The opening half belonged mostly to Cruz Azul, who pushed aggressively in search of the opening goal and even saw a penalty overturned after a VAR review for offside. Pumas UNAM improved as the match progressed and nearly found the breakthrough in the second half, but Kevin Mier responded with a spectacular save in a one-on-one chance against Uriel Antuna.

During the final minutes, Cruz Azul threw everything forward looking for the winner, while Pumas UNAM defended deep to protect the result. In the end, both teams settled for a 0-0 draw, leaving everything to be decided in the second leg on Sunday, May 24.

Jalen Williams exited Game 2 in the first quarter with 1:34 remaining and never came back, and the update doesn’t sound good. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Williams will be evaluated day to day, game to game, with a left hamstring injury. He will undergo treatment, and his return will be determined entirely by how his body responds to the recovery process.

It sounds like Williams has a chance to be available for Game 3 on Friday, but it’s still unclear if he’s dealing only with soreness or another strain. If he’s unable to gut it out Friday, Isaiah Joe, Jared McCain, and especially Ajay Mitchell would all be candidates for increased roles.

Something that already happened to Jalen

The main problem is that this is the second injury to the same hamstring in less than a month, making the situation considerably more uncertain than a typical medical report would indicate.

Williams originally suffered a Grade 1 strain in his left hamstring in Game 2 of the first round against the Phoenix Suns, missing six games before returning for the series opener.

He played 27 minutes before the Thunder lost in double overtime, and his recovery seemed to be progressing well until Wednesday night, when Williams was receiving treatment on his left hamstring midway through the game, and the Thunder subsequently announced that he was ruled out for the remainder of Game 2 due to hamstring tightness.

Before the start of this season, Williams had already dealt with a wrist injury suffered during last year’s playoffs, in which they won the title, and he has now suffered three distinct hamstring injuries throughout the 2025-26 season.

Jalen’s numbers

Williams averaged 17.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 5.5 assists on 48.4% shooting during the regular NBA season, and had scored 20 or more points in two of his three playoff appearances before Wednesday’s exit.

With this Saudi Pro League title, Ronaldo reached a total of 36 trophies won in his career at club and national team level. Meanwhile, Messi holds the upper hand in this area with 46 career titles to his name.

Al Nassr put on a brilliant performance, featuring goals from Sadio Mane, Kingsley Coman, and Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored a brace and secured his 973rd career goal. The goal-scoring display from one of the best players in history, who has chased this title for so long, could not be missed.

Ronaldo and Messi’s club titles

Ronaldo had a much bigger journey across different clubs than Messi. The Portuguese star played for Sporting CP, Manchester United (two stints), Real Madrid and Juventus before landing at Al Nassr. Messi, on the other hand, has only played for three clubs: Barcelona, PSG, and Inter Miami.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s club titles

1. Man.United – UEFA Champions League (2008)
2. Real Madrid – UEFA Champions League (2014)
3. Real Madrid – UEFA Champions League (2016)
4. Real Madrid – UEFA Champions League (2017)
5. Real Madrid – UEFA Champions League (2018)
6. Real Madrid – UEFA Super Cup (2014)
7. Real Madrid – UEFA Super Cup (2016)
8. Real Madrid – UEFA Super Cup (2017)
9. Man.United – FIFA Club World Cup (2008)
10. Real Madrid – FIFA Club World Cup (2014)
11. Real Madrid – FIFA Club World Cup (2016)
12. Real Madrid – FIFA Club World Cup (2017)
13. Man.United – English Premier League (2007)
14. Man.United – English Premier League (2008)
15. Man.United – English Premier League (2009)
16. Real Madrid – LaLiga (2012)
17. Real Madrid – LaLiga (2017)
18. Juventus – Scudetto Serie A (2019)
19. Juventus – Scudetto Serie A (2020)
20. Man.United – FA Cup (2004)
21. Man.United – EFL Cup (2006)
22. Man.United – EFL Cup (2009)
23. Real Madrid – Copa del Rey (2011)
24. Real Madrid – Copa del Rey (2014)
25. Juventus – Coppa Italia (2021)
26. Sporting CP – Supertaca Candido de Oliveira (2002)
27. Man.United – FA Community Shield (2007)
28. Man.United – FA Community Shield (2008)
29. Real Madrid – Spanish Super Cup (2012)
30. Real Madrid – Spanish Super Cup (2017)
31. Juventus – Supercoppa Italiana (2019)
32. Juventus – Supercoppa Italiana (2021)
33. Al Nassr – Saudi Pro League (2026)

* The Arab Club Champions Cup won with Al Nassr in 2023 isn’t recognized as an official title by FIFA or the AFC.

Lionel Messi’s club titles

1. Barcelona – UEFA Champions League (2006)
2. Barcelona – UEFA Champions League (2009)
3. Barcelona – UEFA Champions League (2011)
4. Barcelona – UEFA Champions League (2015)
5. Barcelona – UEFA Super Cup (2009)
6. Barcelona – UEFA Super Cup (2011)
7. Barcelona – UEFA Super Cup (2015)
8. Barcelona – FIFA Club World Cup (2009)
9. Barcelona – FIFA Club World Cup (2011)
10. Barcelona – FIFA Club World Cup (2015)
11. Barcelona – LaLiga (2005)
12. Barcelona – LaLiga (2006)
13. Barcelona – LaLiga (2009)
14. Barcelona – LaLiga (2010)
15. Barcelona – LaLiga (2011)
16. Barcelona – LaLiga (2013)
17. Barcelona – LaLiga (2015)
18. Barcelona – LaLiga (2016)
19. Barcelona – LaLiga (2018)
20. Barcelona – LaLiga (2019)
21. PSG – Ligue 1 (2022)
22. PSG – Ligue 1 (2023)
23. Inter Miami – Supporters Shield (2024)
24. Barcelona – Copa del Rey (2009)
25. Barcelona – Copa del Rey (2012)
26. Barcelona – Copa del Rey (2015)
27. Barcelona – Copa del Rey (2016)
28. Barcelona – Copa del Rey (2017)
29. Barcelona – Copa del Rey (2018)
30. Barcelona – Copa del Rey (2021)
31. Inter Miami – MLS Cup (2025)
32. Barcelona – Spanish Super Cup (2005)
33. Barcelona – Spanish Super Cup (2006)
34. Barcelona – Spanish Super Cup (2009)
35. Barcelona – Spanish Super Cup (2010)
36. Barcelona – Spanish Super Cup (2011)
37. Barcelona – Spanish Super Cup (2013)
38. Barcelona – Spanish Super Cup (2016)
39. Barcelona – Spanish Super Cup (2018)
40. PSG – Trophee des Champions (2022)
41. Inter Miami – Leagues Cup (2023)

International titles

On the international stage, Messi and Ronaldo made a notable difference by winning titles, Messi leading Argentina back to world glory after so many years, and Ronaldo putting Portugal on the map by helping win the nation’s first titles.

Ronaldo’s international trophies with Portugal:

1. UEFA European Championship (2016)
2. UEFA Nations League (2019)
3. UEFA Nations League (2025)

Messi’s international accolades with Argentina:

1. Copa America (2021)
2. CONMEBOL-UEFA Cup of Champions (2022)
3. FIFA World Cup (2022)
4. Copa America (2024)
5. Olympic Gold Medal (2008)

* At the youth level, Messi also won the FIFA U-20 World Cup with Argentina in 2005.

Following the incidents, “La Familia” released an official statement establishing that they remained silent for 85 minutes not to stop supporting the club, but because they wanted to receive more consideration from the Inter Miami players.

Everything boiled over when they began to chant, “Players, respect your supporters, say hello to your people, who never ask for things.” The group made it clear that they are not looking to offend or insult the players or staff, but rather the fans are asking for the smallest sign of acknowledgement from the people inside the field.

What happened during the match with Lionel Messi?

All the tension exploded when the supporters began to sing the aforementioned chant, but of course, Messi and the others took it as a protest without understanding any of it, despite the club recently celebrating another major title.

Lionel Messi reacted visibly frustrated as the chants grew louder from sections of the crowd, with the captain immediately reacting toward the stands. Everyone quickly focused on Messi’s response as he appeared to confront the situation directly, showing he was not willing to accept the criticism aimed at his teammates.

The Argentine captain, upon hearing the chants, changed his posture and gait and headed toward the stands. With clear gestures of annoyance, he repeatedly made the well-known Italian and Argentine gesture with his hands, implying a lack of sense in what they were singing, making his displeasure evident. The scene dragged on until the tension dissipated, although the distance between the idol and part of his audience remained marked.

At the end of the match, the attitudes were varied, as while some players approached to greet the fans, Messi, accompanied by Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul, went straight to the locker room.

On Instagram, Joao Pedro posted a story admitting that it is a shame to be left out but made it clear that he will continue supporting Brazil. “I tried to give my best at all times. Unfortunately, it wasn’t possible to fulfill this dream of representing my country in a World Cup, but I remain calm and focused, as I always try to be.

“Joys and frustrations are part of soccer. From now on, I wish good luck to everyone who is there and I will be just another fan cheering for them to bring the sixth title home,” Pedro wrote, also partly responding to the message from Ancelotti after leaving him out.

Is Joao’s absence unfair?

The absence of Joao can be very noticeable for Brazil, as he is one of those clinical and unpredictable players that Brazil lack so much right now. To give an idea, throughout this season with Chelsea in the Premier League, he has recorded 15 goals and five assists.

And comparing him to the stars called up by Brazil, Pedro is the player with the third most goal contributions as a Brazilian this season, trailing only Vinicius Jr (32) and Raphinha (29), providing an attacking presence that could save Brazil even as a substitute.

Ancelotti’s message to Joao Pedro

Following the celebration and joy of everyone over the inclusion of Neymar, people remembered those who were left out by Brazil, including many players who participated at Qatar 2022.

Ancelotti addressed the absence of players like Joao Pedro, explaining that it was a tough decision to make. “I am sad for players who have been left out, like Joao Pedro,” Ancelotti said. “They will have chances in the future.”

In a play in the 67th minute, Havertz committed a very harsh foul on Chimunanya Ugochukwu during a battle for the ball in midfield. Havertz slided, but planted his cleats into the calf area of his opponent in a play that easily could have injured him. However, the Premier League maintain that it was not a situation for the referee to review for a red card.

On the account Premier League Match Centre, they stated the following: “The referee’s call of yellow card to Havertz was checked and confirmed by VAR – with the challenge deemed not to be serious foul play.”

Havertz as Arsenal’s hero

Despite that situation, Havertz stepped up as a hero for the Gunners, scoring the game-winning goal in the first half thanks to an assist from Bukayo Saka. The goal came from a corner kick where Havertz rose and connected with a header.

Arsenal’s remarkable stat

With that somewhat blatant foul and the unissued ejection for Havertz, Arsenal continue to have zero penalties and zero red cards awarded against them this season. We will probably witness history on the final matchday, because no team has managed to emerge as champions with such a record in the Premier League.

With the updated Premier League standings after the win, Arsenal depend on themselves for the title, while Manchester City sit second with 77 points and still have a game in hand against Bournemouth on Tuesday. If Man City tie or lose, Arsenal will clinch the Premier League title on Tuesday. If City win, Arsenal only need to to beat Crystal Palace on Sunday to secure the championship.

If City beat Bournemouth but drop points against Aston Villa on Sunday, Arsenal will also be crowned champions regardless of their own result. The Citizens’ only chance to win the Premier League now is to win both of their remaining games and hope Arsenal don’t beat Crystal Palace.

The surprise following the inclusion of Neymar was the absence of Chelsea forward Joao Pedro, with Ancelotti making it clear that it is a shame, but that he will have another opportunity down the road. “I am sad for players who have been left out, like Joao Pedro,” Ancelotti said. “They will have chances in the future.”

Joao Pedro is one of the biggest omissions from the Brazil roster that is generating excitement ahead of the World Cup. Pedro’s profile is exactly what screams Jogo Bonito and that Brazilian identity they have been searching for so much during this time.

Joao Pedro’s season

Joao Pedro has put together a season worthy of consideration, serving as one of the key players for Chelsea, who have not had a good season, though he has stood out above the rest. This season, he recorded 15 goals and five assists in the Premier League. Only Erling Haaland (34), Bruno Fernandes (28), and Igor Thiago (23) have directly contributed to more goals in the Premier League this season than Joao Pedro.

And he was left out, surely because of Neymar. He is Brazil’s all-time top scorer with 79 goals and has represented the Selecao at three World Cups, including their home tournament in 2014. He has scored eight goals and provided three assists in 13 matches at the World Cup. Only Ronaldo (19), Pele (18), and Jairzinho (12) have directly contributed to more goals at the finals for Brazil.

Official Brazil World Cup roster

The squad managed by Carlo Ancelotti is one of the big question marks heading into the upcoming World Cup due to the poor performance they have shown in the Qualifiers and that lack of identity, but with the inclusion of Neymar and the rest of the call-ups, there is hope, even if, name by name, they do not compare to those of previous World Cups.

Here’s the Brazil World Cup roster:

Goalkeepers

• Alisson Becker, Liverpool
• Ederson Moraes, Fenerbahce
• Weverton, Gremio

Defenders

• Marquinhos, PSG
• Gabriel Magalhaes, Arsenal
• Gleison Bremer, Juventus
• Danilo, Flamengo
• Alex Sandro, Flamengo
• Wesley, Roma
• Douglas Santos, Zenit
• Ibanez, Al Ahli
• Leo Pereira, Flamengo

Midfielders

• Casemiro, Manchester United
• Lucas Paqueta, Flamengo
• Bruno Guimaraes, Newcastle
• Fabinho, Al Ittihad
• Danilo Santos, Botafogo

Forwards

• Neymar, Santos
• Vinicius Junior, Real Madrid
• Raphinha, Barcelona
• Gabriel Martinelli, Arsenal
• Matheus Cunha, Manchester United
• Endrick, Lyon
• Luiz Henrique, Zenit
• Igor Thiago, Brentford
• Rayan, Bournemouth

Notable omissions for Brazil

Aside from Joao Pedro, other players cause a surprise by being left out of the roster, players like Alex Telles, Thiago Silva, Everton Ribeiro, Richarlison, and Gabriel Jesus, while also keeping in mind injured players like Rodrygo and Eder Militao.

Manchester City sit second with 77 points and have two games left. Arsenal can secure the Premier League title on Tuesday if Man City drop points against Bournemouth. But even if the Citizens win, the Gunners will still control their own destiny as they can secure the championship by beating Crystal Palace on Sunday.

If City beat Bournemouth but drop points against Aston Villa on Sunday, Arsenal will also be crowned champions regardless of their result against Crystal Palace.

Now, the pressure is on Manchester City. With Pep Guardiola reportedly leaving regardless of how the title race finishes, the Citizens now have to win both of their final games to have a chance at surpassing Arsenal. City’s only chance to win the Premier League now is to win both games and hope Arsenal drop points against Crystal Palace.

Arsenal’s remaining fixture

Arsenal only have matchday 38 remaining, which is a favorable situation because they are scheduled to face Crystal Palace, who sit 15th and will play in the UEFA Conference League final three days later.

All things considered, they should be able to secure the positive result, but we know that anything is possible in soccer. If City beat Bournemouth on Tuesday, Arsenal will have to wait until May 24 to secure the Premier League title.

Man City’s remaining fixtures

City have it in their hands to play the role of the villain and spoil the party for Arsenal, who have been searching for this achievement since the 2003-04 season during that memorable Premier League campaign where they secured it while going undefeated.

However, City face a slightly more complicated run of fixtures to close out the year, playing first against sixth-place Bournemouth and next against fourth-place Aston Villa. They need two wins and Arsenal to tie or lose on Sunday.

• Bournemouth (away), May 19
• Aston Villa (home), May 24

The second leg developed into a tactical battle, with Pumas controlling key stretches of possession while Pachuca relied on compact defensive structure and quick transitions led by Enner Valencia. Both sides struggled to consistently generate clear scoring chances in open play, with much of the danger coming from set pieces and isolated moments in wide areas. The intensity increased after halftime, but final execution in the attacking third remained the key difference.

In the end, Pumas managed the match intelligently after taking the lead, slowing down Pachuca’s momentum and closing spaces effectively until full time. Pachuca had late opportunities to equalize, including a clear chance that went over the bar from Salomon Rondon, but could not capitalize. The result sends Pumas UNAM into the Liga MX 2026 Clausura final against Cruz Azul, while Pachuca exit after a narrow and competitive semifinal series.

Ousmane Dembele limped out of PSG’s match against Paris FC on Sunday, May 17, in a major scare for club and country. The reigning Ballon d’Or winner exited the pitch in the 28th minute and went straight down the tunnel, with Goncalo Ramos replacing him. According to Fabrice Hawkins, the substitution was a matter of simple precaution.

“According to the initial reports, it is a simple precaution following an alert with Ousmane Dembele, who went off in the 28th minute of the match against Paris FC just two weeks before the Champions League final. The situation will be monitored over the coming days.”

Dembele’s season

Dembele has once again been excellent for PSG throughout this season, tallying 18 goals and providing 11 assists across all competitions. He was also recently named the Ligue 1 Player of the Season for the second consecutive campaign.

Following the Champions League final, Dembele is scheduled to join up with his France teammates ahead of the World Cup. Les Bleus kick off their World Cup campaign on June 16 against Senegal in New Jersey, and they will also face Iraq and Norway in Group I.

Dembele will be a key piece in Deschamps’ squad, as he has reached the World Cup in his best form and will surely be crucial in important moments. France have made back-to-back World Cup finals, defeating Croatia in 2018 before falling to Argentina on penalty kicks in 2022.

The exit of Dembele negatively impacted PSG during the match against Paris FC, and despite the fact that they received the trophy before the encounter and were already crowned champions, they ultimately suffered a 2-1 defeat.

The Saudi Pro League has announced the shortlist of five candidates for the 2025-26 Player of the Season award. Heading into the final matchday, Cristiano Ronaldo and Ivan Toney lead the nominations alongside Joao Felix, Julian Quinones, and Ruben Neves, capping off a highly contested season between Al Nassr and Al Hilal.

Cristiano is one of the clear favorites after leading Al Nassr in the title race and putting them in position to become champions, though nothing is decided until the final matchday. Ronaldo currently has 26 goals, standing as the third-highest scorer in the league.

A tight title race on the final matchday

With the final matchdays set to be played on Thursday, Al Nassr lead with 83 points, two more than the undefeated Al Hilal. The leaders face Damac, and a victory would give them the title, while Al Hilal visit Al Fayha. All the pressure is on Al Nassr, as a stumble could allow the second-place side to snatch the crown away from them at the very last moment.

Ronaldo and Felix in search of domestic glory

Ronaldo has already lost four finals with Al Nassr but the league crown is still up for grabs. The veteran has scored 26 goals this season and became the third player of the modern era to reach 100 goals in the Pro League. With seven Man of the Match awards, he is a favorite for the player of the season title.

He needs to win the final matchday to achieve his first major title with the club since his arrival on January 1, 2023. His teammate Joao Felix is also nominated, having scored three hat-tricks, a record for a midfielder, while leading the league in assists with 12 and ranking second in total goal contributions.

The other nominees for the award

Toney has scored 32 goals in 31 league matches with Al Ahli, recording four hat-tricks and earning nine Man of the Match awards in the Saudi Pro League. At Al Qadsiah, Quinonez stands out, having reached 30 goals this season to surpass the historic club record in the top flight with 50 total goals, while also winning 13 Man of the Match awards. Additionally, Ruben Neves anchors the midfield for Al Hilal, becoming the first player to surpass 2,000 passes to lead the league in key passes.

The opening half was evenly contested, with both teams trading control and chances in a tense atmosphere. Cruz Azul took the lead through Jeremy Marquez, while Chivas responded quickly with an equalizer from Omar Govea to keep the match level at halftime. Goalkeepers were heavily involved throughout, keeping the score tight.

In the second half, Cruz Azul found the decisive moment through Agustin Palavecino, whose shot deflected off Diego Campillo and ended up in the net for the winning goal. Chivas continued pushing forward in search of an equalizer, but Cruz Azul held firm defensively to protect their advantage. In the end, Cruz Azul’s efficiency in key moments proved decisive in sealing their place in the final.

Today, Al Ahli played against Al Khoolod and secured a 3-0 victory, where the goal to open the scoring was scored by Ivan Toney, the leader of the scoring table of the Saudi Pro League, who reached a total of 32 goals with that strike. Right behind him is Julian Quinones with 30, while Cristiano stays in third place.

It is almost impossible for Cristiano to reach that mark with only one Saudi Pro League match remaining. Ronaldo has 26 goals, six behind Toney. That meant in Al Nassr’s final match against Damac, Ronaldo needs to score six goals to tie Toney, assuming he does not score on the final matchday, something practically impossible.

Has Ronaldo ever scored six goals in one match?

No, Cristiano Ronaldo has never scored six goals in one official match. His highest scoring record in a single game was five goals, a feat he achieved twice during his career, both while wearing the Real Madrid jersey.

The matches where Ronaldo achieved that record were the following, both in La Liga: Real Madrid 9-1 Granada on April 5, 2015, and Espanyol 0-6 Real Madrid on September 12, 2015.

That Cristiano season was one of his best in terms of goalscoring. He finished LaLiga campaign as top scorer with 48 goals in 35 matches, a number that earned him his second consecutive Golden Boot. Overall, he ended that season with 61 goals in 54 matches.

What is next for Cristiano Ronaldo?

With only a few days remaining before the start of the 2026 World Cup, Ronaldo suffered an emotional blow after losing the AFC Champions League Two final and still not winning that long-awaited title with Al Nassr, although he could still achieve it soon while fighting for the Saudi Pro League, where they depended on themselves.

Cristiano had a worrying number of lost finals with Al Nassr, something unusual for him, but now they would search for that league title against Damac on May 21, 2026, and then look to prove himself while preparing to play in his sixth World Cup with Portugal.

With the final loss to Gamba Osaka, Cristiano has now lost four finals at Al Nassr. The first was the 2023-24 King’s Cup Final against Al Hilal on penalties, the second was the 2024 Saudi Super Cup Final against Al Hilal, and the third came at the 2025 Saudi Super Cup Final, lost to Al Ahli on penalties.

This AFC Champions League Two final ended in a 1-0 defeat after Al Nassr conceded a goal in the 30th minute, and an incredible fact is that it was the only shot on target by the opponents during the entire match, enough to take the title away from them. However, Ronaldo and Al Nassr can still win the Saudi Pro League in the final matchday.

Al Nassr remain in the fight for a title

The defeat was definitely a result against all expectations. Al Nassr were the clear favorites, especially with Cristiano Ronaldo searching for that title he has fought for during such a long time, but they still couldn’t get it done. However, Al Nassr have the opportunity in the Saudi Pro League, which has one matchday remaining.

Al Nassr have 83 points, which keeps them in first place, while Al Hilal, who are second, have 81 points after their victory over Neom on Saturday. Al Nassr are forced to win to avoid complications. With a draw, they would still be in some danger due to goal difference (60), as Al Hilal (57) would need to win by a difference of four goals to overtake them and steal the title. And if Al Nassr lose while Al Hilal win, Ronaldo would be left empty-handed.

It will all be decided on May 21, 2026, when the 2025-26 Saudi Pro League finale takes place. Al Nassr will face Damac, and simultaneously, Al Hilal will play Al Fayha.

The last continental club title won by Ronaldo

Ronaldo’s most recent official continental club trophy dates back to 2018, when he helped Real Madrid win the UEFA Champions League during the 2017-18 season. That title was the fifth Champions League trophy of his career.

The opening half started with both teams creating dangerous chances before Chivas took the lead through Sandoval after a rebound inside the box. Cruz Azul responded quickly thanks to a surprisingly long-range effort from Bryan Gonzalez that caught the goalkeeper off guard. The match then became increasingly physical, with several yellow cards and constant fouls interrupting the rhythm.

In the second half, Chivas regained the advantage after a perfect cross from Miguel Gomez found Angel Sepulveda inside the box. Cruz Azul answered once again after Christian Ebere converted a penalty following a VAR review. Both teams pushed until the final minutes, but neither side managed to find the winning goal, leaving the series wide open heading into the second leg.

According to Brett Siegel of Clutchpoints, Stephen Curry reportedly made it known “internally” that he wants to play at least 20 seasons in the NBA. That would mean two more years in the league, because it is important to remember that he is already in his 17th season.

During his time in Golden State, the team won four NBA championships in 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2022, more than some teams have won in their entire existence. It is a very high number, and he is still fighting to extend it and continue building his own legacy.

Curry’s contract with the Warriors

Curry is under contract through the upcoming season, having signed a one-year, $62 million deal. If he’s truly intent on playing at least another two years beyond his current contract, it will be up to him and the Warriors to come up with a deal that satisfies both sides.

Curry’s injury update

Curry dealt with a knee injury that kept him out for most of the second half of the season. He was able to return toward the latter part and into the Play-In Tournament, but he was still playing on a minutes restriction. Many were hoping that the injury was not something that could linger past this season, but it looks like all he will need is rest, according to Brett Siegel.

“The good news regarding Curry and his knee ailment is that this is not something that will require offseason surgery, and the extra rest he will receive leading up to training camp in September will be valuable. Sources close to the situation told that Curry will have no limitations entering the 2026-27 season and that his knee injury this past year was simply a product of overuse and wear and tear,” Siegel wrote.

That is good news for Curry and the Warriors, especially at this point in his career, where an injury could affect him for the long haul. More importantly, they are hoping to stay healthy next NBA season to take advantage of the roster they have and the return of Steve Kerr.

With Kerr returning for two more seasons, the standard still seems to be the same for the Warriors, regardless of who is on the floor, and that is to win. There is no doubt that Mike Dunleavy Jr. will do whatever he can during the summer to make sure the Warriors are in the best position to do that.

With this matchday played, City equal the number of matches played (36) since Matchday 31 was pending. That means they had one game fewer than Arsenal, and with the victory, they now have 77 points, only 2 behind Arsenal, who have 79.

City secured the victory thanks to goals from Antoine Semenyo (32′), Omar Marmoush (42′), and Savinho (83′) to seal the victory, with a double assist from Phil Foden, who played arguably his best match of the season so far.

Manchester City’s remaining fixtures

The Premier League has only two matchdays remaining, and with City now level in games played, they have 6 points left to fight for while also relying on Arsenal’s results to steal the title. However, they still have a difficult match against Aston Villa, who are fifth.

• Bournemouth (away), May 19
• Aston Villa (home), May 24

Arsenal’s Premier League pending matches

Arsenal depend on themselves to become champions; they only need to win their next two matches. However, they still have a UEFA Champions League final ahead of them, so it remains to be seen whether Mikel Arteta prefers to rest some players or risk everything in search of that double of titles. Difficult weeks where everything can go very right or very wrong.

It is important to remember that Arsenal claimed a hard-fought win over West Ham, winning thanks to a goal from Leandro Trossard in the 83rd minute. If they had lost that game, and with today’s City victory, they would now be level on points.

• Burnley (home), May 18
• Crystal Palace (away), May 24

The 78-year-old will also become the oldest manager in World Cup history. Advocaat replaces Fred Rutten, who stood down after several players called for Advocaat to return. Advocaat had resigned last November due to his daughter’s ill health.

His return will come against Scotland in a warm-up game at Hampden Park on May 30. It is important to remember that Curacao are part of Group E alongside Germany, Ecuador, and Ivory Coast, looking to make history in what some consider “the group of death.”

Why did Dick Advocaat return?

Advocaat left Curacao in February 2026 due to his daughter’s health problems. At that time, the Curacao Soccer Federation understood the situation and appointed Fred Rutten, another Dutch coach with international experience, as his replacement.

However, Rutten’s cycle lasted only two and a half months. The coach managed only two friendlies, both ending in defeats, 0-2 against China and 1-5 against Australia. Beyond the results, media outlets close to the team environment reported that he never fully connected with the group of players.

Fred Rutten’s position

The Curacao Federation confirmed Rutten’s departure through an official statement. In the text, the coach explained that he decided to step aside to avoid internal conflicts and preserve the atmosphere within the squad.

“There must not be an environment that harms healthy professional relationships within the group and coaching staff. That is why I believe it is right to leave the position,” Rutten said. The federation, meanwhile, thanked him for his professionalism and assured him that the main objective now is to restore stability to the team before the World Cup.

Advocaat, the coach who made history with Curacao

Dick Advocaat already holds a historic place within Curacao soccer. The Dutch coach was responsible for qualifying the country for its first-ever World Cup, also turning Curacao into the nation with the smallest population to reach a World Cup.

Advocaat took charge in 2024 and over two years managed 20 matches, with a record of 11 wins, 6 draws and 3 losses. In addition, the coach has extensive international experience. He previously managed Netherlands and qualified the Oranje for the 1994 World Cup in the United States.

The scoring table places Ronaldo in third place with 26 goals, above him are Julian Quinones with 29, three more goals, and then Ivan Toney with 31, who came from scoring a hat trick in his last match. The Al Ahli striker starred in his side’s 3-1 victory at home to Al Fateh on Wednesday night, his treble in Jeddah featuring two typically poised penalties and another predatory finish.

Ronaldo now has little chances of winning the competition Golden Boot, unless in the final matchday of Al Nassr against Damac, he scores six goals to surpass Toney and hopes that neither Quinones nor Toney scores again, and they also still have one more matchday to do it.

Cristiano already won that award

Despite not winning it this year, Ronaldo already achieved it on two occasions and completed a back-to-back. Cristiano Ronaldo won the 2024-25 Saudi Pro League Golden Boot, scoring 25 goals for Al Nassr to secure his second consecutive title as top scorer after previously winning it in 2023-24.

What matters now to Ronaldo

The most important thing for Ronaldo this season is winning those titles he has searched for so much, both the Saudi Pro League and the AFC Champions League Two. Al Nassr could end up becoming champions on the same day if the results go in their favor, taking into account the updated Saudi Pro League standings and the remaining fixtures.

Al Nassr, to become league champions, depend on themselves or simply with an Al Hilal draw in their next match, it would be enough for them to become league champions.

Ronaldo remains optimistic despite the draw, and he showed it in a message he left on social media. That reflects his leadership within the team despite Bento, the goalkeeper, making a terrible mistake that they hope will not, but could end up costing Al Nassr a championship.

On one hand, it was revealed that Messi has a total annual amount exceeding $28 million, exactly $28,333,333.00. This figure, of course, did not include other types of income connected to his team, such as sponsors or the amount corresponding to him as an Inter Miami shareholder. There is also the base salary, which is $25,000,000.00.

On the other hand, Al Nassr turned Cristiano Ronaldo into the highest-paid player in the world. The Saudi club confirmed that Ronaldo agreed to terms on a two-year extension, as Marca reportedly sees him earn around $185 million annually. An absurd amount, even when compared to Messi.

Comparing Messi salary with MLS

Lionel Messi’s guaranteed salary is more than double that of any other soccer player in MLS at the moment. In second place on the list is Korean forward Son Heung-min, with just over $11 million in guaranteed compensation.

The highest paid players in MLS:

• Lionel Messi (Inter Miami) – $ 28.333.333
• Son Heung-min (LAFC) – $ 11.152.852
• Rodrigo De Paul (Inter Miami) – $ 9.688.320
• Miguel Almiron (Atlanta United) – $ 7.871.000
• Hirving Lozano (San Diego FC) – $ 9.333.333
• Emil Forsberg (New York Red Bulls) – $ 6.035.625
• Sam Surridge (Nashville SC) – $ 5.933.000
• Ricard Puig Marti (LA Galaxy) – $ 5.792.188
• Thomas Muller (Vancouver Whitecaps) – $ 5.152.504
• Jonathan Bamba (Chicago Fire FC) – $ 5.581.806

To give an idea, Miami’s $54.6 million payroll is more than $20 million higher than LAFC, who are second at $32.7 million, and nearly five times as much as Philadelphia’s league low of $11.7 million. Miami’s payroll was up from $46.8 million at the start of last season.

MLS makes these salaries possible

Something that helped make Messi’s contract possible was that total league compensation was $631 million, and the average guaranteed compensation of $688,816 on April 16 was up 8.9% from $632,809 as of last Oct. 1.

Messi’s initial MLS contract, agreed to in July 2023, included a $12 million base salary and annualized guaranteed compensation of $20,446,667. Messi agreed last October to a three-year contract through the 2028 season, then led the team to its first MLS title.

Al Nassr still depend on themselves though. With the draw, they reached 83 points, which is why they maintain control of their destiny. To celebrate the title without depending on anybody else, Al Nassr need to win their final match of the season against Damac FC on Thursday, May 21, 2026. That would see the team reach a total of 86 points, making it mathematically impossible for Al Hilal to finish first.

However, Al Nassr could still secure the title even before playing their pending game. Since Al Hilal have 78 points and play one of their two remaining games on Saturday, May 16, Ronaldo and company could already see themselves crowned as champions with an Al Hilal tie or loss against Neom.

Curiously, Al Nassr have a chance to secure another title on Saturday when they play the AFC Champions League Two final against Gamba Osaka. That means Ronaldo could end up celebrating two different titles on the same day.

Updated Saudi Pro League table

With this result, the updated Saudi Pro League standings paint a special picture on the remaining fixtures for Al Nassr and Al Hilal.

It is important to remember that Al Nassr already played one more match (33) than Al Hilal (32). Al Hilal are only five points behind, which forces them to win their two remaining matches, and if Al Nassr lose their final match, they could lose the title.

The terrible mistake by Bento

Everything was joy and high emotions for Al Nassr until the 90+8’ minute, literally the final minute of the match, when Al Hilal launched a desperate throw-in into Bento’s area. He inexplicably let it slip through his hands and slowly into the net, forcing a devastating 1-1 draw that led to criticism towards Bento.

A clearly dejected Ronaldo was seen on the bench, where he saw the final minutes of the match after being subbed off at the 83th minute. After all, Al Nassr were already trying to secure the result, since with the 1-0 they were becoming league champions, something truly unbelievable that could end up changing the Saudi Pro League finale.

Through an official statement, the Grizzlies mourned his loss and sent a message. “We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of Brandon Clarke. Brandon was an outstanding teammate and an even better person whose impact on the organization and the greater Memphis community will not be forgotten.

We express our deepest condolonces to his family and loved ones during this difficult time,” the Grizzlies expressed. At the moment, the cause of death was not immediately announced.

Adam Silver sends a message

This was something very uncommon in the world of sports, for someone active and currently playing for this to happen was unthinkable. Adam Silver showed his condolences and a message of sympathy through an official statement from the NBA.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver on the passing of Grizzlies’ Brandon Clarke: “We are devastated to learn of the passing of Brandon Clarke. As one of the longest-tenured members of the Grizzlies, Brandon was a beloved teammate and leader who played the game with enormous pride and grit.

“Our thoughts and sympathies are with Brandon’s family, friends, and the Grizzlies organization.” Adam Silver wrote through the statement. It remains to be seen what will happen with tonight’s playoff games, but surely we will see tributes for the player and moments of silence.

Clarke and his time with the Grizzlies

Clarke was drafted in the first round by the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2019 and was traded two weeks later to Memphis, where he spent his entire seven-year career. Clarke emerged as a key contributor as a Grizzlies rookie during the pandemic-shortened 2019-20 season, averaging 12.1 points and 5.9 rebounds in 58 games while making the NBA’s All-Rookie Team and finishing fourth in Rookie of the Year voting.

Clarke served primarily as a valuable bench player early in his career and signed a four-year, $52 million extension with the Grizzlies in October 2022. He suffered a season-ending torn Achilles tendon in March 2023 and appeared in only six games the following season. After playing in 64 games in 2024-25, Clarke appeared in just two games this season because of calf and knee injuries.

LeBron James revealed to the press after the game that he still doesn’t know what his future holds and that he will think about it with his family. “I don’t know, obviously. We’re still fresh from losing. I don’t know what the future holds for me… I’ll go back and recalibrate with my family and talk to them, spend some time with them, and when the time comes, you guys will know what I decide to do.”

LeBron came off a great season, considering he is 41 years old, but we have to be aware that whatever his decision is, all that is left is to applaud him. He finished with 20.9 PPG, 7.2 APG and 6.1 RPG in the regular season, and in the playoffs, he averaged 23.2 PPG, 6.7 RPG and 7.3 APG, in addition to leading and surprising against the Houston Rockets in the first round.

LeBron happy with his season

During the press conference after the game, LeBron also demonstrated satisfaction regarding his performance this NBA season, which keeps getting more complicated because of his age.

“Listen, s****, I left everything I could out on the floor. … I’m not looking at my year as a disappointment, that’s for damn sure,” LeBron said. And there is a lot of truth to that. The closest example we have is the series against the Houston Rockets, where he once again became the first option without his two-star teammates, who were injured (Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves).

And in this season, we saw LeBron in a different role on the Lakers, handing the baton to the next generation, and we saw him in a role we had never seen before, as in certain moments, he was the third option inside of JJ Redick’s system, and he acknowledged it.

The 41-year-old player had never experienced being a third option or role player on a team throughout his career. “I’ve never been a third option in my life. To be able to thrive in that role for that period of time and then have to step back (into the lead role),” James said.

After the 2025-26 season, James’ contract with the Lakers will be up. He will become an unrestricted free agent, and the thought of that has sparked debate in NBA circles about whether or not the league’s longest career will finally end.

The Lakers star is 41 years old and has not indicated that he plans to retire. It appeared as though the one certainty was that this would be James’ final year with the Lakers. There was the odd public statement by James’ agent, Rich Paul, last offseason, along with insiders like Marc Stein reporting that the star would either retire or sign elsewhere this summer.

Amid this chatter, James has been linked to the Golden State Warriors and to rumors of a return to the Cleveland Cavaliers, in search of a championship in his city before retirement. However, James has made no secret about his affinity for Steph Curry throughout his career.

Would LeBron be happy with retirement?

During an April 29 interview with ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, James admitted that he has thought about retirement. James revealed he plans to spend a lot more time with his wife, Savannah James, and family whenever this day comes.

“Hell yeah. My wife is going to get a lot of [expletive] time because I’ve had to sacrifice not being with my wife a lot because I wanted to be the greatest player that ever played this game,” James responded when asked about retirement.

“… My family deserves all my time. And then, me. I deserve my time, too. Because I’ve dedicated to this sport for so long that I’ll be happy as [expletive] when it’s all done to get the [expletive] away and give myself some grace.”

LeBron James’ contract

In 2024, James signed a two-year, fully guaranteed $101.35 million contract with Los Angeles. Per year, he has earned $50.67 million on that deal. James began his Lakers career in 2018, signing a four-year, $153.31 million deal to join the team. In 2021 and 2023, he signed two maximum veteran extensions to remain with the Lakers.

The option of staying with the Lakers

The easiest option for James would be to renew with the Lakers and continue playing alongside his oldest son, Bronny James. Does James really want to start over at this point in his NBA career? Signing with the Warriors or the Cavaliers does not guarantee him a fifth championship.

With the way the Lakers played when James, Luka Doncic, and Austin Reaves were all healthy, the superstar may feel like there is some unfinished business in Hollywood. Until James says differently, do not be surprised if the superstar is once again wearing a Lakers jersey next season.

During a recent appearance on NBA on Prime, Haliburton broke down why playoff basketball was a different beast entirely. “I just think in the regular season through 82 games you’re gonna have the chance to play teams that are kinda just chilling,” Haliburton said. “I feel like through the course of a playoff series, every play matters so much, the margins are so small.”

Haliburton mentioned this during the Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers game as he had been keeping a close eye on his division rivals. On Monday night, that series was tied 2-2 after a 103-112 victory by the Cavaliers.

The Pacers have no luck

The Pacers were one of the biggest losers of the NBA Draft Lottery held Sunday in Chicago. After finishing with the second-worst record in the league behind only the Washington Wizards, who were rewarded with the No. 1 overall pick, the Indianapolis franchise ended up without a first-round selection in what is considered one of the strongest draft classes in recent years.

The situation became even more painful considering the context surrounding the franchise. After losing Game 7 of the NBA Finals and seeing Tyrese Haliburton suffer a serious Achilles tendon injury, the Pacers had already shifted their focus toward building for the 2026 and 2027 seasons.

The fatal move by the Pacers

One of the major moves aimed at strengthening the roster for the future was the trade they completed with the Los Angeles Clippers for Ivica Zubac, a deal that carried significant risk from the beginning.

In exchange for the Croatian center of the NBA, Indiana sent its 2026 first-round pick to Los Angeles under highly unusual protections: protected from picks No. 1 through No. 4 and from No. 10 through No. 30. That meant if the selection landed anywhere between No. 5 and No. 9, it belonged to the Clippers, which is exactly what happened.

As part of the package for one of the most sought-after centers on the market, Indiana also sent shooting guard Bennedict Mathurin, center Isaiah Jackson, a 2029 first-round pick and a future second-round selection to Los Angeles.

One X user pointed out that if Green had done what Wembanyama did, people would be calling for a suspension. Green responded by taking it a step further. “Y’all have called for my career for less,” Green wrote.

Green, of course, has an extensive history that would influence any possible punishment. Wembanyama’s record is nowhere near as extensive. On the other hand, it is worth noting that Green would not benefit at all from being cleared in this case. And there is a lot of truth to that. There are still opinions debating whether that action deserved an ejection because Wemby did not do it intentionally; if it had been Green, the opinions would have been different.

Will Wemby be available?

On some occasions, depending on the severity of the flagrant foul, the player can be suspended for a certain number of games. On this occasion, Wemby was not affected by that. Game 5 is next in San Antonio, and the biggest headline is that Spurs superstar center Victor Wembanyama will be available for selection. It was not an injury situation that would have kept him out, but rather a controversial call that had already received a resolution.

After review, the NBA announced Monday that Wembanyama would face no further discipline, which in essence meant no suspension or fine. He is now eligible for Game 5 on Tuesday at home court.

This was Wembanyama’s first-ever ejection in his career. Perhaps that played a role in the league’s decision not to punish him further. The Frenchman is not known for being a dirty player, or at least has not shown that side in his game.

How did the situation happen?

Wembanyama was ejected early in the second quarter for elbowing Timberwolves forward Naz Reid in the neck area while battling for a rebound. It was initially called a foul, but later upgraded to a Flagrant 2, which meant the French superstar was handed the automatic ejection hammer blow.

Wembanyama, who came into the game on the back of a 39-point performance in Game 3, only saw 12 minutes of action. After the game, attention turned to the league to see if his punishment would go beyond an ejection. However, the 7-foot-4 superstar was only handed a slap on the wrist.

According to Jake Weinbach, the Warriors will likely shop the No. 11 overall pick in trade talks for an immediate impact player that can help maximize the remaining years of the Steph Curry era. The Bay Area side remains in win-now mode after signing Steve Kerr to a new two-year deal.

And something else that was also mentioned is that Kawhi Leonard, Trey Murphy III, and Michael Porter Jr. would be notable names for Golden State to monitor on the trade market. The Warriors would most likely attach first-round draft compensation to Jimmy Butler’s $56.8M expiring salary in any blockbuster deal.

Butler as the main tool to get something done

The Warriors could gauge Butler’s trade market this offseason as they evaluate the roster’s direction. Butler is recovering from a torn right ACL suffered in January. He underwent surgery in February and is expected to miss nine to 12 months, placing a potential return in the late 2026 NBA season.

He is 36 and under contract through 2026-27 after signing a two-year extension following his arrival from the Miami Heat. He is owed $54.1 million next season and $56.8 million the year after.

The Warriors still count on the old guard

It is still too early to say that Curry and Green will remain with the Warriors, but it is almost a fact that they will, and now with Steve Kerr agreeing to a two-year deal, signaling the organization still intends to compete rather than reset.

The Warriors will go against desperation and against all odds. After coming off a season where injuries badly affected them, they will aim for consistency and health for a better postseason.

The 22-year-old player was born in France and had been part of the French youth setup, including the U21 team. However, he never debuted with the senior team. Ange-Yoan Bonny, currently an Inter Milan forward, has Ivorian ancestry and therefore was able to process his nationality switch with FIFA.

The decision date for Ange-Yoan Bonny’s nationality switch was Friday, May 8, 2026. Therefore, the player will be eligible for a call-up by Ivory Coast and to represent them at the World Cup. Les Elephants are in Group E at the World Cup, alongside Germany, Ecuador, and Curacao.

Bonny’s season

During the 2025-2026 season, the player has appeared in a total of 45 matches wearing the Nerazzurri jersey across Serie A, Champions League, Coppa Italia, and the Italian Super Cup, scoring seven goals and providing eight assists.

The forward has also played for French clubs L. B. Chateauroux II, in the fifth division, and L. B. Chateauroux, in the second division. He also played for Parma and Inter Milan in Italy.

Huge decision from the youngster

This move could be key for his career and for securing regular call-ups and participation with Ivory Coast, since in France, he had extremely difficult competition to earn a spot as a forward.

France undoubtedly have the best attack at the team level. Bonny would have had to compete against Mbappe, Dembele, Barcola, Olise, Cherki, Kolo Muani, and Marcus Thuram, just to mention the main names. It is truly overwhelming and extremely difficult to leave one of them out of the squad.

The first half saw Pumas take control early, building a strong 3-1 lead through quick transitions and set pieces. Club America responded before halftime with a penalty and increased pressure, leveling the rhythm of the match and shifting momentum. Both teams created clear chances in a chaotic and physical opening 45 minutes.

In the second half, America pushed aggressively for the equalizer and eventually found it through Zendejas, keeping the tie alive until the final whistle. Pumas UNAM managed key defensive moments late on, including a crucial penalty save by Keylor Navas. Despite the 3-3 result, Pumas UNAM advance to the semifinals under the competition rules.

Pumas arrive full of confidence after finishing as leaders of the overall standings following the 17 rounds of the regular season schedule. With Efrain Juarez in charge, the Pedregal side had a historic tournament and are now looking to confirm it.

Meanwhile, America practically entered the Liguilla by miracle in eighth place. In the first leg played at Estadio Banorte, Las Aguilas managed to come back from a two-goal deficit and tied the series; however, if they want to reach the semifinals, they will have to win away against the universitarios.

What happens if Club America win vs Pumas?

America arrive with a disadvantage in this match, and it is simply the fact that they are deciding the series away from home, but if they manage to get a victory, they would advance directly to the semifinals of the competition.

In the semifinals they would face Chivas, who are coming off winning the series against Tigres with a 3-3 aggregate score, but advancing thanks to finishing in a better position in the overall standings.

What happens if America and Pumas tie?

In the event of a draw, the situation becomes interesting. If the aggregate score ends tied, Pumas advance because of their better position in the standings. And since the aggregate is now 3-3, any draw result would mean the same outcome.

What happens if America lose vs Pumas?

If America lose, they will be officially eliminated from the tournament and without any chance to fight for the title. Pumas would qualify and face Chivas for a place in the final.

Something to take into account is that Pumas protested a possible improper lineup by America in the first leg. If it proceeds, America could be eliminated regardless of the result on the field. The regulations establish: “If a Club incurs an Improper Lineup during the Final Phase, it will lose the right to continue competing in said phase.”

The controversy began in 62′, when Sebastian Caceres suffered a blow to the head and was treated under the concussion protocol. Fourth referee Maximiliano Quintero Hernandez indicated on the board the exit of Miguel Vazquez (#32) for Thiago Espinosa (#22) to enter.

At that moment, Jardine’s assistant pushed Vazquez back onto the field after the seriousness of Caceres’ injury was confirmed, and finally, the substitution was recorded in the referee report signed by Luis Enrique Santander as made by Caceres.

On Instagram, De Paul uploaded a reposted image of Messi and himself with the following message: “My friend and my idol! Thank you for teaching me and helping me fulfill every one of my dreams!” De Paul added, along with a red heart emoji. “Always by your side no matter what,” De Paul concluded.

What was also curious about this post was the song that accompanied it, “Nos Veremos Otra Vez” (We’ll meet again) by Seru Giran. The title generated doubts about what he meant by the message, but there was context behind it. De Paul reposted his own publication, where he uploaded several photos of things that mattered in his life, and he reposted each one with a different message. There were photos of his children, his girlfriend, soccer, and his brother.

De Paul doubtful for the World Cup?

That was one of the doubts being raised. De Paul had received a lot of criticism since arriving at Inter Miami, regarding his performances, which put his call-up with Argentina into question, and whether he would really be part of the squad for the 2026 World Cup.

But it was almost a fact that he would be there. De Paul is a key piece in Scaloni’s system, and he was a player who had always received criticism but had still been called up and proved that with Argentina, he was a completely different player who performed without any doubts.

Messi and De Paul’s last match

In Inter Miami’s last match, where Messi and De Paul shared the field, Messi scored one goal and delivered two assists to become the fastest player to reach 100 goal contributions in MLS history, and Inter Miami defeated Toronto FC 4-2 on Saturday to extend their road winning streak to six matches.

De Paul scored and provided two assists to help Inter Miami recover from a 4-3 home loss against Orlando City after leading 3-0. The club had three draws and one loss at home since moving to Nu Stadium.

De Paul scored after a free kick and a rebound in 44′ minute to give Inter Miami a 1-0 lead. The midfielder controlled the ball after it bounced off the wall and hit a second shot that struck the left post and went into the net.

The reason Barcelona came out wearing black armbands is to show support and affection for Hansi Flick following the passing of his beloved father. In addition, before the match, there was a minute of silence where the head coach was visibly emotional.

Hansi Flick has an extremely important match ahead of him, beyond the title race and the importance of a Clasico, it is also about honoring the memory of his father and dedicating a victory to his name.

The difficult moment for Hansi Flick

The father of Barcelona head coach passed away hours before the LaLiga Clasico against Real Madrid, the club announced this Sunday, May 10, in an official statement. It put him in a moment of mourning, but he still showed leadership and courage by attending the match to manage the team.

“FC Barcelona and the entire blaugrana family want to send our love to Hansi Flick following the passing of his father,” Barca stated. “We share his pain and stand by him during this very difficult moment for him and his family,” the club added.

Barca hold an 11-point lead over Real Madrid with four matches remaining, so a draw this Sunday in the final match of the day would be enough for them to retain the title.

The message from Real Madrid

Real Madrid also sent their condolences to the Barcelona head coach. “Real Madrid C. F., its president and Board of Directors deeply regret the passing of the father of F. C. Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick,” the club stated in an official release. “Real Madrid want to express their condolences and affection to his family and loved ones. Rest in peace,” the statement added.

LeBron expressed his feelings after the game, and it was clear his focus remained on Game 4. “I’m not angry or disappointed,” said James. “Obviously, you’re disappointed in being down 3-0, but we still have life, and that’s all you can ask for, and we have to be better on Monday.”

He finished with 19 points, six rebounds, eight assists, one steal, and zero rebounds in 36 minutes, but it was hardly enough to make a difference against this team. Still, he was not giving up just yet.

What JJ Redick thinks about the situation

With the Lakers down 0-3 in the Western Conference Semifinals, head coach JJ Redick was surely already reflecting on what went wrong in the series. While the Thunder were clearly the better team, going 7-0 in the playoffs so far, the Lakers did not help themselves with their frequent and costly mistakes on the court.

That night, the story repeated itself from the previous three games, the Lakers fought hard, but they could not keep up with the defending NBA champions. For head coach JJ Redick, who had already shown his frustration during the series, the Thunder’s latest victory, 131-108, was proof of their talent and strength as a team.

“They’ve kicked our a** 3 straight games,” said Redick. “They’re an incredible basketball team.” Even though the Lakers went 0-4 against the Thunder during the regular season, Redick approached the series like any other, looking for ways to maximize their own advantages and exploit OKC’s vulnerabilities.

The Lakers had chances to win

The worst part was that the Lakers could have won this game. They were leading after the second quarter and had all the momentum on their side coming out of halftime. But once the Thunder improved their defense and their stars started to shine, the Lakers could not contain what followed.

They simply had too many NBA talented players, including promising guard AJ Mitchell, who finished with 24 points, a team-high, four rebounds, 10 assists, three steals, and zero blocks while shooting 58.8% from the field.

“Third straight game, we were right there after two quarters,” Redick added. “Tried different lineups, different coverages, still lost those minutes again. We’ve got to be better, but I’m not giving up on the series. We’re gonna go try to win on Monday, and we’re gonna try to extend the series, and we’re gonna try to take this thing back to OKC.”

Cunningham reflected on the loss after the game, per reporter Omari Sankofa II. “There’s definitely optimism, to answer your question. We feel great about where we’re at, we feel great about the way we’re playing basketball,” Cunningham said.

Cunningham and the Pistons were enjoying an incredible 2025-26 NBA campaign, winning 60 games to secure the top seed in the East. Despite trailing 3-1 to the Orlando Magic in the first round, they won the last three games to earn their first series win since 2008.

The Pistons’ moment

The Pistons are at their best after so many rebuilding seasons, kept the momentum going against Cleveland, taking a 2-0 series lead after taking Games 1 and 2. They had a chance to go up 3-0, but Donovan Mitchell and James Harden stopped them from stunning the Cavaliers on the road.

Cade Cunningham and the Pistons were close to winning Game 3. However, they needed to clean up their turnovers and other mistakes that cost them against the Cavaliers.

Detroit started slow as the team went down 64-48 at halftime. They fought back with a 33-19 display in the third quarter, but Cleveland made more big plays down the stretch to secure the home victory.

Cunningham’s numbers

Five players scored in double digits for Detroit in the loss, including Cunningham. He led the team with 27 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, and one steal. He shot 10-of-27 from the field, including 2-of-6 from beyond the arc, and 5-of-6 from the free-throw line. Tobias Harris followed with 21 points and five rebounds, Duncan Robinson had 15 points and five steals, while Jalen Duren and Paul Reed added 11 points each.

After the match, during the press conference, Hoyos, despite earning an important victory in Canada, did not forget about the media who pointed out against the No. 10 and dedicated a few words to them. “You have to take much better care of him; there is only one Messi. Take care of him because he fills stadiums; do not abandon him.

“Say whatever you have to say and do not be afraid of that, there is no problem at all with public expression. These players have to be protected because they fill stadiums, I am telling you directly here. We have to take care of the players, we have to protect them, the real protagonists are the soccer players,” declared The Herons’ head coach. Strong words.

Where Inter Miami came from

The Herons were coming off heavy criticism after the inexplicable loss against Orlando in the derby, in a game they were winning 3-0 and ended up losing 4-3, and this Saturday, they returned to winning ways. In the following days, there was criticism from the media toward the Argentine, who did not speak after the defeat, a topic that was heavily discussed throughout the week.

Messi is the man in MLS

The Inter Miami head coach emphasized that players with the hierarchy of Lionel Messi receive constant physical treatment during matches and considered it necessary for referees and organizers to be more attentive in order to preserve the spectacle.

Since his arrival to soccer in the United States, Messi has revolutionized the league with attendance records, ticket sales, and international audience numbers, becoming the main figure in MLS and a global reference who continues making a difference on and off the field.

The record Messi achieved

With Saturday’s goal, Messi became the fastest player in MLS history to reach 100 goal contributions. In his case, a total of 59 goals and 41 assists in 64 matches played. Across his entire career, he now has 907 goals and 410 assists in 1,151 matches. Incredible.

Before Leo, the record belonged to Sebastian Giovinco, who needed 95 matches to achieve it during his time with Toronto FC, precisely. Messi, meanwhile, already left his mark with unprecedented efficiency and broke the record with more than 30 matches to spare, a difference that illustrates the devastating impact of the Rosario native in American soccer.

After Game 3, Edwards was extremely candid when acknowledging the difficulty of trying to square up against the 7-foot-6 French phenom. “They got somebody who 7-6 on the floor. (Wemby) takes up a lot of space,” Edwards said. “Just trying to figure out ways to find an open man around him because in the paint, he’s just everywhere.”

This will be key for the Timberwolves to manage to beat the Spurs with Wembanyama, who is hungry to win the championship, something similar to the first game, where he was defensively neutralized, because yes, he ended up setting a blocks record, but in scoring, he finished well below expectations.

Edwards and Wembanyama’s game

As one would expect, they had no answer for the sheer dominance of Victor Wembanyama. Despite a strong showing by Anthony Edwards, 32 points and 14 rebounds, Wembanyama was the usual force that could not be stopped as he finished with a playoff career-high 39 points, 15 rebounds, and five blocks.

He shot 13-for-18 from the field, 3-for-5 from the 3-point line, and 10-for-12 from the free throw line. Wembanyama scored 16 of his 39 points in the fourth quarter.

In essence, Wembanyama changes the entire Timberwolves offense. He forces them to kick the ball out, limits driving attempts to the basket, and compels them to rush shots. Wemby became the fastest player to reach 100+ points and 30+ blocks in the NBA Playoffs. Meanwhile, Edwards is trying to persevere through these difficulties while recovering from a knee injury.

What is next for this series?

Game 4 will be held on Sunday at 6:30 p.m. CST/7:30 p.m. EST at Target Center in Minneapolis. We could be witnessing the beginning of the road to a series that will extend to a Game 7 for all NBA fans.

The first leg left positive feelings for La Maquina thanks to the efficiency of Christian Ebere, who scored a fundamental brace. With the aggregate score at 3-2 in their favor, the celestes return home with the mission of closing the series and avoiding surprises against Diego Cocca’s side.

Below, we detail all the possible scenarios for this second leg clash, where the sporting advantage and home-field advantage play a decisive role in Cruz Azul’s aspirations.

What happens if Cruz Azul win vs Atlas?

A victory by any score at Estadio Banorte gives the cementeros an automatic place in the semifinals. By winning the second leg, the aggregate score would expand in their favor, eliminating any possibility of a comeback for Atlas. It is the simplest scenario for Huiqui’s squad.

Getting the win would allow the team to control the rhythm of the match and give confidence to the fans in their return to the capital stadium. With the three points secured, La Maquina would advance with a very strong winning momentum, consolidating their great form after the departure of Nicolas Larcamon.

What happens if Cruz Azul and Atlas tie?

A draw in the second leg also sends Cruz Azul directly to the next round of the Liguilla. Since they won 3-2 at Estadio Jalisco, any draw, 0-0, 1-1, or higher, maintains the one-goal aggregate difference, enough to eliminate the Guadalajara side without extra complications.

What happens if Cruz Azul lose vs Atlas?

In the event of a defeat, the situation depends on the goal difference. If Cruz Azul lose by one goal, 0-1, 1-2, etc., the aggregate score would be tied; however, La Maquina would advance to the semifinals thanks to the sporting advantage earned by finishing third in the overall standings.

The situation changes drastically if Atlas manage to win by two or more goals. If the aggregate score ends against the celestes, Cruz Azul would be eliminated from the competition.

With just one victory in their last six matches and very sensitive absences due to Mexico call-ups that also generated serious conflicts, the schedule tells Guadalajara that it is time to react.

What Chivas did during the first part of the tournament will mean very little if they do not show a strong version tonight to defeat a Tigres side motivated after advancing to the Concachampions final, although with significant accumulated fatigue.

What happens if Chivas win vs Tigres?

Something important to keep in mind is that Chivas will not only need to defeat Tigres tonight, but also do so by at least a two-goal margin. For example, scores such as 2-0 or 3-1 would give Guadalajara qualification, and they will need to protect their goal because otherwise the comeback would become even more complicated. This is because a tie on aggregate favors the team better positioned in the standings, in this case, Chivas.

What happens if Chivas and Tigres tie?

After losing by two goals in the first leg, it is clear that a draw will not be enough for Chivas to keep their hopes alive in the Liga MX Clausura 2026. However, they must not lose their composure and need to remember they have 90 minutes to turn the story around.

What happens if Chivas lose against Tigres?

Of course, in the worst-case scenario, another defeat would condemn Chivas to a heavy aggregate elimination against Tigres UANL. Details to keep in mind: If Tigres score one goal, Chivas will need to score three; if Tigres score two goals, Chivas will need to score four; if Tigres score three goals, Chivas will need to score five.

If Chivas lose to Tigres in the second leg at Estadio Akron, Guadalajara will need to win by two goals to tie the aggregate score, as they would advance to the next round after finishing higher in the overall standings.

It did not help matters whatsoever that Maxey jammed his injured right finger; after the game, the 76ers guard admitted to losing his confidence on drives and navigating the Knicks‘ double teams, as per Adam Aaronson of The Philly Voice.

And while Maxey was productive for most of the night as the 76ers kept pace with the Knicks despite being shorthanded, he could not get it done in crunch time, scoring just five points in the final frame as Philadelphia fell short, 108-102.

Maxey’s difficult game

Maxey has been a trooper for the 76ers all season long, and with Embiid out, he had to log an extraordinarily heavy workload, playing 47 minutes in Game 2. The fatigue seemed to catch up with Maxey, as he shot just 9-for-23 on the night to finish with 26 points.

Maxey also turned the ball over six times during the game, and his finger injury could have affected his ball-handling. The 76ers’ star guard needed help controlling the ball and attacking the rim, and with Embiid out, the responsibility of leading the team should not have rested solely on his shoulders.

Hearing that Maxey apparently lost confidence while dribbling against double teams had to be concerning for 76ers fans. Game 3 was set to be crucial for the 76ers, and Maxey, with only one full day of rest between Game 2 and Game 3, had to recover quickly.

The 76ers’ numbers during Game 2

The two-time NBA All-Star guard logged 47 minutes, scored 26 points, and dished out six assists. The Knicks turned Philadelphia’s 18 turnovers into 23 points. George ranked second in blame. The 76ers needed their veteran co-star to shoulder part of the offensive load and ease Maxey’s burden against one of the league’s most physical defenses. Instead, George delivered 19 points on an inefficient 7-for-18 shooting. Five made three-pointers masked the bigger problem.

VJ Edgecombe showed real promise with an efficient 17 points, but his four turnovers were especially costly in the six-point loss. But the overall performance from the 76ers left a lot to be desired, especially after coming off a Game 7 win against the Boston Celtics.

Running back Kenneth Walker III recently spoke with Kay Adams on her show to discuss Patrick Mahomes’ influence on his free-agent signing decisions and on building chemistry on the field.

“We’ve been working on getting connected in the passing game and everything, so that’s good. I feel like I’ll be used more in the pass game,” said Walker, who praised Mahomes’ focus on the game plan. “He’s really good at being detailed with the whole team, and that chemistry is going to keep building.”

The Chiefs signed running back Kenneth Walker to a three-year, $43.05 million contract. The 25-year-old is coming off a 1,000-yard season and a Super Bowl MVP performance with the Seattle Seahawks.

What Mahomes did to help bring him in

He also revealed that during last year’s playoffs, Mahomes was pushing for Chiefs general manager Brett Veach to sign the running back. Walker was impressive during Seattle’s Super Bowl run, rushing for 313 yards and four touchdowns in three games.

His comment reflected just how much Kansas City’s front office valued Mahomes’ opinion. With a new option in the backfield, the Chiefs are aiming to recapture their dominance in the NFL by leaning on Walker.

Walker’s performance drew attention

Last season with the Seattle Seahawks, Walker rushed for 1,027 yards and five touchdowns. He was also impactful in the passing game with 31 receptions for 282 yards. And with those numbers, he was clearly going to attract attention.

“I feel like it would have had a lot to do with it, you know, he’s (Mahomes) the best quarterback in the league,” said Walker. “So, I feel like he’s got a lot of power in there. I’m glad he does because I’m here now.” He is expected to play a much-needed role in the offense and provide Mahomes with weapons.

According to Marc J. Spears, Green told Inside the NBA that he did not see himself in another uniform, but the franchise also had to feel the same way. What he made clear was that he wanted to stay and that if the Warriors were fair and wanted him, he would work fairly to remain with the organization.

It should be remembered that the star forward had the option to exercise his $27.6 million player option to stay in Golden State. If he declined his player option, Green would become an unrestricted free agent. The former Defensive Player of the Year had never hinted that he wanted to leave the Warriors. And if he stayed in the Bay Area, he would likely retire as a member of the Warriors.

Green updated Kerr’s situation

Draymond Green previously said on his podcast that he believed Steve Kerr would not return as head coach. Green changed his tune on Wednesday. During the same appearance, Green said he now believed Kerr would be back.

“I think and hope he’s coming back,” Green said. “I don’t know more than anyone else in the world knows outside of what I do know is he wants to coach.” The Warriors’ brain trust and Kerr had reportedly met twice during the offseason. The fact that those meetings were taking place and there had not been reports of major friction suggested he would return.

Green recognized Kerr’s impact on him

Green stood by his criticism that Kerr hindered his offensive game, but he also reiterated that Kerr had done a lot for him as a player and person. And with good reason, considering they spent an entire era together in the franchise and won four NBA championships.

“I think every basketball player in the world has some gripe that they wish their coach would have done,” Green said. “… But make no mistake about it, I also said all of the incredible things, how much of a better man he’s made me.”

Green was a much more feared offensive player during the 2015-16 season, when he averaged 14.0 points and shot 38.8% from three-point range. Since then, he rarely came close to those numbers again. It was impossible to determine who carried the most responsibility for that decline, but regardless, Stephen Curry, Green, and Kerr led the Warriors to four NBA championships thanks to their chemistry. That was what mattered most.

Doncic supported his teammate with some important context about Reaves’ own injury problems so far in these playoffs. “It’s tough. He came back from an injury stuff. But my message to him is just be yourself. We all know he’s an amazing player, and we all know he’s gonna bounce back,” said Doncic, per Dan Woike of The Athletic on X, formerly Twitter.

The Lakers mustered just 37 points in the second half of this one after staying relatively competitive through two quarters. This was a brutal game from Austin Reaves, who scored just eight points on 3-16 shooting from the field.

What Reaves had missed

Reaves missed the first four games of the Lakers’ first-round NBA series against the Houston Rockets due to an oblique injury, but returned to help Los Angeles close out the series in six games, looking fairly similar to his usual self in those matchups.

However, Reaves struggled against the relentless Oklahoma City defense all night on Tuesday, forcing tough shots and not finding much success drawing fouls, which is usually a major part of his scoring arsenal.

For the Lakers to have any chance of keeping this competitive without Doncic, Reaves will need to be much better than he was in Game 1. And without a doubt, LeBron trying to keep the Lakers alive was not enough and will not be enough against OKC.

Reaves will have his opportunity to bounce back in Game 2 on Thursday at the Paycom Center, which will be the final game in Oklahoma City before the series shifts to Los Angeles for Game 3 and Game 4 at Crypto.com Arena.

This Tuesday, during his appearance at the Milken Institute Global Conference, Infantino said that this type of astronomical demand reflects the expectation generated by the World Cup. “If some people put some tickets for the final on the resale market at two million dollars, first of all, that does not mean that the tickets cost two million,” Infantino said. “And secondly, it does not mean that someone is going to buy those tickets.”

“And if someone does, I will personally bring them a hot dog and a Coca-Cola to make sure they have a great experience,” Infantino said, but he also made it clear that the market must be analyzed. “We have to look at the market. We are in the market with the most developed entertainment in the world. So we have to apply market rates,” Infantino said.

The comparison with other sports by Infantino

Connecting with the statement about looking at the market, he referenced groups of fans who have also protested the cost differences compared to the previous World Cup in Qatar 2022, where final tickets were priced at $1,600 in official sales, compared to around $11,000 in 2026.

Infantino also recalled that FIFA received more than 500 million ticket requests for 2026, compared to fewer than 50 million combined for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

The executive estimated that 25% of group stage tickets were priced below 300 dollars. “You cannot go to watch a college game in the United States, let alone a big professional game of a certain level, for less than 300 dollars,” Infantino said. “And this is the World Cup.”

A very controversial situation that will continue to generate discussion, with prices so high for certain matches that, for the spectator, it will probably not be a good idea to attend, and we could see empty stadiums with low attendance for what the World Cup represents.

With that assist, Kvaratskhelia became the only player in UCL history to record a goal contribution in 7 consecutive knockout games. Kvicha also assisted and scored in the quarterfinals against Liverpool, scored three times against Chelsea in the round of 16, and scored in the second-leg match of the playoffs against Monaco. And of course, the goal scored in the first leg against Bayern Munich.

Cristiano Ronaldo only reached 5 consecutive matches with goal contributions in the 16/17 and 17/18 seasons, including the final of the 16/17 against Juventus and including the round of 16 and quarterfinals in the 17/16. On the other hand, Messi achieved it in his 10/11 season, when he scored from the second leg of the round of 16 through the final, setting his record of 5 matches as well.

Dembele’s goal after Kvaratskhelia’s assist

The match started with the German side pushing toward the opposite goal. But, in a moment of confusion, they found themselves behind on the scoreboard. In the 2′, Kvaratskhelia took the ball near midfield and played a first-time pass to Fabian Ruiz.

The Spanish player, alert to the play, returned it with one touch, leaving him free on the left. The Georgian ran to the end line and delivered a cross to Dembele, who finished it first time to make it 1-0.

Kvaratskhelia’s great season

The streak placed him in a truly select group in UEFA records and underlined how decisive he has become for PSG on the biggest stage. With 10 goals and 6 assists in 15 Champions League matches with PSG this season, his influence has been massive.

This also fit into the broader context of PSG’s strong European campaign, where Kvaratskhelia repeatedly delivered in crucial moments. His form turned him into one of the standout attackers in the Champions League this season.

During Sunday’s stream, Brown showed a play in which Sixers forward Paul George appeared to push off slightly before making an offensive move. “If you’re going to call push-offs, call that,” Brown said. “Same move. Same refs. Oh, it’s nothing? It’s play on, right?“ Brown said. “But you gonna call me? Everybody does it … but if it would have been me, it’d have been an offensive foul.“

The stream took place Sunday, following the Celtics’ 109-100 loss to the 76ers in the decisive Game 7 of the Eastern Conference first round on Saturday night. The elimination was particularly painful, as Boston lost three straight games after taking a 3-1 series lead.

Brown did not hold back against the referees

Brown was called for 10 offensive fouls in the first round, twice as many as the next-highest player: Jalen Duren, Karl-Anthony Towns, Neemias Queta, and Stephon Castle each had five.

“Every good basketball player does this. What are y’all talking about? They clearly had an agenda,” Brown said. “If Jaylen does this move, call the offensive foul and follow him every time. I don’t know if it’s because I pissed the refs off. I’ve been critical about them, and I called them out a bunch of times. So, they were like, ‘You know what, I got you in the playoffs. Watch this.’ Because that’s exactly what they did.

“It’s clearly an agenda. Look at the same move. Some referees that if I had to choose, if I had to, like, say there’s some referees that need to be investigated. We had three of them in the last three games.”

Brown is one of the most targeted by referees?

Brown may be one of the most affected by officiating, and there is a statistic to support it. During the regular NBA season, Brown ranked second with 40 offensive fouls called against him. Towns was first with 65.

In the Celtics-76ers series, the foul calls were relatively even between the two teams. The Celtics were called for 136 personal fouls, the Sixers were called for 132. So there should not be a complaint of any kind of help.

Through an official statement, MLS announced that the 23-year-old defender was fined. “Major League Soccer announced today that Inter Miami CF defender Ian Fray has been fined an undisclosed amount for his comments made following Inter Miami’s match against Orlando City SC on May 2. The comments violated the league’s public criticism policy.”

At the end of the match, Ian Fray said to the media: “I feel like the referee has something against me and some other players on the team; they are just simple situations like that. We should not have lost regardless of the referee. That is not an excuse. I am not going to make any excuses at all. We should have won the game,” which led to the financial sanction.

The tough match Inter Miami let slip

With a goal from Ian Fray, Inter Miami opened the scoring and then, with goals from Telasco Segovia and a fantastic finish from Lionel Messi, they built a three-goal lead to win the Florida Derby.

However, a performance from Martin Ojeda with a hat trick and another goal from Tyrese Spicer gave Orlando City the three points in the Florida Derby, delivering a tough blow to Guillermo Hoyos side, who still had not won at NU Stadium, their new home.

Messi message after the loss

The frustration was not only visible in Messi‘s expression, but also in his reaction in the locker room with a strong message. After the final whistle, the Argentine went straight to the tunnel, avoiding contact with the media and showing his dissatisfaction. Shortly after, his teammate Ian Fray spoke to the media and shared the message that the former Barcelona player delivered to the squad in the locker room:

“Our captain spoke and, obviously, gave us a lot of words, first encouraging us for the next match and then saying that this is unacceptable, which we all completely agree with. It is unacceptable and it will not happen again,” the player said about the message from the Inter Miami captain.

Inter Miami currently sit in third place and prepared to visit Toronto on Saturday, May 9, a matchup considered key to regain confidence and show if Messi’s message translates into improvement on the field.

Embiid pointed to fatigue as a factor while stopping short of using it as an excuse. Embiid addressed reporters Tuesday in comments shared via SNY on X, acknowledging the physical toll of Philadelphia’s previous series. “Coming from the series we had and the physicality we displayed, I would like to think that maybe guys were tired. It’s not an excuse though, onto Game 2, you know, down 1-0, so focus on the next one.”

The 76ers entered the matchup after a seven-game series, both emotionally and physically demanding, against the Boston Celtics. Philadelphia came back from a 3-1 deficit, ultimately securing the victory in Game 7 on the road, at TD Garden, on Saturday night. The quick turnaround to the next round left little time for recovery.

The tough Game 1 for Embiid

In Game 1 against New York, Embiid struggled to find rhythm. The former MVP finished with 14 points, four rebounds, and one assist while shooting 3-11 from the field. He was efficient at the free throw line, going 8-9, but logged only 25 minutes as the game quickly slipped out of reach.

The Knicks capitalized early, building a significant lead and maintaining control throughout. Their defensive pressure and pace exposed Philadelphia’s lack of energy, particularly on the interior, where Embiid typically anchored both ends of the floor.

When asked what it would take to respond in Game 2, Embiid emphasized recovery and a return to physical play. “Hopefully, we get a good rest so we’re ready to go… I mean we’ve been playing every other day… so I don’t ever know. But yeah, just get a good rest and go out and display the physicality we had in our last series.”

What is next for the 76ers?

Philadelphia’s ability to rebound quickly would be critical as the series continued. The team now trailed 1-0 and faced limited time to adjust before Game 2. The 76ers would look to even the series against the Knicks on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. ET before the matchup shifted to Xfinity Mobile Arena.

According to ESPN, to recover for the World Cup, Brazilian winger Estevao is undergoing rehabilitation at Palmeiras facilities in Sao Paulo, under Chelsea supervision. Estevao, 19, ruled out surgery after suffering a thigh injury with the English club and opted for conservative treatment to try to reach the World Cup with Brazil.

The Brazilian attacker, developed in the youth ranks of the Sao Paulo club, suffered the injury on April 18 in the London team’s 1-0 loss to Manchester United in the Premier League. He had to leave the field in the 16′ with a tear in the right hamstring, the back of the thigh.

The tough loss for Brazil if he does not make it

Estevao is the top scorer for Brazil since Italian Carlo Ancelotti made his debut in charge of the team last year, with five goals in seven matches played. In addition to providing a very unbalancing style of play.

Estevao has eight goals in 36 appearances in all competitions since arriving at Stamford Bridge from Palmeiras for 29 million pounds in the summer. This is only at the club level, with Chelsea, where he was being considered and was very important.

A message that brings hope

In a recent interview with AFP, Joao Paulo Sampaio, coordinator of Palmeiras youth academy, highlighted the mentality of the young player as a key factor in chasing a World Cup miracle after his injury.

“If the doctors give him hope of playing in the World Cup, he will do everything to make that happen,” Sampaio said at the Verdao training center, a cradle of talents like Endrick and Estevao. “A key factor is his mentality. He has tremendous confidence in himself,” he added.

Ancelotti will announce his final list of 26 players for the World Cup on May 18, which will be played from June 11 to July 19 in the United States, Mexico and Canada. The Canarinha will compete in Group C alongside Morocco, Haiti and Scotland.

Finch was asked about officiating on Tuesday, and he was confused as to how clear goaltending could frequently get missed in a playoff game. Some were not even close to being clean blocks. The Timberwolves felt “at least four” of Victor Wembanyama’s 12 blocks were goaltends.

“You know the value of eight points in an NBA game? That’s 33 percent of his blocks,” said Chris Finch. And then Rudy Gobert joked, “I want that type of treatment, too,” which made clear their disagreement with the officiating decisions.

Controversial decisions during the game

Throughout the game, it was plainly obvious that the refs were giving Wembanyama a lenient whistle. Some fouls went uncalled. And then, on at least three occasions, Wemby had clear goaltending violations go uncalled, which was unusual, especially in the playoffs.

Wembanyama was credited with seven blocked shots in the first half, as the Wolves struggled to adapt to playing an opponent with such imposing rim protection after Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets rolled out the red carpet for them on nearly every drive in their first-round series win.

Wembanyama was aggressive in challenging shots on Monday night while facing his countryman and mentor, Rudy Gobert, who has a record four Defensive Player of the Year awards.

What will the Timberwolves do about it?

Finch said the Timberwolves would not submit any plays to the league for review because he knows that would not change the outcome of a game that has already been played. But the comments were already made, and it was a clear message to the league.

“We’re going to keep coming,” Finch said. “We’ve got to make some better decisions in how we attack the rim. But all credit to the guys for not being discouraged. We should’ve walked away with another eight points.”

To give an idea of what just happened in San Antonio, Wemby already had 10 blocks by the third quarter and added two more in the final stretch to complete 12, which shows his generational talent and how important he’ll be for the Spurs in the fight to win the title as a young team.

Wemby surpassed the formidable mark held by three players who had the record with 10 blocks, and they are the following:

• Andrew Bynum – 10
• Hakeem Olajuwon – 10
• Mark Eaton – 10

Wemby record was not enough

Despite the record achieved, the Spurs suffered a Game 1 home loss against the Timberwolves with a 104-102 result, where rushed decisions and not closing the game when they had the lead ended up costing them, even with Anthony Edwards with restricted minutes.

Wembanyama had an exceptional defensive performance, finishing the game with 11 points, 15 rebounds, and 12 blocks, a monstrous triple-double. But at the same time, he shot 5/17 FG and 0/8 from three in 40 minutes of play, which is impressive.

His matchup, Gobert, ended up having a strong game for the Timberwolves, showing his experience, finishing with 7 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 blocks, but with almost 20 minutes less of playing time. His replacement was Naz Reid, who finished with 12 points and 9 rebounds. Something to add is the participation of Edwards with restricted minutes, in 25 minutes, he had 18 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists.

A record tied by Wemby

The record he broke is impressive, and he was close to breaking another one in the first half of the game. Wembanyama tied Dwight Howard with 8 first-half playoff blocks for the most in the play-by-play NBA era. Howard had 8 in the first half in Game 1 on April 18, 2010, vs the Charlotte Bobcats.