Germany have sealed their place in the FIFA World Cup knockout stages after beating Curacao and the Ivory Coast in their opening matches. Die Mannschaft will also finish on top of the Group as they have a better head-to-head to Cote d’Ivoire, the only side who can match them in the points tally.
Julian Nagelsmann’s side will take on a third-place side from Group A, B, C, D or F in the Round of 32. The match will take place on June 29 at the Boston Stadium.
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Brazil were the toughest opponents possible for Germany in the Round of 32, but with Selecao beating Scotland and winning all their games, that has been ruled out. Morocco are also ruled out from Group C, as they finished second, but Scotland remain in the mix.
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The loser of Paraguay vs Australia are a possibility for the Germans, and their match takes place today, June 25, at Santa Clara. Both teams have three points each, and a draw would see Paraguay finish third with four points and a -2 goal difference.
Japan vs Sweden will also be a match Germany will have to keep an eye on today. The Netherlands have not won Group F yet, but Tunisia have been eliminated, and the loser of Japan and Sweden will finish third regardless of the result in the other game.
The other possible opponents for Germany in the FIFA World Cup Round of 32 are South Korea from Group A or Bosnia-Herzegovina from Group B. They finished third after their matches yesterday, June 24, and have sealed their place in the knockout stage.
Germany boss hits out at FIFA World Cup schedule
Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann is not happy with the FIFA World Cup schedule. He believes that his side are being punished for finishing on top of their group as they have less than 48 to prepare for their Round of 32 game and said:
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“I think you’re a bit punished as a group winner. We divided up the potential opponents. I watched three or four matches, and the analysis team did as well. Everyone can imagine there are better ways to spend Saturday night than working through it. It will be an all-nighter; we want to have large parts of it prepared so we don’t have to create the match plan in a huge rush on Sunday. We’ll manage it, we’re almost all still young in the coaching staff, so we can work through the night if necessary.” (via iMiaSanMia)
Germany thrashed Curacao 7-1 in the first match, before coming from behind to beat the Ivory Coast in the second match of the FIFA World Cup.
The family of former NFL running back Doug Martin has sued the city of Oakland, its police department and an ambulance company, alleging their actions contributed to the circumstances surrounding his death.
In the suit, the late NFL star’s parents claim police played a role in the 36-year-old’s death and allege paramedics failed to respond quickly enough to calls for medical care. Martin’s parents, Leslie and Douglas, filed the lawsuit Tuesday in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
The suit states the plaintiffs believe Martin died from restraint asphyxia, which they allege was “caused by Oakland police officers and the FALCK NORCAL paramedics’ failure to provide timely medical care.” He was later pronounced dead at a hospital.
Doug Martin of the Oakland Raiders carries the ball against the Los Angeles Chargers during the second half of their NFL game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California, on Nov. 11, 2018.(Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Leslie called paramedics in response to her son having a mental-health crisis on Oct. 18. Martin then fled and hid in a neighbor’s house two doors away, where the Oakland Police Department found him in the basement, according to the suit.
According to the suit, Leslie called paramedics Oct. 18 after her son began experiencing a mental-health crisis. Martin then left the home and hid in a neighbor’s house. Oakland police later located him in the basement. Furthermore, the lawsuit says law enforcement officers physically restrained Martin and placed him “face down while one or more officers pressed on his back.” When officers turned Martin on his side, he was unresponsive, at which point the suit alleges that the officers thought he was “sleeping or pretending to be asleep.”
The lawsuit also alleges law enforcement restrained Martin, placed him “face down while one or more officers pressed on his back,” and later found him unresponsive after turning him on his side. Officers believed Martin was “sleeping or pretending to be asleep,” the suit continued. It also alleges that at least one officer requested medical assistance while Martin was still unresponsive.
The Martin family alleges the response was not immediate enough, claiming Falck Northern California paramedics arrived about 15 minutes after the call for service was made, per the suit. “When they arrived,” the suit says, they “did not promptly provide medical care.”
Oakland Raiders running back Doug Martin is tackled by Los Angeles Chargers safety Jahleel Addae during an NFL game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California, on Nov. 11, 2018.(Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
“They just want to know what happened,” John Burris, a lawyer representing the family, told The Athletic. “Here’s a situation where the mother was calling for help. He was emotionally out of it, and she was calling for help.”
“When you call for help and the police come, it’s not a death warrant. You don’t expect the person to die.” Burris continued. He added that an independent pathologist, who was not named, told Martin’s parents that restraint asphyxia may have been their son’s cause of death.
Martin’s parents are seeking damages, including for wrongful death, hospital and medical expenses, coroner’s fees, funeral and burial expenses, loss of support and familial relationship, among several others.
Burris noted that Martin’s mother sent her son’s brain to Boston, where the Boston University CTE Center is based, in an effort to learn whether he developed chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a disease that can be diagnosed only after death. While the pathologist told Burris that a CTE finding “really has no consequence as it relates to the cause of death,” Burris said the family is seeking a clearer picture of Martin’s brain health.
An Oakland Police patrol car is parked in front of the Oakland Police headquarters in Oakland, California.(Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
The Oakland Police Department has a policy of not publicly commenting on pending litigation. Fox News Digital was referred to the Oakland city attorney’s office, which also did not offer comment on the case. Representatives for Falck Northern California could not immediately be reached for comment.
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Martin, an Oakland native, closed out his NFL career with the then-Oakland Raiders in 2018. Before that, he spent six seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who selected him in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft.
He received a four-game suspension in 2016 for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy. After testing positive for Adderall, Martin revealed plans to enter a treatment program.
Martin finished his NFL run with more than 5,300 rushing yards and was named to two Pro Bowl teams. He played college football at Boise State.
The primary winter focus for Future History has been the Tattersall’s Cup, and a victory in this event could elevate a start in the Melbourne Cup to a realistic aspiration.
The eight-year-old gelding, who featured in Australia’s most prestigious race in 2023, has shown excellent form this season, achieving three consecutive wins for his former trainer Ciaron Maher over the summer before a change of ownership saw him join Greg Hickman’s yard.
In his two starts under his new conditioner, he achieved a narrow fourth place in the Chairman’s Handicap (2000m) at Doomben and a third place in the Lord Mayor’s Cup (1800m) at Eagle Farm.
With these recent efforts, Future History is considered ready to perform at his best, though Hickman admits the powerful gelding required more work to reach peak fitness than initially projected.
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“We’ve just had to learn a little bit about him,” Hickman explained. “When he came in, he was 600 kilos. I have worked him hard all week and he’s put on six kilos, so he’s a big boy. It has been a month between runs, but I did a fair bit with him Saturday week ago and his work was exceptional. Touch wood, everything has been perfect.”
Future History has proven his ability to win over distances up to 2800m, and Hickman anticipates he will enjoy the challenge of extending to 2400m in Saturday’s Tattersall’s Cup at Eagle Farm.
Although he is set to start from the outside gate in the eight-horse field, he did take up the running in his three staying triumphs during the summer. However, Hickman is content to leave the tactical decisions to jockey Nash Rawiller.
Future History was the slight $3.30 favourite ahead of Pounding ($3.40) on Thursday. A victory would prompt connections to firm up plans for a Melbourne Cup campaign in the spring.
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“This race has been the main target this campaign,” Hickman stated. “If he was to race well on Saturday and then come home, he would have a freshen up and then go to Melbourne.”
The last three winners of the Melbourne Cup – Half Yours, Knight’s Choice, and Without A Fight – all concluded their campaigns with performances in Brisbane’s winter carnival.
Future History is a strong candidate for the Tattersall’s Cup, and you can find competitive betting sites for the event.
The recent deluge in Brisbane prompted Peter Snowden to alter Tuileries’ preparation for the Tattersall’s Tiara, though he remains confident that it will not impede her winning potential.
The four-year-old mare was initially slated to contest the Dane Ripper Stakes (1400m) two weeks ago but was withdrawn due to the heavy track conditions. As such, Saturday’s Group 1 fillies and mares’ feature will be her first race in five weeks.
However, while Tuileries has not raced since achieving a gutsy first-up victory in the Dark Jewel Classic (1400m) at Scone, where she carried the top weight of 59.5kg and navigated a wide barrier, Snowden is satisfied that a subsequent barrier trial has kept her in peak condition.
“I’m not too worried about it. She did trial the week before the Dane Ripper. It’s not as though she hasn’t been to the races or trials,” Snowden stated.
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“She’s been up in Brisbane the past two weeks and did a strong bit of work on Tuesday morning when she went very well.
“I’m quietly confident she will run well, and the good draw (barrier three) will help.”
Tuileries has long been held in high regard by Snowden, enjoying a strong start to her career with wins in two of her first three starts.
As a daughter of middle-distance star So You Think, she has improved with age, establishing herself as a genuine black-type performer this season with two Group 3 wins and an equal number of stakes placings.
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Snowden, who won the corresponding race with Tashi 12 months ago, believes Tuileries shares similarities with her former stablemate.
“They’re similar. Tashi had run about seven placing in stakes races and never won one, and that was her maiden black-type win,” he said.
“This filly has won a few stakes races, but it’s her first crack at a Group One.
“We have always liked her so it’s good to see her get to this sort of class now.”
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Chad Schofield, who has been the jockey for Tuileries’ two stakes victories, will ride her in the Tiara.
In an open betting market, she is currently sharing the top line of betting at $6 with Splash Back from Victoria and Gerringong, trained by Chris and Corey Munce. Check out the latest racing odds at your preferred Australian betting sites.
India beat Bangladesh by five wickets in a crucial Group A match of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 at Old Trafford in Manchester on Thursday, June 25. With the win, the Women in Blue boosted their chances of qualifying for the semifinals of the ICC event.
Bowling first after winning the toss, Team India did a great job to restrict Bangladesh to 136-8 in their 20 overs. Spinners Radha Yadav and Shree Charani starred with 3-28 and 2-21, respectively. In the chase, opener Shafali Verma top-scored with 53 off 34 balls, while Jemimah Rodrigues chipped in with 26 off 15.
Following their win over Bangladesh on Thursday, India maintained their second position in the Group A points table of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026. In this feature, we analyze the semifinal qualification scenarios for teams in Group A.
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# India (6 points, NRR: +2.268)
India are in second place with six points from four matches and a net run rate of +2.268. If they beat Australia in their last group match at Lord’s on Sunday and South Africa win only one of their remaining two group games, India will qualify for the semifinals of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026. In such a scenario, India will finish the group stage with eight points, while the Proteas will end with six.
In case, India go down to Australia in their last group match, they need to hope that South Africa also lose one of their remaining two matches. In such a scenario, both India and South Africa will be tied on six points and the Women in Blue can go through if they finish above the Proteas Women on net run rate.
If India lose to Australia and South Africa win both their remaining matches, the Women in Blue will be knocked out of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026. In this scenario, India will end with six points and South Africa with eight.
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#Australia (8 points, NRR: +4.724)
Australia may not have officially qualified for the semifinals of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026. However, it would be safe to say that they have confirmed their place in the top two from Group A.
Unbeaten Australia have eight points from four games and an excellent net run rate of +4.724. If the Aussies go down to India on Sunday and South Africa also win their two remaining games, all three sides will finish Group A with eight points. However, even a huge win for India on Sunday is unlikely to displace Australia from the top position in the group.
#3 South Africa (4 points, NRR: -0.546)
South Africa have four points from three games and a net run rate of -0.546. The best-case scenario for the Proteas to qualify for the semifinals of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 is for them to win both their remaining matches and move to eight points. They also need to hope that India go down to Australia in their last group match. In such a scenario, India will be stuck on six points.
In case, South Africa and India both win one and lose one of their remaining two matches, they will end the group stage with six points each. In such a scenario, the run rate will decide who makes the semifinals. Similarly, India and South Africa can be tied on eight points if both win their remaining two matches in the group stage, again bringing the run rate into the picture.
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#Bangladesh (4 points, NRR: -0.849)
Bangladesh‘s loss to India has all but ended their hopes of qualifying for the semifinals of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026. They can finish with six points if they beat South Africa (who will also end with six points in this scenario). India too will end the group stage with six points if they lose to Australia. But, with a net run rate of -0.849, Bangladesh are unlikely to finish in second place.
ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026: Group B Qualification Scenarios
England have already qualified for the semifinals of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 from Group B, with eight points from four games and a net run rate of +2.342. The West Indies (6 points), defending champions New Zealand and Sri Lanka (both 4 points) are engaged in a tussle to clinch the second spot. The Windies will qualify if they beat Ireland on Saturday and get up to eight points.
If the West Indies lose, both New Zealand and Sri Lanka can finish above them on run rate if they win their last group match. The Black Caps are already above the Windies on net run rate, while Sri Lanka could push the West Indies to third if they pull off a win by a significant margin against Scotland.
If New Zealand beat England and the West Indies lose to Ireland, the Black Caps are more or less assured of qualification for the semifinals of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 on the basis of their superior net run rate.
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For Sri Lanka to finish in the top two, they need to beat Scotland by a huge margin. They then need to hope that England beat New Zealand, and Ireland beat West Indies by a big enough margin for Sri Lanka finish ahead of the West Indies on net run rate.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi may be on the verge of becoming India’s youngest international cricketer, but batting coach Sitanshu Kotak made it clear that the teenager’s opportunity should not come at the cost of a player who is already performing.India begin their two-match T20I series against Ireland on Friday, and if Sooryavanshi is picked in the playing XI, the 15-year-old will become the youngest player to represent India. The team management, led by captain Shreyas Iyer and head coach Gautam Gambhir, faces a selection call ahead of the opener. One option could be to bring Sooryavanshi into the side in place of Abhishek Sharma and have him open alongside Sanju Samson or vice versa.Speaking on the eve of the match, Kotak praised the teenager’s ability but said team selection must also be fair to players who have already been scoring runs.“Vaibhav is very talented, there is no doubt. And the way he has batted in IPL and all the other games, there is no need to tell that he has got a lot of natural abilities. Because in IPL he has faced Jofra, a lot of quick bowlers, a lot of experienced bowlers. And it seems that nothing is bothering him. So he is obviously an extraordinary talent,” Kotak said, as quoted by news agency PTI.“Today evening, captain and head coach will decide about the team. And if he plays great, if he doesn’t play also for me, that is great because he is part of Indian team. And I am sure that he will get his dues and his opportunities. So I don’t think that just to give him an opportunity, we should drop someone who has already been scoring runs.“That also won’t be right. I think there is a very thin line between trying to give somebody an opportunity and you are being unfair to some other player,” said Kotak.Kotak said the depth of talent in Indian cricket has made selection increasingly difficult and admitted that even selectors have a tough job.“If you ask me, there is so much talent in India that even the selectors have a headache. Honestly saying, I don’t have such a big headache because I am not the head coach and the captain. But sometimes it is tough.”“But we also have to remember one thing that those who are already performing, they should never be ignored, as I believe. Those who are already scoring, winning games for the team. BCCI‘s structure is such that players will keep coming,” said Kotak when asked how difficult it is to leave out players from a World Cup-winning squad.
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Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray throws a pass to wide receiver Dillon Bell during minicamp practice in Eagan. Murray connected with Bell in June 2026 as Minnesota continued offseason workouts and evaluated new offensive combinations, with the rookie receiver receiving opportunities alongside the veteran quarterback during drills at the TCO Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.
Whether a player’s June rise to prominence translates to the regular season and beyond is never an exact science, but early indications from minicamp are that undrafted wide receiver Dillon Bell could be the real deal.
Minnesota pounced on Bell, a Georgia alumnus, after the 2026 NFL Draft, and this week, ESPN claimed he was the Vikings’ main surprise from minicamp, a sweet development for an unsung playmaker.
Vikings’ WR5 Battle Has a New Name
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Dillon Bell appears in team-produced content after joining the club as an undrafted free agent. The rookie continued offseason workouts while competing for a roster opportunity and preparing for training camp in Minnesota. June 8, 2026. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.
ESPN: Bell Turned Heads
ESPN identified one surprise player from every team’s minicamp, with Bell getting the nod in Minnesota.
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Kevin Seifert explained, “It can be difficult to gauge receiver skill sets in spring practices, when NFL rules prohibit physical coverage techniques. But it was eye-opening to see Bell — an undrafted rookie from Georgia — working extensively with the second team during drills.”
“That placement spoke volumes about his initial impression with Vikings coaches, who in essence were putting him in the (early) mix to be the No. 4 receiver behind Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and Jauan Jennings.”
Fans have been high on Bell for about two months, and now the proof appears to be in the pudding.
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Stealing a Roster Spot from Tai Felton or Myles Price?
These are the Vikings’ wide receivers as of mid-June:
WR1: Justin Jefferson WR2: Jordan Addison WR3: Jauan Jennings WR4: Tai Felton WR5: Myles Price WR6: Jeshaun Jones WR7: Dontae Fleming WR8: Dillon Bell WR9: Luke Wysong WR10: Marcus Sanders WR11: Terrill Davis WR12: Michael Briscoe WR13: Trayvon Rudolph
Jefferson, Addison, and Jennings are obviously guaranteed roster spots. After that, nothing is certain.
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Minnesota probably won’t cut Felton loose this summer; he was a 3rd-Rounder last year but hardly played as a rookie. The current general manager, Nolan Teasley, did not draft Felton, so it would not be totally unheard of for Minnesota to cut ties. Stay tuned.
Price instantly earned the Vikings’ return jobs, manning punt and kick duty as a rookie. He, too, will likely make the active roster in 2026, but it’s important to remember that he offered absolutely nothing on offense last season.
Therefore, for the Bell steam to continue all the way to a regular season roster spot, the Vikings must keep six wide receivers — or drop Felton or Price.
Vikings Need a “Gadget” Guy
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It’s been a very long time since Minnesota had a toolsy wide receiver who could take hand-offs and be deployed in a gadget capacity. The last guy was arguably Cordarrelle Patterson, and even he didn’t get used as a gadget until leaving Minnesota.
Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Dillon Bell catches a touchdown pass during the SEC Championship Game against Alabama at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Bell played an important offensive role for Georgia and delivered one of the game’s scoring plays against the Crimson Tide. Dec. 6, 2025. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images.
Percy Harvin comes to mind, too, and he hasn’t played for the Vikings in 13 years.
If Bell can parley the early summer momentum into a September roster spot, Minnesota will welcome a wide receiver out of the norm — a guy who can do a little bit of everything on offense.
SI.com‘s Will Ragatz noted a couple of weeks ago, “Early in his career, he shared an offense with Brock Bowers and Ladd McConkey. Last season, Zachariah Branch dominated target share for Georgia. During Bell’s career, the Bulldogs went 53-6 and were frequently in game scripts that didn’t require heavy pass rates. Bell was also never a full-time player, seeing between 400-600 offensive snaps per season. It’s possible he could’ve put up much bigger numbers on a different team, in a different kind of offensive role.”
“Steve Smith Sr., the 16-year NFL receiver who is now an analyst, was a big fan of Bell’s throughout the pre-draft process. Smith believes Bell has real NFL upside and wasn’t able to show off his full abilities at Georgia while running a limited route tree in a run-heavy offense. Smith has also criticized Georgia QB Gunner Stockton, even though he finished seventh in Heisman voting last year.”
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Circle Him for Training Camp, Preseason
Next for Bell are training camp and the preseason. The NFL, Vikings included, always has stories in June about men who stand out, unknown to the masses. Then July and August roll around, with those players not really moving the needle.
Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Dillon Bell stands on the field before a home game against Charlotte at Sanford Stadium in Athens. The versatile offensive weapon entered the contest after another productive season and remained an important contributor within Georgia’s offense. Nov. 22, 2025. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images.
Bell must continue his minicamp momentum into training camp and the three preseason games. The ultimate verdict will be roster cutdown day in August. Sometimes, players who perform wonderfully in the preseason don’t even make it to the regular season. See: OLB Gabriel Murphy last summer, who remains unemployed.
Bell’s hype will continue, but the most important step for him is making the 53-man roster. If he does not, the practice squad feels like a natural landing spot, and the Bell curiosity would transfer to the summer of 2027.
On the whole, his name keeps popping up. It’s an impressive start for the UDFA.
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Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker
Manny Pacquiao still hopes to break his own record as the oldest welterweight world champion in boxing history and WBC titlist Ryan Garcia believes that the Filipino icon is capable of doing it if he chooses the right path.
Pacquiao currently holds the record as boxing’s most senior champion at 147lbs, having overthrown Keith Thurman in July 2019 as a 40-year-old and held the belt until two years later, when he suffered a defeat to Yordenis Ugas.
Last July, ‘Pac Man’ made his official return to the professional scene in an attempted challenge for Mario Barrios’ WBC world title, where victory would have seen him break that same record, but the veteran could only muster a draw.
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Since then, Garcia has taken Barrios’ belt, whilst Pacquiao has been linked to a shock rematch with Floyd Mayweather. Recent developments suggest that the fight is in serious jeopardy due to an ongoing lawsuit against the American.
“I believe if ‘Pac’ fights Paro he becomes world champion.”
Paro has also shared his interest in that fight, aiming to recreate Jeff Horn’s famous victory over Pacquiao, when the eight-division world champion last fought on Australian soil.
For most footballers, a FIFA World Cup goal becomes a defining moment. It is the image replayed for decades, the achievement that cements a place in football history. From Pelé and Diego Maradona to Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé, the sport’s greatest names are often remembered as much for their World Cup goals as for anything they achieved at club level.
Yet football history contains another fascinating category of legends, players who conquered domestic leagues, won Ballon d’Or awards, lifted European trophies and broke scoring records, but never managed to score at the World Cup.
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Some were denied by circumstance. Others were defenders whose brilliance lay elsewhere. A few were elite attackers whose World Cup journeys never matched their club careers.
Zlatan Ibrahimović: The Most Surprising Name
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Few omissions are more startling than Zlatan Ibrahimović.
The Swedish icon scored more than 500 senior career goals, won league titles in multiple countries and became one of the most recognizable footballers of his generation. Yet despite appearing at the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, he never found the net in 11 World Cup appearances.
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For a player who scored spectacular goals almost everywhere he played, the World Cup remained one of the few stages where his scoring touch never arrived.
Ironically, Ibrahimović himself recently suggested the United States could win the 2026 World Cup, a reminder that even football’s biggest personalities can leave the sport’s grandest tournament with unfinished business.
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Paolo Maldini: A World Cup Legend Without a Goal
If World Cup greatness was measured solely by goals, Paolo Maldini would seem an unlikely inclusion.
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Yet the Italian defender remains one of the greatest World Cup performers in history.
Across four tournaments, Maldini accumulated 23 appearances and more than 2,200 minutes on the pitch. He reached the 1994 final, played a central role in Italy’s defensive success and became one of the most respected defenders football has ever seen.
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But despite all those appearances, he never scored a World Cup goal.
His career serves as a reminder that some players leave a lasting World Cup legacy through leadership, defending and consistency rather than moments in front of goal.
Frank Lampard and Football’s Cruelest Twist
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Few players came closer to breaking their World Cup duck than Frank Lampard. The England midfielder remains one of the highest-scoring midfielders in football history and scored over 300 career goals. Yet at the World Cup, he never officially scored.
The most famous moment came during England’s Round of 16 clash against Germany in 2010. Lampard’s shot clearly crossed the goal line before bouncing out, but the goal was not awarded because goal-line technology had not yet been introduced.
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The incident became one of the biggest refereeing controversies in World Cup history. Had technology existed then, Lampard’s name would likely not feature on this list.
Luís Figo: Ballon d’Or Winner, World Cup Non-Scorer
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Luís Figo was one of the finest playmakers of his era. The Portuguese star won the Ballon d’Or in 2000, starred for both FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, and captained Portugal’s celebrated “Golden Generation.”
Yet across two World Cups in 2002 and 2006, Figo failed to score despite making 10 appearances.
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Portugal reached the semi-finals in 2006, but their captain’s influence came through creativity and leadership rather than goals.
Pavel Nedvěd: Ballon d’Or Glory, World Cup Frustration
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Another Ballon d’Or winner to miss out on a World Cup goal was Pavel Nedvěd. The Czech midfielder won football’s highest individual honour in 2003 after dazzling performances for Juventus FC.
However, his World Cup story was brief. The Czech Republic qualified for the 2006 tournament, but Nedvěd was unable to inspire a deep run and never scored on football’s biggest stage.
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Sergio Ramos: Goals Everywhere Except the World Cup
For much of his career, Sergio Ramos seemed to score whenever Spain needed him. The defender scored crucial goals for both Spain and Real Madrid, becoming one of the most prolific centre-backs in football history.
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Yet despite appearing at four World Cups – 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2018, Ramos never scored a World Cup goal. His greatest World Cup memory instead came from helping Spain win the 2010 tournament in South Africa.
Why World Cup Goals Still Matter?
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Football remains a sport obsessed with moments. A single World Cup goal can immortalize a player forever. Yet the careers of Maldini, Figo, Lampard, Ramos, Nedvěd and Ibrahimović demonstrate that greatness is not always measured by what happens inside the penalty box. Some players build their legacies through leadership, creativity, defending or simply carrying their nations to the tournament itself.
Others, like Best and Weah, remind us that football’s biggest stage does not always welcome its biggest talents. Their World Cup goal tally may read zero. Their place in football history, however, remains unquestionable.
Will Vaibhav Sooryavanshi get his first India senior cap on Friday? That is the big question for all cricket lovers who will be closely following the India vs Ireland series. India face a problem aplenty at the top order; there are three players who were there in the T20 World Cup-winning team – Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, and Ishan Kishan – who can play as openers. If Sooryavanshi has to be fitted in, a big name will have to be dropped.
Indian batting coach Sitanshu Kotak gave an open-ended answer on Sooryavanshi’s potential debut. However, he added that it would be unfair to drop the players who have been performing for India.
“There are so many talented players in India. My personal opinion is that those who are already performing should not be ignored. Obviously, new players will come; it will be healthy competition. Everybody who comes in should wait for their right time to play,” Kotak said in the pre-match press conference.
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“So I don’t think that just to give him an opportunity, we should drop someone who has already been scoring runs. That also won’t be right. I think there is a very thin line between trying to give somebody an opportunity and you are being unfair to some other player,” said Kotak, according to PTI.
“The team will be decided in the evening, so let’s see. Regarding the debut, well, he will be treated in the same way as other players. Whenever the time comes, he will debut. It’s difficult to say that he will debut tomorrow or in the next match (Sunday). Kar sakta hai. Today evening we will have a meeting; the team will be decided there by Gautam Gambhir and Shreyas Iyer.”
Kotak described Sooryavanshi as an outstanding talent. “This is the first time he may be playing in the senior Indian team, but I have worked with him in the U-19 setup. Any player who has played in the U-19 or emerging team knows the culture of the senior team. He is an outstanding talent. Me and Gautam Gambhir have asked him to feel free. We have also told him to think this as his own team and say anything that he likes.
Iyer has come back into the T20 side as captain, having proved his leadership in the IPL. Kotak said someone like Iyer knows how to lead efficiently.
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“It is not like that he is with the team for the first time. Even in this team, you will see that there will be 2-3-4 senior players who will be in the leadership group. No matter who the captain is, they keep helping each other. Shreyas has done a lot of captaincy in IPL, he has done it for Mumbai.
“So he has a lot of experience. In fact, when he became champion with Gautam in KKR, Shreyas was the captain. So it’s not like people are expecting something different from him or he is expecting something different.
“The thing that we always have is that we will keep the team first, we will do whatever is needed for the team. I think his speech in the huddle today was the same. That we will look after everyone,” added Kotak.
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