Jorge Messi, the father of soccer star and Argentina captain Lionel Messi, died Saturday at a hospital in the central Argentina city of Rosario. He was 68.

The Rosario-based Club Atlético Newell’s Old Boys announced his death in a social media post that said he had undergone treatment in recent months for an unspecified illness. The post described him as “the pillar and the person who, with vision, rigor and affection, supported the career of the best player of all time, alongside his wife, Celia Cuccittini.”

The South American Football Confederation, CONMEBOL, in a statement also offered its condolences “with respect and affection for Lionel.”

Lionel Messi led Argentina to a runner-up finish in this year’s World Cup. In the team’s first match, against Algeria, he was visibly emotional after scoring the first of his three goals. He said later that he wept for “a reason unrelated to sports.”

“I went through some difficult, complicated days,” he said. “I am grateful to the delegation, to all my teammates, because they were always by my side wishing me strength so that I would be OK.”

Media reports at the time outraged the Messi family, which days later released a statement confirming that “Jorge is experiencing a health issue,” without specifying the nature of his condition.

“A person’s health and the peace of mind of their loved ones should not be the subject of speculation or irresponsible media interest,” according to the statement, which also expressed “discomfort at the lack of sensitivity, respect and scruples with which some people have treated a strictly private and family matter.”

Jorge Messi was a chemical technician and worked as a steelworker. He played soccer as a midfielder and reached the youth ranks of Newell’s Old Boys but had to abandon the sport to complete his mandatory military service in Argentina.

He played a fundamental role in his third son’s career, serving as his agent and managing his business affairs. He was the one who traveled with a young Messi to Barcelona in the early 2000s for the trial that would open the doors to La Masia, the club’s youth academy. Lionel Messi made his professional debut in 2005 and went on to win eight Ballon d’Or awards. He led Argentina to the 2022 World Cup title.

“My dad was always by my side,” Lionel Messi said in a 2007 interview with Radio del Plata. “Sometimes I would lock myself in my room to cry when we arrived in Barcelona, or my dad would do the same without me seeing him, or thinking I didn’t see him. We pretended we were both OK, but we weren’t. My dad even asked me what I wanted to do when we were feeling down, if I wanted to stay or go back, and I wanted to stay, and he stayed with me.”

His father negotiated the contracts with Barça and later his transfers to Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami, while also managing the use of his famous son’s image rights and his numerous investments in real estate, hotels, and restaurants.

Jorge Messi (right) served as Lionel Messi’s agent. (Photo by Emma Garcia/picture alliance via Getty Images)

In 2013, father and son were accused by a Spanish prosecutor of trying to conceal earnings from the player’s image rights. Jorge Messi paid more than 5 million euros ($6.6 million) on Aug. 14 to cover alleged back taxes and interest.

The president of Argentina’s soccer federation, Claudio Tapia, on Saturday issued a lengthy statement in which he recognized Jorge Messi “for having raised a person of values: humble, respectful, and deeply committed to others.”

The organization ordered a moment of silence to be observed at all matches across all categories of Argentine soccer and mandated that players, referees and coaching staff wear black armbands.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

Fifa has strongly criticised what it calls a “concerted and ongoing effort” to “undermine” the organisation and its president Gianni Infantino.

The statement follows a Daily Telegraph report, external which claimed Infantino’s alleged lover was given a severance payment by Uefa after he had an affair while he was its general secretary.

Fifa hit out at “unsubstantiated assertions and demonstrably false claims”, adding that “speculation and insinuation should not be presented as fact”.

Infantino has come under increasing pressure from Uefa and European football associations over his aborted Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal.

FFE would have meant a new company being created to manage commercial and ticketing rights, with 21% sold off to a private investment company.

Uefa has said it has lost confidence in Infantino, while Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) president Lise Klaveness on Friday called on the Swiss-Italian to resign.

European football’s governing body says its threat to boycott Fifa events remains on the table, adding that certain conditions have not been met.

“The Fifa President was democratically elected by Fifa’s Member Associations and continues to serve with their mandate,” Fifa said in its statement on Saturday.

“It is increasingly evident that there is a concerted and ongoing effort by some to undermine Fifa and its president.

“Those who do not have the support of Fifa’s member associations should not seek to achieve through allegation, insinuation or misinformation what they cannot achieve through Fifa’s established democratic processes.”

Opposition to Infantino is largely from within Europe.

The Mexican Football Federation broke ranks with its regional governing body Concacaf to come out in support of Infantino.

It echoed a statement from Conmebol – South America’s governing body – in saying it would reject any attempt to remove Infantino without a vote involving all 211 Fifa member countries.

Infantino is also unanimously backed by the 54 nations of the Confederation of African Football (Caf).

Jordan Coyle with Eristov and Britain’s Rachel Proudley with Easy Boy De Laubry Z shared the Defender Puissance at the Gallagher Dublin Horse Show on Saturday night.

It was an incredible result for Eristov, the 17-year-old grey gelding who has achieved so much success throughout the world, as the event was his final career class before retirement.

Easy Boy De Laubry Z and Proudley won the Puissance last year and were popular competitors as the British rider wore a Mayo jersey during most of the competition.

Round One

Nine combinations entered the Defender Puissance – seven from Ireland along with The Netherlands’ Zoi Snels and the defending champion, Rachel Proudley with Easy Boy De Laubry Z.

Waterford’s Paddy O’Connell and Quality Command were the only four faulters from the opening round.

Jump-Off Rounds 1 & 2

Derry rider Daniel Coyle and VDL Mourinho exited at the jump-off round 1 stage – where only the triple bar and the Wall had to be jumped – when failing to successfully clear the Wall at 1.95m (6′ 5″).

In jump-off round 2, the first to take on the Wall at 2.05m (6′ 9″) was Sligo’s Richard Howley aboard the Bolesworth Puissance victor, French Connection. The pair dislodged a brick from the top of the Wall, with the same happening to the Dutch competitor Zoi Snels with Jiminez Z.

Jordan Coyle and Eristov, next into the Laya Arena, became the first combination to clear the Wall at 2.05m (6′ 9″).

His fellow Irish rider Mikey Pender, riding Coblue PS, experienced the same fate as Richard Howley and Zoi Snels as they knocked part of the top line of the Wall.

Rachel Proudley and Easy Boy De Laubry Z ensured a third jump-off round when they went clear. They were followed by Andrew Hodgins from Sligo with Shanaclough Luichew, and then Longford’s Derek McCoppin and Explosief’s Legacy.

Jump-Off Rounds 3 & 4

For jump-off round 3, the Wall was increased to 2.15m with four combinations talking on the challenge.

Jordan Coyle and Eristov went clear, before Rachel Proudley and Easy Boy De Laurby Z followed them, to ensure there would be jump-off round four. Andrew Hodgins and Shanaclough Luichew were unable to clear the Wall at 2.15m, but were immediately followed into the arena by Derek McCoppin with Explosief’s Legacy, who became the third combination to go through to a final round.

The fourth jump-off round saw both Coyle and Proudley have four faults each, as they and their horses failed to clear the Wall at 2.22m (7′ 3″). Derek McCoppin and his partner, Explosief’s Legacy, had both the triple bar and the Wall down for eight fault.

As a result Coyle with Eristov and Proudley and Easy Boy De Laubry Z shared the win in the Defender Puissance for 2026.

Speaking after the class, Derry rider Jordan Coyle admitted:

“I actually feel disappointed. I think I let him down bigtime in the last round. I actually think he would have jumped it if I had done my job, but for him to retire like this is unbelievable. He is actually the horse that started everything for me. What he has given me has been unbelievable and for him to retire like this in incredible.”

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Fifa has hit out at what it described as attempts to “undermine” its embattled president, Gianni Infantino.

Infantino has faced calls to resign from his role in the aftermath of a saga that saw him abandon a proposed plan to sell off stakes in the World Cup and other Fifa competitions.

That proposal brought the threat of a boycott from Uefa, European football’s governing body, with England’s Football Association (FA) among those to officially withdraw their support for the Fifa president.

Infantino is due to seek re-election in March of next year. He has received backing from South American body Conmebol and the Confederation of African Football (Caf).

Infantino succeeded Sepp Blatter as president of Fifa in February 2016 having previously served as Uefa’s general secretary for seven years, and the organisation has again given the 55-year-old its strong back.

“Echoing the recent statements of Conmebol and Caf, as well as discussions with Fifa Member Associations and Confederations from around the world, Fifa will not support, facilitate or tolerate any process concerning the election of the Fifa President that is inconsistent with Fifa’s Statutes, democratic procedures and established governance framework,” a Fifa spokesperson said. “The Fifa President was democratically elected by Fifa’s Member Associations and continues to serve with their mandate.

“It is increasingly evident that there is a concerted and ongoing effort by some to undermine Fifa and its President. Those who do not have the support of FIFA’s Member Associations should not seek to achieve through allegation, insinuation or misinformation what they cannot achieve through Fifa’s established democratic processes.

“Recent reporting has included unsubstantiated assertions and demonstrably false claims concerning Fifa and its President. Speculation and insinuation should not be presented as fact, and repetition does not make an allegation true.

“The Fifa President has dedicated more than 30 years of his professional life to European and world football, contributing to significant change in the game and, in particular, to broadening access, resources and opportunity across world football. Change inevitably challenges established interests, but disagreement with that change cannot justify efforts to undermine the democratic mandate of Fifa’s President or the institution he was elected to lead.

“Fifa welcomes legitimate scrutiny. But scrutiny is not a licence to distort facts, amplify unsubstantiated allegations or manufacture distractions designed to undermine progress. Where reporting is inaccurate or misleading, Fifa will challenge it directly and vigorously.

“Fifa’s responsibility is to its 211 Member Associations and to football around the world. We will not be distracted or diverted from strengthening the organisation, delivering for our Member Associations and continuing the work of making football truly global. Through the FIfa President and the Fifa administration, our focus remains firmly on that mission, and we are more determined than ever to fulfil it.”

Uefa has said that its threat to boycott remains in place despite the abandonment of the sell-off plans.

Fifa’s management board backed Infantino at a meeting in Morocco on Wednesday.

Philippines’ Alexandra Eala celebrates a point against United States’ Caty McNally during a National Bank Open tennis match in Toronto on Friday, Aug. 7, 2026. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Alex Eala’s loyal and roaring followers have been the center of an ongoing debate over what constitutes proper tennis etiquette. The Filipino superstar has largely kept her voice neutral in that conversation.

But for one moment, after winning a key point in a testy three-setter that she said she really “wanted,” Eala made it clear what she wanted from her supporters.

Get louder.

“[I]n that point specifically … I was hyped. So, I wanted to kind of like share that with the crowd and obviously also try to take in their energy,” Eala said on Saturday (Manila time), when asked what was going through her mind as she encouraged the crowd to cheer on.

“I wanted that point.”

She needed that point—and every bit of energy the crowd could share with her.

The emotions that overtook Eala at the end of her 6-1, 5-7, 6-4 victory over American Caty McNally in the National Bank Open in Toronto made the result seem like more than just a ticket to the fourth round.

And perhaps it was. The 21-year-old Filipino superstar entered the night duel in the middle of a hectic fortnight, one where she won her first WTA title. She was also coming off a string of six straight victories and had to deal with more than just the compounding weight of expectations.

She also did not want this magical run to end.

“These past two weeks, I’ve been feeling emotions so extremely because of the circumstances, which is a great thing,” she said of her current streak. “I think I’m quite a sentimental person.

“To play in front of you guys, it’s amazing, so the motivation to come here and play another match—everything just becomes so much more emotional,” she added.

It showed in the final point as Eala looked on the verge of tears after McNally sent her return long and handed the world No. 20 a seventh consecutive victory.

“Obviously, today was really close,” Eala said.

Philippines’ Alexandra Eala reacts as she clinches a win over United States’ Caty McNally during a National Bank Open tennis match in Toronto on Friday, Aug. 7, 2026. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

She also had to deal with a forward-charging opponent and a second-set mishap where she took a medical break after rolling her ankle.

Things started looking bleak when McNally refused to wilt, fighting off Eala’s attempt to serve out the match in the second and forcing the grueling decider in a match that lasted two hours and 39 minutes.

“I am as tired as one can be at this stage,” Eala admitted. “You can imagine a lot of matches, but, you know, that’s the job.”

“I needed to push a lot.”

And she also needed every bit of energy the crowd could give her, judging by how spent she looked after the match.

She next faces Swiss 12th seed Belinda Bencic, who advanced after an even more lung-busting three-setter. Bencic needed three hours and 24 minutes to dismiss American Taylor Townsend, 6-7 (5), 7-6 (4), 6-4.

“[I]t’s going to be the first time that I’m facing her,” Eala said. “And of course, Belinda has accomplished so much in tennis.”

There will be concerns about her ankle, but Eala brushed them off.

“Luckily there’s nothing wrong with it. No serious problems,” she said. “I think I have a great team who’s going to help me recover.”

And, should she need it again, Eala is also expected to have another good crowd providing her with an energy boost. INQ

Quillan Salkilld could be the next big thing at lightweight. Already a rapidly rising Oceanic name, Salkilld’s first UFC Fight Night main event is a launching pad into the wider MMA consciousness. His rise feels inevitable, but Mateusz Gamrot has other plans.

Salkilld (12-1) is well on his way to “speed running” the lightweight division. It’s a gamer term for completing a video game as fast as possible. Salkilld’s game of choice is far more treacherous. Salkilld is 5-0 since his Octagon debut last year, finishing four opponents. 

He made a memorable early impression, earning CBS Sports’ 2025 Knockout of the Year against Nasrat Haqparast and most recently KOing perennial title contender Beneil Dariush. Well on his way to accomplishing a challenging goal in the sport’s deepest division, a win over Gamrot puts Salkilld in the top 10 exactly 18 months after his UFC debut.

Sign up for Paramount+ and watch UFC Fight Night: Gamrot vs. Salkilld for no additional fee — every UFC numbered event and UFC Fight Night is included with your subscription! Plans start as low as $8.99/month or $89.99/year!

“I don’t want to cherry-pick my way to the top. I want these hard fights,” Salkilld told CBS Sports. “I respect Gamrot a lot and respect his skillset. I think his most dangerous attribute is just his ability to push his wrestling pace for the whole fight. He’s going to be nonstop on the attack with the grappling. 

“This test is why I specifically called him out. I want these tough moments and these tests. I want to gain a lot of respect after this one.”

Gamrot (26-4, 1 NC) knows the feeling of lofty expectations. He looked like a future title challenger after defeating Arman Tsarukyan, who recently booked a co-main event slot at UFC 331, after five rounds of the most exciting grappling exchanges in MMA history. Unfortunately, he’s struggled against the very best. Losses to former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira and Dariush, the latter of whom was on the cusp of a title shot at the time, have kept him just shy of elite status. Saturday’s main event is a crucial opportunity to crush Salkilld’s ascent and prepare for his own climb.

“I understand the politics. The most important thing is finishing the fight. I cleared my mind. I’ve changed my style a little bit. I am patient,” Gamrot told CBS Sports. “I took two of the biggest prospects before. I finish this guy. I have another big name in front of me. Quillan Salkilld has a lot of hype, but, bro, I don’t care. I know what I bring to the table. I’m ready to rock and roll.”

Elsewhere on Saturday, veterans Diego Ferreira and Billy Quarantillo are set to battle it out with both men in need of a victory. Ferreira has lost his last two outings after a pair of knockout wins before that, and Quarantillo has gone 1-3 since 2023.

Plus, Darren Elkins gets a send off fight when he takes on Yadier Del Valle at featherweight. “The Damage” has lived up to his nickname throughout his UFC career, which dates all the way back to 2010. Elkins will look to end his career on a high note against Del Valle, who suffered his first pro defeat in his last appearance.

Let’s take a look at the rest of the fight card with the latest odds from DraftKings before getting to a prediction and expert pick on the main event below.

UFC Fight Night card, odds

UFC Fight Night viewing information

Date: Saturday, Aug. 8 | Start time: 8 p.m. ET (Main card) | 5 p.m. ET (Prelims)
Location: Meta APEX — Las Vegas
TV Channel: Paramount+ (subscribe now for as low as $8.99 per month)

Prediction

Mateusz Gamrot vs. Quillan Salkilld: Salkilld achieved the expected result in his last fight. Beating Dariush is a feather in Salkilld’s cap, but it must be acknowledged that Dariush is damaged goods. Dariush, once on the verge of a title shot, has suffered first-round knockouts in four of his last five appearances. Even in that fight, Salkilld showed imperfections. Dariush dropped him with a jab and took him down twice. Salkilld showed composure against a savvy veteran, but such growing pains make his sprint to the top more difficult. 

Gamrot isn’t perfect either. He’s widely considered one of the best wrestlers in the division, but Oliveira submitted him and Dariush out-grappled him. Against Dan Hooker, a striker he was widely expected to beat, Gamrot lost via split decision. Gamrot’s slow potential decline and Salkilld’s explosiveness are what make this so intriguing. Salkilld has many tools at his disposal: superior striking, a savvy submission game and great takedown defense. But Gamrot is a seasoned professional who probably has two more good years in him. I’d favor Salkilld in a three-round fight, but Gamrot can probably run the clock and wear him down over 25 minutes. Pick: Gamrot via unanimous decision

Who wins Gamrot vs. Salkilld, and how exactly does the fight end? Visit SportsLine now to get detailed picks and analysis from the incomparable expert who is up over $21,000 on his UFC picks since May 2018, and find out.

Lionel Messi, Jorge Messi

The Argentine Football Association (AFA) on Saturday offered its condolences to Lionel Messi and his family following the death of his father, Jorge Messi, at the age of 68.Jorge Messi had been receiving treatment at a clinic in Rosario.Following his death, the AFA posted a message on X offering its support to Lionel and his family.“Stay strong, Leo Messi and family. We are with you in this difficult moment. We send you our most heartfelt embrace,” the AFA said.FC Barcelona, where Lionel Messi played from 2004 to 2021, also expressed its condolences to Jorge Messi’s family. The club acknowledged Jorge’s role in allowing Barcelona to be part of the early and successful years of Lionel’s football career.“The President and the Board of Directors of FC Barcelona express their deepest condolences on the passing of Jorge Messi, father of former Barca player and legend Lionel Messi, and, on behalf of the entire Barca family, extend their condolences to the Messi family. FC Barcelona thanks Jorge Messi for his commitment to our Club, for entrusting us with the beginnings and the most glorious years of his son Leo’s football career. May he rest in peace,” FC Barcelona said in an X post.Jorge Messi was also closely involved in his son’s football career. After Lionel’s career took off, Jorge became his agent and strategic adviser. Before that, he had worked for years as a supervisor at a steel factory.He was involved in Lionel’s early years at Newell’s Old Boys in Argentina. When Lionel was 13, Jorge helped arrange his move to Spain to join Barcelona’s youth academy.Barcelona also paid for the treatment of Messi’s growth hormone deficiency, a condition that affected his physical development.Jorge was married to Celia Cuccittini and had four children: Lionel, Rodrigo, Matias and Maria Sol.

Ayush Shetty has always had dreams of competing in the BWF World Championships. Now, that dream will turn into reality for the 21-year-old rising star as India is hosting the badminton’s biggest event after a hiatus of 17 years.

The Karnataka shutter realises how special an occasion this is for him.

“To make my debut at the World Championships, and to do so when India is hosting the event after 17 years, is incredibly special,” Ayush, one of four Indians who will make their first appearance in the tournament, told PTI.

Ayush, however, has been handed a tough draw in the August 17-23 tournament as he is set to take on defending champion and world No. 1 Shi Yu Qi of China in the men’s singles’ opening round.

Joining him are women’s singles prospect Unnati Hooda and women’s doubles pair Simran Singhi and Kavipriya Selvam, all of whom have earned their places through impressive performances on the international circuit.

While the spotlight will naturally remain on established stars such as two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu, Lakshya Sen and men’s doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, the tournament also offers the young quartet an opportunity to announce themselves on the biggest stage in the sport.

Among the four debutantes, Ayush arrives with perhaps the strongest recent credentials. He won bronze at the 2023 BWF World Junior Championships before announcing himself on the senior circuit, clinching the US Open Super 300 title in 2025.

This year, he became the first Indian men’s singles player since Dinesh Khanna in 1965 to reach the final of the Badminton Asia Championships.

Along the way, he defeated former world champion Li Shi Feng, former Asian champion Jonatan Christie and Paris Olympics silver medallist Kunlavut Vitidsarn before finishing with the silver medal.

“Growing up, the World Championships was one of the tournaments I always looked forward to watching. Like every young badminton player, I dreamed of one day earning the chance to compete on that stage…,” he said. 

“I’ve worked hard to be here and I want to make the most of this opportunity. Competing against some of the best players in the world is the ultimate challenge, and I’m looking forward to testing my game, embracing the occasion and giving everything I have on court. Having home support behind me will make it even more memorable,” he said.

At 17, Hooda has already established herself as one of India’s brightest young talents. She became the youngest Indian to win a BWF World Tour title when she captured the Odisha Open Super 100 crown in 2022 at the age of 14.

The Haryana shuttler has continued her steady progress, highlighted by a memorable victory over former world champion PV Sindhu at the 2025 China Open Super 1000.

She will meet Myanmar’s Thet Htar Thuzar in the opening round.

“This is one of the biggest moments of my career so far. Making my first World Championships is something I’ve worked towards for a long time, and to have that opportunity in India makes it even more special,” said Unnati, who won the Polish Open this year.

“As a young player, competing against some of the best athletes in the world is a challenge I’m really looking forward to. Events like these are where you learn the most about yourself and your game, and I want to make the most of every opportunity.

“Having the support of family, friends and Indian fans around me will make this experience even more memorable.” 
In women’s doubles, Simran and Kavipriya have quietly built promising partnerships.

Simran trained under Uday Pawar at Mumbai’s Goregaon Sports Club, the academy that also nurtured World Championships medallist Chirag Shetty, while Kavipriya emerged through Tamil Nadu’s competitive domestic circuit.

They will open the campaign against Spain’s Nikol Carulla and Carmen Maria Jimenez. The pair has steadily climbed to a career-high 38 in world rankings, and has featured regularly on the BWF World Tour.