Sports

Kylian Mbappé eyes another title at 2022 FIFA World Cup with France vs. Argentina

Published

2 years ago

December 15, 2022

Kylian Mbappé’s World Cup legacy is starting to mirror that of a legend or, better yet, a king.

The 23-year-old French phenom is rewriting the history books by reaching his second FIFA World Cup final in as many tries after France beat Morocco 2-0 in Wednesday’s semi-final to punch their ticket to Sunday’s big match against Argentina.

Mbappé is replicating the trajectory of a football legend who, in his youth days, was the only player to ever be part of a team that reached two straight World Cup finals back-to-back in his first two chances.

Seventeen-year-old Edson Arantes do Nascimento, also known as Pelé, played a pivotal role for a Brazil squad that claimed its first World Cup title in 1958 and was also a member of the team that won a second trophy in 1962.

ContentId(1.1893252): Mbappe’s brilliant footwork leads to Kolo Muani goal that extends France’s lead

Mbappé was only two years older than Pelé when he won his first World Cup title with France in 2018 as a 19-year-old and he will try to replicate a two-for-two start to add to his World Cup legacy on Sunday.

Both players, in their first World Cup appearances, were also the first teenagers to score multiple goals in a World Cup match, a feat that took 60 years for anyone to replicate, highlighting the rarity of the achievement.

“It’s flattering to be the second one after Pelé,” said Mbappé after scoring twice in a France 4-3 round-of-16 win over Argentina in 2018. “But let’s put things into context – Pelé is in another category.”

There is no questioning Pelé’s legacy. As the only three-time World Cup champion in 1958, 1962 and 1970 and one of the most prolific strikers soccer has ever seen, his impact on the sport might only be comparable to the impact of superstars that played different sports like the NBA’s Michael Jordan and the NHL’s Wayne Gretzky.

That is not to say that others haven’t approached Pelé’s status. Argentina’s Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi belong in the conversation of top soccer player of all time, just like there is a case for names like Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Eusébio, France’s Zinedine Zidane, Germany’s Lothar Matthaus, amongst others.

But few players have been able to emulate Pelé’s staggering international success at such a young age – until Mbappé burst onto the scene.

Pelé scored six goals in 1958 and then followed that up with only one goal in each of his two following appearances – they were marked by nagging injuries – before going off in 1970 for four goals and one final title.

Mbappé scored four goals in 2018 and one-upped himself this year in Qatar to score five goals with one final match to go, sharing the top of the Golden Boot race with Messi.

That’s a total of nine goals in two World Cup appearances for the Frenchman who shows no signs of stopping. Nobody would be surprised at this point if he eventually matched or surpassed Pelé’s total of 12 World Cup scores.

The Paris Saint-Germain forward can start cementing his status as soccer’s best young superstar on Sunday at 10 a.m. ET / 7 a.m. PT when defending champion France faces Argentina in the 2022 FIFA World Cup Final in Qatar. You can watch the action live across the TSN Network, TSN.ca or the TSN App.

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Sports

Sports betting roundup: NFL and college football were all about the favourites

Published

19 hours ago

November 4, 2024

Anne Joseph

The past weekend of football was all about the favourites.

The favoured teams went 13-1 straight up and 10-4 against the spread in the NFL. In college football, the three most teams bet at the BetMGM Sportsbook in terms of number of bets and money all won and covered. All three were favourites.

Trends of the Week

The three most bet college teams that won and covered on Saturday were Ohio State (-3.5) vs. Penn State, Indiana (-7.5) at Michigan State and Oregon (-14.5) at Michigan. Penn State has now lost seven straight home games as underdogs. The Nittany Lions were up 10-0 in the first quarter and were 3.5-point favourites at the time. The Buckeyes won 17-10.

In the NFL, the three most bet teams in terms of number of bets and money were the Washington Commanders (-4) at the New York Giants, the Detroit Lions (-2.5) at the Green Bay Packers and the Buffalo Bills (-6) vs. the Miami Dolphins. All three teams won, but only two of the three covered the spread as Buffalo beat Miami 30-27.

When it came to the players with the most bets to score a touchdown on Sunday, only two of the five reached the end zone — Chase Brown (-125) and Taysom Hill (+185). David Montgomery (-140), Brian Robinson Jr. (+110) and AJ Barner (+500) did not score.

Upsets of the Week

The biggest upset in the NFL was the Carolina Panthers coming from behind to beat the New Orleans Saints 23-22. New Orleans closed as a 7-point favourite and took in 76% of the bets and 79% of the money in against-the-spread betting. The Saints fired head coach Dennis Allen following the loss. They have now lost seven straight games after starting the year 2-0.

Arguably the biggest upset in college football was South Carolina beating No. 10 Texas A&M 44-20 at home. Texas A&M closed as a 2.5-point favourite and took in 59% of the bets and 58% of the money.

Coming up

Right after the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the New York Yankees to win the World Series, odds for the 2025 World Series were released.

The Dodgers have the best odds at +400, while the Atlanta Braves and Yankees are next at +800.

The Baltimore Orioles and Philadelphia Phillies round out the top five, both at +1100.

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This column was provided to The Associated Press by BetMGM online sportsbook.

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AP sports:

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Longtime rivals Ovechkin, Crosby join Necas as NHL’s three stars of the week

Published

19 hours ago

November 4, 2024

Anne Joseph

NEW YORK – Washington Capitals left-wing Alex Ovechkin, Carolina Hurricanes centre Martin Necas and Pittsburgh Penguins centre Sidney Crosby have been named the NHL’s three stars of the week.

Ovechkin had a league-leading five goals and nine points in four games.

The 39-year-old Capitals captain has 14 points in 11 games this season, and his 860 career goals are just 34 shy of Wayne Gretzky’s record.

Necas shared the league lead with nine points (three goals, six assists) in three games.

Crosby factored on seven of the Penguins’ eight total goals scoring four goals and adding three assists in three appearances. The 37-year-old Penguins captain leads his team with 14 points (five goals, nine assists) in 13 games this season.

Crosby and Ovechkin, longtime rivals since entering the league together in 2005-06, will meet for the 70th time in the regular season and 95th time overall when Pittsburgh visits Washington on Friday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 4, 2024.

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Oliveira, Mitchell named as finalists for CFL outstanding player award

Published

5 days ago

October 31, 2024

Anne Joseph

TORONTO – Running back Brady Oliveira of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Hamilton Tiger-Cats quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell are the finalists for the CFL’s outstanding player award.

Oliveira led the CFL in rushing this season with 1,353 yards while Mitchell was the league leader in passing yards (5,451) and touchdowns (32).

Oliveira is also the West Division finalist for the CFL’s top Canadian award, the second straight year he’s been nominated for both.

Oliveira was the CFL’s outstanding Canadian in 2023 and the runner-up to Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for outstanding player.

Defensive lineman Isaac Adeyemi-Berglund of the Montreal Alouettes is the East Division’s top Canadian nominee.

Voting for the awards is conducted by the Football Reporters of Canada and the nine CFL head coaches.

The other award finalists include: defensive back Rolan Milligan Jr. of the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Montreal linebacker Tyrice Beverette (outstanding defensive player); Saskatchewan’s Logan Ferland and Toronto’s Ryan Hunter (outstanding lineman); B.C. Lions kicker Sean Whyte and Toronto returner Janarion Grant (special teams); and Edmonton Elks linebacker Nick Anderson and Hamilton receiver Shemar Bridges (outstanding rookie).

The coach of the year finalists are Saskatchewan’s Corey Mace and Montreal’s Jason Maas.

The CFL will honour its top individual performers Nov. 14 in Vancouver.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 31.

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