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Sports

Lionel Messi scores 20th career World Cup goal, extends streak

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2 hours ago

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MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Lionel Messi has scored again, making Friday’s contest against Cape Verde the record-extending eighth consecutive World Cup match in which Argentina’s captain has delivered at least one goal.

Messi’s goal in the 29th minute against Cape Verde was the 20th of his World Cup career, extending his record and moving him two goals ahead of France’s Kylian Mbappé on the all-time list.

Messi has seven goals in this year’s tournament — one more than Mbappé in the race for the Golden Boot as the top scorer of this World Cup — and has scored 12 times in his last eight World Cup matches.

“For me, it represents a lot to be friends with him,” said Rodrigo De Paul, Messi’s teammate with both Argentina and Inter Miami. “For me, friendship is one of the most important things that we all have and I consider myself fortunate to be there, to share these moments with him.”

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Messi had the game’s first good chance Friday, his all-world left foot sending a shot skidding across the goal mouth but outside of the right post in the 15th minute. After getting taken down, he had a 25-yard free kick three minutes later that was easily gobbled up by Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha.

But the momentum was shifting, and before long, Messi broke through for a 1-0 lead. He timed his run perfectly on a ball played into the box to stay onside, controlled the pass and then lifted a shot over Vozinha’s left shoulder from close range.

Messi and Mbappé are far from being the only contenders in the Golden Boot race: Norway’s Erling Haaland and England’s Harry Kane each have five goals entering Friday, while four players — France’s Ousmane Dembele, Spain’s Mikel Oyarzabal, Brazil’s Vinícius Júnior and Senegal’s Ismaila Sarr — have four. Sarr is out of the running since Senegal has been eliminated.

Norway, England and France have all clinched spots in the Round of 16; Argentina and Messi, the Inter Miami star who is widely considered the greatest player ever, would join them in that round with a win over Cape Verde.

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Messi has never won the Golden Boot. He finished second with seven goals at the 2022 World Cup, one behind Mbappé, and tied for third with four goals at the 2014 World Cup.

If there’s a tie atop the goal list when the tournament ends, FIFA will use assists as the first tiebreaker and fewest minutes played as the second tiebreaker. Entering Friday, that meant Mbappé would have the edge over Messi based on his 2-0 lead in assists.

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Sports

Game #88: Marlins at A’s Game Thread

Published

10 minutes ago

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4 July 2026

By

Tonight, the Athletics kick off a three-game Independence Day weekend series against the Miami Marlins, who have been arguably the hottest team in baseball, as evidenced by their MLB-best 20-6 record in June. After dropping two of three games against the Los Angeles Dodgers earlier this week, the A’s will look to bounce back against the Marlins in the second and final series of the team’s latest homestand.

Earlier today, the “Green and Gold” shook up their bullpen, activating Mark Leiter Jr. off the injured list and welcoming back Jose Suarez from the paternity list. The team made room in its bullpen by designating right-handed reliever Geoff Hartlieb and left-hander Matt Krook for assignment. The two journeymen relievers will likely either clear waivers and remain in the organization, most likely at Triple-A Las Vegas, or be claimed by another club.

While Leiter Jr. and Suarez could see action out of the bullpen, they will follow right-hander Jack Perkins, who gets the start for the A’s in the series opener. Perkins enters his 23rd game and sixth start of the season with a 2-3 record, a 6.00 ERA, a 1.33 WHIP and 62 strikeouts across 51 innings.

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The 26-year-old delivered his best start of the season in his most recent outing, holding the Los Angeles Angels to two runs on four hits over five innings. Despite pitching well, he received a fourth straight no-decision. Perkins will aim to change that this evening as he chases his first win since April. He will need to keep the ball on the ground, avoid giving up the long ball and work efficiently on the mound.

Here’s the A’s lineup for tonight’s matchup:

This is one of the most interesting lineups the Athletics have used this season. Their two likely All-Stars sit atop the order, with first baseman Nick Kurtz leading off after catcher Shea Langeliers hit first in the A’s previous game.

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The middle of the lineup features several players in unfamiliar spots. Slumping right fielder Lawrence Butler will hit third, rather than his usual position closer to the bottom of the order. An injury to starting left fielder Tyler Soderstrom has opened up everyday playing time for Colby Thomas, who gets a rare chance to face a right-handed starter. Designated hitter Carlos Cortes has seen limited action lately amid a prolonged slump at the plate.

For the hosts to emerge victorious, they will need offensive production from these three players, as well as rookies Joshua Kuroda-Grauer and Henry Bolte. Kuroda-Grauer, making his fourth straight start, looks to build on his strong 5-for-11 start to his MLB career.

The A’s offense will face Marlins right-hander Tyler Phillips, who enters his 23rd game and seventh start with a 1-3 record, a 3.02 ERA, a 1.31 WHIP and 50 strikeouts over 65 2/3 innings. The 28-year-old recorded his first MLB win against the A’s when he was on the Phillies in 2024. Last year, Phillips threw three scoreless innings when the “Green and Gold” faced the Marlins in Miami.

The right-hander comes into this outing full of momentum after a 7 1/3-inning, two-run performance in a losing effort against the St. Louis Cardinals. In his start before that, Phillips held the Texas Rangers to two runs over six innings. If Miami’s starter continues pitching this well, the A’s may have trouble scoring runs tonight. However, he could be prone to a letdown outing, especially in the hitter-friendly confines of the A’s home ballpark.

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And the Marlins’ starting nine this evening:

The Marlins’ offense contrasts with how the Athletics and many other teams operate. Miami scores much of its runs through speed and small ball rather than home runs. Liam Hicks and Kyle Stowers provide the power, while the middle-infield duo of Otto Lopez and Xavier Edwards supply on-base ability and speed.

As a result, Perkins must pitch carefully and avoid leaving pitches over the middle of the plate. His battery mate, Langeliers, will need to help him control the running game and throw out potential base stealers.

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Time to start this series on the right foot with a Friday night win. Let’s go A’s!

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Titans’ Jeffery Simmons makes his feelings known about Cam Ward after failed rookie year

Published

23 minutes ago

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4 July 2026

By

Jeffery Simmons had a front-row seat as Cam Ward started his NFL career with the Tennessee Titans. The All-Pro defensive tackle played 15 games in Ward’s rookie campaign.

Simmons sat down with Terron Armstead on “The Set” and made his feelings known about the Miami Hurricanes product. The host asked,

“What did you see from him (Cam Ward) in his rookie year? What would you like to see from him moving forward?”

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Simmons replied,

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“We know it comes with being the number one overall pick. I see and see the work continuously from Cam.

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“From every day being the first one at the building. To see them type of things, you can feel and you can tell the will that he really wanna be the best he could be.

“The presence that he bring and the energy that Cam bring is rubbing off, continuing to rub off on the offense. And I’m excited for it.”

Cam Ward had a rough rookie year that saw him muster a stat line of 3,169 passing yards, 15 touchdowns, and seven interceptions.. The 2025 No. 1 pick led the Titans to just three wins, marking their fourth straight losing season.

What’s next for Jeffery Simmons and Cam Ward?

Jeffery Simmons is gearing up for his eighth season with the Titans. The Titans selected him in the first round of the 2019 NFL draft.

Simmons is one of the team’s best defensive players, and he’s earned one first-team All-Pro selection, two second-team All-Pro nods and four Pro Bowl invitations. He’s fresh off his maiden first-team All-Pro selection after racking up 67 total tackles (39 solo), 11.0 sacks, three forced fumbles, and 21 quarterback hits in 15 games.

Cam Ward has loads of room for improvement ahead of Year 2. The promising signal-caller was regularly tracked down by opposing pass rushers, and he scored just two rushing touchdowns.

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Jeffery Simmons and Cam Ward will look to inspire the Titans to their first playoff appearance since 2021. The Titans last reached the postseason in the Mike Vrabel and Derrick Henry era. They’ll look to end that painful drought in the upcoming campaign.