Ronaldo’s Instagram ‘Like’ sparks fresh FIFA bias debate

Borussia Dortmund have officially confirmed the signing of Konstantinos Karetsas. The young Greek forward joins from Belgian side Genk. He has put pen to paper on a five-year contract. The transfer news broke on Monday. Reports peg the fee at around 30 million euros. That translates to roughly $34 million. Additional bonuses are also included in the package. Karetsas is only 18 years old. But his numbers already speak volumes. He has scored three goals in ten appearances for Greece’s national team. His club form last season was just as impressive. He delivered 11 assists in the Belgian top flight. Dortmund had a clear gap to fill. The club recently lost Julian Brandt. The experienced playmaker left on a free transfer after years of service. His departure left a creative void in midfield. Karetsas now steps in as the man tasked with filling it. The teenager didn’t hold back his excitement after signing. He called Borussia Dortmund a special club. He said he feels proud to wear the black and yellow jersey. Club officials are equally thrilled. Dortmund’s sporting director praised the young forward’s game. He highlighted Karetsas’s technical skill and sharp footballing brain. According to him, the youngster has a real talent for finding quick solutions under pressure. That skill becomes especially valuable in tight spaces near goal. This transfer likely won’t be Dortmund’s last this summer. The club has also shown interest in another rising star. Cologne’s young German international, Said El Mala, is reportedly on their radar too. Context matters here. Dortmund finished last season as runners-up. Bayern Munich once again claimed the title. That gap is clearly on the club’s mind this transfer window. Signing proven young talent like Karetsas suggests a plan to close it. For Karetsas, this move marks a major step in his career. Moving from Belgian football to one of Europe’s most storied clubs is no small leap. Expectations will be high given his price tag and reputation. Dortmund fans will now watch closely to see how quickly he adapts. If his club and international form are any indication, he could become a key piece in Dortmund’s push to reclaim the title next season.

MIAMI: Football icon Lionel Messi has returned to training with Inter Miami CF after taking a short break following Argentina’s heartbreaking defeat in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final. The Argentine captain was back on the training pitch on Wednesday, just 10 days after Spain edged Argentina 1-0 in the World Cup final in New Jersey, ending the South American nation’s hopes of defending the title they won in Qatar four years earlier. Inter Miami shared a video on its official social media platforms showing Messi arriving for training alongside longtime teammate and close friend Luis Suárez. The footage quickly attracted millions of views as fans celebrated the return of one of football’s greatest-ever players. Following the World Cup final, Messi returned to his hometown of Rosario in Argentina, where he spent time with his family while recovering physically and emotionally from the tournament. A day after the final, the 39-year-old expressed his disappointment in an emotional social media message, admitting that the defeat had left a deep emotional scar. “The pain is immense, and it’s going to take a long time for this wound to heal,” Messi wrote after Argentina narrowly missed out on consecutive World Cup titles. The football legend has not yet confirmed whether he will continue representing Argentina at international level, leaving supporters eagerly waiting for a decision about his future with the national team. During Messi’s absence, Inter Miami head coach Guillermo Hoyos explained that neither Messi nor Argentine midfielder Rodrigo De Paul had a fixed return date, stressing the physical and mental demands of a World Cup campaign. “They need the time,” Hoyos had said, adding that players deserved adequate rest after competing on football’s biggest stage. Major League Soccer also granted Messi and De Paul permission to miss this year’s MLS All-Star Game in Charlotte due to their recent World Cup commitments. The decision marked a departure from last season, when Messi received a one-match suspension after missing the showcase event without an approved exemption. Although Messi has resumed full training, Inter Miami has not officially confirmed when he will return to competitive action. The club is scheduled to host the Columbus Crew on Saturday before beginning its Leagues Cup campaign next week against Mexico’s Atlético de San Luis. With Messi back on the training ground, excitement has surged among Inter Miami supporters, who hope the Argentine superstar will quickly return to action and lead the club’s push for silverware during the remainder of the 2026 season.