
By SuperWest Sports Staff
Sports
Winning % as CFB Underdog over Last 10 Years in West
Upsets bring excitement to college football, and a pattern of consistently winning as the underdog often indicates a program on the rise.
If nothing else, it designates a school that has played tough teams and exceeded expectations.
The tables below show the wins, losses, and win percentages as the underdog for the region’s top programs over the last 10 seasons.
BYU leads the way, followed by Washington State, San Diego State, Arizona State, and Oregon.
Winning % and Records as Underdog by Program from 2016-2025
| Win % | Team | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 41.7% | BYU | 20-28 |
| 35.9% | WSU | 19-34 |
| 35.6% | San Diego State | 16-29 |
| 35.3% | ASU | 24-44 |
| 34.4% | Oregon | 11-21 |
| 33.3% | Hawai’i | 29-58 |
| 31.8% | Boise State | 7-15 |
| 31.4% | Air Force | 11-24 |
| 31.1% | Fresno State | 14-31 |
| 30.4% | Cal | 21-48 |
| 29.6% | Washington | 8-19 |
| 29.2% | Wyoming | 19-46 |
| 27.9% | UCLA | 17-44 |
| 26.6% | Nevada | 21-58 |
| 25.7% | UNLV | 18-52 |
| 25.0% | Utah | 6-18 |
| 24.2% | Utah State | 16-50 |
| 23.3% | Arizona | 17-56 |
| 23.1% | New Mexico | 18-60 |
| 22.5% | Stanford | 16-55 |
| 21.7% | New Mexico State | 18-65 |
| 21.6% | Colorado | 16-58 |
| 20.8% | Oregon State | 15-57 |
| 19.4% | USC | 6-25 |
| 16.9% | CSU | 11-54 |
| 15.9% | San Jose State | 11-58 |
| 12.6% | UTEP | 11-76 |
Sports
BBC Sport quiz: Who am I? Guess World Cup star footballer #6
Welcome to our brand new Who am I? game.
The rules are simple. Each day there’s a new footballer and the challenge is to guess who they are in as few attempts as possible.
After each wrong guess you unlock a new clue. But, if you get your answer in as few guesses as possible, you get more points.
Three is a good score, four or five points is exceptional.
So, take part in quiz number one and return for more tomorrow.
Today’s player and clues are set by BBC Sport’s Flora Snelson.
After more quizzes? Go to our dedicated Football Quizzes and Sports Quizzes pages and sign up for notifications to get the latest quizzes sent straight to your device.
Sports
Balogun stars in impressive USA win over Paraguay
Folarin Balogun scores twice as the USA begin their World Cup campaign with a convincing 4-1 victory over Paraguay at the Los Angeles Stadium.
Sports
USA stoke belief in wildest World Cup dreams after dismantling Paraguay in perfect opener
Mauricio Pochettino had spent the past few days summoning belief in what the USA might achieve in the face of scepticism. Can they win the World Cup, he was repeatedly asked, to which his stock response was: “Why not? We can dream.” After this hugely impressive 4-1 win over Paraguay in Los Angeles, perhaps Pochettino’s task now is to manage inflated expectations, to temper America’s wildest dreams.
The first half in particular was 45 minutes of perfection, broken only by three minutes of needless hydration. One of America’s nagging concerns in recent years has been the lack of a ruthless striker but Monaco forward Folarin Balogun scored three times, one of which was ruled out for offside, and the last of which was a brilliantly composed and precise finish into the top corner of Orlando Gill’s goal.
That strike wrapped a half full of endeavour and spirit, but also technical quality and intelligent movement. Pochettino has spent most of his two-year reign as manager testing and tweaking, trying to find the right balance between attack and defence, between left and right, and here his team worked in seamless sync.
Sergino Dest was a constant threat on the right wing with his direct dribbling, while Paraguay’s right-back Juan Jose Caceres must have contracted the twisties trying to fend off Christian Pulisic on the opposite side. Pulisic offered creative spark and set up Balogun’s first goal before being replaced at half-time.
“I just got a bit of a kick in the first half, so I’m really hoping that it’s nothing,” Pulisic said after the game. “Taking a little bit of precaution today, but I’m hoping I’ll be fine the next few days.”
USA’s reliance on Pulisic has often weighed heavily on this generation’s star player. His face has been all over billboards and on TV adverts here. But the performance of Balogun up front and Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie stitching moves together in the No 10 role suggested that responsibility will be shared around.
“It’s a dream,” Balogun after his World Cup debut. “It’s a dreamy night.”
This World Cup is not just a test of the USA’s place in the game but a test of the game’s place in the USA. It is now the fourth most popular sport in America, with more fans than ever watching Major League Soccer and more children than ever playing the game. With a World Cup on home soil, there will never be a better platform for America to climb closer to the sport’s summit.
To be in LA over the past few days was to meet two different types of America. The majority only vaguely know the World Cup is happening and have no idea the US are playing in their own city or which players are on the team. They assume “Pochettino” is a type of coffee. It can feel like the World Cup has barely registered in a city this vast, like a damselfly landing on a water buffalo’s back.
But there are thousands of football fans if you look in the right places. US shirts, Mexico shirts, Argentina shirts, people passionate about the game and giddy its greatest show has arrived on their doorstep.
“What is success?” Pochettino keeps being asked. Perhaps it is not a specific knockout round but a feeling, a moment, a late winner that grips the entire country, even those oblivious to what is going on right now. USA’s task here is not so much to win the World Cup as to take the country on an unforgettable ride so that in years to come, the words “that summer of 2026” transport them back to a moment in time when they felt something.
The job of this squad, a diverse band of brothers, is to connect with the American public, and this was the perfect start. The evening began with an opening ceremony and organisers provided all the bombast you’d expect, with a series of musical acts headlined by Katy Perry and a parade of national flags reminiscent of an Olympic Games. Iran’s flag was among the 48, although it was somewhat comical that the event’s MC called for “a round of applause for peace” before kick-off.
There appeared to be almost as many Paraguay fans as US supporters inside this extraordinary spaceship of a stadium, almost as many vertical red and white stripes as horizontal ones, like the world’s most devilish game of Where’s Wally. Like several other games so far there were some empty seats which undermined the wisdom of Fifa’s ticketing policy, although several fans entering the stadium told The Independent they had paid around $1,000 for tickets, so Fifa may not miss a few going unsold.
Donald Trump did not attend but Tom Cruise, David Beckham, Brad Pitt, Halle Berry, Hilary Duff and Vince Vaughn were among the famous faces posted on giant screens with their names captioned beneath them, as they do here. What they witnessed was the standout performance of the tournament so far.
Pulisic danced into the box before drawing the mistake from Bobadilla for America’s first goal, and Pulisic was involved again down the left when he raced into space before squaring for Balogun to convert a sharp first-time finish. Balogun’s second goal was even better, shrugging off a defender before pausing just a moment and then spearing a shot into the top corner.
Paraguay pulled a goal back in the second half through substitute Mauricio, but the US showed off their firepower in reserve when Gio Reyna came off the bench to swerve an arcing finish past Gill to seal three points.
“Poch has said many times, why not us?” added Balogun. “We have to believe. You can’t do anything if you don’t believe in yourself.” By the full-time whistle, there were no more disbelievers.
Sports
Head of Palestinian football not granted US visa to attend FIFA World Cup | FIFA World Cup 2026
The head of the Palestinian Football Association is waiting in Mexico City for permission to enter the United States with other federation heads attending the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Jibril Rajoub went to the opening match between Mexico and South Africa on Thursday. But he is among several people accredited to attend the World Cup who have been denied visas or have yet to receive them from the United States.
“I don’t believe that it’s fair to use or to abuse and deny the right of all footballers all over the world to attend,” the veteran Palestinian political figure said in an interview with The Associated Press.
The Palestinian team did not qualify for the World Cup, but FIFA typically invites the heads of football associations from around the world to the event every four years, which it frames as a celebration of global unity.
“Everyone will be welcome in Canada, Mexico and the United States for the FIFA World Cup next year. We are working exactly for that,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said last year.
The United States, however, has refused entry to delegates from a raft of countries, including a referee from Somalia and a photographer traveling with Iraq’s team.
Infantino said this week that FIFA had been trying to resolve visa issues but could not overrule the U.S. government.
“We need to respect that we are not the kings of the world who can rule over governments and police forces,” he told reporters on Wednesday.
The U.S. State Department had no immediate comment on Rajoub’s visa, but last year implemented new restrictions on Palestinian passport holders, including on anyone who had been employed by the Palestinian Authority.
It revoked a visa to allow Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to travel to the United Nations General Assembly last September.
Rajoub and other Palestinian soccer officials have long argued that Israel violates statutes by allowing teams from settlements in the occupied West Bank play in Israel’s national league. They have pushed FIFA to sanction Israel, also decrying restrictions on the movement of Palestinian players and how war in the Gaza Strip has destroyed 80% of sports facilities there.
Last month, Rajoub refused to shake hands with the head of Israel’s football federation at Infantino’s behest because he said the gesture would not heal wounds but instead whitewash Israel’s actions.
Rajoub pointed out that when Russia hosted the 2018 World Cup, it did not implement comparable visa restrictions for people who were invited to the tournament.
Sports
India vs Afghanistan 1st ODI Live Streaming And Live Telecast: When And Where To Watch
India vs Afghanistan 1st ODI Live Streaming: After a dominant win in the one-off Test, India are set to face Afghanistan in the first ODI of the three-match series on Saturday in Dharamsala. The spotlight will be on Rohit Sharma, who had a decent IPL season, although concerns over his fitness persist. Having nursed a hamstring niggle during the IPL, Rohit has now regained full fitness just in time for the series. Meanwhile, star batter Virat Kohli will miss the games due to a rare hamstring injury. With the 2027 ODI World Cup on the horizon, Shubman Gill and his team will be keen to test their squad depth against Afghanistan.
India are scheduled to play around 25 ODIs before the mega event, giving the team ample opportunity to experiment with players and combinations. However, the start to Gill’s ODI captaincy has not been smooth, with two losses in three series. Working alongside head coach Gautam Gambhir, Gill will be aiming to strengthen his influence in the dressing room.
Here are the live streaming and live telecast details of the India vs Afghanistan 1st ODI match:
When will the India vs Afghanistan 1st ODI match be played?
The India vs Afghanistan 1st ODI match will be played on Saturday, June 13.
Where will the India vs Afghanistan 1st ODI match be played?
The India vs Afghanistan 1st ODI match will be played at Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamsala.
What time will the India vs Afghanistan 1st ODI match start?
The India vs Afghanistan 1st ODI match will start at 1:30 PM IST. The toss will take place at 1:00 PM IST.
Which TV channels will telecast the India vs Afghanistan 1st ODI match?
The India vs Afghanistan 1st ODI match will be telecast live on the Star Sports Network.
Where to follow the live streaming of the India vs Afghanistan 1st ODI match?
The India vs Afghanistan 1st ODI match will be streamed live on JioHotstar app and website.
(All the details are as per the information provided by the broadcaster)
(With PTI Inputs)
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Sports
Triple H to suddenly strip top WWE star of their Championship ahead of WWE SummerSlam? Exploring the possibility
Triple H is the Chief Content Officer at WWE, and under his creative regime, the Stamford-based promotion is gearing up to host Night of Champions 2026 and to build the two-night SummerSlam.
Given his position in the company, The Game possesses major decision-making power, which even includes taking the title off the star at any point if it’s necessary. The Hall of Famer might have to use power to take the title off a top WWE star.
Thanks for the submission!
This week, SmackDown’s announcers broke the news that Ripley has injured her knee from her clash against Jade Cargill and is being medically evaluated. In a shocking turn of events, Triple H could come out and give fans the unfortunate news that the medical team has confirmed that The Nightmare is not fit and will need some time off to recover from her injury. Therefore, she would need to vacate her title with immediate effect by the next.
If this happens, it will be a defining moment that shifts the trajectory of the blue brand’s women’s division. However, this is not the first time the company has faced such a situation.
They faced a similar incident back in 2024 with Ripley only, when she had to vacate her Women’s World Championship due to the shoulder injury, and her hiatus turned out to be a major opportunity for the company to build up the Liv Morgan and Dominik Mysterio romance; the rest is history.
That being said, the angle proposed above is speculative, and nothing has been officially confirmed.
Rhea Ripley takes shots at her former WWE faction
Speaking in an interview with Jesse James West, while explaining the origin of her nickname “Mami”, the Nightmare took shots at her ex-stable, The Judgment Day, by saying she got her nickname as she worked with a bunch of kids, and she often had to look after them.
Here’s what the current WWE Women’s World Champion said:
“Mami? Yeah. But I pretty much had kids at work cause I was in a faction called The Judgment Day, and they were like a big bunch of kids, pretty much cause I had to look after them. Yes, that’s how Mami was born,” Ripley said.
That being said, it will be interesting to see what’s next for Ripley in the coming weeks with her injury scare.
Get all the hottest wrestling news FIRST by clicking here
Edited by Angana Roy
Sports
Ricky Saints finally addresses his controversial “Edge” mention on WWE RAW
WWE star Ricky Saints made headlines a few days ago when fans believed he referenced AEW star Adam Copeland on the recent edition of Monday Night RAW. The Absolute star moved to the main roster and has immediately made a huge impact on the SmackDown roster. During his recent promo, he allegedly mentioned old nemesis Edge.
In 2023, Adam Copeland and Ricky interacted once on AEW Collision. While the former NXT Champion was cutting a promo on Bryan Danielson, he took a shot at the Rated-R Superstar. The latter didn’t stand the disrespect and immediately rained down multiple insults on the Absolute star. Fans reminisced about the infamous promo recently.
Ricky Saints recently appeared on RAW, where he talked about how he is ready for the King of the Ring tournament. When asked if he has an edge in the tournament, the former AEW star told Bryan Saxton not to ask about edge, taking a subtle shot at Adam Copeland.
While speaking on Complex Graps, Ricky Saints said that he didn’t intend to take a shot at the former TNT Champion in his RAW promo.
“You know what’s so funny? I didn’t realize that at the time. No one will believe me so what’s the point in even trying to defend myself? But I just thought that was funny that I was like, ‘Wow, I didn’t even think of that. That is crazy,” he said. [H/T – WrestlePurists’ X]
Veteran Dutch Mantell claims Ricky Saints made Adam Copeland furious
The unscripted moment between Adam Copeland and Ricky Saints was viral on social media in 2023.
While speaking on Storytime with Dutch Mantell, the veteran said that the Absolute star’s comments might have ‘pi**ed off’ the Rated R Superstar.
“It was a memorable interview. Looked like Edge got a little pi**ed off. He (Ricky Starks) said something ‘bug eyed’ to him (Edge). When I saw it, I said to myself, did this lead to something, are they just trading barbs? But nothing, they left it open. Not really interestingly open, they just left it open, period,” he said.
It will be interesting to see whether Adam Copeland comments on Ricky’s RAW promo.
Get all the hottest wrestling news FIRST by clicking here
Edited by Tejas Pagare
Sports
Bo Bichette’s six RBIs, grand slam helps Mets beat rival Braves
Jun 12, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets shortstop Bo Bichette (19) hits a solo home run in the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images Bo Bichette had two homers and tied a career-high with six RBIs Friday night for the host New York Mets, who beat the Atlanta Braves 7-5 in the opener of a three-game series between the National League East rivals.
The Mets have won two straight. Dominic Smith and Mike Yastrzemski laced run-scoring singles in the second, and Matt Olson hit a solo homer in the fifth. Ozzie Albies and Eli White each collected an RBI single in the eighth for the Braves, who tied a season-high with their third consecutive loss.
Bichette and Juan Soto went back-to-back in the first off Spencer Strider (4-2) before Bichette capped a two-out rally in the second with his third career grand slam.
Bichette added a sacrifice fly in the fourth for his second six-RBI game and his first since Aug. 4, 2024 when he also had two homers and six RBIs for the Toronto Blue Jays in a 15-1 win over the Colorado Rockies.
Five pitchers combined on a nine-hitter for the Mets. Cionel Perez (3-3) earned the victory by recording four outs in relief of starter Nolan McLean. Devin Williams gave up two hits over the last 1 1/3 innings to notch his 10th save.
McLean was pulled after giving up two runs on three hits and four walks while striking out six and throwing 93 pitches in four innings.
McLean wriggled out of bases-loaded, none-out jam following the RBI hits by Smith and Yastrzemski, The rookie right-hander struck out Austin Wynns and retired Mauricio Dubon on pop-up to first before fanning Michael Harris II.
Strider gave up seven runs on six hits and one walk while striking out three over three-plus innings before he departed due to a sore right arm following a leadoff walk to MJ Melendez in the fourth. Strider retired four straight batters following Soto’s homer before running into trouble in the second. Melendez doubled and Luis Torrens singled off Strider’s glove before the right-hander plunked Carson Benge. Bichette homered just beyond the right field fence two pitches later.
–Field Level Media
Sports
2026 RBC Canadian Open Saturday tee times: Round 3 groupings
The 2026 RBC Canadian Open continues on Saturday with the third round at TPC Toronto. You can find full RBC Canadian Open tee times for Saturday’s third round at the bottom of this post.
RBC Canadian Open tee times: What to know
After firing a second-round 63, American Ben James leads the charge at the Canadian Open’s halfway point with a 36-hole score of 10 under par.
The 23-year-old just completed his senior season at the University of Virginia and is riding some incredible momentum. The RBC Canadian Open marks James’ pro debut after earning his Tour card by finishing first in the PGA Tour University Ranking, and he’s leading the tournament by one shot after also qualifying for his third U.S. Open on Monday this week.
“I wasn’t really thinking about really results at all this week,” James said after his round. “Just worried about getting comfortable, making new friends and having fun, and just seeing where everything kind of falls. Just seeing where my game stacks up. Obviously I have some stuff to work on, just trying to see where everything goes. Because this is just the baseline, it’s my first professional debut. Obviously had a great two days, but just trying to get better.”
It won’t be an easy task to earn a W in his first-ever event as a pro — especially considering the number of players within close proximity. There are 17 players within three shots of his lead, including Sam Burns (-9), Brooks Koepka (-8) and Sahith Theegala (-7).
James will tee off in the third round at 1:45 p.m. ET alongside Sam Burns.
You can watch Saturday’s third round of the 2026 RBC Canadian Open from 1-3 p.m. ET on Golf Channel followed by the CBS broadcast from 3-6 p.m. ET. PGA Tour Live on ESPN+ will provide exclusive early streaming coverage starting on Saturday at 7:45 a.m. ET, in addition to featured group and featured hole coverage.
Check out the complete Round 3 tee times and groupings for the RBC Canadian Open below.
Hoping to wager on the RBC Canadian Open? Sign up for Fanatics Sportsbook with code “SUBPAR” to receive a special welcome offer.
With an ESPN+ subscription, you gain access to PGA Tour Live, where you can stream the best PGA Tour events live from wherever you want.
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2026 RBC Canadian Open tee times for Saturday: Round 3 (ET)
Tee No. 1
7:15 a.m. – Calen Sanderson
7:20 a.m. – Matthieu Pavon, Joey Savoie
7:30 a.m. – Denny McCarthy, Lanto Griffin
7:40 a.m. – Tony Finau, Joe Highsmith
7:50 a.m. – Jeremy Paul, Sam Ryder
8:00 a.m. – Neal Shipley, Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen
8:10 a.m. – Kristoffer Reitan, Ben Kohles
8:25 a.m. – Vince Whaley, Nick Taylor
8:35 a.m. – Kensei Hirata, A.J. Ewart
8:45 a.m. – Adam Svensson, Beau Hossler
8:55 a.m. – Jacob Bridgeman, Taylor Moore
9:05 a.m. – Takumi Kanaya, Viktor Hovland
9:15 a.m. – Paul Peterson, Ben Silverman
9:25 a.m. – Keita Nakajima, Justin Matthews (a)
9:40 a.m. – Adam Hadwin, Michael Thorbjornsen
9:50 a.m. – David Skinns, Christiaan Bezuidenhout
10:00 a.m. – Billy Horschel, Ricky Castillo
10:10 a.m. – Dylan Wu, Davis Thompson
10:20 a.m. – Wyndham Clark, Tom Kim
10:30 a.m. – Luke Clanton, Erik van Rooyen
10:45 a.m. – Matt Fitzpatrick, Sudarshan Yellamaraju
10:55 a.m. – Alejandro Tosti, Collin Morikawa
11:05 a.m. – Kevin Yu, Chandler Blanchet
11:15 a.m. – Max Homa, Alex Fitzpatrick
11:25 a.m. – William Mouw, Chandler Phillips
11:35 a.m. – Kevin Roy, Max McGreevy
11:50 a.m. – Doug Ghim, Patrick Fishburn
12:00 p.m. – Johnny Keefer, Austin Eckroat
12:10 p.m. – Robert MacIntyre, Shane Lowry
12:20 p.m. – Sahith Theegala, Taylor Pendrith
12:30 p.m. – Harry Hall, Matthew Anderson
12:40 p.m. – Emiliano Grillo, Aldrich Potgieter
12:55 p.m. – Brice Garnett, Jimmy Stanger
1:05 p.m. – Tommy Fleetwood, Bud Cauley
1:15 p.m. – Ryan Fox, Brooks Koepka
1:25 p.m. – Jesper Svensson, Keith Mitchell
1:35 p.m. – Jackson Suber, Haotong Li
1:45 p.m. – Ben James, Sam Burns
Sports
When will Ronaldo and Messi play their first FIFA World Cup 2026 matches? | FIFA World Cup 2026
For nearly two decades, world football has revolved around two names: Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup could mark the final chapter of that iconic rivalry on football’s biggest stage. While the tournament features 48 teams and hundreds of emerging stars, much of the global attention remains fixed on two veterans who have defined an era.
At 39 and 41 respectively, Messi and Ronaldo enter what is widely expected to be their final World Cup campaigns, each carrying the hopes of a footballing nation and the dreams of millions of supporters.
|
FIFA World Cup 2026 Argentina schedule |
||
|
Fixture |
Date |
Venue |
|
Argentina vs. Algeria |
Tuesday, June 16 |
Arrowhead Stadium |
|
Argentina vs. Austria |
Monday, June 22 |
AT&T Stadium |
|
Jordan vs. Argentina |
Saturday, June 27 |
AT&T Stadium |
Defending champions Argentina will begin their World Cup campaign against Algeria on June 16 at Kansas City Stadium.
The Albiceleste enter the tournament with a unique piece of history within reach. Having lifted the trophy in Qatar in 2022, Messi now has the opportunity to become the first captain ever to lead a nation to consecutive World Cup titles.
Argentina’s group-stage schedule sees them face Austria on June 22 before concluding their Group campaign against Jordan on June 28 in Dallas.
While Argentina possess one of the deepest squads in the competition, Messi remains the emotional and tactical heartbeat of the team. Even at this stage of his career, his vision, creativity and ability to influence decisive moments continue to make him indispensable.
Argentina Arrive in Strong Form
The World Cup holders appear to be peaking at the right time.
In their final warm-up fixture, Argentina secured a comfortable 3-0 victory over Iceland. Valentin Barco opened the scoring before Messi converted from the penalty spot to double the lead. Thiago Almada completed the win as Lionel Scaloni’s side extended their winning streak in friendly matches to eight games.
The performance highlighted a familiar trend. Argentina may no longer depend entirely on Messi, but when the pressure rises, they still look towards their captain for inspiration.
With a settled squad, winning momentum and the confidence of defending champions, Argentina will once again be viewed as one of the favourites for the title.
|
FIFA World Cup 2026 Portugal schedule |
||
|
Fixture |
Date |
Venue |
|
Portugal vs DR Congo |
Wednesday, June 17 |
NRG Stadium |
|
Portugal vs Uzbekistan |
Tuesday, June 23 |
NRG Stadium |
|
Colombia vs Portugal |
Saturday, June 27 |
Hard Rock Stadium |
If Messi enters the tournament chasing history, Ronaldo arrives seeking redemption.
Portugal’s captain will participate in his sixth FIFA World Cup, extending a record few players are likely to match anytime soon. Yet despite an extraordinary collection of individual and team honours throughout his career, the World Cup trophy remains the one major prize missing from his cabinet.
Portugal will open their campaign against DR Congo on June 17 in Houston before facing Uzbekistan on June 23 and Colombia on June 27.
Portugal Building Momentum
Portugal head into the tournament with confidence after defeating Nigeria in their final pre-World Cup friendly.
Although Ronaldo did not get on the scoresheet, Portugal continued their impressive form, securing a fourth consecutive victory. Pedro Neto and Francisco Conceição found the net in a performance that showcased the depth surrounding their legendary captain.
The squad appears balanced between experienced leaders and emerging stars, giving Portugal realistic ambitions of making a deep run into the knockout rounds.
For Ronaldo, however, the focus will inevitably remain on whether he can finally leave his mark during the latter stages of a World Cup. Despite his incredible scoring record, knockout-stage goals have remained frustratingly elusive throughout his tournament career.
Why Messi and Ronaldo Still Matter?
Age may have reduced some of their physical explosiveness, but neither Messi nor Ronaldo has lost the qualities that made them global icons.
Messi remains one of football’s most intelligent playmakers, capable of unlocking defenses with a single pass or moment of brilliance. His leadership was instrumental during Argentina’s triumph in Qatar, and his influence extends far beyond goals and assists.
Ronaldo, meanwhile, continues to provide Portugal with a ruthless goalscoring presence, unmatched experience and a winning mentality forged over two decades at the highest level.
Their roles may have evolved from carrying teams single-handedly to guiding talented supporting casts, but both remain central figures for their nations.
Could the World Cup Deliver One Final Messi vs Ronaldo Showdown?
One of the most fascinating possibilities at the tournament is a long-awaited World Cup meeting between football’s greatest rivals.
Remarkably, Messi and Ronaldo have never faced each other at a FIFA World Cup.
Depending on how the knockout bracket unfolds, Argentina and Portugal could finally meet during the latter stages of the competition. Such a clash would instantly become one of the most anticipated matches in World Cup history.
Whether that meeting happens or not, the 2026 World Cup promises to be a celebration of two extraordinary careers.
For football fans around the world, every touch, goal and appearance could be part of the final World Cup chapter for two players who transformed the sport forever.
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