Nabid Yeasin

It was supposed to be a farewell for a legend in Toronto.

When the entire Brazil dugout erupted in celebration, one man barely flinched. As Gabriel Martinelli buried the winner in the final minute of stoppage time to seal Brazil's 2-1 victory over Japan in the World Cup Round of 32 on Monday, Carlo Ancelotti remained almost expressionless, except for a familiar twitch of his eyebrows, as though the ending had been written long before the final whistle.

Carlo Ancelotti's Brazil have grown into this World Cup with every passing game, but as the tournament enters its knockout phase, there is little room for error. The Selecao face arguably their toughest challenge yet when they take on an impressive Japan side in tonight's Round of 32 clash in Houston.

He came on for a cameo appearance, playing just 36 minutes. Yet that was all he needed to steal the spotlight.

If not Neymar, then who? The answer to that question, often asked whenever doubts emerge around Brazil, is being delivered by Vinicius Junior at this World Cup -- perhaps without the attention he deserves, but certainly with greater conviction than ever before.

“There is a player more dangerous than Cristiano Ronaldo… it’s Cristiano Ronaldo who didn’t score in the previous match.”

When coach Carlo Ancelotti confirmed last week that Neymar would be available for Hexa-chasing Brazil’s final Group C game against Scotland in Miami on Thursday morning, the news likely felt sweeter than ever for Selecao fans.

At just 27, Kylian Mbappe has already become one of those rare figures whose name inevitably surfaces whenever the FIFA World Cup conversation begins.

Lionel Messi is now a free man. He has been ever since he inspired Argentina to lift their third World Cup four years back in Qatar in 2022, completing the one missing piece of a career that already stood at the summit of football.

Brazil shrugged off their World Cup opener disappointment with a 3-0 win over Haiti in their second Group C outing at the Philadelphia Stadium yesterday, but it was still not the resounding performance expected from a side chasing a record-extending sixth world title.

France arrived in North America as clear favourites to go all the way, tipped to become only the third team after Germany (1982-1990) and Brazil (1994-2002) to reach three consecutive World Cup finals.

Sports can be very cruel. Often, it is the final image that leaves the deepest imprint on fans’ minds.

Romanticism, Samba nostalgia, and the weight of a record five World Cup titles -- all of it met a sobering dose of reality as Brazil began their Hexa campaign with a 1-1 draw against Morocco at the New York-New Jersey Stadium on Sunday.

In less than 24 hours since the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) staged its dramatic unveiling of Thomas Dooley as the new head coach of the national men’s team, the appointment has already descended into uncertainty -- exposing, yet again, the confusion and short-termism that continue to reflect recurring issues in Bangladesh football.

England took their time. Sam Curran, entrusted with the crucial final over with 10 runs to defend, first consulted skipper Harry Brook before conferring with the experienced wicketkeeper-batter Jos Buttler.

The 13th edition of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup has seen an unusual casualty list -- not of players, but of matches.

In just a few hours, India and Pakistan will meet again -- for the third time in this Asia Cup. The venue, Dubai International Cricket Stadium, and the day of the week, Sunday -- are the same as their two previous encounters during the group stage and the Super Four.

One glaring aspect of this Asia Cup -- and of most major cricket events, for that matter -- is the organisers’ relentless push to stage as many India-Pakistan clashes as possible.

When India and Pakistan meet -- in any sport -- the stakes spill over into something more than just a game. It becomes a clash between neighbours bound by political tension, history, and deep mistrust.

Cristiano Ronaldo is no longer the winger who once tore down flanks with blistering pace. More than a decade ago, he reinvented himself into a different kind of player -- one who recognised that his body needed adaptation, transitioning from a dazzling winger to a prolific striker for a more sustainable and record-boosting career.