Category: Top News

KANSAS CITY: Argentina captain Lionel Messi added another remarkable chapter to his legendary career on Tuesday, equalling the all-time men’s FIFA World Cup scoring record with a sensational hat-trick in his side’s tournament opener against Algeria.

The 38-year-old forward struck three times to move level with German great Miroslav Klose on 16 World Cup goals, placing himself at the summit of the competition’s all-time scoring charts.

Messi, who is featuring in a record sixth FIFA World Cup, opened the scoring in the 17th minute with a long-range effort that gave Argentina control of the contest.

He doubled his tally shortly after the hour mark with a close-range finish before completing his hat-trick in the 76th minute, sparking wild celebrations among Argentina supporters in Kansas City.

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The three-goal performance saw Messi overtake Brazil legend Ronaldo Nazario, who scored 15 World Cup goals, and move alongside Klose, whose record had stood alone since the 2014 tournament.

The latest milestone came just hours after France striker Kylian Mbappe had climbed the rankings with a brace of his own.

Mbappe moved past Messi’s pre-match tally of 13 goals to reach 14, drawing level with German icon Gerd Müller. However, Messi’s hat-trick dramatically reshuffled the standings and restored him to the top of the all-time list.

Most goals in FIFA World Cup history 

• Lionel Messi (Argentina) – 16
• Miroslav Klose (Germany) – 16
• Ronaldo (Brazil) – 15
• Kylian Mbappe (France) – 14
• Gerd Müller (West Germany) – 14
• Just Fontaine (France) – 13

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In addition to matching Klose’s record, Messi also became the oldest player ever to score both a brace and a hat-trick in a FIFA World Cup match.

The previous record for the oldest World Cup hat-trick scorer belonged to Cristiano Ronaldo, who netted three times for Portugal against Spain at the 2018 World Cup at the age of 33 years and 130 days.

READ: Zidane Iqbal becomes first footballer of Pakistani heritage to play at World Cup

BOSTON: Iraq midfielder Zidane Iqbal etched his name into football history on Tuesday by becoming the first player of Pakistani heritage to feature at a FIFA World Cup.

The 23-year-old made the landmark appearance after coming on as a second-half substitute during Iraq’s 4-1 defeat to Norway in their Group I clash at Boston Stadium.

While the match was dominated by Norway striker Erling Haaland, who marked his World Cup debut with two goals, Iqbal’s introduction in the 59th minute represented a significant moment for football fans in Pakistan and across the global Pakistani diaspora.

Born in England to an Iraqi mother and a Pakistani father, Iqbal has represented Iraq at the international level and played a key role in the country’s journey to the World Cup.

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Speaking to BBC Sport, the former Manchester United midfielder admitted he was unaware of the milestone until it was highlighted on social media.

“To be honest, I didn’t even know it myself,” Iqbal said.

“I followed the account that posted it and sent it to my dad straight away. I think we were both surprised. When I tried to qualify for the World Cup with Iraq, I didn’t think of anything like this.”

Zidane Iqbal paid tribute to his father, describing him as the most influential figure in his football journey.

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“My dad is Pakistani. He’s my father, the man I respect the most in my life, who helped me so much in my career,” he said.

“I play for Iraq, grew up in England, but my dad was born in Pakistan. My grandad was a first-generation there, so I have a lot of respect for that side of my family.”

The midfielder also revealed that he proudly honours both sides of his heritage whenever he steps onto the pitch.

Iqbal wears the Iraqi flag on one side of his boots and the Pakistani flag on the other, symbolising his connection to both nations.

“I wear the Iraqi flag on my left side and the Pakistani flag on my right side,” he explained.

“I think that’s because I respect both sides.

“When people ask me what I feel more connected to, I can’t answer. For me, they’re both equal. It’s about respect and something I carry with a lot of pride.”

READ: Haaland double powers Norway to FIFA World Cup win over Iraq

Erling Haaland struck his first FIFA World Cup goals as Norway beat Iraq 4-1 on Tuesday in their first game at a major tournament in 26 years.

The Manchester City striker turned in from close range to give Norway the lead on 29 minutes in Boston, but Aymen Hussein’s header brought Iraq level.

Haaland pounced on an error at the back to put Norway ahead again before half-time and take his goals tally at the international level to 57 in just 51 matches.

Leo Ostigard headed in a third for Norway moments after coming off the bench to effectively wrap up victory. Norway got a fourth deep into stoppage time through a Hussein own goal.

The win left Norway on top of Group I on goal difference, level with France on three points after Les Bleus overcame Senegal 3-1 earlier in the day. The Norwegians face the African powerhouses in their next game in New Jersey on June 22.

No team endured a longer or more perilous road to the World Cup than Iraq, who secured their place as the 48th and final qualifier in March after a 21-match campaign that stretched across 867 days.

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Hussein, scorer of the decisive goal in the play-off win over Bolivia, was then held and questioned for hours by US immigration officials after arriving with the squad ahead of Iraq’s first World Cup since 1986.

Norway last played at the tournament in 1998, when coach Stale Solbakken was a member of the squad that famously beat Brazil in the group stage before exiting in the last 16. He also featured at Euro 2000.

After breezing impressively through qualifying, twice thrashing Italy, they are hoping a golden generation of players – led by Haaland and Arsenal midfielder Martin Odegaard – can break new ground in North America.

Solbakken predicted Haaland would make a “very big impact” at his first major finals, and the City star was quick to deliver on that promise.

Antonio Nusa’s trickery was a problem for Iraq, and his incisive pass released the overlapping David Moller Wolfe clear before Haaland stretched to steer in the low cross from the left.

Iraq, who lost all their of group games on their only previous appearance, did not let that get to them as they equalised 10 minutes later.

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Amir Al-Ammari found space just inside the area and clipped in a cross, with Hussein rising brilliantly to power a header past Orjan Nyland.

But Iraq only had themselves to blame as they gift-wrapped Haaland’s second of the contest.

Goalkeeper Jalal Hassan was slow to react to a softly-hit backpass, his attempted clearance smacking off Haaland’s shin and ricocheting into the net.

Iraq again responded well, with Ibrahim Bayesh denied by a desperation block, Ali Al-Hamadi dribbling an effort wide and centre-back Akam Hashim lashing a spectacular volley just over the bar.

Ostigard nodded in Odegaard’s corner on 76 minutes to seal the points for Norway, before Haaland was thwarted by Hassan when another loose pass sent him clean through and seeking his hat-trick.

Haaland nonetheless had a hand in Norway’s late fourth, his looping header back across goal deflecting off Hussein before trickling over the line.

READ: Kylian Mbappe breaks Lionel Messi’s record at FIFA World Cup 2026

NEW YORK: Kylian Mbappe on Tuesday entered the record books after becoming France all-time leading goalscorer and moving above Lionel Messi on the FIFA World Cup all-time scoring chart.

The 27-year-old scored in the 66th minute for Les Blues against Senegal to go past Giroud (57) in all-time leading goal scorers for his country.

Mbappe played a pivotal role in France opening win as he broke Senegal’s resistance with a low strike before doubling the scoreline with a sensational long-range goal in stoppage time to seal victory. The Real Madrid forward’s 58 strikes came in only his 99th appearance for France.

Most Goals For France

Rank	Player	Goals	Caps (Appearances)	International Career
1	Kylian Mbappé	58	99	2017–Present
2	Olivier Giroud	57	137	2011–2024
3	Thierry Henry	51	123	1997–2010
4	Antoine Griezmann	44	137	2014–2024
5	Michel Platini	41	72	1976–1987

During the match, he also took his FIFA World Cup goal tally to 14, surpassing Pelé (12) and Lionel Messi (13). He is now only behind Brazil’s Ronaldo and Germany’s Miroslav Klose in the all-time goal scorers list.

Most Goals in FIFA World Cups

Rank	Player	Country	Goals	Matches Played	Tournaments Active
1	Miroslav Klose	Germany	16	24	2002, 2006, 2010, 2014
2	Ronaldo	Brazil	15	19	1998, 2002, 2006
T-3	Gerd Müller	West Germany	14	13	1970, 1974
T-3	Kylian Mbappé	France	14	15	2018, 2022, 2026
T-3	Lionel Messi	Argentina	13	26	2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022

France will play Iraq in their next Group I game on Monday, 22 June, whereas Senegal will face Norway in New Jersey on Tuesday, 23 June.

READ: FIFA World Cup 2026: Kylian Mbappe’s brace fires France to opening win

NEW YORK: Kylian Mbappe’s brace fired France to an emphatic 3-1 opening win over Senegal in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group I clash at New Jersey Stadium on Tuesday.

Real Madrid star Mbappe took his career World Cup goals tally to 14 –just two behind all-time leader Miroslav Klose- and Bradley Barcola was also on target as Les Bleus secured all three points for Didier Deschamps’ side.

Mbappe darted across the penalty area to convert a brilliant Michael Olise pass on 66 minutes to break the deadlock in a contest in which France struggled badly in the first half, but came to life after the break.

Barcola of Paris Saint-Germain then came off the bench to get the second late on, before his club colleague Ibrahim Mbaye pulled one back in stoppage time for Senegal.

But Mbappe saved the best for last, as he blasted in from long range in the 96th minute to seal the win, and become France’s all-time top scorer with 58 goals.

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The decision by coach Didier Deschamps to move Olise infield from the right wing was crucial in swinging the game the way of the two-time World Cup winners.

But it is Mbappe who grabbed the spotlight in what turned out to be a memorable 99th appearance for his country.

Mbappe renewed his extraordinary love affair with the World Cup, in which he scored in the 2018 final as France won, and netted a stunning hat-trick in their defeat on penalties to Argentina in the 2022 final in Qatar.

The 27-year-old Real Madrid striker’s double took him past Pele’s 12 and overtook the 13 of Lionel Messi and fellow Frenchman Just Fontaine.

He is now level with Gerd Mueller in the overall list, with only Klose and the Brazilian Ronaldo (15) still ahead of him.

France, one of the pre-tournament favourites, will be expected to build on this to ease into the last 32, with outsiders Iraq up next before a meeting with Erling Haaland’s Norway.

Deschamps, in his last tournament before he steps down after 14 years in charge, has been wary of overconfidence in his talented squad.

Opponents Senegal served as a warning from the past -– France went into the 2002 World Cup as holders and favourites, but lost 1-0 to the Lions of Teranga in their opening game and never recovered, going out in the group stage without scoring a goal.

Senegal showed how strong they are before a packed house of 80,545 in a game played in bright sunshine with the skyscrapers of Manhattan in the distance.

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A team led by veteran forward Sadio Mane, and featuring four starters born in France, were playing their first competitive game since the Africa Cup of Nations final in Morocco in January.

Pape Thiaw’s side won that in extra time, but were later stripped of their title for a walk-off protest by several players during the match. Their appeal into that is ongoing.

They were the better team in the first half, as Nicolas Jackson almost scored on the break on 25 minutes when he broke away and hit the post, before the ball ricocheted off goalkeeper Mike Maignan and went just wide.

Ismaila Sarr then put a glorious chance over the bar in first-half stoppage time, and Senegal were to regret that.

Olise and Ousmane Dembele switched positions at the interval, with the reigning Ballon d’Or moving right and leaving the area through the middle behind Mbappe to the Bayern man.

Suddenly, France came to life, with Olise being denied by Edouard Mendy and then setting up Mbappe for a chance that was saved.

France thought they had a penalty on the hour mark when Mbappe went down under a Mane challenge, but referee Alireza Faghani opted not to award a spot-kick after a review.

It didn’t matter, as Olise continued to tear apart the opposition and slipped in Mbappe for the opener.

It was a superb goal, and France struck again when Adrien Rabiot released substitute Barcola to run through and score.

Mbaye got one back on 95 minutes, but Mbappe had the last word.

READ: Neymar back in training with Brazil at FIFA World Cup 2026

Brazil forward Neymar, who was diagnosed with a right calf injury in late May, trained at the fifa World Cup 2026 for the first time Tuesday in a sign he may be nearing a return.

The 34-year-old has been undergoing treatment since the squad’s arrival in the United States, but took another step in his recovery process as he was out running at Brazil’s training base in New Jersey.

Earlier, it was reported that the star forward Neymar could miss the remainder of the FIFA World Cup 2026 group stages.

Head coach Carlo Ancelotti had previously expressed optimism regarding Neymar’s recovery but stopped short of putting a definitive timeline on his return.

Brazil’s all-time record scorer has yet to return to full training after missing the team’s opening 1-1 draw against Morocco on Saturday.

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Neymar has been an integral part of Brazil’s last three World Cup campaigns but there was some surprise at his inclusion this time as injuries have prevented him from playing for his country at all since 2023.

He has featured in just half of his club’s games in the Brazilian league, cup and Copa Sudamericana this year due to various fitness issues.

Brazil’s next game is against Haiti in Philadelphia on Friday. They face Scotland in their final Group C game in Miami on June 24.

READ: Ruben Amorim steps in as AC Milan’s new coach

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has opted not to disclose players’ central contract categories following an overhaul on Monday.

A day earlier, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi revealed the new framework during a press conference.

The revamped model replaces the traditional A, B, C and D categories with a five-track system that classifies players according to their role, format specialisation and stage of development.

Under the new framework, Track AB will consist of Pakistan’s premier multi-format cricketers who feature in both Test and One-Day International cricket. These players may also be selected for T20Is but will primarily be recognised for their contributions in the longer formats.

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Track A has been created specifically for red-ball specialists, with the PCB aiming to strengthen Test cricket by providing additional incentives and allowing players greater opportunities to participate in overseas first-class competitions.

Track BC will include core white-ball cricketers who form part of Pakistan’s ODI and T20I setup, while Track C is reserved for T20 specialists and franchise players, offering them increased flexibility to compete in domestic and international leagues around national commitments.

Meanwhile, Track D will serve as a development category featuring emerging cricketers identified through the National Cricket Academy (NCA) and Pakistan’s domestic pathway system.

According to the reports, the categories of the central contracts to be awarded to each player in the future will not be disclosed. The change is due to a matter of selection rather than a fixed public detail.

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The document reportedly says that the categories will be reviewed in each cycle, with one report quoting the document as saying: “The board will not disclose the number of contracts in each track. The count and allocation of contracts are decisions made each cycle and are not fixed public figures.”

The report further states that centrally contracted players are limited to a set number of domestic matches, depending on their category, as part of the board’s policy to make domestic cricket compulsory.

Additionally, the PCB has reportedly told players they will play five first-class and 10 List-A matches. The national cricketers have also been advised to make themselves available for domestic cricket if there are no international assignments.

READ: Women’s World Cup 2026: Sri Lanka stun New Zealand in memorable victory

Ruben Amorim will lead AC Milan’s bid to return to the Champions League after taking charge of the ailing seven-time European champions on Monday.

Italian media report that Amorim will be paid a net annual salary of 3.5 million euros ($4.06 million) over his two-year deal as he bids to improve the fortunes of one of Europe’s most storied clubs.

“There are ambitions that stay with you throughout your career, and coaching AC Milan has always been one of mine,” Amorim said.

“I know exactly what this club means: history, prestige and an extraordinary fanbase around the world.”

Portuguese Amorim returns to coaching six months after being sacked by Manchester United with a year-and-a-half left on his contract, a move which cost the Premier League giants £16.7 million ($22.4 million).

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He had attracted attention as a bright young coach at Sporting Lisbon but he failed to make an impact at Old Trafford and it was left to his replacement Michael Carrick to drag United into next season’s Champions League.

The 41-year-old will be tasked with a top-four finish in Serie A next season after Milan missed out on Europe’s top club competition on the final day of this past campaign.

Milan slumped to a shock 2-1 home defeat by lowly Cagliari and ended up fifth behind both Roma and wealthy upstarts Como who took the final two Champions League spots.

That result, which was preceded and followed by loud supporter protests against American owners RedBird, led to the sacking of coach Massimiliano Allegri, CEO Giorgio Furlani and the club’s sporting directors Igli Tare and Geoffrey Moncada.

Allegri is widely reported to be taking over at Napoli in the coming days following the departure of Antonio Conte.

READ: Women’s World Cup 2026: Sri Lanka stun New Zealand in memorable victory

SOUTHAMPTON: Sri Lanka sealed a narrow win over the defending champions New Zealand in the seventh fixture of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2026 at the Rose Bowl on Tuesday.

Sri Lanka chased down a stiff 151 in 19.4 overs, losing five wickets in the process. The victory marked the first time Sri Lanka beat New Zealand in the Women’s T20 World Cup.

After a 45-run opening partnership, the Islanders lost their way in the middle as they slumped to 55-4 in 8.3 overs.

Captain Chamari Athapaththu looked good for her 27 from 19, including a six four fours, before being cleaned up by Bree Illing.  Nensi Patel also picked up two wickets, followed by two chaotic run outs that put them in dire straits.

However, Nilakshika Silva held the innings together with a match-winning half-century. She first shared a 54-run stand with Kavisha Dilhari, who made 17, and followed it up by adding an unbeaten 48-run partnership with Kaushini Nuthyangana (24*) for the sixth wicket.

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She remained the top-scorer with 54 off 37, hitting five fours and a six.

For New Zealand, Nensi Patel picked up two wickets.

Earlier, after opting to bat first, New Zealand posted 150-6 in 20 overs. The Whiteferns had a shaky start, losing their opener, Isabella Gaze, in the first over for four.

Georgia Plimmer and skipper Melie Kerr worked past the early blow, adding 49 for the second wicket. Plimmer scored 18 off 22 with the aid of two fours before throwing her wicket away cheaply in the ninth over.

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With New Zealand 53-2, Melie Kerr and Sophie Devine stabilized the innings, both scoring 45 runs respectively. The duo shared a 43-run stand off 26 balls for the third wicket partnership to take their side near the 100-run mark.

The stand culminated in the form of Kerr’s wicket, but Devine continued till the 18th over, ensuring that her side reached a respectable total. Devine hit four boundaries and a maximum in her knock while Melie Kerr struck five fours.

For Sri Lanka, Kavisha Dilhari remained the pick of the bowlers, taking two wickets in her quota of four overs while giving away 35.

READ: Joe Root reacts to reappointment as England captain

Iraq midfielder Zidane Iqbal is set to make history by becoming the first player of Pakistani heritage to feature at the FIFA World Cup 2026.

The former Manchester United midfielder could achieve the landmark when Iraq face Norway on Tuesday, marking a proud moment for Pakistan.

Born and raised in England, the 23-year-old traces his Pakistani roots through his father and grandfather.

He shed light on his sporting journey in an exclusive interview with BBC Sport, revealing that he was surprised to learn he is of Pakistani heritage.

“To be honest, I didn’t even know it myself,” he told BBC Sport.

“I followed the account that posted it [that he was the first player of Pakistani heritage to play at a men’s World Cup] and sent it to my dad straight away. I think we were both surprised. When I tried to qualify for the World Cup with Iraq, I didn’t think of anything like this,” he added.

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He credited his Pakistani-origin father for playing a key role in his career.

“My dad is Pakistani. He’s my father, the man I respect the most in my life, who helped me so much in my career,” he remarked.

“I play for Iraq, grew up in England, but my dad was born in Pakistan. My grandad was a first-generation there, so I have a lot of respect for that side of my family.”

Iqbal also revealed that he wears the Pakistani and Iraqi flags on his shoes as a tribute to both sides of his heritage.

“I wear the Iraqi flag on my left side and the Pakistani flag on my right side,” he explained. “I think that’s because I respect both sides.”

Iqbal expressed hope that his achievement would inspire youngsters, particularly those of South Asian heritage, to pursue a career in football despite the challenges involved.

“I’m still young, but I’ll be the first Pakistani player to play in the World Cup, so hopefully a few kids that aspire to be a footballer will look at that and believe they can do it too, because football is a hard journey,” he revealed.

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He acknowledged that becoming a professional footballer is not easy and stressed that success requires commitment and hard work.

“I think if you ask any professional, it’s not easy at all, and everyone has their ups and downs,” Iqbal noted.

“A lot of commitment and hard work is needed. So hopefully when kids see people trying to be a professional footballer, or me, they see those of South Asian heritage or even of any heritage, that you can make it from any background, any area, wherever you’re from, any religion. Hopefully they see that, and it inspires them,” he concluded.

READ: FIFA World Cup: Ghana head to Canada court over Thomas Partey visa row