Central & South America

RIO DE JANEIRO — Brazil's forward Raphinha has spiced up their highly-anticipated World Cup qualifying clash away to Argentina on Tuesday by guaranteeing he will score and suggesting the match between the bitter rivals will become more physical than it should be.

"We'll beat them up... Absolutely! Beat them up! On the pitch and off the pitch if we have to," Raphinha said in an interview on "Romario TV" with the Brazilian great.

"For sure I'm going to (score a goal against Argentina). I'm going in with everything I've got..."

Vinícius Jr. went from hero to villain in a matter of minutes amongst his Brazil teammates during their 2-1 victory vs. Colombia in World Cup qualifying on Thursday.

The Brazil star scored a superb long distance goal in the 99th minute to secure the much-needed three points. However three minutes later the Real Madrid star rubbed his teammates the wrong way when he was wasting too much time being substituted.

Lionel Messi was not included in Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni's squad for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Brazil, with the forward missing out due to a muscle strain.

Why is Messi not playing for Argentina?

Brazil have called up teenage Real Madrid striker Endrick to replace the injured Neymar for this month's World Cup qualifiers, the country's FA announced on Friday.

Santos forward Neymar was set to make his return to the Brazil team after more than a year on the sidelines due to a knee injury suffered in late 2023.

However, the 33-year-old has been ruled out of World Cup qualifiers against Colombia and Argentina after sustaining a muscle injury.

Neymar injury sees him miss international break

BUENOS AIRES — Argentina began a long-awaited trial on Tuesday of the medical team for soccer star Diego Maradona, over four years after his death in 2020, in a case that has riled emotions in the South American country where the World Cup winner is still revered.

Maradona's family, lawyers and his former nurses, brain surgeon and psychiatrist accused of homicide by negligence, arrived at the court on the outskirts of capital city Buenos Aires in what promises to be a drama-filled and lengthy saga.

Brazil have recalled Santos forward Neymar for this month's World Cup qualifiers against Colombia and Argentina after more than a year, the soccer federation announced on Thursday.

The 33-year-old sustained a knee injury in Brazil's World Cup qualifier against Uruguay in October 2023 and has struggled to get back to his best and secure a spot in the squad.

Neymar Brazil roster inclusion

Let’s not forget Neymar was close to joining MLS this year…

Neymar Jr.’s highly-anticipated return to Brazil has already wrapped the 32-year-old into controversy, with the former Paris Saint-Germain attacker leading the charge among Brazilian Série A players opposing the use of artificial turf for league matches, demanding natural grass instead.

Neymar turf protest: demands natural grass stadiums in Brazil

In a surprising move, FIFA has significantly slashed ticket prices for this summer’s inaugural 2025 Club World Cup in the United States.

2025 Club World Cup ticket price drop: FIFA 'panicking' amid low fan interest

Reports from Mail Sport indicate that the cost of the cheapest seats for matches at the last-16 stage and beyond has been reduced by as much as $385, with some tickets for the semi-finals plummeting from an eye-watering $526 to just $140.

Brazil forward Neymar will return to his boyhood club Santos from Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal, he posted on social media on Thursday.

Neymar, 32, joined Al-Hilal from Paris St Germain for a reported $93.8 million in 2023 but he managed only seven appearances for them after suffering a serious knee injury.

Neymar Santos transfer