SPORTS

Los Angeles, United States | AFP |  Lionel Messi scored a first-half double as Argentina warmed up for the Copa America with a comprehensive 5-1 win over Nicaragua on Friday in San Juan. The Central Americans, who will participate in this month’s Gold Cup tournament while Argentina battle it out in …

Paris, France | AFP | Host nation France crushed South Korea 4-0 in the opening game of the women’s World Cup on Friday, leaving former winners Germany with plenty to live up to as they prepare to launch their campaign. It was a fine start to a tournament that has been …

Istanbul, Turkey | AFP |  Former German international football Mesut Ozil was married in Istanbul on Friday with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as his best man. The 30-year-old Ozil, who has Turkish family roots, sparked controversy last year when he was photographed with Erdogan, raising questions about the footballer’s loyalty …

Madrid, Spain | AFP | Eden Hazard completed his long-awaited move from Chelsea to Real Madrid on Friday and could become the Spanish club’s most expensive signing in their history. Real said Hazard, 28, had signed a five-year contract. His contract at the Premier League club was due to expire next year but the Blues …

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | AFP |  Brazil’s Neymar went to a Rio de Janeiro police station Thursday to give a statement in a probe into whether he broke the law by posting intimate pictures of a woman who accused him of rape. The football megastar — full name Neymar …

Kingston, Jamaica | AFP |   They don’t have tons of money, sponsors or flashy practice facilities but they didn’t let that stop them: Jamaica’s ‘Reggae Girlz’, the women’s national football team that did not even exist a few years ago, are heading to France to do battle for the World …

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | AFP | Forced out of the Copa America by injury, star striker Neymar faces an uncertain playing future in Paris Saint-Germain and Brazil where he is engulfed in an alleged rape scandal. Neymar vehemently denies the accusation, which has dominated headlines and dogged Brazil’s preparations for …

Montreal, Canada | AFP | Lewis Hamilton said on Thursday Formula One should be a much greater physical challenge for the drivers and they should be as tired as long-distance runners at the end of a Grand Prix. “I could do two or three races in a row and Formula One …

Brasília, Brazil | AFP |  Brazil’s Copa America preparations suffered a huge injury scare on Wednesday after striker Neymar limped off the field as the Selecao beat Qatar 2-0 in a friendly. A distraught-looking Neymar was seen covering his face with his hands as he sat on the bench after …

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | AFP |  Brazilians for the first time late Wednesday heard from the woman who says that football superstar Neymar sexually assaulted her at a Paris hotel. Extracts of a televised interview with Najila Trindade Mendes de Souza, the alleged victim, aired just one hour before Neymar …