Plenty of names were thrown into the conversation about who is the best player in the world heading into the 2026 World Cup, with several of the usual stars catching the eye and forcing their way into discussions.

Performances from the usual suspects in the group stage from players like Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Vinicius Junior have the debate among pundits as alive as ever over who is truly setting the tournament apart.

One man who certainly isn’t shying away from giving his verdict is former Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and he has been left in no doubt after watching a teenager over the course of the last few years.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic Believes Lamine Yamal is the Best

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That player is Lamine Yamal, who wasted little time announcing himself on the biggest stage. The Barcelona winger needed just 10 minutes to open the scoring in Spain’s 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia, becoming the eighth-youngest player to score at a World Cup.

Having already dealt with fitness concerns heading into the tournament and only managing 19 minutes in Spain’s 0-0 draw with Cape Verde, Yamal’s 45-minute display against the Saudis was enough to convince Ibrahimovic that he’s watching the best player on the planet.

Why Zlatan Rates Lamine Yamal So Highly

Ibrahimovic, never shy about sharing strong opinions, be that as a player or a pundit, explained exactly what sets Yamal apart from his rivals in this conversation, right before his opener in his first World Cup start.

It’s not the first time the Swede has gone out of his way to praise the teenager, either. Before the tournament, Ibrahimovic had already flagged Yamal as the player he was most desperate to watch.

With backing like that from one of football’s best-ever strikers, the rest of the world may need to start catching up to Zlatan’s verdict.

After successfully qualifying for two consecutive European Championships and the 2026 World Cup, Steve Clarke has called it a day at the helm of Scotland, after seven years in charge.

It’s been one of Scotland’s most successful periods. After not qualifying for a major tournament since 1998, some memorable moments have taken place during his time, none more so than the 4-2 win over Denmark, which booked their place at this year’s World Cup.

But there was another moment of apparent victory against a bitter rival that Clarke highlighted in his lengthy resignation letter, which the official X account of the Scottish national team have released, that has everyone talking, and not necessarily for positive reasons.

What Steve Clarke Said About England

It hasn’t been the first time he’s been under fire for his comments lately. In the wake of Scotland’s 3-0 defeat to Brazil, which ultimately led to their elimination from the World Cup, Clarke was accused of being “disrespectful to his players” after an interview at full time.

Among the highlights Clarke chose to reflect on from his seven years in charge was Scotland’s 0-0 draw with England at Wembley during Euro 2020, a result he referenced as one of the standout moments of his reign.

For many supporters, holding the Auld Enemy to a goalless draw four years ago doesn’t quite carry the same weight as some of Scotland’s other achievements, and the inclusion of that line in such an emotional farewell letter has seen Clarke come in for a large amount of criticism.

Read Steve Clarke’s full resignation letter below:

Fans React to Steve Clarke’s Departure on X

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One fan wrote: “Sums it up. Celebrating a 0-0 draw against England at the euros. Embarrassing. Good riddance.”

Another added: “What an embarrassment, thank god he’s resigned.”

A third questioned how the comment made it into an official statement at all, asking: “How has that gone out on official team channels.”

Others were equally scathing. One supporter posted: “Sums up why he had to go and everything that was wrong with his tenure,” while another called it a “terrible statement by the arrogant person he is.” One fan summed up the disbelief, simply admitting: “Had to check this was the official account and not a parody.”

Oleksandr Usyk’s next, and possibly final, opponent has been leaked by Eddie Hearn.

With the Ukrainian now 39 years old, he is approaching the end of his career, and while he has made it clear that he is not yet retiring, his next showdown will be one of his last acts on the boxing main stage.

Usyk has an undefeated professional record of 25 wins and until recently held the WBA ‘super’, WBC, and IBF belts, but on the 26th of June, he announced he would vacate his belts.

“This is a well-considered decision that I am confident will open new opportunities for me. This is not the end of the story. The continuation lies ahead,” he said on X.

In a video message, he added: “I want to vacate all the belts that I currently hold to make them available for the guys next in line to fight for them.

Oleksandr Usyk’s Final Boxing Opponent ‘Revealed’

So who will his last dance come against? While it is unclear whether his next fight will indeed be his last, Eddie Hearn did reveal his next opponent.

Speaking on DAZN, the English promoter stated that Usyk’s next fight will be with Deontay Wilder.

Usyk’s desire to defeat all the major heavyweights of his era led him to choose the American for his next bout. Usyk has already defeated Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, and Daniel Dubois, and will be keen to add Wilder to his conquered list.

The pair were linked with a fight against each other at the start of the year, but the cards failed to fall into place and the American instead set up a bout with Derek Chisora.

The Bronze Bomber had been scrutinsied following back-to-back defeats versus Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang, with many speculating his future in boxing was well into its twilight years. However, a comfortable win against Chisora, in conjunction with a record of 43 knockouts, has proven that he still has what it takes to win at the elite level.

Usyk’s most recent fight came against Rico Verhoeven. It was a tough match for the Ukrainian, who was tested all the way, but he eventually came out victorious late on in the 11th round.

With Usyk and Wilder 39 and 40 respectively, their showdown may act as the grand finale for what has been two legendary careers. When the curtain does fall, they will be remembered as two greats of the game. But for now, the show goes on and a clash between Usyk and Wilder is sure to be an entertaining one.