Central & South America

Lionel Messi has hinted to his retirement as he shared with ESPN Argentina on Wednesday that Inter Miami will be the last club he plays for.

Messi will turn 37 on June 24 and will likely be playing in his final major international tournament with Argentina this summer in the Copa América. The 2022 World Cup winner hasn't set an official retirement date but said that Inter Miami will be his curtain call.

His contract with the Herons runs until the end of 2025.

Lionel Messi Inter Miami final club quote

Inter Miami will have a tough month of June.

Messi to miss up to six games with Inter Miami during Copa América

Lionel Messi is set to miss over four games with Inter Miami in MLS ahead of his participation in the 2024 Copa América with Argentina this summer.

Messi, who will play his seventh edition of the South American tournament in the Albicelestes’ effort to defend the title won in 2021, will play his last match for Miami this Saturday against St. Louis City SC before joining the national team camp in Argentina.

BANGKOK — Brazil was declared host of the 2027 Women's World Cup after winning a vote at the annual FIFA Congress on Friday, beating the joint bid of Belgium, Netherlands and Germany to become the first South American country picked to stage the tournament.

Brazil won with 119 votes versus 78 for the joint European entry, boosted by a technical evaluation from world governing body FIFA that gave a high score for its commercial plan and stadiums purpose-built for the 2014 Men's World Cup.

Brazil and Palmeiras superstar Endrick caught fans’ attention with his goal celebration against Liverpool during Thursday’s Copa Libertadores match. The Endrick Kong celebration is already iconic.

The 17-year-old phenom’s goal and celebration started a small skirmish as he extended Palmeiras’ lead to 3-0 in the 82nd minute and pounded his chest after finding the back of the net.

Endrick Kong celebration

Diego Maradona's Golden Ball trophy won for being named the best player at the 1986 World Cup will be auctioned in France in June, the Aguttes auction house said on Tuesday.

This is the first Golden Ball to go for auction and while the value is still to be confirmed, the auction house expects it to fetch millions on June 6.

EL DIEGO DE LOS MILAGROS

Increíble: el Balón de Oro que ganó Maradona por ser el mejor jugador del Mundial 1986 fue robado en 1989 y se creía que lo habían derretido

'El Loco' Bielsa is back to his beloved antics.

According to reports, Uruguay national team manager Marcelo Bielsa will make the bold decision to call up an amateur player for the squad’s upcoming match in May.

Marcelo Bielsa to call up amateur player Walter Domínguez to Uruguay national team

Walter Domínguez, a forward for amateur side Juventud de Soriano, will be called up to play for Uruguay in their friendly match against Costa Rica. The squad will be made up of players from Uruguay’s local league.

Brazil's all-time top scorer in both men's and women's football, Marta, will retire from internationals this year, the 38-year-old striker said ahead of the Paris Olympics.

Marta, who has been playing in the United States with Orlando Pride since 2017, hopes to make her sixth appearance at the Olympics at this year's Paris Games.

Marta retiring from national team

Marta announces she will retire from international football at the end of this year.

Former Germany and Bayern Munich striker Mario Gómez provided fans with a scorching hot take and interesting debate. 

Appearing on the podcast “Phrasenmäher”, Gómez made the argument that Manuel Neuer’s legacy is just as important to the sport as Lionel Messi’s.

"I would put Manuel Neuer on the same level as Messi in terms of importance in football history," Gómez said. "I don't know if we're all aware of what we experienced with a goalkeeper who revolutionized the game! We'll only understand this 20 years from now."

Does Gómez have a point?

Retired Brazil striker Romario has registered as a player for America-RJ, the Rio de Janeiro state second division side the 58-year-old is now president of, and is set to make a return to the sport 15 years after he stopped playing.

Romario, who retired in 2008 and became America's sporting director in 2009, played for Brazil in two World Cups, scoring five goals to guide them to victory in 1994.