Hot sports news on the evening of June 17: Haaland calls Messi a "madman"; Vietnam national team misses two overseas Vietnamese stars{[:0 stars

Hot sports news on the evening of June 17: Erling Haaland creates a stir with his praise for Lionel Messi; Nguyen Filip and Cao Pendant Quang Vinh are Vietnam national team absentees; Serena and Venus Williams reunite at Wimbledon 2026.

Haaland calls Messi a "madman" after hat-trick against Algeria

Erling Haaland set the football social media world on fire with just a short Snapchat status: "Messi is a madman" along with a crown emoji. This praise came from the Norwegian striker after Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick to help Argentina defeat Algeria 3-0 in the opening match of the 2026 World Cup.

Notably, Haaland himself just had an impressive World Cup debut, scoring a brace in Norway's 4-1 victory over Iraq. However, the Manchester City striker still had to admire Messi's superior performance.

In the match against Algeria, Messi made his 200th appearance for the Argentina national team and scored his first World Cup hat-trick. These three goals helped him reach 16 goals in World Cup finals, equaling Miroslav Klose's record. Coach Lionel Scaloni admitted he was "speechless" at the extraordinariness of the Argentine captain.

Vietnam national team misses Nguyen Filip and Cao Pendant Quang Vinh

The list of 28 players for the Vietnam national team preparing for the ASEAN Championship 2026 caused a stir as it did not include two overseas Vietnamese stars from Cong An Ha Noi: Nguyen Filip and Cao Pendant Quang Vinh. This came as a surprise as both had just finished a very successful season with the V-League champions.

Nguyen Filip continues to assert his position as one of Vietnam's top goalkeepers, while Cao Pendant Quang Vinh is a standout figure on the left flank and was named in the season's best team. However, their absence is not due to professional factors.

According to released information, the VFF, Vietnam national team coaching staff, and CAHN Club agreed to keep these two players with the club to prepare for the AFC Champions League Elite play-off against Adelaide United. This is an important match for CAHN in their quest to conquer the continental stage. Coach Kim Sang-sik still aims to defend the ASEAN Championship his strong squad depth.

Vietnam national team draws attention with height statistics before AFF Cup

The Vietnam national team shows a significant change in physique during preparation for the AFF Cup 2026. According to statistics from the list of 28 players called up by Coach Kim Sang-sik, up to 15 players have a height of 1.80m or above, a very notable figure as Southeast Asian football increasingly emphasizes physical strength.

Most impressive is the goalkeeper position, where the Vietnam national team achieves an average height of 1.89m. This is a major advantage in aerial duels, set-pieces, and controlling the penalty area. The attack also averages 1.83m, opening up more direct attacking options.{[:16 attacking options.

Meanwhile, the defense averages 1.78m, and the midfield stands at 1.73m. While not overwhelmingly tall, the midfield is still expected to make a difference thanks to its mobility, technique, and ball-handling ability in tight spaces. These statistics show that Coach Kim Sang-sik is aiming for a balanced team in terms of technique, physicality, and competitive ability.

Serena and Venus Williams reunite at Wimbledon 2026

The organizers of Wimbledon 2026 officially confirmed that Serena and Venus Williams will receive wildcard entries to compete in the women's doubles event. This news immediately generated great excitement among tennis fans worldwide, as it marks the long-awaited reunion of the legendary sisters after nearly four years of not teaming up a Grand Slam.

Serena has just returned to professional competition after a long absence, while, while Venus continues to participate in selected tournaments despite turning 46. In the history of modern tennis, the Williams sisters are among the most successful duos of all time with 14 Grand Slam women's doubles titles, including six Wimbledon championships.

The last time Serena and Venus played together was at the US Open 2022, but they were eliminated in the first round. Although no longer at their peak form, the appearance of two legends at Wimbledon 2026 is still expected to create one of the most emotional stories tennis summer.

Alcaraz's rumored girlfriend caught being affectionate with a "strange man"

Emma Raducanu Raducanu, who has often been linked by the media to Carlos Alcaraz, was recently caught appearing intimately with public relations expert John Friend at Battersea Park, London. This sighting came shortly after the British tennis player lost to Donna Vekic in the final of the Queen's Club Championships.{[:24 Championships.

According to witnesses, and John Friend appeared very relaxed while walking, chatting, and showing mutual affection. The two were seen holding hands, exchanging intimate glances, and sitting on a bench talking in public space.

Raducanu has been quite private about her personal life. Previously, she dated French entrepreneur Carlo Agostinelli during the 2023-2023-2024 period. About a year ago, the 2021 US Open champion was often speculated have a romantic relationship with Carlos Alcaraz. Meanwhile, the Spanish tennis player is recovering from a wrist injury and will miss this year's Wimbledon.