Thibaut Courtois has left Belgium's training camp ahead of a qualifying match for next year's European championships, amid reports in local media that the Real Madrid goalkeeper was frustrated not to be handed the captain's armband in the previous game.

The Belgian federation confirmed to The Associated Press that Courtois had left the camp and would miss Tuesday's match in Estonia, but did not give a reason for his departure.

Brazil and Real Madrid star Vinícius Júnior has agreed to join a new task force to tackle racism in soccer, FIFA president Gianni Infantino said Thursday.

Vinícius, who is Black, has been the target of sustained racist abuse by fans in Spanish stadiums throughout the season, with little done by referees or soccer bodies to protect him.

Holding up the same No. 5 shirt once donned by Zinedine Zidane, Jude Bellingham completed his move to Real Madrid on Thursday after signing a six-year deal with Europe's most successful club.

Bellingham posed with his new shirt before Madrid's packed trophy case after he passed his medical exam and signed the contract alongside club president Florentino Pérez.

Amid uncertainty over his own future at Paris Saint-Germain, Kylian Mbappé has hit out at the treatment of Lionel Messi by the club and French soccer in general following the high-profile departure of the Argentina star.

Messi signed for Major League soccer franchise Inter Miami last week after rejecting a contract extension at PSG, bringing to a close a two-year spell with the French team.

Kylian Mbappe's decision not to take up the option of a 12-month extension on his Paris Saint-Germain contract could spark a bidding war for the French superstar this summer.

PSG is adamant he will not be allowed to leave as a free agent when his current deal runs out at the end of next season, meaning he could be put up for sale during this transfer window if a resolution over his future is not agreed.

Veteran midfielder Luka Modric scored an extra-time penalty to seal a thrilling 4-2 victory for Croatia over the Netherlands and a place in the Nations League final.

Thousands of ecstatic red-and-white clad Croatia fans chanted "Luka! Luka! Luka!" after the 37-year-old completed the scoring from the penalty spot in the 116th minute on Wednesday.

Venus Williams, playing her first match since early January, went down 3-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-2 to Celine Naef in the first round in 's-Hertogenbosch in the Netherlands on Tuesday.

With sister Serena, who retired last year, in the crowd, Venus Williams, who turns 43 on Saturday, started strongly, but she faded as Naef, a 17-year old Swiss ranked 202 in the world, took her first tour victory in two hours, 18 minutes.

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said he would take on Italy in the Nations League semi-final on Thursday as if it was his "last game" in charge.

All the old problems were there to see.

Germany's uninspired showing in a 3-3 draw with Ukraine was just the latest example of the team's struggles, leaving it in a state of alarm one year before the country hosts the European Championship.

Lionel Messi and his World Cup-winning Argentina teammates are expected to draw almost 70,000 fans to Beijing Worker's Stadium for an exhibition against Australia.

With tickets starting at around $80 for Thursday's game, local supporters are excited to see Messi and continue the World Cup celebrations. Fans have flocked to all opportunities to see the Argentine star since the team arrived in China, with large crowds angling for photographs and chanting his name.