Netflix stunned the entertainment world this week when it declined to raise its bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, setting the stage for Paramount Skydance to win ownership of the Hollywood studio.
At the time, Netflix co-CEOs Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters said they were being financially disciplined. Now reporting in Bloomberg offers more details about why Netflix executives backed down from a bidding war that it seemed to win back in December.
For one thing, the streaming giant’s shareholders appeared deeply skeptical that the acquisition was a good deal — Netflix’s share price declined 30% since announcing the deal, while the subsequent news that it was backing down sent Netflix stock up nearly 14%.
For another, Netflix’s commitment to the deal reportedly wavered after Paramount came in with an increased offer and seemed willing to go several more rounds in a bidding war.
By the time Sarandos met with Trump administration officials on Thursday, he may already have decided to concede. In fact, since President Donald Trump had previously warned him not to overpay, Sarandos reportedly told him, “I took your advice.”
Meanwhile, employees at Warner Bros. now worry about major studio layoffs and conservative political pressure on CNN.
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#Netflix #deal #acquire #Warner #Bros #TechCrunch
heading to Roblox with a brand-new interactive experience that celebrates the band’s six-decade career. Launching on July 10, the experience arrives alongside the release of the band’s 25th studio album, Foreign Tongues, and lets players relive different eras of The Rolling Stones through gameplay, music, and collectible rewards. Beyond the game itself, the legendary band has partnered with Roblox creators to launch exclusive avatar items and real-world merchandise that players can buy directly in-game.
A Roblox Game That Takes You Through 60 Years of The Rolling Stones
Developed by Roblox Innovation Studio in collaboration with creative agency Sawhorse and members of Roblox’s creator community, the experience transforms The Rolling Stones’ musical legacy into a cooperative adventure. Players travel across different decades of the band’s career, where colorful crystals inspired by the group’s 2023 album Hackney Diamonds have trapped pieces of its history. Working together, players must locate and shatter these crystals while iconic songs from the corresponding era play in the background.
Each completed challenge powers up the band’s famous tongue-and-lips logo, which unleashes a burst of rock energy to unlock the next decade. The experience gradually evolves into a shared community event in which everyone’s progress contributes to unlocking the final performance. The game will be hosted inside The Block, Roblox’s always-available entertainment hub where artists can create interactive experiences for players.
Finale Event Brings Live Performances and Rotating Eras
The experience won’t end after launch. Between July 17 and July 19, Roblox will host a special finale event that changes every hour. Each rotation will focus on a different era of The Rolling Stones, complete with classic songs, themed visuals, interactive artwork, dynamic lighting, and visual effects inspired by the band’s history. Players will also be able to unlock in-game rewards and abilities inspired by The Rolling Stones throughout the event.
Alongside the game, Roblox invited more than a dozen creators from its global community to redesign The Rolling Stones’ iconic tongue-and-lips logo. The result is a collection of exclusive avatar accessories that players can wear inside Roblox. Interestingly, some of these virtual designs will also be available as limited-edition physical merchandise through an in-game Shopify integration, allowing fans to purchase them directly from The Rolling Stones’ online store without leaving Roblox.
Participating creators include Jazzyx3, CASKA’s HAUS, Touzled, Blizzei, DIONESS, morphist4u, WhoseTrade, Empyro, Bad_B0y, raekaro, Spiraxy, Valkenheim, DuckXander, Clockset, and dvdko.
heading to Roblox with a brand-new interactive experience that celebrates the band’s six-decade career. Launching on July 10, the experience arrives alongside the release of the band’s 25th studio album, Foreign Tongues, and lets players relive different eras of The Rolling Stones through gameplay, music, and collectible rewards. Beyond the game itself, the legendary band has partnered with Roblox creators to launch exclusive avatar items and real-world merchandise that players can buy directly in-game.
A Roblox Game That Takes You Through 60 Years of The Rolling Stones
Developed by Roblox Innovation Studio in collaboration with creative agency Sawhorse and members of Roblox’s creator community, the experience transforms The Rolling Stones’ musical legacy into a cooperative adventure. Players travel across different decades of the band’s career, where colorful crystals inspired by the group’s 2023 album Hackney Diamonds have trapped pieces of its history. Working together, players must locate and shatter these crystals while iconic songs from the corresponding era play in the background.
Each completed challenge powers up the band’s famous tongue-and-lips logo, which unleashes a burst of rock energy to unlock the next decade. The experience gradually evolves into a shared community event in which everyone’s progress contributes to unlocking the final performance. The game will be hosted inside The Block, Roblox’s always-available entertainment hub where artists can create interactive experiences for players.
Finale Event Brings Live Performances and Rotating Eras
The experience won’t end after launch. Between July 17 and July 19, Roblox will host a special finale event that changes every hour. Each rotation will focus on a different era of The Rolling Stones, complete with classic songs, themed visuals, interactive artwork, dynamic lighting, and visual effects inspired by the band’s history. Players will also be able to unlock in-game rewards and abilities inspired by The Rolling Stones throughout the event.
Alongside the game, Roblox invited more than a dozen creators from its global community to redesign The Rolling Stones’ iconic tongue-and-lips logo. The result is a collection of exclusive avatar accessories that players can wear inside Roblox. Interestingly, some of these virtual designs will also be available as limited-edition physical merchandise through an in-game Shopify integration, allowing fans to purchase them directly from The Rolling Stones’ online store without leaving Roblox.
Participating creators include Jazzyx3, CASKA’s HAUS, Touzled, Blizzei, DIONESS, morphist4u, WhoseTrade, Empyro, Bad_B0y, raekaro, Spiraxy, Valkenheim, DuckXander, Clockset, and dvdko.
#Rolling #Stones #Launch #Roblox #Game #Celebrating #Years #Rock #HistoryRoblox">The Rolling Stones Launch a Roblox Game Celebrating 60 Years of Rock History
The Rolling Stones are heading to Roblox with a brand-new interactive experience that celebrates the band’s six-decade career. Launching on July 10, the experience arrives alongside the release of the band’s 25th studio album, Foreign Tongues, and lets players relive different eras of The Rolling Stones through gameplay, music, and collectible rewards. Beyond the game itself, the legendary band has partnered with Roblox creators to launch exclusive avatar items and real-world merchandise that players can buy directly in-game.
A Roblox Game That Takes You Through 60 Years of The Rolling Stones
Developed by Roblox Innovation Studio in collaboration with creative agency Sawhorse and members of Roblox’s creator community, the experience transforms The Rolling Stones’ musical legacy into a cooperative adventure. Players travel across different decades of the band’s career, where colorful crystals inspired by the group’s 2023 album Hackney Diamonds have trapped pieces of its history. Working together, players must locate and shatter these crystals while iconic songs from the corresponding era play in the background.
Each completed challenge powers up the band’s famous tongue-and-lips logo, which unleashes a burst of rock energy to unlock the next decade. The experience gradually evolves into a shared community event in which everyone’s progress contributes to unlocking the final performance. The game will be hosted inside The Block, Roblox’s always-available entertainment hub where artists can create interactive experiences for players.
Finale Event Brings Live Performances and Rotating Eras
The experience won’t end after launch. Between July 17 and July 19, Roblox will host a special finale event that changes every hour. Each rotation will focus on a different era of The Rolling Stones, complete with classic songs, themed visuals, interactive artwork, dynamic lighting, and visual effects inspired by the band’s history. Players will also be able to unlock in-game rewards and abilities inspired by The Rolling Stones throughout the event.
Alongside the game, Roblox invited more than a dozen creators from its global community to redesign The Rolling Stones’ iconic tongue-and-lips logo. The result is a collection of exclusive avatar accessories that players can wear inside Roblox. Interestingly, some of these virtual designs will also be available as limited-edition physical merchandise through an in-game Shopify integration, allowing fans to purchase them directly from The Rolling Stones’ online store without leaving Roblox.
Participating creators include Jazzyx3, CASKA’s HAUS, Touzled, Blizzei, DIONESS, morphist4u, WhoseTrade, Empyro, Bad_B0y, raekaro, Spiraxy, Valkenheim, DuckXander, Clockset, and dvdko.
acknowledge the possibility of a connected outbreak in multiple Midwestern states. No specific food source linked to these cases has been identified as of yet, though local health officials have singled out lettuce or salad greens as potential culprits to avoid for residents in these hot spots.
A delayed alert
Cyclosporiasis is caused by various species of the microscopic parasite Cyclospora, predominantly Cyclospora cayatenensis. Though rarely life-threatening, the disease is infamous for causing watery and explosively loud bouts of diarrhea, along with other common symptoms of gastrointestinal illness.
Cyclosporiasis is endemic to tropical and subtropical parts of the world, and stateside cases tend to be traced back to imported food from these areas (particularly produce) or to people who initially caught the disease while traveling in these endemic regions. The incidence of cyclosporiasis seems to be increasing worldwide, however, and 2026 is gearing up to be an especially bad year for it in the U.S.
On July 1, the CDC first stated that 145 cases from 17 states had been reported to the agency as of mid-June. Even by then, though, it was clear the CDC’s reporting was woefully out of date. By July 4, health officials in Michigan (a state not included in the initial CDC tally) had reported over 500 cases in the state, which was already triple the number reported less than a week earlier. It would take an additional two weeks, on July 14, for the CDC to formally issue a health advisory on the growing clusters.
As of July 15, the CDC has received reports of 1,645 confirmed domestic cases of cyclosporiasis dating back to May 1, along with at least 141 people who were hospitalized as a result (no deaths). The agency is also aware of more than 5,100 cases that require further analysis before they can be classified as domestic cases.
Cases of cyclosporiasis happen every year in the U.S., with the usual seasonal peak occurring between May and August. So some of these cases are part of the pattern we would expect to see around this time of year. But it’s also become clear by now that this isn’t a typical season overall, and that some states are being hit especially hard by the explosive diarrhea bug.
According to the CDC, only 249 cases were reported nationally by this same time last year. And whereas the CDC previously stated there was “no evidence of a single, multistate Cyclospora outbreak” linking cases, it is now investigating a potentially linked outbreak in four midwestern states: Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, and Kentucky. At least 400 confirmed cases have been tied to this single cluster, though the agency is aware of more reports. Michigan alone has reported 2,640 cases as of Monday, while Ohio has reported more than 300.
All of these numbers are an underestimate. People generally don’t see their doctors when they get sick from foodborne illness, and cyclosporiasis is even harder to diagnose than other similar infections, since it requires more specialized testing that is not readily available.
It’s also worth noting that the CDC chose to trim back its active surveillance of cyclosporiasis and other foodborne diseases last year, possibly due to funding cuts from the Trump administration.
What to do
Cyclosporiasis is spread through eating food and water contaminated with parasites shed from an infected carrier’s poop. However, infections usually don’t spread directly from person to person, since it takes several weeks for the pooped parasites to mature and become infectious.
Health officials in Michigan and other possibly linked states have not identified a specific type of produce, grower, or supplier implicated in these outbreaks, but some common threads may already be emerging.
“Early information has shown lettuce as a common product that regularly comes up during the investigation,” said Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, in a statement Monday, and federal and local health officials are reportedly also looking into whether Taco Bell restaurants might be linked to the midwestern cluster.
Unless you live in Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, or Kentucky, you probably shouldn’t worry too much about the risk of catching cyclosporiasis from your next salad (at least right now).
That said, health experts always recommend washing your hands with soap and water before and after handling or preparing raw fruits and vegetables; washing all fruits and vegetables thoroughly under running water before eating, cutting, or cooking (if the produce is labeled prewashed, then you don’t need to do it again), and refrigerating cut, peeled, or cooked fruits and vegetables as soon as possible (within two hours if possible).
acknowledge the possibility of a connected outbreak in multiple Midwestern states. No specific food source linked to these cases has been identified as of yet, though local health officials have singled out lettuce or salad greens as potential culprits to avoid for residents in these hot spots.
A delayed alert
Cyclosporiasis is caused by various species of the microscopic parasite Cyclospora, predominantly Cyclospora cayatenensis. Though rarely life-threatening, the disease is infamous for causing watery and explosively loud bouts of diarrhea, along with other common symptoms of gastrointestinal illness.
Cyclosporiasis is endemic to tropical and subtropical parts of the world, and stateside cases tend to be traced back to imported food from these areas (particularly produce) or to people who initially caught the disease while traveling in these endemic regions. The incidence of cyclosporiasis seems to be increasing worldwide, however, and 2026 is gearing up to be an especially bad year for it in the U.S.
On July 1, the CDC first stated that 145 cases from 17 states had been reported to the agency as of mid-June. Even by then, though, it was clear the CDC’s reporting was woefully out of date. By July 4, health officials in Michigan (a state not included in the initial CDC tally) had reported over 500 cases in the state, which was already triple the number reported less than a week earlier. It would take an additional two weeks, on July 14, for the CDC to formally issue a health advisory on the growing clusters.
As of July 15, the CDC has received reports of 1,645 confirmed domestic cases of cyclosporiasis dating back to May 1, along with at least 141 people who were hospitalized as a result (no deaths). The agency is also aware of more than 5,100 cases that require further analysis before they can be classified as domestic cases.
Cases of cyclosporiasis happen every year in the U.S., with the usual seasonal peak occurring between May and August. So some of these cases are part of the pattern we would expect to see around this time of year. But it’s also become clear by now that this isn’t a typical season overall, and that some states are being hit especially hard by the explosive diarrhea bug.
According to the CDC, only 249 cases were reported nationally by this same time last year. And whereas the CDC previously stated there was “no evidence of a single, multistate Cyclospora outbreak” linking cases, it is now investigating a potentially linked outbreak in four midwestern states: Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, and Kentucky. At least 400 confirmed cases have been tied to this single cluster, though the agency is aware of more reports. Michigan alone has reported 2,640 cases as of Monday, while Ohio has reported more than 300.
All of these numbers are an underestimate. People generally don’t see their doctors when they get sick from foodborne illness, and cyclosporiasis is even harder to diagnose than other similar infections, since it requires more specialized testing that is not readily available.
It’s also worth noting that the CDC chose to trim back its active surveillance of cyclosporiasis and other foodborne diseases last year, possibly due to funding cuts from the Trump administration.
What to do
Cyclosporiasis is spread through eating food and water contaminated with parasites shed from an infected carrier’s poop. However, infections usually don’t spread directly from person to person, since it takes several weeks for the pooped parasites to mature and become infectious.
Health officials in Michigan and other possibly linked states have not identified a specific type of produce, grower, or supplier implicated in these outbreaks, but some common threads may already be emerging.
“Early information has shown lettuce as a common product that regularly comes up during the investigation,” said Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, in a statement Monday, and federal and local health officials are reportedly also looking into whether Taco Bell restaurants might be linked to the midwestern cluster.
Unless you live in Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, or Kentucky, you probably shouldn’t worry too much about the risk of catching cyclosporiasis from your next salad (at least right now).
That said, health experts always recommend washing your hands with soap and water before and after handling or preparing raw fruits and vegetables; washing all fruits and vegetables thoroughly under running water before eating, cutting, or cooking (if the produce is labeled prewashed, then you don’t need to do it again), and refrigerating cut, peeled, or cooked fruits and vegetables as soon as possible (within two hours if possible).
#Explosive #Diarrhea #Outbreak #Officially #Blowingdiarrhea,foodborne illnesses,outbreaks">The Explosive Diarrhea Outbreak Is Officially Blowing Up
If you ever wanted a good excuse for skipping out on the fresh salad for lunch, here’s one. Reports of cyclosporiasis, a foodborne parasitic disease that can cause explosive bouts of diarrhea, are skyrocketing in several parts of the country, and federal health officials are finally sounding the alarm about it after weeks of media reports.
As of Wednesday, thousands of cyclosporiasis cases have been reported recently in more than 30 states. The true toll is likely higher, however, and it’s taken weeks for the Centers for the Disease Control and Prevention to formally acknowledge the possibility of a connected outbreak in multiple Midwestern states. No specific food source linked to these cases has been identified as of yet, though local health officials have singled out lettuce or salad greens as potential culprits to avoid for residents in these hot spots.
A delayed alert
Cyclosporiasis is caused by various species of the microscopic parasite Cyclospora, predominantly Cyclospora cayatenensis. Though rarely life-threatening, the disease is infamous for causing watery and explosively loud bouts of diarrhea, along with other common symptoms of gastrointestinal illness.
Cyclosporiasis is endemic to tropical and subtropical parts of the world, and stateside cases tend to be traced back to imported food from these areas (particularly produce) or to people who initially caught the disease while traveling in these endemic regions. The incidence of cyclosporiasis seems to be increasing worldwide, however, and 2026 is gearing up to be an especially bad year for it in the U.S.
On July 1, the CDC first stated that 145 cases from 17 states had been reported to the agency as of mid-June. Even by then, though, it was clear the CDC’s reporting was woefully out of date. By July 4, health officials in Michigan (a state not included in the initial CDC tally) had reported over 500 cases in the state, which was already triple the number reported less than a week earlier. It would take an additional two weeks, on July 14, for the CDC to formally issue a health advisory on the growing clusters.
As of July 15, the CDC has received reports of 1,645 confirmed domestic cases of cyclosporiasis dating back to May 1, along with at least 141 people who were hospitalized as a result (no deaths). The agency is also aware of more than 5,100 cases that require further analysis before they can be classified as domestic cases.
Cases of cyclosporiasis happen every year in the U.S., with the usual seasonal peak occurring between May and August. So some of these cases are part of the pattern we would expect to see around this time of year. But it’s also become clear by now that this isn’t a typical season overall, and that some states are being hit especially hard by the explosive diarrhea bug.
According to the CDC, only 249 cases were reported nationally by this same time last year. And whereas the CDC previously stated there was “no evidence of a single, multistate Cyclospora outbreak” linking cases, it is now investigating a potentially linked outbreak in four midwestern states: Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, and Kentucky. At least 400 confirmed cases have been tied to this single cluster, though the agency is aware of more reports. Michigan alone has reported 2,640 cases as of Monday, while Ohio has reported more than 300.
All of these numbers are an underestimate. People generally don’t see their doctors when they get sick from foodborne illness, and cyclosporiasis is even harder to diagnose than other similar infections, since it requires more specialized testing that is not readily available.
It’s also worth noting that the CDC chose to trim back its active surveillance of cyclosporiasis and other foodborne diseases last year, possibly due to funding cuts from the Trump administration.
What to do
Cyclosporiasis is spread through eating food and water contaminated with parasites shed from an infected carrier’s poop. However, infections usually don’t spread directly from person to person, since it takes several weeks for the pooped parasites to mature and become infectious.
Health officials in Michigan and other possibly linked states have not identified a specific type of produce, grower, or supplier implicated in these outbreaks, but some common threads may already be emerging.
“Early information has shown lettuce as a common product that regularly comes up during the investigation,” said Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, in a statement Monday, and federal and local health officials are reportedly also looking into whether Taco Bell restaurants might be linked to the midwestern cluster.
Unless you live in Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, or Kentucky, you probably shouldn’t worry too much about the risk of catching cyclosporiasis from your next salad (at least right now).
That said, health experts always recommend washing your hands with soap and water before and after handling or preparing raw fruits and vegetables; washing all fruits and vegetables thoroughly under running water before eating, cutting, or cooking (if the produce is labeled prewashed, then you don’t need to do it again), and refrigerating cut, peeled, or cooked fruits and vegetables as soon as possible (within two hours if possible).
Instead, Messi came back four years later to lift the trophy in Qatar. Then he came back again this year at 39. However, Messi is not the exception any more.
Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, has said that this World Cup will be his last after Portugal’s Round of 16 exit following the team’s loss to Spain. Brazil’s Neymar, 34, too, announced his retirement from international football, as did Germany’s Manuel Neuer, 40. Meanwhile, Guillermo Ochoa, who turned 41 this month, is stepping away from professional football after becoming the first goalkeeper to make six World Cup squads.
Even as this World Cup has felt like one long farewell tour, for many of these players, the goodbye came years later than anyone expected.
While there isn’t a definitive global dataset comparing retirement ages across generations, the evidence points in one direction: football’s elite has been getting older for decades. A 2019 peer-reviewed study published in Frontiers of Psychology tracking nearly 30 seasons of UEFA Champions League football found the average age of players rose from 24.9 years in 1992-93 to 26.5 years by 2017-18. That trend is now on full display at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which had eight players in their forties—more than every previous edition combined—including Cape Verde’s 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha, one of the tournament’s breakout stars.
What’s striking is that this celebration of more veteran players on the pitch is happening during an era of football that has produced teenage stars like Lamine Yamal, Endrick, and Bara Sapoko Ndiaye. Soccer isn’t necessarily getting older because young players have disappeared; it’s getting older because veterans are leaving later.
Research suggests professional footballers still reach their physical peak in their mid-to-late twenties, though the exact age depends on position. And while aging is gradual, players in their thirties begin to lose their explosive speed and the stamina to maintain the high-intensity running that modern soccer demands most.
A long-term study of Spain’s top players found these reported losses in endurance were most notable among external defenders, external midfielders, and forwards, whose roles rely on explosive acceleration to either score a goal or shield their keeper’s box. Central defenders and central midfielders, meanwhile, became more accurate passers with age, suggesting that positioning, anticipation, and decisionmaking increasingly compensate for fading speed.
Messi may be the best example of how elite players adapt with age. Rather than constantly chasing the ball, he often spends long stretches walking, reading the game before deciding exactly when to get involved. According to The Athletic, FIFA tracking data shows Messi has spent 63 percent of his movement at this World Cup walking, conserving energy for the moments that matter most.
This just goes to prove that sports science hasn’t changed the biology of aging—it changed how soccer clubs respond to it. A 2024 review of athletes with extended careers found a correlation between professionals staying at the top of their game and increasingly individualized training.
Instead of prescribing the same program to an entire squad, coaches now tailor workloads around a player’s injury history, recovery, training response, and physical capacity.
However, as players get older, experience becomes a competitive advantage. Veteran footballers increasingly compensate for declining physicality with sharper decisionmaking, game intelligence, and a better understanding of their own limits.
#Lionel #Messis #Final #World #Cupand #Death #Early #Retirementworld cup 2026,sports,soccer,health,longevity">
Instead, Messi came back four years later to lift the trophy in Qatar. Then he came back again this year at 39. However, Messi is not the exception any more.
Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, has said that this World Cup will be his last after Portugal’s Round of 16 exit following the team’s loss to Spain. Brazil’s Neymar, 34, too, announced his retirement from international football, as did Germany’s Manuel Neuer, 40. Meanwhile, Guillermo Ochoa, who turned 41 this month, is stepping away from professional football after becoming the first goalkeeper to make six World Cup squads.
Even as this World Cup has felt like one long farewell tour, for many of these players, the goodbye came years later than anyone expected.
While there isn’t a definitive global dataset comparing retirement ages across generations, the evidence points in one direction: football’s elite has been getting older for decades. A 2019 peer-reviewed study published in Frontiers of Psychology tracking nearly 30 seasons of UEFA Champions League football found the average age of players rose from 24.9 years in 1992-93 to 26.5 years by 2017-18. That trend is now on full display at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which had eight players in their forties—more than every previous edition combined—including Cape Verde’s 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha, one of the tournament’s breakout stars.
What’s striking is that this celebration of more veteran players on the pitch is happening during an era of football that has produced teenage stars like Lamine Yamal, Endrick, and Bara Sapoko Ndiaye. Soccer isn’t necessarily getting older because young players have disappeared; it’s getting older because veterans are leaving later.
Research suggests professional footballers still reach their physical peak in their mid-to-late twenties, though the exact age depends on position. And while aging is gradual, players in their thirties begin to lose their explosive speed and the stamina to maintain the high-intensity running that modern soccer demands most.
A long-term study of Spain’s top players found these reported losses in endurance were most notable among external defenders, external midfielders, and forwards, whose roles rely on explosive acceleration to either score a goal or shield their keeper’s box. Central defenders and central midfielders, meanwhile, became more accurate passers with age, suggesting that positioning, anticipation, and decisionmaking increasingly compensate for fading speed.
Messi may be the best example of how elite players adapt with age. Rather than constantly chasing the ball, he often spends long stretches walking, reading the game before deciding exactly when to get involved. According to The Athletic, FIFA tracking data shows Messi has spent 63 percent of his movement at this World Cup walking, conserving energy for the moments that matter most.
This just goes to prove that sports science hasn’t changed the biology of aging—it changed how soccer clubs respond to it. A 2024 review of athletes with extended careers found a correlation between professionals staying at the top of their game and increasingly individualized training.
Instead of prescribing the same program to an entire squad, coaches now tailor workloads around a player’s injury history, recovery, training response, and physical capacity.
However, as players get older, experience becomes a competitive advantage. Veteran footballers increasingly compensate for declining physicality with sharper decisionmaking, game intelligence, and a better understanding of their own limits.
#Lionel #Messis #Final #World #Cupand #Death #Early #Retirementworld cup 2026,sports,soccer,health,longevity">Lionel Messi’s Final World Cup—and the Death of Early Retirement
Mere moments after Argentina lost to France in a Round of 16 match during the 2018 World Cup in Russia, commentators were already predicting it would be his final time on a World Cup pitch. “This was Lionel Messi’s final World Cup match, surely,” one stated, “and maybe his final game for his country.” Messi was 31 at the time, and many assumed they had just watched his last appearance on soccer’s biggest stage.
They were wrong.
Instead, Messi came back four years later to lift the trophy in Qatar. Then he came back again this year at 39. However, Messi is not the exception any more.
Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, has said that this World Cup will be his last after Portugal’s Round of 16 exit following the team’s loss to Spain. Brazil’s Neymar, 34, too, announced his retirement from international football, as did Germany’s Manuel Neuer, 40. Meanwhile, Guillermo Ochoa, who turned 41 this month, is stepping away from professional football after becoming the first goalkeeper to make six World Cup squads.
Even as this World Cup has felt like one long farewell tour, for many of these players, the goodbye came years later than anyone expected.
While there isn’t a definitive global dataset comparing retirement ages across generations, the evidence points in one direction: football’s elite has been getting older for decades. A 2019 peer-reviewed study published in Frontiers of Psychology tracking nearly 30 seasons of UEFA Champions League football found the average age of players rose from 24.9 years in 1992-93 to 26.5 years by 2017-18. That trend is now on full display at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which had eight players in their forties—more than every previous edition combined—including Cape Verde’s 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha, one of the tournament’s breakout stars.
What’s striking is that this celebration of more veteran players on the pitch is happening during an era of football that has produced teenage stars like Lamine Yamal, Endrick, and Bara Sapoko Ndiaye. Soccer isn’t necessarily getting older because young players have disappeared; it’s getting older because veterans are leaving later.
Research suggests professional footballers still reach their physical peak in their mid-to-late twenties, though the exact age depends on position. And while aging is gradual, players in their thirties begin to lose their explosive speed and the stamina to maintain the high-intensity running that modern soccer demands most.
A long-term study of Spain’s top players found these reported losses in endurance were most notable among external defenders, external midfielders, and forwards, whose roles rely on explosive acceleration to either score a goal or shield their keeper’s box. Central defenders and central midfielders, meanwhile, became more accurate passers with age, suggesting that positioning, anticipation, and decisionmaking increasingly compensate for fading speed.
Messi may be the best example of how elite players adapt with age. Rather than constantly chasing the ball, he often spends long stretches walking, reading the game before deciding exactly when to get involved. According to The Athletic, FIFA tracking data shows Messi has spent 63 percent of his movement at this World Cup walking, conserving energy for the moments that matter most.
This just goes to prove that sports science hasn’t changed the biology of aging—it changed how soccer clubs respond to it. A 2024 review of athletes with extended careers found a correlation between professionals staying at the top of their game and increasingly individualized training.
Instead of prescribing the same program to an entire squad, coaches now tailor workloads around a player’s injury history, recovery, training response, and physical capacity.
However, as players get older, experience becomes a competitive advantage. Veteran footballers increasingly compensate for declining physicality with sharper decisionmaking, game intelligence, and a better understanding of their own limits.
#Lionel #Messis #Final #World #Cupand #Death #Early #Retirementworld cup 2026,sports,soccer,health,longevity
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