Category: Sports News

Messi’s World Cup Post Beats Egg to Become Most-Liked on Instagram

Lionel Messi set yet another record on Tuesday after his Instagram post celebrating Argentina’s World Cup win became the most-liked on the platform, breaking a nearly four-year-old record held by a photo of an egg. Having led Argentina to their first World Cup in 36 years with victory over France on Sunday, Messi proceeded to…


More Than 25 Million Watched World Cup Final in US

Argentina’s dramatic victory over France in penalty kicks in the World Cup final was the second most-watched soccer match of any kind in the United States. The early numbers from Nielsen, Fox and Telemundo show Sunday’s match had an English- and Spanish-language combined audience of 25,783,000. That trails the 26.7 million that tuned in to…


Australian Pitch Invaders Given Life Bans

Two Melbourne Victory fans who rushed the AAMI Park pitch, including one who allegedly hit Melbourne City goalkeeper Tom Glover with a metal bucket, have received life bans from Football Australia. Dec. 17 evening’s violent pitch invasion at AAMI Park forced the abandonment of the A-League Men derby. Glover suffered a concussion and facial laceration…


Millions Flood Buenos Aires as Argentina Soccer Team Airlifted in Choppers

BUENOS AIRES—Millions of ecstatic Argentines flooded onto the streets of Buenos Aires on Tuesday to cheer the country’s World Cup-winning soccer squad led by Lionel Messi, with the heaving crowd bringing the open-top bus parade to a standstill. The players were unable to reach the central Obelisco monument as planned due to security concerns because…


Argentina’s World Cup Winners Arrive Home to Hero’s Welcome

BUENOS AIRES—Thousands of ecstatic fans gave Argentina’s football squad a hero’s welcome in Buenos Aires in the early hours before dawn on Tuesday after the plane carrying Lionel Messi and his World Cup-winning team mates touched down at Ezeiza airport. The Argentine capital has been in party mode since their dramatic victory over France in…


France’s Benzema Retires From International Football After Missing World Cup

France striker Karim Benzema announced his retirement from international football on his 35th birthday on Monday, a day after Les Bleus lost to Argentina on penalties in the World Cup final. Ballon d’Or winner Benzema, who scored 37 times in 97 appearances, was expected to lead the line for France in Qatar but missed the…


‘All-Time Classic’: Former Players Blown Away by Thrilling World Cup Final

Former players came together in acclaiming the World Cup final in Qatar as one of the best ever after Argentina beat France on penalties following a pulsating 3–3 draw. Lionel Messi scored twice and Kylian Mbappe grabbed a hat-trick in 120 minutes of breathtaking action, before Gonzalo Montiel sent Hugo Lloris the wrong way to…


Champion Jockey Dettori Says He Will Retire After 2023 Season

Italian jockey Frankie Dettori, who has ridden more than 3,300 British winners and has 21 British Classic triumphs, said 2023 will be his final year in the saddle as he plans to retire after one last race at the Breeders’ Cup. The British-based 52-year-old, who has enjoyed a glittering career in the sport he has…


Croatia Beats Morocco 2–1 to Take 3rd Place at World Cup

AL RAYYAN, Qatar—Luka Modric led Croatia to third place in what was likely the midfield great’s last appearance at the World Cup. The runners-up from four years ago secured another medal by beating Morocco 2–1 in the third-place match on Saturday. Mislav Orsic scored the decisive goal shortly before halftime at Khalifa International Stadium to…


Key Match-Ups in World Cup Final Between Argentina and France

DOHA—Argentina and France meet in Sunday’s World Cup final at Lusail Stadium. Both countries are bidding for their third title with the French having the chance to become the first back-to-back champions since Brazil in 1962. Here are three of the key match-ups that are likely to have a strong bearing on the result: Kylian…