Milwaukee had an outstanding season, with 103 wins in the regular season and an 11-2 record in the postseason. On their way to the championship, the Brewers eliminated the San Diego Padres, the Los Angeles Dodgers—the reigning two-time champions—and finally the Rays, representing the American League.

https://x.com/MLB/status/2115648958609396099

Among the key players in the victory was the Venezuelan William Contreras, who was named World Series Most Valuable Player (MVP), who finished the Fall Classic with eight hits in 21 at-bats, a .381 batting average, one double, and four RBIs.

The catcher also had an outstanding performance throughout the postseason, with a batting line of .373/.448/.588, an OPS of 1.036, two doubles, three home runs, and nine RBIs. In addition, he caught four runners attempting to steal a base during the World Series.

With this honor, Contreras added another achievement to his career and earned his second championship ring, after winning one with the Atlanta Braves in 2021 as a backup catcher.

Sports

An emotional tribute is paid to Bob Uecker following the Brewers' World Series victory

Williams Perdomo

Jackson Chourio made history in the postseason

Another standout player was the Venezuelan Jackson Chourio, just 22 years old, who posted impressive stats during the Fall Classic.

The outfielder batted .458, with 11 hits in 24 at-bats, two doubles, four runs scored, and two RBIs. Among batters with at least five at-bats in the World Series, he led in both batting average and on-base percentage, also at .458.

Chourio also reached 32 career postseason hits before turning 23, surpassing the record set by Hall of Famer Andruw Jones, who had recorded 31 before that age. The Venezuelan reached the mark in 25 games, while Jones needed 45 games.

During the first four games of the World Series against Tampa Bay, Chourio also tied Babe Ruth by recording 10 hits.

Uribe and Senzatela pitched out of the bullpen

Hispanic players also made a significant contribution to Milwaukee's bullpen, particularly thanks to the performances of the Dominican Abner Uribe and the Venezuelan Antonio Senzatela.

Uribe pitched 5.1 scoreless innings, allowing just two hits, with five strikeouts and one walk during the World Series. For the postseason as a whole, he posted a 1.54 ERA in 11.2 innings pitched.

For his part, Senzatela, who joined the Brewers midway through the season in a trade with the Colorado Rockies, allowed one unearned run in 2.1 innings during the Fall Classic.

Throughout the postseason, the Venezuelan reliever pitched 4.1 innings with an ERA of 0.00, although he allowed two unearned runs.

The victory came on the team's fifth attempt since the start of the season and following the addition of the Greek star, a two-time NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP), who was expected to propel Miami into the ranks of the Eastern Conference contenders.

Antetokounmpo, who had recorded a triple-double in the loss to the Dallas Mavericks two nights earlier, once again put on a standout performance. Bam Adebayo also contributed 24 points and nine rebounds, while Andrew Wiggins added 18 points.

The game also marked two individual milestones. Antetokounmpo reached 1,000 steals in his professional career, and Adebayo became the Heat's all-time leading rebounder by surpassing the 5,791 rebounds accumulated by Udonis Haslem.

Philadelphia comes back against Indiana

The Philadelphia 76ers improved their record to four wins and one loss after winning 114-109 over the Indiana Pacers in a hard-fought, back-and-forth game.

The Philadelphia team rallied after falling behind during a tough third quarter and managed to come back in the final stretch. Tyrese Maxey was instrumental with 27 points, 17 of which came in the final quarter.

Joel Embiid had 21 points and 11 rebounds, while Jaylen Brown added 20 points. LeBron James finished with 13 points and 10 assists.

The Pacers went into the game after announcing that their star Tyrese Haliburton would be out for about two weeks due to a hamstring injury.

Dallas ends Oklahoma City's unbeaten streak

The Oklahoma City Thunder suffered their first loss of the season after losing 120-96 to the Dallas Mavericks.

The result prevented Oklahoma City from becoming the only team in NBA history to start three consecutive seasons with five wins and no losses.

Cooper Flagg led Dallas with 26 points and eight assists, in a performance that allowed the Mavericks to secure a decisive victory.

Dybantsa makes his NBA debut

AJ Dybantsa, the No. 1 pick in the most recent NBA draft, played his first minutes as a pro in the Washington Wizards' 121-111 loss 121-111 to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The 19-year-old player had missed Washington's first four games due to a sprained ankle, but he started in his debut and scored 19 points.

Cleveland sealed the victory in the fourth quarter, with Donovan Mitchell as one of their key players, finishing with 19 points and seven assists.

Sports

The Knicks and the Spurs suffer their second loss and remain winless in the NBA

Williams Perdomo

Christian Yelich, one of the Brewers' leading players, offered some heartfelt words to Uecker during an interview with Fox reporter Ken Rosenthal after Milwaukee sealed a 4-1 in Game 5 of the final, played this Wednesday in St. Petersburg, Florida.

"He’s smiling, man, he’s smiling. I really wish he could’ve been here to see this. That would have meant everything. He's been with us a lot. We keep him close to our hearts," Yelich said.

https://x.com/MLB/status/2115646673762259410?a=XWMso0HalzGzuz3PZeA&s=20

Uecker passed away on January 16, 2025, at the age of 90, after a private battle with cancer. However, his legacy has lived on in the Brewers' culture and the team's connection with its fans.

Admiration for the announcer was also evident before the start of Game 5, when some fans left cans of beer next to his statue.

The tribute extended to television broadcasts. During the fourth game of the series, Fox commentator Joe Davis emulated Uecker's famous call to describe Cooper Pratt's home run in the twelfth inning: "A high fly ball! Deep to left field! Keep going, keep going—it's gone!"

Sports

Milwaukee Brewers win their first-ever World Series

VozMedia Staff

Davis explained to MLB.com that he had grown up listening to Uecker and that his talent as a broadcaster was, at times, overshadowed by his comedic genius. He also acknowledged that he had studied and listened to him for years, until he naturally incorporated parts of his style.

The Brewers' first championship was thus marked by the memory of a figure who, for more than five decades, gave voice to the team's history. As Yelich put it, the title was also for Uecker.

Milwaukee capped off its 4-1 victory in the Fall Classic on a night when rookie Cooper Pratt shone once again, driving in two runs, and Venezuelan Jackson Chourio capped off a dream series with his 11th hit.

Chourio, 22, and his compatriot William Contreras, who drove in the final run, capped off a dream year in which they also helped Venezuela win its first-ever World Baseball Classic title.

"It's incredible —I'm speechless,", an emotional Chourio managed to say after the victory.

In contrast, the Rays — led by Mexico's Jonathan Aranda and the Dominican Republic's Junior Caminero — lost their third World Series and remain winless in the series.

Tampa Bay, which avoided a sweep on Tuesday with an extra-inning win, is one of four teams that have never tasted victory in the majors, along with the Padres, Rockies and Mariners.

Sports

Venezuelan Jackson Chourio leads the Brewers' rout of the Rays, Milwaukee is one win away from the World Series

Williams Perdomo

The Brewers opened their trophy case in the second World Series they had played in their more than half-century of history, following the one they lost in 1982.

This year, Milwaukee has been a force to be reckoned with in Major League Baseball, starting with a regular season in which it posted the best overall record (103-59).

With the most dominant starting pitchers and a fearsome offense, the Brewers raised their game even higher in the playoffs (11-2), where they routed the Los Angeles Dodgers, led by Shohei Ohtani, who were favored to win a third consecutive title.

In the World Series, they came close to completing another sweep — which would have been their first since 2012 — but Tampa Bay pulled off a miracle comeback in the 12th inning of Game 4.

The Rays saved face, but they still needed three more wins to complete a comeback that no one has ever achieved in a World Series.

Less than 24 hours later, the Brewers returned to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg (Florida) determined to make the most of their second chance.

Sports

The Rays stage a comeback in the 12th inning and prevent the Brewers from sweeping the World Series

Williams Perdomo

A record-breaking rookie

It took the visitors just two at-bats to break through starter Drew Rasmussen's wall. With his first hit, Pratt drove in Brice Turang to open the scoring at Tropicana Field.

The Brewers pulled ahead in the fifth inning during an offensive rally in which Pratt recorded his second hit.

With that hit, he became the first rookie to get a hit in six consecutive at-bats in the Fall Classic.

Pratt, who had just made his major league debut in June, scored the run in the 2-0 game for Milwaukee on a single by David Hamilton.

In the sixth inning, Venezuelan Contreras stepped up to the plate, another key player for the Brewers in the postseason.

The catcher from Puerto Cabello hit a double to left field to drive in Christian Yelich and then drove in the fourth run after a sacrifice fly by Pratt.

On a disastrous night for Caminero, Aranda and the Cuban Yandy Díaz, who managed just one hit between the three of them, the Rays didn't get on the board until the final inning on a double by Chandler Simpson.

With information from AFP

Specifically, Kennedy will oversee the content and aesthetics of both galas, which play a crucial role in every edition of the world's premier sporting competition.

Casey Wasserman, president of LA28 (as the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games are known), praised Kennedy for having "an exceptional gift for storytelling."

"Kathleen is a legend. She is one of Hollywood's all-time greats, with an exceptional gift for storytelling," Wasserman said in a statement reported by AFP.

"When the stars align to focus the world's attention on Los Angeles for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, I can't think of anyone better than Kathleen to evoke the magic of Hollywood," he added.

Kennedy, incredibly happy

For her part, the film producer said she was extremely happy to be able to take part in the ceremonies for the upcoming games, an event she is a huge fan of.

"The Olympic Games have been a major part of my life," Kennedy said. "My husband and I have attended practically every games since Los Angeles in 1984, and sports continue to be one of the great experiences that bring us together."

The opening ceremony of the upcoming Olympic Games is scheduled for July 14, 2028, and the closing ceremony for July 30. Meanwhile, the opening and closing ceremonies for the LA28 Paralympic Games will take place on August 15 and 27, respectively. All of them will be held at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and SoFi Stadium.

Kennedy, who has worked closely with Steven Spielberg throughout her career, is one of Hollywood's most renowned producers. In addition to the films mentioned, she has worked on other hits such as Indiana Jones, Back to the Future, Star Wars and Jurassic Park, as well as on productions such as Hook (1991), Seabiscuit (2003), Munich (2005), War Horse (2011) and Lincoln (2012).

Ben Williamson hit a ground ball to right field in the bottom of the 12th inning that drove in the winning run at Tropicana Field. The result ensures that a fifth game will be played this Wednesday in Florida.

The Brewers had come close to clinching the series after rookie shortstop Cooper Pratt hit a solo home run in the top of the 12th inning to give Milwaukee a 3-2 lead.

However, Tampa Bay stepped up when the title was on the line. A throwing error by Milwaukee third baseman Joey Ortiz allowed Junior Caminero to reach first base and set the stage for the comeback.

The Brewers replaced pitcher Antonio Senzatela with Shane Drohan, but the Rays kept up the pressure. Catcher Liam Hicks hit a single that brought Caminero to third base with no outs.

Shortly afterward, Jonny DeLuca hit another single that brought Caminero home and tie the score at 3-3. Chandler Simpson then hit another single that loaded the bases, again with no outs.

Williamson came in as a pinch hitter and hit a ground ball that allowed Tampa Bay to score the go-ahead run.

A close game that went into extra innings

The Rays, who are aiming to become the first team in World Series history to overcome a 3-0 deficit in the series after losing the first three games, took the lead in the second inning.

A line drive by Simpson off Milwaukee starter Dustin May allowed DeLuca to run from first base to home plate, making the score 1-0.

Milwaukee tied the game in the top of the fourth inning when a double by Pratt off Tampa Bay starter Griffin Jax allowed Sal Frelick to score, tying the game at 1-1.

The Rays regained the lead in that same inning thanks to an error by Brewers third baseman David Hamilton. After Hamilton failed to field Caminero's hit and threw the ball wide of first base, the Dominican batter managed to reach home plate to make it 2-1.

Hamilton made up for it in the fifth inning with a solo home run off Jax, which tied the game once again, this time at 2-2.

From that point on, the relief pitchers from both teams took control of the game and limited scoring opportunities until Pratt broke the tie with his home run in the twelfth inning.

Tampa Bay's late rally prevented Milwaukee from clinching the series and extended the battle for the championship.

The defending champion, which ended a five-decade title drought in June, avoided starting its title defense with a record of 0-4, something that hasn't happened to an NBA champion since 1969.

The Knicks struggled again early in the game and found themselves 13 points behind at the start of the second quarter, with the Pistons fueled by baskets from Paul Reed and Cade Cunningham.

Jalen Brunson also struggled in the first half, making just one of his nine shots. However, New York rallied and managed to go into halftime with a one-point lead.

The home team solidified its comeback in the third quarter, when it extended its lead to 25 points. The Knicks' defense was key to holding Detroit in check, as Detroit scored only 25 points between the second and third quarters.

Karl-Anthony Towns led New York with 27 points and 20 rebounds, while Brunson finished with 23 points and seven assists.

For Detroit, which had won its first three games, Paul Reed was the leading scorer with 22 points. Cunningham contributed 19 points, eight assists, and nine rebounds.

The Pistons, who finished last season with the best record in the Eastern Conference during the regular season, ended up with a record of three wins and one loss.

Wembanyama leads the Spurs past Sacramento

In another game of the day, the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Sacramento Kings 130–103, with an outstanding performance by Victor Wembanyama.

The French center finished with 29 points, 10 rebounds, five blocks, and two steals to help San Antonio secure its second win in four games.

The Spurs dominated from the first half onward, ending it with a lead of 80-54. Wembanyama scored 23 points before halftime , and the team maintained control throughout the second half.

Julian Champagnie also stood out with 26 points for San Antonio, which had lost its first two games of the season. The Kings, meanwhile, are still winless and have four losses.

China Media Group (CMG), the state-owned conglomerate that oversees the public broadcaster CCTV, announced Tuesday that it had suspended the broadcast of Spanish league matches, as well as commercials featuring the French player. 

The state-run group stated that the apologies from LaLiga, Mbappé, and Real Madrid were "an indispensable requirement" and warned that nothing would be discussed until they were received.

Mbappé posted an apology on Tuesday in which he described his comments about Mao as "unfortunate." The captain of the French national team acknowledged that his words had hurt many people in China and in Chinese communities around the world.

"My comment was ill-judged and I now understand that it hurt many people in China and in Chinese communities around the world. I apologise to everyone my words have upset," the forward said in a statement published in French, Chinese, and English.

Sports

LaLiga and its president bow to China's communist regime following Mbappé controversy

Alejandro Baños

LaLiga also apologized for the incident and stated that it "deeply regrets the offense caused by the recent comments made by Kylian Mbappé have caused among Chinese fans."

The controversy arose during an interview on the French show The Bridge, the video of which was later taken down. Mbappé said he found an internet meme funny in which his face had been superimposed onto that of a man he identified as a possible Chinese dictator—in an apparent reference to Mao Zedong.

Real Madrid apologizes

Real Madrid apologized to China on Wednesday for Mbappé's comments about Mao, which sparked a storm of criticism.

“Real Madrid wishes to express its apologies to the Chinese people for any distress that the recent remarks by our player Kylian Mbappé may have caused,” the club wrote in a statement.

“Our club holds deep respect for China, its history, its culture, and its citizens, as well as for the millions of Chinese fans who have affection and admiration for Real Madrid,” it added.

Javier Tebas, president of LaLiga, the top Spanish soccer league in which Mbappé plays for Real Madrid, issued a statement expressing his apologies for some inflammatory remarks made by the soccer player about Mao, whom he described as "a Chinese dictator."

"From LALIGA, we deeply regret the statements made by Kylian Mbappé that have caused discomfort and offense in China. We understand the harm caused and, on behalf of LALIGA, I wish to convey our sincere apologies to the Chinese people," said Tebas.

The president noted that Spanish soccer has been working with China for "many years," a country with which it has built "a relationship of respect, trust, and cooperation."

"We cannot allow an individual action to tarnish that relationship or harm the more than 20 clubs in our professional competitions and millions of Chinese fans. ... Our commitment to China, its people, and its institutions is steadfast. A relationship built over so many years cannot be damaged by a single episode," added Tebas, assuring that they will take measures "to resolve this situation."

The Spanish league joined in those apologies. "LALIGA deeply regrets the offense caused by Kylian Mbappé's recent comments among Chinese fans. These comments were made in a personal capacity and do not represent LALIGA. To the extent of our institutional responsibility, we apologize on behalf of LALIGA and all its clubs," it wrote in a statement.

The statements by Tebas and LaLiga are being interpreted as a capitulation to China's communist regime, which had decided to stop broadcasting the competition's matches on its public television channels. This broadcast agreement, signed years ago between the two parties and which sometimes forces matches to be played at times that are inconvenient for both Spanish fans and the players themselves, brings significant benefits to LaLiga, primarily in commercial terms.

This crisis arose after Mbappé reacted to a photoshopped image that went viral online, in which his face is superimposed on a picture of Mao, whom he describes as a "Chinese dictator." The French soccer player, who finished second in the race for the Ballon d'Or, had to apologize after several brands with which he has commercial ties terminated those agreements and after authorities of the communist regime publicly expressed their disapproval and displeasure with his behavior.

Specifically, Mbappé reacted to a photoshopped image that went viral online, in which his face was superimposed on a picture of Mao, whom he described as "a Chinese dictator."

This controversy has led three brands that had him as their brand ambassador to announce the termination of their agreements.

"Our company firmly opposes any behavior that offends national sentiments and enforces a zero-tolerance policy in this regard. We are terminating all collaboration with Kylian Mbappé effective immediately," stated the beverage company Dongpeng, in remarks reported by AFP.

"Our company is ending all collaboration with Kylian Mbappé, effective immediately," dairy company Mengniu also announced. Cheese manufacturer Milkground made the same decision.

China: It is "natural" that there is "a common rejection"

The communist regime considered that it is "natural" for Chinese society to react against Mbappé.

In remarks reported by AFP, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun stated that controversies such as those involving the French soccer player "hurt" China.

"Any comment or action that hurts the feelings of the Chinese people naturally faces a common rejection from all of Chinese society," Guo said.

One of the measures taken by Beijing was to stop broadcasting matches in which Mbappé plays, including those involving Real Madrid, a team with a large following in the country. This decision is temporary.

Mbappé apologizes

Mbappé was quick to apologize for his actions. In a statement written in Mandarin Chinese, as well as in French and English, the soccer player said he was "remorseful" for some "clumsy remarks" about Mao.

"I apologize to everyone who was offended by my words. That was not my intention at all. I have deep respect for the Chinese people and their history, and I am sincerely sorry," Mbappé wrote. "During a recent interview, I reacted to a photo of myself. My remarks were clumsy, and I now understand that they have hurt many people in China and within the Chinese community around the world."

Dallas, coming off back-to-back losses to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Green Bay Packers, improved its record to 3-1. With their first win in Philadelphia since the 2021 season, the Cowboys remain in the hunt for the NFC East title, led by the New York Giants , who hold a 4-2-1 record.

The Eagles, meanwhile, suffered their fifth straight loss and now sit at 2-5, amid a season plagued by injuries.

Prescott and Lamb lead Dallas

Prescott completed 15 of his 27 passes, with no interceptions or sacks. Two of his touchdown passes were caught by CeeDee Lamb, who made two spectacular receptions in the end zone. George Pickens scored Dallas's third touchdown on a pass.

The running game was also crucial for the Cowboys, who racked up 204 yards on the ground. Javonte Williams led the charge with a career-high 155 rushing yards and a touchdown that came with just over two minutes remaining.

The game began with the lead changing hands several times. After a 55-yard field goal by Dallas, Saquon Barkley put Philadelphia ahead with an eight-yard touchdown run.

The Cowboys responded with a touchdown pass from Prescott to Lamb. In the second quarter, Dameon Pierce put the Eagles back in front with a five-yard run, but Dallas went into halftime with the lead thanks to a 21-yard pass from Prescott to Pickens, who managed to keep both feet inbounds after the catch.

Sports

Jay-Z will headline 2027 Super Bowl halftime show

Emmanuel Alejandro Rondón

The Eagles couldn’t get back on track

After halftime, Philadelphia's backup quarterback, Tanner McKee, connected with rookie Makai Lemon for the latter's first touchdown in the NFL. The score allowed the Eagles to briefly regain the lead.

However, Prescott found Lamb again for their second touchdown together, and Dallas subsequently converted the two-point conversion. The Cowboys extended their lead to seal the game with a final score of 38-21.

Philadelphia's situation was further complicated by injuries to its roster. The team is dealing with the loss of its starting quarterback, Jalen Hurts, who is out for the remainder of the season due to blood clots.

In addition, Barkley, who was returning after missing two games with a hamstring injury, left the game with a back injury.

Venezuelan Jackson Chourio was one of the stars of the game, recording four hits in five at-bats, scoring two runs, driving in one, and stealing a base. The 22-year-old outfielder also contributed to Milwaukee's historic eight-run rally in the fifth inning.

The Brewers took a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series and can clinch the championship this Tuesday when Game 4 is played at Tropicana Field.

A historic fifth inning

Milwaukee opened the scoring in the third inning when Chourio advanced from second base to home plate on a single by Christian Yelich. Later, William Contreras singled to right field to drive in another run, making it 2-0.

However, it was in the fifth inning that the Brewers effectively sealed the game with an offensive outburst unprecedented in World Series history: they scored eight runs with two outs and strung together seven consecutive hits, a first in playoff history.

Chourio led off the inning with a single, stole second base, and advanced to third on another hit by Contreras, which loaded the bases.

Brice Turang then hit a two-run single down the middle of the field. Garrett Mitchell drove in Contreras with another hit, and Cooper Pratt extended the lead with a two-run double that made the score 7-0.

Sal Frelick hit a double to drive in Pratt and make it 8-0. Afterward, David Hamilton hit a single that brought Frelick home, before Chourio capped off the inning with a double to right field that brought Hamilton home to make it 10-0.

Sports

Comeback kings Brewers down Rays to take 2-0 World Series lead

Israel Duro

Gasser dominates on the Mound

The Milwaukee offense was complemented by an outstanding performance from Robert Gasser. The left-handed pitcher worked six scoreless innings, allowing just one hit, walking one batter, and striking out three.

Gasser became the first left-handed pitcher to face the minimum of 18 batters over six innings in a World Series game since Sandy Koufax of the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1965.

Tampa Bay scored its only run in the ninth inning and finished the game with just three hits.

The pitcher also emphasized that the team must stay focused heading into the next game.

Here are the highlights from Monday's NBA action.

Flagg destroys the Heat

The era of Antetokounmpo in Miami has begun with an unexpected four-game losing streak, three of them at home. Monday's loss was handed to them by Cooper Flagg and his Dallas Mavericks, who defeated the Heat 113-109 on the road.

Flagg, one of the league's most promising young stars at 19, put up a monumental performance despite missing the previous game due to a shoulder injury.

The power forward finished with 29 points, 6 rebounds, 11 assists, 5 steals, and 3 blocks. Alongside him, Kyrie Irving contributed 18 points.

Antetokounmpo played 39 minutes in an effort to snap the losing streak. The Greek player recorded a triple-double with 29 points, 14 rebounds, and 11 assists, but it wasn't enough to prevent Miami from becoming the first team to start the season 0-4.

Thunder mourn the loss of Williams

The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Phoenix Suns 125-114 the day after one of their star players, Jalen Williams, suffered a serious injury.

Anxiety quickly spread among the Thunder players on Sunday night when Williams injured his left leg in a hard fall during the win over the Clippers.

On Monday afternoon, it was confirmed that the All-Star small forward suffered a fractured fibula and a dislocated left ankle.

Williams faces a long recovery, which could last for the remainder of the season, jeopardizing Oklahoma City's hopes of returning to the top following their 2025 championship.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City's leader, scored 26 points in the win over the Suns, keeping the team undefeated and atop the Western Conference (4-0).

Sports

Doncic dominates for Lakers as James' Sixers fall to Pistons

Israel Duro

Warriors get their first win

To close out the program, the Golden State Warriors secured their first win of the season against the Denver Nuggets, 134-114.

Stephen Curry scored 24 points, shooting a perfect 8-for-8 from the field and 5-for-5 from the free-throw line, but the Warriors' standout once again was Dominican rookie Yaxel Lendeborg.

The small forward finished with 31 points, 12 rebounds, and 6 assists and has become the sensation of the Warriors' season opener, averaging 18.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 4.3 assists.

Super Bowl LI, which will be played on Feb. 14, 2027, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

The NFL and Apple Music confirmed the news Monday night on social media in the middle of the game. The announcement confirmed what the media outlet Puck had reported days earlier, citing industry sources. The video chosen for the occasion shows Jay-Z in the stands, in black and white, with a goat on his lap, in a nod to the acronym GOAT, "the greatest of all time." Playing in the background is "Allow me to reintroduce myself," the opening line of his song "Public Service Announcement (Interlude)."

The choice has a special significance. Since 2019, Roc Nation, Jay-Z's entertainment company, has been a partner of the NFL and produces the show, and the artist himself has been involved in selecting the most recent performers. Last year, Hispanic artist Bad Bunny was chosen.

Sports

Chiefs and 49ers suffer first losses of NFL season, Vikings stay unbeaten

AFP

According to league commissioner Roger Goodell, that moment had been in the works from the very beginning.

"When we first reached an agreement with Roc Nation to produce the show, I had just one request: that Jay-Z take the stage himself one day, whenever the moment felt right to him," he said.

With 25 Grammy Awards, Jay-Z will take the most-watched stage on American television three decades after his recording debut.

"From Reasonable Doubt to standing on the Super Bowl Halftime stage, this has been a journey," the artist said in a statement.

Alexia Putellas claimed the women's prize for a third time to extend Spain's domination of the award, thanks to her role in leading Barcelona to last season's Champions League before moving to London City Lionesses.

The first ever Ballon d'Or ceremony on English soil got off to an inauspicious start as the London traffic caused a delay of nearly an hour, with many of the star names arriving late.

But there was a happy ending for the hometown hero as Kane collected the crowning glory of his career to date.

The 33-year-old Bayern Munich forward struck a remarkable 73 goals in 65 games for club and country last season, propelling the German giants to a league and cup double.

He also scored six times as England finished third at the World Cup.

"Without you guys (his Bayern Munich team-mates) and the rest of the team it wouldn't be possible, the way you guys push me, the way we compete. So thank you very much," he said after collecting the award.

Kane's medal collection is limited to German domestic triumphs since he arrived at Bayern in 2023.

He was on the losing side for Tottenham in the 2019 Champions League final against Liverpool and twice tasted bitter defeat in the final of the European Championship with England.

Sports

Mbappe double helps Real Madrid stun Barca in La Liga Clasico

VozMedia Staff

But his remarkable goalscoring consistency has earned him the highest individual award in football.

"Making the move to Bayern Munich was a big step in my career," Kane told AFP earlier. "Some people saw it as a risk but for me it was always about improving and seeing if I could get better around the team-mates, the team, the club and it has pushed me onto another level.

"Being a number nine for Bayern and England you are expected to score goals and to do that the number of times I did last year is something I'm really proud of," he added.

Putellas back on top

Winner in 2021 and 2022, Putellas's third Ballon d'Or caps her return back to the top of the women's game after an anterior cruciate ligament injury derailed her rise four years ago.

Putellas succeeds Spain team-mate Aitana Bonmati, the winner the past three years who was sidelined by a leg break for most of last season.

"Ever since I suffered the injury, I've been trying to enjoy every moment as if it were my last, because you never know if it'll happen again," Putellas told AFP in an interview last month.

"I never felt that the (Ballon d'Or) trophy was 'mine'... Having already experienced it once, I’m able to enjoy it even more now," she added.

Yamal made the boldest fashion statement of the contenders with a pink flower on the front of his black suit.

The Barcelona winger scooped up the first award of the night for young talent of the year for the third consecutive time.

But the 19-year-old fell short of becoming the youngest ever Ballon d'Or winner after he failed to produce his best form during Spain's World Cup success.

Mbappe got the better of Yamal with two goals as Real Madrid edged Barcelona 2-1 in El Clasico on Sunday.

But his wait to win the Ballon d'Or goes on despite his prolific year for France and Real Madrid.

Luis de la Fuente beat out Paris Saint-Germain's Luis Enrique and Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta to be named men's coach of the year after leading Spain to World Cup glory.

"I'm really privileged to work with a team of such high quality on a professional and human level," said de la Fuente.

Barcelona's Pere Romeu scooped the prize for women's coach of the year.

Arsenal's Bukayo Saka won the Socrates award for his humanitarian work.

Paris Saint-Germain missed out on any of the main individual awards despite winning a second consecutive Champions League, but did have the consolation of men's club of the year.

Spanish duo Unai Simon and Cata Coll were named best men's and women's goalkeeper.

Seattle utterly stifled their former running back Kenneth Walker III, who won the Super Bowl last season with the Seahawks and had led the NFL this year with the Chiefs in rushing yards per game ahead of Sunday's clash.

He could only manage 36 rushing yards from 14 carries on his return to Lumen Field, as the Seattle defense collectively swarmed their opponents, sacking Patrick Mahomes once and forcing another interception.

"We just had the one mindset -- to go in and just disrupt," said Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori, who rushed Mahomes to create a Ty Okada pick that led to a Seattle touchdown on the next drive.

The scoreline was the Chiefs' joint-lowest in a game Mahomes started.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba caught a looping 28-yard pass from Sam Darnold in the second quarter but was initially judged to have run out-of-bounds, before a video review awarded the touchdown.

Walker's Seattle replacement Emanuel Wilson rushed 21 yards through a gap at the heart of the Chiefs' defense in the fourth quarter.

Harrison Butker missed two field goals on a chastening night for the high-flying Chiefs.

Meanwhile in Atlanta, Michael Penix threw for three touchdowns and the Falcons defense forced four turnovers in a 29-20 win over the 49ers.

Penix connected with tight end Nick Muse for a touchdown to keep the Falcons within striking distance in the first half and hit Kyle Pitts for a TD that put Atlanta ahead in the third quarter.

He found Drake London with a 21-yard touchdown pass in the fourth.

"Too sloppy to win," 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said.

'Proud'

Those results left the Minnesota Vikings as the only remaining unbeaten team, holding the Indianapolis Colts scoreless in the second half in a 16-10 victory that saw them improve to 6-0.

Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray threw a five-yard touchdown pass to T.J. Hockenson early in the fourth quarter and Will Reichard kicked a 52-yard field goal with 1:39 remaining.

Sunday's action kicked off in Paris, where Pittsburgh quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw for 212 yards and a milestone touchdown to lead the Steelers to a 16-10 victory over the New Orleans Saints in the league's first regular-season game in the French capital.

Rodgers hit Darnell Washington with a four-yard TD pass to give the Steelers a 10-3 lead late in the second quarter, his 540th regular-season touchdown pass moving him into solo third place on the all-time list ahead of Peyton Manning (539).

The Los Angeles Rams snapped a two-game skid in emphatic style, beating the Raiders 35-21 in Las Vegas.

Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford threw for 195 yards and three touchdowns, all in the first half. He became the franchise leader in scoring passes -- an honor Stafford also holds with the Detroit Lions.

"We've had some tough losses late in games this year, played good enough football to win games and hadn't gotten it done... proud of our resolve," said Stafford.

In Houston, Devin Singletary ran 30 yards for a touchdown in overtime to lift the New York Giants to a 27-21 upset win over the Texans.

In Detroit, Jake Bates kicked a 22-yard field goal as time expired to give the Lions a 20-17 victory over the Green Bay Packers.

Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow threw four touchdown passes in the second half as the Bengals rallied to beat the Ravens 35-13 in Baltimore.

Cleveland quarterback Deshaun Watson piloted his fifth fourth-quarter game-winning drive of the season, capped by Andre Szmyt's 32-yard field goal as time expired in the Browns' 27-24 victory over the Tennessee Titans in Nashville.

And the Miami Dolphins earned their first win of the season, beating the New York Jets 28-25 in New Jersey.

Now the undisputed superstar of the Lakers since James departed this summer for Philadelphia, Doncic also provided 10 assists and eight rebounds in a masterful performance, with eight three-pointers and two steals.

Doncic was supported by Austin Reaves, who had 29 points, as the visitors pulled decisively clear in the last four minutes of a game they had trailed for long periods.

"We are learning our lesson...we cannot start games like this any more"

"It's one of the best feelings -down the stretch, tight game, hitting those threes," said Doncic.

"Played the basketball we know how to play. We are learning our lesson...we cannot start games like this any more."

It was the first 50-point game by an NBA player this season. Slovenian point guard Doncic was the league's top scorer last season.

Utah led nearly the entire first half

After cruising to comfortable opening wins against the Golden State Warriors and city rival Clippers, the Lakers overcame their first real adversity of the nascent season in Salt Lake City.

Utah led nearly the entire first half, pulling as many as 18 points clear, with Finland's Lauri Markkanen on scintillating form.

But the Lakers rallied. A Doncic three-point pullup shot with seconds remaining in the second quarter gave Los Angeles a slender lead at the interval.

Lakers moved to a perfect 3-0 start

The Jazz had inched back in front with just over four minutes remaining, when another Doncic trey tied up the score 116-116.

From there Doncic and Reaves were relentless, outscoring the entire Jazz offense in the final quarter between them, as the new-look Lakers moved to a perfect 3-0 start.

"We have a tight group. I think everybody new that came, they feel very welcome here. That's what we want," said Doncic.

The 76ers' Unbeaten Streak Comes to an End

Meanwhile James' Philadelphia 76ers, who had won all three of their opening games, fell 106-93 to the Detroit Pistons.

Detroit -who topped the Eastern Conference last season- led wire-to-wire, pulling 21 points clear in the second quarter.

Tyrese Maxey tried his best to drag the Sixers back into the contest with 18 points in the fourth quarter, but the Pistons weathered the storm and also moved to 3-0.

"We're just staying steady. We're not getting ahead of ourselves," said Cade Cunningham, who top-scored for Detroit with 26 points.

Knicks, the worst start to a season by defending NBA champions since 2011

Elsewhere, the New York Knicks lost their third straight game, falling 111-102 to the Orlando Magic despite Jalen Brunson's 28 points.

It is the worst start to a season by defending NBA champions since the Dallas Mavericks in 2011.

"The reality of it is, giving up 40 points in the fourth quarter is way too much...When you're not shooting the ball well, like we are, you got to figure out different ways to win the ballgame," said Knicks coach Mike Brown.

Franz Wagner dropped 21 points in the fourth quarter alone to secure Orlando's first win of the season.

Thunder lost Jalen Williams

Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander top-scored with 34 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Clippers 108-101.

But victory was marred by injury to Jalen Williams, who grotesquely snapped his ankle on a drive to the rim, and was stretchered from the court.

"I just feel bad for him...We just got to hold the fort down until he comes back," said Gilgeous-Alexander, who appeared to be in tears after the incident.

"Those are tough, man. We're not doing great. That's tough on the guys," added Thunder coach Mark Daigneault.

And Anthony Edwards scored a game-high 26 points as the Minnesota Timberwolves secured a third straight comfortable win, 117-94 over the Toronto Raptors.

French superstar Mbappe opened the scoring before the interval and then slotted home late on to inflict Barca's first domestic defeat of the campaign after Raphinha had equalised for the champions.

Real Madrid remain third, behind Atletico Madrid and Hansi Flick's Barca, who had won their first nine games before a chastening week.

The Catalans suffered a second straight defeat after losing on Tuesday against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.

Mourinho was delighted with his team's display in his first Clasico back at the helm of Madrid.

"My team had an extraordinary game, very organised, good concentration, with courage to play out from the back against a team that presses you a lot," Mourinho told reporters.

"We had chances for the second goal... obviously Barca had a strong reaction but we were calm and organised and at 1-1 we never lost our tranquility."

Barca had won six of the seven previous Clasicos since Flick arrived but were surprisingly subdued against Mourinho's side.

"You saw today, we lacked freshness," said Flick of his team's performance.

"It's the first defeat in La Liga, we won nine in a row. This is what we have to see.

"Defeats are a part of the game. We have to analyse, we have to make things better. Now it's important that we make a reaction."

Los Blancos, without suspended winger Vinicius Junior, won their fifth straight game across all competitions and are finding their footing under veteran Portuguese coach Mourinho.

After two trophyless seasons Madrid turned back to Mourinho to try and stop Barca's dominance, and this result will give them hope they are on the right track.

The opening period of the game was cagey, with few opportunities.

Barca defender Pau Cubarsi twice reacted well to shut down Mbappe, while Real Madrid's Marc Cucurella took a rapid liking for Lamine Yamal's shirt, constantly grabbing at the 19-year-old winger.

Anthony Gordon, playing in his first Clasico since joining Barcelona from Newcastle, backheeled the ball to Raphinha, who fired narrowly wide as Barca threatened.

The hosts were dealt a setback when young defender Xavi Espart pulled up hurt and needed to be replaced by Alejandro Balde before the half-hour mark.

Andriy Lunin, playing in goal for Madrid after Thibaut Courtois pulled out of the squad with flu, saved at his near post from Gordon before the visitors took the lead.

Mbappe scored his 10th league goal of the season and also his easiest, with Barca's Gerard Martin clearing a cross straight at the Frenchman, who deflected it into the net.

Barca responded by carving out a glorious chance for an equaliser but teenage sensation Yamal for once miscued in front of goal, firing wide when poised to level.

The game opened up and Yan Diomande came close to doubling Madrid's lead before half-time, drilling into the side-netting.

Sting in the tail

Martin redeemed himself early in the second half as he held off Jude Bellingham, who could neither beat the defender nor find a free Mbappe.

Raphinha, who had a quiet first half, pulled Barcelona level just after the hour mark.

Pedri fed the Brazilian, La Liga's top goalscorer with 13, who fired through Bellingham's legs and Lunin could not keep the shot out.

The Ukrainian goalkeeper did make a superb save to deny Martin at a corner, as Barcelona flowed forward with the wind finally in their sails.

Yamal bent an effort wide with Lunin at full stretch and Barca substitute Frenkie de Jong had a shot desperately blocked by Dean Huijsen.

There was a sting in the tail for the Catalans though as substitute Gabriel Jesus lost possession and Madrid raced through on goal.

Eduardo Camavinga beat Cubarsi and unselfishly cut the ball back for Mbappe to tuck home his second of the night into an empty net with Joan Garcia drawn out of position.

It brought up a century of goals since Mbappe joined Madrid from PSG in 2024, although the trophies to match have not yet followed.

"(Winning) is a good message today, but we can't think the season is done -- next week (at Racing) Santander we have to put in the same intensity," Mbappe told Real Madrid TV.

Despite resting their veteran acquisition LeBron James, the Sixers pulled away comfortably from the Bucks to improve to 3-0 in the Eastern Conference. Joel Embiid led the Sixers in scoring with a 28-point triple-double that included 11 rebounds and 10 assists.

Embiid was supported on offense by Jaylen Brown, who celebrated his 30th birthday with 27 points, while the dynamic Tyrese Maxey contributed 26 points. V.J. Edgecombe hit five three-pointers for 17 points, while Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 12 off the bench.

"It's great to get off to a good start, but we still have a lot of work to do," Brown said of the Sixers' 3-0 start. "It's nice to win games right now, but we need to improve quickly," he added.

San Antonio Earns First Win Against the Mavericks

In Dallas, San Antonio shook off losses to Oklahoma City and Houston in its first two games to defeat the Mavericks 122-106, as the Mavericks played without the injured Cooper Flagg.

Victor Wembanyama led San Antonio in scoring with 23 points, while Dylan Harper added 22. De'Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle each finished with 19 points.

The Rockets remain unstoppable

Houston continued its smooth start to the season, improving its record to 3-0 with a 121-114 road victory over the Atlanta Hawks.

The matchup between two undefeated teams was decided by Houston's balanced offense, with no fewer than seven Rockets players scoring in double digits, led by Kevin Durant with 22 points.

Antetokounmpo's Heat Can't Get Back on Track

The Miami Heat fell to 0-3 after losing 115-110 on the road to the Charlotte Hornets. Brandon Miller led Charlotte in scoring with 34 points, while Dennis Schroder added 25, helping the Hornets improve their record to 2-1.

Miami's new signing, Giannis Antetokounmpo, was held to just 14 points. Miami trailed 96-75 at the start of the fourth quarter but staged a spectacular comeback to tie the game, though they were unable to complete the comeback.

This loss marks the first time since the 2007–2008 season that Miami has lost its first three games of the season.

"We need a lot more inspiration over the full 48 minutes," said Miami coach Erik Spoelstra. "It's a very powerful thing when you can inspire your teammates to make an extraordinary effort, and we will. We'll get there."

The Cleveland Cavaliers improved their record to 1-1 after defeating the Brooklyn Nets—who have yet to win a game—125-121, while the Washington Wizards edged out the Chicago Bulls 124-120 thanks to Trae Young's 25 points.

The top-seeded Brewers recovered from 4-0 down after an early Tampa Bay onslaught to complete a rally that edges Milwaukee closer to a first Major League Baseball crown. The win marked the seventh time during this season's playoffs that the Brewers have come from behind to win.

Outfielder Sal Frelick blasted a 408-foot home run in the sixth inning to tie it up for Milwaukee at 4-4 before Cooper Pratt's single in the seventh added what turned out to be the winning run for Brice Turang.

"As long as there's game left we have a chance"

"As long as there's game left we have a chance -and I think we've all bought into that," Pratt said. "We're never out of it. And when there's still innings on the board we've still got a chance," Pratt added.

Tampa Bay will have the weight of history against them as the series heads back to Florida for game three on Monday. Only 10 teams have ever recovered from 2-0 down to win the World Series.

Rays manager Kevin Cash believes home-field advantage for the next three games could give Tampa Bay a path back into the series. "These Milwaukee fans have been really loud. I know our fans are going to be really loud and excited to see us come back and kind of reset ourselves a little bit," Cash said.

"We've got a really good pitcher going, as do they. A lot of confidence in this club to respond. They've done it all season long and they'll continue to do it."

From 0-4 to 5-4

The Rays surged into a commanding 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning with Yandy Diaz scooting to second base after a throwing error by Brewers shortstop Pratt. Chandler Simpson singled soon afterwards to bring Diaz home and give the Rays a 1-0 lead.

Simpson then used his speed to steal second base and when Junior Caminero drove into the left field, Simpson raced home to score. The Rays made it 4-0 when catcher Liam Hicks bludgeoned a towering 411-foot two-run homer into the upper deck of right center-field to further rock the Brewers.

Williams Contreas rapid response

Milwaukee were quick to hit back in the bottom of the inning, with William Contreras singling on a ground ball to score Jackson Chourio. Garrett Mitchell's single to right field allowed Jake Bauers to score to trim the Rays advantage to two runs.

Milwaukee knocked Tampa Bay starter Drew Rasmussen out of the game in the fourth inning and then pounced with Frelick's home run in the sixth, before Pratt's single in the seventh gave the Brewers the lead.

Brewers reliever Aaron Ashby grabbed the final five outs to secure victory.

Goals from Sam Surridge and Hany Mukhtar ensured Nashville will head into the MLS postseason as the top seed after dominating the Eastern Conference. The Supporters' Shield is awarded each year to the MLS team with the best record over the course of the regular season.

"When we started out in January we put our minds to trying to accomplish big things with the club," Nashville head coach B.J. Callaghan said after the win.

Sports

Messi scores twice in Inter Miami's win and reaches 936 career goals

AFP

Sports

He's retiring for Argentina, but he'll stay in Miami: Leo Messi's economic legacy continues to grow in the US

Emmanuel Alejandro Rondón

"The Shield for us is symbolic of our body of work throughout the year -- being really really consistent, and we'll enjoy it tonight," Callaghan added.

Nashville will now have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, including the December 18 MLS Cup final.

Nashville lead the Eastern Conference with 71 points from 31 games, 16 points clear of Lionel Messi's Inter Miami in second place.

The day featured standout performances, such as Jayson Tatum's 36 points to propel Boston's first win and Amen Thompson's game-sealing block on Victor Wembanyama to secure Houston's 114-110 victory.

Amen Thompson stops Wembanyama

The Spurs stumbled again in front of their home crowd, losing 114-110 to the Rockets, following their season-opening loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Frenchman Victor Wembanyama improved on his performance from the season opener and led San Antonio's offense with 25 points, 13 rebounds and two blocks. All five starters scored in double digits, but the bench contributed only 21 points.

Houston found its leading offensive threat in Turkish player Alperen Sengün, who scored 29 points, while Kevin Durant and Amen Thompson each contributed 20.

Thompson also made the defensive play that sealed the game. With the Rockets leading 112-100 and just three seconds left on the clock, Wembanyama received the ball in the paint, turned to attempt a layup and was met with a monumental block by the Houston guard.

Despite being 23 centimeters shorter than the French center, Thompson managed to prevent the basket and secure the Rockets' second victory.

Sports

Milwaukee defeats Rays 3-2 in World Series opener

Andrés Ignacio Henríquez

Tatum leads Boston to first win

The Knicks, the reigning champions according to the information provided, also suffered their second consecutive loss, falling 107-103 to the Boston Celtics at TD Garden.

Jayson Tatum was the star of the game with 36 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and three steals. The small forward took charge of Boston's offense after a lackluster debut in the loss to Detroit.

Tatum, who missed much of last season due to a torn Achilles tendon, scored nine points in the fourth quarter, when the Knicks closed the gap to just one point after starting the quarter down by 12.

Paul George and Neemias Queta joined Tatum with 15 points each. For the Knicks, Karl-Anthony Towns led the scoring with 22 points, while captain Jalen Brunson added 19.