Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi has been left out of Argentina’s squad for their next two World Cup qualifiers due to a “low-grade” adductor muscle injury. The 37-year-old was rested for three games before scoring in Miami’s recent Concacaf Champions Cup win, but will miss crucial matches against Uruguay and Brazil. Argentina will also be without injured players Paulo Dybala and Gonzalo Montiel, while Brazil will be missing Neymar due to a thigh injury.
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Trump, Putin float NHL-KHL games; league mum
Greg Wyshynski, ESPN's senior NHL writer, reported that President Trump supported President Putin's proposal for U.S.-Russia hockey games during a recent phone call. The NHL and KHL have previously played exhibition games, but their relationship changed after Putin's invasion of Ukraine, resulting in a suspension of dealings with the KHL. Russia and Belarus are currently banned from international hockey tournaments, including the 2026 Winter Olympics, pending decisions by the IIHF and IOC. Full Article
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