FOOTBALL maverick Ailton once tried to sell himself to Qatar in a shock nationality switch that forced Fifa to step in - and later saw his Golden Boot end up on eBay. And in January 2012, he took part in the German version of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! But eight years before...

Claudio Gugnali, former assistant coach of Argentina, spoke with Lionel Messi and expressed confidence that he will play in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The uncertainty surrounding Lionel Messi’s participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is getting closer to being resolved. All signs appear to point toward a positive outcome—something also sensed by former Argentina assistant Claudio Gugnali. “For me, Messi will be at the World Cup, there’s no doubt. I felt it, and I saw him in great shape on the field,” Gugnali said in a recent interview with Radio Gol, following the friendlies Argentina played against Mauritania and Zambia in Buenos Aires during the March FIFA break. Gugnali served as assistant to head coach Alejandro Sabella between 2011 and 2014, when the national team reached the World Cup final in Brazil, where they lost 1-0 to Germany. Those years allowed him to build a close relationship with Messi, who was, of course, a key part of that squad. With the forward’s visit to Buenos Aires during the international break, Gugnali had the opportunity to meet with him at the Argentine Football Association training facility and have a private conversation. “We talked about family and his time in Miami; he told me he’s very happy, not like in Paris, where he suffered,” Claudio revealed. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Claudio Gugnali (@claudiogugnali) Finally, Gugnali made it clear that he has no doubts about Lionel Messi’s commitment to the Argentina national team and how much every international tournament means to him. “I saw him cry in Brazil and in Qatar; he truly cries for the national team,” the coach said, referring to the Copa America 2021 and World Cup 2022 titles. What will determine whether Messi plays in the 2026 World Cup? During the celebrations after winning the title in Qatar, Lionel Messi said that it had been his last World Cup, adding that he wanted to “keep playing a little longer with Argentina as world champion.” That timeline, however, has gradually extended to include the entire South American qualifiers for 2026, as well as Copa America 2024. With the tournament in North America approaching, the forward has yet to make an official decision about his participation, as he nears his 39th birthday and remains uncertain whether his physical condition will meet the demands of the most intense competition in soccer. “I’ll take it day by day, being honest and trying to be realistic and feel good,” he said in late 2025 in an interview with ESPN. Messi has also expressed optimism that the MLS calendar could work in his favor: “Having a preseason in the middle, I think that changes everything for me… European players arrive at the end with so many matches on their legs. For us, it comes at a different point in the season.” When does Messi have to make a decision? Lionel Messi’s uncertainty cannot last much longer, as FIFA imposes strict deadlines for each national team to finalize its squad. In just over a month, on May 11, coaches of the 48 participating countries must submit a preliminary list of up to 55 players. The final deadline is May 30, when that list must be cut down to the official 26-man roster.

NOT content with bombing Iran, the Americans are now hell-bent on blowing football fans’ credit ratings to smithereens. Who knew, after deeply controversial tournaments in Russia and Qatar, it would actually be the 2026 World Cup in North America which would prove to be the most divisive in recent memory. Whether it’s the ongoing political tension, Donald...

Following their success at Qatar 2022, Argentina is finalizing preparations ahead of the next edition of soccer's biggest tournament. Leer

Napoli have long secured a UEFA Champions League berth, which gives them the freedom to start planning for the future, and, whether or not Antonio Conte will still be with them, the management is looking for some youngsters to shore up the squad. The post Napoli Going After Benfica Star, Rival Roma for Talent appeared first on The Cult of Calcio.

Gianluigi Donnarumma could not prevent Italy from losing to Bosnia and Herzegovina in a World Cup qualifier and has been forced to deny reports in the fallout of their failure

ARSENAL defender Riccardo Calafiori hopes winning silverware with the Gunners can cure his World Cup heartbreak. Calafiori squandered the chance to qualify for this summer’s World Cup after Italy were beaten by Bosnia and Herzegovina in the play-offs last week. The left-back was hurt by that - but he has had no time to dwell...

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the largest of its kind as it will be hosted over three countries for the first time in history, featuring 48 teams from the six football federations, an increase of 16 countries from the regular format of 32 nations that has been in place since 1998. The… The post Newcomers and Second Appearances: What to Expect in the 2026 World Cup first appeared on Breaking The Lines.

Former Arsenal and Wales star Aaron Ramsey has officially retired from professional football with immediate effect.

Antonio Conte has been told by the Napoli president that his club commitments won’t be an issue if he wants to become the new Italy manager. Gattuso’s departure was made official on Fri…