Sports
Pogacar wins Tour de France 14th stage to extend overall lead
Tadej Pogacar won an “unforgettable” mountainous 14th stage of the Tour de France amidst huge crowds in the Vosges on Saturday to extend his lead over Jonas Vingegaard to four-and-a-half minutes.
It was the world champion’s fourth stage win in this 113th edition of the Grande Boucle as his team-mate Isaac Del Toro pipped teenager Paul Seixas to second place, with Vingegaard fourth at the end of the 155km stage from Mulhouse to Le Markstein Fellering.
“I must say thanks to all the fans that came to the side of the road, it was really something unforgettable,” the 27-year-old Slovenian said.
“To see all the crowds on the hills, over the mountain… I (have) never seen something like this.
“All the riders, we have such a massive respect towards each other.
“I think we all put on a great show. It’s nice to see this kind of racing.”
Four-time champion Pogacar had already stamped his authority on this Tour in the previous mountain stages but once again he emphasised his superiority with another devastating late attack.
This was his 25th Tour stage victory in total since his debut in 2020.
Read morePogacar wins Tour de France 10th stage in Bastille Day showdown
Behind him, the battle for the minor placings produced some thrills.
Frenchman Seixas took four bonus seconds on the line, 38sec after Pogacar, which proved enough to move him up to fourth in the overall standings, and strip Spaniard Juan Ayuso of the best young rider’s white jersey — but only by three seconds.
Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel held onto third place overall after finished strongly to come home only four seconds behind Vingegaard despite having been the first of the top seven contenders to be dropped on the final climb, the 11.2km-long Col du Haag.
He leads Seixas by just 15 seconds in the final podium position.
But the gap between Vinegegaard in second overall and Del Toro in seventh is now just 1:20, with Evenepoel’s Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe team-mate Florian Lipowitz in sixth.
Inevitable attack
A group of more than 30 riders went on the attack from the opening climb of the stage, the 21.5km-long Grand Ballon — the big ball, so named for the rounded shape of its summit.
But by the summit, six riders had detached themselves from the group and four of them would stay out in front until the Col du Haag.
The rest were swallowed up by the peloton led by Pogacar’s UAE Emirates-XRG team on the Ballon d’Alsace climb in inclement weather alternating between warm sunshine and heavy showers — a welcome change from the heatwave that made the opening 10 days of the race so gruelling.
The six stretched out a maximum lead of three minutes, but UAE kept that leash well under control.
Irishman Ben Healy was the first rider to drop out of the break before Norwegian Anders Johannessen, whose twin brother Tobias remained, did likewise.
By the foot of the final climb, the four leaders had a gap of about 1:20 over a peloton of around 35 riders.
Johannessen and Richard Carapaz dropped their two companions within a kilometre of the start of the climb but an acceleration by Vingegaard saw them caught 2.5km from the summit.
Pogacar then launched his inevitable winning move 1.5km from the top, with only a fast 6km run to the finish line after that.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
Jul 19, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells (28) and relief pitcher David Bednar (53) celebrate after defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images The New York Yankees would like to be more consistent at the plate but are confident in a tight game when David Bednar is on the mound.
The Yankees certainly felt good about Bednar on Sunday night when they eked out a home win over the Los Angeles Dodgers. They hope there are situations this week to use him against his former team starting Monday in the opener of a three-game series against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates.
New York is 2-9 in its 11 home games after getting a tiebreaking homer from Jazz Chisholm Jr. in the eighth inning of a 2-1 victory in the second game of Sunday’s doubleheader against the Dodgers.
“We got to be more consistent offensively, first and foremost,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said after his team stranded 11 runners in the win. “That’s been the biggest thing that I think has kind of ailed us through these few weeks.”
The Yankees earned the win thanks to Bednar, who recorded the final five outs.
Entering the series against the team which dealt him to the Yankees at last season’s trade deadline, Bednar is on a career-best 20 2/3 inning scoreless streak in his past 17 outings. During those games, opponents are hitting .103, and it is the longest active streak in the big leagues.
“I faced Bednar a lot in my career before coming over here and I always thought he was a really good pitcher,” Chisholm said. “His stuff is really lights out. Combined with the way that he has just great composure every time he goes out there and trusts his stuff, it’s amazing.”
The Pirates are 8-3 in their past 11 games after Sunday’s 7-1 win at Cleveland. Pittsburgh has scored at least five runs eight times in that span, and is hoping it can do enough at the plate to avoid facing Bednar, who notched 101 saves in five seasons before the trade. Among the key figures for Pittsburgh’s surge at the plate is rookie Esmeryln Valdez, whose two-run homer in the ninth inning was his 12th in 31 games.
Valdez also has an RBI in seven straight games and 20 RBIs this month.
“It’s the professionalism of the at-bats,” Pittsburgh manager Don Kelly said. “He’s not going up there necessarily trying to hit the home runs. He’s going up there to hit, and he’s got the power to leave anywhere in the yard. It’s been really impressive what he’s been able to do in such a short amount of time.”
The right-handed hitting Valdez is hitting .371 off left-handed pitching. He will face New York southpaw Ryan Weathers (3-7, 4.15 ERA), who is allowing a .234 average to right-handed batters. Weathers is 0-2 with a 5.73 ERA in his past three outings but allowed one run on six hits in 5 1/3 innings a week ago in Washington, marking the eighth time this season that he allowed one earned run or fewer.
Weathers is 0-2 with a 2.77 ERA in three career appearances (two starts) against Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh’s Braxton Ashcraft (9-3, 3.49) is making his first career start against the Yankees and will attempt to rebound from allowing five runs for the second time in three starts. Ashcraft is 4-0 with a 4.08 ERA in his past five outings and surrendered five runs on five hits in five innings in a no-decision during Pittsburgh’s 7-6 win over Milwaukee on July 11.
–Field Level Media
Spain erupted into jubilant celebrations overnight as thousands poured into the streets of Madrid, setting off fireworks and red flares, after La Roja secured their second World Cup title with a 1-0 victory over Argentina.
The capital’s thoroughfares became a sea of red and gold flags as fans from across the globe revelled in the triumph, which saw Ferran Torres net the decisive extra-time goal in New Jersey, marking a historic moment for Spanish football.
Amidst chants of “A Viva Espana” and the glow of flares, Mario, who travelled from Barcelona, shared his excitement. “I drove here from Barcelona in order to see the game with the fans here in Madrid because I am from Barcelona.
And tomorrow we’ll wait for the players here to celebrate with them,” he told Reuters. Islem, who flew from Tunisia specifically for the event, added: “I know it was worth it and I knew they would win, Viva Espana.”
Alvaro, who had come from Malaga to Madrid to watch the game on a giant screen, was overcome by Spain’s victory.
“I’m so happy. It’s so beautiful!,” he said early on Monday morning.
After a tense match that went to extra time, fans exploded in joy in cities and towns across Spain as the final whistle blew in New York.
In Barcelona, where many of the Spain team play for the La Liga champions, revellers set fireworks off and partied on the beaches at the start of what promised to be a long night of celebrations.
Spain fans waved flags and cheered in the streets of the neighbourhood where Spain’s teenage forward Lamine Yamal grew up. waved flags and cheered in the streets of the neighbourhood where Spain’s teenage forward Lamine Yamal grew up.
The 19-year-old Lamine learned to play football on the streets of Rocafonda, a working-class, multi-ethnic area of Mataro, a coastal city about 30 km (19 miles) north of Barcelona.
One of their own
The residents of Rocafonda, who include his grandmother and a cousin, still regard Lamine, who plays for Spain and Barcelona, as one of their own.
On the community pitch, where Lamine honed his skills as a boy, there is a mural featuring the player who is a symbol of the possible. Lamine, who was born in Spain to a Moroccan father and mother from Equatorial Guinea, has never forgotten his roots.
Throughout his career, he has honoured Rocafonda with his trademark “304” hand gesture after scoring goals – a reference to the neighbourhood’s postal code. During the World Cup, he has sported a headband with “Rocafonda” on it, worn the flags of his parents’ countries of origin on his boots, and said football was an example of racial and social integration.
Pedro Sanchez, the Spanish prime minister, posted on X: “We are World Champions!! Our national team was great! Thanks team!”
U.S. President Donald Trump and Sanchez, who have had a frosty relationship, exchanged a brief handshake before the match, Spanish newspaper El Pais reported.
Sports
Picture abhi baanki hai! Away from the bell and egg-and-bacon ties, Rohit Sharma keeps his own England tradition alive at Lord’s | Cricket News
TimesofIndia.com in London: Eight years ago, Rohit Sharma summed himself up with a line that now feels almost prophetic: “Throw me to the wolves and I come back leading the pack.” As retirement speculation engulfed him ahead of the Lord’s ODI, the 39-year-old responded exactly as that quote promised, rising above the chatter with an innings that dismissed every question about his future.On Sunday, Lord’s was painted in blue for the third ODI between India and England. There are plenty of traditions that define this iconic venue: the golden-and-red-striped ties, aka the egg-and-bacon tie; the five-minute bell, rung by Yuvraj Singh on this occasion; a walk through the Long Room with the Honours Board on display and the watchful presence of Father Time. Away from all this stood Rohit Sharma. He had been welcomed during the nets session a day prior with plenty of cheers, and it continued as the team arrived for the series decider.Over the last few days, the focus was squarely on the 39-year-old. The third and final ODI was billed as his last. Some reports claimed his parents were in attendance for this milestone. Retirement rumours were circulating. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia needed to officially come out and deny that it was going to be Rohit’s last. Yet, it didn’t stop the rumour mill from working overtime.As for Rohit, he looked completely at ease in his own skin.“Look, my job is with the bat. Come and play, represent my country, represent the team. That’s what I’ve been told to do since my debut, and that’s what I’m going to do. The noise, since I made my debut, has been there. And till the time I’m going to stay here, it is always going to be there. So it doesn’t really matter too much. What matters is what I do on the field, try and contribute to the success of the team. That’s all my focus is right now. And let the noise be there. If there’s no noise, there’s no fun. My job is inside, their job is outside. That’s how I look at it,” he told BCCI.tv after the match.And on the field, Rohit did what he’s done before in this part of the world.Opening alongside Shubman Gill with a massive 388 runs to chase, Rohit did what he’s been doing effortlessly over the past two decades. He toyed with the bowlers while pacing his innings perfectly. A near-run-a-ball 50 became an 84-ball century as the accelerator was pressed after the 70-run mark. The right-hander switched gears swiftly to jump from 69 off 69 to 121 off 100, scoring 52 runs off 31 balls.
I think the way Rohit bhai paced his innings was outstanding
Shubman Gill
“I think the way Rohit bhai paced his innings was outstanding,” skipper Shubman Gill said later. “During the Powerplay, we spoke about whether we should go after the bowling or not, but we know it’s not easy to attack against the new ball. The way he paced his innings and then accelerated was exceptional. Once he got into the 60s and 70s, it was truly a treat to watch,” he added.Even as Rohit limped while completing singles, with the 30% humidity playing its part, he chose to tonk the bowlers rather than deal in singles and doubles with Virat Kohli at the other end. That 121 off 100 became 132 off 107 following twin boundaries in a Sam Curran over, including a cracking shot towards deep extra cover. Two balls later, Jacob Bethell could only look towards cow corner as Rohit sent the ball flying for a maximum, his fifth of the day. One could see the hapless expression on Bethell’s face. It wasn’t a bad ball. It was just bowled to an in-form Rohit, who has done this many a time before.
![London [England], Jul 19 (ANI): India's Rohit Sharma plays a shot during 3rd ODI...](https://static.toiimg.com/photo/msid-132509811/london-england-jul-19-ani-indias-rohit-sharma-plays-a-shot-during-3rd-odi.jpg "India's Rohit Sharma plays a shot during 3rd ODI against England, at Lord's in London on Sunday. (ANI Photo)")
India’s Rohit Sharma plays a shot during 3rd ODI against England, at Lord’s in London on Sunday. (ANI Photo)
The England bowler did get his revenge a ball later as Rohit went for a sweep, missed, and the ball found his pads before crashing into the stumps for a lucky dismissal.Rohit took in the adulation and appreciation of the tens of thousands in attendance. His 34th ODI century. His eighth in England. And the first by an Indian at Lord’s. All added to his resume. His impressive and seemingly yet-to-be-finished resume.The other half of the famous RoKo, Virat Kohli, kept the chase alive. The chasemaster believed even as Rohit walked off after their 113-run stand, long after the duo, playing their 400th match together, had shared a massive hug following Rohit’s ton. India needed 128 from 68 balls. Was a miracle, a la NatWest 2002, possible?
We played our entire career together, so it was nice to have him in the middle. We’ve had a lot of partnerships. It’s always fun batting together. We understand each other so well.
Rohit Sharma
Kohli tried his utmost. A tossed-up Will Jacks delivery allowed the 37-year-old to dance down the track and send it sailing over the bowler’s head for a maximum. Still with a job to finish, Kohli barely lifted his bat in acknowledgement of his 46-ball fifty, his first at Lord’s. Two balls later, Kohli used his wrists to send the ball over deep backward square leg for yet another six.In between, Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer came and went. Kohli stood in the middle, and a colleague chimed in, “lone warrior again.” The gladiator of the Indian team then went after Jacob Bethell, hitting him for a straight six.But the knock, and the chase, were effectively over after Sam Curran got rid of Kohli for 74 off 60 balls, laced with four fours and three sixes. Kohli, as always, was frustrated that he couldn’t get the job done and couldn’t steer the team past the finish line.
With India losing the bilateral ODI series 1-2, having been thrashed 0-2 and 0-4 by Ireland and England, respectively, in the T20Is, there will be plenty for the BCCI hierarchy to assess. But for RoKo, who continue to bring thousands into stadiums and millions to their TV sets, the road is not over.“We played our entire career together, so it was nice to have him in the middle. We’ve had a lot of partnerships. It’s always fun batting together. We understand each other so well. It’s always nice in the middle, bouncing off ideas and trying to see what we can do. So there was a lot of conversation going on while we were batting,” Rohit said about Kohli and their time together in the middle at Lord’s.Unless something drastic happens, that time in the middle will continue for at least one more series. Kohli and Rohit had contrasting report cards from this series in their bid to be in South Africa for the 2027 ODI World Cup. While Kohli scored 144 runs from three matches, bouncing back after a blip at Edgbaston, Rohit raced away to 175 runs in the series following his century at Lord’s.As for Rohit’s retirement rumours and the end of his 19-year ODI career, the snooze button can be swiftly pressed. “He’s not told us anything. I think it’s all out in the media, but there’s not been any discussion like that in the team,” skipper Shubman Gill said in the post-match press conference.India’s next ODI assignment is in September against the West Indies, with more in store in New Zealand in November and against Sri Lanka in December.
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Six countries have already secured places at the 2030 FIFA World Cup after FIFA confirmed automatic qualification for all host nations and the countries selected to stage the tournament’s centenary opening matches.
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup now over, attention has turned to the next edition, which will celebrate 100 years since the first World Cup was held in Uruguay in 1930.
The 2030 tournament will be jointly hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco, making it the first FIFA World Cup to be staged across Europe and Africa.
As part of the centenary celebrations, Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay will each host one opening match before the rest of the tournament moves to the three main host countries.
The special arrangement honours the first World Cup, which was hosted and won by Uruguay. Argentina finished as runners-up in that tournament, while Paraguay is home to the headquarters of the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL).
The six nations that have automatically qualified for the 2030 FIFA World Cup are:
- Spain
- Portugal
- Morocco
- Uruguay
- Argentina
- Paraguay
With those six places already confirmed, the remaining teams will compete through continental qualifying competitions for the other spots at the expanded tournament.
FIFA said the decision to stage the opening matches in South America is intended to celebrate the competition’s 100th anniversary and recognise the countries that played a key role in the birth of the World Cup.
After the opening fixtures, all remaining matches, including the knockout stage and the final, will be played in Spain, Portugal and Morocco.
The tournament is expected to use 23 stadiums across the six host nations. Proposed venues include Spain’s Santiago Bernabéu, Camp Nou and Metropolitano Stadium, Portugal’s Estádio da Luz and Estádio do Dragão, Morocco’s Hassan II Stadium in Casablanca, Argentina’s Estadio Monumental, and Uruguay’s historic Estadio Centenario, which hosted the first World Cup final in 1930.
FIFA is expected to announce the final allocation of matches, including the venue for the 2030 World Cup final, at a later date.
The 2030 FIFA World Cup is set to make history as the first edition to be hosted by six countries across three continents while marking a century since football’s biggest tournament began.
Jul 19, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Chicago White Sox shortstop Colson Montgomery (12) reacts after his single against the Toronto Blue Jays during the fourth inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images Chicago White Sox shortstop Colson Montgomery summed up his team’s mentality in one word after their 3-0 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday: “Relentlessness.”
That attitude is serving the White Sox well, as they are currently one game up on the Cleveland Guardians for first place in the American League Central after winning five of their last six.
They will look to rely on that same mindset as they begin a three-game set against the AL West-leading Texas Rangers on Monday in Arlington, Texas.
Facing someone Montgomery called “a true competitor” in Blue Jays starter Trey Yesavage on Sunday, the White Sox hitters were ready for a battle at the plate.
“We knew we had to be disciplined with our plan,” Montgomery said.
“We just tried to stay positive,” he added. “And I think we just pulled through.”
Montgomery was a vital part of the 3-0 victory, hitting his team-leading 24th home run off Yesavage in the sixth inning.
There’s no secret ingredient to the surprise turnaround by the White Sox, but Montgomery credits the youth of the team for their day-to-day camaraderie.
“We’re all young, we’re all pretty inexperienced,” he said, “so we’re all just staying together.”
Erick Fedde (5-6, 4.15 ERA) will start for Chicago in Monday’s opener. Fedde’s last appearance came in relief on July 11, but he picked up the win after throwing four shutout innings in a 1-0 win against the visiting Athletics.
Fedde is 0-1 with a 2.70 ERA in three career appearances (two starts) versus the Rangers.
Texas power-hitting outfielder Wyatt Langford, who homered in the team’s 8-5 road loss to Atlanta on Sunday, has been slowed down only by the injury bug in 2026. Langford has played in only 47 of the Rangers’ 99 games this season due to quad and forearm injuries in April and a hamstring strain in late June, but he’s not allowed the stop-start nature of his availability to throw off his rhythm. Seven of Langford’s 10 homers this season have come in his last 16 games, over which time he’s hitting .368 (25-for-68) with 17 RBIs.
Texas comes home after dropping two of three to the Braves in their first series after the break.
The Rangers will turn to veteran Jacob deGrom (7-5, 3.49) on the mound. The right-hander is coming off a health scare, as he was scratched from his last scheduled start on July 12 with a glute injury. Fortunately for Texas, their ace will avoid a stint on the injured list as he gets ready to face Chicago.
Texas manager Skip Schumaker said he waited to make the decision to start deGrom until he threw a pain-free bullpen session over the weekend, saying, “You want to check every box.” “His health is good after the break, which is great news,” the manager said.
The last time deGrom took the mound, he had a no-decision in the Rangers’ 8-3 win over the visiting Los Angeles Angels on July 7, giving up two runs and striking out seven in five innings.
The White Sox are one of just five teams that deGrom has not beaten in his 13-year career. A five-time All-Star and two-time winner of the National League Cy Young Award, he has a 0-0 record and 1.80 ERA in three previous starts against Chicago.
–Field Level Media
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Conor McGregor has finally revealed what exactly happened to his right knee during a very short return to the UFC octagon on July 11 in Las Vegas.
McGregor, who lost by technical knockout to Max Holloway in UFC 329, called it “quite shocking” to learn what he injured during UFC 329.
“Update: it was acl and meniscus,” McGregor posted on X.
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Conor McGregor of Ireland prepares to face Max Holloway in a welterweight fight during UFC 329 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nev., on July 11, 2026. (Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
“It is the same injury as the first Holloway fight, only this time the opposite leg. Quite shocking.”
McGregor previously fought Holloway 13 years ago before he gained worldwide stardom for his mixed martial arts. It’s a total coincidence this happened now over a decade later, but McGregor is trying to keep a positive mindset once again.
“With today’s regenerative medicine advancements and improved training methods it is well within my realm to return by next summer,” McGregor continued, confidently. “I am walking without a crutch. I done leg extension machine work the other day to no issue. So I can walk without aid, and activate my quad under resistance. All very positive. I am maximum discipline and have maintained it fully since the bout.
JOE ROGAN CALLS OUT ‘CRAZY’ KICK ATTEMPT BY CONOR MCGREGOR THAT LED TO INJURY: ‘YOU DON’T DO THAT’
“I wonder was I saved from something worse here. I believe so. I would have attended the after party as ‘the man’ and who knows then. I believe I was saved. Thank you God! On we go, no sad stories. Thank you for the support and well wishes everyone, your health is your wealth.”
It wasn’t much of a bout, as McGregor attempted a jumping roundhouse kick on Holloway. As McGregor landed on the canvas, he immediately grabbed at his right knee and hit the deck.
Conor McGregor kicks Max Holloway in a welterweight fight at UFC 329 on Saturday in Las Vegas. (John Locher/AP)
Holloway took advantage of the situation, trying to get McGregor while he was down. But despite evading some serious punches from Holloway, McGregor clearly wasn’t right.
Referee Mike Beltran eventually called the fight just seconds into the first round, giving Holloway the victory and ending the UFC 329 co-main event in lackluster fashion.
After the match, McGregor was understandably upset.
“My head gasket is gone. Destroyed,” he wrote on X at the time. “I had no injury/injuries going into the fight. I was throwing kicks, planted and jumping, all throughout camp as well as backstage before the fight. This came out of nowhere. I am beyond dark here. I can only describe it as hell.”
Conor McGregor of Ireland reacts after an injury stoppage in a welterweight fight during UFC 329 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nev., on July 11, 2026. (Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
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McGregor’s camp even showed pre-fight footage from the locker room, where the two-division champion was seen rehearsing his jumping roundhouse kicks. He was landing perfectly fine.
McGregor’s UFC career record is now 22-7 after this TKO finish, but it seems like the 38-year-old is still ready to recover and get back in the octagon. He doesn’t want to end his fighting career in that fashion.
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Oleksandr Usyk has revealed the real reason behind relinquishing his WBC, IBF and WBA heavyweight titles last month.
The Ukrainian took to social media and announced that he has not only vacated his belts, but will also be having just one more fight.
In doing so, Usyk made a slight pivot on his original three-fight strategy, which he had outlined prior to colliding with Rico Verhoeven in May.
He then, of course, had a far more demanding clash with Verhoeven – a former kickboxing champion who had only boxed professionally once before – than many had anticipated.
In the end, Usyk engineered an 11th-round stoppage but, even so, his lacklustre performance made the majority of fans question his future in the sport.
It then came as encouraging news, for many, when the 39-year-old announced he would have one last dance before calling time on a phenomenal career.
The plan now, it seems, is for him to face former WBC champion Deontay Wilder, with Usyk telling FightHype that he was reluctant to hold the division up any longer.
“I continue training; I continue building my plan for my career. I [vacated] my belts because … listen, I’m a three-time undisputed champion.
“Now we have new, young guys who stayed in queue and waited for belts. Take all my belts. I have last dance.”
With Usyk vacating his titles, Agit Kabayel and Murat Gassiev are now respectively recognised as the full WBC and WBA champions.
The IBF belt, meanwhile, has remained vacant, with mandatory challenger Frank Sanchez having been ordered to face Moses Itauma, who must first complete his assignment against Filip Hrgovic on August 29.
Sports
Who is Ferran Torres? The striker who fired Spain to second World Cup title | FIFA World Cup 2026
Almost a month ago, during Spain’s FIFA World Cup 2026 group-stage clash against Saudi Arabia, Ferran Torres believed he had finally broken his tournament duck.
Deep into stoppage time, the Spanish forward found the back of the net to make it 5-0. But before he could celebrate, the goal was referred to the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) for a possible offside.
Spain were already cruising at 4-0. The result was beyond doubt. But for Torres, that goal meant everything.
As the VAR check dragged on, television cameras caught him muttering to himself, “Please let this be a goal.”
It would have been his first goal of the tournament after he endured criticism for wasting several clear-cut chances in Spain’s opening matches. Seconds later, the verdict arrived. Offside. Goal disallowed.
Instead of relief came another wave of criticism. Social media users questioned his finishing, memes flooded timelines, and many wondered whether Spain’s No. 7 deserved a place in Luis de la Fuente’s starting XI.
A month later, Torres had the perfect response. The Barcelona forward scored the only goal of the FIFA World Cup 2026 final against Argentina in extra time, sealing a historic 1-0 victory and delivering Spain’s second World Cup crown.
It was not merely the winning goal in football’s biggest match — it was redemption. The player who had spent weeks under the microscope is now immortalised as the man who restored Spain to the summit of world football.
Who is Ferran Torres?
Born on February 29, 2000, in Foios, a town in Spain’s Valencia province, Ferran Torres began his football journey, unusually, on a leap day. He first played futsal before joining Valencia’s famous academy at the age of seven, where coaches quickly recognised his pace, intelligence, and ability to play across the front line.
Torres rose through Valencia’s youth ranks before making his senior debut in 2017. He became one of the club’s brightest young prospects and was the first player born in the 21st century to feature in La Liga for Valencia. His performances soon attracted Europe’s elite clubs.
From Valencia to Manchester City and Barcelona
After establishing himself at Valencia, Torres completed a move to Manchester City in 2020, where he worked under Pep Guardiola.
Although competition for places was fierce, he enjoyed a productive spell, winning the Premier League and the EFL Cup while developing into a more complete attacker. Guardiola even experimented with him as a central striker, helping him improve his goalscoring instincts.
Just 18 months later, Barcelona came calling.
The Catalan giants signed Torres in January 2022 as part of their rebuilding project. His early months were inconsistent, and he often found himself criticised for missed chances — something that would follow him into the 2026 World Cup.
However, under Hansi Flick, Torres reinvented himself. He enjoyed the most productive club season of his career before arriving at the World Cup, contributing crucial goals across domestic competitions and proving his value as both a starter and an impact substitute.
Ferran’s journey with Spain
Torres represented Spain at every major youth level before making his senior debut in 2020.
He featured at UEFA Euro 2020 and the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, and was part of Spain’s triumphant UEFA Euro 2024 campaign. Along the way, he established himself as one of Luis de la Fuente’s most trusted attacking players because of his tactical flexibility.
Unlike traditional wingers, Torres is comfortable drifting across the front line, pressing defenders, and creating space for teammates. That versatility has made him invaluable to Spain, even when he has not been among the goals.
Not the first rescue act at the 2026 World Cup
While Ferran Torres will forever be remembered for his World Cup-winning goal against Argentina, it was not the only time he rescued Spain during the tournament.
In Spain’s Round of 16 clash against Portugal, the match remained deadlocked at 0-0 as stoppage time approached.
Just when extra time looked inevitable, Torres produced a perfectly weighted through ball for Mikel Merino, who calmly finished past the Portuguese goalkeeper to send Spain into the quarter-finals.
That assist ultimately proved just as important as his goal in the final.
Without Torres’ vision against Portugal, Spain may never have reached the latter rounds of the knockout stages. Without his finish against Argentina, they would not have lifted the trophy.
A story of resilience
Football has a habit of changing narratives in an instant. One month ago, Ferran Torres was desperately hoping VAR would allow a consolation goal in a game Spain had already won comfortably.
One month later, he needed no technology to validate his greatest moment. His extra-time strike against Argentina ensured Spain’s name would once again be engraved on the FIFA World Cup trophy and transformed his own legacy forever.
Ferran Torres career in numbers:
|
Category |
Team |
Years |
Appearances |
Goals |
|
Club Career |
Valencia Mestalla |
2016–2017 |
12 |
1 |
|
Club Career |
Valencia |
2017–2020 |
71 |
6 |
|
Club Career |
Manchester City |
2020–2022 |
28 |
9 |
|
Club Career |
Barcelona |
2022–Present |
140 |
41 |
|
Club Total |
— |
2016–Present |
251 |
57 |
|
International Career |
Spain U17 |
2016–2017 |
24 |
2 |
|
International Career |
Spain U19 |
2018–2019 |
17 |
10 |
|
International Career |
Spain U21 |
2019–2021 |
6 |
0 |
|
International Career |
Spain (Senior) |
2020–Present |
65 |
25 |
|
International Total |
Spain (All Levels) |
2016–Present |
112 |
37 |
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Spain beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the World Cup final. The Spanish have been crowned champions for the second time in their history. Ferran Torres scored the only goal of the match.
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Stefanos Tsitsipas won the ATP 250 in Gstaad – his first title in 16 months!
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Sports
“That’s What I’ve Been Told”: Rohit Sharma Ends Retirement Speculations In Explosive Interview
Rohit Sharma has shrugged off the speculations of his international retirement in an interview with the BCCI following India’s ODI series loss to England. The right-handed batter returned to form with a superb century, albeit in a losing cause. The Three Lions beat India by 27 runs to clinch the three-match series 2-1. Rohit had scored just 11 and 26 in the first two matches against England. Several media reports claimed that he might be dropped after the third ODI and added that the player might opt to retire at the conclusion of the match.
First, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia cleared the air on the issue. He said that Rohit is going to play for India even after the England series. If anyone still had doubts about it, the player himself has rubbished the claims of his international retirement.
Notably, Rohit has already called time on his T20I and Test careers and is active only in ODIs at the highest level.
The veteran cricketer said that the “outside noise” doesn’t bother him as it is something he has been used to since the start of his career.
“My job is with the bat. Come and play, represent my country. That’s what I have been told to do since I made my debut. That’s what I am going to do. Since I made my debut, the noise was there. Till the time I am going to be there, the noise will be there. It doesn’t matter to me. What matters is what I do on the field. I want to try and contribute to the success of the team. That’s all my focus is,” Rohit said.
“If there is no noise, there is no fun. My job is inside. Their job is outside. That’s how I look at it,” he added.
Rohit scored 138 off 110 balls in the third ODI against England at Lord’s, London. His innings was laced with 17 fours and five sixes.
Earlier, India captain Shubman Gill also refuted suggestions that Rohit plans to retire from international cricket after the third ODI against England at Lord’s.
After India’s 27-run loss to England, Gill was asked after whether he had heard anything about Rohit’s future and the skipper said there had been no talk of it within the team.
“He’s not told us anything. I think it’s all out in the media, but there’s not been any discussion like that in the team,” Gill said.
In February this year, Rohit had revealed that he plans to play the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.
“I definitely want to go out there and win the World Cup for my country; that is something that I’ve always looked upon. I’ve grown up watching this 50-over World Cup. There was no T20 World Cup, no IPL back then, and that was the pinnacle of cricket, which used to happen every four years. So, there was desperation; there was so much weight for that one trophy. And yeah, I really want that trophy, so I’m going to try and do everything in my power and capacity to work hard and get it,” Rohit said during an ICC event.
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