They got engaged last year and had first connected in 2023 over social media - although the newlyweds continue to debate who actually made the first move.

Here's something that very few could have reasonably expected coming into this World Cup: Cape Verde controls its own destiny with one match left in group play.That's right. With a win on Friday against Saudi Arabia, the tiny nation of about 500,000 people and about 15 million new Instagram followers will be headed to the round of 32. Even a draw might be should be enough to earn a spot in the knockout round.The Blue Sharks were long shots entering the World Cup; some books had them at no better than 12% to advance from the group stage. They're currently favored to move on.It's in our hands, defender Roberto Lopes said. We have to go and take it.A pair of draws first against Spain to begin group play, then rallying for a 2-2 result against Uruguay on Sunday has Cape Verde still searching for its first win in its initial World Cup appearance. Still, the team is in an ideal position.Spain leads Group H with four points. Uruguay and Cape Verde are next with two points each, while Saudi Arabia is last with one point. The top two teams from each group advance to the round of 32 along with the top eight third-place teams in the 12 groups.A win over Saudi Arabia by Cape Verde would give it five points; it would then be mathematically certain to be no worse than second in the group. A draw would give the team three points; that, combined with a Spain win over Uruguay, would also assure a second-place finish in group play.One game at a time, Cape Verde backup goalkeeper CJ dos Santos said. This is just another challenge for us.There is a real chance that if Cape Verde beats Saudi Arabia, its reward would be a round of 32 game against Lionel Messi and defending World Cup champion Argentina.And the interest in that game would be overwhelming, if it happened. On one side, there would be Messi, the biggest draw in the sport and possibly the biggest draw right now in any sport. On the other, there would be a team that the world seems to have adopted the improbable story, replete with a 40-year-old goalkeeper whose mother needed help just to obtain a visa and fly to the U.S. to watch her son play on soccer's grandest stage.More than half of the team was born somewhere other than Cape Verde; Kevin Pina, who scored against Uruguay, spent part of his youth living in Massachusetts, which has the largest concentration of the Cape Verdean diaspora in the U.S.That stems from how in the 1800s, Cape Verdeans found work on American whaling vessels in the Atlantic and eventually settled in port cities in states like Massachusetts and Rhode Island.We come from a country of immigrants, Cape Verde coach Bubista said. We want every child and every young person to feel proud to represent their country. We want our success to make them want to represent Cape Verde.At Luanda Restaurant in Brockton, Massachusetts, Cape Verdes first World Cup match became an afternoon of nervous cheering as customers gathered around televisions; some fans even brought laptops so they could work remotely from the restaurant without missing the game against Spain.Every save by 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha whose stardom has risen immeasurably during this tournament drew louder reactions inside the restaurant. Owner Amlia Goncalves said she tried to work while screaming, laughing and nearly crying, noting that Vozinha's story resonates with the Cape Verdean community.If you work hard, it's possible, Goncalves said.The team has worked hard. The round of 32 is very possible now. A tiny country with big hopes is poised for its biggest sports moment.Now nobody can ask, Where is Cape Verde? said 22-year-old Micaelle Nunes, one of the soccer revelers in Brockton. The whole world will know.The players are aware of the celebrations. They know that, in some ways, they have become a sentimental favorite all over the globe. Their story is easy to appreciate and the way they play has drawn applause even from fans in opposing jerseys.A 12% chance is on the brink of coming through.We had a big journey here, Lopes said. Now that we're here, we can't change.___Associated Press writer Leah Willingham in Brockton, Massachusetts, and Zach Pascuzzi in Miami Gardens, Florida, contributed to this story. Pascuzzi is a student at the University of Georgias Carmical Sports Media Institute.___AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/FIFA-World-Cup

Here's something that very few could have reasonably expected coming into this World Cup: Cape Verde controls its own destiny with one match left in group play.That's right. With a win on Friday against Saudi Arabia, the tiny nation of about 500,000 people and about 15 million new Instagram followers will be headed to the round of 32. Even a draw might be should be enough to earn a spot in the knockout round.The Blue Sharks were long shots entering the World Cup; some books had them at no better than 12% to advance from the group stage. They're currently favored to move on.It's in our hands, defender Roberto Lopes said. We have to go and take it.A pair of draws first against Spain to begin group play, then rallying for a 2-2 result against Uruguay on Sunday has Cape Verde still searching for its first win in its initial World Cup appearance. Still, the team is in an ideal position.Spain leads Group H with four points. Uruguay and Cape Verde are next with two points each, while Saudi Arabia is last with one point. The top two teams from each group advance to the round of 32 along with the top eight third-place teams in the 12 groups.A win over Saudi Arabia by Cape Verde would give it five points; it would then be mathematically certain to be no worse than second in the group. A draw would give the team three points; that, combined with a Spain win over Uruguay, would also assure a second-place finish in group play.One game at a time, Cape Verde backup goalkeeper CJ dos Santos said. This is just another challenge for us.There is a real chance that if Cape Verde beats Saudi Arabia, its reward would be a round of 32 game against Lionel Messi and defending World Cup champion Argentina.And the interest in that game would be overwhelming, if it happened. On one side, there would be Messi, the biggest draw in the sport and possibly the biggest draw right now in any sport. On the other, there would be a team that the world seems to have adopted the improbable story, replete with a 40-year-old goalkeeper whose mother needed help just to obtain a visa and fly to the U.S. to watch her son play on soccer's grandest stage.More than half of the team was born somewhere other than Cape Verde; Kevin Pina, who scored against Uruguay, spent part of his youth living in Massachusetts, which has the largest concentration of the Cape Verdean diaspora in the U.S.That stems from how in the 1800s, Cape Verdeans found work on American whaling vessels in the Atlantic and eventually settled in port cities in states like Massachusetts and Rhode Island.We come from a country of immigrants, Cape Verde coach Bubista said. We want every child and every young person to feel proud to represent their country. We want our success to make them want to represent Cape Verde.At Luanda Restaurant in Brockton, Massachusetts, Cape Verdes first World Cup match became an afternoon of nervous cheering as customers gathered around televisions; some fans even brought laptops so they could work remotely from the restaurant without missing the game against Spain.Every save by 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha whose stardom has risen immeasurably during this tournament drew louder reactions inside the restaurant. Owner Amlia Goncalves said she tried to work while screaming, laughing and nearly crying, noting that Vozinha's story resonates with the Cape Verdean community.If you work hard, it's possible, Goncalves said.The team has worked hard. The round of 32 is very possible now. A tiny country with big hopes is poised for its biggest sports moment.Now nobody can ask, Where is Cape Verde? said 22-year-old Micaelle Nunes, one of the soccer revelers in Brockton. The whole world will know.The players are aware of the celebrations. They know that, in some ways, they have become a sentimental favorite all over the globe. Their story is easy to appreciate and the way they play has drawn applause even from fans in opposing jerseys.A 12% chance is on the brink of coming through.We had a big journey here, Lopes said. Now that we're here, we can't change.___Associated Press writer Leah Willingham in Brockton, Massachusetts, and Zach Pascuzzi in Miami Gardens, Florida, contributed to this story. Pascuzzi is a student at the University of Georgias Carmical Sports Media Institute.___AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/FIFA-World-Cup

Lionel Messi has admitted he is "running on fumes" after producing another record-breaking display to fire Argentina to a 2-0 World Cup victory over Austria.The 38-year-old delivered a historic performance in Dallas, scoring twice to move clear of Miroslav Klose and become the outright leading scorer in World Cup history with 18 goals.Yet despite extending his remarkable legacy and helping Argentina take a giant step towards the knockout stages, Messi confessed the demands of another major tournament are beginning to take their toll."I'm tired and I'm running on fumes," Messi said after the match.TRENDINGStoriesVideosYour Say"It's hard to think."But I'm enjoying this moment and looking forward to being with my teammates. It's been spectacular how it has all unfolded."I had the penalty, which could have increased my tally. But perhaps the others wouldn't have come, you never know. I'm happy with the team."Messi's evening had initially threatened to be one of frustration.With the scores level in the first half, the Argentina captain stepped up from 12 yards after Lautaro Martinez had been fouled inside the penalty area.However, the veteran forward dragged his effort wide, spurning the chance to overtake Klose and take sole possession of the World Cup goalscoring record.It mattered little in the end, however.Messi recovered to open the scoring in the 38th minute, collecting possession inside the box before dispatching a composed finish beyond the Austrian goalkeeper.LATEST SPORTS NEWS:Roy Keane hits out at England players after Thomas Tuchel comments at World CupLionel Messi is ending the Cristiano Ronaldo debate at this summer's World CupKyren Wilson devastated after burglars steal anniversary gift and charity cash from family homeHe struck again late on to seal victory and move onto five goals in just two matches in North America, placing himself firmly in contention for the Golden Boot.The brace means Argentina have already secured their place at the top of Group J with one game remaining.Julian Alvarez believes Messi is continuing to prove why he remains football's greatest player."He continues to demonstrate, even at his age, that he has the talent and all his magic," Alvarez said."There's not much to say. We all see it, he's the best in the world."It gives us peace of mind for what's to come."This is the World Cup, everything is very close and very intense. That's why we're happy to have earned six points and already secured qualification."Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez was similarly emotional after witnessing Messi move clear of Klose."There are no words, we can only enjoy it," he said."He's alone at the top. I'm speechless."I feel an enormous emotion that he's Argentinian. We have to value him."Argentina conclude their Group J campaign against Jordan on Sunday (3am).Before that, Jordan take on Algeria at 4am tomorrow morning.Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter

Lionel Messi becomes the World Cup's all-time leading goalscorer as his double against Austria sends holders Argentina into the last 32.

Als turmhoher Favorit tritt Frankreich gegen Irak an. Fast schon folgerichtig fhren die Franzosen durch Mbapp, der die Jagd auf den WM-Rekordtorschtzen Messi erffnet. Das Spiel im Livestream.[mehr]

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Auteur d'un doubl contre l'Autriche, Lionel Messi est devenu le meilleur buteur de l'histoire de la Coupe du monde, avec 18 ralisations (devant Klose, 16 buts). Aprs la rencontre, les supporters argentins ont salu le GOAT du football.