Belgium have retained injured Vincent Kompany in their final World Cup squad but put fellow defender Laurent Ciman on standby in case the Manchester City skipper is not fit for their opening match in Russia.
Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu's remarks come amid severe speculation around Messi's future at the club.
England and Belgium face a World Cup conundrum ahead of Thursday's crunch in Kaliningrad
Jamaica's Elaine Thompson-Herah made Olympic history in Tokyo Tuesday, blazing to victory in the 200 metres to complete an unprecedented women's sprinting "double-double".
Lamont Marcell Jacobs became the first men's Olympic 100 metres champion of the post-Usain Bolt era on Sunday as high jumper Gianmarco Tamberi made it a double gold night for Italy with an emotional - and unusual - high jump victory.
Cristiano Ronaldo was singled out by Atletico Madrid fans on Wednesday as Juventus lost 2-0 in the Champions League last 16 but the former Real Madrid forward was quick to point out his stellar record in the competition.
Real Madrid's French duo Karim Benzema and Ferland Mendy struck in the second half as the Spanish champions overcame an injury crisis to beat Getafe 2-0 at home on Tuesday and close the gap to La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid to five points.
Everton defender Phil Jagielka has been ruled out of England's friendly against Denmark next week with a hamstring injury, his club manager Roberto Martinez said on Thursday.
The win moves Leeds up to third on 10 points, albeit having played an extra game, two points behind Villa, while leaders Everton, who have 13 points, are at Southampton on Sunday.
Jackson Martinez scored twice as Colombia beat Japan 4-1 to top World Cup Group C with maximum points on Tuesday. The victory earned them a second-round meeting with Uruguay in Rio de Janeiro and ended Japan's interest in the tournament.
Zareen won the bout after local favourite and former champion Sevda Asenova abandoned the contest during the opening round.
Red-hot Rafael Nadal faces Delbonis, says majors tally not a focus
News of all that transpired on and off the football field
Liverpool thrashed Atalanta 5-0, Real Madrid boosted their chances of reaching the Champions League knockout stages with a 3-2 home victory over Inter Milan and Bayern Munich came from behind to crush RB Salzburg 6-2.
Spain are still favourites to finish top of Group E above Sweden, Poland and Slovakia but, after struggling to break down conservative sides such as Georgia and Greece in March, they know coming first will not be a procession.
Former Real youth player Joselu pulled a goal back for Alaves in the 59th minute, powering in a header from a free kick, but Benzema rounded off the victory for second-placed Real with an exquisite solo run and goal in the 70th minute.
Images from Day 4 of the Australian Open in Melbourne on Thursday
The Swedish teen activist warned world leaders she will "not be silenced when the world is on fire". She accused politicians of ignoring the climate emergency and "sweeping their mess under the rug.
Juventus moved top with 19 points to Inter's 18 and it was a deserved victory in an absorbing contest.
Manchester City struck an early blow for the forthcoming Premier League campaign as they beat Liverpool on penalties to win the Community Shield at Wembley on Sunday after an absorbing contest had finished 1-1.
Belgium play in a second successive World Cup quarter-final, looking to reach the semi-finals for the second time after they advanced to the last four in Mexico 32 years ago.
Jenni Hermoso scored a late hat-trick as Barcelona hammered CD Tacon 9-1
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
IMAGES from the US Open matches played on Day 1 at the Flushing Meadows in New York on Monday.
It was a dramatic night at the Champions League as Barcelona's Anssumane Fati -- 17 years and 40 days old - became the youngest to net a goal in the competition. Last season's semi-finalists, Ajax were eliminated by Valencia while Napoli's coach Ancelotti was shown the door despite the team's progress. Here are Images from the Champions League matches played on Tuesday
Argentine referee Nestor Pitana will take charge of Thursday's opening World Cup match between hosts Russia and Saudi Arabia in Moscow, FIFA said on Tuesday.
Four-times winners Germany enjoyed a 3-0 win over Group J rivals Iceland
Holders France got their World Cup qualifying campaign off to a disappointing start with a 1-1 draw at home to Ukraine
Valerie Adams chalks up another medal for the mums.
Belgium hammered the final nail into Egypt's halting World Cup warm-up campaign with an assured 3-0 win in Brussels on Wednesday that settled some nerves among the fancied hosts.
Chelsea assistant coach Marco Ianni was charged with improper conduct by the Football Association on Monday after his exuberant celebrations in front of the Manchester United bench sparked an altercation with Jose Mourinho.
Normally a star-studded display teeming with celebrities, the Tokyo Olympics ceremony was low-key, with fewer than 1,000 people in attendance, strict social distancing rules and signs calling on spectators to "be quiet around the venue."
Garbine Muguruza was relieved to finally avoid tripping at the last hurdle and end her trophy drought
Iivo Niskanen put on a brilliant display of cross-country skiing to win gold for Finland at the Beijing Games
Garbine Muguruza is aiming to become the first Spanish woman for 23 years to win Wimbledon - and yet again a Williams sister stands in her way.
'We always knew it was going to be an important one playing against a quality side, but I think it affected us a little bit too much.
Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to score 100 goals in UEFA competitions when he struck twice as holders Real Madrid came from behind to win 2-1 at Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Wednesday.
A summary of Sunday's action in Serie A and Bundesliga.
Images from the Champions League matches played across Europe on Wednesday.
Chelsea's third successive league win lifted them level on 18 points with Leicester City but are top thanks to a better goal difference. Leicester face Liverpool on Sunday.
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