Argentina’s President Javier Milei has criticized Lionel Messi and Lautaro Martínez for displaying the Falkland Islands flag after Argentina’s win over England in the 2026 World Cup semi-final. He believes football should not be mixed with politics, arguing that the islands’ return to Argentine sovereignty should be pursued only through diplomatic means.

In a recent interview, the President cited American singer and actor Elvis Presley to illustrate his point: “In an interview, he [Elvis Presley] was asked about the Vietnam War. He replied that he doesn’t comment on politics — he’s someone who works in entertainment.” Milei added, “It’s not good to mix oil and water; this is sport.”

Milei also voiced agreement with the Argentina national team coach’s position, saying, “I agree with what Lionel Scaloni said. Players can do this because of the emotions of the moment. That can’t be the case for a politician, because such a statement could amount to a declaration of war.”

Another part of his remarks caused considerable stir. Referencing Diego Maradona’s performance against England at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, he said, “We have to show restraint. Maradona scored against the English, but it didn’t bring back the Falklands.”

After Argentina’s match against England at the recently concluded World Cup, Messi and Martínez displayed a banner reading “The Falklands Are Argentine.” Milei said, “Players are not part of diplomacy — this was an act of recklessness.”

Argentina went on to lose 1-0 to Spain in the final.

Cape Verdean star goalkeeper Vozinha has sparked a new debate in Chilean football. While the Chilean league’s governing body (ANFP) has granted him special permission to use his nickname on his jersey, his move to the country’s traditional club Colo-Colo remains uncertain.

On Friday, the ANFP unanimously decided that Vozinha would be allowed to use his well-known nickname instead of his family name on the jersey of his choice — a decision that required a change to the Chilean league’s rules. Until now, Chilean club football had required players to use only their family names on jerseys.

Vozinha’s full name is Josimar José Évora Dias, though in the football world he is better known simply as “Vozinha.” It is understood that one of the conditions of his move to Colo-Colo was permission to use this name on his jersey.

The 40-year-old goalkeeper was announced by Colo-Colo last week as one of the club’s biggest signings ahead of the new season. However, despite being due to arrive in Santiago on Tuesday, his trip was postponed to Thursday due to visa complications — and in the end, he did not board that flight either.

Speculation about the transfer has swirled since then. However, Colo-Colo director Jaime Pizarro said there is no risk of the deal falling through. He told reporters on Thursday night that the club had been in contact with Vozinha’s agent just minutes earlier, and that the goalkeeper had asked for time to sort out some personal matters.

Meanwhile, according to local media reports, club president Aníbal Mosa admitted at the ANFP meeting that a formal contract with Vozinha has not yet been signed.

Colo-Colo coach Fernando Ortiz also said he had spoken directly with Vozinha.

“We’ve spoken to him. We understand he’s quite happy — he doesn’t usually show much emotion, but he’s thrilled about the prospect of coming here. He just has to sort out some personal matters first,” Ortiz said.

“If a player like him joins our league, everyone will naturally take notice. Hopefully, he’ll resolve the issue and join us very soon.”

Vozinha, though active on social media, has not yet made any public comment on the possible move.

Uncertainty over the future of Brazilian star Vinícius Júnior has deepened, with Real Madrid considering the possibility of letting him go if a new contract cannot be agreed. The Spanish club has no plans to increase its offer for Vinícius.

According to a report from ESPN, Vinícius is scheduled to join pre-season training on Monday following his post-World Cup break. However, questions have arisen over his future ahead of the new season.

Vinícius has just one year left on his current contract with Real Madrid, and the club believes it is now up to him to make a decision. No date has yet been set for a new meeting between his representatives and the club’s leadership.

Real’s position, however, is clear: either Vinícius signs a new contract, or he moves elsewhere.

Arsenal are reportedly well-positioned to sign Vinícius should he choose to leave the club. Sources close to the matter say there has been no direct contact yet between Vinícius’s camp and Arsenal, though ESPN reports that Arsenal are already working through the financial and strategic aspects of a potential transfer.

The tension between Real Madrid and Vinícius’s representatives over a new contract is not new. Last season, ESPN reported that Vinícius was in no hurry to renew his contract, and there was no significant progress in negotiations before the World Cup.

Vinícius, who joined Real Madrid as a teenager in 2018, has gradually established himself as one of the best footballers in the world. He has scored in two Champions League finals and finished as runner-up for the 2024 Ballon d’Or.

However, the Brazilian was reportedly unhappy with his role under then-coach Xabi Alonso last season, and his visible frustration sparked controversy when he was substituted during El Clásico at the Santiago Bernabéu.

Overall, the club’s failure to win a major title for two consecutive seasons has further complicated the situation.

Real Madrid are already active in the transfer market, having recently signed forward Carlos Espí. A deal for winger Yann Diomandé is reportedly close to being finalized, and the Spanish giants are also hopeful of signing Manchester City’s Spanish midfielder Rodri.

Real Madrid will play a friendly against Fiorentina as part of their pre-season preparations before the competitive season begins, having already played warm-up matches against Alcorcón and Leganés.

It remains to be seen whether Vinícius agrees to a new contract with Real Madrid or ends his six-year spell at the club to pursue a new destination elsewhere.

Lionel Messi took a few days off to rest after Argentina’s World Cup final defeat, and Inter Miami played several Major League Soccer (MLS) matches without him. But the club will no longer have to do without the Argentine superstar.

One of the greatest footballers of all time is finally back on the field after his break. Miami will face Columbus Crew at their home ground, NU Stadium, on Sunday morning Bangladesh time — a match likely to mark Messi’s return after nearly two weeks out.

Messi and Rodrigo De Paul, who both played for Argentina in the World Cup final, rejoined Miami’s training on Friday. Miami coach Javier Mascherano also confirmed that the pair will be included in the squad for Sunday morning’s match against Columbus.

“He [Messi] hasn’t been back at the club for long, so we haven’t had a chance to talk to him yet. But we’re happy that he and De Paul are back,” the coach said.

Miami won both of their matches without Messi and De Paul during the post-World Cup stretch, having also won four consecutive games before the World Cup break.

Miami currently sit second in the Eastern Conference with 37 points from 11 wins and 4 draws in 17 matches, while Nashville SC top the table with 39 points from the same number of games.

Barcelona’s pre-season preparations ahead of the competitive campaign didn’t go as planned, as the Spanish giants lost to Birmingham in their first match of the UK tour.

Birmingham beat Barcelona 3-2 on penalties at their home ground, Knighthead Stadium, on Friday night, after the match ended 2-2 following normal time.

Most of Barcelona’s first-team players are absent from the current pre-season tour due to Spain’s participation in the FIFA World Cup final. Brazilian forward Raphinha joined the squad but did not play due to injury.

Hansi Flick selected only Wojciech Szczęsny from the regular first team, with the rest of the eleven made up of academy and Barcelona B players — among them 18-year-old Egyptian forward Hamza Abdelkarim, who shone throughout the match.

The rising star, who played four matches for Egypt at the FIFA World Cup, scored twice across both halves, giving Barcelona a chance of winning at one stage. In the end, however, that did not happen.

England star Jude Bellingham was in the stands to watch the match. The 23-year-old Real Madrid attacking midfielder played more than 40 games for Birmingham at the start of his professional career in the 2019-20 season.

The hosts surprised Barcelona in the 30th minute of a match that had started slowly. Auguste-Priske Flieger rose above everyone to head the ball into the net from a cross delivered from the left.

Barcelona did not have to wait long to respond. Just nine minutes after falling behind, Christoph Klarer fouled Hamza Abdelkarim inside the box, and Barcelona were awarded a penalty. Abdelkarim stepped up and equalized.

Flick made four changes at once at halftime. Barcelona took the lead early in the second half, playing organized football.

In the 60th minute, Rūnē Bardhi attempted a long-range shot that the Birmingham goalkeeper failed to save properly. Abdelkarim pounced on the rebound and finished superbly to put his team ahead.

With the score at 2-1, Flick withdrew four more players, including Szczęsny and Abdelkarim, with the German coach’s aim being to test other potential first-team players.

After changing almost the entire starting eleven, Barcelona conceded again within eight minutes. Klarer headed in a free kick delivered from the right flank, with John Solis easily finding the net after finding space unmarked.

Then, in the 73rd minute, Cochrane Yeboah struck a shot that looked destined for goal, but it was denied by the crossbar, keeping the hosts from taking the lead.

Shortly after, Birmingham made nine substitutions at once. Neither side was able to find the net for the remainder of the match, and the game ended 2-2 after the scheduled 90 minutes.

In a departure from a typical friendly, the match then went to a penalty shootout, with 22-year-old goalkeeper James Beadle saving three Barcelona spot-kicks in style to secure Birmingham a memorable victory.

Eddie Howe has stepped down as Newcastle United head coach after discussions with the club’s board, although Howe had begun the process of potentially resigning weeks earlier.

Al Ahli’s Matthias Jaissle is the frontrunner to replace Howe, with Sky Sports reporting that talks with the 38-year-old German coach are in the final stages.

Newcastle are already going through a difficult period after selling Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon, and the uncertainty surrounding captain Bruno Guimarães has added to the club’s woes, with Arsenal eyeing a move for the Brazilian star.

These player sales are said to have been a major catalyst for Howe’s departure. Newcastle sold striker Alexander Isak to Liverpool last summer for a British transfer record fee of £125 million.

Howe has been reflecting on his time at Newcastle over the past few months and believes that if Newcastle can build a strong squad this summer, he could take the club further this season.

Howe will be regarded as one of Newcastle’s greatest-ever managers. He helped the club end their 70-year trophy drought by winning the League Cup, while also leading the side to two top-five Premier League finishes and into the Champions League.

Roberto Mancini has been reappointed as Italy’s head coach following a series of dramatic events. The veteran coach apologized at his first press conference since taking charge for a second time.

Mancini first took charge of Italy in 2018 and led the country to Euro 2020 glory. However, the four-time world champions failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup under his leadership.

Mancini surprised everyone by resigning in August 2023. Just two weeks later, he took charge of the Saudi Arabian national team.

Mancini admitted that leaving the Italy job was his biggest mistake. “I am truly sorry. What happened was as painful as losing a life partner. I made a big mistake, and I apologize for what happened over the last three years. I will do my best to restore the national team to its rightful status,” the 61-year-old coach told a news conference on Wednesday.

Mancini’s move to Saudi Arabia was seen by many as a betrayal. Of that period, he said, “It was entirely my fault. There was a bit of a misunderstanding with Gravina, but I take full responsibility for that.”

Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup after losing to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the play-offs in April. Gennaro Gattuso resigned as head coach following that defeat. Carlo Ancelotti and Pep Guardiola were then offered the job but declined.

Andrea Pirlo was also passed over by the Italian Football Federation due to a dispute over his commercial ties to a Russian betting company. Mancini was eventually reinstated.

Mancini will begin his second term with a UEFA Nations League match against Belgium at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome on September 25. Asked what kind of reception he expects from fans, he said: “I understand that some people will oppose me, but I hope the team performs so well that people forgive me.”

“I don’t think we’re in a bad position. We have a lot of options at forward and on the wings — young players who can develop further. I was the first to give Kean a chance, and I know him well. I was even the one who called up Zaniolo to the first team when he wasn’t even playing in Serie A,” Mancini added.