Argentina’s Lionel Messi reacts after losing to Spain in the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

Ángel Di María has urged Lionel Messi not to retire from international football following Argentina’s heartbreaking defeat to Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, insisting the captain should continue representing his country for “many more years” despite another painful ending on football’s biggest stage.Spain claimed their second men’s World Cup title with a 1-0 extra-time victory at the New York New Jersey Stadium after substitute Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in the 106th minute. The defeat ended Argentina’s hopes of retaining the trophy they won in Qatar four years earlier and immediately shifted attention toward Messi’s international future.At 39, Messi has yet to confirm whether he intends to continue playing for Argentina.

While the 2026 tournament is widely expected to have been his final World Cup, his future beyond that remains uncertain.Di María, who retired from international football after helping Argentina win the 2024 Copa América, believes there should be no pressure on his longtime teammate to step away.

Di María wants Messi to keep playing

Speaking to TNT Sports, Di María said Messi alone should decide when his international career comes to an end.“Yes, Leo should continue for as long as he wants,” Di María said. “I think he can keep going for many more years.”The former Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Benfica winger argued that Messi’s performances throughout the World Cup proved age has done little to diminish his influence.“At 39 years old, he’s proven he’s one of the best and still the best in history, with no ceiling.”Although Argentina ultimately fell short in the final, Messi once again carried much of the creative burden for Lionel Scaloni’s side during the tournament.He finished the World Cup with eight goals and four assists, leading Argentina back to a second consecutive final after inspiring several decisive performances throughout the knockout rounds.

Heartbreak in the final does not define Argentina’s campaign

Argentina’s title defence came to an end after Torres capitalised in the second period of extra time, shortly after Enzo Fernández had been sent off in stoppage time of normal time following a second yellow card.Reduced to 10 men, Argentina were unable to find an equaliser as Spain’s control of possession eventually translated into the goal that settled the final.Despite the disappointment, Di María believes the campaign should be remembered for much more than the defeat in New Jersey.He singled out Argentina’s dramatic 2-1 semi-final victory over England as one of the defining moments of the tournament.“The win over England was a great joy for all of Argentina, and this was clear and made me very happy,” he said.“I am grateful to everyone in the Argentina squad forever.”Reflecting on the team’s journey, Di María praised the resilience shown by Scaloni’s players throughout the competition.“I suffered in every match, but the players found the strength within themselves and it led them to victories.”“Sometimes you win finals and sometimes luck is not on your side, but they raised the name of the national team high.”The 38-year-old even suggested that, emotionally, Argentina had already delivered a lasting memory before reaching the final.“For me, the World Cup ended when Argentina beat England,” he said. “They gave the country an indescribable joy.”

Di María also backs Scaloni to continue

Messi is not the only senior figure whose future has come under discussion following the tournament.Speculation has also surrounded head coach Lionel Scaloni after Argentina narrowly missed out on back-to-back World Cup titles, but Di María hopes the manager remains in charge to guide the next generation.“I hope he continues for everyone’s benefit, as there is a good generation of young players seeking glory,” Di María said.“He will know what he wants, but I hope he stays.”

Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni leaves the pitch after the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

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Argentina’s squad still features a blend of experienced leaders and emerging talent capable of competing for future honours, making continuity an attractive option as preparations eventually begin for the next major international cycle.

Messi yet to reveal his next international decision

Messi has largely stayed out of the spotlight since the final defeat and has not publicly addressed whether he intends to continue playing for Argentina.His immediate focus is expected to shift back to club football with Inter Miami as the MLS season resumes, while another World Cup appears highly unlikely given his age.The 2028 Copa América, however, remains a realistic possibility should Messi decide to extend his international career.For Di María, the message is simple: as long as Messi continues producing performances like those seen throughout the 2026 World Cup, there is no reason to place an artificial deadline on one of the greatest international careers football has ever seen.

With Ciaron Maher preparing Gringotts for a potential third consecutive Big Dance victory, a stablemate that ran behind him in the $3 million feature last year is slated to conclude its season on a winning note at Randwick.

Gringotts, making his first public appearance since finishing fourth to the burgeoning talent Sheza Alibi in the Doncaster Mile (1600m) in April, ran second in a Gosford barrier trial on Wednesday.

“The trial couldn’t have been any better. He seems to have come back very well,” said Jo Gerard-Dubord, Maher’s assistant trainer.

“He will have a second trial and at this stage we’re likely to start him in the Winx Stakes and work towards the Big Dance.

“He’s won it for the last two years, and he will get the same weight.”

Lugh, who finished third behind Gringotts and fellow stablemate Vivy Air in the 2025 Big Dance (1600m), will compete at the mile distance for the first time since then in Saturday’s ATC Thank You Trainers Handicap (1600m).

Benefiting from two recent starts – a third place first-up over 1300m behind Cool Jakey and a fourth in his last outing over 1400m behind Mickey’s Medal – Lugh is anticipated to be a strong contender.

“The other day he just raced like a horse who wants further,” Gerard-Dubord commented.

“When they picked up and quickened, he looked like he was going to drop off, then late he was coming back again.

“With the extra run under his belt and stepping up to a mile, he’s ready to run a big race.”

Still relatively inexperienced, Lugh has a record of five wins from 11 starts. Gerard-Dubord noted that connections are keen to have him back at Randwick for a feature race on Melbourne Cup day later this year.

“I’d love to get him to a Big Dance or Little Dance. He’s a gelding and he’s got a rating where he can get into those big prizemoney races,” he expressed.

The stable will also present Rock Empire in the same race. This gelding is making its debut for the yard after a closing sixth over 1200m at Rosehill on July 4.

Despite a considerable increase of 400m in distance due to a lack of suitable options, Gerard-Dubord reported that Rock Empire is fit and pleasing the team at its home base.

Considering the racing odds for Lugh in the ATC Thank You Trainers Handicap? Discover the top Australian betting sites for your bets.

After tears in Paris, tears again in Glasgow.

It leaves even the great Adam Ramsay-Peaty wondering how much of this is worth it.

“I work a lot harder than what it says on the scoreboard,” the Englishman said after taking 100m breaststroke bronze at the Commonwealth Games, his eyes and cheeks red with emotion.

“It hurts too much. I have got to approach training differently now because it hurts too much.”

Ramsay-Peaty has done it all in this sport.

Three Olympic gold medals. Eight world titles. The 14 fastest times in history.

But after taking a break from swimming amid a wave of mental health issues in 2023, he is still searching for that winning feeling again on the big stage.

He was pipped to Olympic gold in Paris two years ago. In Glasgow, despite coming into the final as the fastest qualifier, he had to settle for bronze.

He was beaten by Australia’s Sam Williamson but also Jersey’s history-maker Filip Nowacki, the 18-year-old he has taken under his wing.

Ramsay-Peaty was third at halfway and could not close the gap.

“It took a lot of courage to get back into the sport, so we should be happy with everything we get, but then that contradicts the athlete inside me and what I work for,” he said.

“I just think I deserve more. I know sport isn’t about what you deserve or even what you work for – it’s who gets it on the day.

“I just know I’m a better athlete than that. It’s very disappointing.”

Ramsay-Peaty has spoken about the difficult decisions that come with being an elite athlete. The time away from his son, whom he held in his arms after the Paris silver. The events at home he has to miss.

“They are not even sacrifices; they are choices,” he said.

“It’s like getting knocked out in the group stages in the World Cup for a very good team. You know you’re better and it hurts because you know you have to wait for a very long time for the next championships.

“This is probably – realistically – my last Commonwealth Games and I thought I’d trained for better. I could do better. I’ve been faster this season. That’s where the frustration is.”

Ramsay-Peaty has made no secret of the fact he is still competing in the quest for Olympic gold.

He considered retirement again after Paris, but committed to another four years when the 50m race was added to programme for Los Angeles 2028.

This 100m breaststroke is his event – the one in which he went unbeaten in eight years – but there may be a time when he has to let it go.

The 50m race – a dash down one length of the pool – would be less taxing on the body, and Ramsay-Peaty is due back in the pool for that event on Sunday morning.

“Is the 100 even viable any more? I don’t know,” he said.

“When it hurts like this, the 50 is probably my super strength with my power.

“With the Olympics, that’s probably going to be more realistic, but it’s too early to tell.

“I just feel like I couldn’t have given more this cycle. If I had given less, would it have even equalled more?”

Given the emotion, there are times you wonder how close Ramsay-Peaty is to walking away entirely.

He appeared to walk to the edge but always turned back, insisting the drive for LA remains.

“Of course,” he said.

“I know I’m a sprinter. I know I can do very well because I’ve done it. It doesn’t disappear overnight.

“It requires me to look at the formula and see how I can get to that speed again.”

Jockey Luke Currie is actively seeking to leverage every opportunity available since his return from an overseas holiday and a recent change in his management.

Currie had a limited schedule at the Sandown meeting on Wednesday, securing a win with the impressive French Accord and a second-place finish. He is slated to ride in two races at Caulfield this Saturday.

One of his mounts is the Nick Ryan-trained Winnasedge in the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m). Currie had previously guided Winnasedge to victory in the Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on July 11, his second day back in the saddle.

“I’ve just changed manager and it can take time,” Currie commented. “You get a relationship with your manager, and they have relationships with racing managers for stables, and coming back from holidays is always hard. You have a week off, and people forget about you.”

While current times may present some challenges, Currie is looking forward to once again partnering with Winnasedge on Saturday.

After winning over 1100m in June, Winnasedge followed up two weeks later with a victory in the Sir John Monash Stakes.

Currie rode Winnasedge early in its career and believed the galloper possessed considerable ability.

“I thought he was going to be a really nice horse,” Currie stated. “He was a bit hot and did a few things wrong, but he had a huge turn of foot, and I think each preparation he has just changed himself a bit and is a bit more adaptable now.”

“Nick told me last time that he was the fit horse as there were a few horses that were coming back,” he added. “His level seems to be rising, and I think he ticks a few boxes going into this and if he gets it right, he’s going to have a good chance on Saturday.”

With four of its six wins recorded over 1100 metres, this distance appears to be Winnasedge’s preferred trip. However, the sprinter has a 1200-metre win at Caulfield to its credit, and Currie is confident the increased distance will not be an issue on Saturday.

“The 1100 (metres) is probably his sweet spot, but from where he’s drawn (five), he’s got the speed to land in a nice spot,” Currie explained. “I wouldn’t think he has to get back as far as he did the other day, especially over 1200 (metres). I think he’s a beautiful ride.”

Consider betting sites with sign-up bonus in Australia for the Bletchingly Stakes.

For months, Bendigo-based trainer Tim Fitzsimmons has been meticulously planning an assault on one of the final Stakes races scheduled for the Australian racing calendar this season.

The upcoming Listed Lightning Stakes (1050m) at Morphettville is one of three races across the nation that carries ‘Black Type’ prestige. It shares this distinction with the Listed H G Bolton Sprint (1200m) held at Belmont and the Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.

Fitzsimmons is en route to Morphettville with Yuuki, a filly who has achieved two victories from nine career starts. She will compete in a set-weights race specifically for two and three-year-old participants.

Yuuki clinched her maiden win at Swan Hill three starts ago, subsequently adding another triumph at Seymour before her last outing. On June 7, at Swan Hill, she finished sixth behind the highly regarded Cruiserweight.

To ensure optimal readiness for Saturday’s event, Yuuki completed a 700m jump-out at Bendigo on July 14, emerging victorious.

“She’s going really well,” Fitzsimmons stated.

“She didn’t have much luck at her last start when she was four-wide with no cover at Swan Hill, but that has proven to be a pretty strong form race with Cruiserweight coming out and winning and her form was pretty hard to fault before that.

“She’s always run into a good one. Point Barrow, then Celtics and Cruiserweight and even the horse she beat in her maiden, Scoobartie, has come out and won two convincingly.

“She’s drawn wide, which is a pain, but we’re hoping for a bit more rain as she loves it with a bit of sting out.

“We’re chasing some ‘Black Type’ as the owner wants to breed with her eventually and this has been a long-range plan. We planned this race six months ago.

“Hopefully we can get a nice run from that gate, and it seems at Morphettville they do get away from the fence, so hopefully it’s not the worst place to be.”

The riding duties for Yuuki, along with Fitzsimmons’s stablemates Olatunde and Blazing Sword, have been entrusted to Queensland-based jockey Kyle Wilson-Taylor.

Fitzsimmons explained his rationale for securing a dedicated rider for his trio, particularly for Yuuki in the day’s main race.

“We asked Michael Rodd who came to Albury for us earlier on, but he couldn’t make it,” Fitzsimmons shared.

“We used Kyle when I was in Singapore and he came up and rode Golden Monkey, so there’s that connection.

“I like the way he rides, he’s a patient rider, and he jumped at the opportunity, so it was good to lock someone in early and not have to worry about it.”

Ready to place a wager on the Lightning Stakes? Compare betting markets for the race at leading Australian bookmakers.

True to his word, Kyler Murray has been putting in work during the summer break.

National NFL reporter Jordan Schultz passed along the news: “#Vikings QB Kyler Murray and WR Jordan Addison have been working out together for the past 2 months in Dallas. Both players reported to Minnesota early this week to prepare for the start of training camp, with hopes of a big year ahead.”

Kyler Murray Works Out with Jordan Addison

Check out the video of the passes:

Obviously, these videos are going to build hype. A football-starved cluster of fans is eager for training camp to begin. Seeing the probable QB1 throwing with the probable WR2 therefore functions as the spark for some ultra-dry, easily-ignited wood.

But then there’s another reality that needs to be considered: these guys are throwing in shorts and shirts.

Both of Murray and Addison are elite athletes, meaning they’ll easily look great in this sort of environment. If you ever get the chance, go to a game early to watch NFL athletes warm up. Even the NFL’s worst athletes are elite in essentially any other context. They all move with some combination of elegance and explosiveness when there’s zero resistance.

What happens, though, when there is resistance? Putting on pads and getting walloped by opponents who are working to feed their families does make moving around considerably more difficult.

At the very least, Mr. Addison should be very good. He has proven capable of taking the top off a defense while also being somebody who can score a pile of touchdowns. All that has been missing so far in his still-young career has been consistent quarterback play and an ability to stay out of trouble off the field. Playing a full seventeen games could very plausibly lead to clearing 1,000 yards and scoring 10 touchdowns.

Working with Kyler Murray helps Addison to build chemistry to reach heights that have so far eluded him.

Murray’s arrival in the Twin Cities is a reality that carries significant debate.

Some see upside aplenty. Few, if any, are so gifted as Kyler Murray, the No. 1 selection from the 2019 NFL Draft who never had a competent team around him. Journeying to Minnesota should involve getting the support he has needed all along.

Those who have a more pessimistic outlook will note the clunky scheme fit. Worse yet, Murray has battled injury in his career alongside questions about his commitment to the game. How do these criticisms show up as a Vikings quarterback, if at all?

Moreover, there’s the presence of J.J. McCarthy. Chosen at No. 10 in 2024, McCarthy inspires love and hate. Some view him as a snake bitten young fella who needs a fairer shot. Others see him as a bust after a pair of injury-filled seasons and very poor play when he did get onto the field.

Murray’s presence alongside McCarthy can be understood as the plan to get a new QB1, to challenge the true QB1 to elevate, or some combination.

The Vikings will welcome rookies to TCO Performance Center tomorrow. There will then be the veterans getting to work on Tuesday. Soon enough, there will be football being played in Minnesota.

Kyler Murray, 28, has completed a sizzling 67.1% of his career passes.

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

NEW DELHI: Ishan Kishan was the undisputed star with the bat as India sealed the T20I series against Zimbabwe on Saturday, but it was a comical run-out miss behind the stumps that had social media buzzing long after the final ball.

The wicketkeeper-batter, who smashed a brilliant 81 off 44 deliveries to earn the Player of the Match award, became the centre of attention for an amusing fielding lapse during Zimbabwe’s chase. Kishan later saw the funny side of the incident, joking about it during the post-match presentation.

The viral moment came in the 15th over when Zimbabwe’s Tadiwanashe Marumani nudged the ball towards deep backward point. A mix-up between the batters left both stranded near the bowler’s end, presenting India with what appeared to be a straightforward run-out opportunity.

However, Kishan casually underarmed the throw towards the stumps, seemingly believing the batter had already made his ground. The throw neither hit the stumps nor reached Ravi Bishnoi for a backup attempt, allowing Zimbabwe to escape.

Realising what had happened, Kishan immediately placed his hand on his head with a sheepish grin as teammates and fans were left in disbelief.

WATCH: Ishan Kishan’s run out miss

Anthony Joshua looks to clear the final hurdle ahead of a long-awaited clash with Tyson Fury as he takes on Kristian Prenga in Saudi Arabia.

‘AJ’ will compete in his first significant bout under the coaching of Team Oleksandr Usyk after his event with Jake Paul last year. The fight also marks his return following a tragic car crash in Nigeria, which killed two of his closest friends, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele.

In the opposite corner is Albania’s Prenga, who has 20 knockouts from 20 wins and just one defeat, but has fought nowhere near this level. The 35-year-old is seen very much as a warm-up for Fury – a fight that could be finalised and announced as early as next week if ‘AJ’ does the business.

Stay with Boxing News for a live scorecard and final fight result.

Anthony Joshua vs Kristian Prenga live scorecard

This is a Boxing News live scorecard and not the official score from the judges.

Anthony Joshua vs Kristian Prenga fight result

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