AP National Sports

LUSAIL, Qatar (AP) — Lionel Messi has tied the record for most appearances at the World Cup by playing for the 25th time for Argentina at soccer’s biggest tournament. Lothar Matthäus of Germany previously held the record outright. Messi is playing in his fifth and likely final World Cup. He will have a chance to

BOURNEMOUTH, England (AP) — American actor Michael B. Jordan is part of the new ownership group of Premier League club Bournemouth. The club announced Tuesday that billionaire Bill Foley’s takeover has been ratified by the league and that the “Creed” actor has a minority stake. Previous owner Maxim Demin sold his 100% stake to Black

By RONALD BLUM AP Baseball Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Chicago White Sox right-hander Dylan Cease will receive the largest amount in the new $50 million pool for pre-arbitration players, earning $2,457,426. Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez is second with $2,381,143, according to figures compiled by Major League Baseball and the players’ association under

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Maryland receiver Rakim Jarrett is entering the NFL draft. Jarrett also says he’ll skip the Duke’s Mayo Bowl against N.C. State. In three seasons with the Terrapins, he had 119 catches for 1,552 yards and 10 touchdowns. Star quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa says he’ll discuss his future with his family and

By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer Max Homa thinks every golfer worries to some degree about losing their game when they step away. He went through a terrible slump in 2017 and now is riding high. He says the difference is having good people around him and the work he put in to get to

By RALPH D. RUSSO AP College Football Writer Incarnate Word quarterback Lindsey Scott, who started his college football career at LSU in 2016, leads The Associated Press FCS All-America team. Scott has thrown for 4,404 yards and a Championship Subdivision record 59 touchdowns. The Division I record is 60 set by LSU’s Joe Burrow in

By TOM WITHERS AP Sports Writer CLEVELAND (AP) — A person familiar with the deal tells AP the Cleveland Guardians have reached agreement with free agent catcher Mike Zunino on a $6 million, one-year contract. Zunino will sign once he completes medical tests, said the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Curt Simmons, the last surviving member of the 1950 Philadelphia Phillies Whiz Kids team, has died. He was 93. His death on Tuesday at his Ambler, Pennsylvania home was confirmed by the Phillies, who did not specify a cause. One of the greatest pitchers in franchise history, the lefty posted a record

By MARK DIDTLER Associated Press ST. PETERSBURG., Fla. (AP) — The Rays finalized Zach Eflin’s $40 million, three-year contract on Tuesday, the largest deal for a free agent in Tampa Bay history. The former Philadelphia Phillies right-hander will make $11 million next season, $11 million in 2024 and $18 million in 2025. It’s the largest

By JOHN WAWROW AP Sports Writer ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Receiver Cole Beasley ended a brief retirement to take one more shot at extending his career by reuniting with Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills. Beasley was signed to Buffalo’s practice squad, rejoining the team that cut him in March for salary-cap reasons. The

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer There’s been an evolution of the NBA’s Most Valuable Player trophy in the 70 or so years since it was first awarded. It used to be called the President’s Trophy. Players used to do the voting. In time, it all changed; the trophy was known as the Maurice Podoloff

By MICHAEL MAROT AP Sports Writer Purdue has hired Illinois defensive coordinator Ryan Walters as its new football coach. He will replace Jeff Brohm, who left to become the new head coach at Louisville. Walters is 36. He is the fourth-youngest coach in the Bowl Subdivision. Purdue is preparing for the Citrus Bowl game against

AL WAKRAH, Qatar (AP) — Hundreds of Moroccan fans have waited outside Al Janoub Stadium for a chance to score a free ticket to the country’s World Cup semifinal game against France. The tickets were given out by the Moroccan soccer federation in coordination with FIFA and the Qatari organizing committee. Morocco faces defending champion

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed right-handed pitcher Vince Velasquez to a one-year, $3.15 million contract. The 30-year-old Velasquez spent last season working primarily as a reliever with the Chicago White Sox but will be a starter in Pittsburgh. Velasquez went 3-3 with a 4.78 ERA in 27 appearances for Chicago, with nine

By The Associated Press Tiger Woods finishes off an abbreviated year by playing the PNC Championship with his 13-year-old son, Charlie. Last year they finished one shot behind John Daly and Arkansas sophomore Little John Daly. The 36-hole event airing on NBC is for winners of major championships and a family member. Nelly Korda is

By RALPH D. RUSSO AP College Football Writer Gruff, pioneering and unfiltered, Mississippi State’s Mike Leach was one of the most influential football coaches of this or any generation. His boundless curiosity and fascination for people, places and things made him famous beyond the field, a unique character in sports. Leach, who helped revolutionize football

By LUIS ANDRES HENAO Associated Press DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Morocco’s players are sharing the World Cup spotlight with some of their most ardent fans: their mothers. Many of the players have been celebrating with their mothers and other family members in the stadiums after the team’s impressive string of victories. Midfielder Sofiane Boufal was

By SABINA NIKSIC Associated Press ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) — Forget Croatia’s forthcoming historic change of currency, or joining European Union’s travel-free zone. The World Cup semifinal against Argentina is all that most Croats are thinking about. With hours left before Tuesday’s decisive match in Qatar, workers removed Christmas and New Year decorations from a central

By RALPH D. RUSSO AP College Football Writer Mike Leach, the gruff, pioneering and unfiltered college football coach who helped revolutionize the passing game with the Air Raid offense, has died following complications from a heart condition, Mississippi State said Tuesday. He was 61. Leach, who was in his third season as head coach at