Details of every scenario that could ultimately bring Messi and Ronaldo together for one last meeting at the 2026 World Cup

For almost two decades, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have defined an era of football that spans leagues, continents and competitions, yet the one stage that has never brought them together in a competitive match is the FIFA World Cup. They have played each other only twice at international level, both in friendly matches in 2011 and 2014, and despite participating in every World Cup since 2006, Portugal and Argentina have never met each other in the tournament. This absence remains quietly in the background of their rivalry, and with 2026 expected to be the last World Cup for both, Ronaldo is 41 and Messi is close to 39, the prospect of one last meeting now depends on a very specific series of results, formats and routes aligning in a newly expanded tournament. Before getting into those scenarios, it helps to understand how this World Cup is actually structured, as the format itself makes these possibilities both more open and more complex.

How the 48-team World Cup actually works

The 2026 tournament, held in the United States, Canada and Mexico, is expanded from 32 to 48 teams, changing the entire tone of the competition. Instead of eight groups, there are now twelve groups, labeled Group A to Group L, and each group has four teams. Argentina have been drawn in Group J with Algeria, Austria and Jordan, while Portugal have been drawn in Group K with Colombia, Uzbekistan and DR Congo.

FIFA World Cup 2026 (via Getty Images)

The way forward from these twelve groups works in two layers. First, the direct part: the first and second placed teams in each group automatically qualify for the knockout stage. It includes 24 teams. After this comes the part which was not present in the last World Cup. All twelve third-placed teams throughout the tournament are compared on points, goal difference and goals scored, and the best eight of them also qualify. With this, the total number of teams reaching the knockout has become 32.

fifa world cup 2026 groups/fifa

From there, the tournament moves straight into an elimination bracket, starting with the Round of 32, then moving on to the Round of 16, quarterfinals, semi-finals, and finally the final. A team that advances all the way will now play eight matches instead of seven, reflecting the expanded structure, and the tournament will expand to 104 matches in total. This format makes sense because it creates multiple entry points into the knockout bracket, where a Ronaldo-Messi meeting becomes possible.

The weight of both the teams will remain till 2026

Argentina arrived as defending world champions after lifting the trophy at Qatar 2022, a moment that reshaped Messi’s international legacy after years of near-misses, including a World Cup final defeat and three Copa America final defeats before 2021 success. Since then, Argentina have captured another Copa America title and head into 2026 with continuity, depth and a team built around their captain. The story of Portugal has been different. Ronaldo, the all-time leading scorer in men’s international football with 143 goals, has won the European Championship and two UEFA Nations League titles, but the World Cup has remained out of his reach. Portugal’s best performance in the Ronaldo era came in 2006, when they reached the semi-finals, and since then they have twice been eliminated in the round of 16 in 2010 and 2018, exited the group stage in 2014, and reached the quarter-finals in 2022, where they were eliminated by Morocco, while Ronaldo was largely used as a substitute in the knockouts.

Messi and Ronaldo are set for a possible final World Cup in 2026, marking a potentially final chapter in football’s greatest-ever rivalry/ (Image via Getty)

Individually, Messi has played 26 World Cup matches and scored 13 goals, while Ronaldo has played 22 matches with eight goals, and both are expected to attend their sixth World Cup, with Messi yet to officially confirm his participation. All this context boils down to the simple fact that they are now in different groups, Argentina in Group J and Portugal in Group K, meaning any meeting can only take place after the knockout rounds begin.

Group stage expectations and prospects

Argentina are widely seen as strong favorites to top Group J, with projections placing their chances of finishing first at around 75% to 77%, reflecting both their status as defending champions and the relative balance of the group which also includes Austria, Algeria and Jordan. Austria is considered the primary challenger, with an estimated 20% to 22% chance of winning the group.

FILE – Argentina’s Lionel Messi lifts the trophy after winning the World Cup final football match between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar on December 18, 2022. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)

Portugal, drawn in Group K, are also expected to lead their group, featuring players like Bruno Fernandes and Joao Felix along with Ronaldo. According to leading betting sites, Portugal are strong favorites to top the group at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with an implied probability of around 65% to 71%, although Colombia are seen as a real threat after a strong qualifying campaign in South America, led by Luis Diaz, James Rodriguez and Davinson Sanchez along with other key forwards such as John Córdoba, Jefferson Lerma and Richard Ríos. People have done it.

Portugal team pose starting eleven squad FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers Zona Européen / Image: X

Bracket Reality: Why They Can’t Meet Early

Because Argentina and Portugal were both top seeds in Pot 1 during the draw, FIFA structured the bracket so that teams from the same seeding pot were separated into different routes. In simple terms, this means they cannot meet in the group stage and are set aside up to a certain number of points in the knockout round, depending on how they finish. Their placement in Groups J and K also places them on intersecting sides of the bracket, which is why their meeting depends heavily on specific finishing conditions.

Scenario one: Both win their groups, quarter-final clash

If Argentina finishes first in Group J and Portugal finishes first in Group K, both teams will enter the knockout rounds on a route that brings them together in the quarterfinals in Kansas City on July 11, provided they win their Round of 32 and Round of 16 matches. In that scenario, Argentina’s journey would begin in the round of 32 against the runners-up of Group H, followed by a round of 16 tie against the winners emerging from the clash between the second-placed teams in Groups D and G. Conversely, Portugal will face one of the third-placed qualifying teams in their round of 32 match, before moving on to a round of 16 tie against the winner of the match involving the winner of Group B. Only if both successfully clear those two knockout rounds, the bracket aligns for a Ronaldo vs Messi clash in the quarterfinals.

Scenario two: Both finish in second place, preliminary round of 16 meeting

If both teams finish as runners-up in their respective groups, the structure brings them together much earlier, with a possible round of 16 clash at Arlington on 6 July, again assuming both win their opening knockout matches. In this situation, Argentina will face the winner of Group H in the Round of 32, while Portugal will face the runner-up of Group L, which includes teams like England, Croatia, Ghana and Panama. The main difference here is that finishing second compresses the timeline, creating a path where the meeting takes place exactly one round after the initial knockout stage.

Scenario Three: Split Position, Only the Last Remains

If one of the two teams wins its group while the other finishes second, the bracket separates them completely until the finals on July 19 in New Jersey. In that configuration, they are placed on opposite sides of the knockout draw, meaning they must advance through every round, round of 32, round of 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals, without slipping for a meeting to occur. It is the longest and most demanding route, but also the one offering the most symbolic ending: a World Cup final between two players whose rivalry has defined an era.

Wildcard variable: third-place qualification

The expanded format introduces another layer of uncertainty through the best third-place teams. If Argentina or Portugal finish third, but still qualify among the top eight third-place teams, their exact position in the knockout bracket cannot be determined until all group matches are completed, as those rankings depend on points, goal difference and goals scored across all groups. This makes any Ronaldo-Messi meeting in that scenario unpredictable, as their paths will only become clear once the group stage is over.

Why does this World Cup feel different?

For all the permutations and routes, the underlying reality is simple. This is likely the last time the two players will share the World Cup stage, and the structure of the 48-team tournament makes it possible, but does not guarantee they will eventually meet. For this, Argentina will have to perform as expected, Portugal will have to advance in the competitive group and both teams will have to make it through at least one or two knockout rounds without making any mistakes depending on the route. Only then does the bracket open up in a way that allows the rivalry to reach the stage it has always missed.

बागेश्वर जिले में मंगलवार को महज 10 मिनट तक चले भीषण तूफान से जनजीवन पूरी तरह अस्त-व्यस्त हो गया। तूफान से शहर समेत ग्रामीण इलाकों में भारी नुकसान की खबर है. इस प्राकृतिक आपदा में एक खाद्य व्यवसायी और एक लड़की घायल हो गए हैं जबकि कई घरों की छतें उड़ गईं. कई जगहों पर बड़े-बड़े पेड़ गिरने से मुख्य सड़कों पर यातायात ठप हो गया है.

शहर में बैनर लगाकर जीविकोपार्जन करने वाले शिव सिंह नेगी तूफान में उड़ गए और उसकी चपेट में आने से उनका कान कट गया। वहीं भटौरा क्षेत्र में नवीन उपाध्याय और भुवन चंद्र उपाध्याय के मकान की छतें हवा के तेज झोंकों से उड़ गईं। शहर के पिंडारी रोड पर अस्पताल पुल के पास एक मकान के ऊपर लगा टीन शेड उखड़कर सीधे सड़क पर जा गिरा। इससे एक लड़की घायल हो गई और सड़क पर खड़ी गाड़ियों को भी काफी नुकसान हुआ. पेड़ गिरने से यातायात पूरी तरह बाधित हो गया है. कई स्थानों पर बड़े-बड़े पेड़ गिरने से कांडा मार्ग अवरुद्ध हो गया है। पिंडारी रोड पर इनडोर स्टेडियम के पास सड़क पर भारी पेड़ गिरने से लंबा जाम लग गया है. आपदा की सूचना मिलते ही फायर ब्रिगेड और राजस्व विभाग की टीमें राहत और बचाव कार्य में जुट गईं। पेड़ों को काटकर सड़कें साफ करने का काम युद्ध स्तर पर किया जा रहा है ताकि यातायात को फिर से सुचारू किया जा सके.

New Delhi: At a time when centralized leadership and national narratives play a major role in politics, Mamata Banerjee Has stood as one of the strongest regional satraps opposing the national trend. He has ruled West Bengal for the last 15 years, defeating his rivals time and again. But the big question is whether the Trinamool chief will be successful in doing this once again? BJPHer chief rival in West Bengal, this time, is trying everything possible to remove her from the post – putting the brand ‘Mamata’ to perhaps one of the toughest political tests.Little wonder, the West Bengal Assembly elections 2026 have literally become a referendum on brand ‘Didi’ – that carefully constructed public identity. TMC Supremo, who has combined grassroots populism, Bengali sub-nationalism and an expansive welfare state based on direct benefit transfers.The question now is whether this brand, once seen as electorally Teflon, can still withstand voter fatigue, allegations of corruption and a much stronger opposition this time from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

its own brand

The brand ‘Didi’ that Mamata Banerjee created was never just about governance; It was about this that he reduced the distance between state power and the individual citizen, turning policy into personal reach.From the anti-Left rebel who came to power in 2011 to the welfare architect of the last decade, Banerjee’s politics have evolved, but its core has remained intact: a direct emotional and physical connection with the voter.

By 2021, this model had reached its peak. Despite a strong campaign by BJP, TMC won 215 seats with 48.5% vote share. However, BJP managed to secure a major share of 77 seats with 38.4% vote share.Five years later, this election will once again test whether the brand holds up.

The Maternal State: Welfare as Political Glue

At the core of brand ‘Didi’ lies what can best be described as a maternalist welfare state, a governance model that prioritizes domestic liquidity over macro-economic signals. Rather than promising long-term infrastructure benefits, it offers immediate, concrete benefits that matter to voters in their daily lives.Schemes like ‘Lakshmi Bhandar’ have become the cornerstone of this model. With the enrollment of about 2.21 crore women, and the monthly stipend increased to Rs 1,500 for general categories and Rs 1,700 for SC/ST beneficiaries, the scheme has effectively created a huge, cross-cutting support base among women voters that transcends caste and religious divides.

The scale of the state’s food security network strengthens this bond. Under ‘Khadya Sathi’ and ‘Duare Ration’, around 9 crore people receive subsidized food grains, with 7.5 crore beneficiaries accessing doorstep delivery. In large parts of rural Bengal, these schemes make the Mamata government a strong monthly presence in many households.This is similar to what J Jayalalitha did Tamil Nadu With its ‘Amma’ initiative, which provided affordable, nutritious food to low-income groups. The flagship programme, Amma Canteen, revolutionized food security, selling idli for Rs 1, sambar rice for Rs 5 and curd rice for Rs 3.

Street Fighter 2.0

Days before the election dates were announced, Mamata Banerjee adopted a sharp strategy to recast her street fighter image. Facing anti-incumbency and growing institutional pressure, he shifted the arena of confrontation from street protests to the courtroom. On February 4, she became a rare sitting chief minister to personally address the Supreme Court, turning the legal hearing into a political moment.

At the center of the move was the SIR of the voter list, in which more than 90 lakh names were removed. While the BJP presented it as a cleanliness drive, Banerjee presented it as a question of disenfranchisement. Appearing in person wearing her trademark cotton saree and slippers, she reinforced her image as a grassroots leader taking on the powerful institutions that had helped her in her early days in politics.The move also marked a subtle restructuring. From being introduced as a combative street politician, he established himself as a “constitutional fighter”, arguing that it is necessary to confront the system from within to protect voters’ rights.

Stress Factors: Corruption and Credibility

Yet, at this time in more than a decade, the brand is clearly under pressure. The 2026 election cycle has exposed fault lines that go beyond routine anti-incumbency.The most damaging challenge is what can be described as an ethics crisis. Incidents like the RG Kar Medical College tragedy and the allegations emerging from Sandeshkhali have struck at the emotional core of Banerjee’s political identity – ‘Maa, Mati, Manush’. The ‘mother’ component, which established him as a protective figure, especially with regard to women’s safety, has come under scrutiny.

During the second phase of the election campaign in Bengal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi used it to drive a rift in his party, saying: “15 years ago, TMC came to power by talking about ‘Maa, Mati, Manush’. Now they can’t even speak those words. I will tell you the reason behind it. If these people speak those words, their sins will be exposed.” The cruelty of TMC made the ‘Mother’ cry, handed over the ‘Soil’ to the syndicates and infiltrators and forced the ‘Manush’ of Bengal to flee.“In fact, BJP has also given election ticket to the mother of the RG tax case victim, for whom PM Modi had campaigned in Dum Dum on Saturday. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, BJP had also given ticket to Rekha Patra, one of the Sandeshkhali victims, from Basirhat, West Bengal. However, Patra lost the election.The growing corruption saga, fueled by investigations by central agencies like the Enforcement Directorate and CBI, complicates the issue of women’s safety. Although TMC has questioned these investigations and Mamata herself has openly fought the institution, they may contribute to a broader credibility challenge.

identity politics

The 2026 election has also been shaped by the controversial Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls, in which around 91 lakh names were reportedly removed. Voting in the first phase was 92.59%, the highest since independence.Mamata Banerjee made sure to make this exercise by the Election Commission a political issue – to deny identity and vote. By portraying this as an effort to exclude vulnerable populations (read Muslims), they have mobilized their base around a defensive narrative: not just voting for a party, but protecting one’s political survival.On Phase 1 voting, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said the increase in voting percentage “has gone decisively in favor of the ruling party” and signals a clear rejection of the BJP.Echoing the same sentiment, TMC minister Bratya Basu said, “In Bihar, we saw a similar pattern where voting increased significantly, but the government remained unchanged. Bengal is also reflecting the same trend.”In contrast, the BJP has framed the SIR exercise as a corrective measure targeting illegal migration. The result is an intensely polarized discourse, where the electoral contest doubles as a battle of belonging.In such a scenario, ‘Brand Didi’ may gain renewed relevance among sections of the electorate – not as a vehicle of aspiration, but as a shield against perceived exclusion.

permanent edge

Despite the adverse circumstances, Mamata Banerjee has retained three important advantages which may work in electoral favor for TMC again this time.First, the lack of a reliable local model. The BJP’s campaign, despite being organizationally strong, still hinges heavily on the promise of national leadership and its ‘double-engine’ governance. This allows TMC to present the election as a contest between the ‘daughter of Bengal’ and outside forces, while strengthening regional identity.TMC has raised the slogan of “Bangla Nijer Meyekei Chai” (Bengal wants its own daughter) this election season, while terming BJP as an outsider who wants to destroy Bengali culture.The second is the depth of the grassroots network. Through self-help groups like Anandadhara, which includes more than 12 lakh groups and more than 1 crore women, TMC has built a decentralized mobility structure.The third is Banerjee’s adaptive populism. Faced with crises, they have continuously recalibrated – launching schemes like Shramshree and expanding the social safety net to regain lost ground. Shramshree Scheme supports the return of Bengali speaking migrant workers who faced harassment or hardship in other states. It provides a one-time travel grant of Rs 5,000, monthly financial assistance up to Rs 5,000 for a year and relocation assistance, which benefits registered workers.This ability to respond quickly has prevented discontent from turning into a unified anti-establishment wave.

brand development

Perhaps the most important change is ideological. The brand ‘Didi’ of 2026 is no longer the aspirational force of 2011, when it promised ‘poriborton’ (change), nor the rebellious force of 2021, captured in the slogan ‘Khela Hobe’.It has now rebranded itself as a utility with welfare schemes. This time, it is also a crusader against the BJP, which is currently the dominant national party.Banerjee has already said that after winning the assembly elections, she will focus her attention on Delhi.“Remember this, you cannot defeat us. We fight against injustice; we fight for our rights. I was born in Bengal, and I will take my last breath in this very Bengal. After winning in Bengal, I will capture Delhi. I will do this by bringing all the political parties together. I don’t want a seat (of power); I want complete eradication of BJP in Delhi. While their destruction in Bengal is inevitable, the BJP must be ousted from Delhi too,” he said at a rally in Kolkata.

So will the ‘Didi’ brand work this time?

Voting has been held for 152 constituencies in the first phase on April 23 in the state and voting for the second phase will be held on Wednesday.Whether she will win power for the fourth time or not will be known when the results are declared on May 4. But at present the last woman is still in power.

अयोध्या में 84 कोसी परिक्रमा मार्ग के निर्माण को लेकर एक बड़ा मामला सामने आया है, जिसने प्रशासन और संबंधित विभागों पर सवाल खड़े कर दिए हैं. करोड़ों रुपये के इस प्रोजेक्ट में पेड़ों की कटाई को लेकर गंभीर अनियमितता के आरोप लगे हैं. बताया जा रहा है कि कागजों में दर्ज पेड़ जमीन पर नजर नहीं आ रहे हैं. इस मामले में वन निगम और कार्यदायी संस्था की मिलीभगत के भी आरोप लग रहे हैं। शिकायतों के बावजूद अब तक किसी भी जिम्मेदार अधिकारी पर कार्रवाई न होना कई सवाल खड़े कर रहा है। इस पूरे मामले ने अब तूल पकड़ लिया है और स्थानीय स्तर पर चर्चा का विषय बन गया है.

हजारों पेड़ों की कटाई में अनियमितता का आरोप
84 कोसी परिक्रमा मार्ग पांच जिलों के कई वन क्षेत्रों से होकर गुजरता है. इस सड़क के निर्माण के लिए हजारों पेड़ों को काटना पड़ा। लेकिन अब आरोप है कि पेड़ों की कटाई में नियमों का पालन नहीं किया गया. खासकर अयोध्या के कुमारगंज वन रेंज में 1609 पेड़ों के कटान का टेंडर करीब 26 लाख रुपये में हुआ था. संबंधित संस्था ने यह रकम वन निगम को अदा कर दी, लेकिन इसके बावजूद प्रक्रिया पूरी नहीं की गई।

बिना वर्क ऑर्डर के गायब हो रहे पेड़
मामले का सबसे गंभीर पहलू यह है कि अभी तक ठेकेदार को वर्क ऑर्डर जारी नहीं किया गया है. ठेकेदार का कहना है कि बिना वर्क ऑर्डर के वह कानूनी तौर पर पेड़ नहीं काट सकता। इसके बावजूद आरोप है कि आधे से ज्यादा पेड़ रातों-रात गायब हो गए हैं. इससे सवाल उठता है कि इन पेड़ों को किसने और कैसे हटाया। इस स्थिति ने पूरे मामले को और अधिक संदिग्ध बना दिया है.

ठेकेदार की शिकायत, कार्रवाई का इंतजार
पीड़ित ठेकेदार लगातार अधिकारियों से शिकायत कर न्याय की मांग कर रहा है. उनका कहना है कि उन्होंने पूरी प्रक्रिया का भुगतान कर दिया है, लेकिन उन्हें काम शुरू करने का मौका नहीं दिया गया. वहीं दूसरी ओर पेड़ों के गायब होने से भी इसे नुकसान हो रहा है. फिलहाल इस मामले में कोई ठोस कार्रवाई नहीं हुई है, जिससे प्रशासन की कार्यशैली पर सवाल उठ रहे हैं. अगर जल्द ही इसकी निष्पक्ष जांच नहीं की गई तो आने वाले समय में यह मामला बड़ा रूप ले सकता है।

When? Neha Dhupia And Angad Bedi Married in an intimate Gurudwara ceremony in 2018, it took many by surprise. The couple had never accepted their relationship publicly, so the sudden marriage soon became a topic of discussion. Just six months later, the arrival of their daughter Mehr sparked widespread curiosity about the timeline of their relationship. Now, the couple has opened up about their journey and how a long-standing friendship and an unexpected pregnancy brought them together.During a conversation on Bharti Singh and Haarsh Limbachiyaa’s podcast, Angad revealed that his feelings for Neha were one-sided for years. He said, “I was chasing Neha for 8 years. I was chasing her all the time, but she never said yes, she was too busy.”He also recalled the moment when he first noticed her. “When I saw her for the first time, I thought she was so beautiful. She was running on the treadmill and I was standing behind, just watching and thinking, what an amazing form. I fell in love with her running form. I thought, she’s an athlete.”At that time, Neha was deeply focused on her career and was not actively looking for a relationship. “I thought I had to get up, exercise, go to work — my whole focus was on work. It wasn’t that I wanted to only focus on work, but if I met someone interesting along the way, that was OK,” she shared.Angad also tried to bridge the gap by collaborating professionally. “She asked me to do a film with her and said there would be no narration, just show. I went. I spent time with her on the set, but her mother was also there. I spent a lot of time with her mother. I thought, if her mother is so good, she must be good too,” he said.Despite his efforts, she struggles to get his attention. “There were 5-6 interesting people around her. I wasn’t even in her peripheral vision,” Angad admitted, adding that even his parents were supportive. “I went to his parents and they said, ‘We’re OK, ask him.’ But he kept me aside for years.What ultimately changed everything was their pregnancy, which both describe as a turning point in their story. Neha said, “I want to say that thank God we got pregnant, it is a blessing that brought the love story.” “Otherwise, you keep looking here and there. The love you’re looking for is right next to you, but we always look away. He was right next to me the whole time.”She further added, “It was our daughter who brought us together because we were pregnant, we were doing this. The whole universe came together first for her, then for me, then for us.”Angad lightened the mood by cracking a joke about his place in her life and said, “I am in the top five in her priority list – first kids, then work, then parents, then home, then me.” Neha replied smilingly, “Priority one is family, priority two is work and me.”In a separate conversation with Peeping Moon, Neha addressed the speculations directly. “Let me set the record straight, yes, I was pregnant before marriage so it’s okay.” Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, he also recalled how the news surprised even his close friends. “It was just chaos at the time, I was pregnant.” She revealed that while she could not invite Soha Ali Khan At the wedding, the actor was among the first to know about her pregnancy.Recalling that period, Neha admitted that her relationship with Angad was still new. “You’re like that… not married, you barely dated that guy. This information, no matter how unconventional or conservative you are, is easier to share with your friends, and friends who just had a baby, than it is to tell your parents. It’s harder to get.”

Manchester United moved closer to sealing their qualification for next season’s Champions League after a 2-1 win against Brentford at Old Trafford on Monday, April 27. However, it is captain Bruno Fernandes who is trending on social media for showcasing his leadership qualities ahead of the game.

Portuguese played important role In his team’s 2-1 win over ‘The Bees’ After turning provider for United’s second of the game in the first half, Benjamin Cesco.

“This is our time,” Fernandes could be seen telling one of the team before the start of the game. “We don’t give a fuck about it! We go again and again, again and again. That’s our mentality from now on! We want to win every game, we do what it takes to win!”

Bruno was also seen actually pushing Cesko to complete his signature celebration with Manchester United supporters after the second goal.

This assist pushed his aim towards the historical record for most assists in a season. Fernandes has provided 19 Premier League assists for Manchester United this season, just one short of the competition record, jointly held by Thierry Henry (20 in 2002–03) and Kevin De Bruyne (20 in 2019–20).

Carrick knows the value of his midfield pairing and United’s interim boss.

Carrick said, “Bruno and Casemiro have a good relationship. We have scored in almost every game and Bruno is a big part of that. He probably could have got another assist and scored the goal himself.”

Is Champions League qualification a done deal?

When Carrick took over at the end of the season, United were in sixth place, and a Champions League place was not assured. But The former United midfielder has impressively steadied the ship After the turbulent reign of Reuben Amorim.

Victory over Brentford moves Michael Carrick’s side into third, eleven points ahead of sixth-placed Brighton & Hove Albion and need just two more points to snatch the third qualification spot from England for next season’s UEFA Champions League. They will host rivals Liverpool on May 3 and then travel to the Stadium of Light to face Sunderland on May 9.

– ends

A shocking new study suggests that it was not their brains that caused the extinction of Neanderthals. Scientists used to believe that Neanderthals had differences in terms of intelligence and cognitive abilities that resulted in their extinction, but current studies refute the old belief about the extinction of Neanderthals. The reasons may be related to other issues, such as climate change, interactions with other species, including Homo sapiens. Neanderthals, brain size, human evolution, extinction, cognitive abilities, Homo sapiens, archaeology, and paleoanthropology are some of the topics also covered in the new study.

Neanderthal brain size and cognitive ability reconsidered

For many years, Neanderthals were considered to have a lower level of intelligence than Homo sapiens, although Neanderthals had brains of similar size, if not larger. However, a new study questions the notion that larger brain size indicates better intelligence.Article ‘Neanderthal brain size at birth provides insight into the evolution of human life history‘Shows that although Neanderthals had larger brain sizes, there may have been differences in brain structure.As explained by the researchers in the article:“Brain size does not directly translate into cognitive ability; structure and society matter just as much.”Thus, Neanderthals were probably not less intelligent, but simply adapted differently.

New research on Neanderthal extinction factors

The old view that the extinction of Neanderthals was caused by their intellectually inadequate brains has gradually been replaced by more detailed scenarios. These scenarios now suggest both environmental and demographic factors as possible contributing factors.For example, as reported in a study by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America:“The relatively small and fragmented groups of Neanderthals increased their vulnerability to environmental changes and stochastic events.”Environmental instability during the late Pleistocene probably affected available food sources and habitats. Homo sapiens, on the other hand, may be characterized by a wide range of social interactions and strategies for survival.Furthermore, genetic evidence suggests interbreeding between Neanderthals and Homo sapiens.

Social networks and the role of adaptability

Another important difference may be in social organization. Anthropologists claim that Homo sapiens had more extensive and connected social systems, which facilitated communication and innovation.Prominent scientists and anthropologists said:“Not only intelligence, but also the way people communicate, cooperate and share information between groups matters.”Despite being very advanced, Neanderthals probably lived in small and isolated tribes, which prevented them from easily adapting to new environments like Homo sapiens.

What does this mean for evolutionists and further studies

Such findings change the way we look at human evolution. It’s certainly not just a case of “smart people displacing stupid Neanderthals”.Instead, Neanderthals appear to have been an intelligent and adaptable species with a culture. The extinction of the Neanderthals was probably caused by environmental pressure, low population resistance, and competition or even incorporation between Homo neanderthalensis and Homo sapiens.A review in the journal Current Anthropology concludes:“Neanderthals did not fail cognitively. They went extinct as a result of a series of ecological and demographic contingencies.”This new evidence shows us how much has changed in the way we view Neanderthals. Their extinction was apparently not caused by any defect in their brain. Rather, Neanderthals became extinct due to a number of environmental and demographic factors.

New Delhi: Security agencies have foiled a major plot to allegedly target the national capital with advanced weapons, revealing a suspected cross-border syndicate linked to Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal, sources said.Authorities recovered 18 sophisticated firearms from nine alleged operatives, who were allegedly planning to send the weapons through Munger before distributing them across several states.ANI sources said investigators are also probing the role of Shahbaz Ansari, a wanted accused in the NIA’s Sidhu Moosewala arms supply case and a resident of Khurja in Uttar Pradesh.The latest operation comes days after the first anniversary of the Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali national, on April 22, 2025.In a related action on April 24, the Uttar Pradesh anti-terrorism squad arrested two alleged gangsters in Noida, who are said to be working under the direct influence of Pakistan-based handlers and the ISI.The suspects, identified as Tushar Chauhan alias Hizbullah Ali Khan and Sameer Khan, 20, were found with a pistol, live ammunition and a knife.According to the ATS, intelligence inputs indicate that the two were attempting to compromise India’s internal security on the instructions of the ISI. Investigators said they were working with terrorist organizations and gangsters to radicalize Indian youth through Instagram and other social media platforms.The ATS further alleged that the two men were working with gangsters Shehzad Bhatti and Abid Jatt and were tasked with creating sleeper cells and conducting reconnaissance of sensitive locations for targeted killings.According to UP ATS, Bhatti had allegedly offered Tushar Rs 3 lakh, a part of which was paid in advance, along with a passport and safe passage to Pakistan via Dubai after carrying out the planned attacks.Investigators said the network was not limited to criminal elements and was linked to ISI operatives identified as Major Hamid, Major Iqbal and Major Anwar, who allegedly helped supply arms and money.(With ANI inputs)

मामले की जानकारी देते हुए थाना कोतवाल प्रशांत बहुगुणा ने बताया कि तोताघाटी के सामने कार गिरने की सूचना मिलते ही पुलिस बल रेस्क्यू के लिए मौके पर पहुंच गया था. गहरी खाई और दुर्गम रास्तों के बीच राहत कार्य करते हुए टीम ने एक घायल व्यक्ति को सुरक्षित बचाया है, जिसे राफ्ट के जरिए नदी से निकालने की प्रक्रिया जारी है.

यह भी पढ़ें…उत्तराखंड: महिला आरक्षण के मुद्दे पर विशेष सत्र आज, सदन में हंगामे के आसार, विपक्ष दिखाएगा आक्रामक रुख

वहीं, कार में सवार महिला का अभी तक कोई पता नहीं चल पाया है. पुलिस के मुताबिक जिस तरह से कार क्षतिग्रस्त हुई है, उससे आशंका है कि महिला को कहीं गहरी खाई में फेंक दिया गया है। फिलहाल राहत एवं बचाव दल द्वारा लापता महिला की सघन तलाश की जा रही है और रेस्क्यू ऑपरेशन लगातार जारी है.

A Ukrainian drone strike caused a “massive fire” at Russia’s Tuapse oil refinery on the Black Sea, Russian officials said Tuesday, forcing the evacuation of nearby buildings.Refinery, owned by RosneftAccording to industry sources, operations were suspended from April 16 following the first drone attack. It mainly supplies oil products for export.Reuters reported that Ukraine had no immediate comment on the latest attack. Kiev has stepped up attacks inside Russia since March as US-brokered talks over the war in Ukraine stalled and Washington focused primarily on the Iran conflict.Veniamin Kondratiev, governor of Russia’s Krasnodar region, said the latest attack caused a massive fire at the facility.“Another serious incident has occurred in Tuapse. A massive fire broke out at an oil refinery after a drone attack,” Kondratiev said on Telegram.The Tuapse refinery is one of Russia’s major Black Sea energy facilities and has been targeted in drone strikes before.The head of the Tuapse district, Sergei Boyko, ordered the evacuation of roads around the refinery due to fears the fire could spread to surrounding areas.Officials did not immediately provide casualties or details on the scale of damage beyond the fire. Emergency services were deployed to control the fire.The refinery and the nearby Tuapse port have faced repeated attacks in recent months. An earlier attack caused oil to spill into the sea and cause a fire that took several days to extinguish.Last week, local residents were advised to stay indoors, keep windows closed and wipe down surfaces as byproducts of the previous fire mixed with rainwater, leaving a “black layer” in areas near the terminal, local officials said.The Kremlin said measures were being taken in response to the latest attack. According to Reuters, Kremlin officials said the necessary measures were being taken following the Ukrainian drone attack on the refinery.The Tuapse refinery has an annual production capacity of approximately 12 million metric tons or 240,000 barrels per day. It produces naphtha, diesel, fuel oil and vacuum gasoil.Its Black Sea location makes it strategically important for Russian fuel exports.