Morocco’s Yassine Hssine continued his record-breaking season by clocking 19.92 seconds to win the 200m at the Gyulai István Memorial in Budapest on 14 July. The 23-year-old lowered the 19.97 national record he set earlier this month, having already become the first Moroccan to break the 20-second barrier. It was the fourth time in two months that Hssine has rewritten the country’s record books, further cementing his status as Morocco’s fastest-ever sprinter and the Arab world’s quickest man over 200m.
Lamine Yamal became the youngest player to win both the European Championship and the FIFA World Cup after helping Spain beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the 2026 final in New York.
Ferran Torres struck the winner in the 106th minute before the 19-year-old Barcelona winger shared an emotional embrace with Lionel Messi, a moment many viewed as a symbolic passing of the torch.
Despite carrying a hamstring injury into the tournament, Yamal started seven of Spain’s eight matches and played a pivotal role in their triumph. Spain coach Luis de la Fuente praised his willingness to “sacrifice for the collective”, while former England goalkeeper Joe Hart hailed the teenager’s composure after Argentina repeatedly targeted him during the final.
Yamal has now won all 13 of his starts across Euro 2024 and the 2026 World Cup – the longest perfect run by a European starter in a major international tournament.
Zinedine Zidane is expected to become France manager on 1 September, succeeding Didier Deschamps after his 14-year reign, according to L’Équipe.
The French Football Federation is expected to confirm the appointment before the end of July. Zidane’s first match is likely to be a UEFA Nations League away fixture against Turkey before hosting Italy on 2 October.
The 1998 World Cup winner arrives after a glittering club coaching career with Real Madrid, where he won three successive UEFA Champions League titles. Deschamps departs having guided France to the 2018 World Cup and 2020-21 Nations League titles, as well as reaching the Euro 2016 and 2022 World Cup finals.
Inter Milan are preparing to meet Tottenham Hotspur’s £30-35 million valuation of Djed Spence after the England full-back impressed at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Serie A club have identified the 25-year-old as their leading wing-back target and are expected to open formal talks now the tournament has ended. Inter are keen to move quickly amid fears Spence’s World Cup displays could attract rival bidders.
South Africa’s Dricus du Plessis strengthened his claim for another UFC middleweight title shot with a unanimous-decision victory over former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman at UFC Fight Night in Oklahoma City on 18 July.
Du Plessis controlled all five rounds to win 50-45, 49-46 and 49-46 before immediately calling for a rematch with reigning champion Sean Strickland.
Usman admitted he had “an off night” but ruled out retirement, saying he remains open to fighting at either welterweight or middleweight.
