Lionel Messi has returned to his hometown of Rosario to bid a final farewell to his father, Jorge Messi, who died at the age of 68 on Friday.

FIFA on Saturday condemned "a concerted and ongoing effort by some to undermine" the world game's governing body and its president Gianni Infantino as the controversy over his now shelved private investment plan rumbles on.

Lionel Messi was missing following the death of his father as Inter Miami lost 2-1 to visiting Monterrey on Saturday in a Leagues Cup match.

Head coach Phil Simmons acknowledged the batting failures but remained hopeful that the team could address them before the first Test, beginning at Marrara Stadium in Darwin on August 13.

Bangladesh's Shakib Al Hasan and Tawhid Hridoy missed out on Lanka Premier League glory as Galle Gallants ended Jaffna Kings' reign with a five-wicket victory in the final on Saturday.

UK-based Bangladeshi footballer Adam Abbas has arrived in Bangladesh to join the national Under-20 camp ahead of the AFC U-20 Asian Cup qualifiers, while another highly rated diaspora prospect, Farhan Ali Wahid, has joined National League side Boreham Wood on loan from Fulham.

Jorge had been there for the uncertainty, the loneliness, the criticism, the triumphs and the setbacks.

Atletico Madrid will not allow forward Julian Alvarez to leave the club during the current transfer window despite interest from Barcelona, coach Diego Simeone said Saturday.

The 28-year-old said he'd been enthused about joining Arsenal right from his initial contacts with sporting director Andrea Berta and manager Mikel Arteta.

Jorge Messi, the father and agent of Lionel Messi, has died aged 68, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner's childhood club Newell's Old Boys announced on Saturday.

The second and final T20 will be held at the same venue on Monday.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has strongly denied allegations that UEFA made a six-figure severance payment to a woman with whom he was alleged to have had a relationship while he was secretary general of European football's governing body.

Head is Australia's highest-run getter in the fourth edition of the ICC World Test Championship, with 853 runs at an average of 53.31, but looks beyond numbers when assessing his role in the game.

The 45-year-old lawyer and former footballer who played 73 matches for Norway has been highly vocal about international football's woes under Infantino.

Van Bommel, in his first press conference since his appointment late last month, said he jumped at the offer to replace Rudi Garcia as Belgium coach.

Despite having played only one previous first-class match, Thompson repeatedly found the right length and forced Bangladesh's batters into mistakes.

Guimaraes, who joined Newcastle from French side Olympique Lyonnais in January 2022, has made 195 appearances in all competitions and scored 31 goals for the Premier League club.

Bangladesh suffered a crushing innings-and-38-run defeat against Cricket Australia XI in the lone three-day warm-up game in Darwin today, just days before the start of their two-match Test series against Australia.

Real Madrid's Argentine playmaker Franco Mastantuono has joined Fiorentina on loan, the Serie A outfit announced on Friday.

Especially after witnessing what Lionel Messi was still capable of at this summer's World Cup, the president of the Argentina Football Association is not rushing the all-time great out the door.