Real Madrid presented Eden Hazard as their new "galactico" signing on Thursday with an army of adoring fans queuing outside the Santiago Bernabeu stadium to welcome the Belgian playmaker.

Donning the white strip of the 13-times European champions, the club's joint-record signing kicked balls into the crowd and posed for photographers on the pitch at the official presentation.

Hazard, who joins from Chelsea on a five-year deal, had earlier undergone a medical.

Pointing to the badge on his shirt, the 28-year-old kissed it to leave the 50,000 strong crowd in no doubt about his allegiance.

? The #RMFans ask for @hazardeden10 to kiss the badge... AND HE DOES! #WelcomeHazard | #HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/3ioqxJvTSm

— Real Madrid C.F. ???? (@realmadriden) June 13, 2019

However, the new signing cautioned fans he was not a galactico yet, saying that he wanted to prove his worth to the storied franchise.

"I'm not a galactico, not yet," Hazard told the media afterwards. "I hope I will be one day. Despite everything I've done in the past, it will be like beginning from zero. In football you can always improve, you never reach the limit. I am in a good moment of my career, but this team can allow me to raise the bar further."

The 28-year-old was also asked whether joining Madrid would boost his chances of winning a Ballon D'Or prize, currently held by new teammate Luka Modric, and won in the two previous years by former Blancos star Cristiano Ronaldo.

"It's true that almost all Ballon D'Or winners recently have been Real Madrid players," he replied. "But I am just focused on helping the team to win. Then if everything goes well, why not, it is in my head, but I am not thinking of it every day. The most important thing is winning trophies for Real Madrid."

The boyhood Madrid fan said that current coach Zinedine Zidane had been "my idol," while denying that he should perhaps have moved to the Bernabeu at an earlier point in his career.

"I have had various stages in my career, Lille, Chelsea, now I felt the time was right to join the best club in the world," he said. "I don't think it is too late, I am 28 years old, the top moment for a player. Everything began last year, after the World Cup.

"I spoke with Florentino Perez at an award event in London and he told me to come to Madrid, which made me happy. But I stayed one more year at Chelsea. I think things went very well personally, and also with the team, winning the Europa League. This is the perfect time to join Real Madrid."

After some fans had chanted "we want Mbappe" while waiting for Hazard to appear, the Belgium international was later asked if he would like to see Madrid now sign the Paris Saint-Germain forward or Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba.

"I want to play with the best, and those you mention are the best," he said. "But it's not for me to say about transfers."

Hazard did accept that his signing -- part of an investment by Madrid which has already topped €300 million this summer -- was part of a "new cycle" aiming to bring success back to the Bernabeu after their awful 2018-19 campaign.

"Real Madrid have won many titles over the last five years, last season was not so good, but this happens in football," he said. "I hope to help begin a new cycle, with new players, alongside those still here who have won so much."

Australia staged a remarkable three-goal comeback to beat Brazil 3-2 and pick up three crucial points in Group C at the Women's World Cup in Montpellier on Thursday.

Brazil raced out to a 2-0 lead in the first half, with Marta converting a penalty in the 27th minute and Cristiane beating her defender to a cross just over 10 minutes later to double her team's lead with an excellent headed finish.

The goal from Marta, a fitness doubt coming into the match, extended her record as the all-time Women's World Cup goals leader to 16 and made the 33-year-old the first women to score at five different editions of the tournament.

Australia struck back just before half-time, though, when Caitlin Foord poked home at the back post from a flicked on header to halve the deficit and send the Matildas into the dressing room trailing 2-1.

Shortly before the hour mark, Australia were back on level terms. A Chloe Logarzo shot from distance crossed up Brazil goalkeeper Barbara and found its way into the back of the net to make it 2-2.

- When is the FIFA Women's World Cup?
- Full Women's World Cup fixtures schedule

Australia then took the lead through a Brazil own goal thanks to a favorable decision from VAR, as an initial offside call against Sam Kerr was overturned following the referee's consultation with the pitchside monitor to complete the Matildas' three-goal rally.

"Tonight is one of the finest Australian performances I've seen. The players deserve all the rewards they were given tonight. I'm really delighted for them," said Australia coach Ante Milicic.

"They never stopped believing, and the coaching staff never stopped believing. We kept on believing in our style and in our football and it's an Australian performance to be proud of."

Brazil pushed hard for an equaliser, but the Australian defence stood firm to see out the result and join Brazil and Italy, who have yet to play their second match, on three points in the group.

Marta, who had already scored at the 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015 World Cups, admitted her record goal was bittersweet given the result.

"It would feel much better with a win," Marta said. "It's one more detail written in the history of women's football. I am honoured, but there's more to do at this tournament."

The result marks just the second time in Women's World Cup history that a team came back from two goals down to win a match and gives Australia a very solid chance of reaching the round of 16.

When Lionel Messi finally retires, few could argue against him being considered one of the game's best-ever players. He loves his job and has been doing it at an elite level for over a decade. He is recognized by his peers, his rivals and the entire world of soccer. He largely avoids controversy on the field and rarely speaks to the media, which limits the opportunities for anything other than his play to do the talking.

What he has achieved in his career stems from his prodigious talent but is also a product of his monumental competitiveness. Lionel Messi didn't rest on his laurels; he always sought perfection. His rivalry with fellow icon Cristiano Ronaldo elevated him. He perfected his free kicks and other aspects of his game. And yet, there's a sense that two Messis exist: there's the one who conquered soccer with Barcelona and the other that's forever trying to win with Argentina.

- When is the Copa America?
- Full Copa America fixtures schedule
- Watch the Copa America on ESPN+

Aside from an Olympic gold medal with his country in 2008, Messi hasn't won anything with the national team. This streak of futility is made even more painful by the fact that with Messi leading the way, the Albiceleste have reached three international finals -- the 2014 World Cup, the 2015 Copa America the 2016 Copa America Centenario -- and have lost all three.

As they chase their first international title since the 1993 Copa America (this year's edition will be broadcast on ESPN+), will this summer see the two Messis finally reconciled as one?

Messi with Argentina: The thorn in his side

Many still wonder why he keeps playing for the national team given his public failures. The answer is clear: the five Ballons d'Or, four Champions League titles, 10 La Liga titles or the six Copa del Rey wins do not make up for his deep desire to win an important title with his country. He's had chances but lost them all. Without a doubt, the most painful one came on July 13, 2014, at the Maracana, against Germany, in which an extra-time goal from Mario Gotze led to a silver medal for Messi and Co. His four goals carried Argentina to the final yet he didn't manage a single shot on target over the 120 minutes in the final.

The ultimate issue is that Argentina's national team does not help his cause. You hear time and again that Argentina's Messi is not the same as Barcelona's Messi. The reasons are obvious: different teammates, less preparation time, constant coaching changes, incompetence within the Argentina FA and a burden too great for a single player to carry. As captain, Messi is expected to deliver; his teammates look to him in times of need and opponents are happy to commit extra defenders to Messi given how integral he is to their chances. So far, none of the supporting cast have stepped up to help him out.

Then comes the external pressure. Argentina has a tendency to compare its best players and the debate around Messi vs. Diego Maradona has prevented a lot of national team fans from enjoying the Barca star's alchemy. Many want Messi to be like Maradona, who famously did bring the World Cup back to Argentina after winning the 1986 edition in Mexico, and if he doesn't manage to do the same, he will be heavily criticized. His detractors may be few in number, but they tend to be loud.

And those three final defeats have served to intensify the criticisms of his detractors.

On paper, the 2019 Copa America represents a fresh start. Argentina will take a strong squad to Brazil, one that has undergone a major overhaul, with a new wave of young players set to represent their country. Of the 23 heading to Brazil, 12 players have fewer than 10 national team appearances, with the side relying on Messi, Sergio Aguero and Angel Di Maria to provide the veteran leadership.

Argentina were woeful at Russia 2018 but in a sense, their miserable round-of-16 exit to hosts and eventual winners France helped the FA realize that a significant rebuild needed to begin immediately. It was a turning point but it also helped the fans realize that in a sporting culture that worships success like that in Argentina, such change cannot happen overnight.

Could their 26-year drought finally end be ended this time around? They lack a defined style of play and will be a work in progress but they have Messi. This summer, it might be enough. -- Nicolas Baier

Messi at Barcelona: the star in a system built for him

Johan Cruyff always taught that one of the most important, but difficult, things in football was to do the simple things right first time and every time. It's a philosophy that must apply to anyone who wants to explain the brilliance, the power and the success of Messi's life at Barça.

He's a phenomenon, yes. Arguably the greatest footballer but certainly in that elite pantheon. But that alone doesn't fulfil Cruyff's criterion about sticking to the simple, necessary things. To understand Messi domestically, particularly in comparison with his career with Argentina, you need to look around him.

It doesn't detract from Messi's all-time greatness to point out that, across his Blaugrana career, he's had the benefit of three 24-karat geniuses as mentors and tormentors: Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Pep Guardiola. And yes: "genius" is the correct adjective for all three.

We also need to add that throughout Messi's life in the Barcelona first team, there has been a flood of guys who, though not all-time "genius," still belong to the exclusive club of footballers with true greatness in their talent, technique, competitiveness, intelligence and athleticism. This cast of "best supporting actors" includes Samuel Eto'o, Ronaldinho, Gerard Pique, Sergio Busquets, Dani Alves, Jordi Alba, Thierry Henry, David Villa, Victor Valdes and Carles Puyol. It's also notable that early in Messi's career, the club moved out guys like Ronaldinho and Deco who might have hampered his development because of their penchant for nightlife.

Take into account the twin concepts his club leaned on: it was vital to re-educate young Messi on sleep, general diet and physical recuperation. Equally, it was fundamentally important to keep him happy by constantly renewing his contract to the point, now, where his basic gross earnings will be over €30m per year. All of that has immense significance but also, just think about the fact that for almost the entirety of Messi's lifespan at FC Barcelona, he's been surrounded by fellow "addicts" hooked on winning, on the club's particular brand of football intelligence, the hard work required to hone their competitiveness, the appeal of rising to the occasion or fighting for every loose ball.

Messi has been fortunate that the common corrosions in a dressing room -- frustration, ego, laziness -- have been ultra-rare at Barcelona. He's barely glimpsed that kind of atmosphere: it happened briefly in 2007-08 and momentarily in 2013-14. In those brief, fallow times when something around him was missing, when the hunger seemed sated and the team's standards dropped, not only was the experience exceptionally fleeting, but it was marginal: Barcelona only lost the Champions League semifinal by a goal in 2008, then lost both the Copa del Rey final (to Real Madrid) and La Liga (to Atletico Madrid) on the last day of the season in 2014.

Failure? Failure is defined differently on Planet Messi.

If it seems facile to point out that surrounding a genius with constant excellence, hunger, competitiveness and ambition is a recipe to explain Messi's phenomenal results, think again. Too few who assess him see this, understand this, describe this or award sufficient significance to this. For generations, people have been fixated by the "nature vs. nurture" debate. Just think of the atomic sporting power released when nature and nurture are equally superb and equally aligned? That part is immensely rare.

Messi has been paid unbelievably well at Barcelona, but that's nowhere near the main point. What's convinced him to stay has been the feeling that he's Primus Inter Pares: not "first among equals" but the greatest among greats.

There's also the element of kinship. In Luis Suarez, Messi has found not only a truly close friend, someone with whom he can share both family and professional time as if they were brothers, but he's found his perfect strike partner. Of all the attackers Messi has played with over the years, he and Suarez fit like hand in glove.

Had the prime of Xavi, Iniesta, Guardiola and Suarez intertwined, I'll wager Barcelona would have won a couple more trebles. Had Suarez been born in Argentina, Messi would have had three or four international trophies to his name with Los Albiceleste already. It's that simple. -- Graham Hunter

Derbyshire 504 for 4 (Godleman 211*, Lace 143) lead Glamorgan 394 (Wagg 100, Carey 62*) by 110 runs

After Glamorgan's batsmen had set new batting records yesterday, Billy Godleman followed suit in Derbyshire's first innings as they ended the third day's play on 504 for 4 - a lead of 110, with maximum batting points. The captain led by example, scoring a career best 211 not out - surpassing the 204 he scored against Worcestershire three years ago.

Much will depend on the weather on tomorrow's final day, but the likely outcome will be for Derbyshire to adopt a positive approach, and gain a lead in excess of 200, and then try to dismiss Glamorgan in their second innings.

Tom Lace joined his captain in the 12th over, and they were not separated for a further 61 overs, having shared a partnership of 291 for the third wicket. During that stand, they broke the record for the third wicket against Glamorgan, and later for any wicket against the Welsh county.

Another ten runs would have seen a 300 partnership for only the tenth time in Derbyshire's history, but Lace was dismissed by a remarkable catch by Owen Morgan, who dived to his right on the fine leg boundary to hold the catch one handed, inches from the ground.

Lace, 21, is on a season's loan from Middlesex, and during his time there was coached by David Houghton, who is now Derbyshire's Head of Cricket. He was at the crease for four and a half hours for his chanceless innings and struck 18 fours. If any of Middlesex's batsmen are injured, then Lace could be recalled for their next championship game which, ironically, is against Glamorgan on Sunday.

Godleman, despite being dropped twice behind the wicket and then a difficult chance to slip, scored most of his runs through the off-side, and although he played and missed on numerous occasions, remained steadfast and ensured his team would gain a sizeable first-innings lead.

The second new ball accounted for Lace, and nine overs later Michael Hogan, who had changed ends dismissed Alex Hughes, who was leg before without moving his feet. Harvey Hosein then joined Godleman to extend the lead, as Glamorgan's bowlers toiled on the unresponsive pitch. Hosein is 53 not out, as the pair shared a hundred-run partnership in the penultimate over.

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A pair of dramatic finishes has made for a three-way tie at the top Thursday in the U.S. Open, where friendly conditions are helping players go low.

Xander Schauffele made an eagle on the 18th hole to move into a tie with Rickie Fowler for the early lead, while Louis Oosthuizen plopped one in from the bunker on his final hole a few minutes later to join them at 5-under 66.

Fowler went low in the first round of the U.S. Open for the second time in three years. He had a chance to tie the lowest Open score at Pebble Beach -- a 65 by Tiger Woods in 2000 -- but his 8-footer on the final hole just slid by the cup.

Fowler shot a 65 and led after the first round in 2017, finishing in a tie for fifth at Erin Hills.

On a day when the wind was light and Pebble Beach was gettable, there were plenty of scores in the 60s as players took advantage of the soft greens and pristine conditions.

Fowler, Oosthuizen and Schauffele held a one-shot lead over Scott Piercy, while Rory McIlroy led a group of three players at 68. McIlroy bogeyed his first hole, then didn't make a bogey the rest of the way.

Tiger Woods is a pairing with Justin Rose and Jordan Spieth in the second wave of players set to tee off in the afternoon.

Memphis Grizzlies center Jonas Valanciunas is declining the $17.6M player option on his 2019-20 contract, clearing the way to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, league sources told ESPN.

Valanciunas' primary intention will be to negotiate a new longer-term deal with the Grizzlies, league sources said. In the post Marc Gasol-era, Valanciunas remains the franchise's focus to continue as its starting center.

Memphis VP of Basketball Operations Zach Kleiman and Valanciunas' agent, Leon Rose of CAA, are expected to work aggressively on finding the pathway to a new deal, sources said.

Valanciunas, 27, had the most productive stretch of his career with the Grizzlies after getting traded from Toronto in February -- averaging 19.9 points and 10.7 rebounds in 19 games.

Valanciunas, who'll be starting his eighth NBA season, has averaged 11.8 points and 8.4 rebounds a game in his career.

Duke star Zion Williamson is suing to enforce his termination of an agreement he signed with a Florida marketing company, maintaining their deal was unlawful under North Carolina law, his attorneys told ESPN.

Williamson is set to become the No. 1 overall pick to the New Orleans Pelicans in next week's NBA draft.

According to the suit filed in federal court in North Carolina on Thursday, Williamson signed a marketing deal with Gina Ford and Prime Sports on April 20, five days after he had declared his intention to enter the NBA draft.

That agreement included a clause that it could not be terminated for five years. Williamson's family told Ford and Prime Sports on May 31 that it was ending the agreement. The agency responded by saying that if Williamson terminated the deal, they would sue for damages in excess of $100 million.

Williamson has since signed with CAA Sports for his contractual and marketing representation.

According to the suit, the agreement was unlawful under North Carolina's Uniform Athlete Agents Act because Prime Sports is not certified by the National Basketball Players Association or a registered athlete agent in North Carolina or Florida. Additionally, the agreement failed to contain, as required under the UAAA, a conspicuous notice in boldface type in capital letters informing the athlete that by signing the agreement he was losing his eligibility to compete as a student-athlete.

Jeffrey S. Klein, an attorney for Williamson, told ESPN in a statement: "Prime Sports Marketing's actions towards Mr. Williamson blatantly violated the North Carolina statute specifically designed to protect student athletes. Mr. Williamson properly exercised his rights under the law to void his business dealings with Prime Sports Marketing. Prime Sports Marketing's continued threats against Mr. Williamson made necessary the filing of this lawsuit."

The suit asks the court to declare the agreement void and bar Prime Sports from acting on Williamson's behalf.

LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Dodgers have placed shortstop Corey Seager on the injured list with what an MRI revealed to be between a Grade 1 and a Grade 2 strain of his left hamstring.

Seager injured his hamstring while trying to score from second base in Tuesday's ninth inning. The initial fear from Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was that the strain was "2-plus," but tests revealed something a little milder.

The 25-year-old might still spend about a month rehabbing the injury, but his timeline will depend on his day-to-day progress.

Seager spent most of the 2018 season recovering from Tommy John surgery and also underwent an arthroscopic procedure on his hip. He got off to a slow start this season, but was batting .425/.465/.675 in June before succumbing to another injury.

Chris Taylor, who had been platooning in left field with Joc Pederson, will probably take the bulk of Seager's at-bats at shortstop, especially against right-handers.

To fill Seager's spot on the active roster, the Dodgers activated infielder Matt Beaty on Thursday, right before a four-game series against the visiting Chicago Cubs.

The Tampa Bay Rays have been one of the best stories of baseball's first half, entering Thursday with a 41-26 record that's among the best in the majors.

It's the type of performance that typically warrants multiple All-Star Game selections.

But when the initial All-Star voting results were released Monday, only one Rays player -- outfielder Austin Meadows -- was among the top three at his respective position.

"We won't get credit, man," Rays outfielder Tommy Pham told The Athletic in a story published Wednesday. "It's always unfair. Big market vs. small market. It's never going to be fair."

Pham pointed to his own case, as well as teammate Avisail Garcia. Both are hitting around .300 this season, but were behind the Yankees' Brett Gardner (.230) and Red Sox's Jackie Bradley (.199) when the initial voting totals were announced Monday.

"That tells you it right there," Pham told The Athletic.

Specifically, Pham said, it's about the amount of exposure the big-market teams like New York and Boston get compared to the small-market ones like Tampa Bay.

"It's never going to be fair," Pham told The Athletic. "It has to change because when you go into arbitration, that's a big thing that's talked about with accomplishments. Baseball has to be better to fix it. We're not getting any help either from ESPN. We haven't had an ESPN game all year. That's a way for fans to see us by putting us on one of those big-time games. But we continually never get put on, so all they see is the same players. The Cubs, Dodgers, Yankees, Red Sox -- the same teams are always on there.

"When you look at it, all right, we're in a small market, we're never on ESPN. We don't have a ton of national TV games. We're at a disadvantage."

Major League Baseball has changed the voting format ahead of this year's game, to be held July 9 at Progressive Field in Cleveland.

A new format to elect starters was put into place starting with the "primary" vote that includes a representative from each team at every position, including designated hitter in the American League. The players with the three highest vote totals at each position will be announced June 21 on MLB Network.

The secondary phase, called "The Starters Election," will begin at noon ET five days later and last for 28 hours. The results, which will be reset from the primary, will choose catchers, four infield positions and three outfielders for each league and be announced on ESPN at 7 p.m. ET on June 27.

The remainder of the 23 players for American League and 24 for the National League, including all pitchers, will be selected by player vote as well as by AL manager Alex Cora of the Red Sox and NL manager Dave Roberts of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The full rosters will be announced June 30 at 5:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Britain's Harriet Dart lost to Australian world number 47 Ajla Tomljanovic in the last 16 of the Nature Valley Open in Nottingham.

Dart, ranked 159th in the world, lost 6-7 (5-7) 6-1 6-2 in her second grass-court match of the season.

The 22-year-old was broken twice in the opening set but won the tie-break before losing the second and third.

She failed to convert four break points, including two at 2-2 in the deciding set.

On Wednesday British number three Heather Watson lost 6-4 6-3 to Greece's Maria Sakkari, ranked 82 places higher, in the first round in rainy conditions.

Compatriot Katie Swan also lost to American Bernarda Pera 7-6 (7-5) 6-1.