FOX Sports Peter Crouch argued that France star Kylian Mbapp will become the World Cup greatest of all time.

Pereira is determined to continue his heavyweight journey and plans to return to the Octagon in November

Late-round draft picks can be wild cards. For every hidden gem, theres plenty of picks who never even see the field. If you could draft a two-time All-Pro and a locked-in every-game starter, itd be a no brainer.So Tim Soudan did, sort of, as he shipped off a third-round pick for Ben Randall this past offseason. And Randall has been a star for the Denver Outlaws since.That might be the best third rounder weve ever spent, Soudan said.Randall nearly ended up a California Redwood, but the Outlaws swooped in to snatch him from the Philadelphia Waterdogs. With the retirement of Jesse Bernhardt, Denver wanted an experienced, proven starter for a championship-caliber team.Soudan and the Outlaws are particular about the types of player they bring in, but more importantly the types of people they add to the locker room. Randall checked that box, especially with the strong recommendation of his former Ohio State teammate and Denver captain Ryan Terefenko.[Terefenko] and I are pretty close. I mean, he came to my wedding, Randall said. I think he played some part in getting me over here.That connection was an obvious launching point for Randall with the Outlaws squad, but he quickly ingratiated himself with the squad.At training camp, he and Mikie Schlosser another past teammate from their time on the Waterdogs were two of the older players on the roster. While learning the team on the field, they were also teachers. After practices, they would teach card games to the younger players on the team to help pass the time and get to know the group.It was some good team bonding, and I think Ive gotten to know a lot of the guys really well and become close, Randall said.From that point on, it was a natural fit for Randall and the Outlaws.Hes been an amazing freaking teammate, third-year long-stick midfielder Jake Piseno said. I really feel like hes been on our team this whole time.As Denvers star-studded offense has battled injuries and absences, the defense has been the rock of the team. The Outlaws boast the best scoring defense in the league, allowing just 9.4 scores per game. Theyve conceded no more than 12 goals in a game and held two opponents to single digits.Randall has been an integral part of that success. His elite on-ball ability has given Denver one of the best groups of defensive stoppers in front of arguably the best goalie in the world, Logan McNaney. Against the Maryland Whipsnakes, he held TJ Malone without a point for the first time in Malones career.As the Outlaws bear down for the second half of the season and seven games over six weeks the key for Randall and the defense is growth.I was getting used to playing with the group, but I think weve progressed really well throughout this first half of the year, Randall said.The end goal for this Denver team is a championship. This group was agonizingly close to glory a season ago, and Soudan pushed his chips in the center for this season. Adding Randall was a big part of that.While his Philadelphia teams struggled the last two seasons, hes no stranger to winning at the highest level. He was a key cog on the 2022 team that hoisted a PLL Championship. Hes also the only player on the Outlaws 25-man roster who has won a professional championship.With that Waterdogs team, there was a chemistry off the field that helped that group maximize its talent and win a title. For Randall, he sees a lot of similarities with this Denver group.A lot of us were really tight knit, and I do see that with this team too, Randall said.The Outlaws push to the playoffs starts on the shores of Lake Michigan as they face the Boston Cannons on Saturday at 2 p.m. ET at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium.

Kylian Mbappe spread his arms out wide and spun around after scoring his eighth goal of this years World Cup. He later gave the jubilant France fans dotted around the stadium a wave when he left the game because of an injury scare. Les Bleus, with a star striker who said he's fine despite a right ankle issue, are headed back to the semifinals for the third straight World Cup tournament. Mbapp had a goal and an assist after missing a first-half penalty kick, Ousmane Dembele also scored and two-time champion France beat Morocco 2-0 Thursday in the quarterfinals. "Theres only one way to relax, and thats by winning. Until weve done that, we dont let up," Mbapp said. "Were in the semifinals and were very happy, but theres still a long way to go." Mbapps goal in the 60th minute was the 20th of his World Cup career and came in his 20th match at the tournament, moving him one behind Argentina captain Lionel Messi. Dembl scored his fifth goal of the tournament in the 66th. Mbapp went down to the ground in the 76th minute, about 13 minutes after being hit hard by a Moroccan defender, and was taken off for a substitute a minute later. He was then shown sitting on the bench with an ice pack on his right ankle. After the match and with both shoes on, Mbapp ran and jumped in celebration with his teammates. "I took a knock to the ankle, but Im fine," Mbapp said. "At that point, JP (Jean-Philippe Mateta) was in better shape than I was to play the final minutes." France will face either Spain or Belgium in the semifinals in Dallas on Tuesday. France beat Morocco by the same score in the semifinals of the 2022 tournament in Qatar when the Atlas Lions became the first African team to make it that far. France now remains on track to become only the third nation to play in the final of three consecutive World Cups. "It is a confirmation of how weve played so far," said France coach Didier Deschamps, who added there is a reason for his team's success in recent World Cups. "Having great players. Excellent players. My credit goes to the players. But maybe I do my job well," he said. "The only truth is the one on the pitch." Mbapp got his goal with a perfectly placed shot just inside the far post after Morocco failed to clear the ball. He received the ball just outside the area, took a couple steps forward and then sent his shot sailing into the net. He extended both arms and ran to the sideline to celebrate with his teammates. France's second goal came after Mbapp took a pass and tapped it back for Dembl. Mbapp kept running forward and took defenders with him, opening space for Dembl's shot. Dembl said he wasn't surprised with how Mbapp stepped up after his penalty miss in the first half. "He's our captain and he has an incredible mentality," Dembl said. "We're expecting even more goals from him." France held a 21-4 advantage in shots on goal and 8-1 edge in shots on target for the game. "We are very disappointed. We wanted to go on," Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi said. "When we had ball possession, our transitions were not great and we had to run a little more. Their players were in their comfort zone." Mbapp also had the first shot on goal of the game, just missing wide right in the fourth minute. Then, in the 25th, he was running up the left side when he was chopped down in the box by Morocco defender Noussair Mazraoui. Referee Facundo Tello quickly pointed to the penalty spot. Mbapp lined up waiting for his attempt but was held up by a lengthy video review. He was finally cleared to shoot in the 28th minute, but after a hesitation, Mbapps shot toward the right corner was corralled by goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, who guessed the direction of the shot correctly. Deschamps said the long review also included a review for another foul. Mbapp made his only other penalty attempt at this year's World Cup in Frances 1-0 victory over Paraguay in the round of 16. Still, France was by far the more active team offensively in the first half, holding a 13-1 advantage in shots on goal. Moroccos best opportunity came just before the halftime whistle when Achraf Hakimi sent a free kick from just outside the box past the right post. France now has a chance to emulate Brazil and West Germany in reaching three straight World Cup finals. "We realize that what lies ahead is even tougher than what weve been through," Mbapp said, "but were ready to face anything." Reporting by the Associated Press.

The action heats up on Saturday night from Las Vegas and there's plenty of ways to get in on it

The return ofConor McGregoris just days away. The Notorious headlines Saturdays UFC 329 fight card at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas in a rematch with former featherweight champion and BMF titleholderMax Holloway.McGregor and Holloway, along with the co-main event fighters, Paddy Pimblett and Benoit Saint-Denis, will appear at the event's pre-fight press conference on Thursday at 9 p.m. ET. UFC 329 Pre-Fight Press Conference

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Lamine Yamal has become one of the most compelling stories at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The generational prodigy first captured global attention during Spain's championship run at Euro 2024, where he earned Young Player of the Tournament honors just one day after turning 17. Now 18, the FC Barcelona forward is continuing his rapid ascent on the world stage in North America. Yamal scored his first career World Cup goal during a 4-0 group-stage win over Saudi Arabia and followed it up with an outstanding performance against Austria, earning Man of the Match honors in the round of 32. It is the latest chapter for a player who has consistently shattered records, including becoming Barcelona's youngest-ever debutant and Spain's youngest-ever goalscorer. Raised in the humble Rocafonda neighborhood of Matar, he was famously bathed by Lionel Messi in a 2007 charity photoshoot. He later shattered records as Barcelona's youngest-ever debutant and Spain's youngest-ever goalscorer. Let's dive deeper in into the lore of Lamine Yamal: The Meaning Behind The Name While soccer fans know him simply as Lamine Yamal, his given names carry a deep personal meaning. His full name is Lamine Yamal Nasraoui Ebana, with Lamine and Yamal serving as two distinct first names. In Arabic, Lamine translates to "the trustworthy," while Yamal means "beauty." In the months leading up to his birth in Catalonia, Yamal's family faced severe financial hardships and emotional uncertainty. During this difficult period, two local neighbors stepped forward to offer financial aid to help keep the expectant family afloat. His parents chose the names to honor two individuals who provided critical emotional and financial support to the family in the months leading up to his birth. Meeting Messi As A Baby Long before he began rewriting the record books for Barcelona, Yamal shared a chance encounter with the club's greatest icon. In 2007, local newspaper Diario Sport and UNICEF organized a charity raffle in Matar. Yamals family won the raffle, earning a spot in a calendar photoshoot. The resulting session featured a 20-year-old Lionel Messi holding a six-month-old Yamal in a plastic baby bathtub inside the Camp Nou dressing room. The images went viral years later, presenting a prophetic passing of the torch as Yamal began his own career at Barcelona. Raised In Rocafonda Yamal was raised in Rocafonda, a working-class neighborhood in Matar, Catalonia. His father emigrated from Morocco and his mother from Equatorial Guinea. Despite his sudden rise to global fame, Yamal remains deeply connected to his roots. When Yamal scores a goal, he often celebrates by flashing the number 304 with his fingers. The gesture represents the final digits of 08304, the postal code for Rocafonda, serving as a permanent tribute to his hometown. Growing up in this working-class enclave, Yamal learned to play football on concrete pitches and narrow streets, developing the brilliant, unpredictable flair that defines his game today. For the youth of Rocafonda and similar working-class communities across Europe, he is living proof that greatness can emerge from anywhere. The Rise Of Yamal Yamal's footballing journey accelerated quickly after he was scouted at age 6. Yamal progressed through Barcelonas La Masia academy at an unprecedented pace, making his professional debut for the first team at just 15 years old. His international breakthrough came at Euro 2024, where he became the youngest player and youngest goalscorer in the tournament's history as Spain went on to claim the title. Alongside Barcelona teammate Pau Cubars, he recently made more history against Austria, becoming part of the first teenage duo to start a World Cup knockout match together since Pel and Jos Altafini did so for Brazil in 1958. Global Superstardom Yamals rapid ascent to the top of the footballing world has already translated into massive individual fame. He has quickly become the centerpiece of major marketing campaigns for global brands like Adidas and McDonald's. His digital footprint is equally staggering; with over 45 million Instagram followers, he commands a larger audience than Shohei Ohtani, Patrick Mahomes, and Roger Federer combined. This immense star power was perfectly captured last month in Atlanta, where a massive Powerade advertisement featuring Yamal draped the side of a 42-story downtown hotel. The 18-year-old phenom proved he is worth the hype, scoring Spain's opening goal of the World Cup in a dominant win over Saudi Arabia. Days earlier, video clips of Yamal shopping at a Walmart in Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, garnered millions of views on social media. Shifting the record books is already second nature for the teenager, who captured the Kopa Trophy, the prestigious global award crowning the world's best player under the age of 21, and shattered history as the youngest-ever nominee for the Ballon d'Or at 17. Yet, his true impact isnt just measured by the individual hardware in his trophy case, but in his ability to take over games and terrorize defenses in the blink of an eye. As Spain marches into the high-stakes pressure cooker of the World Cup knockout rounds, the "wonderkid" label has officially been outgrown. Yamal is the engine of Spains championship ambitions, and undeniably one of the most influential titans in global sports today, regardless of age.

France are so dominant, the only element of drama so far is whether or not the best player in the world will be 100% for Tuesday's semifinal

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - JULY 07: Henry Bolte #33 of the Athletics hits a third inning solo home run against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on July 07, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty ImagesThe squad just cant seem to get their feet right. The losing ways continued on Thursday afternoon in Detroit as the Athletics dropped their sixth straight game, falling to Detroit 4-1 and dropping their record to 41-52, which is the third-worst record in the American League. Werent we just in first place? How did it come to this?The As tried switching things up on the mound this afternoon, going with an opener/bulk pitcher strategy. Left-hander Jose Suarez got the ball to start things off, which he did with a 1-2-3 bottom of the first including a strikeout to start the game. Suarez can thank his defense for a bit of help in that perfect inning of work, as well:colby jack got ya back pic.twitter.com/J1ajSwz96Y Athletics (@Athletics) July 9, 2026He also pitched to the first batter of the second, striking him out.Then it was time for the bulk pitcher to enter the contest. That would be right-hander Jack Perkins. The young pitcher has had an extremely tough time in his transition from the bullpen to starting rotation over the past month-plus, so going with an opener strategy was as good as any to hopefully get him rolling. It was working well enough for the first few frames, too. Other than one mistake that Detroit backstop Jake Rogers got ahold of for a solo home run, Perkins didnt allow a hit or walk through his first few innings of work. It looked like the opener strategy was working.The As got that run back in the top of the fifth thanks to some small ball from the offense. The As hadnt had much luck through the first few innings against former Astros nemesis Framber Valdez, who now dons the Detroit uniform thanks to an offseason relocation. Started with a Jacob Wilson single, Lawrence Butler was plunked by a wild curveball to put the first runner in scoring position for the As. A productive flyout from Colby Thomas allowed Wilson to move to third, then rookie center fielder Henry Bolte brought him home with an RBI groundout to knot things up at one apiece.Looking for a shutdown inning, Perkins instead began unraveling. A leadoff walk preceded the second homer allowed today, with this two-run shot making it a 3-1 game. Another walk immediately after that long ball and Mark Kotsay had seen enough. He came out to get the 26-year-old, ending his day after just three innings and 67 pitches.Jack Perkins: 3 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 2 HR, 67 pitchesAnother dud of an outing from Perkins this afternoon, but could have been worse. That was his last start of the first half and the team has to begin discussing if he should remain in the rotation when the second half gets underway next weekend. There arent many other better options in the system for the club to turn to right now and the coaching staff and front office will have to talk about his future role over the break. Who wants him to keep getting starts?Right-hander Luis Medina (former starter.) came on in relief and finished off the fifth with two quick outs and had an uneventful sixth inning as well. Now it was up to the offense to get back into this game.It looked like they might just do it, too. They managed to get back-to-back singles in the sixth from the catching duo of Shea Langeliers (todays catcher) and Jonah Heim (manning first base) but with two outs it was a tough spot and Wilson punched out, a rare occurrence for the contact-oriented shortstop.The As couldnt manage much more for the final few frames until the ninth. Facing likely future Hall of Famer Kenley Jansen, a Langeliers walk and Wilson single brought the tying run to the plate in the final frame with just one out, but alas, Butler lined out and a pinch-hitting Tyler Soderstrom lined out to the first baseman to end the rally and end the game, sending the As home losers and finishing off the sweep in Detroit.Thats six straight losses for the As and they just cant buy a win right now. The opener strategy seemed to work for a bit but not perfectly. This could have been a winnable game had the offense shown up. Instead they managed just one run off of five hits and one walk while punching out 11 times against Detroit pitching. The squad is 41-52, have lost 10 of 11 and 14 of 17. This tough stretch has made it become more and more likely that the club acts as sellers this deadline season. Utterly disappointing considering how the first couple of months went.Hopefully the As just didnt like Detroit and will have much better success in Chicago, where the White Sox await to host the Green & Gold for three games, the final series of the first half. The As have yet to announce who will be taking the ball for them tomorrow in the series opener but it currently lines up to be Aaron Civale. Well have to wait on word to confirm the pitcher for tomorrow though; maybe the club goes the opener route again. Chicago meanwhile knows exactly who gets the ball for them tomorrow and thatll be right-hander Sean Burke, who is having a great season for the resurgent White Sox with a 3.56 ERA in 14 starts (18 games). Please, As. Give us one more win before the first half wraps up?