Football

Neymar, the Brazilian football superstar, suffered another injury setback on Monday during his second game back from a year-long absence. The incident occurred in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as Neymar's Al-Hilal faced Esteghlal of Iran in the AFC Champions League Elite.Neymar, who recently recovered from a torn ACL, came off the bench after 58 minutes. However, the 32-year-old forward was forced to leave the field with three minutes remaining after appearing to pull up after stretching his leg out for the ball in the penalty area.Despite the injury, Neymar has time to recover before his next game, as he is not registered for Al-Hilal's matches in the Saudi Pro League. The next fixture in the AFC competition is scheduled for November 25.Aleksandar Mitrovic, the Serbian striker, stole the show for Al-Hilal, scoring a hat trick to lead the four-time Asian champion to a 3-0 victory. Mitrovic's goals came from close range, with the first coming after 15 minutes, the second just after the half-hour mark, and the third with 16 minutes remaining.Al-Hilal remains top of the 12-team group, with the top eight teams advancing to the Round of 16. They are ahead of Saudi Arabian rival Al-Ahli on goal difference after Al-Ahli thrashed Al-Shorta of Iraq 5-1, with former Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino scoring twice in the first half.In other AFC Champions League matches, Al-Wasl of the United Arab Emirates drew 1-1 with Qatar's Al-Sadd, while the game between Persepolis of Iran and Al-Gharafa of Qatar ended in the same scoreline.

Spain's Nations League campaign has suffered a setback with the withdrawal of star striker Nico Williams due to injury. The Athletic Bilbao forward, who played a pivotal role in Spain's Euro 2024 triumph, picked up an injury during training and has been released from the national team camp.Williams' absence is a significant blow to Spain's hopes of success in the Nations League. The 20-year-old has been in impressive form for Athletic Bilbao this season, scoring 5 goals in 10 appearances. His pace, skill, and eye for goal make him a dangerous threat to any opposition.In Williams' place, Spain coach Luis Enrique has called up Sergio Gomez of Real Sociedad. Gomez, who was part of Spain's Olympic gold medal-winning team in Tokyo, is a versatile defender who can also play in midfield. He has been in good form for Real Sociedad this season, making 10 appearances and scoring 1 goal.Spain will face Denmark in Murcia on September 25 and Serbia in Cordoba on September 28. The team will be looking to build on their impressive performance at Euro 2024, where they defeated England in the final.Despite Williams' injury, Spain remains a formidable team with a wealth of talent. The likes of Pedri, Gavi, and Ansu Fati are all capable of producing moments of brilliance, and they will be determined to make up for Williams' absence.

Bayern Munich's attacking midfielder Jamal Musiala has been ruled out of action for the upcoming Bundesliga clash against Eintracht Frankfurt and Germany's two Nations League matches due to a hip injury. The 21-year-old was initially included in Julian Nagelsmann's squad for the international fixtures against Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Netherlands, but will now miss out.Musiala has been a key player for Bayern this season, scoring three goals in 10 appearances across all competitions. His absence will be a blow to the German champions, who are currently top of the Bundesliga table.The injury is a setback for Musiala, who has been in impressive form for both club and country. He has made 36 appearances for Germany, scoring six goals, and has established himself as one of the most promising young players in Europe.Bayern have confirmed that Musiala will be sidelined for the time being, but have not provided a specific timeframe for his return. The club's medical staff will continue to assess his condition and provide updates as they become available.In Musiala's absence, Bayern will likely turn to Leroy Sané or Kingsley Coman to fill the void in attack. Both players have been in good form this season and will be eager to make an impact in Musiala's absence.Germany have called up Stuttgart's Jamie Leweling to replace Musiala in their squad for the Nations League matches. Leweling has been in impressive form for Stuttgart this season, scoring three goals in 10 appearances.Musiala's injury is a reminder of the physical demands of top-level football. The 21-year-old has played a lot of football in recent months and his body is now paying the price. Bayern will hope that he can recover quickly and return to action soon.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has revealed that the team has had to adapt its tactics in the absence of captain Martin Odegaard, who has been sidelined with an ankle injury. Odegaard has missed Arsenal's last six games, forcing Arteta to change his usual 4-2-3-1 formation.In Odegaard's absence, Leandro Trossard has taken his place in the starting lineup, while Kai Havertz has played alongside him in a two-man strike partnership. This tweak has allowed Arsenal to maintain their unbeaten record in the Premier League, with the Gunners sitting in third place just one point behind leaders Liverpool."We had to be different," said Arteta. "The impact Martin has in everything that we do, it was too big to try to replicate it with one player. We've tried to do it in a different way, adapting a few things, using players' qualities, players that can play in different positions and with the right chemistry around them."Arteta praised the team's ability to adapt, but admitted that they still miss Odegaard's presence. "We found a way, but we still miss him," he said. "We don't have Martin, there are all the things that we cannot do. But as well we have a big threat in other areas and we have to make the most of them."Odegaard is working hard to return to action, but Arteta could not provide a specific timeline for his comeback. "He's working so hard," said Arteta. "He's doing everything he can to get back as quickly as possible, but we don't want to rush him. We want to make sure he's fully fit and ready to go when he comes back."

Arsenal's captain, Martin Odegaard, will be sidelined for an extended period due to an ankle injury sustained while on international duty with Norway. Manager Mikel Arteta confirmed the news on Wednesday, stating that Odegaard will be out "for a while."The injury occurred during Norway's Nations League match against Austria earlier this month. Odegaard twisted his ankle, prompting concerns about the severity of the damage. Subsequent scans revealed ligament damage, necessitating a significant recovery period.Arteta expressed his disappointment at losing Odegaard, who has been a key player for Arsenal since joining the club in 2021. "We're going to miss him," Arteta said. "It's a significant injury, so we're going to lose him for a while."The Arsenal manager declined to provide a specific timeframe for Odegaard's return, emphasizing that he is not a medical professional. However, he indicated that the injury is not expected to keep Odegaard out for months.Odegaard's absence is a blow to Arsenal's ambitions this season. The Gunners are currently second in the Premier League table, two points behind reigning champions Manchester City. They will face a tough test on Sunday when they visit the Etihad Stadium to take on Pep Guardiola's side.In Odegaard's absence, Arsenal will need to find a suitable replacement in midfield. Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey are likely to be the first-choice pairing, but Arteta may also consider using Emile Smith Rowe or Fabio Vieira in a more advanced role.The injury to Odegaard is a reminder of the physical demands of international football. Players are often called upon to play multiple matches in a short period, which can increase the risk of injuries. Clubs must carefully manage their players' workloads to minimize the chances of setbacks.

Lionel Messi to Miss Argentina's World Cup Qualifiers Due to InjuryArgentina's hopes of securing a spot in the 2022 FIFA World Cup have been dealt a blow with the news that star forward Lionel Messi will miss the team's next two qualifying matches due to injury.Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni announced his 28-man squad on Monday for the matches against Chile on September 5 and Colombia five days later. Messi, who is still recovering from a right ankle injury, was not included in the squad.The 36-year-old Messi has been a key figure for Argentina in recent years, leading the team to victory in the 2021 Copa America. His absence from the squad will be a significant loss for Scaloni's side.In addition to Messi, Ángel Di María, who retired from the national team after winning the Copa America, is also not on the list.Despite the absence of Messi and Di María, Argentina remains the favorite to qualify for the World Cup. The team currently leads South American qualifying with 15 points after six matches.Argentina Squad:Goalkeepers: Walter Benítez (PSV Eindhoven), Gerónimo Rulli (Olympique Marseille), Juan Musso (Atalanta), Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa)Defenders: Gonzalo Montiel (Sevilla), Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid), Cristian Romero (Tottenham), Germán Pezzella (River Plate), Leonardo Balerdi (Olympique Marseille), Nicolás Otamendi (Benfica), Lisandro Martínez (Manchester United), Nicolás Tagliafico (Olympique Lyon), Valentín Barco (Brighton)Midfielders: Leandro Paredes (Roma), Guido Rodríguez (West Ham), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Enzo Fernández (Chelsea), Giovani Lo Celso (Tottenham), Ezequiel Fernández (Al Qadisiya), Rodrigo de Paul (Atletico Madrid), Nico González (Fiorentina)Forwards: Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United), Matías Soulé (Roma), Giuliano Simeone, Julián Álvarez both (Atletico Madrid), Valentín Carboni (Olympique Marseille), Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan) and Valentín Castellanos (Lazio)

Lionel Messi's injury scare during Argentina's Copa America 2024 triumph has cast a shadow over his return to Inter Miami. The Argentine maestro was forced off the field in tears during the final against Colombia, leaving his team in a precarious position. However, Lady Luck smiled upon Argentina as Lautaro Martinez's late winner secured a 1-0 victory and back-to-back Copa America titles.Fast forward to Wednesday night, Messi was back in the spotlight as he attended Inter Miami's 3-1 win over Toronto FC. The Argentine captain missed the match due to a ligament injury and was seen in the stands with his family, sporting a walking boot on his injured right ankle.Messi's absence will be a significant blow to Inter Miami, who are currently battling for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Head coach Tata Martino has stated that Messi's recovery will be evaluated on a weekly basis, leaving his return date uncertain."The club's medical report is out and the information is that regarding the times, it will surely be evaluated week by week," Martino said. "We are going to see just how his recovery is without taking any kind of risk."Messi's return will be crucial for Inter Miami's playoff hopes. The Argentine has been a key figure for the club since joining in 2023, scoring 12 goals and providing 10 assists in 28 appearances.Meanwhile, Messi has also been asked to apologize for racist chants made by Argentina's players after their Copa America triumph. Argentina's sports sub-secretary Julio Garro has called on Messi to issue an apology, stating that the chants "leave us as a country in a bad position."FIFA has also condemned the incident, stating that "FIFA strongly condemns any form of discrimination by anyone including players, fans and officials."

Lionel Messi's Copa America triumph was bittersweet as he was forced to exit the final early due to an ankle injury. The 37-year-old superstar, who had been hoping to play in his sixth World Cup in 2026, was visibly distraught as he left the pitch in the 64th minute.Despite the pain, Messi's tears revealed a deeper anguish. He had won the Copa, but his dream of playing in another World Cup was slipping away. The injury, which he sustained in the second group match against Chile, had hampered him throughout the tournament.Messi's absence was felt in the final, as Argentina struggled to break down a resilient Colombia side. However, the team showed its resilience and determination, eventually winning 1-0 in extra time.The victory marked Argentina's second consecutive Copa America title, but it was a bittersweet moment for Messi. He celebrated his triumph with a limp, and the injury still lingered on Monday.Messi's future with the national team is now uncertain. He has not ruled out playing in the 2026 World Cup, but his age and fitness will be major factors in his decision.If Messi does retire from international football, he will leave behind a legacy as one of the greatest players of all time. He has won countless trophies with Argentina and Barcelona, and he has inspired a generation of young players.However, Argentina has a bright future, even without Messi. The team has a number of talented young players, such as Alejandro Garnacho, Valentín Carboni, and Thiago Almada, who can help the team remain competitive in the years to come.

Argentina's hopes of Copa America glory were shattered when talisman Lionel Messi was forced off injured in the second half of the final against Colombia. The incident occurred in the 64th minute at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, leaving Messi visibly distraught and in tears.Messi had been struggling with a leg injury throughout the tournament and missed Argentina's final group stage match. Despite the discomfort, he started the final and had a shot attempt in the first half. However, his injury flared up again when he planted his right foot awkwardly, forcing him to leave the field.As Messi limped off, he hurled his right shoe in anger and was visibly emotional on the bench. His teammates attempted to console him as the Miami crowd chanted his name. Footage showed ice being applied to his right ankle, while Colombia fans responded with chants for their star player, James Rodriguez.Earlier in the match, Messi had gone down after landing awkwardly while chasing a ball out of bounds. He rolled over several times and grabbed at his lower right leg. Trainers attended to him for several minutes before he returned to the game.The injury to Messi was a major blow to Argentina, who were desperate to win their first Copa America title since 2015. The match was delayed earlier due to thousands of fans without tickets attempting to force their way into the stadium. Police closed the gates and initiated a lockdown, leaving many spectators stranded outside.