McGregor believes he can be back in action by next summer

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. The images were striking:Lionel Messi, tears streaking down his cheeksafter surely the last of his six World Cups, joining his Argentine teammates at one end of the field, comforted in their abject sadness by diehard supporters continuing to chant behind the goal.Meantime, in the middle of MetLife Stadiums worn pitch, beaming Spanish players took turns receiving championship medals before gathering on stage to await captain Rodri, the Golden Ball recipient, for the trophy celebration.Spain was clearly the better team Sunday, but it took Ferran Torres goal in the 106th minute to prevail against a wounded defending champion that played with courage but without much hope of winning.The 1-0 triumph was grueling for both players and spectators. It took 120 minutes for the finest team over these 39 wondrous days in 16 venues across North America to reap the rewards.This is a generation thats making history, Rodri said, but also in the way we did it.Lamine Yamal lifts the World Cup trophy after Spain capped a dominant tournament with the sports biggest prize.Carl Recine via Getty ImagesHowd they do it? By conceding one measly goal over 750 minutes in eight matches, controlling the ball as if no one else was on the field and reducing an Argentine bulldozer, driven by Messi, into a manual lawnmower.The only way Spain was going to lose, especially after Argentina was reduced to 10 men late in regular time, is if it were dragged into a shootout the way Argentinas victory over France four years ago in Qatar was decided.La Roja avoided that by scoring in the first minute of the second half of extra time, then surviving two late scares.Deservedly, a second world championship belonged to Spain. And it came in eerily similar fashion as the 2010 title in South Africa, when Andrs Iniesta scored in extra time to defeat 10-man Netherlands, 1-0. (Iniesta attended Sundays match with his family.)Torres, one of eight FC Barcelona players on Spains roster, became the second substitute to score a winning goal in a World Cup final. Germanys Mario Gtze, in 2014, was the first; he too did it against Argentina.I just saw the ball coming to me and I just shot with the power of all the Spanish people, the 26-year-old midfielder said.FERRAN TORRES PUTS SPAIN AHEAD IN EXTRAS LA ROJA IS 15 MINUTES AWAY FROM BECOMING WORLD CUP CHAMPS AGAIN (via @FOXSports ) pic.twitter.com/l758VPIQek Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) July 19, 2026It was the breakthrough the capacity crowd and billions watching around the planet was waiting for, pleading for, begging for, praying for. No one wanted penalty kicks to decide the championship.To that point, though, Spains superiority had not translated into a lead.If there was a team that could manage to go all the way with the match still undecided, Argentine coach Lionel Scaloni said, it was us.Indeed, Argentina had persevered in knockout match after knockout match, outlasting Cape Verde and Switzerland in extra time and coming from behind late to oust Egypt and England.But those matches werent against an opponent as disciplined as Spain, which showed its quality throughout the match. The issue, though, was its failure to shoot with greater imagination and precision. Argentinas Emi Martnez set a record for a World Cup final with 11 saves, though only a few were difficult.Entering extra time, coach Luis de la Fuente addressed his players.I just said, Look, we are doing a great job. The match is controlled, but this is a final, and we are up against Argentina. If we are not careful, we might concede a goal. We kept our focus until the last minute.Messi and Argentina did not produce a shot on goal a remarkable statistic given an attacking firepower that had recorded 19 goals in seven matches and featured the little wizard, who, at 39, continues to defy his age.The victory swelled Spains unbeaten streak to 38 and capped an extraordinary run that included the 2023 Nations League and 2024 European Championship titles, as well as the 2025 Nations League second-place trophy, decided in a shootout. Spains under-23 squad won the 2024 Olympic gold medal.Spain can now claim to be the best not only on the mens side, but the womens as well after they captured their first crown at the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.We have grown together, de la Fuente said. Weve reached this stage thanks to [the players] talents, to their attitude, to their commitment, to their values and to their huge talent. This team has a long way to go, so we are already thinking about what is coming next.The future is bright, indeed. Spain started two teenagers, the acclaimed winger Lamine Yamal and center back Pau Cubars, who was voted the best young player in the tournament.Unai Simon, 29, won the Golden Glove as the best goalkeeper, though he did not have a whole lot to do throughout the competition. Rodri, the 30-year-old Manchester City midfielder who sets the tone, organizes the defense and eloquently runs the attack, was the deserving winner of the Golden Ball as the World Cups MVP.As for Argentina, there were tears but immense pride about returning to the final.We feel extremely grateful to all our fans, all those people who transmitted us that energy we were lacking, Scaloni said. In the end, [Spain] deserved the victory. That's reality. We need to accept it. But we were close.

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NASHVILLE SUPERSPEEDWAY (Nashville, Tenn.) Persistent and heavy rain showers forced INDYCAR to postpone its race in Nashville from Sunday to Monday afternoon. The 300-lap race, scheduled to begin shortly after Sunday's World Cup Final on FOX, was put into a lightning delay and then rains came around 7 p.m. ET. The track was nearly dry around 8:30 p.m. when heavy rains returned and series officials opted to postpone the race to Monday at 3 p.m. ET on FOX. The race is expected to be brutal for the drivers and teams as FOX Weather predicts the temperature to be 90 degrees with it feeling like 102 degrees. With that forecast, INDYCAR officials announced late Sunday night that the race distance would be reduced to 225 laps. Kyle Kirkwood is on the pole for the race, which at 399.5 miles, is reguarily the second-longest on the INDYCAR calendar, behind only the Indianapolis 500. "It's going to be hot, it's going to be physical not only for me as a driver, but everyone on pit lane for two-plus hours," Kirkwood said Saturday after winning the pole about the race in general. Races postponed in INDYCAR are relatively rare because they have rain tires for the races on road and street courses that typically allow them to run unless there is a deluge. The last INDYCAR race to be postponed because of rain was the 2018 race at Barber (Ala.) Motorsports Park. Running the race Monday at Nashville wont be too much of a burden on the teams. They have the next two weekends off and then they finish the year with six races over five weekends. Maybe the only driver happy Sunday was Alex Palou, not because he wanted to race Monday but because the driver who grew up near Barcelona got to watch Spain win the World Cup. "Just incredible just to be able to win the World Cup," Palou said on the FOX telecast during the rain delay.

Ohtani had his knee drained over the All-Star break

Yankees' Jazz Chisholm takes surprising MLB lead with heroic home run originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The New York Yankees badly needed someone to come through.Jazz Chisholm Jr. answered the call.The Yanks had already lost once on Sunday, dropping game one of their doubleheader against the Los Angeles Dodgers as Yoshinobu Yamamoto threw a complete game for the back-to-back World Series champs.Then on Sunday Night Baseball, New York's 1-0 lead had been taken away by a Tommy Edman game-tying home run.That's when Chisholm came to the plate in the bottom of the eighth inning.And that's when Chisholm showed that, amid a rough season for him, his clutch gene hasn't been the problem.Jazz's solo homer stood up as the final run in a 2-1 victory, and it also pushed him into a tie for an MLB lead.He now is tied for the most homers in the eighth inning or later to win a game this season. This was his third, matching Gavin Sheets of the Padres.The Yankees haven't had a player with more than three in a season since 1987:Jazz Chisholm Jr. has 3 game-winning home runs in the 8th inning or later this season.That's tied with Gavin Sheets for the most in MLB.The last Yankee to have more in a season was Mike Pagliarulo (4) in 1987. New York Yankees Stats (@nyyankeesstats) July 20, 2026This hasn't been a perfect season for Chisholm by any means. He entered the year talking about wanting to go 50-50, and then it took a really long time for his power to show up.Now, though, he's coming through when the Yanks need someone else to deliver with Aaron Judge still out.A Sunday night win like that can boost the confidence in a major way, and it was Chisholm who provided the special moment when the Yankees very much needed it.

Spain winning the 2026 FIFA World Cup puts this generation in the conversation with some of the greatest national teams in history. No team had followed a European Championship title with a World Cup victory since Spain did it by winning Euro 2008 and the 2010 World Cup. That legendary Spanish side then completed an unprecedented three-peat by winning Euro 2012. Those Spain teams are widely recognized among the greatest national sides in football history. But this current generation is starting to make its own case and will enter Euro 2028 with an opportunity to match that historic run of three consecutive major tournament titles. Lets make a combined XI between Spains 2026 and 2010 World Cup-winning teams. Goalkeeper: Unai Simn vs. Iker Casillas Both goalkeepers had incredible tournaments and earned the Golden Glove. Simn made history with seven clean sheets, the most by a goalkeeper at a single World Cup. He also conceded only one goal throughout Spains entire campaign, the fewest ever allowed by a World Cup-winning team. Casillas gets the nod because of his overall pedigree and because he was simply the better goalkeeper at his peak. He conceded only two goals in 2010, kept five clean sheets and made one of the biggest saves in World Cup final history when he denied Arjen Robben with his outstretched foot. Simn had the better statistical campaign, but Casillas remains Spains greatest goalkeeper. Verdict: Iker Casillas Left Back: Marc Cucurella vs. Joan Capdevila Cucurella came into this tournament as one of the best left backs in the world and continued to show it. He provided defensive stability while also being an important presence in attack, giving Spain energy up and down the left flank. Capdevila was not one of the more glamorous names in Spains 2010 side, but he was an incredibly consistent player. He started every game during Spains World Cup-winning campaign and also started five of its six matches at Euro 2008, only sitting out the final group-stage match against Greece. But Cucurella gets the nod as the better overall left back. Verdict: Marc Cucurella Center Back: Pau Cubars vs. Carles Puyol Cubars winning the World Cup as a teenager while starting at center back is a remarkable story. His composure and ability to play out from the back were critical to a Spanish team that conceded only one goal. But Puyol was the true leader of Spains 2010 side, anchoring the back line with his physicality, commitment and defensive awareness. He also scored the decisive header against Germany in the semifinal to send Spain to its first World Cup final. Cubars may eventually build a legendary career of his own, but Puyol gets the clear nod here. Verdict: Carles Puyol Center Back: Aymeric Laporte vs. Gerard Piqu Laporte turned back the clock during this World Cup. The Saudi Pro League defender was pivotal for Spain, playing the experienced role next to the teenage Cubars and helping lead one of the greatest defensive campaigns in World Cup history. Piqu gets the nod, though. Despite the 2010 World Cup being his first major international tournament for Spain, he immediately established himself as a key part of the starting lineup and formed an elite partnership with Puyol. His composure on the ball, reading of the game and ability to defend in a high line made him the ideal center back for that Spanish side. Verdict: Gerard Piqu Right Back: Pedro Porro vs. Sergio Ramos Porro had a strong World Cup, providing value on both sides of the ball and scoring Spains second goal in the 2-0 semifinal victory over France. But Ramos gets the nod as one of the defensive cornerstones of Spains golden generation. He was defensively reliable while also offering tremendous value going forward. Ramos remarkably completed 31 dribbles at the 2010 World Cup, more than any other player in the tournament, despite playing at right back. Porro had a great campaign, but this one belongs to Ramos. Verdict: Sergio Ramos Defensive Midfield: Rodri vs. Xabi Alonso Rodri gets the nod after winning the Golden Ball at the 2026 World Cup, just two years after being named Player of the Tournament at Euro 2024. He served as the metronome for this Spanish side, dictating the tempo, controlling possession and constantly making the correct decision. After returning from a serious knee injury, Rodri once again showed why he is one of the best midfielders in the world. Xabi Alonso was a fabulous midfielder for Spain and an important member of the Euro 2008, 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012-winning teams. His passing range, positioning and ability to control matches from deep were crucial to that midfield. But Rodris peak and importance to this 2026 side give him the edge. Verdict: Rodri Defensive Midfield: Fabin Ruiz vs. Sergio Busquets Fabin gave Spain a different profile after Luis de la Fuente introduced him into the starting lineup during the knockout stage. His ability to carry the ball forward and cover ground next to Rodri added more dynamism to the midfield. But Busquets gets the clear nod. Like Rodri for the 2026 side, Busquets served as the metronome for Spain in 2010. He dictated the tempo, protected the defense and played with composure far beyond his years during his first major international tournament. Busquets allowed Xavi and Iniesta to play with more freedom and was one of the most important tactical pieces in Spains success. Verdict: Sergio Busquets Central Midfield: Dani Olmo vs. Xavi Olmo was an incredibly tidy and important midfielder for Spain. He could operate in tight spaces, connect the attack and make dangerous late runs into the box. His intelligence and movement were crucial to Spains front line, but Xavi is one of the greatest midfielders in football history. Xavi controlled the rhythm of matches for both Spain and Barcelona. His awareness, passing and ability to dictate games helped define an entire era of football. He gets the clear nod. Verdict: Xavi Left Wing: lex Baena vs. Andrs Iniesta Baena had a solid tournament and played an important role on Spains left side, giving the team the ability to keep possession, drift into different pockets and connect play in the final third. But Iniesta is a player you have to make room for in this team, even if he did not operate as a traditional left winger throughout the 2010 World Cup. His technical ability, creativity and capacity to progress the ball made him one of the best players of his generation. He also scored the most important goal in Spanish football history, delivering the extra-time winner against the Netherlands in the 2010 final. Iniesta makes any combined XI in which he is an option. Verdict: Andrs Iniesta Striker: Mikel Oyarzabal vs. David Villa Oyarzabal had an efficient tournament, scoring five goals and delivering in major moments. He was an unconventional but incredibly effective No. 9 for Spain, floating into different pockets while still being ruthless when chances came his way. But Villa was instrumental in Spains 2010 campaign, scoring five of its eight goals during the tournament. He came through in crucial moments, scoring against Honduras, Chile, Portugal and Paraguay. His goals carried Spain through difficult matches when the teams attack was struggling to turn possession into opportunities. Oyarzabal had a brilliant campaign, but Villa gets the nod because of just how important his goals were to the 2010 teams success. Verdict: David Villa Right Wing: Lamine Yamal vs. Pedro Yamal gets the nod after winning a World Cup as a teenager. He entered the tournament recovering from a hamstring injury and did not control every match in the way he might have wanted, scoring only one goal. But he steadily grew into the competition and remained one of Spains most dangerous creative players. Pedro became an important part of the 2010 side late in the tournament, earning starts in the semifinal and final because of his energy, pressing and intelligent movement. But Yamals ceiling, talent and importance to this 2026 team give him the edge. At only 19, Yamal already has a European Championship, a World Cup and multiple club trophies. He has built the foundation for what could become a phenomenal career. Verdict: Lamine Yamal Final Combined XI: Spain 2026 And Spain 2010 Formation: 4-2-3-1 GK: Iker CasillasRB: Sergio RamosCB: Carles PuyolCB: Gerard PiquLB: Marc CucurellaCM: RodriCM: Sergio BusquetsCAM: XaviRW: Lamine YamalLW: Andrs IniestaST: David Villa