9:35 AM ET Alex Kirkland Rodrigo Faez Real Madrid have reached an agreement to sign Palmeiras forward Endrick in 2024, the club announced on Thursday. Endrick — who is 16 and will move to Madrid when he turns 18 in July 2024 — is one of the most exciting young talents in Brazilian football. –
5:00 AM ET With 62 games now done and dusted, just two matches are yet to be played at the World Cup in Qatar: the third-place playoff between Croatia and Morocco on Saturday, and then the small matter of the final itself between Argentina and defending champions France 24 hours later. 2 Related Lionel Messi
2:10 PM ET Rob DawsonCorrespondent DOHA, Qatar — The 2022 World Cup has felt like a ‘Last Dance’ for two of football’s biggest stars, neither of whom have ever won the sport’s biggest prize. Lionel Messi, 35, told the media back in August that it would be his last while Cristiano Ronaldo, who turns 38
1:18 PM ET The UFC is close to finalizing an important middleweight fight between Marvin Vettori and Roman Dolidze in March, sources told ESPN. Both sides have agreed to the 185-pound matchup, which will take place at UFC 286 on March 18 in London. The UFC has not yet announced a main event for that
12:45 PM ET Associated Press SANDUSKY, Ohio — Hailie Deegan will drive full time in the NASCAR Truck series next season with ThorSport Racing. ThorSport formally added Deegan to its driver lineup Thursday as it announced a manufacturer move from Toyota to Ford. Deegan, a 21-year-old California native, will race in the Truck series for
1:00 PM ET PITTSBURGH — With the Steelers‘ starting quarterback plans still up in the air, wide receiver Diontae Johnson voiced his support for backup Mason Rudolph. “Yeah, I want to see him play,” Johnson said Thursday when asked if he’d like to see Rudolph “get a shot.” “I know he’s ready to play. I
7:06 PM ET Brady HendersonESPN IN AN INSTANT, Tariq Woolen had gone from smiles to tears. The Seattle Seahawks‘ happy-go-lucky rookie phenom was standing at the podium inside SoFi Stadium, answering questions about key plays that the cornerback had made in a road win over the Los Angeles Rams. Woolen had baited quarterback John Wolford
12:47 PM ET Dallas Mavericks power forward/center Maxi Kleber is out indefinitely after suffering a tear of his right hamstring during Tuesday’s practice, the team announced. Treatment options are being considered, according to the team. Kleber, 30, who signed a three-year, $33 million contract extension this summer, is a key reserve for the Mavs and
9:15 AM ET The UFC will end its year with a main event highlighting one of the promotion’s most interesting divisions. Sean Strickland will take on Jared Cannonier in the main event of UFC Fight Night on Saturday in a critical middleweight battle. Both men are coming off losses against elite fighters, and the winner
10:44 AM ET Purdue senior quarterback Aidan O’Connell will skip the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl against LSU on Jan. 2, he announced Thursday on Instagram. Tight end Payne Durham, wide receiver Charlie Jones and cornerback Cory Trice have also opted out of the Citrus Bowl, the university said. “These last six years have been some of