SOCCER
Lionel Messi has confirmed he will stay at Barcelona for another season.
He’d informed the club last week that he wanted to leave, invoking a clause in his contract that could see him go for free.
However, the club said he could only leave if his 700-million euro release clause was met.
Messi says he didn’t want to take the club to court, and has decided to stay.
Gary Owens says he informed the FAI of his decision not to apply for permanent CEO on Wednesday.
He’s occupied the position on an interim basis since January.
Owens oversaw the adoption of new governance rules at Monday’s EGM, allowing the association access to public money.
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Waterford are seeking their first win in over a month.
John Sheridan’s side welcome St. Pat’s to the RSC in tonight’s only game in the SSE Airtricity Premier Division.
First Division leaders Cabinteely are away to Bray later.
Second placed Drogheda host Cobh Ramblers, while Longford are away to Shamrock Rovers Two.
Athlone play Galway, and UCD take on Wexford.
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Ian Baraclough takes charge of the Northern Ireland senior team for the first time tonight.
The former Sligo Rovers boss replaced Michael O’Neill in June.
His side are away to Romania in the Nations League from 7.45.
Scotland are also in action tonight, facing Israel at Hampden Park.
RUGBY
Munster and Leinster meet for the second time in a fortnight this evening.
They go head-to-head in the first of this weekend’s Pro 14 semi-finals.
Kick off at the Aviva is at 7.35.
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Jacob Stockdale and Stuart McCloskey have both been passed fit for Ulster’s semi-final away to Edinburgh.
Both suffered bruising in last week’s defeat to Leinster.
Jordi Murphy retains his place in the back-row despite sustaining a concussion last week.
CYCLING
Sam Bennett has surrendered the green jersey after stage 7 of the Tour de France.
He was among a group of sprinters dropped early in today’s stage.
Peter Sagan has reclaimed the green jersey, while Wout van Aert won today’s stage.
Adam Yates retains the overall leader’s yellow jersey.
GOLF
New father Rory McIlroy gets his opening round of the Tour Championship underway at 6.30.
Fed-Ex points leaders Dustin Johnson and Jon Rahm play together from 7.20.
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On day two of the Andalucia Masters, Cormac Sharvin is currently 4-over par.
Jonathan Caldwell is 6-over, and Gavin Moynihan 14-over par.
As things stand, those on 7-over and above will make the cut.
John Catlin leads on 3-under par.
TENNIS
Naomi Osaka is eyeing up a place in the last-16 of the US Open this evening.
The 2018 women’s champion is first up on the Arthur Ashe Court, taking on world number 137, Marta Kostyuk.
Men’s top seed Novak Djokovic is in action after midnight, facing Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff.
