Sport today is framed by loss, power and return. Football is mourning Franco Baresi, the AC Milan captain and Italy World Cup winner whose death at 66 closes the chapter on one of the game’s great defenders; Milan’s tribute to his integrity and leadership captures the scale of his legacy. At the same time, FIFA is facing a fierce backlash over plans to bring private investment into World Cup and tournament commercial operations. Even as Gianni Infantino’s administration insists “nobody is selling football,” the resignation of senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro and threats of resistance from UEFA-led federations show how deep the unease has become. On the field, there was movement too: Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk has been cleared to return after the resolution of his doping case, while in the NFL the San Francisco 49ers have brought Deebo Samuel back on a one-year deal worth up to $7 million.