Neale Daniher, the former Essendon player, Melbourne coach and nationally prominent campaigner against motor neurone disease (MND), has died aged 65, his family said on Monday. Daniher, diagnosed with MND in 2013, passed away at home surrounded by family. He played 82 games for Essendon between 1979 and 1990 and coached Melbourne from 1998 to 2007, overseeing more than 220 games. After his diagnosis he co‑founded FightMND and helped create the annual Big Freeze fundraiser tied to the Melbourne–Collingwood King’s Birthday match, raising substantial funds and awareness for research and care. He was named Victorian of the Year in 2019 and Australian of the Year in 2025 for his advocacy. State and sporting leaders paid tribute and Victoria has offered a state funeral. Daniher is survived by his wife Jan and their children; arrangements and tributes are expected in coming days, with the next Big Freeze scheduled around the King’s Birthday fixture in a fortnight.

Lionel Messi left Inter Miami’s final Major League Soccer match before the World Cup on May 24, walking off in the 73rd minute after clutching the back of his left leg in a 6-4 win over the Philadelphia Union. Messi provided two assists in a record-setting first half — Inter Miami led a wild 4-4 at the break before Luis Suárez completed a hat trick — but signalled for a substitution after appearing to feel his left hamstring. He departed directly to the locker room and no immediate medical diagnosis was released. Inter Miami coach Guillermo Hoyos described the withdrawal as precautionary and attributed it in part to fatigue and heavy pitch conditions; subsequent reports said the hamstring felt “tight” though no confirmed muscle tear was announced. The match set MLS marks for combined first-half scoring and featured hat tricks for both Suárez and Philadelphia’s Milan Iloski. The incident comes with Argentina due to begin World Cup group play on June 16, and Messi is widely expected to be considered for the squad due to be finalised in the coming days.

Andrew Abdo has resigned as chief executive of Australia’s National Rugby League to become chief executive of Tennis Australia, the organisations confirmed on May 25, 2026. Abdo, who joined the NRL as chief commercial officer in 2013 and became CEO in 2020, presided over record crowds, TV ratings, commercial growth, international initiatives including season-opening matches in Las Vegas, and expansion plans for Perth (2027) and Papua New Guinea (2028). He will remain with the NRL until about July 15 to complete broadcast negotiations. Tennis Australia said a global search that attracted more than 150 candidates identified Abdo as its pick to succeed Craig Tiley, who left earlier this year to run the U.S. Tennis Association. The appointment has surprised some in tennis because Abdo has limited tennis experience; Tennis Australia has not yet confirmed whether he will also take on Australian Open tournament director duties. Peter V’landys, chair of the Australian Rugby League Commission, will serve as interim NRL CEO and is expected to take leave from Racing NSW as the code conducts a leadership transition during critical broadcast and commercial talks.

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.