Although Arsenal ultimately suffered heartbreak in the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain, the German forward achieved a remarkable milestone that places him among a select group of players in the competition’s history. Kai Havertz’s name now sits alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Mario Mandzukic after another memorable night on European soccer’s biggest stage. Although Arsenal ultimately suffered heartbreak in the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain, the German forward achieved a remarkable milestone that places him among a select group of players in the competition’s history. The final at Budapest’s Puskas Arena ended in disappointment for Arsenal as PSG successfully defended its European crown after prevailing in a dramatic penalty shootout. Yet despite the defeat, Havertz emerged with a personal achievement that underlined his reputation as one of soccer’s most reliable performers in high-pressure matches. Arsenal made the perfect start to the final when the German international opened the scoring after just six minutes, silencing the defending champion’s supporters and giving the Premier League winner an early advantage. The 26-year-old forward capitalized on a loose ball inside the penalty area and finished confidently from a tight angle. It was another example of his ability to rise to the occasion when the stakes are at their highest. For much of the match, Arsenal executed Mikel Arteta’s game plan impressively. However, the game shifted midway through the second half. EEEEEEES INCREIBLE como Havertz hizo ese gol… pic.twitter.com/puqZDLVQu2— 𝓙𝓸𝓷𝓪𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓷 ²¹ (@jwma242) May 30, 2026 A challenge from Cristhian Mosquera on Khvicha Kvaratskhelia resulted in a penalty, allowing Ousmane Dembele to level the score from the spot and bring the French side back into the contest. Neither side could find a winner during the remainder of normal time or throughout extra time. As a result, Europe’s biggest trophy would be decided by penalties. PSG holds its nerve in shootout drama The tension was immense as both teams stepped up from 12 yards. PSG gained an early psychological advantage when the shootout was held in front of its own supporters after winning the coin toss. The contest remained finely balanced before Lucas Beraldo converted an important penalty for the Parisians. Moments later, Gabriel blasted his effort over the crossbar, handing the French champion the decisive advantage. PSG eventually secured a 4-3 shootout victory, retaining the Champions League title and becoming one of the few clubs ever to win back-to-back European crowns. For Arsenal, the defeat was crushing. The club had hoped to complete a historic season after winning the Premier League title, but the dream of lifting a first Champions League trophy slipped away most cruelly. The exclusive club Havertz has joined Despite the disappointment, Havertz’s goal carried historic significance. By scoring for Arsenal in the final, Havertz joined Cristiano Ronaldo and Mario Mandzukic in an exclusive Champions League club. The achievement places the German among some of the competition’s most distinguished performers. The record is remarkable because it highlights a player’s ability to deliver on the biggest stage while representing different clubs across separate eras of their career. Havertz has now scored in Champions League finals for both Chelsea and Arsenal. His first came in 2021 when he netted the winning goal against Manchester City to secure Chelsea’s European triumph. His latest strike against PSG means he has become only the third player ever to score in a Champions League final for two different clubs. The complete list now reads: RankPlayerClubs Scored for in UEFA Champions League Finals1.Kai HavertzChelsea (2021), Arsenal (2026)2.Cristiano RonaldoManchester United (2008), Real Madrid (2014, 2017)3.Mario MandzukicBayern Munich (2013), Juventus (2017)
With the final roster released on Thursday, Emiliano Buendia and Marcos Senesi are two of the biggest omissions from Argentina’s 2026 World Cup squad. Lionel Scaloni has officially submitted his final 26-man roster for the 2026 World Cup, locking in the squad that will travel to North America to defend Argentina’s global crown. While a few surprise names managed to punch their tickets, Aston Villa’s Emiliano Buendia and Bournemouth’s Marcos Senesi emerged as two of the most glaring omissions from La Albiceleste. With the definitive Argentina roster drop on Thursday evening, several high-profile players found themselves on the outside looking in, but none sparked more debate than Buendia and Senesi given their standout campaigns in the English Premier League. Emiliano Buendia concluded a spectacular 2025-26 season on the highest possible note, netting a crucial goal in the UEFA Europa League final to lift Aston Villa to a 3-0 triumph over SC Freiburg. Racking up 11 goals and nine assists across 54 appearances, the playmaker was an indispensable starter for a Villa side that secured a fourth-place Premier League finish alongside international teammate Emiliano “Dibu” Martinez, though only the star goalkeeper ultimately made Scaloni’s cut. Concurrently, Marcos Senesi regularly wore the captain’s armband for a historic Bournemouth squad that surged to a sixth-place Premier League finish, securing European qualification for the first time in club history. Named the Cherries’ Player of the Season, the rock-solid central defender anchored the backline while chipping in five assists over 39 appearances, making his exclusion from the World Cup roster a bitter pill to swallow. #SelecciónMayor Con toda la fuerza de los argentinos 💪🏻🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/84Lh03BgxH— 🇦🇷 Selección Argentina ⭐⭐⭐ (@Argentina) May 28, 2026 Potential reasons for Buendia and Senesi ommissions With rising stars Franco Mastantuono and Gianluca Prestianni reportedly set to be excluded, Emiliano Buendia was widely projected to be the one to provide creative depth from the right flank. However, despite his trophy-laden campaign with Aston Villa, a chronic lack of playing time under Scaloni for the national team ultimately doomed his chances of booking a ticket to North America. Since logging a brief 10-minute cameo in his international debut against Colombia in 2022, Buendia has only registered 20 additional minutes for his country, coming in a friendly against Angola. Due to that lack of integration, Scaloni elected to rely on options with more tactical familiarity; furthermore, Como’s breakout star Nico Paz secured a spot on the plane as a primary creative understudy to Lionel Messi, effectively closing the door on Buendia. In Senesi’s case, the competition for the central defensive position proved too formidable to crack. With veteran Nicolas Otamendi and Tottenham’s Cristian Romero locked in as the starting center-back pairing, Manchester United’s Lisandro Martinez was a guarantee as the primary left-footed cover, while Facundo Medina’s ability to slide outside and deputize at left-back gave him a tactical versatility that ultimately pushed him ahead of Senesi in the pecking order. Full list of 29 players excluded From the initial 55-player provisional player pool, head coach Lionel Scaloni chopped down the roster by 29 names to solidify his final squad for the upcoming World Cup across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The full list of players who failed to make the definitive tournament cut includes the following: Walter BenitezFacundo CambesesSantiago BeltranAgustin GiayNicolas CapaldoKevin Mac AllisterLucas Martinez QuartaMarcos SenesiGerman PezzellaLautaro Di LolloZaid RomeroMarcos AcuñaGabriel RojasMaximo PerroneGuido RodriguezAníbal MorenoMilton DelgadoAlan VarelaEzequiel FernandezNicolas DominguezEmiliano BuendiaFranco MastantuonoTomas ArandaAlejandro GarnachoMatias SouleClaudio EcheverriGianluca PrestianniSantiago CastroMateo Pellegrino
Led by the legendary Lionel Messi, Argentina have officially unveiled their star-studded 2026 World Cup roster, including Julian Alvarez and Enzo Fernandez Lionel Messi is officially locked in to anchor his historic, career-defining final World Cup campaign. In a highly anticipated announcement, manager Lionel Scaloni finalized Argentina’s 26-man roster for the tournament in North America, with established global superstars Julian Alvarez and Enzo Fernandez headlining a loaded squad. While international media outlets widely expected Scaloni to withhold the roster drop until Friday, May 29, the Argentine master tactician caught the soccer world by surprise, by releasing the official list a day early on Thursday published across the Argentine Football Association’s (AFA) social media channels. The tournament marks a monumental milestone for the Inter Miami captain. By stepping onto the pitch in North America, Messi will officially establish an unprecedented all-time record by competing in his sixth career World Cup—a legendary longevity milestone he is slated to share with his longtime eternal rival, Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo. In a bold move to refresh the squad, Scaloni made the difficult decision to leave out several key figures who helped lift the trophy in Qatar four years ago. Aside from the mandatory absences of legendary winger Angel Di Maria and veteran goalkeeper Franco Armani—both of whom retired from international soccer—and the injured fullback Juan Foyth, the coaching staff opted to cut six active world champions from the traveling roster. #SelecciónMayor Con toda la fuerza de los argentinos 💪🏻🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/84Lh03BgxH— 🇦🇷 Selección Argentina ⭐⭐⭐ (@Argentina) May 28, 2026 Due to tactical decisions and recent form, Marcos Acuña, German Pezzella, Alejandro Gomez, Guido Rodriguez, Angel Correa, and Paulo Dybala have all been left off the flight to North America, missing out on the chance to defend their global crown. Perhaps the most shocking omissions from Scaloni’s final squad list came from the English Premier League. Both Emiliano Buendia and Marcos Senesi were left out of the final roster, as they were widely projected to lock in their spots on the plane to North America following stellar individual campaigns. Official 2026 Argentina World Cup roster Goalkeepers Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa)Gerónimo Rulli (Olympique de Marseille)Juan Musso (Atlético de Madrid) Defenders Gonzalo Montiel (River Plate)Nahuel Molina (Atlético de Madrid)Lisandro Martínez (Manchester United)Nicolás Otamendi (Benfica)Leonardo Balerdi (Olympique de Marseille)Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur)Facundo Medina (Olympique de Marseille)Nicolás Tagliafico (Olympique de Lyon) Midfielders Leandro Paredes (Boca Juniors)Rodrigo De Paul (Inter Miami)Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen)Enzo Fernández (Chelsea)Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool)Giovani Lo Celso (Real Betis)Valentín Barco (Racing Club de Strasbourg) Forwards Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)Nico Paz (Como 1907)Thiago Almada (Atlético de Madrid)Nicolás González (Atlético de Madrid)Giuliano Simeone (Atlético de Madrid)Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan)José Manuel López (Palmeiras)Julián Álvarez (Atlético de Madrid) Roster newcomers The tournament will mark a massive milestone for a hungry group of tournament debutants. Scaloni has integrated fresh blood into the squad, giving eight players their very first career World Cup call-ups: Juan Musso, Leonardo Balerdi, Facundo Medina, Valentin Barco, Giuliano Simeone, Nicolas Gonzalez, Nico Paz and Jose Lopez.
Javier Aguirre said he has already finalized Mexico’s squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Mexico will open the 2026 FIFA World Cup when they face South Africa in the tournament’s opening match on June 11 at Estadio Azteca. With that challenge in mind, head coach Javier Aguirre said he already has a clear picture of the squad selection. “Yes, I have them. I have the 26. They’ve gone through filters,” Aguirre said during a recent interview on the El Posscass de Compass podcast, hosted by former Mexican players Cuauhtemoc Blanco, German Villa, and Isaac Terrazas. Expanding on what those “filters” meant, the head coach explained that over the last few months he has gone through a careful evaluation process to better understand not only the players’ soccer abilities, but also their mental toughness: “I took them to Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Panama, places where we are not the home team… and they have shown personality.” However, despite appearing confident in his choices, Aguirre predicted controversy surrounding the 26 selected players once the names are publicly announced. “Ever since I was a kid, every roster is missing Juan and has too much Pedro, and you’re never going to make everyone happy,” he said. Alexis Vega of Mexico. Mexican stars join the national team Since May 6, Javier Aguirre has been working in his home country alongside a group of players selected from Mexican clubs. That has given him plenty of time to evaluate them, as well as a considerable advantage over most other national teams, many of which only recently began preparations for the World Cup. Now that most leagues around the world have completed their official seasons, the group has started welcoming Mexico’s biggest stars, many of whom compete in European leagues such as the Premier League and La Liga. In recent days, the national team has shared social media updates on the arrival of those players, including Raul Jimenez, Cesar Huerta, Santiago Gimenez, Obed Vargas, Johan Vasquez, Alvaro Fidalgo, and Julian Quinones. Mexico have heavily prepared for the World Cup While most national teams participating in the World Cup have played only two matches in 2026 — those corresponding to the March FIFA break — Mexico have scheduled numerous friendlies to give the team competitive rhythm and allow Aguirre to draw conclusions. In January, Mexico faced Panama and Bolivia, while in February they played against Iceland. During the March international break, they were tested against European opponents such as Portugal and Belgium, while their most recent match came against Ghana last Saturday. They still have two more friendlies remaining: against Australia on May 30 and Serbia on June 4.
France winger Michael Olise picked Portugal’s best player — and it was not Cristiano Ronaldo. Just days before the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo already has his place secured in the 26-player roster selected by head coach Roberto Martinez. However, France star Michael Olise believes another player is currently the biggest star of the Portugal national team. During an interview with FCBayernESports shared on Instagram, Olise took part in a game that involved naming the best player from six different national teams. When it came to Portugal, the winger made a surprising choice by not selecting Ronaldo. “Let me say… Bruno,” Olise replied, referring to Fernandes. It is a logical choice considering the attacking midfielder’s outstanding season with Manchester United, where he established himself as the Premier League’s top performer. Still, the answer also reflects how time is gradually moving CR7 away from the dominant role he held with Portugal for nearly two decades. North America 2026 will almost certainly be Ronaldo’s final major international tournament, as it is difficult to imagine him continuing much longer with the national team, let alone reaching UEFA Euro 2028. In that inevitable generational transition, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Vitinha and Ruben Dias appear set to become the new leaders of the squad. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Managing Barça (@managingbarca) Olise’s other selections In addition to naming Bruno Fernandes over Cristiano Ronaldo for Portugal, Michael Olise also selected the best players from several other countries. For Germany, the decision was easy, as he chose his Bayern Munich teammate Joshua Kimmich. The same happened with England: “Harry” was his response, referring to Kane. Lamine Yamal was chosen by Olise as Spain’s standout player, while Lionel Messi earned that recognition for Argentina, as expected. Interestingly, when asked about Brazil, the French winger hesitated before admitting: “I don’t know.” Olise prepares for his first World Cup With 22 goals and 31 assists in 52 matches for Bayern Munich across all competitions this season, Michael Olise arrives at his first major international tournament in outstanding form. He made his debut for France less than two years ago, shortly following UEFA Euro 2024, having decided against representing England internationally. Since then, his performances have earned him an increasingly important role under Didier Deschamps. At this point, it appears clear that France’s attacking trio at the World Cup will feature him alongside Ousmane Dembele and Kylian Mbappe.
Amid a disappointing season, Antonio Rüdiger emerged as one of the undisputed leaders in Real Madrid’s defensive line. Following his consistent performances, the club have reportedly secured a contract renewal for the 33-year-old defender, reinforcing his role as a key figure. Even though Real Madrid have not enjoyed their best season, Antonio Rüdiger has emerged as one of the team’s most important players. Despite dealing with injuries at the start of the campaign, the German defender has managed to establish himself as an essential presence in the back line through his consistency and leadership. Following his strong performances, Los Blancos have reportedly reached an agreement to renew the 33-year-old’s contract. According to Fabrizio Romano, via X, formerly Twitter, Antonio Rüdiger and Real Madrid have reached an agreement over a contract renewal. As a result, the German defender would remain at the club until 2027, reinforcing his importance under José Mourinho due to his experience and consistency. After playing 2,190 minutes during the season, he appears set to once again play a key role in the defensive transition alongside Éder Militão and Dean Huijsen. With Éder Militão struggling through defensive inconsistencies and Dean Huijsen yet to fully establish, the continuity of Rüdiger appears to be a smart decision for Real Madrid. However, he is coming off a season heavily affected by injuries, meaning he could enter a more structured rotation. As a natural dressing-room leader, Antonio could also prove essential during the managerial transition, especially if major tactical changes are introduced. Antonio Rüdiger reportedly had opportunities to continue his career before reaching an agreement with Real Madrid. According to Nicolò Schira, Juventus pursued the German defender as a free agent due to him strong relationship with Luciano Spalletti. Alongside them, two Premier League clubs and one Saudi Pro League side were also said to be monitoring his situation. However, Real Madrid’s renewal proposal changed everything. Antonio Rudiger of Real Madrid reacts during the LaLiga EA Sports match. Real Madrid may still need to sign a world-class defender Real Madrid struggled significantly at the defensive level, with several of their defenders suffering major injuries. In addition, David Alaba has officially departed the club, while Raúl Asencio could leave either on loan or through a permanent transfer. With Éder Militão continuing to battle injury concerns and showing vulnerability to long absences, Los Blancos may need to sign a reliable center-back capable of providing quality depth throughout the season. While Aurélien Tchouaméni and Joan Martínez could provide additional cover at center-back, Real Madrid still appear determined to strengthen the defensive department. According to José Félix Díaz via Diario AS, José Mourinho has requested four reinforcements for the summer of 2026: one center-back, one full-back, and two midfielders — one defensive and one creative. Nevertheless, midfield additions could reportedly become the club’s immediate priority.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin has discovered a new lease of life in Yorkshire while Adrien Truffert made a big impressionConsidering the cost of signing elite Premier League strikers, Calvert-Lewin deserves a spot because he cost absolutely nothing. Plenty played a part in other clubs deciding the centre-forward was not for them after leaving Everton; his injury and goalscoring record left plenty to be desired but everyone knew what was available, if a club could get him fit. Still only 29, Calvert-Lewin wanted a change of scenery and has proved plenty wrong by missing only three Premier League games all season and producing the goals that have gone a long way to keeping his side in the Premier League – scoring seven in six games at the end of 2025 – and earning a first England call in five years along the way. “For me, he is one of the best English strikers in this league,” Daniel Farke said. “Harry Kane is playing in Germany for Bayern Munich, but in the Premier League, he is definitely one of the best English strikers and he will be a key player for us going forward.” Continue reading...
The announcement immediately sparked debate across the country as Die Mannschaft prepares for another attempt to restore its place among soccer’s elite after difficult recent World Cup campaigns. Germany has officially unveiled its squad for the 2026 World Cup, with Manuel Neuer making a stunning return to the national team under Julian Nagelsmann, while Serge Gnabry misses the tournament through injury after suffering a major setback late in the season. The announcement immediately sparked debate across the country as Die Mannschaft prepares for another attempt to restore its place among soccer’s elite after difficult recent World Cup campaigns. For months, uncertainty surrounded Neuer’s international future after the veteran goalkeeper stepped away following Euro 2024. Yet Nagelsmann ultimately decided that experience, leadership, and composure on the biggest stage were too valuable to ignore ahead of a tournament that could define the next chapter of German soccer. The biggest revelation from the squad announcement was undoubtedly Neuer’s comeback at the age of 40. The Bayern Munich goalkeeper had repeatedly insisted his international retirement was final, even describing the decision earlier this year as “set in stone.” That position changed after discussions with Nagelsmann, who made it clear he wanted the veteran back between the posts for the tournament in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. “After many discussions, we understood that the three best goalkeepers in Germany should be at the World Cup. That’s why we spoke with Manuel, and he agreed to return. We plan with him as number 1,” the manager explained. The decision came at a cost for Oliver Baumann, who had expected to remain the DFB-Team’s first-choice goalkeeper after featuring heavily during qualifying. Nagelsmann openly admitted the situation was difficult for the Hoffenheim keeper, describing Neuer’s return as “a blow” for Baumann after months of believing the role belonged to him. Germany finally reveals the full squad As anticipation built around Neuer’s comeback, attention soon shifted toward the rest of Germany’s final selection for the tournament. Nagelsmann eventually confirmed a squad packed with Bundesliga experience, Premier League quality, and several emerging talents viewed as the future of the national team. Manuel Neuer retired from the Germany national team in 2024. Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Oliver Baumann (Hoffenheim), Alexander Nubel (Stuttgart) Defenders: Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Nico Schlotterbeck (Borussia Dortmund), David Raum (Leipzig), Jonathan Tah (Bayern Munich), Waldemar Anton (Borussia Dortmund), Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid), Nathaniel Brown (Eintracht Frankfurt), Malick Thiaw (Newcastle) Midfielders: Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich), Florian Wirtz (Liverpool), Lennart Karl (Bayern Munich), Angelo Stiller (Stuttgart), Aleksandar Pavlovic (Bayern Munich), Leon Goretzka (Bayern Munich), Leroy Sane (Galatasaray), Felix Nmecha (Borussia Dortmund), Nadiem Amiri (Mainz), Pascal Gross (Brighton and Hove Albion) Forwards: Kai Havertz (Arsenal), Deniz Undav (Stuttgart), Jamie Leweling (Stuttgart), Nick Woltemade (Newcastle), Maximilian Beier (Borussia Dortmund) One notable absentee remains Gnabry, whose season-ending injury following Bayern Munich’s Champions League clash with Real Madrid ruled him out of contention. His absence leaves Germany without one of its most dangerous wide attackers during a tournament where attacking depth could become decisive. Gemeinsam für Deutschland: Unser Kader für die WM 2026! 🖤❤️💛#dfbteam #fifaworldcup2026 pic.twitter.com/zaxWgXsGGv— DFB-Team (@DFB_Team) May 21, 2026 Germany searching for redemption Germany enters the World Cup under enormous pressure after consecutive group-stage eliminations in 2018 and 2022. Since lifting the trophy in Brazil in 2014, the national team has struggled to match expectations on the world stage. Nagelsmann knows expectations remain high despite the re
