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(Dillon Minshall/Yahoo Sports)
Soccer's biggest stars have shined brightest at the World Cup, but enough ink has been spilled on Messi, Mbappé, Kane, and Bellingham (for now). While nobody would be surprised if any of those players decided this week's semifinals — kicking off today with France vs. Spain — it's just as likely that less accomplished players will steal the spotlight.
Meet our X-factors: Here's one player on each of the four semifinalists who is capable of flipping an outcome and capturing eternal glory.
Lamine Yamal
Before the tournament began, many would have expected the Barcelona wunderkind to rank among its headliners given his electric introduction at Euro 2024. It hasn't happened yet, with just one goal and no assists through six matches, but one well-timed strike today against Les Bleus would entirely rewrite the prevailing narrative.
Turning tide: Yamal entered the World Cup slowed by injury, but his Player of the Match performance in Spain's quarterfinal victory over Belgium indicates he may be ready to erupt. As he continues playing his way into form, alarm bells will be ringing for the French defense, and what better way to celebrate his birthday — he turned 19 yesterday — than with a goal that sends his country to the World Cup Final?
Michael Olise
Michael Olise is arguably the best player at this tournament without a goal, but the quiet Frenchman's impact has been undeniable. "He saves his words," Mbappé said of his teammate. "His feet do the talking for him."
Star wingman: Though Olise's 17 shots have proven fruitless — the most by any player at this World Cup without scoring — the Bayern Munich winger has left his mark with a tournament-leading five assists. And given their scoring prowess, if Olise keeps putting Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé in a position to find the net, France will be incredibly tough to beat.
Dan Burn
The 6-foot-7 defender has registered just 24 minutes of playing time during the World Cup, but that admittedly tiny sample belies how critical Burn is to England's success. The Three Lions' not-so-secret weapon is deployed late in games to protect leads and patrol the air around the box, closing out victories like he's soccer's version of Mariano Rivera.
Stat stuffer: In those 24 minutes, the high-flying Englishman has registered two blocks and nine clearances, seven of those headed. His six clearances against Mexico were the most on record by a player subbed on in the 75th minute or later of a World Cup match. And if those numbers don't convey the type of impact he can have, perhaps these highlights will.
Emiliano Martínez
In his Argentine career, goalkeeper Emi Martínez has allowed goals on just 12 of the 24 penalty shots he's faced, a record worthy of national immortality. It's also the stuff of nightmares for Argentina's next opponent, as England's history is riddled with high-profile penalty disasters, and the prospect of facing Martínez in a shootout is enough to evoke a cold sweat at teatime. Martínez, on the other hand, would relish nothing more, making him all the more terrifying.
Psychological edge: While Martínez's physical abilities are important, his edge over the lonely attackers standing at the penalty spot is psychological. Among his tactics in mental warfare: tossing the ball away, talking to the official to delay kicks, standing on the spot, celebrating wildly, and vocalizing the opposition's nervous demeanor. FIFA implemented a code of conduct for goalkeepers after the 2022 World Cup, but we doubt it will deter "Dibu's" antics.
Further reading:After 100 matches, the semifinals belong to soccer's heavyweights(Steven Goff, Yahoo Sports)
(Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
Philadelphia — Jordan Walker pulled off one of the greatest comebacks in Home Run Derby history on Monday night, beating hometown hero Kyle Schwarber in an electric final round to become the first Cardinal ever to win the Derby. The performance earned him $1 million, more than the 24-year-old breakout star's entire 2026 salary ($799,400).
How it happened: Schwarber, playing in front of a Philly crowd that mercilessly booed everyone other than him and teammate Bryce Harper, went first and smacked 11 homers. Walker had just 6 HR with three swings left, but then he put on a clutch performance for the ages, homering on his final six swings — including four on the do-or-die final swing — to capture the crown.
Spieth during Monday's practice round. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Southport, England — The 154th Open Championship is almost here, with golfers having arrived for the season's final major at Royal Birkdale Golf Club — the site of Jordan Spieth's greatest triumph.
It's been a while: Spieth won his third major when he was just 23 all the way back in 2017, the last time The Open came to Royal Birkdale. But he's won just two more times since then, and not at all since 2022. Despite that fallow period, he remains optimistic: "Knowing me, when the lid pops off the hole, I feel like I can go on a run about as hot as anybody can run," he said on Monday. "So I'm just waiting for that opportunity."
(Ryan Pierse/FIFA via Getty Images)
Dallas, Texas — You think you like the World Cup? Meet Sherjeel Ahmed, an English superfan who's been to 16 matches in 12 cities across the U.S., Canada and Mexico and has accumulated jerseys from all 48 teams. (No, you're not miscounting — he lost four during his travels.)
Not done yet: You don't really think he'd come all this way without seeing it through, right? He's got tickets to both semifinals and the final, where if he's lucky he'll be able to witness his Three Lions bring it home.
20 different clubs have at least two players still competing in the World Cup. (Grant Thomas/Yahoo Sports)
As the semifinals kick off today, just 104 players remain in the World Cup. But where do they ply their trade when not representing France, Spain, England and Argentina on the sport's biggest stage?
League-by-league breakdown: La Liga boasts the two most well-represented clubs* while the Premier League has the most total players — perhaps not surprising given those are universally recognized as the two best leagues in the world. All in, they account for 70 of those 104 players (67%), with the other 34 spread across nine additional leagues.
Wild stat: Despite 21 of England's 26 players hailing from the Premier League, not a single one of them has scored yet in this tournament as all of the Three Lions' goals have come from Bayern Munich's Harry Kane (6), Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham (6) and Marcus Rashford (1), who was on loan from Manchester United to Barcelona last season.
*Of note: This data is based on players' clubs at the start of the World Cup. Some have switched teams in the past month, but (obviously) have yet to appear for that new club.
(Amy Monks/Yahoo Sports)
Bryce Harper, the face of the franchise hosting this week's All-Star festivities, has (literally) achieved legend status, earning his way into tonight's exhibition via the commissioner's "Legend Pick." It's a decision that says something about Harper's place in the game: respected, venerated, secure. But that wasn't always the case.
Jake Mintz, Yahoo Sports:
For years, Harper was a villain. He arrived in pro ball ludicrously famous — too famous, some thought, for a teenager who hadn't proven anything.
Veterans bristled at his unbridled confidence, laid bare on that Sports Illustrated cover that dubbed him "Baseball's LeBron." Parts of the establishment sought to tear him down. An opposing minor-league team once offered fans 20% off coupons to the local IHOP if Harper struck out. In a 2010 Baseball Prospectus article, one front office official described the yet-to-be-drafted, 17-year-old Harper as "just a bad, bad guy."
Few athletes have ever carried such weighty expectations, from such a young age, for such a long time. LeBron James, Serena Williams and Tiger Woods all entered the limelight before they could vote, but they did so well before the ubiquity of social media.
Harper's early fame was altogether different, a direct product of an internet we didn't yet understand. Grainy videos of him clocking 500-foot moon shots in big-league yards made him an icon for a younger generation of baseball fans. He was, in many ways, the first American sports phenom of the digital age.
Harper's talent made him famous, but his attitude — and the same digital forces that built his fame — also made him a target.
"I think it just came with how forced down everyone's throat he was," former big leaguer Tom Koehler once said of Harper's negative reputation in MLB during his first few seasons. "It was not his fault, but he was hitting home runs off Nolan Ryan in commercials."
And Harper didn't make it any easier for himself, blowing kisses, scraping his cleats across opposing teams' logos, wearing eye black like war paint, crashing into walls at full speed, carrying himself like he owned the sport. He refused to adhere to expectations of what he should be or how he should play. He was misunderstood, unfairly maligned and incredibly provocative, all at once.
Keep reading.
(Josh Heim/Yahoo Sports)
️ France vs. Spain
The first World Cup semifinal is this afternoon in Dallas (3pm ET, Fox), where Les Bleus and La Roja square off for a spot in the final.
Brick walls: Goals will be at a premium in today's matchup, as Spain have conceded just one all tournament and France have conceded two. Though if any team can break through Spain's nearly impenetrable defense it's France, whose duo of Kylian Mbappé (8 goals) and Ousmane Dembélé (5) have combined for more goals than all but two entire teams.
️ MLB All-Star Game
The 96th Midsummer Classic is tonight at Philadelphia's Citizens Bank Park (8pm, Fox), where the National League will look to win two in a row for the first time since 2012. Here are the starting lineups, with Mike Trout leading off for the AL and Kyle Schwarber leading off for the NL.
Fun fact: Dylan Cease is the first Blue Jays pitcher to start the All-Star Game since Roy Halladay in 2009, and Cristopher Sánchez is the first Phillies pitcher to start the All-Star Game since… Roy Halladay in 2011. Doc, man.
More to watch:
Got plans tonight? Gametime is the best place to score last-minute tickets to the events in your city. Get tickets now!
The 2025 NL All-Stars celebrate their victory. (Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
Question: Can you name the four MLB players who've made at least 20 career appearances on an All-Star roster?
Hint: They all benefited from the four seasons (1959-62) in which two All-Star Games were held.
Answer at the bottom.
The semifinals in the world's biggest soccer tournament begin today! Pick your winners for both games in 2026 Soccer Pick 'Em from Yahoo Sports and FOX One.
How to play: Make your picks, earn points for correct predictions and climb the leaderboard. You can play solo against the field, create a private group with friends to compete for bragging rights, or join a public group to play with other fans.
Make your picks.
Trivia answer: Hank Aaron (25 appearances), Willie Mays (24), Stan Musial (24), Mickey Mantle (20)
We hope you enjoyed this edition of Yahoo Sports AM, our daily newsletter that keeps you up to date on all things sports. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox every weekday morning.
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️ OUT OF THE SHADOWS, INTO THE SPOTLIGHT
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(Dillon Minshall/Yahoo Sports)
Soccer's biggest stars have shined brightest at the World Cup, but enough ink has been spilled on Messi, Mbappé, Kane, and Bellingham (for now). While nobody would be surprised if any of those players decided this week's semifinals — kicking off today with France vs. Spain — it's just as likely that less accomplished players will steal the spotlight.
Meet our X-factors: Here's one player on each of the four semifinalists who is capable of flipping an outcome and capturing eternal glory.
Lamine Yamal
Before the tournament began, many would have expected the Barcelona wunderkind to rank among its headliners given his electric introduction at Euro 2024. It hasn't happened yet, with just one goal and no assists through six matches, but one well-timed strike today against Les Bleus would entirely rewrite the prevailing narrative.
Turning tide: Yamal entered the World Cup slowed by injury, but his Player of the Match performance in Spain's quarterfinal victory over Belgium indicates he may be ready to erupt. As he continues playing his way into form, alarm bells will be ringing for the French defense, and what better way to celebrate his birthday — he turned 19 yesterday — than with a goal that sends his country to the World Cup Final?
Michael Olise
Michael Olise is arguably the best player at this tournament without a goal, but the quiet Frenchman's impact has been undeniable. "He saves his words," Mbappé said of his teammate. "His feet do the talking for him."
Star wingman: Though Olise's 17 shots have proven fruitless — the most by any player at this World Cup without scoring — the Bayern Munich winger has left his mark with a tournament-leading five assists. And given their scoring prowess, if Olise keeps putting Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé in a position to find the net, France will be incredibly tough to beat.
Dan Burn
The 6-foot-7 defender has registered just 24 minutes of playing time during the World Cup, but that admittedly tiny sample belies how critical Burn is to England's success. The Three Lions' not-so-secret weapon is deployed late in games to protect leads and patrol the air around the box, closing out victories like he's soccer's version of Mariano Rivera.
Stat stuffer: In those 24 minutes, the high-flying Englishman has registered two blocks and nine clearances, seven of those headed. His six clearances against Mexico were the most on record by a player subbed on in the 75th minute or later of a World Cup match. And if those numbers don't convey the type of impact he can have, perhaps these highlights will.
Emiliano Martínez
In his Argentine career, goalkeeper Emi Martínez has allowed goals on just 12 of the 24 penalty shots he's faced, a record worthy of national immortality. It's also the stuff of nightmares for Argentina's next opponent, as England's history is riddled with high-profile penalty disasters, and the prospect of facing Martínez in a shootout is enough to evoke a cold sweat at teatime. Martínez, on the other hand, would relish nothing more, making him all the more terrifying.
Psychological edge: While Martínez's physical abilities are important, his edge over the lonely attackers standing at the penalty spot is psychological. Among his tactics in mental warfare: tossing the ball away, talking to the official to delay kicks, standing on the spot, celebrating wildly, and vocalizing the opposition's nervous demeanor. FIFA implemented a code of conduct for goalkeepers after the 2022 World Cup, but we doubt it will deter "Dibu's" antics.
Further reading:After 100 matches, the semifinals belong to soccer's heavyweights(Steven Goff, Yahoo Sports)
THROUGH THE LENS
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(Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
Philadelphia — Jordan Walker pulled off one of the greatest comebacks in Home Run Derby history on Monday night, beating hometown hero Kyle Schwarber in an electric final round to become the first Cardinal ever to win the Derby. The performance earned him $1 million, more than the 24-year-old breakout star's entire 2026 salary ($799,400).
How it happened: Schwarber, playing in front of a Philly crowd that mercilessly booed everyone other than him and teammate Bryce Harper, went first and smacked 11 homers. Walker had just 6 HR with three swings left, but then he put on a clutch performance for the ages, homering on his final six swings — including four on the do-or-die final swing — to capture the crown.
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Spieth during Monday's practice round. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Southport, England — The 154th Open Championship is almost here, with golfers having arrived for the season's final major at Royal Birkdale Golf Club — the site of Jordan Spieth's greatest triumph.
It's been a while: Spieth won his third major when he was just 23 all the way back in 2017, the last time The Open came to Royal Birkdale. But he's won just two more times since then, and not at all since 2022. Despite that fallow period, he remains optimistic: "Knowing me, when the lid pops off the hole, I feel like I can go on a run about as hot as anybody can run," he said on Monday. "So I'm just waiting for that opportunity."
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(Ryan Pierse/FIFA via Getty Images)
Dallas, Texas — You think you like the World Cup? Meet Sherjeel Ahmed, an English superfan who's been to 16 matches in 12 cities across the U.S., Canada and Mexico and has accumulated jerseys from all 48 teams. (No, you're not miscounting — he lost four during his travels.)
Not done yet: You don't really think he'd come all this way without seeing it through, right? He's got tickets to both semifinals and the final, where if he's lucky he'll be able to witness his Three Lions bring it home.
️ WORLD CUP SEMIFINALISTS BY CLUB
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20 different clubs have at least two players still competing in the World Cup. (Grant Thomas/Yahoo Sports)
As the semifinals kick off today, just 104 players remain in the World Cup. But where do they ply their trade when not representing France, Spain, England and Argentina on the sport's biggest stage?
League-by-league breakdown: La Liga boasts the two most well-represented clubs* while the Premier League has the most total players — perhaps not surprising given those are universally recognized as the two best leagues in the world. All in, they account for 70 of those 104 players (67%), with the other 34 spread across nine additional leagues.
- Premier League (41 players): Arsenal (8), Manchester City (6), Aston Villa (5), Chelsea (5), Crystal Palace (4), Tottenham (3), Newcastle United (2), Manchester United (2), Liverpool (2), Bournemouth, Everton, Nottingham Forest, Brentford
- La Liga (29): Barcelona (10), Atlético Madrid (9), Real Madrid (3), Athletic Bilbao (3), Real Betis, Real Sociedad, Osasuna, Celta Vigo
- Ligue 1 (13): Paris Saint-Germain (6), Marseille (2), Lyon, Strasbourg, Rennes, Lens, Monaco
- Bundesliga (6): Bayern Munich (3), Bayer Leverkusen (3)
- Serie A (6): AC Milan (2), Inter Milan (2), Como, Roma
- MLS (2): Inter Miami (2)
- Primera División (2): River Plate, Boca Juniors
- Saudi Pro League (2): Al-Hilal, Al-Ahli
- Primeira Liga (1): Benfica
- Süper Lig (1): Fenerbahçe
- Brasileirão (1): Palmeiras
Wild stat: Despite 21 of England's 26 players hailing from the Premier League, not a single one of them has scored yet in this tournament as all of the Three Lions' goals have come from Bayern Munich's Harry Kane (6), Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham (6) and Marcus Rashford (1), who was on loan from Manchester United to Barcelona last season.
*Of note: This data is based on players' clubs at the start of the World Cup. Some have switched teams in the past month, but (obviously) have yet to appear for that new club.
️ BRYCE HARPER'S JOURNEY FROM VILLAIN TO LEGEND
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(Amy Monks/Yahoo Sports)
Bryce Harper, the face of the franchise hosting this week's All-Star festivities, has (literally) achieved legend status, earning his way into tonight's exhibition via the commissioner's "Legend Pick." It's a decision that says something about Harper's place in the game: respected, venerated, secure. But that wasn't always the case.
Jake Mintz, Yahoo Sports:
For years, Harper was a villain. He arrived in pro ball ludicrously famous — too famous, some thought, for a teenager who hadn't proven anything.
Veterans bristled at his unbridled confidence, laid bare on that Sports Illustrated cover that dubbed him "Baseball's LeBron." Parts of the establishment sought to tear him down. An opposing minor-league team once offered fans 20% off coupons to the local IHOP if Harper struck out. In a 2010 Baseball Prospectus article, one front office official described the yet-to-be-drafted, 17-year-old Harper as "just a bad, bad guy."
Few athletes have ever carried such weighty expectations, from such a young age, for such a long time. LeBron James, Serena Williams and Tiger Woods all entered the limelight before they could vote, but they did so well before the ubiquity of social media.
Harper's early fame was altogether different, a direct product of an internet we didn't yet understand. Grainy videos of him clocking 500-foot moon shots in big-league yards made him an icon for a younger generation of baseball fans. He was, in many ways, the first American sports phenom of the digital age.
Harper's talent made him famous, but his attitude — and the same digital forces that built his fame — also made him a target.
"I think it just came with how forced down everyone's throat he was," former big leaguer Tom Koehler once said of Harper's negative reputation in MLB during his first few seasons. "It was not his fault, but he was hitting home runs off Nolan Ryan in commercials."
And Harper didn't make it any easier for himself, blowing kisses, scraping his cleats across opposing teams' logos, wearing eye black like war paint, crashing into walls at full speed, carrying himself like he owned the sport. He refused to adhere to expectations of what he should be or how he should play. He was misunderstood, unfairly maligned and incredibly provocative, all at once.
Keep reading.
WATCHLIST: TUESDAY, JULY 14
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(Josh Heim/Yahoo Sports)
️ France vs. SpainThe first World Cup semifinal is this afternoon in Dallas (3pm ET, Fox), where Les Bleus and La Roja square off for a spot in the final.
Brick walls: Goals will be at a premium in today's matchup, as Spain have conceded just one all tournament and France have conceded two. Though if any team can break through Spain's nearly impenetrable defense it's France, whose duo of Kylian Mbappé (8 goals) and Ousmane Dembélé (5) have combined for more goals than all but two entire teams.
️ MLB All-Star GameThe 96th Midsummer Classic is tonight at Philadelphia's Citizens Bank Park (8pm, Fox), where the National League will look to win two in a row for the first time since 2012. Here are the starting lineups, with Mike Trout leading off for the AL and Kyle Schwarber leading off for the NL.
Fun fact: Dylan Cease is the first Blue Jays pitcher to start the All-Star Game since Roy Halladay in 2009, and Cristopher Sánchez is the first Phillies pitcher to start the All-Star Game since… Roy Halladay in 2011. Doc, man.
More to watch:
- WNBA: Mystics at Tempo (7pm, NBA) … Toronto's Marina Mabrey has as many 30-point performances in her last seven games (4) as she did in her first seven seasons combined. Her 21.6 ppg ranks third in the league.
- Tour de France: Stage 10 (7am, Peacock) … Tadej Pogačar holds a 2 minute, 42 second lead over Jonas Vingegaard as the race nears its halfway point.
- NBA Summer League: Grizzlies vs. Warriors (7pm, ESPN) … No. 3 pick Cameron Boozer (Memphis) vs. No. 11 pick Yaxel Lendeborg (Golden State).
Got plans tonight? Gametime is the best place to score last-minute tickets to the events in your city. Get tickets now!
MLB TRIVIA
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The 2025 NL All-Stars celebrate their victory. (Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
Question: Can you name the four MLB players who've made at least 20 career appearances on an All-Star roster?
Hint: They all benefited from the four seasons (1959-62) in which two All-Star Games were held.
Answer at the bottom.
️ WORLD CUP: MAKE YOUR PICKS!
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The semifinals in the world's biggest soccer tournament begin today! Pick your winners for both games in 2026 Soccer Pick 'Em from Yahoo Sports and FOX One.
How to play: Make your picks, earn points for correct predictions and climb the leaderboard. You can play solo against the field, create a private group with friends to compete for bragging rights, or join a public group to play with other fans.
Make your picks.
Trivia answer: Hank Aaron (25 appearances), Willie Mays (24), Stan Musial (24), Mickey Mantle (20)
We hope you enjoyed this edition of Yahoo Sports AM, our daily newsletter that keeps you up to date on all things sports. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox every weekday morning.
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