Cristiano Ronaldo had a forgettable outing for Portugal in the team’s final FIFA World Cup warm-up match against Nigeria. The Portugal captain, leading the attack for his national team in his historic sixth World Cup, missed several sitters against the African side. Although Portugal went on to beat Nigeria 2-1 despite Ronaldo‘s disappointing performance, the veteran striker’s possible decline in form has raised eyebrows. With Portugal set to begin their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign in Group K against the Democratic Republic of the Congo on June 17, many are wondering if he is still the right man to lead the attack for the Euro 2016 champions.

Ronaldo, the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star, is the record goalscorer in international football with 143 strikes to his name. Yet, he failed to add to his tally during the warm-up match, despite being served multiple golden opportunities on a platter by his teammates.

The 41-year-old was eventually substituted in the 65th minute by manager Roberto Martinez. Despite his early exit, Ronaldo still spent more time on the pitch than any of his outfield teammates who started the game.

They did everything, put it right on a plate for Cristiano, and he still blasts it into the stands. pic.twitter.com/gFnMeL2RGE

— MC (@CrewsMat10) June 10, 2026

| CRISTIANO RONALDO MISSES A BIG CHANCE!!! pic.twitter.com/fn3I7kVcCp

— FUTBOL HUB (@futbol_hubX) June 10, 2026

Advertisement

Even some of the touches Ronaldo had shocked spectators. The man who scored 28 goals in 30 games for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League looked like an amateur footballer at times. The coming games would prove if Ronaldo indeed has what it takes to deliver for Portugal at this level, at the age of 41. 

It was Pedro Neto who opened the scoring for Portugal, finding the back of the net in the 23rd minute. Akor Adams later equalised for Nigeria in the 14th minute of the second half. However, Francisco Conceicao, who came on as a second-half substitute for Portugal, scored the winner in the 75th minute, not long after Ronaldo had been taken off.

In the upcoming World Cup, Portugal is placed in Group K and will take on the Democratic Republic of the Congo in their opener, before facing Uzbekistan and Colombia. Portugal will begin their campaign in Texas, United States. Nigeria, meanwhile, will not be participating in this World Cup, having failed to qualify.

Featured Video Of The Day

IPL 2026 News | Shami’s Sensation Leads Lucknow to First Win of Season

Arsenal keen to sign Athletic Club winger Nico Williams, Juventus open talks with Aston Villa over deal for keeper Emiliano Martinez, while Paris St-Germain target Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise.

Arsenal remain firmly in the hunt to sign Athletic Club and Spain winger Nico Williams, with Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United also interested in the 23-year-old. (Teamtalk), external

Juventus are in talks with Aston Villa to sign their Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, 33, who has already agreed personal terms. (Corriere dello Sport – in Italian), external

Paris St-Germain will to try to sign Bayern Munich’s 24-year-old French forward Michael Olise this summer. (L’Equipe – in French), external

Manchester United are monitoring Everton‘s 26-year-old Senegal forward Iliman Ndiaye as they look to bolster their squad for a Champions League return next season (Sky Sports), external

Liverpool are prepared to let Italy forward Federico Chiesa, 28, leave this summer for around £17m, with the player keen on a move back to Serie A. (Caughtoffside), external

Barcelona are aware of interest from Chelsea and Arsenal in Spain winger Dani Olmo, but will only allow the 28-year-old to leave if their £60m valuation is met. (Fichajes – in Spanish), external

France forward Mathys Tel, 21, could make a shock switch from Tottenham to Bournemouth this summer. (Teamtalk), external.

Barcelona intend to sell Spain midfielder Marc Casado to raise money for other signings, with Bayer Leverkusen and Premier League clubs tracking the 22-year-old. (Fichajes – in Spanish), external

Leeds United want to break their transfer record to sign Ivory Coast defender Ousmane Diomande from Sporting, with an offer of up to £35m and another £8m in add-ons. (Mirror), external

Crystal Palace are preparing to rival Everton for Middlesbrough’s English midfielder Hayden Hackney, 23, this summer with a £20m offer. (Mail), external

Shortly after the New York Knicks’ Game 3 defeat in the NBA Finals, Mike Brown turned his attention to the officiating.

“I talked to [the officials]. They outshot us 14-3 in the third quarter from the free throw line. I talked to them, and they said, well, this is a foul, this is a foul,” Brown told reporters after the San Antonio Spurs trimmed the Knicks’ series lead to 2-1. “That’s the question I had with them is, you’re right. Maybe we did foul. But they fouled, too.”

Karl-Anthony Towns, one of the catalysts behind New York’s postseason success, struck a different tone ahead of Game 4.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown observes the game during the NBA Finals in Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. (Al Bello/Getty Images)

“Naw, that ain’t cost us the game,” Towns told reporters when asked about Brown’s comments. “Turned the ball over. Didn’t execute. Didn’t do what got us 13 straight wins in a row. That’s how you lose a game. We didn’t do what we’ve been doing for 13. We decided to do something different. … And throwing the ball away is a clear indication of how you’re going to lose the game, especially in the playoffs.”

The box score seemed to underscore Brown’s primary complaint, as the Spurs attempted three times as many free throws as the Knicks in the second half of Monday’s 115-111 victory.

BARRING GARBAGE OFFICIATING, THE KNICKS WILL GET REVENGE OVER THE SPURS IN GAME 4 OF THE 2026 NBA FINALS

The Knicks were in the penalty for the majority of the fourth quarter. A cold-shooting second half saw New York connect on 36% of its field-goal attempts.

Karl-Anthony Towns of the New York Knicks defends Stephon Castle of the San Antonio Spurs during the second quarter of Game 3 in the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden in New York City on June 8, 2026. (Al Bello/Getty Images)

While it remains to be seen whether officiating will play a role in Wednesday night’s game at Madison Square Garden, Brown appeared intent on making it part of the buildup to Game 4.

“It’s going to be that because I said it. The story is going to be there,” Brown continued during a news conference. “But there are some controllables that we did not do a good job of doing. We allowed them to hit first at the beginning of the game. We allowed them to hit first in the beginning of the second half.”

Mike Brown talks with the New York Knicks during a timeout in the third quarter against the San Antonio Spurs in Game Three of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden in New York City on June 8, 2026. (Al Bello/Getty Images)

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Towns finished Game 3 with 11 points and eight rebounds, a noticeable drop from his team-high 21-point performance in New York’s Game 2 victory over the Spurs. Jalen Brunson led the Knicks in scoring Monday with 32 points.

Game 4 tips off at 8:30 p.m. EDT, with the series returning to San Antonio for Game 5 on Saturday.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

San Antonio Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama avoided adding a third flagrant point to his postseason total. Under NBA policy, players are automatically subject to suspension once they receive four flagrant foul points.

Wembanyama made contact with Jalen Brunson’s upper body while the New York Knicks guard was attempting to set a screen in the first quarter of Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Monday. When the Spurs center turned around during the play, he pushed Brunson, who fell backward to the floor.

Referees did not blow the whistle for a foul on the play, despite forceful objections from the Knicks bench. ESPN reported Tuesday, citing sources, that Wembanyama would not retroactively be assessed a “flagrant upgrade on the uncalled foul.”

The play sparked debate across the sports world, and President Donald Trump, who attended Monday’s game, was among those weighing in.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

President Donald Trump watches the start of Game 3 of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden in New York City on June 8, 2026. (Samuel Corum/Getty Images)

“I thought it was a very bad call. Absolutely. I thought it was a very bad call, personally. But I’m not the ref, you know?” Trump told the New York Post on Wednesday.

Trump watched the Knicks’ first NBA Finals game in 27 years from a suite with his granddaughter Kai Trump and was seen sitting next to team owner James Dolan. Trump became the first sitting U.S. president to attend an NBA Finals game.

VICTOR WEMBANYAMA PUTS HAND ON JALEN BRUNSON’S HEAD, PUSHES HIM DOWN AS REFS LOOK THE OTHER WAY IN GAME 3

The Spurs outlasted New York 115-111 in Game 3, trimming the Knicks’ series lead to 2-1 entering Wednesday’s Game 4.

Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks works against Dylan Harper and Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs during the third quarter in Game Three of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden in New York City on June 8, 2026. (Al Bello/Getty Images)

“Look, they’re pretty evenly matched, right? It’s two great teams. I’ll tell you, that Brunson is some player,” Trump added. “I think Brunson is amazing, [Stephon] Castle [of the Spurs] is amazing, Wemby is amazing, [Karl-Anthony] Towns [of the Knicks] is amazing. They’re like great players. That’s why they’re there, right?”

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson reacts as San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama looks on during the second quarter of game three of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden in New York on June 8, 2026. (Vincent Carchietta/Imagn Images)

A New York native, Trump regularly sat courtside alongside other celebrities over the years before entering politics. “If you grow up in New York, you’re a Knick fan,” he noted.

Taylor Swift, who is engaged to NFL star Travis Kelce, headlined Wednesday’s star-studded celebrity row at Madison Square Garden.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

The Spurs came out hot for the second consecutive game Wednesday, racing to a 41-22 lead by the end of the first quarter. Wembanyama paced San Antonio with 13 points in the opening period, while OG Anunoby led New York with seven.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

The Brazilian star still has an important role to play in his final weeks as a Manchester United player

Casemiro only has 20 days left to run on his Manchester United contract before he is officially considered a free agent. But the Brazil international can still play an important role in their future and, more specifically, his impending replacement, Ederson, over the next five weeks.

The 34-year-old announced his farewell in March after the club decided not to offer him a renewal on his contract, and head coach Michael Carrick has wasted no time in finding his successor. United reached an agreement with Atalanta to sign 26-year-old midfielder Ederson for £35million, with £4m in potential add-ons, with the deal only waiting for an official announcement before it is completed.

Ederson was busy planning for his new life in Manchester before he was drafted into Brazil’s World Cup squad at the eleventh hour last week. Selecao coach Carlo Ancelotti called up the central midfielder after full-back Wesley was ruled out with injury, giving Ederson the chance to link up with his new team-mates Matheus Cunha and Casemiro in the United States.

Get MEN Premium now for just £1 HERE – or get involved in our United WhatsApp group by clicking HERE. You can also join our United Facebook page by clicking HERE and don’t miss out on our brilliant selection of newsletters HERE.

The latter has endured a turbulent time at Old Trafford but ultimately finished on a high, bagging a career-high nine league goals as the Reds secured third place in the Premier League. He has been one of their most impressive performers in the 2025/26 season, but there was a mutual acknowledgement that his four-year spell at the club had come to end after signing from Real Madrid in 2022.

Despite some difficult moments, Casemiro has savoured his positive relationship with the United faithful when reflecting on his time at the club. Ederson’s inclusion in the Brazil squad means he and Cunha can be his confidants in the Brazil camp, imparting any wisdom or advice he has to help him settle into his new home.

“All I can do is be grateful, because I am really enjoying myself a lot. Not just me, but all my family. It is an honour for us to listen to the fans’ love and affection,” he said in April after his exit was announced.

“Lots of people think it is just the last few months, since the announcement, but I have to be thankful, since the very first day that I arrived here, the fans have been amazing with me and my family. So, I am so grateful to the fans, and the United fans, I am going to remember for the rest of my life.”

The main difference between life with Atalanta in the Serie A and playing for a global club like United is the pressure that comes with it. Casemiro was no stranger to that, having played for Real Madrid where the demands for strong performances are exceedingly high, particularly in the Spanish press.

Advertisement

But at United, the atmosphere around the club is entirely different. The stinging criticism from club icons who now work as pundits, chiefly when Gary Neville narrowed in on his performances, can be difficult to shake off. Every pass, move and mistake will be under the spotlight when Ederson pulls on that red shirt for the first time.

Casemiro can provide some coping mechanisms for his compatriot when the going gets tough. But the biggest takeaway he can pass on is that hard work and discipline go a long way in the eyes of a United supporter. The early comparisons that suggested he was an overpaid flop have dissipated over time; on his way out, he is recognised as a midfield stalwart who left his mark in M16.

As Ederson prepares to take his spot next season, no one will have a better viewpoint on how to perform his role than the man he is replacing. And that can only be a positive thing for Carrick and United going forward as they look to build on an impressive season.

Upgrade your World Cup TV setup with the Sky Glass ‘designed for football’

Advertisement

This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more

from £4.50

Sky

Get the deal here

Sky is knocking 20% off its entire range of Glass TVs to mark the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Until June 17, shoppers can upgrade to the Sky smart TV that’s ‘designed for football’ from £4.50 per month when taken alongside a Sky TV and Netflix package.

Many will have never heard the refrain “I am from Bosnia, take me to America” until the Bosnian national team upset Italy in a playoff final in March. It put the small Balkan nation through to the World Cup for just the second time since the country gained its independence in 1992.

Thousands of fans at the match in Zenica belted out the song, just as they did when the national team were feted at a square in the capital, Sarajevo, a few hours later. 

But had you spent time in Bosnia over the past decade and a half, chances are good that the tune will have been oddly familiar. The song, originally titled “USA,” was actually released by the Bosnian band Dubioza Kollektiv some 15 years ago. And it actually had nothing whatsoever to do with football.

‘Typical Balkan experience’

“It’s from our album Wild Wild East from 2011,” band member Vedran Mujagic, who plays bass, told DW of the song, now known as “I am from Bosnia, take me to America.”

“It’s about a typical experience of someone from the Balkans, going abroad in a search of a better life — in this case, in search of the “American dream.”

“But then, faced with the reality of immigrant life, life in the diaspora, he kind of realizes that it’s not all perfect (there) and he decides there is no place like the motherland and he goes back.”

The band had been playing the song at concerts for years when, to their astonishment, it turned up when Bosnia played Wales in the two-legged World Cup playoff semifinal that booked them a date with Italy.

“Of course we’re watching that game. And then we saw a big, big banner that supporters rolled out during the game, and it read, “I’m from Bosnia, take me to America,” Mujagic recalled.

“And in that moment, it seemed almost like science fiction because we needed to beat Wales — which of course we did.”

By the Italy match, the song was long-since established as the “Dragons’” unofficial hymn.

The icing on the cake came after that match, when some of the players stormed Bosnia coach Sergei Barbarez‘ press conference singing the song.

Updated World Cup version

“Ten days later we decided to actually do a supporter’s version with changed lyrics and to address some of these football, subculture feelings and emotions that surrounded qualification for the World Cup,” Mujagic said.

Interestingly, while the original version was completely in English, much of the new version is sung in Bosnian. The lyrics play on local stereotypes, and urge on the national team, while bemoaning what is still a sore point among fans old enough to remember the 2014 World Cup.

“And that (goal) against Nigeria, wasn’t offside,” they sing.

It wasn’t. Video footage shows that Edin Dzeko was clearly onside when he scored, but there was still no VAR (video assistant referee) at the time, and after the goal was called back momentum shifted, and Bosnia lost the match. They also failed to make it out of their group. 

And while the new version being mostly in Bosnian may seem like a barrier to international success, it’s simply taken off. Mujagic thinks he knows why.

Striking a chord

“I guess it has to do with the music video we shot for it, which features the band members playing football in a neighborhood courtyard with neighbors grilling (meat) and having, like, this regular Balkan fun,” he said.

The video, shot on a mobile phone, seems to have struck a particular chord in South America.

“A lot of people recognized that this looks like some of their neighborhoods, like a favela in Brazil or this looks like Chile because it is the same thing,” he added.

There’s also something slightly subversive about the low-budget production.

“It is like a response to this hyper-stylized aesthetic that FIFA music promotional videos have,” Mujagic explained, adding that it struck a chord with those frustrated by the modern, money-driven game.

The diaspora experience in reverse

As for the newfound success of the national team, the majority of whom weren’t actually born in Bosnia, Mujagic gives all the credit to coach Barbarez and sporting director Emir Spahic.

“Spahic and Barbarez did an excellent job by recruiting and creating a team out of all these kids that grew up in the diaspora. They’re the ones whose parents went seeking the ‘American Dream’ or were refugees during the war,” he said.

“It’s like they (the children) have different experiences, and they experience even this song in a completely different manner,” he added.

There’s little doubt that when Bosnia-Herzegovina kick off their World Cup campaign against co-hosts Canada in Toronto on Friday, this song will be ringing through the stands.

Edited by: Matt Pearson

Maida Besirevic of DW’s Bosnian service contributed to this report. 

The 2026 World Cup kicks off this week with a new format for Fifa’s giant 48-team tournament.

With the final squads being named, teams will now prepare for their first group stage games in the USA, Canada and Mexico.

Excitement is building and history will be made, as players carve out their own legacies to join some of the greatest footballers in Fifa World Cup history.

There will be 104 matches, up 40 since Qatar World Cup 2022, while Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo likely to play on this stage for the last time in their glittering careers.

Here’s how the tournament will unfold across 39 action-packed days

World Cup 2026 groups

The World Cup will begin in Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium, the site of Diego Maradona’s most famous and infamous goals against England at the 1986 World Cup.

It was also the venue for two classic World Cup finals: Brazil’s win over Italy in 1970 which included Carlos Alberto’s iconic team goal to cap a 4-1 win; and Argentina’s 3-2 win over West Germany in 1986, where Jorge Burruchaga grabbed an 84th-minute winner.

Mexico and Canada will host 13 games in each, and the United States will host 78.

From the quarter-finals onwards, the US will host all of the remaining matches, with the final in New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium.

When does the World Cup start and finish?

The tournament begins in Mexico on 11 June, and concludes with the final in New Jersey on 19 July.

Who will win the World Cup?

European countries top the list with UK bookmakers as the favourites to lift the trophy with Spain the favourites at 5/1 just ahead of France at 11/2. The French have reached the final in each of the last two editions of the World Cup so they cannot be ruled out for another lengthy run.

Also of note are England and Portugal with most World Cup betting sites placing them at 8/1 and 17/2 respectively while the first non-European nations with the best chance of winning the tournament are, perhaps unsurprisingly, Brazil and Argentina at 9/1 and 11/1 respectively.

Use our World Cup odds comparison tool below to find the best prices.

Minnesota Vikings right tackle Brian O’Neill is due for a contract extension — and he may not be the only one. Linebacker Blake Cashman’s deal expires after 2026, too, and some rumblings suggest that he could stay in Minnesota beyond this season.

Cashman is a central figure in Brian Flores’s defense, meaning Minnesota may pony up the cash to preserve the status quo.

Cashman’s Production Gives Vikings a Clear Extension Case

A Cashman Extension Makes Sense

Most of the contract extension focus from fans will center on O’Neill, but don’t forget Cashman.

The Athletic‘s Alec Lewis wrote Tuesday, “The Vikings owe Cashman $7.5 million in cash for this season, a figure comparable to what is owed to Derrick Barnes of the Detroit Lions and Alex Singleton of the Denver Broncos. Fellow Viking Eric Wilson, who is almost two years older, signed a three-year contract this offseason worth $22.5 million. Drafting second-rounder Jake Golday gives Minnesota a possible off-ramp.”

“However, replacing Cashman feels like a risky proposition. The Green Bay Packers recently inked Zaire Franklin to a two-year deal worth about $9 million in average annual value, perhaps a more realistic starting point to keep Minnesota-native Cashman at the center of Flores’ defense.”

Minnesota lured Cashman away from the Houston Texans two offseasons ago, a move that remains near the top of former general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s accomplishments.

Cashman’s Numbers and Impact in Minnesota

Flores can undoubtedly continue to build a defense around Cashman, and the Vikings should recognize his value as such. Since joining the Vikings, Cashman has started 27 games, accumulating 256 tackles, including 129 solo stops, 14 tackles for loss, 14 QB hits, 6.5 sacks, 10 passes defended, an interception, and a forced fumble.

His Pro Football Focus grades further support Cashman’s performance. In 2024, across 947 snaps, he earned a 72.0 defensive grade, with impressive marks of 76.3 in run defense, 72.0 in pass rush, and 62.1 in coverage. Although his overall grade slightly decreased to 63.6 in 2025, his tackling grade significantly improved to 83.4, and his run defense remained strong at 75.4. All of that makes him an ideal fit for Flores’ defensive scheme — or any defense, really.

Last season, Cashman recorded 144 tackles in just 13 games. Projecting that pace over a full 17-game season would result in approximately 188 tackles, placing him ninth all-time in NFL history for a single season.

Cashman’s ability to quickly diagnose plays, aggressively attack downhill, provide solid coverage, excel as a blitzer, and maintain defensive cohesion makes him a quintessential Flores linebacker. He’s that good, and it just makes sense to prolong his stay.

SI.com‘s Will Ragatz noted on Cashman last week, “Underrated nationally, Cashman is an excellent green-dot middle linebacker who defends the run at a high level and flies around the field as a tackler. The Vikings did draft Jake Golday in the second round this year, but the rookie profiles as a great complement to Cashman, not a replacement.”

“Beyond Golday, there isn’t much in the pipeline at off-ball linebacker, as the Vikings no longer seem to view Ivan Pace Jr. as a reliable three-down option.”

The only knock on Cashman is that he misses about a month per season due to injuries.

What an Extension Would Realistically Look Like

Lewis referenced Franklin’s deal in Green Bay, and that’s probably not too far off. The very best off-ball linebackers rake in $20 million per season, so to suggest Cashman would deserve any less than $10 million is not rooted in reality.

Minnesota, of course, will consider his age, as 30-year-old (or older) linebackers typically don’t improve. Still, Cashman is 30, not 35, and a two- or three-year deal feels appropriate.

And the Vikings can afford Cashman at $10 million per season. He’s well worth it.

If Not, It’s Golday Time in 2027

Suppose, for a moment, that Cashman is on his way out, and no contract extension comes to fruition this summer. He’d hit free agency in March, and the Vikings would press the full-time button on Golday. Minnesota used a 2nd-Round pick on Golday, and that’s remarkably high for an inside linebacker. Golday may have some EDGE versatility, but coming out of Cincinnati, he was listed as an off-ball linebacker.

It’s much more likely that Golday will eventually take over for Eric Wilson, but because the club has “too many” good linebackers, Golday as a succession plan for Cashman cannot be ruled out, even if it’s that unlikely.

Perhaps Golday would take over for Cashman if Cashman’s asking price was too large.

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

First Published: Jun 05 2026 | 12:55 PM IST