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‘Coincidence of Life’ Says Ronaldo After Jota Tribute a Year from Death

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo (7), joined by teammates, holds the jersey of the late Diogo Jota, who died last year, after the World Cup round of 32 match between Portugal and Croatia in Toronto, Thursday, July 2, 2026. (The Canadian Press via AP)
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo (7), joined by teammates, holds the jersey of the late Diogo Jota, who died last year, after the World Cup round of 32 match between Portugal and Croatia in Toronto, Thursday, July 2, 2026. (The Canadian Press via AP)
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‘Coincidence of Life’ Says Ronaldo After Jota Tribute a Year from Death

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo (7), joined by teammates, holds the jersey of the late Diogo Jota, who died last year, after the World Cup round of 32 match between Portugal and Croatia in Toronto, Thursday, July 2, 2026. (The Canadian Press via AP)
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo (7), joined by teammates, holds the jersey of the late Diogo Jota, who died last year, after the World Cup round of 32 match between Portugal and Croatia in Toronto, Thursday, July 2, 2026. (The Canadian Press via AP)

Cristiano Ronaldo said it was a "coincidence of life" that Portugal's World Cup last-16 win against Croatia on Thursday came almost a year since the death of his late teammate Diogo Jota.

Ronaldo and his teammates posed with Jota's number 21 jersey after their gripping 2-1 win against Croatia sent Portugal into the last 16.

"The coincidence of life, it's unbelievable," Ronaldo said. "We knew it before the game. It was such a special moment. We speak today, our group, about that, the coincidence of life. It's unbelievable."

Ronaldo also pulled on a number 21 jersey at the end of the game to conduct interviews.

Portugal coach Roberto Martinez said the victory had special meaning.

"For Portuguese fans this is a very happy day and also because of the meaning of the game, we've moved to the next phase, to the round of 16. In a year where we honored Diogo Jota."

Jota and his brother Andre Silva were killed when their car crashed as the Liverpool player drove through Spain on July 3 last year on his way back to report for pre-season training in England.

Earlier in the tournament, a black and white picture of Jota was shown on the giant screen at the stadium in Houston before Portugal's first game against the Democratic Republic of Congo.

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Alcaraz Shines on Return, Sabalenka Begins US Open ‘Three-Peat’ Bid with Win

Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, celebrates winning a match against Roman Safiullin, of Russia, during the first round of the US Open tennis championships, Monday, Aug. 31, 2026, in New York. (AP)
Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, celebrates winning a match against Roman Safiullin, of Russia, during the first round of the US Open tennis championships, Monday, Aug. 31, 2026, in New York. (AP)
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Alcaraz Shines on Return, Sabalenka Begins US Open ‘Three-Peat’ Bid with Win

Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, celebrates winning a match against Roman Safiullin, of Russia, during the first round of the US Open tennis championships, Monday, Aug. 31, 2026, in New York. (AP)
Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, celebrates winning a match against Roman Safiullin, of Russia, during the first round of the US Open tennis championships, Monday, Aug. 31, 2026, in New York. (AP)

Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz won his first singles match in 139 days, while Aryna Sabalenka got her bid for a third straight US Open title off to a winning start on Monday to light up the second day of the year's final Grand Slam.

Former champion Iga Swiatek and last year's runner-up Amanda Anisimova also advanced with impressive victories while Stefanos Tsitsipas served up an upset by knocking out 10th seed Arthur Fils on a sunny afternoon in New York.

Alcaraz's condition was one of the tournament's biggest question marks after his long spell out due to a wrist injury but the Spaniard enjoyed a comfortable return to action with a 6-4 6-4 6-4 win over Russian Roman Safiullin.

"You don't know what's going to happen in the match after 4-1/2 months almost. You don't know what's going to happen ‌in your body, ‌in your mind, everything. It's totally different," Alcaraz told reporters.

"But I just tried to play ‌one ⁠game at a ⁠time and tried to feel good, to enjoy playing points, feeling the love from the people. Hopefully they enjoyed it."

The second seed's win ensured some star power remained in the men's field.

Novak Djokovic's shock defeat on Sunday left another hole in a men's draw already without injured world number one Jannik Sinner.

SABALENKA, ANISIMOVA WIN EASY

Earlier at Arthur Ashe Stadium, Sabalenka looked on her way to ending a frustrating patch of poor form with a 6-2 6-4 win over Colombia's Camila Osorio that earned her a clash with Russian Polina Iatcenko in the second round.

"I'm happy with my performance," said Sabalenka, who has not reached a title match since triumphing at Indian Wells and Miami ⁠to complete the 'Sunshine Double' in March.

"She's a tough opponent, makes you work really hard to ‌get every point."

American Anisimova, whom Sabalenka beat in the final last year, got ‌her campaign off to a good start on her 25th birthday with a 6-1 6-3 win over compatriot Ashlyn Krueger at Louis Armstrong Stadium.

Greece's ‌Tsitsipas upset Cincinnati winner Fils 4-6 7-6(3) 6-1 6-4 in an early match on the same court, booking a second-round ‌meeting with South African Lloyd Harris.

"It's very easy to not feel confident, especially when you haven't beaten top players in a long time," Tsitsipas said. "I'm ecstatic about today. It's an important, good victory for me, for my confidence."

MUCHOVA, NOSKOVA GO THROUGH

Seven matches that were suspended on the outer courts on Sunday due to rain resumed on Monday, as organizers benefited from the extended three-day first-round schedule after expanding the main draw to ‌15 days in 2025.

Wimbledon finalist Karolina Muchova got the day underway on the Grandstand with a routine 6-3 6-0 win over Sinja Kraus and the Czech seventh seed plays ⁠Briton Katie Boulter next.

Linda Noskova, who ⁠defeated compatriot Muchova in the All England Club final, downed American Katie Volynets 7-5 6-1 to stay on track for back-to-back major titles.

It was a good day for the Americans on the largest of the outdoor courts. Emma Navarro ground out a 7-6(6) 6-7(1) 6-3 win over Frenchwoman Lois Boisson, while Taylor Townsend defeated Poland's Maja Chwalinska 6-2 6-3.

China's Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen, who was forced to go through qualifying only two years after reaching the quarter-finals in New York, beat Kristina Liutova 4-6 6-3 6-1.

Zheng's progress has stalled and her ranking has plummeted since an elbow injury forced her to undergo surgery last year.

Polish eighth seed Swiatek, the 2022 champion, beat China's Wang Xiyu 6-2 6-3 to kick off the night session on the second showcourt.

Another former winner, Stan Wawrinka, fell to Italy's Matteo Berrettini 7-6(4) 7-6(3) 6-0. The 41-year-old Swiss bid goodbye to the Grand Slam for the final time before his retirement at the end of the season.

Home hope Ben Shelton overcame Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor 1-6 6-1 7-6(3) 6-2 before Frances Tiafoe prevailed 6-4 4-6 3-6 6-3 6-4 in an all-American clash with Martin Damm.

Naomi Osaka unveiled another bold Grand Slam walk-on outfit before showing plenty of fight for a 7-6(6) 7-6(3) victory over unseeded Russian Anastasia Zakharova in a late-finishing match.

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Emotional Wawrinka Falls to Berrettini in Last Grand Slam

Stan Wawrinka, of Switzerland, gestures after he lost his match to Matteo Berrettini, of Italy, during the first round of the US Open tennis championships Monday, Aug. 31, 2026, in New York. (AP)
Stan Wawrinka, of Switzerland, gestures after he lost his match to Matteo Berrettini, of Italy, during the first round of the US Open tennis championships Monday, Aug. 31, 2026, in New York. (AP)
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Emotional Wawrinka Falls to Berrettini in Last Grand Slam

Stan Wawrinka, of Switzerland, gestures after he lost his match to Matteo Berrettini, of Italy, during the first round of the US Open tennis championships Monday, Aug. 31, 2026, in New York. (AP)
Stan Wawrinka, of Switzerland, gestures after he lost his match to Matteo Berrettini, of Italy, during the first round of the US Open tennis championships Monday, Aug. 31, 2026, in New York. (AP)

Former US Open champion Stan Wawrinka bade farewell to Grand Slam tennis on Monday, losing in straight sets to Italian Matteo Berrettini in the opening round at Flushing Meadows.

Wawrinka, a three-time Grand Slam champion who will retire after 2026, fought neck and neck with the Italian for the first two sets before his level dropped in a quickly-played third set. The score was 7-6, 7-6,6-0.

Cheers of "Let's Go Stan!" and "We love you, Stan" emanated from the crowd.

But Wawrinka -- alone with Andy Murray as the only players to win multiple Grand Slams in a period dominated by Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic -- couldn't mount a comeback.

The match ended with a Berrettini drop shot. Following an embrace of the Berrettini at the net, Berrettini saluted Wawrinka, drawing loud applause.

"This opportunity to finish here was really meaningful for myself," said Wawrinka, who became a bit teary in a short speech following a brief on-court celebration of his career.

"I'm going to miss it for sure," he added after the match on the Grandstand stadium, the third biggest court at the US Open.

Wawrinka, currently ranked 127th, was only able to play at the US Open after being granted a late wildcard when original wildcard recipient Patrick Kypson withdrew with injury.

Tennis fan Ryan Loar said he was disappointed with the original wildcard snub by the US Tennis Association but praised tournament organizers for the on-court celebration of Wawrinka's career, which included a video of his greatest moments at the New York Grand Slam.

The crowd cheered loudly at a replay of match point from the 2016 final when Wawrinka lifted his arms after an overhit return from favorite Djokovic gave the Swiss player the trophy.

"It's just an underdog story," Loar said. "It's so fun."

Loar was part of a group of eight San Francisco-based fans donning gray "Stan the Man" t-shirts the group ordered after the wildcard was announced and had delivered to their hotel.

Sports

Lionel Messi Says He’s Retiring from Playing for Argentina

19 July 2026, US, East Rutherford: Argentina's Lionel Messi stands in the stadium before the 2026 FIFA World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina, at New York-New Jersey Stadium. (dpa)
19 July 2026, US, East Rutherford: Argentina's Lionel Messi stands in the stadium before the 2026 FIFA World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina, at New York-New Jersey Stadium. (dpa)
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Lionel Messi Says He’s Retiring from Playing for Argentina

19 July 2026, US, East Rutherford: Argentina's Lionel Messi stands in the stadium before the 2026 FIFA World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina, at New York-New Jersey Stadium. (dpa)
19 July 2026, US, East Rutherford: Argentina's Lionel Messi stands in the stadium before the 2026 FIFA World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina, at New York-New Jersey Stadium. (dpa)

Lionel Messi announced his retirement from international football on Monday after two decades representing Argentina.

“It was a decision that hurt — and still hurts deeply — but I understand that the time has come,” the 39-year-old Messi said on his Instagram account.

“I swear to you that I always gave it my all — not just in these last few years when we won everything, but before that too; I always fought and left everything on the field for this jersey, to bring you joy and make you feel proud to be Argentine through football.”

Messi played in a record-tying six World Cups, won it in 2022 in Qatar and led Argentina to this year's final, losing to Spain in extra time in New Jersey.

He explained he wrote his retirement letter on June 21 — two days after the World Cup final — but waited to publish it because his father was facing health issues that eventually claimed his life.

Jorge Messi died on Aug. 8 in his native Rosario.

Messi will continue to play for Inter Miami. Over the weekend he scored four times in a 7-1 win over CF Montreal.

He made his Argentina debut in 2006, but his journey was fraught with frustration until he finally lifted the World Cup in 2022.

“Thank you for all the love these past 20 years," he said. "I’m going to miss hearing you all from the inside so much. Now I’m going to be one of you, cheering and supporting you from the outside (through thick and thin, even more so).”

In the letter, the Inter Miami captain did not say how long he intends to continue playing.

“I leave with the peace of mind and pride of having given you — along with my teammates — moments we once only dreamed of. Experiencing this with you was incredible. I love you all,” he added.

The second retirement Messi's stellar recent success with Argentina nearly didn’t happen.

A decade ago, before the World Cup triumph and Copa América titles in 2021 and 2024, he retired from the national team. The decision followed Argentina's defeat in the 2016 Copa América final to Chile on penalty kicks, one of which he missed.

But Messi shook off the notion of not being able to win the big match. He continued starring for Barcelona, then Paris Saint-Germain, then Inter Miami.

He’s the two-time defending Most Valuable Player in Major League Soccer, the star of the league reigning champion, someone who still creates goals in the biggest moments.

“He is pure history,” Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said during the recent World Cup. “History. A legend.”