There is no shortage of entertainers in Carlo Ancelotti’s picks for this summer’s tournament. They’ll also need a solid base if they are to win a sixth titleIn their attacking heyday, Brazil never struggled to find a winning complement in defence. Individual attacking brilliance only comes off if others nearby are doing the hard yards; for every Ronaldinho, there is a Roque Júnior.The current generation doesn’t lack entertainers. Of Carlo Ancelotti’s 26-man squad for the World Cup, which was announced on Monday, nine players are listed as attackers, a high number for most squads, with nine defenders left to sweat their responsibilities whenever possession changes hands. Continue reading...
After a great collective play, Lionel Messi scored the opening goal for Inter Miami in the MLS game against the Portland Timbers. Inter Miami hosted the Portland Timbers on Sunday at Nu Stadium looking to climb the MLS Eastern Conference standings. Lionel Messi spearheaded the attack for the Herons, providing the game’s opening breakthrough before delivering an assist to push the advantage to 2-0, securing the historic first victory at the club’s new home. Sunday’s clash marked Inter Miami’s fifth match at Nu Stadium since its grand opening, with the Herons previously enduring a frustrating stretch of three draws and a loss at the new venue. After sustained attacking pressure turned Timbers goalkeeper James Pantemis into the player of the match early with a string of brilliant saves, the Herons finally carved open the Portland defense through the middle of the pitch to finally break the negative streak. In the 31st minute, Messi controlled a pass from Telasco Segovia and quickly found Luis Suarez, who immediately linked back up with the Venezuelan midfielder. Segovia then delivered a spectacular backheel pass that left Messi one-on-one with the keeper, allowing the Argentine star to slot it home and open the scoring for the hosts. Messi makes no mistake for his 12th goal of the year. 💫@InterMiamiCF lead 1-0 at home. pic.twitter.com/QqiFVtiTgS— Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 17, 2026 Messi wasn’t finished impacting the scoreboard, later turning playmaker to set up German Berterame for Inter Miami’s second goal. In the 42nd minute, Messi executed a perfect give-and-go with Suarez before dancing past Cole Bassett and Diego Chara inside the box. After freezing the defenders, the Argentine slipped a pass across the face of the goal for Berterame to tap home first-time, comfortably doubling the Herons’ lead against the Timbers before the break. Messi assists, Berterame finishes. Wow. What a run. 😎 pic.twitter.com/RGsxFTcVS9— Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 17, 2026 Those numbers bring Messi’s season totals to 13 goals and 5 assists across 15 matches. Most notably, the superstar has racked up four goals and four assists over his last four outings, solidifying his status as the frontrunner for the MLS Player of the Month award for May. Messi directly involved in over half of Inter Miami’s MLS goals Messi has undoubtedly been Inter Miami’s talisman since his arrival, serving as both the team’s primary finisher and the creative engine behind their build-up play. However, during the 2026 MLS campaign, his influence has reached a point where the Herons are heavily reliant on what the Argentine legend can produce on any given night. Through 14 matches, Inter Miami has found the back of the net 33 times, with Messi directly involved in 18 of those tallies by racking up 13 goals and five assists. While nine other players have cracked the scoresheet for Miami this season, Berterame is the next closest with just five goals, highlighting the team’s extreme dependence on their superstar captain.
After being crowned the 2025-26 LaLiga champion, Robert Lewandowski announced his departure from Barcelona, leaving behind a historic legacy. In light of this, Chicago Fire head coach Gregg Berhalter expressed interest in the Polish forward for the 2026-27 season. Robert Lewandowski has managed to become one of the best players of Barcelona’s recent era. Despite arriving as a veteran, the Polish striker succeeded in leaving a huge legacy at the club, one that will come to an end after the 2025–26 season. Amid this situation, he has been strongly linked with MLS, something that Chicago Fire head coach Gregg Berhalter decided to acknowledge to Bolavip their interest on signing the Polish veteran. After the latest defeat against Deportivo Alaves, Lewandowski announced on his social media his departure as free-agent from Barcelona, while leaving clear his love to Catalonia. “After four years full of challenges and hard work, it’s time to move on. I leave with the feeling that the mission is complete. 4 seasons, 3 championships. I will never forget the love I received from the fans from my very first days. Catalonia is my place on earth.” With his announcement, Gregg Berhalter revealed to Bolavip that Chicago Fire are interested on Robert Lewandowski’s arrival. “I think it’s no secret that we’ve been in communication with Robert. We think he’s a fantastic player. We think that they would be a great, a top pairing in this league. So you never know. I think there’s a lot still to be done, but we admire Robert, and we think he’s a fantastic player, one of the best strikers ever.” Despite not coming off his best season, Lewandowski has still managed to remain one of Barcelona’s top scorers, with 18 goals in 44 matches. In addition, the Polish striker has shown outstanding vision and link-up play, making him crucial for collective game, boosting Chicago Fire to become one of the top teams in MLS once again. Nevertheless, they will not have an easy task to complete his signing, as he has a staggering offer from the Saudi Pro League. Robert Lewandowski of FC Barcelona looks on as he warms up prior a game. Robert Lewandowski may boost Hugo Cuypers at Chicago Fire Hugo Cuypers has emerged as one of the best players in MLS, leading the league in goals scored by one goal over Lionel Messi. As a result, fans have serious doubts about whether paying Robert Lewandowski a multi-million-dollar salary is worth it, since the Belgian striker is in top form and that Designated Player slot could be used to strengthen other areas of the team. However, the veteran striker could indeed boost the 29-year-old star on the field. Unlike other strikers, Lewandowski impacts the game beyond just his goals, as he serves as a focal point in the team’s collective play. The Polish striker has managed to create space for Raphinha and Lamine Yamal on the wings, and even for Fermín López, due to his exceptional vision and understanding of the game. Because of this, Cuypers could find an excellent partner in attack, boosting the offensive production of both players. Far from being an obstacle for Cuypers, Robert Lewandowski would help the Belgian striker find more space inside the box, as his mere presence draws multiple defenders, just as it happens at Barcelona. Nevertheless, head coach Gregg Berhalter faces the difficult task of building a partnership between both forwards, aiming to maximize the talent of each player while potentially changing the tactical system and the responsibilities of several players on the field.
Japan defined their World Cup list with Takefusa Kubo, while Kaoru Mitoma and Takumi Minamino are injured. While teams were not yet required to officially name their 26-man World Cup squads, Japan chose to remove any suspense and announce its list early. The squad led by Takefusa Kubo does not include Kaoru Mitoma or Takumi Minamino. Japan’s progress over the past few years has been clear. That is reflected in the clubs these players represent, with only three of them, including two goalkeepers, playing in the domestic league. Bad news for Hajime Moriyasu came with the absence of Mitoma, mainly because the midfielder picked up an injury while playing for Brighton last weekend. The manager said: “The medical team assessed that it would be difficult for him to return to fitness during the tournament.” The list Goalkeepers: Zion Suzuki (Parma), Keisuke Osako (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Tomoki Hayakawa (Kashima) Defenders: Yuto Nagamoto (FC Tokyo), Shogo Taniguchi (Sint-Truidense), Ko Itakura (Ajax), Takehiro Tomiyasu (Ajax), Ayumu Seko (Le Havre), Yukinari Sugawara (Werder Bremen), Hiroki Ito (Bayern Munich), Junnosuke Suzuki (Copenhagen), Tsuyoshi Watanabe (Feyenoord) Mitoma isn’t on the list (Warren Little/Getty Images) Midfielders: Kaishu Sano (Mainz), Wataru Endo (Liverpool), Ao Tanaka (Leeds), Daichi Kamada (Crystal Palace), Junya Ito (Genk) Forwards: Kaito Nakamura (Stade Reims), Daizen Maeda (Celtic), Koki Ogawa (NEC), Takefusa Kubo (Real Sociedad), Iori Suzuki (Freiburg), Kento Shiogai (Wolfsburg), Keisuke Goto (Sint-Truidense), Ritsu Doan (Eintracht Frankfurt), Kaoru Ueda (Feyenoord) The group Japan was placed in Group F for the World Cup, where it will face three strong opponents: the Netherlands on June 14, Tunisia on June 21 and Sweden on June 26.
Cannes film festival: This lively documentary about everyone’s favourite hot-headed footballer/unlikely Ken Loach star will give more than just fans a kickHere is a fervent, but repetitive fan-service documentary, perpetually re-using iconic “bad behaviour” clips, all about the tempestuous king of Manchester United (formerly and briefly the tempestuous king of Leeds United).Eric Cantona was the Frenchman who won the hearts of English football fans in the 90s for his stunning skills, filling the silverware cabinet to bursting having been picked up cheap by Man U having effectively flounced out of French football. He was mentored in those days by that kindly teddy-bear of a man, Sir Alex Ferguson, who is interviewed extensively here, along with David Beckham, Eric’s elderly parents Albert and Éléonore, and of course the gloweringly pugnacious man himself, appearing in what appears to be a deserted church and gnomically quoting Baudelaire. Continue reading...
