The WildFlower

All the results of the just concluded 2026 FIFA World Cup

Who will the 2026 FIFA World Cup

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Ronaldo. Who else?

Ronaldo might be retiring soon, but as of now, it is not official, and the world of football has gone down memory lane to remind itself of the greatest Portuguese player.

I have seen many matches where Ronaldo has shone brightest, but one stands out in my mind, partly because it was full of suspense, intrigue, and the characters involved.

If there's any World Cup match that should be considered for Netflix, it is the Group B 2018 FIFA World Cup clash between Portugal and Spain.

Players don't need to win a match to show the world the substance they are made of; the remarkable game in Sochi was synonymous with Mbappé's exploits at the 2022 World Cup final at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar, which ended 3-3 at full time, where he scored a hat-trick.

WORLD CUP 2018: PORTUGAL 3-3 SPAIN

Xavier Hernández Creus had retired, but the Spanish midfield parade included Thiago Alcântara (Bayern Munich), Marco Asensio (Real Madrid), Sergio Busquets (Barcelona), Andrés Iniesta (Barcelona), Isco (Real Madrid), Koke (Atlético Madrid), Saúl Ñíguez (Atlético Madrid), and David Silva (Manchester City).

This calibre of players is what Nigerians call Ajé (witch) in our local parlance — they are no ordinary players; they are gods of the centre midfield. I can imagine someone taking a deep breath while reading their names, considering their exploits and capabilities.

Out of the lot, Sergio Busquets, Andrés Iniesta, and David Silva were the only players who won the country's first-ever World Cup and were part of the 2018 World Cup held in Russia; in total, they were six, including Gerard Piqué, Sergio Ramos, and Pepe Reina.

Except for the goalkeeper, five were in the starting eleven at the Fisht Olympic Stadium in Sochi on June 18, 2018; they are World Cup winners, serial champions, game changers. Others include Diego Costa, Jordi Alba, Nacho, and David de Gea in goal.

It was the second match in Group B between Spain and the Cristiano Ronaldo-led Portuguese side, facing three of his then Real Madrid teammates, and bouncing off as European champion; it was in such a game that Ronaldo showed the world why billions of people across the globe prefer him as the GOAT. The Spanish team dominated the match but was unable to contain CR7.

Among the galaxies of stars and displays of artistry at the stadium, unpredictably, it was Ronaldo who shone the brightest and stole headlines in the six-goal thriller on the dramatic night. If not for the Portuguese's tenaciousness, Diego Costa, who scored a brace, would have unquestionably been the man of the match.

A few days before the World Cup, Adidas released their iconic (Greatest Of All Time) promotional campaign featuring Lionel Messi, which caused commotion amongst football fans. However, Ronaldo's performance at the Iberian derby a few days later was a coincidental response to Adidas and the Argentine's fanbase, reminding opposition of his artistry, which was exhilarating to football fans.

His iconic celebration after smashing his first goal of the encounter via penalty, sending De Gea the wrong way, was believed by many to be an impersonation of a goat; this further put football fans at loggerheads, while some think it was a mockery of the goalkeeper.

Twenty minutes later, Spain equalised; it was Diego Costa after overpowering the Portugal defence. His second goal was that of a poacher, shoving aside a defender before tapping home; this followed De Gea's blunder that gifted Ronaldo his second of the game.

At the 58th minute, Nacho Fernandez redeemed himself by giving his team the lead with a one-timer from outside the area, a replica of Roberto Carlos' famous free kick. With the Spanish side's dominance throughout the encounter, it was safe to say it was over for Portugal.

It wouldn't have been considered a bad game for Fernando Santos, considering there are two more games, Morocco and Iran, to play to qualify for the next round. With two minutes left to full time and a foul by Piqué, Portugal got a free kick outside the box, and it was Ronaldo to take the shot. CR7 has never scored from a free kick in his 44th attempt, so why would this be different?

His heyday as a free kick specialist was gone; the silence and anticipation as he stepped forward rippled through the hearts of millions watching, including me.

Ronaldo took his iconic stance and struck a masterful 22-yard shot that flew over the defensive wall and dipped violently into the top corner.

The world erupted.

He scored the first; they said it was a penalty.
He scored the second; they said it was the keeper's error. He scored the scintillating free kick, and they shut their mouths.

He is Cristiano Ronaldo. Who else?

It's a great advantage for Leo Messi to be a member of the Argentine's National team than the team having Messi .

There was never a time La Albiceleste was short of talents and resourcefulness in the field of play .

Leo Messi is just one of them .

What are your thoughts

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Who will win the 2026 FIFA World Cup

France
Argentina
England
Spain

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce : A career worthy of emulation

There are moments in Sports that every nation wishes a particular athlete represented them.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is such an athlete, but these desires don't come when the athlete is still unknown.

She entered the global stage as a reserve in 2007 in Japan as part of the 1,817 athletes in Osaka at the World Championships.

Though she got a silver medal in the 4x100m among the notables like Veronica Campbell but no worthy mention of her name.

Then she was just Shelly-Ann Fraser.

From relative obscurity to global stardom, what can be more surprising in athletics at the Beijing Olympics?

85 competitors from 69 nations participated in women's 100m events at the 29th Olympic Games, Against all analysis, forecast and predictions for the race, the fifth foot athlete won the gold medal in a personal best of 10.78s

Though the winning margin was 0.20 seconds, Jamaicans dominated the podium as no bronze medal was awarded officially as both Sherone Simpson and Kerron Stewart finished in a time of 10.98s.

The victory for the young lady made her the first woman from the Caribbean to win the 100m Gold at the Olympics.

If winning the 100m Gold was a shock, how can we describe what happened four years after at the London 2012 Summer Olympics?

Phenomenal, Magnificent, Unequalled, name it

Before London 2012, there was only one female athlete that has defended the women's 100m final at the Olympics, America's Gails Devers became the first at the Atlanta 96 Olympics after defending the title, she won at the Barcelona 92.

16 years later, In lane 6 at Olympics stadium in London , stood Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce , now married , beside her in lane 7 is Nigeria's Blessing Okagbare , the race is one of the most competitive women's 100 race in history as a record number of six competitors bettered the 11 seconds barrier in an Olympic final for the first time.

It was a knife edge finish as the Jamaica won in 10.70s , 0.03s of America's Carmelita Jeter , whom the former picked as her greatest and fearful rival in her career , while Veronica Campbell-Brown finished third in 10.81s

The race witnessed several personal best times with the USA's duo of Tianna Madison and Allyson Felix, who finished in fourth and fifth respectively.

After the victory, the Jamaican became the second woman to defend the 100m at the Olympics , the two Africans in the highly competitive lineup finished seventh and eighth respectively .

Known as the 'The Pocket Rocket', the diminutive five-foot tall went on in her Olympics career to win a total of 3 Gold , 4 Silver and a bronze medal.

At the Lussiane Diamond League in Switzerland in 2021, the Jamaican recorded the third fastest time in the history of the women's 100m in a time of 10.60s to become the third fastest woman in the 100m behind compatriot Elaine Thompson-Herah(10.54s) and USA's Florence Griffith-Joyner (10.49s).

Her World Championships success was a remarkable journey , at the 2019 World Championships, Fraser-Pryce made history by becoming the first mother and the oldest woman to win the 100m sprint .

At the end of her career , which was at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo a few weeks ago, the pride of the Caribbean has a vault full of medals that includes, 10 Gold, 6 silver and one bronze medal.

Welcome Melissa Jefferson-Wooden of the United States , Julien Alfred of Saint Lucia and Jamaica’s Tina Clayton.

Ezekiel Nathaniel: Nigeria, behold your next World Champion

Every race, Nigeria's Ezekiel Nathaniel has competed in the 400 metres hurdles with Olympic champion Rai Benjamin, the third fastest athlete in the history of the event, Brazil's Alison do Santos - a bronze medalist from the 2020 and 2024 Olympics, and Norwegian Karsten Warholm, Olympic and World record holder, - the Texas based NCAA champion is always sixth or fifth metres behind them.

At the 2024 Paris Olympics, during the semifinals, the Nigerian finished fifth (48.65) behind Karsten Warlholm, Clement Ducos and Alison do Santos and could not qualify for the final.

I guess it was after the race that he made up his mind about what his target for 2025 will be.

Now in 2025

Ezekiel Nathaniel has broken the Nigerian record in the 400mH six times, the Nigerian record holder is 0.01s away from the African record set by Zambia's Samuel Matete 34 years ago.

Congratulations in advance to the next African record holder in the 400mH

Just a few days ago at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Nathaniel found himself as he desired in the midst of the champions of the event, he finished in fourth place ahead of Norwegian Karsten Warholm, Olympic and World record holder but behind Olympic Champion Rai Benjamin, who is the North, Central American and Carribbean record holder, South America record holder, Alison Dos Santos and Asia Record holder, Abderrahman Samba from Qatar, who won Gold, Silver and Bronze medal respectively.

After almost thirty years of seeing a Nigerian at the finals of the 400mH at the World Championships, Ezekiel was 0.05s from being the first Nigerian to win a medal at the World Athletics Championships at the 400 m H event.

In his first World Championship in Budapest, the 22-year-old reached the semifinals but was 0.59s shy of winning Nigeria's second Gold at the world championships.

The city of Beijing will host the next World Athletics Championship, a medal awaits Nigeria's Ezekiel Nathaniel even the Gold medal.

Nigeria behold your next World Athletics Champion - Ezekiel Nathaniel.

Ditaji Kambundji: from nowhere to win Gold.

Surprise, Surprise

Arguably the biggest shock at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.

Let's start.

How did I notice Ditaji Kambundji, aside from her name, I always observe that she finishes 7th or 8th at major championships. I became pathetic when I saw her run.

In most events, regardless of how fierce the lineup, I am always certain that the Swiss will finish far away from the medal table and she always proves me right.

She's never favourite in the women's 100m hurdles.

Regardless of my accuracy I am always baffled about her consistency.

Three years ago in Eugene, the 23-year-old finished 13th and could not qualify for the final, when Nigeria's Tobi Amusan won Gold.

A year later in Budapest, she finishes 7th behind Tobi Amusan while Danielle Williams of Jamaica won Gold.

Just yesterday, at Tokyo's National Stadium, the 23-year-old, to the surprise of tens of thousands of spectators and to her disbelief, defeated both reigning world and Olympic champions for her first major international championship.

Kambundji crossed the line with a personal record of 12.24 edging Nigeria's Tobi Amusan.

Just like the Nigerian, Kambundji became the first Swiss to win Gold at the World Athletics Championships in a sprint discipline.

Before the biggest shock of the world championships in Tokyo, Kambundji arrived in Tokyo with the tenth-best time of the season (12.40) among all hurdlers and sprinters.

She definitely came out of nowhere to win the women's 100m hurdles gold.