Lionel Messi retires from international soccer as experts predict playoff fields

Lionel Messi has retired from the Argentina national team, ending an international career that included 125 goals in 207 matches and a 2022 World Cup title. In other personnel news, Missouri football player Mark Mitchell has flipped his commitment from Kentucky to return to the Tigers. The Baltimore Orioles added Luis Robert Jr. to their roster via waivers from the Mets, while Golden State continues a four-game winning streak during the WNBA’s break for the 2026 FIBA Women's World Cup. At the university level, UCLA athletic director Martin Jarmond was fired ahead of the football season amid a significant financial deficit. Additionally, college football analysts have released their 2026 College Football Playoff projections, with Notre Dame, Georgia, and Ohio State receiving top billing among contenders.

• 12:45 PMCBS MLB — Lionel Messi retires from Argentina national team; 2026 College Football Playoff expert predictions