The Curragh hosts two days of racing this weekend, with the Tattersalls Irish 2000 and 1000 Guineas the feature races on Saturday and Sunday respectively.
Breeders’ Cup winner Gstaad will be the headline act at flat racing’s HQ on Saturday afternoon as the runner-up to Bow Echo in the Betfred 2000 Guineas at Newmarket bids to win the first Irish classic of the 2026 season.
O’Brien bids for 13th win
The mount of Ryan Moore, the son of Starspangledbanner, will bid to give champion trainer Aidan O’Brien a 13th success in the colts’ classic, with the Ballydoyle handler also saddling Neolithic, a son of Sioux Nation, who will be the mount of Wayne Lordan.
Speaking earlier this week about Gstaad, Aidan O’Brien said after the colt’s final workout:
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“He worked well earlier too and we’re happy with him. He seems to have come out of Newmarket well so we’re looking forward to Saturday.”
Three English Challengers
There is a three-pronged British-trained challenge. Godolphin’s trainer, Charlie Appleby, will be represented by Distant Storm – who was eight lengths third to Gstaad at Newmarket – and Pacific Avenue. The former will be ridden by Billy Loughnane, who will be bidding for a first Irish classic success, while Jamie Spencer will partner Pacific Avenue, as trainer Charlie Appleby bids to add to his 2022 victory in this race with Native Trail.
Alparslan, winner of the Tattersalls Sales race at The Curragh last September, comes from the Karl Burke yard, a trainer who has had much success in Ireland in recent years.
Fozzy Stack’s Thesecretadversary, more than nine lengths in arrears of Gstaad at Newmarket, Gowran Park maiden winner Go Just Do It from the Joseph O’Brien stable, along with Bamako Beach (Michael O’Callaghan), Power Blue (Robson Aguiar) and Take Charge Star (Johnny Murtagh) complete the Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas field.
Leo Carlsson says he never wanted to leave Anaheim after the Ducks matched the Philadelphia Flyers‘ record-setting offer sheet to keep the young center with the franchise.
Shortly after Anaheim confirmed it had matched the five-year, $90 million contract, Carlsson shared a message through the team’s X account, making it clear where he wanted to play.
“I always wanted to be here. I really wanted them to match. I always, always wanted to be a Duck. It’s my home. I just wanted to be here a long time. I’m just super excited to be back.”
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Leo Carlsson also addressed the size of the contract, which carries an NHL-record $18 million average annual value.
“It was an offer that 99 percent of people would sign too,” Carlsson said. “It’s a pretty simple answer. I really wanted to be here, though. I really wanted them to match. I want to be an Anaheim Duck.”
Anaheim matched the Flyers’ offer before the deadline, keeping the Carlsson with Ducks through the 2030-31 season.
Leo Carlsson is coming off a career-best season after recording 29 goals and 38 assists for 67 points in 70 regular-season games. He added 11 points in 12 playoff appearances as Anaheim reached the postseason. Since being selected second overall in the 2023 NHL Draft, Carlsson has recorded 141 points in 201 regular-season games with Anaheim.
Leo Carlsson was always part of Anaheim’s plans
The Ducks never sounded like a team that was willing to let Leo Carlsson leave.
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Owners Henry and Susan Samueli said matching the Flyers’ offer sheet was an easy decision. They also credited general manager Pat Verbeek for keeping enough cap space available to retain the 21-year-old.
“Matching the offer sheet was an easy decision, as Pat has intelligently left enough cap space to give us the ability to retain Leo. We have extremely high expectations for Leo. We firmly believe he will continue his strong growth trajectory and become one of the truly elite centers in the league, while continuing to make a strong impact in our community.”
Verbeek said the organization has believed in Carlsson since before selecting him with the No. 2 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.
“We are very happy to have Leo under contract for five years. We have viewed Leo as a franchise player since the moment we met him prior to the 2023 draft. He’s a character person on and off the ice. Leo is viewed as a top player in this league, and it was always our intention to match any offer sheet.”
Leo Carlsson has already reached a few milestones early in his NHL career. He is the youngest player in Ducks history to score 50 goals and reach 100 career points, and he is also the youngest Swedish-born player in NHL history to hit the 100-point mark.
The Swedish forward has also represented his country at several international tournaments. Although an injury kept him out of the 2026 Winter Olympics after he was named to Sweden’s roster, he helped his country win bronze at the 2025 IIHF World Championship with 10 points in 10 games.
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell smiles during Day 3 of minicamp at TCO Performance Center as the team works through offseason practice inside the Eagan facility. On June 11, 2026, O’Connell observed summer reps and quarterback-room development while guiding Minnesota through another stage of preparation before training camp arrived later that offseason. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.
The Minnesota Vikings are in a drought, and although you may feel it, you may not know the drought’s parameters. The last time the club won a playoff game was seven years ago — the day that Kirk Cousins delivered an overtime touchdown pass to Kyle Rudolph, walking off the New Orleans Saints on the road.
Since then, Minnesota has visited the postseason twice and won nothing.
O’Connell’s January Test Is Now Impossible to Ignore
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell warms up with the team at U.S. Bank Stadium before a home matchup against Cincinnati, staying active as players move through pregame work. On Sep. 21, 2025, O’Connell joined the Vikings on the field while Minnesota prepared for another early-season test in front of its home crowd. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images.
Defining the Drought
Remember the year Minnesota drafted Garrett Bradbury? How about Irv Smith Jr. or Alexander Mattison? That was the time it won in the postseason. Here’s the drought by the numbers.
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Vikings’ Longest Droughts, without a Playoff Win, Franchise History:
1) 3,288 Days (1988-1997) 2) 3,031 (1961-1969) 3) 2,920 Days (2009-2017) 4) 2,376 Days (Now) 5) 2,213 Days (1976-1982) 6) 1,834 Days (2004-2009)
The Vikings came somewhat close to a playoff dub in 2022 but ultimately lost at home to Daniel Jones and the New York Giants.
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Vikings Never Have ‘Bad’ Seasons Anymore
Why does the lack of playoff wins in Minnesota since 2019 not feel like an utter outrage? Well, the Vikings aren’t quite exactly bottom feeders like the New York Jets or the Arizona Cardinals as of late. They’re always relevant, right there in the mix for the postseason. Even when the purple team teeters on the brink of a lost season, it finds a way to salvage the campaign by making it interesting, usually by tallying at least seven wins.
In fact, the Vikings haven’t completed a season with less than seven wins since 2013 — the end of the Christian Ponder experiment.
There’s also the every-other-year theory in play. Have a look:
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2014 Vikings: Average
2015 Vikings: Good
2016 Vikings: Average
2017 Vikings: Good
2018 Vikings: Average
2019 Vikings: Good
2020 Vikings: Average
2021 Vikings: Average
2022 Vikings: Good
2023 Vikings: Average
2024 Vikings: Good
2025 Vikings: Average
Except for 2020 and 2021, Minnesota reaches the postseason every two seasons. It never dips too low.
Chances This Year?
If you trust Vegas’s opinion, the Vikings have a 38% chance of reaching the dance in 2026. Their moneyline is -166.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray speaks with reporters after minicamp practice at TCO Performance Center, discussing his work with quarterbacks coach Josh McCown and his transition into Kevin O’Connell’s offense. On June 9, 2026, Murray offered insight into his early progress, comfort level, and growing command inside Minnesota’s reshaped quarterback room that summer. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.
The team will showcase either Kyler Murray or J.J. McCarthy at quarterback, and from there, the league’s third-best defense per DVOA and EPA/Play will support an offense that contains names like Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Jauan Jennings, T.J. Hockenson, Aaron Jones, and Jordan Mason.
All the roster pieces are intact for a playoff run. The Vikings must conquer two hurdles:
1 | The quarterback must play efficiently — or at least better than last year when the combo of McCarthy, Carson Wentz, and Max Brosmer held the team back. That responsibility figures to fall on Murray.
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2 | The NFC North doesn’t have any buffoonish teams anymore. From top to bottom, the Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions, and Chicago Bears will push for the postseason, and in fact, it will be weird for one or two of those teams not to make it.
USA Today‘s Jack McKessy recently noted on the NFC North, “All four teams also have reason to believe they’ll be even better in 2026. Chicago added key defensive players, and quarterback Caleb Williams will get another year to progress under head coach Ben Johnson.”
“Detroit has a new offensive coordinator after struggling to match the (Ben) Johnson era of scoring prowess under John Morton. The Packers will have a fully healthy Micah Parsons back after the star edge rusher’s knee injury correlated with Green Bay’s four-game losing streak to end the season.”
Hot Seat if Not?
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January is when NFL coaching resumes truly face scrutiny, and for O’Connell, his postseason performance remains a concern. Beyond the postseason, O’Connell’s record is largely impressive. He earned NFL Coach of the Year honors in 2024, and his winning percentage since 2022 ranks fifth in the league.
His teams also exemplify strategic play. Minnesota’s defense leads the NFL in EPA/play during his tenure, and the Vikings have incurred the sixth-fewest penalties. Yes, that indicates a well-disciplined and intelligently coached team.
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell speaks with owner Ziggy Wilf during training camp at TCO Stadium as the organization works through preseason preparation in Eagan. On Aug. 3, 2023, the conversation captured a behind-the-scenes moment between team leadership during an important stretch of roster evaluation and planning before the regular season. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports.
Supporters often highlight the team’s success when O’Connell has a healthy starting quarterback, boasting a 37-15 record in such scenarios. Decent quarterback play translates to positive results.
However, challenges have arisen from the team’s draft record. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s draft misses have created huge roster gaps that O’Connell’s coaching alone has struggled to overcome.
Nevertheless, the team culture is established, and a strong regular season performance has become the expectation. The next obvious hurdle is to achieve postseason success. While O’Connell may not be under immediate pressure, a season of heavy losses could quickly intensify scrutiny and lead to the hot seat.
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The drought must end.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker
Morocco have been eliminated at the quarter-final stage. A respectable run from the African giants, but they fail to recreate their semi-final heroics from 2022. Once again, it’s a 2-0 win for France, much like in the 2022 semi. The likes of Ismael Saibari, Brahim Diaz, Ayyouab Bouaddi and Yassine Bounou had spectacular performances this time around.
Morocco’s quarter-final run proves that they’re going to be a formidable force in world football in years to come.
FOX Sports FIFA World Cup announcer Tyler Terens dissects Team USA’s surprising 4-1 World Cup defeat against Belgium. Terens questions the tactical approach, highlighting the team’s lack of aggression and suggesting the game plan was ‘wrong.’ He emphasizes the disappointing outcome in what was a home tournament for the USMNT.
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It wasn’t the ending Team USA wished for in the Round of 16 loss to Belgium, but a former FIFA World Cup champion believes the collective work this squad did on home soil should be celebrated.
In fact, four years from now when the new World Cup tournament begins, he wouldn’t be shocked if we see the USMNT making their way to its first-ever final.
Christian Karembeu, the French legend who helped the country lift the World Cup trophy in 1998, said “as Europeans,” and as a soccer player himself, the U.S. surprised him in this tournament.
Christian Karembeu is introduced to the crowd during the FIFA World Cup 26 Trophy Tour on May 21, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.(Isaiah Vazquez – FIFA)
“They did surprise us. Nobody expected that they can play like that,” Karembeu told Fox News Digital , while also discussing his partnership with Coca-Cola and FIFA for their “Every Throw-In Counts” initiative. “With speed, with possession at times, and also, the talent you have now.
“I think [head coach Mauricio] Pochettino has done a great job and you need to be proud of Team USA because we didn’t expect that.”
The entire country was rallying behind one of the three host nations, as Mexico and Canada also led the way in hospitality. Karembeu, who participated in the World Cup in 1994 when it was on American soil, has been enthralled by what he called a “successful” tournament thus far.
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But the 4-1 loss to Belgium, which saw some key blunders by the USMNT that led to goals, put a damper on the three wins the U.S. were able to come by in the tournament, including the Round of 32 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Karembeu believes that the loss to Belgium should serve as a lesson for the U.S., as they look ahead to 2030.
Christian Pulisic of the United States is consoled by Mauricio Pochettino, Head Coach of the United States, after being substituted during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between USA and Belgium at Seattle Stadium on July 6, 2026 in Seattle, Washington.(John Dorton/USSF/Getty Images)
“We learn every time, every day, every year. I think that through Pochettino, Team USA has improved a lot,” he explained. “That’s why I said I don’t think it’ll be surprising in the next four years – they’ll be in Morocco, Portugal and Spain – Team USA will maybe go to the final. Because now they have seen what was missing maybe, but I think it was more a lack of experience. Otherwise, they have the potential.”
Leading up to the Belgium match, the USMNT was in headlines around the globe after FIFA decided to invoke Article 27 of its disciplinary code and suspend the red card Folarin Balogun received in the Round of 32, which allowed him to play against Belgium . Many were furious, including the Belgian Football Federation, which released a scathing statement about the situation.
Even President Donald Trump got involved, calling close friend and FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, to ask for a review of the red card.
Some argued it could’ve distracted the U.S. from focusing on the match, but no excuses were made. Pochettino and many others acknowledged their lack of effort and precision in the biggest moment of the tournament.
But again, Karembeu looks at the USMNT with a glass half full.
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“I think you need to focus on the collective result and what they achieved before that. We need to be very focused on what they delivered,” he said.
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker stands with Christian Karembeu and the World Cup trophy during the FIFA World Cup 26 Trophy Tour on May 21, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.(Isaiah Vazquez – FIFA)
The U.S. could have the opportunity to make Karembeu’s prediction come true, but they must first qualify for the World Cup now after getting an automatic bid for being the host country.
EVERY THROW-IN COUNTS AT THE WORLD CUP
Karembeu can’t get enough of Coca-Cola and FIFA’s new fan challenge during this World Cup, where “Every Throw-In Counts” gives fans a way to participate in the tournament beyond what goes down on the pitch.
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With a mixture of soccer, lifestyle and community care activities, the initiative encourages fans around the globe to complete simple, everyday activities, upload photos and score “goals” for chances to win exclusive prizes. From recycling to using public transport, to choosing reusable items, more than 5,000 fans and 34,000 goals have been tallied to date. And there’s still more games to play.
Spain’s Lamine Yamal stars in Coca-Cola and FIFA’s joint initiative, “Every Throw-In Counts,” during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.(Coca-Cola/FIFA)
“It is awesome. It’s fun, simple,” Karembeu said. “Fans embrace it because it is simple. They can play with it with their families. It’s just perfect for everyone.
“I think this is a lesson and model for everyone. Therefore, when you have this great platform for the World Cup tournament, it’s good to share this initiative with the fans. To be responsible and to be sustainable.”
Apr 15, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) leaves the court after being defeated by the Golden State Warriors during the play-in rounds of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
An eventual Toronto homecoming might happen for Kawhi Leonard this summer, but a trade from the Los Angeles Clippers back to the Raptors is on hold while the NBA completes its investigation into allegations of impermissible payments to skirt salary-cap rules and fines.
In September 2025 the NBA said it was looking into the Clippers for potential violations tied to an allegation they used a company, Aspiration, to pay Leonard $28 million. Nothing was asked of Leonard in the “no-show job” which left open concern it was a loophole to pad the amount of guaranteed money the Clippers offered when they signed him as a free agent.
The Raptors, who lost Leonard in that agreement after winning the NBA championship, said in a statement the trade agreed to on June 30 in principle wasn’t off, but the NBA made it clear Toronto “would assume the risk of any potential outcome of the investigation impacting Kawhi.”
“In light of this,” the Raptors said, “we will wait until the league’s investigation is complete.”
The Clippers also confirmed the deal was on hold on Thursday, which brings a trove of roster-related questions and complexities for each franchise.
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Leonard and the Clippers are staying together until the NBA completes the investigation which is 10 months running. The Clippers again denied in a statement Thursday any wrongdoing.
“For the past 10 months, our organization has fully cooperated with an NBA investigation, participating in dozens of interviews, providing tens of thousands of documents, and facilitating access to our staff. While the process has been challenging, we have remained committed to transparency,” the Clippers said in a statement. “On June 30, we reached an agreement in principle to trade Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors. We have since been informed that the trade can only be finalized if the Raptors’ ownership group assumes the risk of penalties related to Kawhi’s contract that could theoretically result from the ongoing investigation. The investigation is ongoing, and we expect the trade to be finalized following its conclusion.
“At the heart of this investigation are Joe Sanberg and Aspiration. We did not funnel money to Kawhi Leonard through Aspiration. Like many sophisticated investors, financial institutions, and business partners, we were victims of a fraud initiated by Sanberg, who has been convicted and sentenced to 14 years in prison.”
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ESPN also reported Thursday afternoon both teams expect the deal to eventually be finalized with punishment for any violations as established by the NBA likely to include monetary fines and loss of draft picks.
Terms of the in-limbo trade had handshake approval on either side with the Clippers receiving All-Star forward Brandon Ingram, third-year guard Gradey Dick, two first-round draft picks, one pick swap and two second-round selections in the deal.
Leonard, who turned 35 on Monday, is a two-time NBA Finals MVP. He led the Raptors past the Golden State Warriors in six games, averaging 28.5 points and 9.8 rebounds in the series that delivered Toronto’s only NBA title to date.
Leonard averaged 26.6 points and 7.3 rebounds in 60 games with Toronto in 2018-19, his lone season with the team before moving on to the Clippers.
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During his seven seasons in Los Angeles, he appeared in only 59.7% of the Clippers’ regular-season games (331 of 554) due to a string of injuries. But Leonard capped his run with his finest season since his 2019-20 debut with the Clippers. He averaged a career-high 27.9 points along with 6.4 rebounds in 65 games to earn seventh place in the league’s Most Valuable Player voting as well as his seventh All-Star Game nod.
That’s because Stevenson has made the decision to sign with Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing, and the four-weight world champion believes that will lead him to becoming the pound-for-pound king.
“Line them up, one by one, and I’ll beat all the top guys once I get them in front of me. With Zuffa Boxing, I’m going to go after the biggest fights in the sport and I will become the number one pound-for-pound fighter in the world.”
Zuffa chief White also spoke out about the acquisition of Stevenson.
“Shakur is one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. He’s 29 years old, undefeated and already a four-division world champion. This is a massive signing for Zuffa Boxing, and I’m looking forward to promoting this next fight.”
Three-weight world champion Haney has been linked to signing with Zuffa in recent months, so it could now pave the way for the two fighters to meet, though ‘The Dream’ would have to vacate his WBO welterweight title in order to avoid a mandatory defence against Keyshawn Davis.
It’s not the game Ben Hogan knew. It’s a modern-day alternative, adapted to an age of simulators, launch monitors, gamified driving ranges and other high-tech platforms.
It also happens to be wildly popular.
Consider these numbers from the National Golf Foundation. Of the 48.1 million Americans who play golf, some 38 million play some form of alt-golf, while roughly 19 million have never even pegged it on an actual course.
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Like traditional golf, alt-golf lends itself to competition. There are tournaments, leagues, long-drive contests and closest-to-the-pin games. Players of every ability take part, from first-timers at Topgolf to Tour pros in TGL.
Unlike traditional golf, however, alt-golf has lacked one of the game’s defining innovations: a common way to measure ability across players of different skill levels.
Until now.
On Thursday, Evenplay, an AI-powered gaming platform, introduced the Evenplay Index, a skill-rating system designed specifically for golfers who play on high-tech platforms.
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Rather than relying on posted scores from rated golf courses, the index evaluates players based on the shots they actually hit. Using data gathered by launch monitors and simulators, the company’s AI analyzes each swing, develops a skill rating on a 1-to-100 scale and then converts that rating into a handicap tailored to whichever platform a golfer is using.
There is no cost to sign up for an Evenplay Index. You get one automatically when you create an account on any of the company’s affiliated high-tech platforms. According to Evenplay, the system can generate a reliable assessment within roughly the first 10 shots — that’s all you need to establish an Index — and continues refining its evaluation as more swings are recorded. Ratings are locked during competitions, preventing players from manipulating their handicaps mid-round. Beware of hustlers, whether they’re hitting into greens or screens.
“The handicap is one of the great inventions in sport, but it was built for posted rounds on rated courses,” said Sameer Gupta, Evenplay’s co-founder. “It was simply never meant to reach the garage sim, the indoor league or the Friday-night bay. The Evenplay Index fixes that — your skill, measured shot by shot, turned into a handicap built for wherever you play. Whether you shoot 72 or 120: game on.”
The launch reflects how dramatically golf’s off-course landscape has evolved.
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The NGF estimates that nearly four out of every five golfers now participate in some form of off-course golf, and millions play exclusively in those settings. Yet only a fraction of all golfers maintain a traditional handicap, which is designed specifically for rounds played on rated courses.
Evenplay isn’t positioning its Index as a replacement for the USGA Handicap Index. Rather, it’s meant to fill a gap by providing a standardized skill measurement for formats the existing system was never intended to cover.
The company also announced a broad list of launch partners, including Full Swing, Golftec, SkyTrak, X-Golf, aboutGolf, Topgolf, Toptracer, Dryvebox, the PGA of America and the Indoor Golf Alliance. Together, Evenplay projects that those partnerships could eventually bring the Index to more than 200,000 simulator bays and practice stations serving tens of millions of golfers.
For Evenplay, the announcement marks an expansion of technology upon which the company was built.
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At its birth in early 2025, Evenplay focused on AI-powered skill-based competitions, allowing simulator golfers to compete for prizes in contests calibrated to their ability. To make those competitions fair, the company built software capable of evaluating players almost immediately and adjusting challenges based on their demonstrated skill.
The Evenplay Index grows out of that same concept, extending it beyond the company’s own competitions into a broader rating system that participating simulator and range operators can adopt.
As off-course golf continues to evolve, the company is betting that a common competitive language — a handicap for the digital age — will become as fundamental indoors as the traditional Handicap Index has long been outdoors.
France’s Kylian Mbappe became the youngest player to reach twenty World Cup appearances. He achieved this milestone at twenty-seven years and two hundred one days old. (AP Photo)
Kylian Mbappe and World Cup records go together like goals and glory and on Thursday night, he added another one to his growing collection.When Mbappe took to the pitch for France’s quarterfinal clash against Morocco in Boston on Thursday, he became the youngest player in history to make 20 appearances at the FIFA World Cup, achieving the milestone at just 27 years and 201 days old. The record had previously belonged to Poland’s Wladislaw Zmuda, who reached 20 World Cup appearances at 28 years and 34 days during the 1986 tournament in Mexico. Mbappe broke it by nearly a year.The timing of the milestone is fitting. Mbappe made his World Cup debut as a 19-year-old at Russia 2018, helping France lift the trophy in a stunning 4-2 final victory over Croatia, becoming the first teenager since Pele to score in a World Cup final in the process. He returned in Qatar 2022, winning the Golden Boot with eight goals despite France’s heartbreaking final defeat to Argentina on penalties. Now in 2026, he arrives at the quarterfinals with seven goals already to his name, sitting just two behind Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot race.Twenty appearances. Three World Cups. One World Cup winner’s medal. And at 27, he has at least two more World Cups ahead of him.The record is not the only one Mbappe holds at this tournament. He has already surpassed Miroslav Klose’s men’s World Cup goals record, becoming only the second player after Messi to score seven or more goals at two different World Cup editions. He is also the only player in history to score three or more knockout-stage goals at three separate World Cups, a feat achieved against Paraguay in the Round of 16.Messi holds the outright record for World Cup appearances with 30, set across six tournaments. Mbappé, with at minimum two editions still ahead of him, has every chance of chasing that number down too.Zmuda played in four World Cups across 12 years to reach his mark. Mbappé reached the same number in three tournaments across eight years.
The start of the PBA Governors’ Cup on Friday will also be the start of the process Jimmy Alapag will have to go through in his new foray as head coach of the NLEX Road Warriors.
Alapag and the Road Warriors take on the guest team Macau Giant Pandas at 7:30 p.m. at the Ynares Center in Antipolo, with the goal of an auspicious debut that could bring some semblance of hope after coming off a Commissioner’s Cup campaign that ended in misery.
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Terrafirma and Titan Ultra formally open the third conference at the 5:15 p.m.
As disappointing as that campaign went when the Road Warriors were ousted in the quarterfinals despite topping the eliminations, Alapag sees that as a good jump-off point.
“I don’t care what happened in the quarterfinals,” he said. “I think it’s important for us, together with the coaching staff, to build on their success in that elimination (round).”
The PBA and Gilas Pilipinas legend takes over from Jong Uichico, who will remain with NLEX as part of the coaching staff, and perhaps help in Alapag’s transition. Alapag stayed in the United States during the last three years and worked as player development coach for the NBA’s Sacramento Kings.
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He has plenty of talent at his disposal, namely MVP candidate Robert Bolick, JB Bahio, L-Jay Gonzales plus import DeQuan Jones, who is back after suiting up for the Road Warriors in last season’s Governors’ Cup.
NLEX takes on a Macau team that is returning for another participation despite a dismal 2-10 record in the Commissioner’s Cup.
The Giant Pandas, formerly known as the Black Knights, will come in with a few familiar names in Damian Chongqui, Jenning Leung and Ramon Cao, but have also tapped Kobey Lam, who had played for the Bay Area Dragons and Hong Kong Eastern.
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Macau’s import is De’Vondre Perry, whose credentials include stints in Germany, Belgium and the Dominican Republic.
Meanwhile, Terrafirma and Titan Ultra try to get their campaigns off on the winning track after their disappointing runs last conference.
Little changes were made by the Giant Risers, with the most notable being the signing of the controversial John Amores to a one-conference deal after his professional license was reinstated by the Games and Amusements Board following a shooting incident two years ago in Laguna.
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Terrafirma, on the other hand, once again has Juami Tiongson on its roster after it shipped Jerrick Ahanmisi and Paolo Hernandez to San Miguel Beer.
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All four teams set to see action in the first twinbill of the conference are in Group A, together with San Miguel, TNT, and Converge. Teams will meet those in their group twice for a 12-game schedule, with the top four advancing to the crossover quarterfinals.
Minnesota Vikings fans look on during the fourth quarter of the team’s matchup with the Baltimore Ravens at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Nov. 9, 2025, scene captured a tense late-game moment in Minneapolis as the home crowd reacted to another Vikings finish inside one of the league’s loudest indoor venues. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
Because the Minnesota Vikings don’t have a singular announced quarterback for 2026, they don’t have total stability at the position — or so goes the theory, according to NFL writer Steve Silverman.
Silverman outlined how the Vikings’ quarterback position is suspect heading into 2026, comparing Minnesota to its division peers, the Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions, and Chicago Bears, who have exactly zero questions at quarterback.
Silverman Says Minnesota’s Ceiling Rests on QB1
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy and Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray appear in separate team settings, linking quarterbacks central to Minnesota’s 2026 competition. On Jan. 4, 2026, McCarthy warmed up before facing Green Bay in Minneapolis, while Murray appeared during Arizona’s Sept. 25, 2025, game against Seattle in Glendale. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images and Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.
Silverman: It’s Quarterback Trouble for Vikings
Silverman explained his theory this week, “The other three teams in the NFC North know who their starting quarterbacks will be but the Vikings don’t. The Chicago Bears found their quarterback a year ago when Caleb Williams came through in his second season led the team to the division title.”
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“The Packers are secure in knowing Jordan Love is coming off an excellent season in which he had a 23-6 TD-interception ratio and led his team to the playoffs again. The Lions have Jared Goff under center as that team attempts to regain its stature after a disappointing 2025 season.”
Most Vikings are thrilled that the team stumbled upon Kyler Murray for $1.3 million in free agency and aren’t deathly afraid of quarterback optionality.
Silverman concluded, “That’s a problem that the Vikings will have to overcome, and it could turn out to be a season-long weak link. The ideal situation would have Murray asserting himself and demonstrating his excellence from Day 1. The locker room will be at risk if the Vikings struggle at the start.”
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Maybe … Murray Will Just Be Good?
There’s just one problem with Silverman’s theory: the Vikings may not have quarterback instability. While the mystery over who will prevail at quarterback exists this summer, Murray could show up in Week 1 and look the part. After all, he’s a -770 favorite per sportsbooks to win the job from J.J. McCarthy at training camp.
The plan is not for the Vikings to debate the starting quarterback each week in September, October, November, and beyond. It’s to pick a winner this summer and start that man for the entire 2026 regular season.
Silverman’s argument will be useless if Murray thrives as the Vikings’ QB1. Nobody will care that he won the job in a training camp battle. Remember when Daniel Jones won the QB1 job in Indianapolis last season? No Colts fans debated weekly whether Anthony Richardson or Jones would start.
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Murray can win the Vikings’ QB1 job and make it his own.
The Sam Darnold Example — and Mistake
There’s also precedent for this. Two years ago, Minnesota signed Darnold to pair with McCarthy, then a rookie, and after McCarthy tore his meniscus in the preseason, Darnold fully assumed QB1 duty. How did he respond? He threw for 35 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, with 4,319 passing yards, before collapsing in the season’s final two games.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold watches the TGL match between Jupiter Links GC and Atlanta Drive GC at SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens. On March 4, 2025, Darnold attended the indoor golf event during the NFL offseason while remaining one of Minnesota’s most recognizable players. Mandatory Credit: Greg Lovett-Palm Beach Post / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.
Because Minnesota had McCarthy ready and waiting, the Vikings let Darnold leave in free agency, allowing the Seattle Seahawks to sign him and go on to win a Super Bowl 11 months later. If Darnold could put together a remarkable season in Minnesota, Murray can too.
There’s also the Baker Mayfield example. In 2023, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers took a flyer on him in free agency, signing him cheaply to see if he had QB1 juice left in the tank. He did — and now he’s the Buccaneers’ established starter.
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Neither of these examples is far-fetched for Murray.
Good News: The Rest of the Roster Is Sweet
Pretend that Silverman is on to something, and a quarterback competition equals vertigo at the position, unlike Minnesota’s NFC North peers. It won’t mean the Vikings are cooked.
Brian Flores’s defense remains formidable, ranking third in the league last year per DVOA and EPA/Play. The group welcomed newcomers like Caleb Banks, Domonique Orange, Jake Golday, and James Pierre this offseason, while losing Jonathan Greenard via trade. With Flores in charge, the defense should remain a force.
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Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell speaks with reporters at TCO Performance Center after an organized team activities session, offering updates on the roster and offseason progress for the upcoming season. On June 4, 2026, O’Connell discussed the quarterback competition and Minnesota’s development as preparations continued in Eagan before training camp later that summer. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.
Offensively, Murray — or McCarthy if he pulls off the upset — will have weapons galore, including Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, T. J. Hockenson, Jordan Mason, and Aaron Jones. An offensive line of Christian Darrisaw, Donovan Jackson, Blake Brandel, Will Fries, and Brian O’Neill should also have the personnel to rank in the NFL’s Top 15.
Meanwhile, the Vikings employ an All-Pro kicker in Will Reichard. And that’s all on top of a head coach whose winning percentage ranks fifth-best in the NFL since he came aboard in 2022.
Silverman delivers a fair point, but it won’t matter if Murray wins the QB1 job and establishes himself right away in September.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker
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