Spain

Real Madrid is investigating a hacking of its official accounts after a fake medical report for Brazilian winger Rodrygo was published on the club's website and Twitter on Tuesday morning.

"Following tests carried out on our player Rodrygo by the Real Madrid Medical Services, he has been diagnosed with a muscular injury with tendon involvement in the right femoral biceps," the medical statement published on the club's website read.

With his 767th Barcelona appearance coming in Monday’s LaLiga match against Huesca, Lionel Messi equalled Xavi’s record for most in the legendary Blaugrana shirt.

Right before kickoff, the club released a video in which Barcelona stars past and present congratulated the 33-year-old on his remarkable feat of otherworldly consistency and longevity.  

MADRID - Luis Enrique has named four uncapped players in Spain's 24-man squad for the upcoming triple header of World Cup qualifiers against Greece, Georgia and Kosovo later this month.

Barcelona's 18-year-old forward Pedri, Brighton & Hove Albion goalkeeper Robert Sánchez, Eibar attacker Bryan Gil and fullback Pedro Porro of Sporting are the new faces in a squad that only contains six players from Spain's “big three” clubs.

MADRID - Valencia forward Yunus Musah has committed his international future to the United States, U.S. Soccer said on Monday.

Musah, who turned 18 in November, was eligible to represent Gregg Berhalter's side as he was born in New York to a Ghanaian mother who was on holiday visiting relatives at the time.

YOU CAN’T SPELL MUSAH WITHOUT USA

MADRID - Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane has said he is at a loss to explain forward Eden Hazard's latest injury setback.

The Belgian international joined Real in a $178.83 million deal in 2019 but has been blighted by injuries, making 25 LaLiga appearances since signing.

After returning from a muscle problem for the final 15 minutes in Saturday's last-gasp 2-1 win over Elche, Zidane said Hazard will miss Tuesday's Champions League home last-16 second leg with Atalanta.

While we’d love for the VAR to fix all of soccer’s officiating problems, the truth is that it hasn’t really curbed one of the game’s most frustrating problems: simulation. Because any bit of contact can be picked up by the VAR, players are almost rewarded for going down under slight contact. 

But there has to be that contact, and if there is none, VAR will undoubtedly punish any offender trying to fool the refs. 

For the second time this week, Karim Benzema has rescued Real Madrid late. The Benzema goal vs Elche in the 91st minute — his second of the day — completed a 2-1 comeback victory on Saturday, as Los Blancos at least briefly jumped ahead of Barcelona into second place in LaLiga.