Soccer

CARDIFF, Wales (AP) — Few soccer players have been fast-tracked to their national team quicker than Ronan Kpakio.

WROCLAW, Poland (AP) — Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca seemed as surprised as anyone when he was told Mykhailo Mudryk had been spotted in Poland ahead of the club's Conference League final against Real Betis.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Former Major League Soccer MVP Carlos Vela announced his retirement Tuesday.

TORONTO — Toronto FC reaches the halfway point of the Major League Soccer season this week still very much a work in progress. After starting the campaign at 0-4-4, Toronto has gone 3-4-0 — beaten 2-1 last time out by visiting Nashville SC.

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Juan Ramón Verón, who scored a goal against Manchester United at Old Trafford to help Argentina's Estudiantes de La Plata win the 1968 Intercontinental Cup, died on Tuesday, his former team said. He was 81.

VANCOUVER — Ryan Gauld didn't expect to be the Vancouver Whitecaps' biggest cheerleader this season.

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — One of the three judges overseeing the trial of seven health professionals accused of negligence in the death of Diego Maradona stepped down from the proceedings Tuesday amid controversy over her participation in the ma

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Teenage star Lamine Yamal has signed a contract extension to stay at Barcelona until 2031, the club announced Tuesday.

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (AP) — Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi have been partners on the pitch for several years. Now they're teaming up off it as businessmen.

WROCLAW, Poland (AP) — It's been a breakthrough season for Francisco “Isco” Alarcon with Real Betis, and it could culminate with him leading the Spanish club to its first European title.