Pele was hailed as "an inspiration" by England captain Harry Kane as the football world reacted to worrying reports about the health of the Brazil World Cup legend.
Seven years ago, Pele praised the burgeoning Kane, who had just been called into the England squad for the first time after impressing for Tottenham in the Premier League.
He described the then 21-year-old Kane as an "excellent" talent and urged him to look after his physical wellbeing and never believe he was the best in the business.
That praise was remembered with fondness by Kane on Saturday, as he spoke at an England press conference ahead of the Qatar 2022 last-16 game against Senegal.
Reports in Brazil have claimed the 82-year-old Pele has been moved to palliative care after a cancer battle. There has been no confirmation of this news from Pele or his family.
Kane said: "First and foremost, we send our best wishes to him, and his family."
Reminded of Pele's generous praise in 2015, Kane said: "He's an inspiration in our game, an incredible footballer and an incredible person and to hear those words from him was really special. As someone who is always learning, he was spot on with his advice.
"It's sad to hear that news, we wish him well, not just me but the whole England squad."
Pele was a World Cup winner as a 17-year-old with Brazil in 1958 and also helped the Selecao triumph at the 1962 and 1970 tournaments.
He is widely acknowledged as the greatest player in the World Cup's history, and the likes of past winners Kylian Mbappe and Rivaldo were quick to send best wishes on Saturday as worrying news emerged about Pele's wellbeing.
Reports have claimed Pele is not responding to chemotherapy treatment, having been admitted to hospital for what were described as routine checks. The Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper said Pele is now receiving pain-relieving measures in an end-of-life care ward.
Cameron Smith revealed he was "a few too many beers deep" on Friday evening when he realised he would have to get up early for the third round of the Australian Open.
Smith thought he had missed the cut at Kingston Heath Golf Club on home soil after signing for a one-over second round of 73.
The Open champion made a trip to the pub for some post-round refreshments, thinking his participation in the DP World Tour event in Melbourne was over.
But with the competition cut to 60 players for Saturday and halved after the third round, the world number three discovered he did not have a full weekend off.
Smith returned to go round in 69 in what proved to be his third round.
The Brisbane native said: "I was pretty quick to the pub [after his round on Friday] and, yeah, was probably a few too many beers deep, and then I realised we had an early tee time, so I got back on the waters and was a good boy the rest of the night."
Smith, who won the PGA Championship last week, added: "I thought I had it in me today and hit lots of good golf shots, and just couldn't really capitalise. Just not my week."
Adam Scott holds a one-shot lead heading into the final round of the Australian Open in his homeland.
Marcus Rashford can become one of the world's best players after carrying his Manchester United form onto the international stage at the World Cup, according to Harry Maguire.
Rashford lost his place in Gareth Southgate's England squad earlier this year after enduring a miserable 2021-22 campaign, making just 13 Premier League starts for United and scoring four goals.
However, Rashford has been rejuvenated since Erik ten Hag took charge at Old Trafford, finding the net eight times in all competitions this term to force his way into the Three Lions' squad.
Rashford scored twice on his first start at the World Cup as England thrashed Wales last time out, moving level with the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Alvaro Morata at the top of the tournament's goalscoring charts, and Maguire believes he has the talent to reach the very top of the game.
Asked about his England and United team-mate by talkSPORT, Maguire said: "I'm really pleased for Marcus.
"I don't think he'll ever reach what his talent can get to, because he's so talented that he could be one of the best in the world, and I think he's got to push and strive for that.
"Over the last year or so it's just not been Marcus at Manchester United. We had a difficult year as a group and it affects people as individuals.
"This year, he is playing with a lot more freedom and he's playing with a big smile on his face. We speak about him getting back to his best and I'm sure he will do."
Should Rashford score in England's last-16 tie against Senegal on Sunday, he will become the first United player to score four goals at a single major tournament for the Three Lions.
If he starts, the Red Devils attacker will fancy his chances of doing so against a Senegal side that has gone 10 World Cup games without a clean sheet, last recording a shutout at the tournament on their 2002 debut in a famous 1-0 win over France.
Denzel Dumfries' heroics proved vital as the Netherlands rode their luck while beating the United States 3-1 on Saturday to reach World Cup quarter-finals.
Louis van Gaal's key tactic appeared to revolve around letting the USA have control, but the Oranje required two goal-line clearances in the second half before picking their opponents off late on.
It looked straightforward for a while as Dumfries set up Memphis Depay and Daley Blind to give the Dutch lead a commanding lead at the break.
Tim Ream and Haji Wright were then both denied by last-ditch interventions in the second period, before the latter gave the USA a lifeline.
But Dumfries finished them off to cap a wonderful performance and seal progress.
A lightning start should have brought a third-minute opener for Christian Pulisic, but the USA talisman failed to beat Andries Noppert.
The Netherlands capitalised on that let-off seven minutes later.
A 20-pass sequence ended with Dumfries pulling a low cross back to the edge of the box and Depay swept first-time into the bottom-left corner.
The Oranje subsequently allowed the USA to dominate and then hit them with a sucker punch on the stroke of half-time, Dumfries pulling back to Blind in a near-exact replica of the opener.
Ream was denied by Cody Gakpo's goal-line clearance just after the break, before Depay nearly gifted the USA a goal, with Wright rounding Noppert only to see Dumfries save the day.
Wright did score fortuitously soon after, the ball looping up off his foot and going over Noppert.
But dreadful marking allowed Dumfries to turn in a Blind cross nine minutes from time, killing off the USA's comeback hopes.
Joe Root has explained why he shined the ball on Jack Leach's head during day three of England's first Test against Pakistan, where a late flurry of wickets shifted momentum in the tourists' favour.
England ended day three of the first Test needing just three wickets to bring the hosts' first innings to a close, with Babar Azam's side on 499-7, still 158 runs behind.
Having laboured to stop Pakistan from chipping away at their lead, England struck late through Will Jacks, James Anderson and Ollie Robinson, taking four wickets in just over 20 overs.
But it was footage of Root rubbing the ball over Leach's head during the day that caught the eye of spectators and now the former captain has spoken out on his strange tactic.
"You've got to get some moisture in it somehow, some weight to try to get it to move around on a placid wicket like that," he stated.
"A nice sweaty, bald head like Jack's is perfect for it. You can see it sat there on his head. He's more than just a pretty face Jack, he is very useful in lots of ways."
Leach, a folk hero among England fans for his role in their famed Headingley comeback against Australia in 2019, has posted figures of 2-160 from 42 overs so far in Rawalpindi.
Despite the cost however, his efforts helped lay the platform for his side's closing flurry, with Root hopeful they can push on over the final two days.
"All the hard work we put in, we got our just rewards," he added. "We had to be quite creative, try to do things differently and think outside the box."
Senegal are hoping coach Aliou Cisse will clamber off his sick bed to lead the team against England.
Cisse has been ill the last two days, and failed to take training on Friday as a result.
His assistant Regis Bogaert faced the press ahead of the World Cup last-16 clash but remains confident Cisse will be on the bench at Al Bayt Stadium on Sunday.
He said: "He's been sick for a couple of days now and he let us [the staff] take charge of training yesterday, with his instructions.
"We are sure that at 10pm tomorrow, he will be there."
Senegal are African champions and edged out Ecuador to secure qualification from Group A and underline their growing reputation on the world stage.
Bogaert added: "We know Senegal can beat England. We need to focus on our African identity and be positive with the experiences we are having at the moment.
"Since the last World Cup, we have matured. We can beat anybody and when we go on the pitch we need to be convinced of that.
"Our objective is to get through. We're not too excited and trying to ensure we stay as calm as possible."
Senegal's finest moment at the World Cup came 20 years ago with a 1-0 win over France in the opening game of the 2002 tournament in Japan and South Korea.
Asked how beating England would compare, Bogaert said: "It would be a tremendous achievement, although I am not sure how it would compare to the win in 2002.
"For the players, it would show them that we are capable of playing one of the top five sides in the world. If we can beat a team like that it sends a very strong message of the progress we have made."
Bogaert believes set-pieces could be key on Sunday and is hoping it is an area they can use to spring a major surprise.
"We have studied the different types of set plays they employ and we will try to adopt the best possible strategy," he said.
"We have identified some things and set-pieces can be decisive. We hope to take advantage of them and cause problems for our opponent."
Poland coach Czeslaw Michniewicz has “yet to find any weaknesses” in the France team ahead of their last-16 clash at the World Cup on Sunday.
Les Bleus are the defending champions and overwhelming favourites to advance to the quarter-finals, but Michniewicz is hoping hard work can overcome any technical deficiencies.
He said of France: "I have been looking, but I have yet to find any weaknesses. We need to pressure them otherwise they won’t make mistakes. We have analysed them and focused on their style of play.
"They have a wonderful team, a great coach and a nice mix of experienced and young players.”
Poland have been criticised for a defensive approach in Qatar but Michniewicz believes now qualification to the knockout phase has been secured, they can release the shackles.
"The teams that haven’t defended well are already at home and watching on television," he added. "That was our strategy to get through the group phase and now we want to play differently.
"But football is about winning trophies, you cannot let the opponent score easily. Those that do aren’t here any more. We have defended well and therefore we get the chance to play France."
Key to that new, bolder strategy will be getting better service to striker Robert Lewandowski.
"We have had issues offensively," admitted Michniewicz. "We have not been accurate enough in our passing, and we haven’t created enough opportunities for Robert. We need to get the ball to him nearer the penalty box."
France’s main attacking threat will come from Kylian Mbappe. And Arkadiusz Milik, who played against the Paris Saint-Germain star during his time in Ligue 1 with Marseille, is planning special measures to keep him quiet.
“We need a scooter to catch him because he is so fast," he said. "It’s difficult to play against him because he’s one of the best players in the world, we’ll need to play collectively and have co-operation in the team because no one individual is able to stop him."
Didier Deschamps warned France must not underestimate Poland when they meet in the World Cup round of 16 on Sunday.
Les Bleus have won all five last-16 matches since the stage was introduced to the tournament back in 1986.
The holders are strong favourites to knock the Eagles out at Al Thumama Stadium this weekend in what will be the underdogs' first knockout World Cup knockout game for 36 years.
France are unbeaten in their past seven meetings with Poland, but Deschamps says there can be no complacency from his side in Doha.
"It's not a team we're used to meeting," he told FFF TV. "They have experienced players. Obviously, if there is one name to stand out, it's [Robert] Lewandowski, he's one of the best strikers in the world.
"But it's not just him, it's a team that has good organisation, a good athletic presence. We have three observers here who are following them closely, we will have all the details. Don't underestimate this team."
Deschamps rung the changes for France's final Group D match on Wednesday, which they surprisingly lost 1-0 to Tunisia.
Kylian Mbappe, Olivier Giroud, Hugo Lloris, Ousmane Dembele and Antoine Griezmann were among the players who dropped to the bench for that loss.
Poland will need to find a way of containing Mbappe, the joint-leading scorer in the tournament with three goals, while Giroud is one shy of becoming his country's all-time leading goalscorer as he currently stands level with Thierry Henry on 51.
The Eagles were beaten 2-0 by Argentina in their last Group C game on Wednesday but took second place.
Poland have faced the reigning champions twice in World Cup matches, beating Brazil 1-0 in 1974 and holding Germany to a goalless draw four years later.
A quarter-final showdown with England or Senegal will be the reward for whoever comes out on top.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
France - Antoine Griezmann
Griezmann continues to deliver for France time and time again. No player has created more chances than the 11 he has produced for Les Blues in this tournament.
The Atletico Madrid forward is the only player to create at least 10 chances in both this World Cup and Russia 2018 for France. He has already surpassed his total of 10 four years ago.
Poland - Wojciech Szczesny
Goalkeeper Szczesny has played a key role for Poland in Qatar, achieving a save percentage of 90. He had kept out each of his first 16 shots on target faced in the tournament prior to Alexis Mac Allister's goal for Argentina.
Szczesny saved a Lionel Messi penalty in midweek, ensuring he has stopped a spot-kick in each of his past two World Cup games. He could be in for a busy game, given France's quality going forward.
PREDICTION
While there have been shock results aplenty in this tournament, France will not be expected to slip up when they attempt to seal a place in the last eight.
Stats Perform's AI model gives the defending champions a 74.8 per cent chance of going through, with Poland at only 8.1 per cent to produce an upset.
Christian Pulisic was named in the United States' starting XI for their World Cup round of 16 tie with the Netherlands.
Pulisic scored the USA's winner against Iran on Tuesday, securing their place in the knockout stage, but was sent to hospital for scans on an abdominal injury.
On Friday, it was confirmed Pulisic had been cleared to play a part against Louis van Gaal's team at Khalifa International Stadium, and Gregg Berhalter did not hesitate in throwing the Chelsea attacker back in from the off.
Pulisic has been directly involved in six goals in his past nine appearances for the USA, with four goals and two assists, having a hand in both of their goals so far in the World Cup.
Josh Sargent, however, did not make the squad due to an ankle problem, with Jesus Ferreira coming in for his first appearance of the tournament.
The 21-year-old scored 18 goals in 35 MLS appearances for FC Dallas this past season.
At 25 years, 84 days, the USA's starting team is the youngest in a World Cup knockout match since Slovakia (24 years, 239 days), also against the Netherlands in 2010.
Van Gaal, meanwhile, stuck with the same team that started in the 2-0 victory over hosts Qatar last time out.
That means the in-form Cody Gakpo partners Memphis Depay in a front two – the PSV forward could become the first Netherlands player to score in each of his first four World Cup appearances, with Christian Vieri the last European player to do so in 1998.
Tyson Fury says he is "terrified" of hanging up his boxing gloves ahead of a trilogy fight with Derek Chisora
The WBC heavyweight champion will take part in his final bout of the year against his fellow Brit at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, with a potential unification fight against Oleksandr Usyk to come.
Unbeaten Englishman Fury has stated on several occasions that he had retired, only to unsurprisingly resume his illustrious career.
The 34-year-old cannot even bear to think about retirement as he prepares to try and defend his title once again.
"I'm terrified of it," he stated. "Hard is an understatement. I can't think of the most complex word to describe giving this up. It's more addictive than anything on the planet.
"I think going one-on-one with another highly trained athlete, you've got all the crowd there, the electricity of everything.
"While I'm not doing that, I'm just mundane. But as soon as I know I've got a fight coming up, boom, my eyes glow up. I feel a feeling inside of me bubbling [like] a pot that's on the simmer, boiling away. I just cannot wait to fight.
"It's really the competition that's the addictive thing, it's not the training. I used to think it was the training, but it's not because I was training every day [and] I wasn't happy.
"So it's definitely the boxing side of it. I believe when God's ready for me to move on and get out of boxing, I'll be shown a way out. And whatever I do next will be double as big as what I'm doing now.
"I'm just motivated by staying alive and keeping happy and healthy. This is what makes me happy and healthy - boxing - so that's why we're here."
Phil Foden is "disappointed" not to have made more starts in an "up and down" World Cup for the England attacking midfielder and hopes to play a big part against Senegal.
Foden made his first start of the tournament in a 3-0 win over Wales on Tuesday that sealed the Three Lions' place in the round of 16.
Gareth Southgate is facing a tough selection for the showdown with the Africa Cup of Nations champions at Al Bayt Stadium on Sunday, with Foden waiting to discover if he will keep his place in the team.
It has been a mixed World Cup for the Manchester City star, who hopes the best is yet to come
"It has been up and down," he told BBC TV. "[I am] disappointed not to start more games, but it is part of the tournament. I am a team player and when I get the opportunities I'll take them."
Foden added: "I had seen a lot of media attention towards me to start, it is hard to get away from that.
"There is a lot [of competition]. [Bukayo] Saka has done well and scored in the first game, [Marcus] Rashford has scored and did very well against Wales.
"Everyone is scoring and everyone has proved a point, so it will be a headache for Gareth to pick the team for the next game.
"[Scoring against Wales was] definitely up there for one of the best feelings in my career so far, a special moment.
"I think I have every chance to start the next match. I played well against Wales, but we will have to see what happens."
Gabriel Jesus and Alex Telles will not recover from knee injuries in time to play again at the 2022 World Cup, Brazil confirmed on Saturday.
The pair had each been substituted in Friday's defeat to Cameroon, with team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar confirming afterwards they would have scans the following day.
Brazil have already been playing without Neymar, Danilo and Alex Sandro due to injuries, and their latest two setbacks are significant.
Reports in Brazil on Saturday had suggested Jesus would miss a month and Telles was potentially facing surgery, also representing blows to Arsenal and Sevilla.
A statement from the CBF subsequently confirmed neither would feature for the remainder of the World Cup.
"As announced by the CBF after the game against Cameroon, players Alex Telles and Gabriel Jesus underwent tests this Saturday morning," the statement read.
"Accompanied by the doctor of the Brazilian team, Rodrigo Lasmar, they performed an MRI on the right knee that confirmed the injuries and the impossibility of recovery in time to participate in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
"The coordinator of the Brazilian national team, Juninho Paulista, is in contact with the sports directors of Arsenal and Sevilla to define whether Alex Telles and Gabriel Jesus remain with the squad in Doha for continuity of treatment or if they return to their clubs."
While Jesus was set to play only as Richarlison's back-up in the knockout stage, Telles could have been in line for a prominent role.
Alex Sandro is the only other natural left-back in the squad and is uncertain to return in time for the last-16 match against South Korea.
Brazil are at least more optimistic on the status of versatile right-back Danilo, who was set to return to full training on Saturday.
The New York Jets will undergo a fierce test of their playoff credentials on Sunday as they face the Vikings in Minnesota, where they will be hoping Mike White can deliver another inspiring performance at the quarterback position.
At 7-4, the Jets occupy the final Wild Card spot in the AFC playoffs, but a victory over the Vikings would move them just a game behind the Buffalo Bills (9-3) in the race for the AFC East title. The 9-2 Vikings can clinch the NFC North crown if they win and the Detroit Lions lose at home to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Having replaced 2021 second overall pick Zach Wilson as the starter following Wilson's dismal performance in the Week 11 loss to the New England Patriots, White led an outstanding offensive performance from the Jets in their 31-10 win over the Chicago Bears in Week 12.
White threw for 315 yards and three touchdowns in the win over Chicago, his second career game with 300+ passing yards and at least three TD passes (in five career appearances).
The last Jets quarterback with multiple career such games prior to White for the team was Ken O'Brien with seven (last occurrence was in 1991).
White produced that display against a Chicago defense that has seen much of its top talent traded away and ranks 29th in the NFL by yards per play allowed (5.92).
But the Vikings have been far from impressive on defense this season and are the second-worst on that side of the ball by yards per play given up (6.05), appearing to suggest this matchup is another excellent opportunity for White to build his case for being the long-term starter.
And New York's defense is well-equipped to slow down the Minnesota attack. The Jets' win over Chicago marked the team's fourth time this season holding an opponent to 10 or fewer points, tied for the most such games in the NFL (with Dallas and San Francisco).
The last time the Jets had at least that many games in a season was 2010 (five), their last campaign in which they made the playoffs.
Minnesota's offense is powered largely by the continually superb exploits of wide receiver Justin Jefferson.
Jefferson and Adam Thielen each caught touchdown passes in the Vikings' Thanksgiving Day win over the New England Patriots. It was the ninth time each player has had a receiving TD in the same game, the most of any NFL team-mates since Jefferson debuted at the beginning of the 2020 season.
The Jets have the talent in the secondary to potentially limit the Vikings' receivers, and the matchup between Jefferson and New York's rookie cornerback Ahmad 'Sauce' Gardner is an extremely intriguing one. Gardner has allowed receivers to get open on just 19.45 per cent of his matchups across man and zone coverage, the best rate of all cornerbacks, according to Stats Perform data.
Yet if the game remains close, the edge appears to be with the Vikings.
The Vikings are 8-0 in games decided by eight or fewer points this season after the 33-26 win over the Patriots on Thanksgiving. The only team in NFL history to finish a season 8-0 or better in such contests was the 2009 Indianapolis Colts (8-0).
If Minnesota improve that tally to 9-0, rookie head coach Kevin O'Connell would join Jim Caldwell and Jim Harbaugh as the only head coaches this century to earn 10 wins in 12 or fewer games to start their career as an NFL head coach.
Australia's Marnus Labuschagne is honoured to join an elite band of players to score a double and single century in a match after his efforts against West Indies.
The top-order batsman added a further knock of 104 not out to his first-innings score of 204 to help push the hosts closer to victory in the first Test.
With his efforts at Optus Stadium, Labuschagne is just the third Australian to achieve the feat, after Doug Waters in 1969 and Greg Chappell against New Zealand in 1974.
He is the eighth overall to manage it, joining an illustrious list, and the batsman acknowledged his achievements were yet to sink in.
"I've only found out about the club," Labuschagne said. "I haven’t really had time to reflect on it yet. As a player, you never know how special it is until time goes by.
"You get to those periods where you don’t make as many hundreds, and you miss out a few times. You're like geez, remember that day?
"I feel very privileged to be able to be even named with those players in that club."
West Indies duo Brian Lara and Lawrence Rowe, India's Sunil Gavaskar and England's Graham Gooch are among the others to have achieved the feat, with Sir Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara the last to have done it before Labuschagne.
Australia will look to secure victory on the final day in Perth after finishing Saturday needing seven wickets for victory, having been held off by Kraigg Brathwaite's stubborn century in response.
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