For nearly two decades, Cristiano Ronaldo has lived with a burden that very few athletes in any sport have had to carry.He has spent most of his career being measured not against his contemporaries, but against his own past. Against the winger who burst through at Manchester United. Against the athlete who leapt higher than defenders and outran full-backs. Against the machine that scored 50 goals every season almost as a matter of routine. That standard has not changed. Only the player has.Which is perhaps why Portugal’s 1-1 draw against DR Congo in Houston quickly became less about the result and more about Ronaldo. The criticism came from everywhere. Thierry Henry accused him of thinking about his own goal when Bruno Fernandes was in a better position. Paul Scholes described him as a ‘problem’. Chris Sutton suggested Roberto Martinez was too afraid to substitute him.The contrast with Lionel Messi only amplified the noise.A day earlier, Messi had scored three against Algeria. Kylian Mbappe had announced himself with a brace. Harry Kane had scored twice for England. Erling Haaland had found the net too.And then there was Ronaldo. Three attempts. No shots on target. No goals.Ronaldo’s performance sparked the debate that has the 41-year-old become a liability compared to younger stars lighting up the FIFA World Cup.The numbers, however, paint a more complicated picture. Yes, nobody needs numbers to tell them that Ronaldo had a poor night in front of goal, but football has never been a game where strikers operate in isolation.What happens around them matters almost as much as what they do themselves. The deeper data suggests Portugal’s biggest problem may not have been Ronaldo.According to FIFA’s post-match tracking reports, Ronaldo made 47 off-ball runs during the match — second only to Mbappe’s 50 and more than Harry Kane and Haaland combined. Yet Portugal found him with a pass only 10 times, meaning just 21.3 percent of his runs were rewarded with possession.

Messi, by comparison, made 32 runs and received the ball on 16 occasions, a 50 percent success rate. Kane received four passes from 15 runs while Haaland was found twice from eight movements.The figures raise an uncomfortable question for Portugal: was Ronaldo ignored too often?The passing numbers tell their own story, and perhaps explain why comparing Ronaldo directly with Messi has become increasingly misleading. Messi attempted 40 passes in Argentina’s opener, twice as many as Ronaldo, and completed 30 of them.The difference, though, says more about role than influence. Messi operated deeper, often dropping into midfield and acting as Argentina’s chief creator. Ronaldo, meanwhile, attempted only 20 passes, the same as Harry Kane and more than Erling Haaland’s eight.More interestingly, he completed 19 of them, giving him a 95 percent success rate – the highest among the five.

At 41, Ronaldo is increasingly resembling a penalty-box striker whose value lies in movement rather than orchestration.Haaland’s numbers offer perhaps the closest parallel. The Norwegian attempted only eight passes because Manchester City’s approach with him has long been built around service rather than involvement.Ronaldo’s passing load points in the same direction. He is no longer trying to be the man who touches the ball 50 times and runs the game.The challenge for Portugal is that while their captain has evolved into a specialist finisher, the team around him still appears caught between using him as a focal point and asking him to do things he no longer needs to do.Where the criticism holds weight, though, is in front of goal.Ronaldo’s three attempts failed to trouble the goalkeeper. Messi produced six shots and four on target en route to his hat-trick. Mbappe hit the target with all four of his efforts and scored twice, while Kane and Haaland also made their chances count.Physical data offers another intriguing insight.Ronaldo covered 8,389 metres during the game – more than Messi’s 6,808m – dispelling claims that he no longer puts in the hard yards. However, the numbers also reveal where age has caught up.

He registered only 73 metres of high-speed running at 25 km/h or above. Haaland managed 438 metres, Mbappe 225 and Kane 117. Ronaldo still has the speed to touch 30.7 km/h, but the repeated explosive bursts that once defined his game are becoming increasingly rare.What has changed is not his willingness to run. It is the frequency with which he can produce those explosive bursts that once terrified defenders. Haaland covered six times more distance at top speed. Mbappe remains in a different category altogether.

Portugal also created very little all evening. Their expected goals figure stood at just 0.57, comfortably the lowest among the five teams led by global superstars in this comparison. Argentina scored three. France scored three. England scored four. Norway scored four.Portugal scored once inside the opening minutes and spent much of the evening struggling to regain control. Roberto Martinez himself admitted as much afterwards.“We didn’t reach the final third at the level we needed in order to provide service to the striker and make use of his movements,” he said.

Ronaldo’s finishing deserves scrutiny, but the idea that he was unwilling to work does not stand up to data.He kept running. Portugal simply kept looking elsewhere.And as the World Cup has shown before, one quiet opening game rarely tells the whole story. Lionel Messi failed to score in Argentina’s first match in Qatar four years ago before lifting the trophy weeks later.

Liverpool and Micky van de Ven, Transfer Admiration Meets Tottenham Reality

Van de Ven Links Refuse to Fade

Liverpool and Micky van de Ven have become familiar companions in the transfer rumour mill. The Dutch defender has long been admired at Anfield, with Liverpool’s recruitment team understood to have tracked him before his move from Wolfsburg to Tottenham.

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Now, according to information originally reported by Fabrizio Romano, the latest noise around Van de Ven requires some caution. Dutch reports had suggested Liverpool and Barcelona had registered serious interest, with suggestions that the Reds had even made a formal enquiry.

That, naturally, was enough to stir excitement. Van de Ven is quick, left-footed, Premier League-proven and still developing. In other words, he fits plenty of modern Liverpool recruitment boxes.

Romano Update Cools Liverpool Talk

Romano, however, has made Tottenham’s position clear.

“Many questions I’m getting coming out of the Dutch press. With maximum respect to anyone who has their own information or own news.”

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“Micky van de Ven linked with Liverpool? What I can say is that he is considered a crucial player by Tottenham management and Roberto De Zerbi – same as Pedro Porro who signed a new contract,” Romano explained.

“He’s completely untouchable and they want van de Ven to stay. So the expectation is no movements around Micky van de Ven in this summer transfer window.”

“If something changes, I will let you know, but the stance today is very clear – no exit for Micky van de Ven.”

That wording matters. Transfer windows are rarely absolute, but “untouchable” is as close as clubs tend to get in public-facing transfer language.

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Liverpool Need Centre-Back Clarity

For Liverpool, this story still says something important. Their interest in defenders of Van de Ven’s profile suggests a clear preference for athleticism, recovery pace and technical comfort in possession.

Van de Ven would make sense tactically. He can defend big spaces, carry the ball aggressively and offer balance on the left side of central defence. Yet wanting a player and extracting him from Tottenham are two different sports entirely.

Spurs have no obvious reason to sell. Van de Ven is young, valuable, tied to their project and already proven in England. If Liverpool are serious about strengthening at centre-back, they may need to look elsewhere rather than wait for a door that is currently locked.

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Transfer Admiration Has Its Limits

There is a familiar rhythm to these stories. Liverpool admire a player. Reports emerge. Fans imagine the fit. Then reality intrudes, usually in the form of price, contract length or a selling club with no appetite for negotiation.

Van de Ven may be admired at Anfield, but admiration does not equal movement. For now, this feels less like an active transfer chase and more like Liverpool keeping tabs on an elite-level profile.

That is sensible recruitment. It is not, at this stage, a deal.

Our View – Anfield Index Analysis

From a Liverpool fan’s point of view, Van de Ven is exactly the type of defender you would want the club to like. He has pace, power, Premier League experience and the sort of left-sided balance Liverpool have lacked too often.

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But this is also where supporters need to separate excitement from probability. Tottenham selling Van de Ven to Liverpool this summer would feel highly unlikely unless the player pushed hard, the money became enormous or Spurs’ stance changed dramatically.

The frustrating part is that Liverpool’s need at centre-back feels real. Supporters can see it. The squad needs fresh legs, recovery pace and long-term planning. Van de Ven would tick those boxes, but he may simply be the wrong target at the wrong time.

That does not mean the interest is meaningless. It tells us Liverpool know the profile they want. The key question is whether they can find a more attainable version before the window moves away from them.

For now, Romano’s update should calm the noise. Van de Ven looks like admiration, not acceleration.

French tennis player Corentin Moutet has been hit with a substantial fine, almost wiping out his entire prize money from Queen’s Club, following a foul-mouthed post-match interview broadcast live on the BBC.

The incident has drawn significant attention to player conduct.

The controversial Frenchman uttered the ‘F-word’ a remarkable seven times during his live interview after his first-round victory over Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.

Having initially sworn unintentionally while answering the first question, a grinning Moutet then responded by deliberately saying “f*** f*** f***” three times more, before interviewer Jenny Drummond was forced to pull the plug on the segment.

The ATP announced on Friday that Moutet, who earned £33,000 for reaching the second round of the prestigious HSBC Championships, has been penalised a whopping 40,000 US dollars, which converts to £30,248.

This staggering sum equates to more than 90 per cent of his total prize money from the tournament, effectively breaking down to approximately £4,321 for each expletive used.

The governing body stated the fine was imposed for “unsportsmanlike conduct”, specifically citing “the use of profane language during his post-match interview”. Moutet has since confirmed he will appeal against the fine, in accordance with established ATP rules and procedures.

Elsewhere on the court, American Brandon Nakashima caused a significant shock when he impressively knocked out top seed and world number six Alex De Minaur in a compelling match.

The 24-year-old, currently ranked 32nd in the world, pulled off one of the biggest wins of his burgeoning career with a straight-sets 7-5 6-3 victory.

“Very happy with my performance, it definitely wasn’t easy,” he said. “I was under a lot of pressure but I’m happy with myself getting through the critical points and closing it out at the end.

“It’s never easy serving out a match, especially against a top player like Alex, so I was happy to win the last point.”

The defeat was doubly disappointing for Australian De Minaur, with his fiancée, British number two Katie Boulter, watching from the stands at the Andy Murray Arena.

The 27-year-old had openly expressed his desire to match Boulter’s impressive run to the semi-finals in last week’s WTA event, but ultimately fell one match short of achieving his ambition.

An Indian cricket legend could be gearing up for his first coaching stint in the Indian Premier League (IPL) come 2027. According to reports, former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh is set to join the Delhi Capitals (DC) coaching staff ahead of IPL 2027. Former India captain Sourav Ganguly‘s return to the DC support staff is imminent, and he wants Yuvraj in the dugout too, as per a Times of India report. The wholesale changes are set to take place as JSW Group takes control of the franchise’s operations IPL 2027 onwards.

According to the report, a senior DC official confirmed that Yuvraj is all set to join the franchise.

For the uninitiated, Delhi Capitals is run in alternate two-year cycles by co-owners GMR Group and JSW Group. With GMR having run the team in 2025 and 2026, JSW is set to take over for the next two years.

Sourav Ganguly was a key figure in the franchise’s support staff during the previous JSW cycle, and is likely to return for 2027. Ganguly served as JSW’s Director of Cricket for Delhi Capitals for the last two seasons, during which Hemang Badani was appointed as the head coach.

However, Delhi Capitals could be set for a reshuffle after two underwhelming seasons in IPL 2025 and IPL 2026. Captained by Axar Patel, DC failed to reach the playoffs in both years, despite boasting star players like KL Rahul, Mitchell Starc and Kuldeep Yadav.

In IPL 2025, DC got off to an excellent start but their campaign faltered in the second half of the season, and they finished fifth.

In IPL 2026, DC’s season was much more inconsistent, and they finished sixth in the standings.

These results have put Badani’s position as head coach at risk, with Ganguly expected to return to the support staff helm in 2027. And it seems like Ganguly wants Yuvraj in the support staff as well.

According to PTI, Yuvraj is likely to join Delhi Capitals as the team’s batting coach for IPL 2027.

Ganguly was the head coach of the Capitals’ SA20 franchise, Pretoria Capitals, earlier this year, leading the team to the final of the tournament. 

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IPL 2026 | Delhi Capitals Wins By 6 Wickets Against Mumbai Indians: Redemption For Sameer Rizvi

Also in this bulletin: Canada‘s dominant display, South Africa staying alive, Friday’s upcoming matches, Romain Grégoire’s victory at the Tour de Suisse, the unveiling of the 2030 Olympic and Paralympic Games logos, and the Knicks’ celebrations in New York.

As the U.S. men’s national soccer team looks to build on its emphatic 4-1 victory over Paraguay when it faces Australia on Friday, the biggest question surrounding the Americans is whether “Captain America” will be on the pitch at Lumen Field in Seattle.

Christian Pulisic’s injury status has loomed large over this team despite their strong start on home soil for the tournament. Pulisic, who had an assist in the win over Paraguay, suffered a calf injury that led to him being subbed out after the first half last week.

USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino was asked once again about Christian Pulisic’s status ahead of Friday’s match, but he offered little insight into the condition of the star’s left calf.

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Christian Pulisic of the United States participates in a training session for the 2026 World Cup at Great Sports Park in Irvine, Calif., on June 17, 2026. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

“He’s evolving,” Pochettino responded, per the New York Post. “He’s much better from Friday. We’ll see.

“I think at the moment, we think if he’s not available for tomorrow, he’ll be available for the next game.”

Pochettino added that Pulisic was “doing a massive effort trying to be ready,” understanding that the U.S. star wants to be out on the pitch with the rest of his teammates. He will meet with the training staff on Thursday night to discuss Pulisic’s status.

“I think for every player that loves his country, it’s an amazing opportunity to enjoy and help the team win games,” he said. “When this type of thing happens, always it’s painful, but I think Christian is strong, with a great mentality, and doing a fantastic effort to try to be ready.”

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United States forward Christian Pulisic controls the ball past Paraguay midfielder Andrés Cubas in the first half of a FIFA World Cup 2026 match at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. (Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images)

During the team’s practice on Thursday, Pulisic did much of what he’s been seen doing this week – performing a modified training session and not participating with the rest of the team during the media portion.

Pochettino wouldn’t say who would replace Pulisic if he’s unable to play against Australia on Friday, although Malik Tillman shifted to the left wing after Pulisic exited against Paraguay, while Sebastian Berhalter moved into the midfield role in the second half.

“I will tell tomorrow if that is the situation,” Pochettino said. “At the moment, we are evaluating all the possibilities just in case. And then we will decide when we have the confirmation in one or another direction tonight.”

There’s no doubt Pulisic playing would give the Americans their best chance of defeating Australia, but fellow star Weston McKennie gave a glimpse at the team’s thought process.

Christian Pulisic had an assist in the first half of the USMNT World Cup opener against Paraguay. (Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images)

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“Either way, just trying to give good spirits and hopefully he can be there tomorrow,” McKennie said. “I know he really wants to be, and he’s doing everything that he can, and the staff is doing everything that they can as well. But that’s also another question that’s better to ask him rather than me. I’m in my own la-la land.” 

With Australia defeating Türkiye in its first World Cup match, this bout between these two teams will determine who takes sole possession of first place in Group D.

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