Lionel Messi exited Inter Miami’s final MLS game before the World Cup on May 25, 2026, after grabbing the back of his left leg and requesting a substitution in the 73rd minute of a 6-4 win over the Philadelphia Union. Messi provided two assists in a record-setting first half but walked straight down the tunnel after being replaced by Mateo Silvetti, appearing to leave under his own power. No immediate medical diagnosis was released; Inter Miami coach Guillermo Hoyos said the player was fatigued and the club would assess him further. Messi has had prior hamstring problems during his time in MLS. Argentina’s squad is due to be named soon and the defending world champions have warm-up friendlies on June 6 (Honduras) and June 9 (Iceland) before opening Group J play against Algeria in Kansas City on June 16. The timing — less than three weeks before tournament kickoff — makes any injury to the 38-year-old a major concern for Argentina’s preparations and selection plans.

Kyle Busch, a two-time NASCAR Cup champion and the winningest driver across NASCAR’s three national series, died at 41 after severe pneumonia progressed into sepsis, his family said on May 24. Sources and emergency audio indicate Busch became unresponsive while testing a Chevrolet racing simulator at a GM facility in Concord, North Carolina, and was transported to a Charlotte hospital after a 911 call reported shortness of breath and coughing up blood. The family said a medical evaluation found pneumonia had advanced into sepsis, causing rapid, overwhelming complications. Richard Childress Racing said it will temporarily retire Busch’s No. 8 and has reserved it for his 11-year-old son, Brexton; teammate Austin Hill will replace Busch at the Coca-Cola 600. NASCAR and the wider motorsports community held tributes at the Coca-Cola 600 and Indianapolis 500, with all cars carrying a black No. 8 decal and moments of silence. Busch is survived by his wife Samantha and two children, Brexton and Lennix. He won 234 races across NASCAR’s top three series and was Cup champion in 2015 and 2019.

Felix Rosenqvist edged David Malukas by 0.0233 seconds to win the 110th Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 24, 2026, producing the closest finish in the race’s history. Driving for Meyer Shank Racing, Rosenqvist made a decisive outside pass in the final feet after a dramatic late sequence that included a red flag for rookie Caio Collet’s fiery crash, a second late caution when Mick Schumacher brushed the wall, and a one-lap restart. The result marked Rosenqvist’s first Indy 500 victory and his second career IndyCar win. Malukas, driving for Team Penske, finished a distraught runner-up for the second consecutive year; Scott McLaughlin was third, Pato O’Ward fourth and Marcus Armstrong fifth. The race featured multiple long cautions, weather interruptions and numerous lead changes, producing high drama for fans and teams and reshuffling early championship points — Malukas moved up in the standings despite the loss.

May 24 - The NBA conference finals tilted decidedly in favor of the New York Knicks and the Oklahoma City Thunder this weekend. In Cleveland, the Knicks crushed the Cavaliers 121-108 in Game 3 to take a 3-0 Eastern Conference lead and march one win from their first NBA Finals appearance since 1999. Jalen Brunson led New York with 30 points while Mikal Bridges added 22; the Knicks extended a franchise-record 10-game postseason winning streak and have dominated by an average margin of 22.5 points. Game 4 is Monday in Cleveland. Out West, the Thunder rallied in San Antonio to beat the Spurs 123-108 in Game 3 on Friday, taking a 2-1 series edge. Oklahoma City’s reserves exploded for a franchise playoff-record 76 bench points; Jared McCain scored 24 and Jaylin Williams 18, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 26. San Antonio faces questions about depth when Victor Wembanyama rests; lingering injuries to Spurs guards have also been cited. Game 4 in the Western finals is set for Sunday in San Antonio.

May 23-24 — The visiting Pittsburgh Pirates snapped a three-game series in Toronto with a 4-1 victory Sunday, avoiding a sweep at the hands of the Toronto Blue Jays. Rookie Esmerlyn Valdez belted a two-run homer — his first career major league hit — as Pittsburgh produced key offense behind starter Mitch Keller, who improved to 5-2 with six innings allowing one run, four hits and five strikeouts. Spencer Horwitz and Oneil Cruz also homered for the Pirates, and Gregory Soto recorded his fifth save. The win ended Toronto’s four-game winning streak after the Blue Jays had beaten Pittsburgh 5-2 on Saturday, when George Springer opened with a leadoff homer and veteran Patrick Corbin outpitched Pirates ace Paul Skenes with six innings, seven strikeouts and no walks. The series saw injury scares: Pirates starter Paul Skenes was touched up across the weekend, and Toronto lost Dylan Cease to mild left hamstring discomfort and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to a right elbow contusion on Sunday; X-rays on Guerrero were negative. The split leaves both teams with momentum questions as they head into the next stretch of the season.