Messi and Ronaldo feature as teams prepare for World Cup opener

Yahoo Sports1 min read • Latest: Jun 10, 2026, 11:20 PM

Last updated Jun 10, 2026

Messi and Ronaldo feature as teams prepare for World Cup opener
Summary

International friendlies provided final preparations for World Cup teams, with notable performances from Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. England secured a 2-0 victory over Costa Rica, with Anthony Gordon scoring a penalty and Ollie Watkins heading in the second goal. Argentina defeated Iceland 3-0, featuring a goal from Messi, as they head into their match against Algeria. Portugal won 2-1 against Nigeria, although Ronaldo remained goalless for a second consecutive match. Venezuela triumphed over Iraq, 2-0, as the teams finalize their rosters before the World Cup begins next Wednesday.

Source Links
By the Numbers
  • England wins 2-0 against Costa Rica, preparing for Croatia.
  • Messi scores in Argentina's 3-0 victory over Iceland.
  • Ronaldo's Portugal earns 2-1 win against Nigeria despite no goals from him.
  • Venezuela defeats Iraq 2-0 in another friendly match.
Latest Updates
  • 11:20 PMYahoo SportsInternational friendlies roundup: Messi and Ronaldo in action before World Cup farewell
What they're saying
"

Ollie Whitmore, Chief football news reporterLionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo got their last minutes to prepare for their final World Cup tournament as England faced Costa Rica after rain and lighten...

Related Teams & Leagues

Sources

External links

Original reporting and copyright belong to the linked sources. SportsNewsReport.com aggregates and links — it does not republish full articles.

Related Stories

Last 14 days