IBOV 175,064 ▼ 0.39% IPSA 10,897 ▲ 0.55% IPC MEX 68,866 ▼ 1.65% MERVAL 3,089,497 ▲ 0.57% COLCAP 2,182.57 ▼ 0.56% BVL PERÚ 34,836.62 ▲ 0.71% USD/BRL 5.05 ▲ 0.30% USD/MXN 17.34 ▲ 0.14% USD/CLP 891.15 ▼ 0.06% USD/COP 3,636 ▲ 0.01% USD/PEN 3.40 ▼ 0.38% USD/ARS 1,406 ▼ 0.25% USD/UYU 40.13 ▲ 1.58% USD/PYG 5,998 ▼ 0.32% USD/BOB 6.86 ▲ 1.81% USD/DOP 58.15 ▲ 0.12% USD/CRC 451.23 ▲ 2.38% USD/GTQ 7.62 ▲ 2.23% USD/HNL 26.63 ▲ 1.72% USD/NIO 36.62 ▲ 0.71% USD/VES 548.00 ▲ 2.48% USD/PAB 1.00 ▲ 2.20% USD/BZD 2.00 ▲ 1.63% USD/JMD 156.65 ▲ 0.44% USD/TTD 6.75 ▲ 1.33% EUR/BRL 5.89 ▼ 0.04% BRENT 90.53 ▼ 3.39% WTI 86.85 ▼ 2.31% IRON ORE 161.91 — — COPPER 6.40 ▲ 0.05% GOLD 4,555 ▲ 1.23% SILVER 75.91 ▲ 0.35% SOY 1,198 ▲ 0.31% CORN 453.00 ▼ 0.60% WHEAT 622.75 ▼ 0.20% COFFEE 269.95 ▼ 1.57% SUGAR 14.18 ▲ 1.79% ORANGE JUICE 168.70 ▲ 0.03% COTTON 76.21 ▼ 0.73% COCOA 4,083 ▼ 0.39% BEEF 241.15 ▼ 4.09% CATTLE 352.88 ▼ 0.49% LITHIUM 87.50 ▲ 2.30% PETR4 42.51 ▼ 0.72% VALE3 83.96 ▲ 0.61% ITUB4 40.00 ▼ 0.79% BBDC4 17.90 ▼ 0.56% ABEV3 16.29 ▼ 1.93% BBAS3 20.61 ▼ 2.18% B3SA3 16.50 ▲ 0.12% WEGE3 43.72 ▲ 0.62% PRIO3 62.97 ▼ 0.02% SUZB3 41.69 ▼ 0.95% RENT3 42.82 — 0.00% AZZA3 19.85 ▼ 3.87% CSAN3 3.94 ▼ 1.75% RAIZ4 0.34 ▼ 19.05% PCAR3 1.96 ▼ 1.51% GMAT3 4.14 ▼ 2.82% PSSA3 48.28 ▼ 0.54% CVCB3 1.60 ▼ 5.33% POSI3 4.14 ▲ 0.24% SLCE3 15.90 ▲ 0.06% NATU3 10.10 ▲ 1.30% BRKM5 11.13 ▼ 1.68% RANI3 7.94 ▲ 0.13% CSNA3 6.80 ▲ 3.82% CMIN3 4.70 ▲ 1.51% USIM5 10.65 ▲ 4.11% GGBR4 23.50 ▼ 1.01% ENEV3 25.00 ▼ 0.56% NEOE3 33.80 — 0.00% CPFE3 43.03 ▼ 2.60% CMIG4 11.05 ▼ 0.99% EQTL3 38.20 ▲ 0.55% LREN3 15.00 ▲ 0.87% VIVT3 33.60 ▼ 0.97% RAIL3 13.85 ▼ 1.42% KLABIN 16.67 ▼ 0.66% RAIA DROGASIL 18.95 ▲ 2.43% RDOR3 34.47 ▲ 0.20% HAPV3 12.48 ▲ 0.65% FLRY3 15.74 ▼ 1.50% SMTO3 17.16 ▲ 0.12% UGPA3 26.91 ▼ 2.07% VBBR3 30.91 ▼ 0.35% BBSE3 34.58 ▼ 0.80% BPAC11 54.30 ▼ 1.25% CURY3 32.18 ▲ 2.22% AERI3 2.32 ▼ 0.43% VIVARA 22.15 ▼ 0.14% COMPASS 26.99 ▲ 1.85% VAMOS 3.19 ▼ 1.24% SANB11 27.22 ▼ 0.91% ASAI3 8.98 ▼ 2.92% SBSP3 28.16 ▼ 1.40% WALMEX 52.60 ▼ 3.63% GMEXICO 215.25 ▼ 0.17% FEMSA 209.22 ▼ 1.77% CEMEX 22.63 ▼ 1.35% GFNORTE 185.10 ▼ 2.32% BIMBO 58.87 ▼ 0.83% TELEVISA 9.70 ▼ 1.82% AMX 22.35 ▼ 1.15% GAP 411.98 ▼ 2.75% ASUR 300.63 ▼ 1.62% OMA 218.65 ▼ 0.90% KOF 185.60 ▼ 2.51% GRUMA 292.80 ▼ 1.38% KIMBER 38.26 ▼ 2.10% SQM-B 75,368 ▼ 0.09% COPEC 6,560 ▲ 1.78% BSANTANDER 71.40 ▼ 0.57% FALABELLA 5,875 ▲ 0.75% ENELAM 78.99 ▲ 0.60% CENCOSUD 2,180 ▲ 2.30% CMPC 1,120 — 0.00% BANCO CHILE 172.50 ▼ 0.37% LATAM AIR 23.76 ▲ 0.38% YPF 77,075 ▲ 0.59% GGAL 7,240 ▲ 1.33% PAMPA 4,993 ▲ 0.71% TXAR 670.50 ▼ 0.96% ALUAR 1,008 ▲ 1.36% TGS 9,130 ▲ 1.05% CEPU 2,264 ▼ 1.65% MIRGOR 16,850 ▼ 1.32% COME 47.19 ▼ 1.77% LOMA NEGRA 3,498 ▼ 2.03% BYMA 293.00 ▲ 0.51% TELECOM ARG 4,100 ▼ 1.32% ECOPETROL 14.79 ▼ 0.90% BANCOLOMBIA 69.19 ▼ 2.25% GRUPO AVAL 4.69 ▼ 1.47% CREDICORP 341.50 ▼ 1.94% SOUTHERN COPPER 194.88 ▲ 3.80% BUENAVENTURA 35.01 ▲ 1.10% MERCADOLIBRE 1,696 ▼ 0.04% NUBANK 13.05 ▲ 0.15% XP 16.96 ▼ 1.02% PAGSEGURO 9.33 ▲ 0.65% STONE 11.33 ▼ 0.18% GLOBANT 39.93 ▲ 2.86% TECNOGLASS 44.21 ▲ 2.60% GAP AIRPORT 238.11 ▼ 2.49% ASUR 300.63 ▼ 1.62% OMA AIRPORT 100.72 ▼ 1.44% AMX ADR 25.79 ▼ 0.69% FEMSA ADR 120.87 ▼ 1.47% CEMEX ADR 13.06 ▼ 1.14% PETROBRAS ADR 18.83 ▼ 0.69% VALE ADR 16.55 ▲ 0.24% ITAU ADR 7.88 ▼ 1.01% SANTANDER BR 5.44 ▼ 0.91% AMBEV ADR 3.20 ▼ 2.14% CSN 1.36 ▲ 3.03% GERDAU 4.65 ▼ 1.48% LATAM ADR 53.19 ▲ 0.11% BTC 73,007 ▼ 0.72% ETH 1,993 ▼ 0.73% SOL 81.17 ▼ 0.99% XRP 1.30 ▼ 0.99% BNB 634.52 ▼ 0.47% ADA 0.23 ▼ 1.24% DOGE 0.10 ▼ 1.29% AVAX 8.80 ▼ 1.27% LINK 8.86 ▼ 1.41% DOT 1.19 ▼ 1.96% LTC 51.44 ▼ 0.29% BCH 298.17 ▼ 0.56% TRX 0.34 ▼ 2.53% XLM 0.20 ▲ 0.66% HBAR 0.09 ▼ 1.65% NEAR 2.44 ▲ 0.75% ATOM 2.00 ▼ 3.24% AAVE 81.04 ▲ 0.44% SELIC 14.50% EMBRAER 73.60 ▲ 0.14% EMBRAER ADR 58.40 ▲ 0.57% JBS 12.94 ▼ 2.12% JBS BDR 65.03 ▼ 2.69% MBRF3 16.29 — 0.00% MBRFY 3.23 ▲ 1.89% INTER 6.34 ▼ 1.09% IBOV 175,064 ▼ 0.39% IPSA 10,897 ▲ 0.55% IPC MEX 68,866 ▼ 1.65% MERVAL 3,089,497 ▲ 0.57% COLCAP 2,182.57 ▼ 0.56% BVL PERÚ 34,836.62 ▲ 0.71% USD/BRL 5.05 ▲ 0.30% USD/MXN 17.34 ▲ 0.14% USD/CLP 891.15 ▼ 0.06% USD/COP 3,636 ▲ 0.01% USD/PEN 3.40 ▼ 0.38% USD/ARS 1,406 ▼ 0.25% USD/UYU 40.13 ▲ 1.58% USD/PYG 5,998 ▼ 0.32% USD/BOB 6.86 ▲ 1.81% USD/DOP 58.15 ▲ 0.12% USD/CRC 451.23 ▲ 2.38% USD/GTQ 7.62 ▲ 2.23% USD/HNL 26.63 ▲ 1.72% USD/NIO 36.62 ▲ 0.71% USD/VES 548.00 ▲ 2.48% USD/PAB 1.00 ▲ 2.20% USD/BZD 2.00 ▲ 1.63% USD/JMD 156.65 ▲ 0.44% USD/TTD 6.75 ▲ 1.33% EUR/BRL 5.89 ▼ 0.04% BRENT 90.53 ▼ 3.39% WTI 86.85 ▼ 2.31% IRON ORE 161.91 — — COPPER 6.40 ▲ 0.05% GOLD 4,555 ▲ 1.23% SILVER 75.91 ▲ 0.35% SOY 1,198 ▲ 0.31% CORN 453.00 ▼ 0.60% WHEAT 622.75 ▼ 0.20% COFFEE 269.95 ▼ 1.57% SUGAR 14.18 ▲ 1.79% ORANGE JUICE 168.70 ▲ 0.03% COTTON 76.21 ▼ 0.73% COCOA 4,083 ▼ 0.39% BEEF 241.15 ▼ 4.09% CATTLE 352.88 ▼ 0.49% LITHIUM 87.50 ▲ 2.30% PETR4 42.51 ▼ 0.72% VALE3 83.96 ▲ 0.61% ITUB4 40.00 ▼ 0.79% BBDC4 17.90 ▼ 0.56% ABEV3 16.29 ▼ 1.93% BBAS3 20.61 ▼ 2.18% B3SA3 16.50 ▲ 0.12% WEGE3 43.72 ▲ 0.62% PRIO3 62.97 ▼ 0.02% SUZB3 41.69 ▼ 0.95% RENT3 42.82 — 0.00% AZZA3 19.85 ▼ 3.87% CSAN3 3.94 ▼ 1.75% RAIZ4 0.34 ▼ 19.05% PCAR3 1.96 ▼ 1.51% GMAT3 4.14 ▼ 2.82% PSSA3 48.28 ▼ 0.54% CVCB3 1.60 ▼ 5.33% POSI3 4.14 ▲ 0.24% SLCE3 15.90 ▲ 0.06% NATU3 10.10 ▲ 1.30% BRKM5 11.13 ▼ 1.68% RANI3 7.94 ▲ 0.13% CSNA3 6.80 ▲ 3.82% CMIN3 4.70 ▲ 1.51% USIM5 10.65 ▲ 4.11% GGBR4 23.50 ▼ 1.01% ENEV3 25.00 ▼ 0.56% NEOE3 33.80 — 0.00% CPFE3 43.03 ▼ 2.60% CMIG4 11.05 ▼ 0.99% EQTL3 38.20 ▲ 0.55% LREN3 15.00 ▲ 0.87% VIVT3 33.60 ▼ 0.97% RAIL3 13.85 ▼ 1.42% KLABIN 16.67 ▼ 0.66% RAIA DROGASIL 18.95 ▲ 2.43% RDOR3 34.47 ▲ 0.20% HAPV3 12.48 ▲ 0.65% FLRY3 15.74 ▼ 1.50% SMTO3 17.16 ▲ 0.12% UGPA3 26.91 ▼ 2.07% VBBR3 30.91 ▼ 0.35% BBSE3 34.58 ▼ 0.80% BPAC11 54.30 ▼ 1.25% CURY3 32.18 ▲ 2.22% AERI3 2.32 ▼ 0.43% VIVARA 22.15 ▼ 0.14% COMPASS 26.99 ▲ 1.85% VAMOS 3.19 ▼ 1.24% SANB11 27.22 ▼ 0.91% ASAI3 8.98 ▼ 2.92% SBSP3 28.16 ▼ 1.40% WALMEX 52.60 ▼ 3.63% GMEXICO 215.25 ▼ 0.17% FEMSA 209.22 ▼ 1.77% CEMEX 22.63 ▼ 1.35% GFNORTE 185.10 ▼ 2.32% BIMBO 58.87 ▼ 0.83% TELEVISA 9.70 ▼ 1.82% AMX 22.35 ▼ 1.15% GAP 411.98 ▼ 2.75% ASUR 300.63 ▼ 1.62% OMA 218.65 ▼ 0.90% KOF 185.60 ▼ 2.51% GRUMA 292.80 ▼ 1.38% KIMBER 38.26 ▼ 2.10% SQM-B 75,368 ▼ 0.09% COPEC 6,560 ▲ 1.78% BSANTANDER 71.40 ▼ 0.57% FALABELLA 5,875 ▲ 0.75% ENELAM 78.99 ▲ 0.60% CENCOSUD 2,180 ▲ 2.30% CMPC 1,120 — 0.00% BANCO CHILE 172.50 ▼ 0.37% LATAM AIR 23.76 ▲ 0.38% YPF 77,075 ▲ 0.59% GGAL 7,240 ▲ 1.33% PAMPA 4,993 ▲ 0.71% TXAR 670.50 ▼ 0.96% ALUAR 1,008 ▲ 1.36% TGS 9,130 ▲ 1.05% CEPU 2,264 ▼ 1.65% MIRGOR 16,850 ▼ 1.32% COME 47.19 ▼ 1.77% LOMA NEGRA 3,498 ▼ 2.03% BYMA 293.00 ▲ 0.51% TELECOM ARG 4,100 ▼ 1.32% ECOPETROL 14.79 ▼ 0.90% BANCOLOMBIA 69.19 ▼ 2.25% GRUPO AVAL 4.69 ▼ 1.47% CREDICORP 341.50 ▼ 1.94% SOUTHERN COPPER 194.88 ▲ 3.80% BUENAVENTURA 35.01 ▲ 1.10% MERCADOLIBRE 1,696 ▼ 0.04% NUBANK 13.05 ▲ 0.15% XP 16.96 ▼ 1.02% PAGSEGURO 9.33 ▲ 0.65% STONE 11.33 ▼ 0.18% GLOBANT 39.93 ▲ 2.86% TECNOGLASS 44.21 ▲ 2.60% GAP AIRPORT 238.11 ▼ 2.49% ASUR 300.63 ▼ 1.62% OMA AIRPORT 100.72 ▼ 1.44% AMX ADR 25.79 ▼ 0.69% 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since 2009
Friday, May 29, 2026

Sports Daily
May 29, 2026 · 16 min read

Latin America Sports Daily for Friday, May 29, 2026

By · May 29, 2026 · 16 min read

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On Thursday, the World Cup story Brazil hoped would not be written was confirmed in official medical language: Neymar has a Grade 2 calf muscle tear, not the mild edema Santos had publicly described, and he will miss both pre-tournament friendlies and is “highly unlikely” to feature in the opener against Morocco on June 13. CBF doctor Rodrigo Lasmar gave two-to-three weeks as the recovery window at a Granja Comary press conference, putting Neymar’s tournament start on approximately June 7, with the World Cup group stage beginning six days later. Meanwhile, the Copa Libertadores group stage closed completely on Thursday night, producing a headline shock: Boca Juniors were eliminated from the Round of 16 at the Bombonera, losing 0-1 to Universidad Católica of Chile while Cruzeiro simultaneously beat Barcelona SC 4-0 to seal second place in Group D. And in Asunción, Cerro Porteño beat Palmeiras to Group F, the surprise of this group stage, while the Copa Sudamericana final matchday saw Vasco da Gama, Atlético Mineiro, and Bragantino all advance to the playoffs. In San Antonio, Wembanyama scored 28 as the Spurs crushed the Thunder 118-91 to force a Game 7 Saturday night in Oklahoma City. As always, The Rio Times covers Latin America’s full sports landscape.

Today’s Headlines May 28, 2026

EVENT RESULT KEY MOMENT
Neymar / Brazil WC Grade 2 MRI confirms tear; out of Panama, Egypt, Morocco likely
Lib. Grp D: Boca Juniors vs U. Católica 0-1 Montes 34′; Boca eliminated; UC Group D 1st
Lib. Grp D: Cruzeiro vs Barcelona SC 4-0 Cruzeiro 2nd in Group D (11 pts)
Lib. Grp F: Cerro Porteño vs Sporting Cristal 2-0 Vegetti 50′, Cecilio pen 66′; Cerro Group F winners
Lib. Grp F: Palmeiras vs Junior 4-1 Arias, Flaco López ×2; Palmeiras Group F 2nd
Lib. Grp E: Corinthians vs Platense 0-2 Dead rubber; Corinthians still Group E 1st
Lib. Grp E: Peñarol vs Santa Fe 0-1 Santa Fe take 2nd in Group E
Lib. Grp C: Fluminense vs La Guaira 3-1 Fluminense through as Group C 2nd
NBA WCF G6: Spurs vs Thunder 118-91 Wemby 28/10; SGA 15 (6-18); Game 7 Saturday
Sud. MD6: Vasco vs Barracas Central 3-0 Vasco advance to Copa Sudamericana playoffs

01

Grade 2 Calf Tear, Not Mild Edema: Neymar Ruled Out of Friendlies and Likely the World Cup Opener

Brazil WC

On Thursday afternoon in Teresópolis, CBF doctor Rodrigo Lasmar took the podium at Granja Comary and delivered the news Brazil’s technical staff had feared since Neymar missed Santos’s Copa Sudamericana matches. The MRI conducted Wednesday at a private clinic in the city had returned a definitive finding: not a two-millimetre oedema with minimal tissue involvement, as Santos had publicly characterised it, but a Grade 2 calf muscle tear, a partial rupture of muscle fibres requiring two to three weeks of rest and progressive rehabilitation before the player can return to competitive football. “The examination ruled out the initial hypothesis of a simpler issue,” Lasmar told reporters. “A Grade 2 tear is a different injury to an oedema. The recovery window is two to three weeks from today.”

The arithmetic is brutal. Two to three weeks from May 28 is June 11-18. Brazil’s first World Cup group game is June 13 (Morocco, MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford). Their second is June 18 (Haiti, Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia). If Neymar is cleared at the earliest (June 11), he would have had approximately 72 hours of preparation before the Morocco match with essentially zero match fitness. The CBF confirmed he will miss the Panama friendly at the Maracanã on Sunday May 31 and the Egypt match in Cleveland on June 6. Ancelotti, asked whether Neymar could be removed from the 26-man squad, declined to specify but said: “We will make every decision with the health of the player and the interests of the team in mind.” Under FIFA regulations, a player can be replaced in the squad up to 24 hours before the team’s first match, giving Brazil until June 12 to make a substitution if they choose.

Santos released a defensive statement Thursday disputing the CBF’s framing. “Absolutely all examinations performed on Neymar Jr. were shared with the CBF up to May 18, the date of the call-up,” the club said. “The two-week deadline is counted from May 17 and ends this Sunday, when the player would have been fit to return to activities.” The counter-argument implies Santos believed the injury would resolve within two weeks of onset, but their “mild edema” characterisation, now contradicted by MRI evidence, has become the story. Brazilian football media has turned sharply critical of the club’s medical department.

Neymar’s own public posture remains defiant. Asked by reporters at the Vila Belmiro earlier this week about the injury, his quoted response was “Está aqui, inteira” (“It’s here, whole”) and “Problema do quê?” (“What problem?”). That bravado has aged poorly. At 34, with a history that includes a torn ACL (2023), a December 2025 knee arthroscopy, and multiple calf and ankle problems, Neymar’s margin for optimistic injury management has always been narrow.

The question looming over the camp at Granja Comary is whether Ancelotti will use the FIFA replacement window. The likely candidate is Antony (Real Betis), who was in the provisional 55-man list but cut from the final 26. Ancelotti’s press conference is scheduled for Friday morning.

KEY STAT: Grade 2 calf muscle tear confirmed by CBF MRI (announced May 28). CBF doctor Rodrigo Lasmar: “two to three weeks” recovery from May 28. Out: Panama friendly (May 31, Maracanã), Egypt friendly (June 6, Cleveland). World Cup opener June 13 “highly unlikely.” FIFA squad replacement deadline: June 12 (24 hrs before first match). Santos defended their “mild edema” assessment; the CBF disputed it publicly. Lasmar press conference: Thursday May 28, Granja Comary.

02

Bombonera Stunned: Universidad Católica Eliminate Boca Juniors, Win Group D Outright

Libertadores

A packed Bombonera, 49,000 supporters, and Boca Juniors needing at minimum a win to reach the Copa Libertadores Round of 16. The outcome was the group stage’s most stunning result on its final night. Clemente Montes, Universidad Católica’s 22-year-old defensive midfielder, scored the only goal at 34 minutes, meeting a corner from the right and heading firmly past goalkeeper Leandro Brey. Boca pressed for 56 minutes to equalise, the crowd urging every free kick and corner toward the box, but the Chilean club’s defence held throughout. VAR invalidated an Ángel Romero header that would have made it 1-1; the assistant’s flag had been marginal but confirmed correct on review. At the final whistle, Boca’s elimination was confirmed: they finish third in Group D with 7 points, dropping into the Copa Sudamericana playoff round.

Universidad Católica finish Group D in first place with 13 points, unbeaten in six group games (four wins, one draw, one loss; that loss was the reversible away defeat to Boca in matchday one. It is the Chilean club’s first Copa Libertadores Round of 16 appearance in their history, and coach Daniel Garnero, who guided Paraguay to the 2026 World Cup, described it as “el logro más importante del club en competencias internacionales” (“the most important achievement in the club’s international competition history”). The Argentine press was less celebratory: Clarín led with “La Pesadilla en la Bombonera” (“The Bombonera Nightmare”), and several former Boca players were quoted calling the group-stage exit “una vergüenza histórica” for the six-time Libertadores champions.

Simultaneously in Belo Horizonte, Cruzeiro completed a dominant 4-0 win over Barcelona SC to finish second in Group D on 11 points. Matheus Pereira was the game’s standout, involved in three of the four goals; the result sets up Cruzeiro, under coach Fernando Diniz, as one of the group-stage’s higher-seeded Brazilian clubs entering the draw. Cruzeiro advance to the Round of 16 as Group D runners-up.

The Copa Libertadores Round of 16 draw takes place today, Friday May 29, at 12:00 noon local time (15:00 UTC) in Luque, Paraguay. Boca Juniors transfer to the Copa Sudamericana playoff round; their opponent will be determined in a simultaneous draw also taking place Friday.

KEY STAT: Boca Juniors 0-1 Universidad Católica at La Bombonera (Clemente Montes 34′). VAR disallowed Ángel Romero header. Group D final: UC 13 pts (1st, unbeaten, R16 debut), Cruzeiro 11 pts (2nd, R16), Boca 7 pts (3rd, Sud. playoff), Barcelona SC 3 pts (4th). Simultaneous: Cruzeiro 4-0 Barcelona SC (Matheus Pereira). Copa Libertadores R16 draw: Friday May 29, Luque, 15:00 UTC.

Latin America Sports Daily for Friday, May 29, 2026
Latin America Sports Daily for Friday, May 29, 2026. (Photo Internet reproduction)

Neymar Grade 2 calf tear MRI CBF Rodrigo Lasmar two three weeks recovery Granja Comary Teresópolis confirmed 28 maio out Panama friendly Maracanã 31 maio Egypt Cleveland June 6 Morocco June 13 MetLife New Jersey World Cup opener Haiti June 18 Scotland June 24 FIFA replacement window June 12 Antony Real Betis 26-man squad Ancelotti press conference Friday Santos disputed edema mild assessment CBF counterargument torn ACL 2023 knee arthroscopy December 2025 Boca Juniors 0-1 Universidad Católica La Bombonera Clemente Montes 34 cabeçada corner VAR Ángel Romero cancelado Leandro Brey goalkeeper Daniel Garnero logro más importante Copa Libertadores R16 debut Chilean 13 points Group D first Cruzeiro 4-0 Barcelona SC Matheus Pereira 11 points Group D second Fernando Diniz Boca 7 points third Copa Sudamericana playoffs sorteio oitavas 29 maio Luque 15h UTC Cerro Porteño 2-0 Sporting Cristal La Nueva Olla Asunción Vegetti 50 Cecilio Domínguez penal 66 Group F winners 12 points Palmeiras 4-1 Junior Allianz Parque Arias López Group F second Corinthians 0-2 Platense dead rubber Group E first still 11 points Peñarol 0-1 Santa Fe Group E second Santa Fe Fluminense 3-1 La Guaira Maracanã Bolívar lost Independiente Rivadavia Group C second Fluminense through NBA WCF Game 6 Spurs 118-91 Thunder Frost Bank Center Wembanyama 28 10 rebound 3 blocks 28 minutes SGA 15 6-18 minus-28 Stephon Castle 17 5 9 Dylan Harper 18 Jalen Williams 10 minutes 1 point non-factor Spurs led wire-to-wire 20-0 scoring run third quarter 32-13 Game 7 Saturday OKC 8pm ET Mitchell Robinson broken right pinkie finger no timetable Knicks Vasco 3-0 Barracas Central Copa Sudamericana playoff Atlético Mineiro 1-0 Puerto Cabello Bragantino 2-0 Carabobo Copa Sudamericana playoffs qualified

Football

03

Cerro Porteño Top Group F Ahead of Palmeiras; Fluminense Escape; Santa Fe Upset Peñarol: The Final Night in Full

Libertadores

Cerro Porteño had already beaten Palmeiras at the Allianz Parque in an earlier matchday, but few predicted the Paraguayan club would hold their position at the top of Group F through the final night. At La Nueva Olla in Asunción, they beat Sporting Cristal 2-0 (Vegetti 50′, Cecilio Domínguez pen 66′) to confirm first place on 12 points, while Palmeiras simultaneously beat Junior 4-1 in São Paulo (Jhon Arias opened, Flaco López added two) to finish as Group F runners-up. The result means Palmeiras enter the Round of 16 seeded as a group runner-up rather than as group leaders, a distinction that affects their draw bracket on Friday. It is only the second time in four Copa Libertadores campaigns under Abel Ferreira that Palmeiras have not won their group.

The group stage’s most dramatic survival story was Fluminense in Group C. The Rio club needed to beat Deportivo La Guaira at the Maracanã and simultaneously needed Bolívar to fail to beat Independiente Rivadavia in Santa Cruz de la Sierra. Both conditions were met: Fluminense beat La Guaira 3-1 through goals from Martinelli, Soteldo, and an own goal, while Bolívar lost, confirmed after a tense half-hour wait during which the Maracanã crowd watched the simultaneous feed on stadium screens. Fluminense finish Group C second on 10 points; Bolívar drop to the Copa Sudamericana playoff round on 9 points. Rivadavia finish first in Group C on 12 points for the second straight year, confirming their emergence as the competition’s most consistent Pot 4 club.

In Group E, Corinthians lost 0-2 to Platense at the Neo Química Arena in a match of zero consequence for qualification; the Brazilian club had already won the group and Platense were already eliminated. Despite the defeat, Corinthians retain Group E leadership and advance to the Round of 16 as group winners. The concurrent Group E fixture was more meaningful: Santa Fe beat Peñarol 1-0 in Montevideo, taking second place in the group ahead of the Uruguayan club. Peñarol, one of South America’s most decorated continental clubs, drop to the Copa Sudamericana playoff round.

The full group stage picture for Brazilian clubs, six from six: Flamengo (Group A, 1st, 16 pts), Palmeiras (Group F, 2nd, 15 pts), Mirassol (Group G, 1st, 14 pts), Cruzeiro (Group D, 2nd, 11 pts), Corinthians (Group E, 1st, 11 pts), Fluminense (Group C, 2nd, 10 pts). All six advance.

The Round of 16 draw is today, Friday May 29, in Luque, Paraguay. All eight group winners are drawn against eight runners-up, with Brazilian clubs seeded to avoid each other in the first round. First legs: August 11-13; second legs: August 18-20.

KEY STAT: Group F: Cerro Porteño 1st (12 pts); Palmeiras 2nd (15 pts); Sporting Cristal 3rd (Sud. playoff). Group C: Ind. Rivadavia 1st (12 pts); Fluminense 2nd (10 pts, escaped on final night); Bolívar 3rd (9 pts, Sud. playoff). Group E: Corinthians 1st (11 pts); Santa Fe 2nd (upset Peñarol 1-0). Six Brazilian clubs advanced from six groups. R16 draw: Friday May 29, Luque, 15:00 UTC.

04

Wemby Attacks From Three, the Spurs Run a 20-0 Third Quarter, and Game 7 Is Saturday Night in Oklahoma City

NBA

Victor Wembanyama had gone 4-of-15 at the rim in Game 5, neutralised by Holmgren and Hartenstein’s inside doubles. His adjustment for Game 6 at the Frost Bank Center was immediate and decisive: he hit two three-pointers in the first three minutes of the opening quarter, forcing an OKC timeout at 9-2, and spent the rest of the night hunting his shot from the perimeter instead of the paint. The strategy confounded the Thunder’s defensive scheme, which had been specifically designed to funnel him into contested two-point opportunities. Wembanyama finished with 28 points, 10 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 2 steals in 28 minutes, watching the final nine minutes from the bench as the Spurs extended their lead to 27 and ultimately to the 118-91 final.

The decisive sequence was the third quarter. San Antonio ran a 20-0 scoring run over seven minutes, the longest scoreless stretch OKC has endured all season, turning a 7-point Spurs halftime lead (60-53) into a 27-point advantage by the time Daigneault called his third timeout of the period. Stephon Castle had 17 points and 9 assists; Dylan Harper, the 20-year-old rookie whose minutes have expanded as the series progressed, scored 18 in 22 minutes. Jalen Williams, returning from his hamstring absence, took just 10 minutes and contributed 1 point before Daigneault chose to manage him for Game 7. SGA finished with 15 points on 6-of-18 shooting and was minus-28.

The context for Game 7: since the NBA introduced the best-of-seven format throughout the playoffs, the home team in Game 7 has won 74% of the time. Oklahoma City’s Paycom Center has been one of the loudest buildings in the 2025-26 playoffs; they were 8-0 at home in the regular-season final two months and went into Game 5 having not lost at home since January. Wembanyama has scored 28+ points in both Spurs road wins; he averages 24.5 at the Paycom Center this season, below his overall average, but his efficiency gap between home and away disappears in high-use moments. For OKC, the variable is Williams: fit and explosive, he is a different team; managed and limited, they cannot generate enough secondary off-ball action to keep Holmgren and Hartenstein away from Wembanyama’s driving lanes.

One fresh variable: Mitchell Robinson, the Knicks centre, has a broken right pinkie finger with no timetable for return. The NBA Finals begin June 5 regardless of Saturday’s Game 7 result; New York now face the possibility of their first Finals in 27 years without their best defensive big man available at full health. Robinson averaged 9.2 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game this postseason.

Game 7: Saturday May 30, 8:00 PM ET, Paycom Center, Oklahoma City. Broadcast on ABC/ESPN.

KEY STAT: Spurs 118-91 Thunder at Frost Bank Center; WCF tied 3-3. Wembanyama 28 pts (4-9 3P), 10 reb, 3 blk in 28 mins. Castle 17/9 ast. Dylan Harper 18 in 22 mins. SGA 15 pts (6-18), minus-28. Jalen Williams: 10 mins, 1 pt, non-factor. Spurs 20-0 third-quarter run (7:07). OKC held to 36.8% shooting. Mitchell Robinson (Knicks): broken right pinkie, no return timetable. Game 7: Saturday May 30, 8:00 PM ET, Paycom Center. Home team win rate in Game 7: 74% (NBA history).

05

Brazilian Clubs Dominate Copa Sudamericana Final Matchday: Vasco, Atlético Mineiro and Bragantino All Advance

Sudamericana

Thursday’s Copa Sudamericana final matchday brought a run of Brazilian results that, combined with Santos’s Tuesday qualification, means four Brazilian clubs advance from the group stage. Vasco da Gama beat Barracas Central 3-0 at São Januário to qualify from their group as runners-up, the Cruz-Maltino’s Copa Sudamericana playoff run a bright spot in what has been a difficult domestic season for the club sitting in the Brasileirão relegation zone. Atlético Mineiro beat Puerto Cabello 1-0 at the Mineirão to confirm second place in their group; the Galo’s Copa Sudamericana campaign has been solid even as their Brasileirão position has declined from early-season promise. Bragantino beat Carabobo 2-0 to similarly advance.

The Copa Sudamericana playoff round draw also takes place Friday May 29 in Luque, alongside the Copa Libertadores R16 draw. The playoff round (July 21-30) pairs Copa Sudamericana group runners-up against third-placed Copa Libertadores clubs. Among the confirmed Libertadores clubs dropping into the playoff round: Peñarol (Group E third), Bolívar (Group C third), Sporting Cristal (Group F third), Independiente Medellín (Group A third), Boca Juniors (Group D third), and Fluminense if they had failed, but Fluminense survived, so that scenario is moot. Santos, from the Sudamericana side, already qualified Tuesday.

The Copa Sudamericana final is November 21 at the Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez in Barranquilla, Colombia.

KEY STAT: Copa Sudamericana final matchday: Vasco 3-0 Barracas Central (São Januário, playoff qualified); Atlético Mineiro 1-0 Puerto Cabello (Mineirão, qualified); Bragantino 2-0 Carabobo (qualified). Brazilian Copa Sudamericana qualifiers: Santos (Grp D runners-up), Vasco, Atlético Mineiro, Bragantino (all qualified to playoffs). Playoff draw: Friday May 29, Luque. Playoff round: July 21-30. Copa Sudamericana final: November 21, Barranquilla.

06

All 16 Copa Libertadores Round of 16 Clubs: The Complete Group Stage Picture

Standings

GRP 1ST (R16) PTS 2ND (R16) PTS
A Flamengo 16 Estudiantes 9
B Nacional 13 Universitario 10
C Ind. Rivadavia 12 Fluminense 10
D U. Católica 13 Cruzeiro 11
E Corinthians 11 Santa Fe 10
F Cerro Porteño 12 Palmeiras 15
G Mirassol 14 LDU Quito 10
H Ind. del Valle 13 Rosario Central 13

Brazil in bold: six of sixteen R16 clubs are Brazilian: Flamengo, Fluminense, Cruzeiro, Corinthians, Palmeiras, Mirassol. The Copa Libertadores R16 draw (today, May 29, Luque, 15:00 UTC) will pair group winners against runners-up, with same-country clubs and clubs from the same group kept apart in the first round.

GROUP STAGE FACTS: Best record: Flamengo (16 pts, 5W-1D-0L). Only unbeaten group winner: Independiente Rivadavia (4W-0D in their 12-point tally). Biggest shock: Boca Juniors eliminated (3rd, 7 pts); Universidad Católica win Group D on debut. Most surprising winner: Cerro Porteño topped Group F ahead of Palmeiras (who scored 15 pts and still finished second). Brazilian six-for-six record: first time all six Brazilian Libertadores group-stage clubs advanced since 2023.

07

Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ

What did Neymar’s MRI scan reveal and will he play in the 2026 World Cup?

MRI results confirmed on Thursday May 28 by CBF team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar reveal a Grade 2 calf muscle tear, a partial rupture of muscle fibres that is a more serious injury than the mild oedema Santos had publicly described. Lasmar put the recovery window at two to three weeks from May 28, which places Neymar’s potential return to training on approximately June 11-18. Brazil’s World Cup opener is June 13 against Morocco at MetLife Stadium; their second game is June 18 against Haiti in Philadelphia. Neymar is expected to miss both friendlies (Panama May 31, Egypt June 6) and is “highly unlikely” to feature against Morocco, per multiple sources. Ancelotti confirmed he would assess the situation at each stage; the FIFA squad replacement window is open until 24 hours before Brazil’s first match (June 12). Santos issued a statement defending their earlier assessment, noting they had shared all medical records with the CBF up to May 18. Brazil’s Group C opponents also include Scotland on June 24 in Atlanta.

Why were Boca Juniors eliminated from the Copa Libertadores group stage?

Boca Juniors finished third in Group D with 7 points after losing 0-1 to Universidad Católica at La Bombonera on Thursday May 28. Clemente Montes scored the only goal at the 34-minute mark with a headed corner. Boca needed a win to advance to the Round of 16; they failed to score despite significant possession and an Ángel Romero goal disallowed by VAR for a marginal offside. Simultaneously, Cruzeiro beat Barcelona SC 4-0 in Belo Horizonte to seal second place on 11 points. Universidad Católica won Group D with 13 points, making them the first Chilean club to reach the Copa Libertadores Round of 16 since Colo-Colo in 2019. Boca transfer to the Copa Sudamericana playoff round, where the draw is today Friday May 29 in Luque, Paraguay.

What happened in NBA WCF Game 6 and when is Game 7?

The San Antonio Spurs beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 118-91 at the Frost Bank Center on Thursday May 28, forcing a deciding Game 7 on Saturday May 30 at 8:00 PM ET at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. Victor Wembanyama scored 28 points, took 10 rebounds, and blocked 3 shots in 28 minutes, hitting four three-pointers as he adjusted to attack from the perimeter after being neutralised at the rim in Game 5. The Spurs led throughout and ran a 20-0 third-quarter run that put the game away. SGA scored 15 points on 6-of-18 shooting and was minus-28. Jalen Williams returned from his hamstring absence but managed only 10 minutes. Game 7 home teams have won 74% of NBA playoff Game 7s historically. Additional context for the Knicks: centre Mitchell Robinson has a broken right pinkie finger with no timeline for return, complicating New York’s preparation for the June 5 Finals opener regardless of who wins Game 7.

Related coverage: previous Latin America Sports Daily (May 28: Game 5, Neymar scan, IDV) · May 27: Santos and Flamengo through · Brazil Elections 2026 guide.

Latin America sports May 28 2026 Neymar Grade 2 calf tear MRI confirmed CBF Rodrigo Lasmar press conference Granja Comary out Panama friendly Maracanã 31 maio Egypt Cleveland June 6 Morocco June 13 MetLife Stadium Haiti June 18 Scotland June 24 FIFA replacement window Antony Real Betis Ancelotti Copa Libertadores Group D Boca Juniors 0-1 Universidad Católica La Bombonera Clemente Montes 34 header corner Leandro Brey VAR Ángel Romero offside marginal Daniel Garnero logro más importante Club D first 13 points Cruzeiro 4-0 Barcelona SC Matheus Pereira Belo Horizonte second 11 points Group F Cerro Porteño 2-0 Sporting Cristal La Nueva Olla Asunción Vegetti 50 Cecilio Domínguez penalty 66 first 12 points Palmeiras 4-1 Junior Allianz Parque Arias López second 15 points Group E Corinthians 0-2 Platense dead rubber first 11 points Peñarol 0-1 Santa Fe second Group C Fluminense 3-1 La Guaira Maracanã Martinelli Soteldo own goal Bolívar lost Independiente Rivadavia escaped second 10 points Copa Libertadores R16 all 16 clubs six Brazilian clubs Flamengo Fluminense Cruzeiro Corinthians Palmeiras Mirassol six from six first since 2023 R16 draw Friday May 29 Luque 15h UTC first legs August 11-13 second legs August 18-20 final November 28 Montevideo Copa Sudamericana Vasco 3-0 Barracas Central São Januário playoffs Atlético Mineiro 1-0 Puerto Cabello Mineirão Bragantino 2-0 Carabobo four Brazilian Copa Sudamericana Santos playoffs Copa Sudamericana playoff draw Friday May 29 Luque Copa Sudamericana final November 21 Barranquilla NBA WCF Game 6 Spurs 118-91 Thunder Frost Bank Center Wembanyama 28 10 reb 3 blk 4-9 3P Castle 17 9 ast Dylan Harper 18 22 mins SGA 15 6-18 minus-28 Jalen Williams 10 mins 1 pt hamstring non-factor 20-0 third quarter run 7:07 Spurs led wire-to-wire Mitchell Robinson Knicks broken right pinkie finger no timetable Game 7 Saturday May 30 8pm ET Paycom Center Oklahoma City home team 74% Game 7 NBA history Daigneault Mitch Johnson NBA Finals June 5 New York Knicks

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