Sports Express | October 07, 2026 - Messi Bids Farewell to Argentina in Tears as 21-Year Career Ends

1. Messi Bids Farewell to Argentina in Tears as 21-Year International Career Ends

Source: Sportsnet (AP)

On Tuesday night in Buenos Aires, 39-year-old Lionel Messi played his final match for Argentina. What was otherwise an unremarkable friendly against Benin became the farewell this soccer-crazed nation had long dreaded. Messi scored a penalty and set up Argentina's other two goals in a 3-0 win.

Messi represented his country for 21 years, earning his 208th cap, scoring 126 goals, winning two Copa America titles and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The Argentine federation billed the game as a national farewell dubbed "the last tango." More than 85,000 tickets sold out in 90 minutes, with seats originally priced around $60-$300 fetching over $2,500 on resale sites. Members of Argentina's 1978, 1986 and 2022 World Cup-winning squads returned to see him off.

After the final whistle, fans sang "Ole, ole, ole, ole, Messi, Messi" as a banner at midfield proclaimed him the "Eternal Captain." "Even through the worst moments we went through, I never stopped fighting," Messi told the crowd. "I love all of you, and I will miss all of you. I am proud to be Argentine." His Inter Miami contract runs through the 2028 season, but the ritual of watching him carry Argentina's hopes has ended.

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2. Eagles OT Lane Johnson Announces Retirement After 14 Seasons

Source: Yahoo Sports

Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle Lane Johnson announced his retirement on Tuesday, ending a decorated 14-year NFL career. He had been a surprise inactive for the Eagles' Week 4 game, cited as not playing for personal reasons.

The 36-year-old played the first three weeks of the season. "I deeply wanted to gut it out for one more year; to take the field with my brothers for one last season," Johnson said in a statement. "But after a lot of reflection, I've realized that my personal and family priorities in my life have changed. Right now, it is critical that I focus on my mental health." The Eagles released a statement supporting his decision.

Johnson was a six-time Pro Bowler and two-time First Team All-Pro, won two Super Bowls and was drafted fourth overall in 2013. He is expected to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame once he qualifies in five years. According to Yahoo Sports, the Eagles are 112-58-1 since drafting him, and 18-28 in games he has missed.

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3. Cristiano Ronaldo Accuses Portugal Coach of Broken Promises

Source: Al Jazeera

Cristiano Ronaldo has accused Portugal coach Jorge Jesus of twice breaking his word, saying a failed agreement to publicly explain his omission against Norway drove him out of the camp, while insisting he remained available after any punishment.

In a lengthy statement, the 41-year-old gave his account of the dispute that prompted his departure from Copenhagen before Portugal's Nations League match against Denmark last week. Ronaldo said Jesus had agreed a plan under which the forward would miss the Norway and Denmark matches to manage his fitness, but on the day of the Norway game the coach told him he would play 30 minutes. "I warmed up from halftime onwards, watched the minutes tick by and wasn't called on," he said. "The manager had broken his word to me."

Ronaldo said a subsequent meeting, attended by his club Al Nassr's sporting director Simao Coutinho, produced an agreement for the coach to clarify events at his next news conference, based on an eight-point document stating he had never demanded playing time and had respected Jesus's decisions. Ronaldo said the coach's public remarks bore no resemblance to their private discussion. Jesus denied any agreement on Sunday but left the door open for a return. Ronaldo apologised for failing to greet supporters after the Norway match and for leaving his teammates.

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4. US Beats Canada 1-0 to Cap Perfect International Window

Source: The Guardian

Justin Ellis scored the only goal as the United States beat Canada 1-0 in a chippy, physical friendly at Allianz Field in Minnesota on Tuesday, giving Mauricio Pochettino's side four wins from four to close the international window. It was the 19-year-old's third appearance for the US and his second goal.

The game was stop-start and at times ugly, with 43 fouls committed between the sides and the US leading that count by one. Jesse Marsch's Canada committed nine fouls in the opening 16 minutes to the hosts' three. Costa Rican referee Steven Madrigal was kept busy sussing out blame on 50/50 challenges.

Canada conceded three corners in succession late in the first half, and with a free kick at the edge of the box, created five set pieces near goal in quick order without turning any into a dangerous look. Each team managed just two attempts in the second half, with only one of Canada's efforts landing on target. Brian Schwake kept a clean sheet in his first international start, and both sides finished with an identical 72% pass completion rate.

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5. Yamamoto Dominates as Dodgers Take 2-1 NLDS Lead Over Braves

Source: Sportsnet

Yoshinobu Yamamoto struck out 10 in seven innings, Kike Hernandez hit a two-run homer and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Atlanta Braves 3-1 on Tuesday night in Atlanta to take a 2-1 lead in their NL Division Series.

The much-anticipated matchup pitted Yamamoto against Atlanta ace Chris Sale, who allowed three runs and seven hits in five innings. Yamamoto permitted only four hits with one walk, improving to 8-1 in his postseason career. The Dodgers can win the best-of-five series and take another step toward becoming the first National League team to win three consecutive World Series titles by beating the Braves again Wednesday night in Game 4.

Hernandez's two-run homer in the fourth drove in Andy Pages, and one out later Freddie Freeman added a solo shot for a 3-0 lead. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts moved Shohei Ohtani down to No. 5 in the lineup because Ohtani was 3 for 15 in his career against Sale; Ohtani went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts. Atlanta's only run off Yamamoto came in the fifth.

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6. Padres Fight Off Elimination with 4-3 Win Over Brewers

Source: MLB.com

Trailing two games to none and facing elimination on Tuesday night in San Diego, the Padres edged the Milwaukee Brewers 4-3 in Game 3 of their NL Division Series to cut the deficit to 2-1. All three games have been decided by a single run, the first time a postseason series has begun with three one-run games since the 2021 NLCS.

The Padres were without closer Mason Miller, placed on the paternity list earlier Tuesday after his wife went into labor, and fellow reliever Adrian Morejon, who was dealing with left shoulder fatigue. Ace Michael King, who had thrown five innings in Game 2 two days earlier, nailed down the last six outs, his 40th pitch a slider that Christian Yelich lined at Xander Bogaerts to start a game-ending double play.

"I have bullets in my arm that I don't want to save," King said. "You're in an elimination game, you want everybody to be all-in on it." It was his first save in more than four years. Game 4 is set for Wednesday at 7 p.m. PT, with the Brewers still leading the series 2-1. Manager Craig Stammen called it an "all hands on deck" win, and Walker Buehler is expected to start Game 4.

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7. Top Pick McKenna Scores First NHL Goal as Maple Leafs Win in OT

Source: NHL.com

No. 1 pick Gavin McKenna snapped a rocket into the top corner past Predators goalie Juuse Saros at 14:31 of the second period on Tuesday at Scotiabank Arena, scoring his first NHL goal to help the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Nashville Predators 5-4 in overtime.

The 18-year-old had been pointless in his first three games. His parents, Willy and Krystal, had returned to Whitehorse, Yukon — about 2,500 miles northwest of Toronto — after his first game and watched the moment on TV. "It's a big monkey off the back," McKenna said afterward. "That one felt good. Yeah, that's a goal I'll remember forever."

McKenna also recorded his first NHL assist and was named the game's first star, drawing a standing ovation from the capacity crowd of 18,792. Captain Auston Matthews had four points (one goal, three assists) and said the rookie had a "sleepover" at his house Sunday. According to NHL Stats, it was only the fourth time in League history that four No. 1 picks scored in the same game.

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8. Canadiens Fall 6-4 to Hurricanes in Home Opener as Coach Questions Effort

Source: Sportsnet

The Montreal Canadiens lost their home opener 6-4 to the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday in Montreal. The scoreline looked close, but coach Martin St. Louis said the problems went far beyond the score — especially the effort, the thing that should truly concern the team.

It was the second straight year the Hurricanes made life miserable for the Canadiens: last spring, Carolina swept Montreal in four games in the Eastern Conference Final before going on to beat the Vegas Golden Knights for the Stanley Cup. "Carolina will make you feel bad on the ice," said Phillip Danault, who felt the difference was that the Hurricanes are "just one step ahead, and their collective effort is so solid."

St. Louis singled out defenceman Noah Dobson for four giveaways, praising Alex Carrier by contrast for "not throwing garbage to his teammates." The Canadiens are now 1-1-1 with 81 games to go. "You have to have a high compete level against Carolina," St. Louis said. "We have to keep elevating that and make it the norm." Zachary Bolduc scored twice for Montreal in the loss.

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9. Ovechkin Set for Final Home Opener After Announcing Last Season

Source: NHL.com

Alex Ovechkin, 41, announced on Monday that this will be his final NHL season. On Wednesday, the League's all-time goal-scoring king will play his last career home opener at Capital One Arena against the Pittsburgh Penguins in what is sure to be an emotional finale.

Ovechkin's NHL debut came on Oct. 5, 2005, when he scored twice in a 3-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets at age 20 years and 18 days. But even more memorable than the goals was the bodycheck 40 seconds into the first period, on his first shift, that hammered Blue Jackets defenceman Radoslav Suchy into the boards with such force it dislodged a panel of protective glass, taking an ice crew five minutes to repair.

In his 22nd NHL season, Ovechkin has 1,688 points (929 goals, 759 assists) in 1,575 career games, all with Washington. He captained the Capitals to their only Stanley Cup in 2018 and ranks first all-time in goals. He has 31 points in 20 home openers, with his 20 goals tied with Hall of Famer Mike Gartner for most in NHL history.

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10. Lakers Rest Nearly Everyone in Second Preseason Game

Source: Silver Screen and Roll

The Los Angeles Lakers rested a whole host of players in their second preseason game against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday. Head coach JJ Redick was never fond of a preseason back-to-back, so it was little surprise that very few regular players suited up.

A day after routing the Sacramento Kings, the Lakers were again without the quartet that sat out that game — Austin Reaves, Collin Sexton, Walker Kessler and Arthur Kaluma — and also without Luka Doncic, Ziaire Williams and Matisse Thybulle. That leaves few available players who will open the season in the rotation.

Quentin Grimes, Kevon Looney, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Jake LaRavia and Bronny James might well form the starting lineup, with Adou Thiero and Cameron Carr the intriguing pieces off the bench. The Lakers hope the resting and injured players will be cleared ahead of Thursday's game, giving a better sense of what the rotation will look like.

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