Sports
Messi Reveals What Cape Verde Players Did After the Final Whistle
Argentina captain Lionel Messi has revealed what happened moments after his side’s dramatic 3-2 victory over Cape Verde in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16, joking that the same players who challenged him physically during the match lined up to ask for his jersey and take selfies.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner played a key role as Argentina booked their place in the quarter-finals after overcoming a spirited Cape Verde side in Miami on Friday.
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Speaking after the match, Messi laughed about the contrast between the fierce battles on the pitch and the admiration shown by Cape Verde’s players once the final whistle blew.
“They asked for my jersey, everything… On the field, they kick the crap out of me,” Messi said with a smile.
Despite securing qualification, the Argentine skipper admitted his team did not produce their best performance.
According to him, Argentina failed to maintain control after taking the lead, allowing their opponents to mount sustained pressure.
“We lost possession, we sat back, we couldn’t press effectively,” Messi said while reflecting on areas his team must improve ahead of the next round.
Messi, however, praised Argentina’s progress from set-piece situations, noting that the team had spent considerable time working on both attacking and defensive routines.
“We’ve been working on it for a while, both offensively and defensively. In a competition like this, it’s important,” he added.
The victory also marked another historic milestone for the 39-year-old, who scored his 20th career FIFA World Cup goal to further extend his remarkable record on football’s biggest stage.
Argentina will now shift focus to a quarter-final showdown against Egypt, who secured their place after defeating Australia in a penalty shootout.
The light-hearted exchange between Messi and the Cape Verde players after the game quickly drew attention, highlighting the respect the Argentine legend continues to command from opponents across the world.
Nigeria’s Super Falcons have unveiled a striking new 10-star jersey ahead of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), celebrating the team’s unparalleled success on the African continent.
The newly designed kit features 10 stars encircling the team’s badge, with each star representing one of Nigeria’s 10 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations titles.
The symbolic design reflects the Super Falcons’ legacy as the most successful side in the history of the competition.
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The nine-time defending champions first wore the special jersey during Thursday’s 2-1 international friendly victory over Tanzania’s Twiga Stars, giving supporters a glimpse of the new look ahead of the continental showpiece.
Justin Madugu’s team will now turn its attention to Morocco, where it will be aiming to capture a record-extending 11th WAFCON title and further cement its dominance in African women’s football.
The 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations is scheduled to begin on Saturday, with Nigeria opening its title defence against tournament debutants Malawi on Tuesday at the Al Madina Stadium in Rabat.
See the jersey below
The German Football Association (DFB) has officially appointed former Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp as the new head coach of the country’s men’s national football team.
Klopp, 59, replaces Julian Nagelsmann, who departed following Germany’s disappointing campaign at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The announcement was made on Friday during a press conference in Frankfurt by DFB President Bernd Neuendorf.
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Neuendorf confirmed that Klopp has signed a contract that will run until the summer of 2030, keeping him in charge through the next FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Morocco, Spain and Portugal. He added that Klopp will officially assume his new role on August 15.
Speaking during the unveiling, Neuendorf expressed confidence that Klopp is the right man to restore Germany’s status as one of world football’s elite nations.
Germany’s latest World Cup campaign ended in disappointment after a penalty shootout defeat to Paraguay in the Round of 32.
The exit marked the country’s third consecutive poor World Cup performance since lifting the trophy for a fourth time in Brazil in 2014.
The four-time world champions also failed to progress beyond the group stage at the 2018 and 2022 editions, while their only knockout victory in the last five major tournaments came during Euro 2024, where they reached the quarter-finals on home soil.
Klopp had previously indicated his interest in leading the national team after Nagelsmann’s departure earlier this month.
Widely regarded as one of football’s most successful managers, Klopp built his reputation at Mainz before guiding Borussia Dortmund to domestic success.
He later transformed Liverpool into one of Europe’s dominant clubs, winning multiple major trophies, including the UEFA Champions League and the English Premier League.
Germany will now look to Klopp to oversee a long-term rebuild and guide the national team back to competing for major international honours.
Spain’s celebrations after winning the 2026 FIFA World Cup were overshadowed by tragedy after a 13-year-old boy died and several others were injured when a fountain collapsed during jubilant scenes in the western Spanish town of Ciudad Rodrigo.
The heartbreaking incident occurred shortly after Spain secured a historic 1-0 victory over Argentina in the World Cup final, ending a 16-year wait for the country’s second global football title.
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According to local authorities, emergency services received multiple distress calls at around 12:30 a.m. local time after a fountain packed with celebrating fans suddenly collapsed.
In a statement posted on Facebook, Ciudad Rodrigo City Hall confirmed the teenager’s death and expressed condolences to the victim’s family.
“The city hall of Ciudad Rodrigo expresses its sadness and presents its condolences for the death of a boy of 13.”
The municipality described the incident as a devastating turn of events, saying: “What should have been a celebration of Spain’s team in the football World Cup turned into tragedy.”
Emergency services also confirmed that another youth was injured in the collapse, while several others sustained injuries as rescue teams rushed to the scene.
Local media reported that the fountain gave way under the weight of dozens of fans who had climbed onto the structure to celebrate Spain’s World Cup triumph.
The fatal accident cast a somber mood over celebrations across the football-loving nation, with many expressing grief just hours after Spain’s memorable victory on the world stage.
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