Messi says he regrets World Cup taunting

World Cup winner Lionel Messi regretted his testy exchanges with the Netherlands coach and players during their controversial quarterfinal in Qatar, he said in an interview aired Monday.

When Messi scored from the spot in regular time, he stood in front of Dutch coach Louis van Gaal and cupped both hands to his ears. After the game, he gesticulated to the Dutch bench and insulted striker Wout Weghorst, who scored twice in regulation.

“I don’t like what I did, I don’t like what happened afterward,” Messi said. “These are moments of a lot of tension, a lot of nerves. It is very quick and people react the way they react. Nothing was planned, it just happened.”

Asked what he would tell Messi in his childhood if he could, the star said: “Something extraordinary awaits, you can’t imagine. You will have a beautiful path, with some tough moments that you will have to overcome, but never give your dreams away because at the end you will get your most desired reward. Your film will have a happy ending.”

The NFL salary cap will

jump to a record US$224.8 million in 2023; the 2022 salary cap was $208.2 million.

Among the teams projected to have excess spending power available under the cap, according to Spotrac, are the Chicago Bears ($99 million), Atlanta Falcons ($57 million), Cincinnati Bengals and New York Giants ($44 million).

Three additional Buffalo Bills players

were added to the Pro Bowl roster Monday as replacements.

Left tackle Dion Dawkins and tight end Dawson Knox are replacing Orlando Brown and Travis Kelce of the Super Bowl-bound Kansas City Chiefs.

Left guard Rodger Saffold replaces Indianapolis left guard Quenton Nelson, who is unable to participate due to an injury.

It is the second straight Pro Bowl appearance for Dawkins and Saffold and the first for Knox.

The reinvented Pro Bowl Games run Thursday through Sunday in Las Vegas.

The Kansas City Royals are

bringing back free agent right-hander Zack Greinke on a one-year contract, multiple outlets reported Monday. The deal is said to be in the $8 million-$10 million range plus performance bonuses, pending the results of a physical exam.

Greinke, 39, was 4-9 with a 3.68 ERA in 26 starts in his second stint with the Royals last season. The six-time all-star and six-time Gold Glove winner enters his 20th season in 2023 ranked second among active pitchers in wins (223) and third in strikeouts (2,882).

Right-handed submarine-style pitcher Darren O’day

announced his retirement Monday after 15 seasons. O’day went 2-2 with a 4.15 ERA in 28 relief appearances in 2022 with Atlanta. He finishes 4221 with a 2.59 ERA in 644 appearances, all in relief, with six different teams. He posted 21 career saves.