Major League SoccerInter Miami 2 - 2 Columbus Crew FTMessi had 12 goal involvements for Argentina at the 2026 World Cup [Getty Images]Lionel Messi returned to action on Saturday following Argentina's World Cup final defeat by Spain, coming on as a substitute for Inter Miami in a 2-2 draw with Columbus Crew as team-mate Casemiro scored an own goal.Messi had not played competitively since captaining his country in their 1-0 loss on 19 July. The 39-year-old scored eight goals and registered four assists during the tournament.The forward was given a huge ovation by the Inter Miami home fans when he came on in the 53rd minute of the Major League Soccer match, although he missed two chances to score.Miami had taken the lead through Luis Suarez's audacious long range chipped strike for his seventh goal in four games.Brazil midfielder Casemiro, who joined Miami in July after leaving Manchester United, inadvertently equalised for Columbus when he put the ball into his own net when trying to make a clearance.But Noah Allen headed the home side back in front before Brais Mendez curled in an 84th minute free-kick on his debut to earn Columbus Crew a draw.Follow your club with BBC SportListen to the latest Football Daily podcastGet football news sent straight to your phone

With another rally supporting Sophie Cunningham planned for the Indiana Fevers visit to Minneapolis on Sunday, Cheryl Reeve defended the demonstrators right to assemble while also declaring the need to find common ground in the debate over transgender participation in womens sports.The Minnesota Lynx coach spoke extensively on the controversy now swirling around Cunningham, the Fever guard who recently said excluding transgender athletes from womens sports is common sense, and stressed the need to be inclusive while talking to reporters Saturday.I dont think we should feel like our safe space is being threatened, Reeve said of the demonstrators. Thats what I enjoy about the WNBA. And I think we have to continue to safeguard that. I dont think these demonstrators are not being peaceful, or not that Ive seen. I havent heard everything thats happening, but everyone has a right to peacefully assemble, right?Cheryl Reeve speaking on the trans rally that is planned prior to the Indiana Fever game Sunday and her views around trans athletes and Womens sports Full video below: I dont feel its right to clip or cut out snippets for quotes, so if you have time, give it a listen. pic.twitter.com/56NAo30aPq Andrew Dukowitz (@adukeMN) August 1, 2026The Lynx (24-6) boast the WNBAs best record as they prepare to host the Fever (19-10), who own the fourth-best record. But much of Reeves talk after practice Saturday centered on Cunningham and the rallies supporting her outside Fever games in Seattle and Portland earlier in the week. A third is planned for Sunday in Minnesota.The rallies were sparked byCunninghams comments in a recently published ESPN profile, where she said she wanted to protect young girls in sport who shouldnt have to go against biological men.Reeve pushed back against the biological men part of those comments Saturday, but also didnt outright dismiss Cunninghams views.We have some issues, she added. Number one, we need to protect trans kids. Every kid to me, its a human rights issue. Every kid has a right to sports regardless of (being) gender diverse, transgender. Now, what gets nuanced is when youre beyond puberty, when youre in Olympic sport, when we have scholarships at stake and that sort of thing. Thats where I say that common-sense people get together, and you find common ground to find a way to be inclusive. The answer isnt no. It is not the case that we have biological men in girls locker rooms, the way its being phrased, the innuendo there that somehow transgender women are predators. Theres a lot of narrative that is problematic that we need to address. That is simply not whats happening.Reeve, a 17-year head coach in Minnesota with four WNBA titles, placed the onus on WNBA leadership to ensure the league remains an inclusive space while also maintaining safety amid increasingly divisive conversations.Im quite sure that they have eyes on and ears on to make sure that its a safe space for everyone, Reeve said. And thats what makes our league beautiful.In the wake of Cunninghams comments, the rallies have created tension between demonstrators and figures around the league.Seattle Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton was suspended and fined by the WNBA after two teenage girls wearing shirts depicting XX and XY chromosomes said Keaton cursed at them. The Storm later apologized in a statement, saying in part that everyone who attends a Storm game deserves to feel welcome.On Saturday, Reeve said she urged league leadership years ago to proactively establish where it stood on transgender participation in womens sports, rather than reacting after it became a national conversation.I encouraged the WNBA leadership: Whats our stance? What are we going to do when this occurs? Are we going to be ready? Are we going to be reactionary? And so I think it would make sense for our league to be leaders in this space, Reeve said. Ive chosen to educate myself about the space. Ive chosen to listen to transgender families, and what I know is exclusion is not the answer.Reeve also expressed a desire to shift more attention toward issues she believes affect more people.The (transgender) issue isnt as big as the issues that we have in womens sports, she said. Whether its cisgender men that have held us down for years in spaces like being able to have access to facilities and uniforms and locker rooms, all the things that these young girls that are sitting at games with anti-trans signs, do they understand actually what the real problems are and how theyre being marginalized?Were still not in a space where we have equality. We dont even have the Equal Rights Amendment in all 50 states, right?Reeve eventually circled back to Sundays game, and her wish that the league shes called home for decades can be a welcoming space for all, regardless of viewpoint.I think Minnesota Lynx fans are some of the best fans in the WNBA, very diverse fans, Reeve said. It is my hope that we demonstrate leadership in this space. You can voice your opinion, have a strong opinion, but its a safe space for everyone regardless of whether or not we agree.This article originally appeared in The Athletic.Minnesota Lynx, Indiana Fever, WNBA, Sports Business, Culture2026 The Athletic Media Company

Have more comments, questions? Reach out to me atbwhite1@dispatch.com. Letters are lightly edited for clarity. On Ohio State jersey patchesTo the editor: OSU is adding a JPMorgan Chase logo patch to all 36 varsity sport teams uniforms. The football team uniforms will also have a Nike logo and a Big Ten patch.In couple more years the uniforms will look like NASCAR driver suits. What next, naming rights for the team benches and medic tents? How about all the team support staff and managers having patches like the NASCAR pit crews? Next, they can add bus wraps for home and away rental busses with all kinds of additional sponsorships.Finally, we can start to add patches all over the uniforms of TBDBITL.Is the day very far away when the players and coaches will have to wear custom gear anytime they are on campus? The quest to grab more money to buy more players and build bigger facilities isbeyond the pale.Raymond D'Angelo, Westerville To Raymond: If that's what it takes to pay the next Jeremiah Smith, I wouldn't put it past them. And neither would most of their fans.On LeBron JamesDear Brian: One thing became very clear after LeBron James announced his intent to take his talents (less than what they used to be) to Philadelphia: He never had any loyalty to the city, fan base or organization in Cleveland a fan base that revered him, one that hoped he'd sign with the Cavs and end his career on a fairy tale note with one last hope of another championship. It was not to be. It was James' right to sign anywhere he wanted, no questioning that, but he was never the King of Cleveland, not even close. Yes, he helped bring a long-awaited championship to the city of Cleveland, and for that I am ever grateful! The Indians should have in 1997, but that is another story. It's apparent James didn't revere Cleveland as much as we would have liked to think. Remember him yelling "This is for you, Cleveland" after the Game 7 Finals victory in 2016? I think that was more about redemption for himself after he bungled the first free agency decision than about Cleveland ending its 52-year championship drought. The true face of Cleveland is Jose Ramirez. No doubt about it, not even close. The future Hall of Famer has shown his love for the city, the fans and the organization time and time again, signing extensions for less than what he could get on the open market. One could argue Joe Thomas and even Joel Bitonio are better representations of Cleveland than LeBron ever was. I'll always be grateful for the 2016 championship, but leave LeBron out of the King of Cleveland discussions.Steve Roth, WestervilleOn Penn StateToBrian:I see that 2027 Penn State four-star football commit Aiden Gibson has reclassified to the class of 2026 and will enroll at Rutgers in August. Rutgers has had other student/athletes making this sudden late change before, and I have to wonder, what about high school graduation?This may be a blow to Penn State, but they have a coach now in Ohio-bred Matt Campbell who did a remarkable job making Iowa State relevant, and I anticipate that with the resources and cache of Penn State, he will make those lions roar in big games again.Dennis Singleton,DaytonTo Dennis: Campbell is a good coach, but I think there will come a time when Penn State fans realize James Franklin coming oh-so-close to greatness wasn't a bad thing.On Ohio State athleticsTo the editor: How much is too much? Ohio State reportedly spends about $15 million a year on assistant football coaches. I nearly choked on my $5 dollar Starbucks latte when I read it.I understand that's the going rate in today's college sports marketplace, but to this seasoned citizen it sounds outrageous.I still remember dime-a-dog night at Jet Stadium and the days when Columbus businessman John Galbreath paid$20 per hour for no-show Buckeye football jobs of painting his fence.Now assistant coaches are making more money than my plumber.Maybe that's progress. Maybe that's the price of competing in big-time college.I know Woody didn't need so many high-priced yes men and he could coach all positions with a grunt, curse word and a swift kick in the a--.Somehow I don't think he envisioned his assistant coaches earning Wall Street banker salaries.I know the assistants work very hard and earn their pay, but it still sounds a little too rich for my cholesterol blood stream.Michael N. Oser, Upper ArlingtonMore from the MailboxEnough football. Dispatch lacking in coverage of several Ohio State sports programsFans frustrated by more Columbus Blue Jackets bad newsShould Long Island be banned from holding major golf tournaments?Maybe Ohio State AD Ross Bjork should sit in regular-guy seats, wait in line, etc.Are luxury boxes really what Ohio Stadium needs?Why don't girls wear helmets in lacrosse?An appreciation of Muzerall's greatness; and should dunking be banned in basketball?Rob Oller is right, and Rob Oller is wrongShould Rob Oller be punished for missing Ohio State football bandwagon?Reader comes to Rob Oller's defense, and what Is Ross Bjork doing?This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Is Ohio State adding sponsorship patches to uniforms overkill? Mailbox

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Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgradepresident Zeljko Drcelic also confirmed that Crvena Zvezdadiscusseda potential move with Nikola Vucevic this summer. The veteran center is a known supporter of the Serbian club but ultimately decided to continue his NBA career. "There were conversations," Drcelic revealed. "First of all, Nikola is an excellentperson, but he is also a great Zvezda supporter. "That does not mean he will automatically become a Crvena Zvezda player."BasketNewsThis article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Serbian club Crvena Zvezda pursued Nikola Vucevic before Magic return

Shams Charania: BREAKING: The Los Angeles Sparks are trading five-time All-Star Kelsey Plum to the Phoenix Mercury for Monique Akoa Makani, a 2027 first round pick and a 2028 second-rounder, sources tell me and @kendra__andrews.x.comThis article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: The Los Angeles Sparks are trading five-time All-Star

Texas A&M's No. 1-ranked 2027 recruiting class has yet to be challenged, outside of Notre Dame, and the Texas Longhorns are making significant strides over the past month, but after five-star cornerback John Meredith reclassified to the 2026 signing class, only the Fighting Irish have a real shot at challenging the Aggies for the top spot.Unanimously ranked No. 1 in 247Sports, Rivals, and ESPN's recruiting rankings, coach Mike Elko, who is entering his third season at the helm, also leads the nation with six five-star commitments in ESPN's rankings after securing blue-chip wide receiver Eric McFarland III in late June.On paper, Texas A&M's future offensive and defensive lines are all but secured with five-star tackle Mark Matthews leading the way as the program's top-ranked commit, paired with fellow five-star OL Kennedy Brown, who is considered the better overall offensive line prospect, according to ESPN. Coupled with four-star tackles DeMarrion Johnson and Kaeden Scott, OL coach Adam Cushing isn't lacking NFL-level talent in the trenches.As ESPN's Craig Haubert notes, Mike Elko's defensive background and continued role as the team's defensive play-caller have helped secure commitments from five-star Edge Zyron Forstall and four-star pass rusher Kaden McCarty just a year after former Bowling Green Edge Cashius Howell earned unanimous All-American status with an SEC-leading 11.5 sacks."Mike Elko is tapping into his defensive roots with the Aggies' 2027 class. Looking to reload a unit that was among the best at getting to the quarterback in 2025, five-star edgeZyron Forstall, out of IMG Academy, is not a hulking physical presence, but he has an explosive first step and plays with excellent pad level and strength at the point of attack."Even more impressive, Elko's background as a secondary coach, developing several current starting NFL safeties and cornerbacks, helped land five-star safety Kamarui Dorsey and equally impressive four-star defensive back JayQuan Snell, who will likely be the Aggies' starting safety duo during the 2028 season.Landing four-star quarterback Jayce Johnson, who Haubert compared to former Ohio State QB Cardale Jones from a size perspective, has one of the strongest arms in the class, and like every one of the Aggies' 2026 commits, has fully bought into Mike Elko's vision for the program.Update ESPN Top 10 Rankings Texas A&M Notre Dame Texas Oregon Oklahoma Ohio State Florida Miami (FL)Auburn Texas Tech Contact/Follow us@AggiesWireon X(formerly Twitter) and like our page onFacebookto follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions.Follow Cameron on X:@CameronOhnysty.This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M's 2027 cycle continues its stay at ESPN's No. 1-ranked class

Chelsea close the door on Barcelona to sign Julian Alvarez alternativeBarcelonas search for a new number has hardly extended beyond Julian Alvarez, as the club remain determined to sign the Argentine forward.Other names have been linked with a move to Catalonia, but the club have never shown any concrete interest. Joao Pedro, to that end, perhaps came the closest.Earlier in the summer, the Brazilian was a serious alternative for Barcelona to reinforce their attacking unit but a move never materialised.Chelsea close the doorPedro will continue at Chelsea. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)According to Mundo Deportivo, Barcelonas option to sign Pedro is now permanently closed as Chelsea are on the verge of extending his contract.The Spanish publication cites reports in England which suggest Chelsea are ready to reward Pedro for his efforts in the Premier League last season.The new deal will include a pay raise and seal a contract that doesnt expire until 2032. By doing so, the club can seal his long-term future at Stamford Bridge.New coach Xabi Alonso has already shown a lot of faith in Pedro and he is likely to play a key role in his project next season.Whats next for Barcelona?Barcelona havent moved on from Alvarez. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)The potential contract extension of Joao Pedro is unlikely to impact Barcelona that much as the club had already given up on the prospect of the signing the Brazilian long time ago.As mentioned earlier, Chelsea had deemed Pedro a valuable part of the team and had no desire to offload him this summer.Keeping that in mind, Barcelonas play now will be to persist with the Alvarez pursuit and hope Atletico Madrid crumble under pressure as we near the start of the new season.The Catalans are hoping for Alvarez to push one more time for an exit, having earlier publicly stated his desire to leave the club.The coming weeks, to that end, could be crucial and decide Barcelonas fate in the transfer market. Recent reports suggest the club may not end up signing a striker at all, if they fail to bring in Alvarez.

Lens win Como Cup with come-from-behind victory over VillarrealLife under new manager Dino Toppmller has got off to a good start for RC Lens, after the club won the second annual Como Cup yesterday evening by defeating Villarreal 3-1. Lens needed to come from behind after Ayoze Prez opened the scoring in the 4th minute. Goals from Matthieu Udol, Florian Thauvin, and Rayan Fofana meant that Lens would end the preseason tournament unbeaten.In the first game of the Como Cup, Lens came up against former manager Pierre Sage, who left them this summer to join Crystal Palace. There was more than a hint of revenge to the way Les Sang et Or dispatched the Premier League side over the course of the 45-minute game, scoring three unanswered goals. In their next and penultimate game, Lens were held to a 0-0 draw by Portuguese side Famalico.Lens have two more friendlies scheduled, with a match against Trophe 1906 and Sunderland; after that, they will then take part in Frances curtain-raiser on the 16th of August, when they play Paris Saint-Germain in the Trophe des Champions.GFFN | Nick Hartland

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