Lionel Messi has named England, France and four other nations as the biggest threats to Argentina defending their title at the 2026 World Cup.
The Inter Miami star led his country to glory at the 2022 tournament in Qatar with seven goals and three assists.
Now 38, the legendary forward believes Lionel Scaloni’s side face a formidable challenge across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Despite a superb start to the domestic season, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner insists the reigning champions are not the outright favourites.
European powerhouses pose major threat
Speaking to YouTube channel Lo del Pollo, the former Barcelona captain highlighted the strength of several traditional heavyweights.
“Right now, France looks very good again and they have many top-level players.”
“I think Spain and Brazil are always contenders and have the players to compete in all official competitions.”
“Germany, England, the big powers, and Portugal have a very competitive and good team too.”
England arrive with perfect record
The Three Lions will travel to the tournament buoyed by an unprecedented qualifying campaign under manager Thomas Tuchel.
England became the first European nation to complete a qualifying cycle with a perfect record without conceding a single goal.
Tuchel replaced Gareth Southgate following back-to-back European Championship final defeats.
The German tactician brings immense pedigree, having previously secured domestic titles at Paris St-Germain and Bayern Munich.
Argentina ready to defend crown
Despite acknowledging the fierce competition, the South American giants boast a star-studded squad of their own.
Key figures from the Qatar triumph, including Emiliano Martinez, Enzo Fernandez and Julian Alvarez, remain integral to the national setup.
“We have to get excited, like Argentinians always do, but we also have to know that there are other favourites ahead of us,” added the veteran attacker.
However, he warned rivals that La Albiceleste will always compete and give their absolute best on the global stage.
Kieran McKenna is reportedly increasingly likely to leave Ipswich Town this summer, despite successfully guiding the Suffolk club back to the Premier League.
The highly-rated Northern Irishman has overseen three promotions during a remarkable four-year spell at Portman Road.
However, recent reports suggest the 39-year-old will depart if a suitable offer arrives from an established top-flight rival.
Club officials are already understood to be drawing up a shortlist of potential managerial successors.
Palace and Fulham monitor situation
Crystal Palace are actively seeking a new head coach following the impending departure of Oliver Glasner.
While Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola remains the primary target at Selhurst Park, the Eagles will turn to the former Manchester United coach if their first choice proves unattainable.
Fulham have also emerged as a potential destination amid ongoing uncertainty regarding Marco Silva’s future.
The Portuguese manager is out of contract at Craven Cottage this summer and continues to draw heavy interest from Chelsea.
Substantial compensation required
Prizing the tactical mastermind away from East Anglia will demand significant financial investment.
He signed a comprehensive four-year contract in 2024, which includes a release clause believed to be in the region of £5m.
Taking charge when the Tractor Boys were languishing in League One, his transformative tenure recently culminated in a comprehensive 3-0 victory over QPR on the final day of the Championship season to seal automatic promotion.
It remains to be seen whether this latest triumph marks the end of an era or if he will ultimately remain to consolidate their restored top-flight status.
Japan international Daizen Maeda scored a spectacular overhead kick to net Celtic’s third goal in a thrilling Old Firm derby against Rangers.
The dynamic attacker produced a moment of sheer brilliance to extend his team’s advantage in the fiercely contested Glasgow rivalry.
Receiving a lofted cross inside the penalty area, the former Yokohama F. Marinos star deftly flicked the ball into the air.
He then executed a flawless scissor kick finish that left the opposition goalkeeper completely helpless.
A moment of derby magic
Goals of such supreme technical quality are a rarity in the highly charged and often frantic atmosphere of Scottish football’s marquee fixture.
While the lightning-fast winger is widely celebrated for his relentless pressing, this breathtaking effort highlighted his elite finishing capabilities.
The acrobatic strike served as the perfect highlight for a dominant attacking display from the reigning league champions.
Liverpool have contacted Real Madrid to discuss the credentials of former midfielder Xabi Alonso as pressure mounts on current manager Arne Slot following a disappointing season.
Reports in Spain indicate the Premier League club reached out to the reigning European champions to seek an endorsement of the elite coach.
The Anfield hierarchy are reportedly conducting extensive due diligence on the tactician as they weigh up potential alternatives in the dugout.
Strong relations despite Alexander-Arnold tension
The English giants maintain a positive relationship with Los Blancos despite ongoing speculation surrounding the future of defender Trent Alexander-Arnold.
This strong boardroom connection allowed the Reds to enquire about the Spanish coach and gather vital background information regarding his recent departure from the Santiago Bernabeu.
The World Cup winner is currently out of work after leaving his role in the Spanish capital.
Uncertainty surrounds Slot’s Anfield future
While the Merseyside club appear willing to persist with their current boss in the immediate term, long-term contingency plans are actively being formulated.
The Dutch manager arrived with high expectations but has faced mounting scrutiny amidst a highly challenging domestic campaign.
Jose Mourinho has held talks with Real Madrid president Florentino Perez regarding a return to the Bernabeu to resolve escalating dressing room unrest.
The Portuguese coach is considered the leading candidate to take permanent charge following Xabi Alonso’s departure in January.
Los Blancos are currently enduring a turbulent interim spell under Alvaro Arbeloa, whose chances of retaining the position were severely damaged by a Champions League quarter-final exit to Bayern Munich.
Their domestic situation is equally precarious, with fierce rivals Barcelona positioned to secure a second consecutive La Liga title if they win Sunday’s upcoming El Clasico.
Training ground tensions escalate
Discipline within the Spanish giants’ squad has spiralled out of control in recent months.
Tensions reached a boiling point this week when Federico Valverde was hospitalised and required a wheelchair following an altercation with team-mate Aurelien Tchouameni.
The former Chelsea and Manchester United manager believes his strict leadership approach can restore much-needed harmony to the fractured environment.
According to reports, the current Benfica boss has already shared his explicit views with Perez on how to handle Tchouameni, Valverde and France forward Kylian Mbappe.
Contract demands and squad rebuild
Mbappe has faced growing frustration from sections of the Bernabeu fanbase regarding his perceived lack of work ethic, despite finishing as the top scorer in this season’s Champions League.
Any incoming manager will also have to navigate significant squad turnover, as Antonio Rudiger, David Alaba and Dani Carvajal approach the end of their current contracts.
Furthermore, a serious knee injury to Ferland Mendy is expected to completely rule the French defender out of the forthcoming campaign.
To oversee this transitional period, the 61-year-old has reportedly presented Perez with a list of ten demands, including a guaranteed two-year contract.
If negotiations collapse, outgoing France manager Didier Deschamps has been identified as a viable alternative for the managerial vacancy.
Real Madrid top scorer Kylian Mbappe has been ruled out of Sunday’s El Clasico at Camp Nou, where a victory or draw will secure the La Liga title for Barcelona.
The France forward was omitted from the matchday squad after failing to recover from a left-hamstring problem that has sidelined him since late April.
His absence is a significant blow for the visitors, given the 25-year-old currently leads the Spanish top flight with 24 goals this season.
The former Paris St-Germain star recently addressed criticism from supporters who feared he was prioritising his fitness for the upcoming World Cup.
Barcelona close in on domestic glory
The Catalan giants host their fiercest rivals knowing they require a maximum of one point to celebrate a second successive league championship.
They enter the final Clasico of the campaign holding an insurmountable 11-point advantage over the capital club with just four matches remaining.
For the visitors, the fixture is largely an exercise in damage limitation to avoid the humiliation of watching their ultimate rivals lift the trophy at their expense.
Training ground turmoil compounds Madrid misery
The injury to their talisman comes at the end of a chaotic week for the Bernabeu outfit.
Midfielders Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni were each fined 500,000 euros (£423,000) following an altercation during a training session.
That incident left the Uruguayan international sidelined with a head injury after allegedly knocking himself against a table.
Spanish media also reported a separate physical scuffle between defenders Alvaro Carreras and Antonio Rudiger.
Carreras publicly confirmed the friction within the camp, but played down his clash with a team-mate as a “minor” incident.
Managerial uncertainty looms large
Head coach Alvaro Arbeloa, who stepped up from the reserve squad following the dismissal of Xabi Alonso in January, finds himself under mounting pressure.
His underperforming side are now staring down the barrel of a second consecutive season without claiming a major piece of silverware.
Speculation is intensifying that club president Florentino Perez is considering a shock move to bring back former manager Jose Mourinho to restore order in Madrid.
FIFA has joined forces with the FBI and the US government to orchestrate the largest security operation in sporting history for the 2026 World Cup.
The expanded 48-team tournament will feature 104 matches played across 16 host cities in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
A record-breaking seven million supporters are expected to attend the historic event.
Tighter stadium checks for international supporters
Fans travelling to the venues will face stringent entry checks and an outright ban on large bags.
The world football governing body is taking an unprecedented approach by directly assisting American authorities with security oversight.
Historically, local municipalities have carried the primary burden of event planning and crowd control during major international tournaments.
Federal agencies and White House involvement
A dedicated White House task force, chaired by President Donald Trump, will coordinate closely with the Department of Justice and federal law enforcement.
The United States is set to stage approximately 75 percent of the matches, including all crucial knockout ties from the quarter-finals onwards.
Security preparations have been brought into sharp focus following three recent, high-profile assassination attempts on the American leader.
The President was most recently targeted by an armed man at a Washington hotel, following previous incidents in Pennsylvania and Florida.
Addressing domestic gun ownership concerns
Tournament planners must account for uniquely high levels of domestic gun ownership, with over 393 million civilian-held firearms estimated nationwide.
Government statistics from 2024 recorded 44,000 gun-related deaths across the country, adding significant pressure to the massive law enforcement operation.
The current US administration has previously moved to relax domestic gun laws, complicating the security landscape for visiting international fans.
The President has remained steadfast in his domestic policy, previously declaring himself the best friend gun owners have ever had in the White House.
It currently remains unconfirmed whether federal immigration agents will be formally deployed to assist at tournament venues.
Liverpool are intensifying their efforts to sign Paris St-Germain winger Bradley Barcola this summer as they seek a successor to the departing Mohamed Salah.
The Reds are preparing for a crucial transfer window following a highly underwhelming 2025-26 campaign under manager Arne Slot.
Finding an adequate replacement for their talismanic forward has become the immediate priority for the Anfield hierarchy.
It was recently confirmed that the iconic Egyptian attacker will leave Merseyside later this year, concluding a remarkable era in England.
Replacing a generational talent
While the veteran forward endured a relatively quiet season in front of goal, his ability to single-handedly decide matches remains undeniable.
Slot must now completely restructure his attacking lineup if the team is to mount a serious title challenge next season.
According to reports from France, the Merseyside club have identified Barcola as the ideal candidate to inject fresh energy into their frontline.
Parisian prospect seeks regular football
The French international is reportedly eager to make the switch to the Premier League in search of a more prominent first-team role.
Sources suggest that the reigning Ligue 1 champions have not ruled out selling the dynamic attacker in the upcoming window.
The lightning-fast winger previously attracted serious interest from Anfield last summer but opted to remain in the French capital.
Football scout Ben Mattinson has frequently lauded the former Lyon academy graduate as one of the most exciting young talents in world football.
Securing the signature of the highly-rated youngster could prove pivotal in defining this crucial transitional phase for Liverpool.