “fast pace at such a young age.”

Advertisement

“I think it’s hard for me to kind of take it all in,” he said.

USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino had high praise for the defender, and attributed some of Freeman’s “evolution” to former Orlando City head coach Oscar Pareja and the rest of their coaching staff. (Pareja and Orlando mutually parted ways in March.)

“If you don’t have the support of the coaches like Oscar Pareja and the coaching staff in Orlando, and if you don’t build that relationship and trust, it’s difficult to make decisions,” Pochettino said. “[Freeman has] an amazing profile. He want to learn, he always listens and he’s a player that you really enjoy being with him, not only coaching, but being with him. He’s a lovely guy and he’s an amazing player for me. [He has] potential to be one of the best players in his position in the world.”

Freeman’s father is former wide receiver and Green Bay Packers great Antonio Freeman, giving some context to the USMNT defender’s ability to thrive at the other football. But Freeman made it clear he wanted to separate himself from his father’s accomplishments.

Advertisement

“That just shows how he can be great, and I can be great in my own way as well,” he said.

That early glimpse at greatness was clear, not only in the goal, but with the rest of his play. Midway through the half, Freeman had an outstanding defensive play to tap the ball out of bounds and keep Australia from getting a very dangerous chance.

Freeman also went down with a knock to the head shortly before his goal, but was able bounce back without issue. That doggedness was on display with his goal, with Freeman saying postgame that he was going to get the rebound on Dest’s shot “any way I can” — a determination that led to glory, after a short break for VAR.

Advertisement

Though the defender is still young, it was the realization of a lifelong goal for Freeman, who got emotional during the national anthem ahead of Friday’s game.

“I think for me, it shows how I’ve made it, kind of in my way. I’ve been working my whole life to be able to go to that moment and hear the national anthem in front of the home crowd,” he said.

Freeman made a point to shout out that home crowd, which had Seattle Stadium shaking after both goals Friday — literally, as the stadium recorded seismic activity following the VAR decision.

Still, Freeman said that he and his teammates didn’t really get a chance to appreciate the fans until after the game was over.

Advertisement

“In a big game, you don’t realize how much support you have in the stands, right? And after the game, we were just able to take it all in, and realize how much of a great support system that we have in the U.S. fans,” Freeman said. “[It] kind of make us calm and make us accept the fact that we’re here and we have such an amazing thing to do, and now we have more stuff to do.”

Ismael Saibari scored only 72 seconds into the game and Morocco beat Scotland 1-0 at the World Cup on Friday to keep alive its chances of advancing to its second straight knockout round.

Saibari slipped behind two Scotland defenders and Brahim Diaz dropped the ball over the top to him. Saibari gathered and blasted it into the top left corner of the net, well outside the reach of goalkeeper Angus Gunn.

Advertisement

Morocco, which reached the semifinals at the last World Cup in Qatar, drew 1-1 with Brazil in its Group C opener. Scotland, which hasn’t gotten out of the group stage in its previous eight previous World Cup appearances, beat Haiti 1-0 in its first match.

Saibari also scored Morocco’s goal against Brazil.

Morocco nearly scored another in the 52nd minute when a header by Bilal El Khannouss off Achraf Hakimi’s corner kick was battled down by Gunn.

Scotland had a chance in first-half stoppage time when Andy Robertson sent a cross at John McGinn, who couldn’t get a foot on it near the back post.

As Scotland pressed for an equalizing in the closing minutes, Morocco had a pair of good chances to add to their wide both both missed the target.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW

Celebrating its 10th anniversary, Elevate has had its busiest show to date, with almost 200 exhibitors, 115 seminars and 200 speakers over two days, with numbers understood to be up by ten per cent over the two days.

Highlights included a partnership with Intelligent Health to bring in a Beat the Streets trail, with boxes placed on the stands of legacy exhibitors who have been with the event since the beginning.

Another high point was a live workout led by 1980s tv fitness legend, Mr Motivator, who is working with Innerva, around engaging older people with exercise. This was clearly a topic which resonated with the audience, as there were no spare seats for Thursday’s panel discussion on the importance of strength training for older people on the Debate stage.

Talking points on panels included technology, AI, gamification, longevity, diversity and inclusion, as well as the underlying pillars of health – breathing, sleeping, nutrition and recovery.

Here are some of HCM’s key takeaways.

Opportunities to widen our welcome

The disability market is being underserved, with opportunities for the sector. 

Including invisible disabilities, one in four people have a disability in the UK and this cohort represents an annual spending power of £446 billion. Of the 49 per cent who are active only half of those feel welcome where they train.

Disability consultant, Marina Logacheva, who is researching and campaigning on the subject told HCM that the industry is taking too long to shift the dial on this issue. As a wheelchair user she has been told by multiple fitness professionals that they won’t work with her because they don’t know how to.

She also has to pay for services at her gym that she is unable to access – for example the swimming pool is inaccessible because there is no hoist – but the gym will not give her a discount.

This is not good enough for an industry which talks about lowering barriers, being inclusive and supporting the NHS. There is the continual narrative in the industry that people who don’t go to gyms have the wrong perception of our facilities, but do they?

In a panel discussion chaired by Future Fit’s Paul Swainson, entitled Does the industry have an image problem, Logacheva and fellow panelists Sarah LeBrocq, founder of All About Obesity and managing director of Active Insight, Julie Allen, agreed that being more inclusive starts with images used in marketing. The people who aren’t coming to facilities need to see people like themselves represented in order to feel they might have a place there.

“Creating a feeling of belonging starts with the ad. If you don’t see yourself then you feel like you don’t belong there,” said Logacheva. “People with disabilities are only on 2 per cent of ads on social media.”

Allen shared a compelling story from a focus group of a man who suffered a stroke which motivated a lifestyle change. After being prescribed GLP-1 medication by his GP and losing weight, he said he felt able to lift the heaviest weight – the door handle of the leisure centre. 

“Confidence is one of the top five barriers among people who don’t go to gyms. They feel a sense that the gym is not the place for them,” says Allen. “The industry is still not doing enough to look through the lens of the consumer.”

Triathlete, distance runner and obesity campaigner, LeBrocq, expressed frustration about being patronised by gym staff and having assumptions made that she has joined the gym to lose weight. “Treat the individual, ask questions and don’t make assumptions based on appearance,” she said. 

Logacheva has published a report on Creating Welcoming Fitness Environments based on her research trip to Australia which can be downloaded for free at disabilityinsport.com/report

 Mental health – great progress and more work to do

A panel discussion hosted by UK Active’s director of membership and sector development, Marianne Boyle, celebrated the journey that the fitness sector has been on with mental health. Ten years ago it was barely spoken about, now it’s widely observed that people use facilities to improve their state of mind as much as their physical health. 

There has been a huge amount of progress and yet there’s still a way to go – only 16 per cent of people living with mental health conditions are meeting WHO activity guidelines. Women, younger adults and those in lower socio-economic groups are the most likely to be losing out. “There is still a significant gap between what we know works and what people are able to access in our facilities,” said Boyle.

Panelists included psychotherapist, Charlotte Braithwaite; Swim England’s head of public affairs, Philip Brownlie; founder of Together We Lift, Liam Baker and Sam Perks physical activity operations manager at mental health charity, Mind.

Key takeaways from the panel were the need to have some upskilling of the sector’s workforce so that fitness professionals are comfortable having big conversations while staying in lane. 

Perks said that fitness instructors have told him that clients have spoken to them about having suicidal feelings, which is a lot to take on board. The panel stressed that instructors don’t need to solve the problem, they need to be empathetic, present with the individual and know where to signpost.

Braithwaite spoke about the importance of creating psychological safety in gyms and this can only be done by humans. “Gyms can be a confronting environment,” she said. “They’re full of mirrors and metal and people who look like they know what they’re doing. Simply interacting with weights isn’t wellness. You need people and you need to spell out what to expect and provide human touchpoints to make everyone feel safe.”

She also spoke about neuroaesthetics – providing environments where nervous systems feel safe – which HCM has identified as a  trend.

Trauma – more common than you think

Another panel discussed the creation of trauma-informed fitness environments, with Akusile Makawa from Loughborough University; Fiona Roberts, founder of The Movement Charity and Kim Grey, founder of Sattva Trauma Informed Education, which offers a CIMSPA-accredited training course to empower fitness professionals to work this cohort.

Trauma might sound niche, but it’s not. Shelving perceptions of what a person living with trauma looks like is important  – it’s very likely to be that high-achieving CEO who appears to have life nailed.

Roberts said that 70 per cent of people have experienced trauma, 25 per cent of women have experienced domestic violence and 20 per cent have experienced some form of child abuse.

“There will be people in your clubs and classes who’ve experienced trauma,” she says. “And if not it’s because they’re not getting through the barriers to your facility.”

Human connection, providing touchpoints, relationship building and empathy are the foundations of addressing this issue.

Roberts says that setting the scene at the start of the class of what to expect creates safety and predictability. She also says it’s important to give the individual an element of choice as often they’ve had choices taken away – this could be leaving the class early with no questions asked and no offence taken. “Tell them that everything is optional, that they are in charge of their own bodies and what they do in the class,” she says.

The Movement Charity takes exercise into the community, including women’s refuges and Roberts talked through some of her experiences, including leaving mats by the door, for people to choose where they put them. She also provided a great example of how an empathetic instructor can build confidence.

“Initially people tend to stay by the door and as far away from me as possible because I present the threat,” she said. “But in time they move closer to me and put me between them and the door because I come to represent safety.”

Grey highlighted a major no-no – asking people in front of the class whether they have any injuries or issues. This might sound basic, yet it still happens.

She also highlighted that trauma gets stored in different parts of the body – for example hips, which can lead to some exercises being triggering. Subtly offering alternatives can be a way to navigate this.

Another important takeaway – check before the start of each class if people are happy with being adjusted. A better way of allowing people to respond than a show of hands is to give them a card or a coin which they can flip according to their preference, which might change from day to day.

Exercise addiction – too much of a good thing

Exercise is medicine, but even medicine can have negative side effects for some people. HCM attended a couple of panel discussions which talked about this important issue. 

Exercise addiction is when the individual feels dependent on it and an uncontrollable compulsion to exercise, which gets in the way of other areas of their life, for example their work or relationships.

It affects 8 per cent of general exercisers, 9 per cent of fitness professionals and is 3.5 times more likely in those experiencing eating disorders.

People with high intelligence, a tendency towards perfectionism and possibly some form of neurodivergence are most vulnerable to over-exercise. 

This is the same cohort that needs to be careful with tracking data. As wearables and data continue to be more deeply embedded in the industry, it’s very important to acknowledge that not everyone will benefit from using them. For some people, the data will start to control them.

Exercise psychologist, Dr Paula Watson, spoke about her work with clients living with exercise addiction. Often these are people who take sports seriously and their identity becomes caught up with it. Much of her work with clients is around developing self-love and self-compassion. 

“There are two distorted beliefs associated with exercise addiction,” she says. “The individual feels that if they’re not strict with their training they’ll lose control, for example get fat, or not get big enough, or not be able to cope with their emotions. And if that happens, they’re not good enough.

“The language unintentionally used in fitness culture can fuel these distorted beliefs,” she says. “For example, ‘you’re a machine’”.

Dr George Mycock, founder of MyoMinds, shared his journey with over-exercise and shared some valuable advice: “More is not always better – don’t celebrate exhaustion, stress the need for rest and recovery when working with clients. Avoid talking about using exercise as a way of earning food. And avoid linking self-identity with exercise – talk to clients about the other areas of their life as well.”

The fundaments of good health and an opportunity for coaches

Thomas Hague, The Breath Coach, has worked in elite sport, including with British Sailing, GB Boxing and British Triathlon, as well as individuals struggling with anxiety. He said that breath is the missing performance skill and wants to normalise breath assessments and breathwork in the industry.

“Super simple changes to breath can make a huge difference to performance,” he said. “Breath underpins all the work an athlete or individuals do. The quickest way to downregulate the nervous system is to change the cadence of the breath, it improves the ability to handle pressure, speeds up recovery, improves sleep and emotional regulation, relaxes muscles and can bring about a 30 per cent increase in range of motion. However, most of us completely ignore the thing that keeps us alive.”

Hague says that a few minutes of deep breathing at end of workout would clear the stress of the workout and set the client up for better recovery.

Fitness professionals who are trained in breathwork could help clients to overcome the common negative breathing patterns – mouth breathing, fast respiratory rate (we should breathe 5.5 times a minute), upper chest breathing, poor lower rib mobility (they should expand by 1 – 2.5 cm on an in-breath), weak breathing muscles and poor breathing mechanics. Building carbon dioxide tolerance can help the delivery of oxygen to muscles.

The Sleep Geek, James Wilson, said there is also the opportunity for fitness professionals to be the experts on sleep – both the number one recovery tool and a growing pain point, with people suffering from poor sleep, insomnia and the quest for the perfect night’s sleep.

He cautioned about reliance on sleep trackers, saying they’re not accurate and that optimisation culture makes us doubt ourselves. If people are told they are sleeping badly, they are likely to have a worse night’s sleep. 

Some surprising facts raised by Wilson were that we inherit our sleep patterns. Some people are lucky, others less so. Some people can sleep soundly after drinking a cup of tea before bed, others can’t tolerate any caffeine. Emotional and physical security are crucial for sleep. You sleep better if you sleep next to someone you love and this also works the other way. 

Next steps

As the industry looks to broaden its reach to cater for new audiences, work more closely with the health service and attract investment, it was great to see such a broad conference programme. While there is still some way to go to become fully inclusive, it’s heartening to see that the conversations are underway and a growing awareness of the changes the industry needs to make. Hopefully all attendees went back to work brimming with inspiration and with some ideas to implement.

South Africa coach Hugo Broos has fast become an unexpected highlight of this World Cup. At the age of 74, with thick silver hair and a seemingly permanent furrowed brow, the Belgian takes a no-nonsense approach to dealing with the media. Broos has shut down questions about Donald Trump, called out what he saw as the favourable treatment of Lionel Messi, and told critics back in South Africa to “shut up.”

All of that has come within a week of the tournament kicking off.

“For those who still don’t know it, I do it my way,” he said after former South Africa players rounded on his team’s 2-0 loss to Mexico in the opening game.

“I never listen to people who sometimes think that they are important enough to criticise the team. So when I’m going to see what they did before, I think it would be better that they shut up.”

Broos, who has said he will step down at the end of the tournament, led South Africa to its first World Cup since it hosted the event in 2010.

He is one of the oldest coaches ever to take part in a World Cup and, with 40 years of experience, he has no problem speaking his mind. He was, however, astute enough to avoid being drawn into a potential war of words with President Donald Trump.

On Wednesday, he listened intently as one reporter asked him and goalkeeper Ronwen Williams to comment on Trump’s baseless claim that there was a systematic killing of white farmers in South Africa.

“I will answer that question,” he said. “We will not answer that question.”

He was more expansive about Messi’s tackle on Algeria captain Aissa Mandi – especially when his own player Themba Zwane was sent off and subsequently given a three-match suspension after a VAR review of his clash with Mexico’s Roberto Alvarado.

“I think there was not even a VAR with Messi,” Broos said. “I don’t want Messi to get a red card because that player has to be on the pitch … but yeah, what is the difference here?”

A 1-1 draw with the Czech Republic on Thursday kept alive South Africa’s hopes of advancing from the group phase for the first time at a World Cup.

Asked if he was relieved after Teboho Mokoena scored a late penalty, his response was typically blunt.

“Why shouldn’t I be relieved?” he said.

Then came criticism of the Czechs’ long-ball tactics: “I think if you like football, you like the game we played today more than the game of Czechia.”

And then Atlanta Stadium: “If I can be very honest, this is not a football stadium. It’s a nice stadium, a fantastic stadium, everything you want, but only the grass is football. All the rest is not.”

A win against South Korea on Wednesday would likely be enough to see South Africa advance from Group A.

Broos, who is popular among fans, spoke this week of the reaction when he secured qualification for the World Cup:

“There was somebody who came to me and he said, ‘Coach, they have to make a statue for you in South Africa.’

“I said, make it in wood so it will burn more easily when I lose.

Featured Video Of The Day

IPL 2026 News | RCB Outplay CSK For 2nd Win On Trot, Ruturaj Gaikwad & Co Suffer 3rd Loss

Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo (AP Photo)

For more than two decades, Cristiano Ronaldo has built a career on proving people wrong.Every time critics questioned him, he responded with goals. Every time doubts surfaced about his longevity, he produced another record. From Manchester to Madrid, Turin to Riyadh, and throughout an extraordinary international career with Portugal, Ronaldo has repeatedly rewritten expectations.But after Portugal’s frustrating 1-1 draw against DR Congo in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a debate that has lingered for years has returned with renewed intensity.At 41, Ronaldo remains Portugal’s captain, leader, and biggest global attraction. The question now is whether he remains Portugal’s most effective weapon on the pitch.The contrast with other football icons during the opening round of matches was striking. Less than a day after Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland all delivered multiple goals and helped their nations to convincing victories, Ronaldo completed the full 90 minutes against DR Congo without making a decisive impact.Portugal had started brilliantly. João Neves headed home an early opener after a dominant opening spell in which Roberto Martínez’s side controlled possession almost completely. Portugal’s dominance during the opening stages was overwhelming. In the six-minute sequence leading up to Neves’ goal, Martínez’s side completed 84 passes compared to just 12 by DR Congo. Yet what looked like the beginning of a comfortable victory gradually turned into a far more uncomfortable afternoon.DR Congo settled into the contest, grew in confidence and eventually found an equaliser through Yoane Wissa before half-time.

Portugal vs DR Congo match stats

By the final whistle, the statistics painted an uncomfortable picture for one of the tournament favourites. Despite enjoying the majority of possession, Portugal were second best in several key attacking metrics. DR Congo finished with eight shots to Portugal’s seven, produced two efforts on target compared to Portugal’s one and generated 0.82 expected goals against Portugal’s 0.64. For a team expected to challenge deep into the tournament, the numbers raised uncomfortable questions.Ronaldo’s individual numbers reflected that struggle.Making his sixth World Cup appearance, the veteran striker finished with just 25 touches, the second-fewest he has ever recorded in a World Cup start. He managed only three shot attempts, created no chances, completed two progressive carries and two progressive passes, won two aerial duels, attempted no ground duels and made just one ball recovery. He also offered virtually no defensive contribution. It was one of the least influential World Cup performances of his career.

Ronaldo’s World Cup legacy

Perhaps more concerning was how Portugal’s attack functioned around him.Ronaldo repeatedly drifted away from central areas in search of involvement. At times he moved into wide positions looking for space because he could no longer consistently gain physical advantages against younger defenders. The consequence was that Portugal often lacked a natural target inside the penalty area when crosses arrived.His first attempt on goal did not arrive until the 68th minute. Neither of his shots troubled the Congolese defence. Even two of Ronaldo’s three attempts illustrated a broader problem. Rather than threatening centrally inside the penalty area, he was frequently pushed into wider areas in search of space.Former Arsenal and France star Thierry Henry was among those who analysed Portugal’s attacking problems and pointed to a specific moment involving João Cancelo, Bruno Fernandes and Ronaldo.Speaking after the match, Henry stressed that team success must come before personal ambition.“One thing that’s important, people, please at home: the team needs to score, not you need to score,” he said.Henry then broke down a sequence in which he felt Ronaldo’s movement worked against Portugal rather than for them.“So, obviously, we’re going to see here Portugal being on the ball, Cancelo is going to receive the ball. Cristiano Ronaldo has been in this situation multiple times. If you make that run here, you – you make the defender take a decision to crash the six-yard box.”According to Henry, a run towards goal would have dragged defenders deeper and potentially created space for Bruno Fernandes to finish.“But because he wants to score, he goes into the path of Bruno Fernandes. If he goes into that six-yard box, you’ve been in that situation, I’ll see – you would have had to follow him, follow him, and then he would have been a tap-in for Bruno Fernandes. But because he wants to score, he goes into the path of the back pass. You see both players, and it’s easier for you to defend.”The concern was not simply that Ronaldo failed to score. It was how little he influenced Portugal’s attacking rhythm. Too often, attacks appeared designed to find him regardless of whether a better option existed. When he drifted deeper, he frequently occupied spaces that could otherwise have been used by Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva or João Neves. While his movement occasionally created room for teammates, Portugal rarely looked fluid in the final third.The issue becomes even more pronounced because Ronaldo is no longer compensating for those tactical compromises with goals in football’s biggest tournaments.

The drought that won’t go away

Since converting a penalty against Ghana during the 2022 World Cup, he has now gone ten consecutive matches across World Cups and European Championships without finding the net. The drought has stretched beyond 800 minutes, and it has been nearly five years since his last open-play goal in either competition.The contrast with his overall record remains striking. Ronaldo scored in both the semi-final and final as Portugal lifted the UEFA Nations League last summer and continues to score regularly in club football and qualifying matches. Yet at the highest international level, the goals have become increasingly difficult to find.There is no questioning what Ronaldo has achieved for Portugal. His influence helped deliver major international trophies and countless memorable moments across two decades.Yet the reality of 2026 is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.

Portugal with vs without Ronaldo

The numbers surrounding Portugal’s attack are equally revealing. Across Portugal’s last four major tournament matches, Ronaldo has played 396 of a possible 420 minutes, yet the team has scored only once. Over the past two years in all competitions, Portugal have averaged 1.9 goals per game when Ronaldo starts compared to 2.8 goals per game when he does not. While one statistic alone does not tell the full story, it inevitably fuels the debate over whether Portugal’s attack functions more effectively without its captain.

When Ronaldo scores, Portugal rarely lose

Ronaldo’s supporters, however, can point to another compelling statistic. Since his first World Cup appearance in 2006, Portugal have a record of five wins, one draw and no defeats in major tournaments when Ronaldo scores. When he fails to find the net, that record drops to five wins, five draws and seven defeats. Few players in international football history have had such a direct correlation with their team’s success.Yet dropping him is far easier to discuss than to execute.Roberto Martínez faces a delicate balancing act. Gonçalo Ramos remains the obvious alternative but relies heavily on service. A false-nine system involving Bruno Fernandes or João Félix could provide greater fluidity but would introduce new tactical questions.There is also the psychological dimension. Few managers willingly bench one of the greatest footballers in history, particularly a player who still commands enormous respect within the dressing room.Perhaps the answer lies somewhere in the middle.Ronaldo’s experience, leadership and finishing instincts remain valuable assets. However, asking him to carry Portugal’s attack for 90 minutes against elite opposition appears increasingly unrealistic. A more carefully managed role, potentially as an impact substitute against tiring defenders, could allow Portugal to benefit from his strengths while minimising his physical limitations.

From Germany 2006 to USA 2026

The concern for Portugal is that there appears to be no genuine Plan B. Martínez has consistently backed Ronaldo even as questions over his role have grown louder. During Euro 2024, the Portugal coach substituted him in only one of his five appearances. Against DR Congo, creative players including Bernardo Silva, Pedro Neto, Nuno Mendes and Vitinha were all withdrawn, yet Ronaldo remained on the pitch. Even when Gonçalo Ramos was introduced in the closing stages, it was a midfielder who made way rather than the captain.The upcoming match against Uzbekistan may now define both Portugal’s tournament and Ronaldo’s role within it.A strong performance and a goal could temporarily silence the debate, as Ronaldo has done countless times before. Another ineffective display, however, will only intensify scrutiny of Martínez’s decisions and Portugal’s dependence on a player who remains legendary but no longer appears untouchable.For years, the question surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo was whether Portugal could win because of him.In 2026, the more uncomfortable question may be whether Portugal can afford not to evolve beyond him.

Portugal midfielder Joao Neves is facing heavy backlash after comments many fans believe were disrespectful toward Cristiano Ronaldo.

Speaking about Ronaldo’s role within the Portugal squad, Neves acknowledged the legendary forward’s contributions but made a statement that quickly sparked controversy.

“We know what Cristiano has done for us, for our national team, and for world football,” Neves said.

“But at this moment, he is no different. He is just another player here to help. He is here to contribute, just like all of us.”

While some viewed the comments as an attempt to emphasize team unity, many fans saw the statement very differently.

Why Fans Are Angry

For many supporters, the issue is not whether Ronaldo should still be treated differently on the pitch.

The issue is the wording.

Calling Cristiano Ronaldo “just another player” has been seen by many as disrespectful toward a football icon whose legacy goes far beyond ordinary standards.

Ronaldo is widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers in history alongside Lionel Messi.

He is Portugal’s greatest player ever, the team captain, the all-time leading scorer in international football, and the face of Portuguese football for nearly two decades.

To many fans, reducing that stature to “just another player” crossed a line.

The Messi Comparison

The backlash has also led many fans to compare Portugal’s treatment of Ronaldo with Argentina’s treatment of Lionel Messi.

Even during difficult moments, Argentine players have consistently defended Messi publicly and shown unwavering loyalty to their captain.

Whether Messi plays brilliantly or struggles, his teammates have repeatedly made it clear they will fight for him on the pitch.

Many Ronaldo supporters believe Portugal players should show that same level of loyalty and respect toward their captain.

That is why Neves’ comments have struck such a nerve.

Divided Reactions

Not everyone believes Neves intended to disrespect Ronaldo.

Some supporters argue the midfielder was simply trying to stress that Portugal must function as a collective rather than depend entirely on one player.

But intent and perception are often two different things.

Regardless of what Neves meant, the wording has triggered major backlash online.

For many fans, Cristiano Ronaldo is simply not “just another player.”

And that is exactly why the comments have caused so much controversy.

Scotland fans at home and in the US are watching a crucial World Cup match as Steve Clarke’s team take on Morocco in Boston.

After defeating Haiti 1-0 last Saturday, another victory would guarantee qualification from the group stages for the first time – and a draw would almost certainly secure a place in the last 32.

Advertisement

The match is being shown in pubs and fan zones across the county – with the largest crowd gathered at the TRNSMT festival in Glasgow.

There was stunned silence at the fan zone as Morocco scored after little more than a minute into the match.

But a couple of opportunities before the half-time whistle have injected some hope back into the Scotland fans at Glasgow Green.

Tens of thousands of members of the Tartan Army are also watching the action in Boston.

TRNSMT’s organisers DF Concerts secured a late licence to broadcast the match into the early hours of Saturday, despite concerns from local residents.

Advertisement

Indie rock band Wolf Alice, who had second top billing on the Main Stage, threw out a dedication to Scott McTominay before demanding the crowd jump up and down to old favourite Bros.

While Galway indie band NewDad declared they were backing Scotland to win the World Cup.

The rain cleared for fans ahead of the match which began at 23:00 BST.

Pre-match entertainment at the fan zone saw fans singing along to comedian Rosco McClelland’s World Cup song.

George Bowie and Rose Reilly were welcomed onto the main stage and requested a Hampden Roar – which the crowd delivered.

The singer and piper Cammy Barnes – who opened the festival just after midday – returned to play Flower of Scotland on the pipes just before the match kicked off.

Advertisement

“When you cut the pipes off and the audience keeps singing, that moment can never be touched,” he told BBC Scotland News earlier.

“It’s a proper hair up on your arms moment.”

Other fan zones have welcomed fans across the length and breadth of the country.

In Glasgow large music venues like the OVO Hydro, Saint Luke’s and the O2 Academy are all screening the match, though they require tickets for entry, as are Dundee’s LiveHouse and the Ice Arena in Kirkcaldy.

In Aberdeen, fans have flocked to places like the city’s Beach Ballroom while the Gyle Shopping Centre in Edinburgh is showing the fixture on a large screen.

Advertisement

Scores of smaller venues – like rugby and tennis clubs – are also hosting watch parties.

An impromptu ceilidh broke out at the Inverness fan zone ahead of the match.

Revellers spun their partners for a Gay Gordon’s to the dance tune Bits N Pieces, performed by Jarad Rowan, a favourite with the Tartan Army.

Thousands of Scotland and Morocco fans have flocked to Boston Stadium.

Before the match, members of the Tartan Army said they were quietly confident – but were buzzing to be there regardless of the result.

Mike Noble has travelled from Aberdeen to support Scotland.

He watched the opening match in Boston’s fan zone in the city centre, and said Scotland’s win persuaded him to splash out on tickets for tonight.

Advertisement

“It’s cost me a new kidney, but it’s once in a lifetime so it’s worth it,” he added.

Pubs to benefit from Scotland games

Pubs are welcoming bumper crowds, after a hugely successful Saturday for the Haiti game.

Earlier this week Louise MacLean of the Signature Pub Group told BBC Scotland it had been an incredible night.

She said: “My lord, did those tills ring. We had record breaking sales. That is a gift to a trade that has been so damaged over the past few years.”

The Scottish Beer and Pub Association estimated earlier this week that Scotland’s group games could generate an additional £7m for pubs and bars, with an estimated 520,000 extra pints expected to be poured out during the game.

Advertisement

Almost all of Scotland’s councils, who approve extensions to licensing rules, have allowed pubs and clubs to stay open to show the games despite them often continuing beyond normal closing times.

Can Scotland qualify for the next round against Morocco?

A win for Scotland against Morocco – who drew 1-1 with Brazil last Saturday in their opening game – will guarantee progression into the next round with a game to spare.

It will also mean Scotland have a great chance of going through as one of the top two sides in the group.

With the eight best third placed sides, out of 12 groups, also going through, a draw is likely to be enough too. That would leave Scotland sitting on four points.

Advertisement

A loss would leave Scotland possibly needing a result against five times world champions Brazil in their final group game next Wednesday in Miami to progress, or else face an anxious wait on results from other groups.

Defensive tackle Caleb Banks boasts massive potential, in no small part due to his massive abilities and massive frame. The 6’6″ young fella comes in quite close to 330 pounds, meaning he’s unusually large even for within NFL trenches.

The Vikings’ 1st-Round selection therefore boasts ample potential.

Standing in his way has been a foot injury that he’s still working to fully overcome. Head coach Kevin O’Connell took on the issue when chatting with a media a few days ago, bringing things around to his usual optimism. Coach O’Connell has been quite consistent in the insistence that training camp is the preferred timeline for seeing Banks return to the field. Apparently, that broad outlook remains.

The Vikings’ 1st-Round Selection is Gaining Ground

“We’ve received really, really positive reviews,” O’Connell clarified.

He then offered a few more thoughts: “Had the offseason continued, he probably would’ve started to get some work in some of the individual drills and then progress him into some of the team stuff.” Banks, in other words, has been taking good steps forward. O’Connell said that things are looking so good that seeing OTAs and minicamp continue would have involved Banks getting into the on-field work rather than just focusing on his recovery.

And then there’s the football end of things. Banks appears to be understanding everything at a really nice level, which is never a sure thing for a young lad who is moving into one of the most complicated defenses in the NFL.

“I will say this,” O’Connell said when pivoting off the health update, “the feedback I’m getting from the coaches — Ryan Nielsen, Flo, Pat Hill — has been phenomenal as far as his ability to hear information, retain it, and apply it. There’s a lot of different ways we can be activating Caleb’s brain and the above-the-neck challenge of learning Flo’s intricate system.”

“I’m excited about where he’s at, and that’s not even talking about the big reason to be excited about Caleb is the physical ability and presence of a guy that big, that strong, that fast in the middle of your defense,” O’Connell concluded.

— READ MORE: Kevin O’Connell Did Clarify a Key Detail in Vikings’ QB Battle —
— READ MORE: Is GM Teasley Pondering an Add at Edge Rusher —
— READ MORE: A Vikings Lineman Has Been Gaining Ground for Job Opening —

Kevin O’Connell, as is his wont, is laying down a pile of different thoughts within the update.

For starters, Banks is doing well within his recovery. A foot injury robbed him of most of his 2025 season before another foot injury at the NFL Combine further diminished his shot at getting picked super high. Minnesota’s leadership felt like they got great value at No. 18 since a fully healthy Caleb Banks would have gone in the top ten picks of the 2026 NFL Draft (so they say, at least).

There’s then the word about Banks offering a strong understanding of the scheme. Crushing the classroom component of things is important. Players can play fast when the brain is quiet; conversely, players play slow when there’s too much thinking. Banks would therefore do well to continue showing off his high football aptitude.

But then there’s the intersection of those two things — injury and the mental workload — for the Vikings’ 1st-Round selection: Caleb Banks needs to get on the field before too long. He can do so by being physically healthy and by having a mental understanding of his job.

O’Connell’s answer swerves toward what’s missing at the end. Banks is a hulking, incredibly-imposing person. Soon enough, Banks needs to put his physical gifts to work by getting onto the field so that he can create a ruckus at the line of scrimmage.

The best way he can do so is by A) getting healthy and B) mastering the scheme. Per O’Connell, both are well underway. He can then C) capitalize on his massive ability to be a presence from 2026 onward.

Caleb Banks is 23.

Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.

On an annual basis, the Vikings inspire hope for what the batch of UDFA talent is capable of accomplishing. The 2026 haul is no different, but it’s helpful to shrink things down to the Vikings’ top 3 names to know.

Prior to hiring GM Nolan Teasley, Rob Brzezinski was getting the final call on roster decisions. He continued the longstanding pattern of being aggressive once the 7th Round finished off (PurplePTSD offers the full tally of UDFA deals). Check out a trio of youngsters — one for each offense, defense, and specials — to track in the offseason competition.

The Vikings’ Top 3 UDFA Talents to Know

No. 1 — WR Dillon Bell

Already, Mr. Bell has inspired plenty of optimism.

Spending some time watching him at minicamp clarified why there’s so much buzz. The rookie receiver boasts good size and knows how to cut violently. Athletic trainers are going to need more tape to fix up the broken ankles of the poor defensive backs trying to slow Bell down.

Best case for him in 2026 is a job as the WR4. So, too, does he have a shot to play a large role on special teams. The kickoff returner job is wide open and he’s battling with Myles Price to be the PR1 (but appears unlikely to overcome Price).

Expect lots of highlights of Dillon Bell during the offseason. Lots of potential.

No. 2 — P Brett Thorson

If the only criteria were punting the ball, then Brett Thorson would have a better chance of making the final roster. What’s a touch uncertain, though, is his ability as a holder.

Consider what special teams coordinator Matt Daniels had to say: “I watched over 300 snaps of this guy at practice and there’s no issue with the holding.” More broadly, Daniels did say that Thorson has good hands.

Now, the obvious caveat: practice isn’t a game (cue the Allen Iverson video). Holding becomes much more difficult when there are massive linemen trying to disrupt the play as 65,000 Minnesota fans go berserk in the stands. Can Thorson do well in that environment? What about when the wind is swirling at Soldier Field or when there’s a blizzard at Lambeau?

Thorson offers a booming punt, capable of giving his team healthy field position. He’s operating under a UDFA contract that sees $90,000 guaranteed, per OTC. Not a bad payday for an undrafted punter but not a hindrance for cutting him.

No. 3 — S Jacob Thomas

In April, the Vikings added a young safety named Jakoke Thomas in the 3rd Round. He is 22 and is listed as being 6’1″ and 211 pounds. After the draft concluded, there was then a move to add Jacob Thomas. The 22-year-old safety is listed at 6’1″ and 212 pounds.

So, a touch confusing.

The UDFA safety was listed as the 131st overall safety among 937 who qualified for the PFF ranking last year. He boasted a healthy 77.9 grade for James Madison. Most impressive is his 86.3 pass rush grade.

The safety played 320 snaps in the box, 250 as a free safety, 156 in the slot, 57 along the d-line, and 4 as a wide corner. Consider, as well, that he offered his team a pile of snaps on specials, playing a substantial role on kickoff coverage, punt coverage, punt return, and FG/XP block.

Minnesota gave the young lad $160,000 guaranteed to become a Viking.

Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.