Thursday's World Cup kickoff features something we've never seen before. For the first time, a handful of legends will suit up for their sixth World Cup tournament, and almost certainly their last. No player has ever appeared in six World Cup tournaments, played every four years.

Lionel Messi arrives without the weight he carried before the last one in Qatar. He's finally lifted the trophy, but the hunger for more hasn't faded. At 38, he's playing a deeper position now, conducting Argentina from the middle while Julian Alvarez does the bulk of the running up top. However, Messi is only 3 goals from being tied for most all-time World Cup goals. 

Guillermo Ochoa makes history simply by being named to Mexico's squad on home soil, his sixth selection stretching back to 2006. He is an important figure in the locker room. He likely won't start the opener against South Africa but he has a history of playing at his best for this tournament.

Then there's Cristiano Ronaldo, 41 and cleared to play after his red card ban was suspended. Portugal opens against DR Congo on June 17 in Houston, and that matchup is as lopsided as they come.

DR Congo returns to the World Cup for the first time in over five decades and ranks among the weakest sides in the field. Portugal, meanwhile, has been one of Europe's most ruthless attack under Roberto Martinez, and Ronaldo still chases records like oxygen. He's also gunning to add to his all-time international tally of 143 goals.

Golden Boot winners often need a blowout game with multiple goals during the group stage followed by a relatively deep run in the tournament. While nothing is guaranteed, Portugal are heavy favorites to win their group.

One concern is the chance that Martinez may rest him once games get out of hand. Still, you can get the all-time leading international goal scorer at about +2200 to win the Golden Boot in his final World Cup.

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🏀 The Knicks Stranglehold on the Trophy

New York walks into Madison Square Garden tonight up 2-0, and the way they got here should terrify San Antonio. The Spurs led by double digits in both Texas openers and somehow lost both. Game 1 went 105-95 after a 14-point hole and a closing 11-0 burst. Game 2 was a one-possession thriller, 105-104, sealed by a Brunson free throw and a Wembanyama miss at the horn. That is now 13 straight playoff wins for New York heading back to New York.

The story isn't Wemby, even though his numbers pop. He's averaging 27.5 points but converting just 40.5 percent because the Knicks keep flooding the paint with help. The story is New York's balance. Four starters scored in double figures in each game, and Karl-Anthony Towns has been running the series. When he's on the floor, the Knicks own a +14.9 net rating. When he sits, they crater by 16 points per 100 possesions.

👉️ Mikal Bridges Game 3 Player Prop

San Antonio's plan to swarm Brunson keeps backfiring, and the supporting cast is cashing in. The Knicks are burying 54% of their corner threes this series, and Bridges led the league in corner attempts during the regular season. He's living in exactly the spots the Spurs keep abandoning.

Bridges has cleared this line in eight of his last ten, averaging north of 17 a night, and his only recent miss came on a quiet six-shot evening. When he takes ten or more attempts, the over is close to automatic. 

His efficiency seals it. Roughly 49% from the field, near 75% at the rim, and a reliable midrange touch make him a three-level problem San Antonio simply can't get away from.

👉️ Devin Vassell Road Player Prop

If you want a Spurs side to balance the ticket, Vassell is the one bright spot in an offense that hasn’t quite done enough. His last ten games tell a friendlier story than his last five, with a PAR average around 21.7 and the over landing 60% of the time. The five-game dip to 19.6% is noise worth fading.

Here's the difference. Vassell comes with a little extra when he is away from home. On the road this season he posted nearly 21.8 PRA and cleared this number 58 percent of the time. A desperate Spurs team needs him aggressive at MSG, and the bright lights seen to bring out his best.

🌲 The Pine Line

🏀 MSG will probably be sold out tonight. But there may not be many fans attending.

🏁 A 19-year-old is rewriting the racing history books. Sunday’s Monaco GP was as cinematic as F1 gets.

⚾️ Aaron Judge didn’t play but a dinger still came from his bat. Chisholm should keep borrowing from his teammates.

⚽️ Every soccer fan was filled with dread watching these scenes. The update from the medical team is a relief.

🏈 Indiana will soon be home to two NFL teams. Just don’t touch the team name.

🏒 Stanley Cup Chaos and Narrow Margins

If you've been sleeping on this Cup Final, wake up. Vegas and Carolina have played three games, all settled by a single goal, and the last two finished in overtime. The Golden Knights lead 2-1 after grabbing Game 3 in 2OT.

The series has been a tug of war. These two have already piled up 28 combined goals through three contests which is the most offense to open a Final in 45 years.

Vegas stole the opener in Carolina, the Canes punched back to even it, and Mitch Marner broke Game 3 with the fastest hat trick in Final history, three goals in just over six minutes. He now leads all postseason skaters in scoring. Carolina turned around and set its own record by lighting the lamp three times in 39 seconds during a frantic 3rd period comeback.

The market sees Game 4 as a coin flip, with both moneyline odds hovering near even money. Vegas should get the slight nod at home, where T-Mobile Arena has been a real edge. Given every game has come down to one goal, Vegas on the puck line at +1.5 is the low-risk option, though you'll pay a steep price for the safety.

On the total, over 5.5 seems like the trend. Playoff hockey usually screams under, but this series has shredded that script in every way. Both teams keep trading haymakers, and back-to-back overtime grinds tend to leave tired legs and soft coverage.

Shayne Gostisbehere runs Carolina's power play and has recorded a point in five straight games. His road hit rate is in line with his season hit rate and he’s been strong against Vegas this season. In a series decided by special teams, plus odds on a guy this hot is too good to pass.

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