Football/Soccer 3 Days

Last updated: July 21, 2026, 2:30 AM ET

World Cup concludes with Spain's triumph and Messi's farewell

Spain have been crowned champions of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, defeating Argentina 1-0 in a hard-fought final in New Jersey. The decisive goal came in extra time, securing Spain's second World Cup title and making them the first nation to hold both men's and women's World Cup titles simultaneously, 96. Rodri was lauded for his pivotal role in Spain's victory, earning the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player. Lionel Messi, in what is likely his final World Cup appearance, was unable to inspire Argentina to victory, struggling in the final and receiving a player rating of 3/10 34, 92. Despite the loss, Argentina's FA president paid tribute to Messi's contributions. FIFA has opened an investigation into post-final. The tournament's final was watched by a peak audience of 15.8 million on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

Post-World Cup fallout and transfer market buzz

Following the World Cup final, Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul will take a break and miss Inter Miami CF's next two MLS games. Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni is also uncertain about his future with the national team. Meanwhile, the transfer market is heating up. Chelsea are reportedly in talks with Crystal Palace for defender Maxence Lacroix and have completed the signing of Manchester United forward Melvine Malard for £750,000. Morgan Rogers is set to join Chelsea in a British-record £117m deal from Aston Villa. Bayern Munich defender Konrad Laimer has signed a.

Individual honors and notable performances

In other football news, Spain's Lamine Yamal has been recognized for his stellar World Cup performance, with one report suggesting he has "completed football" at just. Kylian Mbappé equaled Lionel Messi's all-time World Cup goal record, scoring his 21st and 22nd career goals in the tournament. Jude Bellingham set a new England record, becoming the first Englishman to score seven goals at a. Bukayo Saka, who scored a hat-trick in England's third-place playoff win over France, 139, expressed his desire to have played more at the tournament.

Beyond the World Cup: Other sporting headlines

In rugby, Ben Earl has criticized the "brutal" Nations Championship schedule after. In darts, Cameron Menzies caused a major upset at the World Matchplay, defeating world number. The horse racing world saw anticipation for races, while the golf world looked ahead to major events in 2027. Formula 1 saw Kimi Antonelli admitting to reaching "rock bottom" during his rookie season, and Lewis Hamilton expressed relief after a pit-stop incident where a mechanic was hit by his car. In cricket, England clinched their ODI series against India with a win at Lord's 109, 126.

Nauru's football journey and counterfeit kit concerns

Nauru, a nation that has never played an official international football match, is exploring ways to introduce the sport. In a concerning development, counterfeit football shirts worth over £18m were seized in the UK during the World Cup due to safety concerns. The passing of former England captain and manager Kevin Keegan at the age of 75 was also announced.