分类： sports

It has been nearly 21 years since Cristiano Ronaldo first stepped onto the pitch as a senior Portugal national team player, a moment that took place in a forgettable-looking friendly against a newly UEFA-affiliated Kazakhstan in the northern Portuguese city of Chaves. The 1-0 narrow win was hosted in front of a sold-out crowd of just 8,000 spectators, on a pitch so poorly maintained that groundskeepers had to paint the grass to improve its visible condition. Few could have predicted that the young Madeira native would go on to build a legacy that would redefine Portuguese football, and make history by qualifying for a sixth FIFA World Cup in 2026 – joining only Lionel Messi of Argentina and Guillermo Ochoa of Mexico in this exclusive club of six-time World Cup participants.

Today, at 41 years old, Ronaldo holds the record for the most international goals in men’s football history, with 143 strikes to his name. Beyond the statistics, he has reshaped the national team’s mentality and expanded the global profile of the small European nation. As former Sporting CP and Portugal national team coach Joao Aroso told BBC Sport: ‘We are a small country that rarely has global impact outside football. Cristiano allows our small country to be known worldwide for something great – because of all the positive things he stands for.’

For decades, questioning Ronaldo’s place in the Selecao was widely seen as taboo in Portugal. But since the 2022 Qatar World Cup, public and internal debate over his role has intensified, splitting opinion across the football community in the country. Critics, including 1966 World Cup third-place finisher Antonio Simoes, argue that Ronaldo’s priority has shifted to being the center of attention rather than prioritizing team success, a contrast to legendary Portuguese striker Eusebio.

Portugal’s head coach Roberto Martinez has repeatedly pushed back on this discourse, dismissing it as inconsequential ‘lift talk’. In all recent press conferences addressing the five-time Ballon d’Or winner, Martinez has highlighted a single key stat: Ronaldo has notched 25 goals in his last 31 appearances for the national side. ‘We are talking about the greatest player of all time. He is here because he is still performing at a very high level, not because of what he achieved in the past,’ Martinez explained.

Having already scored at each of his five previous World Cup appearances, Ronaldo will get one final chance to prove his critics wrong on the game’s biggest stage. The Al-Nassr forward has eight World Cup goals to his name, just one shy of Eusebio’s all-time Portuguese record, but his ultimate goal remains clear: leading Portugal to their first ever World Cup trophy. Ronaldo himself has already confirmed that the 2026 tournament will be his last World Cup, regardless of the outcome.

Even as age has slowed his raw physical pace, supporters and former teammates insist his impact stretches far beyond goals. ‘Cristiano understands the big moments better than almost anyone in football,’ former Portugal international Abel Xavier told BBC World Service. ‘That experience can be decisive in a World Cup. His presence is very important. People focus on the physical side, but there is also the technical side and especially the mental side. The younger players look up to him and he always gives something to the team.’

Ricardo, the former Portugal goalkeeper who was on the pitch for Ronaldo’s 2003 senior debut and now serves on the national team’s coaching staff, echoed that sentiment. ‘The speed may no longer be quite the same. Instead of running at 200km/h, he is running at 195km/h now. It is still incredibly high,’ he said. ‘As long as the physical, technical and mental qualities are still there, he remains a devastating force. With him, danger is never far away.’

Under Martinez, who took over the Portugal job in 2023 after stepping down from his role with Belgium, Ronaldo has featured in 31 of the manager’s 39 games in charge to date, with most of his absences coming from injury or suspension. Critics have pointed to two of Portugal’s biggest recent victories that came without Ronaldo in the squad: a 9-0 thrashing of Luxembourg in Faro in September 2023, and a 9-1 blowout of Armenia in Porto that November. Those results reignited long-running debates over whether the team performs better without their iconic captain.

Portuguese football pundit Sofia Oliveira, who works with CNN Portugal, DAZN Portugal and TSF radio, argues that Ronaldo no longer has the elite form to start for a title-contending side, and notes that the national team has not prepared for a tournament without him in the starting lineup. ‘But it is easy to arrive at this tournament and say Ronaldo should not be starting, which I agree with. The problem is that the national team has not been preparing for it,’ she explained.

Managing a figure of Ronaldo’s cultural and sporting stature has always been fraught with risk. Former Portugal manager Fernando Santos learned this lesson after benching Ronaldo during the 2022 Qatar World Cup. The decision sparked a fierce public backlash from Ronaldo’s family members on social media, and Santos stepped down from his role shortly after the tournament.

When asked earlier this year if he feared the same fate if he benched Ronaldo in 2026, Martinez downplayed the concern. The star’s outsized influence in Portugal has led to ongoing questions about his influence off the pitch, too: when the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) announced a February 2024 partnership with AVA CR7, a physical recovery company owned by Ronaldo, the move immediately drew criticism over potential conflicts of interest. The FPF has pushed back against these claims, releasing a statement to BBC Sport noting that the partnership complies with all internal and regulatory rules, that Ronaldo himself was never involved in the negotiations, and that all discussions were held exclusively with AVA’s management team.

As Ronaldo nears the end of his decorated professional career, growing attention has turned to whether the FPF and Portuguese football are prepared for a future without their biggest star. The federation has stated that it is ready for the transition, after closing 13 consecutive financial years in profit and approving a 2026-2027 budget that projects a record €161 million in revenue. FPF president Pedro Proenca noted that Ronaldo’s legacy will forever be tied to Portugal, and confirmed that the federation’s financial stability is secure regardless of the star’s eventual retirement.

‘Cristiano will always be intrinsically linked not to the federation, but to Portugal as a country,’ Proenca said. ‘The FPF has always prepared for its present and its future. Of course, we know the importance Cristiano has. The two brands overlap – Cristiano Ronaldo and the FPF – I have to be honest and sincere about that. What I can guarantee is that the federation’s operating revenues are secure for the continuity of a cycle that will happen naturally and normally, which is Cristiano’s departure.’

More than two decades after that unassuming night in Chaves that launched his international journey, Ronaldo remains the undeniable center of Portuguese football, and all eyes will turn to him as he kicks off what he says will be his final World Cup campaign.

CHICAGO – As Germany makes its final preparations ahead of the upcoming FIFA World Cup, the four-time world champions find themselves navigating a dual narrative: a nine-match winning streak that has boosted momentum, and a devastating injury blow that has robbed the side of one of its most promising young talents.

The European side’s final pre-tournament friendly against the United States men’s national team at Chicago’s Soldier Field on Saturday played out without 18-year-old midfielder Lennart Karl, who suffered a thigh injury in training just one day before the fixture. Despite his absence, goals from attacking stars Leroy Sané and Kai Havertz secured a hard-fought 2-1 win for the 10th-ranked German side, extending their unbeaten run ahead of the tournament kickoff.

The joy of the warm-up win was quickly tempered by confirmation that Karl will miss the entire World Cup, a crushing setback for the teenager who just enjoyed a breakout 2024-25 season with Bayern Munich. During that campaign, Karl made club history by becoming Bayern Munich’s youngest goalscorer in UEFA Champions League history, cementing his status as a key emerging talent for the national side.

German defender David Raum, who has shared both locker room and training ground moments with Karl, spoke openly about the loss following the victory against the USA. “It’s really tough. I had a good connection to Lenny. He’s a great guy, a very young talent,” Raum said. “We shared a lot of nice moments together even in this short time. I always played against him in training because he lines up on the right wing. We lose a good human being and an amazing player.”

Karl himself shared his heartbreak with fans via his official Instagram account, writing that missing the World Cup is “indescribably painful”. He added, “Unfortunately injuries often come at the unluckiest time,” a sentiment that has resonated with players and fans across the global football community.

In a quick roster adjustment, Germany called up 22-year-old midfielder Assan Ouédraogo to replace Karl for the tournament. Ouédraogo, who currently plays alongside Raum at RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga, has earned just one cap for Germany to date – a 6-0 victory over Slovakia in November 2024, where he notched his first senior international goal. Welcoming his club teammate to the national squad, Raum expressed confidence that the new call-up can fill the gap left by Karl’s injury. “Very happy to welcome him here, and he can help us a lot,” Raum added.

Germany is also managing another fitness concern ahead of the tournament: veteran starting goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who is still recovering from a lingering calf muscle injury. The 40-year-old goalkeeper, who came out of international retirement just last month after stepping away following UEFA Euro 2024, got the nod to be included in the roster despite not having played a competitive match for Germany in almost two years. In Neuer’s absence against the USA, Hoffenheim shot-stopper Oliver Baumann got the starting nod in goal.

Looking ahead, Germany will kick off its World Cup campaign on June 14 with a group stage opener against Curaçao. After that first fixture, the side will face Group E opponents Ivory Coast on June 20 before wrapping up group play against Ecuador on June 25.

CHICAGO – More than 60,000 packed fans filled Soldier Field on Saturday, packing the stands for the United States men’s national soccer team’s final competitive tune-up ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. What they witnessed was a tightly contested 2-1 defeat to fourth-ranked Germany, marked by an early defensive collapse, a stunning individual highlight, and enough encouraging signs to leave the American camp optimistic ahead of their tournament opener against Paraguay this coming Friday.

The match turned sour for the U.S. before many fans had even taken their seats. Just 43 seconds after kickoff, defensive midfielder Tyler Adams was called for a foul on Germany’s Felix Nmecha inside the attacking third. On the ensuing set piece, German center back Nico Schlotterbeck slipped past American veteran center back Tim Ream, leaving Kai Havertz completely unmarked at the top of the six-yard box. Havertz easily nodded home the opening header in the 2nd minute, putting the U.S. in an immediate hole.

Mauricio Pochettino, who took over as USMNT head coach in October 2024, fielded a starting lineup expected to mirror his preferred starting group for the World Cup. Missing was starting center back Chris Richards, who has been sidelined since mid-May after tearing two ligaments in his left ankle; his replacement in the starting lineup, Miles Robinson, was at fault for Germany’s second match-sealing goal in the 57th minute. When Havertz slid a short pass to Leroy Sané, Robinson was slow to step up with the defensive line, leaving Sané one-on-one with U.S. goalkeeper Matt Freese. The German winger calmly slotted the ball into the far corner to double his side’s lead.

Before that second goal, though, left back Antonee Robinson delivered one of the most memorable goals in recent USMNT history to pull the Americans back level in the 37th minute. On a Christian Pulisic corner kick, German defender Jonathan Tah’s attempted clearance bounced just outside the 18-yard box, right into the path of the onrushing Robinson. The 28-year-old Fulham defender, who goes by the childhood nickname “Jedi”, struck a perfect first-time left-footed volley that rocketed past German goalkeeper Oliver Baumann into the far corner of the net. The sellout crowd erupted as Robinson celebrated with a cartwheel followed by a backflip, notching his fifth career international goal.

Speaking after the match, Pulisic – who led the American attacking push alongside starting center forward Folarin Balogun – called the strike “sick”, echoing the reaction of fans and teammates alike. Antonee Robinson noted that the goal carried extra weight heading into the World Cup, comparing the stunning volley at Soldier Field to Benny Feilhaber’s iconic tiebreaking goal for the U.S. against Mexico in the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup final, also played at the Chicago venue. “I’ve never scored a goal like that in a competitive game before,” Robinson said. “Going into a World Cup it means a lot to have that kind of in my mind that I’ve scored something like that and a bit of freedom to shoot again if I’m in that position.”

The result extended a disappointing streak for the USMNT: it marked the team’s ninth consecutive loss to European opponents dating back to 2022. But beyond the final score, the Americans turned in a performance that has injected confidence into the squad ahead of the tournament. Pochettino’s side controlled the final 20 minutes of the first half, outearned Germany by a 10-2 margin in corner kicks, and created multiple high-quality scoring chances that they were unable to convert. After conceding the early opening goal, the team did not fold, a fact that multiple players highlighted post-match.

“Disappointed that we lost, but many positives to take,” Antonee Robinson said. “I feel like conceding that early, we could have easily crumbled, and it could have been a very, very bad day to be going into the tournament with. But we fought back and at times played some really good football and looked good, looked competitive.”

Pulisic echoed that sentiment, adding: “I mean against a really good team, I thought we were dangerous at times. We had good stretches of possession, defended well for good portions of it. And, yeah, I mean honestly, I think, we’re feeling good.”

Pochettino, who has posted a 14-10-2 record since taking the U.S. job, called the match an even contest, saying he was pleased with his side’s commitment and competitive intensity. The Argentine head coach will now turn his attention to cleaning up the costly defensive mistakes that led to Germany’s two goals, and settling on a replacement for Richards at center back for the opener: options include Mark McKenzie and Auston Trusty, who are both in the U.S. World Cup squad.

Before kickoff, the U.S. Soccer Federation honored the 1994 U.S. men’s World Cup team on the field, marking the 32nd anniversary of the country hosting the historic tournament that grew soccer’s profile across the nation.

Paris, France — Nineteen-year-old tennis prodigy Mirra Andreeva has secured her first career Grand Slam championship at the 2026 French Open, overpowering Polish qualifier Maja Chwalinska in a one-sided 6-3, 6-2 final that capped a fairytale fortnight for the young Russian star.

Entering the tournament as the world No. 8 and a pre-event favorite, Andreeva delivered on the years of hype that have followed her since her breakout 2023 WTA Tour run in Madrid, where her bold playing style and natural talent drew high praise from former British world No. 1 Andy Murray. Her victory on Saturday makes her the youngest women’s singles champion at Roland Garros since Monica Seles claimed the title in 1992, and the first teenager to lift the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen since Iga Swiatek’s 2020 win.

The final got off to a rocky, tense start: swirling Parisian wind and early nerves from both players produced four consecutive breaks of serve to open the match, with Chwalinska becoming the first to hold her serve, drawing roaring support from the 15,000-strong crowd packed into Court Philippe Chatrier. Thousands of Polish fans turned out to back the world No. 114, who entered the tournament as a 500-to-1 longshot to win the title.

But once Andreeva found her rhythm, she dominated play. The 19-year-old reeled off nine consecutive games to build a commanding 6-3, 5-0 lead, and though she failed to close out the match on her first serve attempt, she converted her first championship point on Chwalinska’s serve with a clinical backhand winner. After the final point landed in, Andreeva collapsed to the clay in elation, before rushing to the player’s box to embrace her coach, Conchita Martinez — the 1994 Wimbledon singles champion who has guided Andreeva’s development for two years.

“”I’ve been watching Roland Garros since I was very young and it has always been a dream to win this trophy,” Andreeva told the crowd in her on-court victory speech. She later thanked Martinez for “sharing her experiences and giving me so much advice” throughout their partnership, which has seen Andreeva climb from promising prospect to top-tier Grand Slam champion.

Born in Siberia and trained in France, Andreeva has been steadily building toward this breakthrough for two years. She reached the Roland Garros semifinals in 2024, claimed two WTA 1000 titles in 2025, cracked the world’s top 5 in the rankings earlier this 2026, and showed new levels of maturity throughout this tournament — most notably in a politically charged semifinal against Ukrainian 15th seed Marta Kostyuk, where she kept her focus to secure a straight-sets win.

For Chwalinska, the runner-up finish still marks one of the most incredible underdog runs in Grand Slam history. Only the second qualifier ever to reach a major singles final in the Open Era (following Great Britain’s Emma Raducanu, who won the 2021 US Open as a qualifier), Chwalinska entered the final having won nine consecutive matches to reach this stage.

Before this tournament, Chwalinska had only successfully advanced through Grand Slam qualifying twice in 14 previous attempts, and spent most of her career competing on lower-level tours, struggling to cover travel and training costs. She even told reporters after her second-round win that she had worried she could not afford to extend her hotel stay in Paris.

That financial stress is now firmly in the past: Chwalinska will take home 1.4 million euros in prize money from Roland Garros, tripling the total career earnings she accumulated before this fortnight. She will also rise to a new career-high ranking of No. 21 in the world next week, and is widely expected to receive a wildcard for the 2026 Wimbledon main draw.

After the final, Chwalinska joked with reporters, “I wish you could see a better match today, but Mirra was too good for me, I guess it is her fault!” She added, “I will not forget these three weeks. Paris will stay forever with me in my heart.”

With her first Grand Slam title in hand, Andreeva now carries her new momentum into the grass court season, with her eyes set on becoming the youngest player to win a second major title in nearly 15 years.