Cristiano Ronaldo has confirmed that the 2026 World Cup in North America will be his final international tournament for Portugal.
The 41-year-old Al Nassr striker ended mounting speculation over a potential appearance at the 2030 edition during a press conference on Sunday.
Speaking ahead of his nation’s crucial last-16 tie against Spain, the veteran forward acknowledged the impending conclusion of his global career.
“I want to enjoy it as much as possible, because it will be my last World Cup, yes. But I hope that tomorrow won’t be my last game in the World Cup,” he explained.
A record-breaking legacy on the global stage
The global icon made his senior international debut in 2003 and has since amassed an astonishing 146 goals in 232 appearances.
Those remarkable statistics firmly cement the Portuguese captain’s status as the highest goalscorer in the history of men’s international football.
Despite facing some early criticism following a slow start to the current tournament, the legendary attacker recently shattered yet another long-standing milestone.
Six tournaments and counting
Last month, he became the first male player to score in six different editions of global football’s most prestigious competition.
That historic achievement was secured when the talisman bagged a brace during a dominant 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan in Group K.
Supporters worldwide will now be watching closely to see how far the seasoned international can lead his country during his farewell outing.
The FIA has confirmed a software glitch was responsible for an incorrect message that caused confusion at the end of the British Grand Prix, which finished under safety car conditions on Sunday.
Charles Leclerc secured victory at Silverstone ahead of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton.
The race concluded in a controlled formation rather than a dramatic final-lap sprint.
The safety car was deployed on lap 48 of 52 after Max Verstappen beached his Red Bull in the Stowe gravel trap.
Erroneous message sparks confusion
Marshals worked quickly to clear the stranded machine and ensure the track was safe for racing.
Lapped runners were instructed to unlap themselves at the start of the penultimate lap.
A sudden display stating the pace car would pit then appeared on screens, hinting at a grandstand finish.
This instruction was swiftly cancelled, meaning no overtaking was permitted on the final tour.
FIA cites strict rule application
Motorsport’s governing body released a statement post-race to clarify the sequence of events.
Officials explained that Article B5 13.5 dictates one full lap must be completed following the unlapping procedure.
The ‘Safety Car In This Lap’ message was displayed erroneously due to a software error.
FIA
The organisation stressed that race operations had otherwise followed the correct process.
Ghosts of Abu Dhabi avoided
Sunday marked the first time a Formula 1 event has finished behind the safety car since the 2022 Italian Grand Prix.
The strict adherence to the rules drew immediate comparisons to the controversial 2021 title decider in Abu Dhabi.
At that notorious finale, an incorrect application of regulations cost Mercedes talisman Hamilton an eighth world championship.
Team principal Toto Wolff expressed satisfaction that the rulebook was followed to the letter this time around.
Even the race-winning Monegasque driver admitted he would have preferred a standard racing conclusion.
Ireland’s Padraig Harrington has captured his third US Senior Open title with a dominant four-stroke victory at Scioto Country Club in Ohio.
The 54-year-old finished the tournament on 12 under par, overturning a one-shot deficit heading into the final round.
He now joins American Miller Barber as the only player to win the prestigious senior major on three separate occasions.
The Dubliner’s latest triumph adds to his previous successes in the event during the 2022 and 2025 campaigns.
Cink fades during final round
Overnight leader Stewart Cink struggled to maintain his momentum during the closing 18 holes.
Conversely, the Irish former Ryder Cup captain surged ahead by shooting a superb four-under-par final round to comfortably surpass the home favourite.
England’s Ian Poulter claimed fourth place, finishing seven shots adrift of the champion.
Welshman Jamie Donaldson secured a tie for fifth, while Northern Ireland’s Darren Clarke ended the week tied for eighth on three under par.
A stress-free victory lap
This result secures a fourth senior major overall for the veteran, following his Senior Open Championship win last year.
It further cements a legendary career that includes back-to-back Open Championship wins in 2007 and 2008, alongside a US PGA Championship title.
When I came out here four years ago I was surprised how big a tournament it was, it’s like playing an old major.
It’s very rare for me to win a tournament where it is actually boring coming down the stretch.
Normally there is some drama but there wasn’t much excitement today, which is nice for me.
American fourth seed Jessica Pegula has reached the Wimbledon quarter-finals with a comeback victory over Iva Jovic on Sunday, while defending champion Barbora Krejcikova was eliminated by Karolina Muchova.
The 30-year-old overcame her teenage compatriot 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 to secure her second career appearance in the last eight at the All England Club.
Jovic, who was the final remaining teenager in either the men’s or women’s singles draws, initially unsettled her more experienced opponent during a chaotic opening set.
However, the fourth seed recovered brilliantly to take control of a match that featured a remarkable 13 breaks of serve.
New champion guaranteed at SW19
Elsewhere on Sunday, Krejcikova’s 7-5, 5-7, 6-3 defeat to her fellow Czech player on Court Two ensured the tournament will crown a brand new women’s champion.
The 2024 victor was the only former winner remaining in the draw following the earlier exits of high-profile names including Iga Swiatek, Elena Rybakina and Serena Williams.
This result guarantees a tenth different women’s champion in the past ten editions of the prestigious grass-court grand slam.
Historical parity continues
This unprecedented streak of different winners is already the longest run of its kind in the tournament’s rich history.
No female player has managed to secure multiple Wimbledon titles since Williams claimed her seventh singles trophy in 2016.
Muchova now advances to face the winner of the blockbuster Centre Court clash between world number one Aryna Sabalenka and four-time major winner Naomi Osaka.
Meanwhile, Pegula’s impressive streak against her fellow Americans continues, having won 34 of her last 37 matches against compatriots since October 2023.
She will next face either Swiss star Belinda Bencic or reigning US Open champion Coco Gauff for a place in the semi-finals.
Liverpool have ended their interest in signing Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton as new manager Andoni Iraola focuses on other transfer targets.
The Reds had been heavily linked with a £100m move for the England international during the current summer window.
However, the Merseyside club have now completely stepped back from negotiations with the Eagles.
Iraola reportedly feels the highly-rated midfield prospect does not fit his preferred tactical style of play.
Focus shifts to attacking reinforcements
The Anfield hierarchy are instead prioritising attacking additions before addressing their options in the middle of the park.
Finding a reliable replacement for Mohamed Salah remains the absolute primary objective for the Premier League outfit.
The prolific Egyptian forward, alongside Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konate, departed on a free transfer at the end of last season.
Losing such phenomenal goalscoring production in the final third presents a significant rebuilding challenge for the new managerial regime.
Rebuilding after a fifth-place finish
Liverpool are aiming to significantly overhaul their squad following a disappointing fifth-place finish in the English top flight.
Victor Munoz has already arrived at the club after officials successfully hijacked Newcastle United’s proposed deal for the winger.
Despite this early business, further structural additions across the pitch are deemed essential for the upcoming campaign.
Efforts to secure Yan Diomande appear to have stalled, with the sought-after target now expected to join Paris St-Germain.
Meanwhile, the club have also reportedly held preliminary discussions regarding a potential move for PSG forward Bradley Barcola.
Leeds United are in the final stages of completing a £26m deal for Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki following his impressive performances at the World Cup in the United States.
The Yorkshire club have submitted a serious offer for the highly-rated shot-stopper to bolster Daniel Farke’s squad for the 2026-27 Premier League campaign.
Italian giants Juventus have also shown interest in the 23-year-old, but Leeds remain in pole position to secure his signature.
Any potential transfer was delayed while the player represented his country at the international tournament, where they were eventually eliminated by Brazil.
World Cup heroics attract high praise
The Japanese international drew global attention during the competition in North America with a string of outstanding displays.
Former Real Madrid and Spain captain Iker Casillas was particularly impressed, describing the young prospect as a world-class talent.
“He’s playing with the composure of a goalkeeper who’s been at the top level for fifteen years, not twenty-three.”
Casillas highlighted the custodian’s exceptional composure against a formidable Brazilian attack featuring Vinícius Júnior.
“Against Brazil, one mistake usually ends your World Cup. Suzuki has refused to make one. Every save he’s made has kept Japan believing they can achieve something historic.”
“His positioning has been outstanding, his reactions have been unbelievable, and his confidence has spread throughout the entire Japanese defence.”
Rebuilding for the new season
The impending arrival of the coveted goalkeeper signals significant investment from the Elland Road hierarchy.
Farke’s side comfortably secured Premier League safety last term and are now urgently looking to reinforce their ranks.
The Whites have already seen defender Pascal Struijk depart for divisional rivals Brighton during this transfer window.
However, they are reportedly close to acquiring Welsh winger Harry Wilson on a free transfer following the expiration of his Fulham contract.
Novak Djokovic reached his ninth consecutive Wimbledon quarter-final and claimed a men’s record 106th tournament victory by defeating qualifier Roman Safiullin on Sunday.
The seventh seed battled through a demanding three-hour and 25-minute contest to secure a 7-6 (8) 6-3 3-6 6-3 victory at the All England Club.
His latest triumph breaks a tie with Roger Federer for the most men’s singles match wins in the competition’s history.
Only Martina Navratilova, who boasts 120 victories, has won more matches on the famous London grass.
‘Survive to thrive’
“Survive to thrive, that’s how I feel.”
Novak Djokovic
The Serbian’s progression marks his ninth straight appearance in the final eight, a streak only three other men have bettered in the Open era.
At 39 years old, he also becomes the third-oldest man to reach this stage of the tournament behind Federer and Ken Rosewall.
The last time he failed to reach the final eight at SW19 was a shock third-round exit in 2016.
Remarkable consistency on grass
The veteran has established an extraordinary stranglehold over the majority of the tour at this venue.
He has now won 46 consecutive Wimbledon matches against players other than Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.
Not since a second-set retirement against Tomas Berdych in 2017 has another player managed to defeat the legendary competitor at the Championships.
He will now face either third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime or Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina for a place in the semi-finals.
A forest fire ravaging southwest France is threatening the cancellation of Monday’s Tour de France third stage, which is scheduled to finish 60 kilometres from the blaze in Les Angles.
Local authorities are expected to make a final decision on whether the racing will proceed before the end of Sunday.
Race director Christian Prudhomme has suggested that the route could be adapted if the extreme situation demands it.
Emergency services battle advancing blaze
Approximately 750 firefighters and nine water-bombing aircraft have been deployed to contain the rapidly spreading front line in the Pyrenees-Orientales department.
Two individuals, including one emergency responder and a local resident, remain in a critical condition following the devastating outbreak.
Crews are desperately hoping to prevent the inferno from spreading south towards the Tet river and the largely inaccessible Aspres mountainous region.
Extreme heat disrupts opening weekend
Unforgiving temperatures and severe weather events have already cast a long shadow over the opening weekend of cycling’s most prestigious Grand Tour.
Seven departments across the south of the host nation were classified as carrying a very high fire risk by meteorological agencies over the weekend.
Meanwhile, a separate wildfire that scorched 2,200 hectares of forest in the Catalonia region of Spain, where the opening two stages were held, has now been stabilised.
Spanish authorities arrested a suspect on Friday after sparks from a circular saw reportedly ignited that destructive coastal blaze.