The ongoing chatter of Aaron Donald returning to Los Angeles only amplified heading into the Rams training camp on Saturday. 

However, head coach Sean McVay wouldn’t say if Donald’s return was imminent, but he continued to leave the door open for the franchise icon.

“If that is something that he wants to do, we are going to try to be able to make that happen,” McVay said at training camp on Saturday, according to ESPN. “But I genuinely do not have an answer on whether he is or isn’t.”

The surge in rumors also comes from Donald’s recent appearance at the Rams training facility earlier in July. FOX Sports’ Eric Williams reported where Donald currently stands on a return: 

“While the team hasn’t set a timetable for Donald to decide whether to potentially unretire, a league source close to Donald told me he is leaning toward returning. Donald participated in a workout in full pads at the team’s facility two weeks ago,” Williams wrote on Friday. 

Donald retired as one of the Rams’ most decorated defensive stars. After 10 seasons, Donald recorded 111 sacks, 543 total tackles, and 24 forced fumbles. He also has one Super Bowl ring, three Defensive Player of the Year honors and 10 Pro Bowl selections. 

The Rams are coming off a successful season that earned them a trip to the NFC Championship Game before falling to the eventual Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. Looking ahead to this year, the Rams return a star-studded roster that includes NFL MVP quarterback Matthew Stafford, wide receivers Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, defensive tackle Kobie Turner and cornerback Trent McDuffie.

And if Donald were to don a Rams’ jersey again, he would play alongside two-time Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett, who was acquired from the Cleveland Browns in a blockbuster trade in June.

McVay continued to note that Donald is still preparing himself to make that decision, and will be prepared to play if so. 

“I know he’s preparing himself to be able to make that decision,” McVay said. “And if he feels good, then you guys know he’s going to be ready to rock. But if not, he’s earned the right. He doesn’t owe us anything. And he’s a special person.”

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Arsenal have emerged as shock contenders to land Real Madrid superstar Vinícius Júnior as his contract stand-off at the Santiago Bernabéu continues.

The Premier League champions are reportedly monitoring the situation closely as they look to add world-class quality to their attacking ranks.

Gunners Eye Sensational Swoop

According to The Athletic, Arsenal are exploring a stunning move to sign the Real Madrid winger if the 26-year-old Brazilian star fails to agree a new contract in the Spanish capital, having become one of the most feared attackers in world football during his eight seasons with Los Blancos, but with his future now plunged into uncertainty as he enters the final 12 months of his current deal while the Gunners, buoyed by their recent Premier League success, search for marquee signings to solidify their place at the top of the European game.

While the interest is still considered to be at an early stage, the idea has reportedly received approval at all levels within the North London club. There have been no formal club-to-club talks yet, but Arsenal are positioned to strike if Real Madrid decide to cash in on their prized asset rather than risk losing him for nothing next summer.

Contract Deadlock In Madrid

Entering the final 12 months of his contract after eight seasons in Madrid, Vinicius remains locked in contract negotiations with no resolution in sight. This impasse leaves Real Madrid in a tricky situation, reluctant to risk losing their prized forward on a free transfer — particularly with a hefty loyalty bonus coming due next season. According to OK Diario, the stalemate centres on the Brazilian’s demand for a €20 million net annual salary, a figure Los Blancos are hesitant to offer to protect their tight wage structure.

Even as Real Madrid endured a recent trophy drought, Vinicius has remained a standout performer since arriving from Flamengo in 2018. The forward netted 22 goals across all competitions during a 2025-26 campaign that saw Los Blancos finish second in La Liga – eight points behind Barcelona – for a second consecutive season without silverware. He carried that impressive form to the international stage this summer, scoring four goals in five appearances for Brazil before Carlo Ancelotti’s side was knocked out by Norway in the World Cup round of 16.

Building On Premier League Success

Arsenal’s interest in Vinicius Jr comes at a time when the club is looking to build on its recent success. Having finally secured the Premier League trophy, Arteta is keen to ensure his squad does not stagnate. The addition of a player with the pedigree of Vinicius, who has made 375 total appearances for Real Madrid while registering 128 goals and 100 assists, would provide the Gunners with an elite edge that few clubs in the world can match. His experience in high-pressure matches and the Champions League is exactly what the Arsenal hierarchy craves.

During his time at the Bernabeu, Vinicius has built an enviable trophy cabinet with Real Madrid. His impressive haul includes three La Liga titles, two Champions League trophies, and a Copa del Rey triumph, among numerous other domestic and international honors.

A Potential Game-Changer In London

If the move were to materialise, Vinicius Jr would join a growing Brazilian contingent at the Emirates, potentially linking up with the likes of Gabriel Magalhaes and Gabriel Martinelli. A marquee signing of his stature would be a crucial statement for Arsenal, who have yet to bring in major names in the current transfer window — a stark contrast to their rivals, with Manchester United securing Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos, Manchester City signing Elliot Anderson, Tottenham bringing in Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes, and Chelsea acquiring Morgan Rogers.

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Will Lionel Messi play in the 2026 MLS All-Star Game?

The Inter Miami superstar has yet to officially return to the club following his 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with Argentina, which ended with a 1-0 loss to Spain in the final at New York New Jersey Stadium.

Messi was named to the MLS All-Star roster for a third straight season, but will the 39-year-old make an appearance? Here is everything we know about Messi’s status for the 2026 MLS All-Star Game on Wednesday at Bank of America Stadium:

Will Messi Play In The MLS All-Star Game?

(Photo by Giorgio Viera / AFP via Getty Images)

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No, Messi will not play in the 2026 MLS All-Star Game. Major League Soccer on Saturday named four replacements for Wednesday’s All-Star Game and removed Messi from the roster, along with his Inter Miami and Argentina teammate Rodrigo De Paul. The Chicago Fire’s Hugo Cuypers (transfer) and Mbekezeli Mbokazi (injury) were also removed.

Will Messi Be Suspended?

No, Messi will not be suspended for missing this year’s All-Star Game. While Messi and his Inter Miami teammate Jordi Alba were suspended for making the last-minute decision to not participate in the MLS All-Star Game last season, both Messi and De Paul’s absences will be excused because they just returned from the World Cup.

Has Messi Ever Played In The MLS All-Star Game?

No. Despite being named to the last three MLS All-Star rosters, Messi has never participated in the league’s All-Star Weekend. Messi missed the 2024 All-Star Game with an ankle injury he sustained in the 2024 Copa América, and he chose not to play in the 2025 All-Star Game.

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Shohei Ohtani skipped a tentatively scheduled bullpen session Saturday and Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the two-way superstar won’t throw off a mound again until his irritated left knee feels 100%.

“We’re just going to kick the can,” Roberts said before his team played the New York Mets. “I think like I said yesterday, we’re not going to move forward until he feels 100% confident (and) we feel 100% confident that we should do it.”

Ohtani hasn’t pitched in a game since July 3. But the Dodgers say his knee doesn’t bother him while batting, and the four-time MVP has remained in the starting lineup regularly.

The two-time defending World Series champions began the day with the best record in the majors at 66-38 and an 11-game lead in the NL West over Arizona.

Ohtani received a lubricant injection just before the All-Star break and Roberts said last weekend it would be “some time” before Ohtani makes his next appearance as a pitcher.

The right-hander then threw about 30 pitches off a mound Wednesday during a bullpen session in Philadelphia, but Roberts said Ohtani felt a “little bit of regression.”

“It was obviously not ideal, him throwing his last bullpen and going backwards essentially,” Roberts said. “So, obviously, that’s disappointing because you throw a bullpen, you continue to build up. So that was disappointing, but as far as worry, concern, we don’t have any of that.”

Ohtani is 8-2 with a 1.79 ERA and 95 strikeouts in 85 2/3 innings over 14 starts on the mound this season and has won his past six decisions. He entered Saturday batting .286 with 22 homers, 61 RBIs and a .920 OPS.

In other injury updates, two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell made a second rehab start Friday night for Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Sidelined since his season debut May 9 because of loose bodies in his pitching elbow, the left-hander threw 49 pitches and allowed one run and two hits in 2 2/3 innings. Roberts said Snell likely will progress to four innings in his third rehab outing.

Star closer Edwin Diaz (right elbow surgery) will make another rehab appearance Sunday for Oklahoma City and, if all goes well, the right-hander is expected to be activated from the injured list Wednesday.

Tyler Glasnow, on the 60-day IL since May 8 because of low back spasms, threw 25 pitches in one simulated inning Friday. Glasnow will pitch in another simulated game next week when the Dodgers return home and might start a rehab assignment after that.

Reporting by the Associated Press.

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Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald is ready to turn the page after capturing the franchise’s second Super Bowl in his second season at the helm.

“Look, I’m different than I was this time last year. I’m different than I was at the end of the season. We got, I don’t know, 30 percent of our rosters probably different,” Macdonald said Saturday. “We got changes to our coaching staff. We got guys with a new perspective. … We’re all kind of new people here in this situation, which, by definition, makes us a new team too.”

Seattle opened training camp with much of its core in place. It did, however, lose key contributors this past offseason, such as Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III (Chiefs), safety Coby Bryant (Bears), linebacker Boye Mafe (Bengals), and cornerback Rig Woolen (Eagles).

It is unclear whether Seattle intends to replace Walker’s production, either by committee, with the likes of Emanuel Wilson, who was signed in free agency after three seasons with the Green Bay Packers, rookie Jadarian Price, George Holani and Kenny McIntosh. Or, if the injured Zach Charbonnet will become the main option once he’s healthy.

Charbonnet was placed on the physically unable to perform list before camp after tearing his ACL in the divisional game against the San Francisco 49ers.

He and Walker were part of a committee approach most of last season, but Charbonnett received a bulk of the carries in the red zone and capitalized with a career-high 12 touchdowns.

“He’s just attacked the heck out of the offseason in his rehab, as you’d expect, and the returns have been what he deserved,” Macdonald said.

The Seahawks had a welcoming sight as second-year wide receiver Tory Horton was healthy and running routes all afternoon after a shin injury ended his season prematurely after a scintillating start to his rookie campaign.

After missing minicamp and OTA’s, there was optimism he would be ready to go at the start of training camp.

“It’s great to see Tory back out there,” Macdonald said.

Horton, a fifth-round pick out of Colorado State, scored six touchdowns in his first eight games with Seattle before he was placed on the injured reserve in November.

He provides depth to an already deep wide receiver room with AP Offensive Player of the Year Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Cooper Cupp and last season’s midseason acquisition Rashid Shaheed. 

(Photo by Jack Compton/Getty Images)

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The Seahawks also placed standout safety Nick Emmanwori on the PUP list after recently having ankle surgery, but there’s expectation he will be ready for their Wednesday night opener on Sept. 9 in a rematch with the New England Patriots.

He suffered a low sprain four days before the Super Bowl, but played through the injury.

“I think the best way to describe it is something that he’s been dealing with since the Super Bowl,” Macdonald said. “He was able to perform, did some things in the offseason program, but he just got to the point where it was the best for him for the long term to just go ahead and get it fixed.”

Emmanwori had 11 passes defended, an interception and 2.5 sacks in 14 games for Seattle.

But Macdonald wouldn’t confirm — or deny — that the runner-up for Rookie of the Year would be available.

“He could play in the opener,” Macdonald said.

Reporting by the Associated Press.

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NASHVILLE Superspeedway (Lebanon, Tenn.) — Alex Palou got the track position, and then everyone knew he had the talent that makes him hard to beat.

Palou was able to sneak in the pits just before the caution came out with 102 laps remaining, and then was able to keep that track position, including holding off defending Nashville winner Josef Newgarden in the final 31-lap green-flag run Monday for his fifth win of the year.

The Chip Ganassi Racing driver, the three-time defending series champion, now has an 83-point lead in the standings with six races left in the season as he seeks his fifth overall title.

“I’m just so happy that everything worked,” Palou said in his postrace news conference. 

Alex Palou followed up celebrating Spain’s World Cup victory with a win at Nashville.

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Here are my takeaways from the race that was postponed from Sunday night because of heavy downpours on the 1.33-mile concrete oval:

1. Newgarden Frustrated

Josef Newgarden, even being on the softer tires that should have allowed him to be a little faster for at least a few laps while Palou chose the hard tires for his final run, couldn’t catch Palou down the end.

The Team Penske driver believed Palou would have had to make a mistake for him to get by: “The restart was what it was. Unless you have a full stint, there’s your stack right there [to the finish].”

Palou felt he could be in trouble, not believing that simply track position would mean he would prevail: “I knew it was going to be very tough just because I saw how [Newgarden] was racing at the beginning of the race with Kyle [Kirkwood]. They were both flat out. … I was not confident at all.”

Josef Newgarden was frustrated with his second-place finish on Monday.

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2. Malukas’ Big Comeback

Two days after going to the hospital for X-rays and scans on his badly bruised right knee, David Malukas recovered from that crash in practice and starting 24th to finishing third.

So while his teammate Newgarden was frustrated ahead of him, Malukas was excited even if he was thoroughly exhausted from the heat, which had already spurred INDYCAR officials to announce Sunday night that the event would be reduced from 300 laps to 225 laps.

“I had almost no time the past few days to get fluids,” Malukas said in his postrace news conference and after his visit to to the medical center. “We weren’t even getting fluids yesterday.

“After that race we knew it was probably going to be a thing. I felt really good, the adrenaline started to wear off, things started to get a little spinny there. I got fluids, picked me up on a little bit of sugar. I’m good.”

David Malukas recovered from a crash in practice for an impressive third-place finish.

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3. Schumacher’s First Top-10

Former Formula 1 driver Mick Schumacher earned the first top-10 of his career as he placed eighth at Nashville. Some would say that was because it was more of a track position race, but Schumacher did consistently get track position and didn’t make mistakes.

“The pace has always been good enough for a top-10,” he told me and another reporter after the race. “To actually put it on track is a great achievement — but I knew it was possible all along. … It was consistent on the communication, we had no issues in the pits, a nice, solid race.”

Schumacher’s future in INDYCAR is unclear whether he will return to Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing or possibly go to another team or even make the INDYCAR experience a one-year-and-done quest.

Maybe finishing top 10 on an oval is just what he needed to show what he can do.

“The pace overall this year has been showing that anyways,” Schumacher said. “People know what they get, and obviously, this hopefully will put it into the books that we are able to do this consistently.

“I think there’s a high chance that I’ll be here next year.”

Former F1 driver Mick Schumacher earned the first top 10 of his INDYCAR career.

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4. Dixon-Rossi Strange Crash 

Scott Dixon slammed into the back of Alex Rossi when Rossi slowed to pit in a strange accident.

Rossi seemed flabbergasted when he talked to reporters outside the INDYCAR medical unit: “It’s insane. I love Scott. I don’t want to say anything bad. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do in that situation.”

Dixon seemed just as curious about how it all unfolded.

“He was kind of struggling a little bit,” Dixon told me and another reporter. “He was kind of running the high line. I had a pretty good run, went to the low—the same with the lap before, and then he kind of covered the low side. And then on the next lap, when I had a better run, I went to the low side.

“Then he went low, and so I went lower, and then all of a sudden he kind of moved back up again, which I thought he was kind of letting me go. And then he slammed on the brakes to come into the pits. So I had no idea that he was coming into the pits [from the] middle of the track. It was unfortunate.”

4 ½. What’s next: Portland

The INDYCAR Series takes two weeks off before racing Aug. 9 in Portland.

That will start a brutal five-week stretch with six races to finish off the season: Portland, Markham (Toronto suburb), Washington D.C., Milwaukee (two-race weekend) and Laguna Seca.

WHAT YOU SHOULD READ NEXT

Current McLaren drivers Nolan Siegel and Christian Lundgaard are the most prominent names looking for 2027 jobs. They discuss the process.

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Earlier in June, days before the start of the 2026 World Cup, as I began to walk around the streets of New York in order to get a better sense of the energy that was building towards the tournament, I decided to head to Jackson Heights in Queens. 

For those who don’t know, the neighborhood is a world within itself. It is a multicultural melting pot, a micro-community where blocks become nations and diasporas tell you who they are through their shop windows or small businesses. It is Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, India and South Asia, serving you some of the best food you will ever have. 

It is a place that fully defines my sentiment of how diversity empowers our senses and for the World Cup. The fans are everywhere, proudly representing their people, their national team and cultural habits. My favorite Colombian bakery had a replica of the World Cup at its store window next to an image of Luis Díaz. An Ecuadorian food stall had a poster of the ageless wonder Enner Valencia. Mexican flags were not just on food trucks, they were on sidewalks and lampposts. A store selling replica World Cup shirts showed me a rainbow of what was about to come: a beautiful celebration of the greatest game.

A few days later after my trip to Queens, as the World Cup was arriving, I kept walking and talking, meeting different faces and experiences. From a Senegalese chef in Harlem to a Norwegian restaurateur in Soho. From an English owner on the Upper East Side to an Egyptian family-based spot lower down in LES. 

All of them talked to me, happy and excited, wearing their national team shirts, about their World Cup memories and how the nostalgia of the past connects them to the hope of the present and the joy of seeing their nation on the biggest stage of all. I bumped into a Scottish family, asking me about the best places to find a bagel. I sent them to Leo’s in the financial district, and then we waxed poetically about the wonder of John McGinn. 

And this was just New York City. Before the tournament had even started.

And that’s when I knew that this World Cup would be special. Not because of the extravagancy or the size of the stadiums. Not because of the halftime show or the celebrity sightings. Not because of the merchandise or price of tickets. Not because of VAR — or even the players. 

This World Cup, quite simply, was special because of you. 

THROUGHOUT THE TOURNAMENT, across three nations and 16 cities in Mexico, Canada and the United States, fans from all over the world traveled to not just support their team, but to be with one another. Yes, opponents on the pitch are clearly evident in this game, but outside of it — the sentiment was one of family, where sharing each other’s cultural gifts to the world was now becoming a gift to each other. 

Kansas City welcomed Algeria as one of its own, whilst Norway’s iconic Viking row took over the home field of the New York Mets. More than 50,000 Scottish fans drank Boston dry and this only made them become more connected to the city. The mayor held a welcoming ceremony last week for a traffic cone, which is now a symbolic gesture of appreciation after the Tartan Army faithful placed them on top of Boston statues during its run at the World Cup.    

Then there was the couple in Arlington, Texas, who created a lemonade stand for fans walking up to the stadium. In the end, supporters from all over the world bought a cup and left messages from around the world, thanking them for the hospitality.  

I met a Paraguayan family who runs a beautiful restaurant in the Sunnyside neighborhood of Queens where the entire community would come, watch and celebrate its team doing the almost impossible after beating Germany. 

Or how about Oasis’ “Wonderwall” becoming an anthem of nostalgia for England — sung from all corners of the ancient streets of Mexico City to neon-lit boulevards of Miami. 

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Or how about the Mexican fan I connected with, who was once a server in Cancún, immigrated to the U.S. more than two decades ago and built an empire of restaurants in New Jersey. Or the Colombians in Hackensack, New Jersey. Or the Haitians in Brooklyn, Argentinians in North Miami and South Koreans in Los Angeles. 

Then we have the thousands of videos of pure joy, the reaction of what it meant to taste ranch dressing for the first time. The casual conversations with strangers. The commitment to learning about one another. It truly restored my faith in humanity. 

AS MY HERO, ANTHONY BOURDAIN once said, travel and exploration of new places and communities isn’t always graceful or pretty, but the journey changes you, leaving a lasting mark on your heart and consciousness. 

All of these stories, therefore, much like the Panini stickers on the World Cup album, are collected, restored and remembered for eternity. 

There is nothing more precious that the World Cup can give you than this: an invitation to an extended family. The fan is the blood and oxygen of a team. Without it, stadiums — as we remember during COVID-19 — have no soul. No reason to exist. 

But when you see a packed stadium, where voices become one singular wave of energy, it moves you. It makes you appreciate life. 

And so, beautiful fan, that’s why I dedicate this column to you. Because of you, this World Cup awakened us and made us feel alive. That’s what the World Cup is all about: a celebration of the people and their love for the beautiful game, the beautiful us. 

Every Goal From 2026 FIFA World Cup™ ️ 308 Goals Most in FIFA World Cup™ History

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Missouri football coach Eli Drinkwitz revealed Monday that running back Ahmad Hardy, who suffered a gunshot wound to his leg in May, has been medically cleared to prepare for the upcoming season and used the occasion to offer a comment about gun violence in America.

“Not criticizing the police or the right to bear arms, which is a Second Amendment right,” Drinkwitz said Monday at SEC Media Days. “But just saying there is no place for gun violence, especially for our youth in society.”

Drinkwitz said it could take the running back five to eight weeks before he can play. The coach said it was hard to know how Hardy, who finished second in Bowl Subdivision last year with 1,659 yards, would play if he returns.

“My anticipation of what I’ve seen, the way he’s attacked his rehab: He’s going to be a better Ahmad Hardy than when he was before,” Drinkwitz said.

Hardy was shot while attending a concert in Laurel, Mississippi, on May 10. A few days later, police made an arrest in connection with the shooting and charged Rashodrick Harris of aggravated assault; Harris was released on $500,000 bond.

Drinkwitz said the bullet struck a bone in Hardy’s leg.

The coach said he was proud of the way Hardy, a junior who was seen as a potentially high NFL draft pick if he leaves college after this season, approached his recovery. Drinkwitz also sent a different message on a day in which he discussed Missouri’s prospects for the upcoming season.

“What I want to tell y’all is this was a great opportunity for Ahmad to learn. It was a great opportunity for our student-athletes to learn,” the coach said. “It was also a great reminder that there is no place for gun violence in this world.”

Reporting by the Associated Press.

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Spain captain Rodri has opened up on his emotional journey from a devastating knee injury to lifting the 2026 World Cup trophy in North America. The Manchester City midfielder was named the tournament’s best player after leading La Roja to a historic victory over Argentina in the final.

A Comeback For The Ages

Rodri has revealed his disbelief after captaining Spain to World Cup glory following a grueling recovery from a serious knee injury. The 30-year-old suffered anterior cruciate ligament damage in September 2024, just weeks before he was awarded the Ballon d’Or.

The midfield general was officially named the best player at the 2026 World Cup, beating out Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe to the Golden Ball. Reflecting on his personal battle to reach the summit of the game again, Rodri said: “We’re a bit shocked right now, even myself. I cannot express with words. I think now we’re like in a cloud but, for me, it’s been a very tough time.

“I just want the new generations to see my example as an opportunity. When you go down, you can rise again. This is my philosophy for my entire life.”

Gratitude And Self-Belief

The Spain skipper was quick to acknowledge the support system that helped him return to the pitch, but he also highlighted the internal mental strength required to overcome such a significant physical setback. 

Having led his nation to a 1-0 extra-time victory over Argentina in the final, Rodri’s leadership was praised by teammates and coaching staff alike.

Speaking to FOX Sports after the trophy presentation, Rodri offered a candid assessment of his journey, stating: “Of course, sometimes things go well, things go wrong, but always the positiveness. I said to the lads before the game, ‘we have to go for the game.’ We need to face them, we have to look to their eyes. We want this game.

“And then life gives you the World Cup or not, but we were brave and I was brave in that moment I was down, so I want to thank all the people that helped me. But I want to thank myself, to be honest, in those moments.”

Breaking Records On The World Stage

Beyond individual accolades, Rodri’s leadership has helped this Spanish generation etch their names into the history books. By defeating Argentina, Spain officially set a new unbeaten record in international football, reaching 38 matches without defeat.

Rodri believes the key to their success in North America was the maturity the squad developed since their victory in Berlin two years ago. 

“I think the gap of improvement from the Euros, it was the way this team is matured,” the captain explained. “It’s built on the game, it’s built on every single day. We faced very different opponents, of course, lots of European opponents, but different moments, different type of games.

“And we managed to play all of them, so I think we grow in this sense and this talks about a generation that is making history for our country, as you can see, but also in the way we did it.”

Building A Dynasty

The victory in the 2026 final marks Spain’s second men’s World Cup title, following their initial success in 2010. 

While the Manchester City star was the individual standout, the collective effort under De la Fuente has been the hallmark of their campaign. The team displayed remarkable defensive rigidity, conceding only one goal throughout the entire tournament while maintaining their signature possession-based style.

For Rodri, the focus now turns to his club future as his contract at the Etihad Stadium enters its final year, but his legacy with the national team is already beyond reproach. He has become the heartbeat of a side that balances tactical discipline with flair.

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