British-Nigerian boxer Anthony Joshua is poised to become a three-time heavyweight champion after Ukraine’s Oleksandr Usyk vacated his IBF heavyweight title.

Usyk, who recently defeated Tyson Fury to become the undisputed champion, confirmed he will not be defending the IBF belt in his rematch with Fury scheduled for December 21.

Usyk took to social media to announce his decision, stating, “Anthony and Daniel, listen, I know the IBF title is important to you. It’s my present to you on September 21.”

This move paves the way for Joshua to fight fellow Brit Daniel Dubois for the vacant title at Wembley Stadium on September 21.

Joshua, who first won a world title in 2016, held the championship for three years before a shocking defeat by Andy Ruiz Jr.

He reclaimed his titles six months later but was then bested by Usyk in 2021 and lost the rematch the following year. Now, with the IBF title up for grabs, Joshua has a prime opportunity to add another chapter to his storied career.

Former Arsenal defender and World Cup winner Shkodran Mustafi has retired from professional football and taken up a coaching role.

The ex-German international, who spent last season as a free agent following his departure from Levante, will now serve as the assistant manager for Germany’s Under-17 national team under head coach Marc Meister, starting July 1.

Reflecting on his career transition, Mustafi expressed, “Coaching has been on my mind for a while. It’s unfortunate that my playing days ended sooner than I anticipated, but I’m thrilled about the opportunity ahead.

I look forward to taking my first steps as a coach with the DFB and passing on my experiences from my time with the U15s, U21s, and the senior national team to the young players.”

Mustafi, who was capped 20 times for Germany between 2014 and 2017 and played for Arsenal from 2016 to 2021, will now focus on nurturing the next generation of football talent in his new role.

Lionel Messi, the star forward for Inter Miami and Argentina, recently shared that he believes his remarkable football talent is a gift from God. Currently competing in the Copa América in the US, the 37-year-old discussed his perspective in an interview with podcaster Juan Pablo Varsky.

“It’s very clear to me that I was born like this because God chose me. It was a gift he gave me,” Messi explained. Reflecting on his early years, he added, “I was always different. People came to watch me. I didn’t realize it, but I only began to understand that as I grew older.”

Messi emphasized that while he has worked to hone his skills, his natural talent was evident from the start. “Of course, I tried to take advantage of it [talent], I tried to squeeze the most out of it, but the truth is, I did nothing to become the player that I already was when I was little.”

Though Messi credits his success to divine intervention, his dedication and relentless effort have undoubtedly contributed to his status as one of the greatest footballers of all time.