Lionel Messi leads Argentina to 3-2 comeback victory over Egypt and spot in World Cup quarterfinals
ATLANTA (AP) — Lionel Messi did it yet again at this year’s World Cup. The Argentina great scored once while inspiring his team to an improbable 3-2 victory over Egypt despite trailing by two goals with only 11 minutes to play. The defending champions will next face either Switzerland or Colombia in quarterfinals on Saturday in Kansas City, Missouri. Messi, who was in tears after the final whistle, scored his eighth goal of this year’s tournament in the 83rd minute to level the score at 2-2. It was his record-extending 21st at the World Cup. Enzo Fernandez scored the winning goal in stoppage time.
Djokovic outlasts Auger-Aliassime after more than 5 hours to reach Wimbledon semifinals at age 39
LONDON (AP) — Novak Djokovic was pushed to five sets by Felix Auger-Aliassime before the seven-time Wimbledon champion prevailed 7-6 (10), 3-6, 6-3, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (4) after more than five hours to set up a semifinal against defending champion Jannik Sinner. Sinner beat Djokovic in straight sets in last year’s Wimbledon semifinals. Djokovic outlasted the Italian over five sets in the semifinals of this year’s Australian Open. The 39-year-old Djokovic continues to break records as he chases an unprecedented 25th Grand Slam singles title. He’s reached a record-setting eighth consecutive Wimbledon semifinal which moves him one ahead of Roger Federer for most consecutive runs to the last four in men’s singles semifinal appearances at the grass-court championship.
Royals' Tyler Tolbert ties MLB record with hits in 12 straight plate appearances
NEW YORK (AP) — Tyler Tolbert of the Kansas City Royals has tied a major league record with hits in 12 consecutive plate appearances. He reached the mark with an infield single against the New York Mets for his fifth hit Tuesday night. Tolbert matched the record set by Chicago’s Johnny Kling in 1902 and equaled by Walt Dropo of the Detroit Tigers in 1952. With a chance to break the record, Tolbert was finally retired in the ninth on a fly ball to right against A.J. Minter to finish 5 for 6. The second-year player homered in the second inning and singled in the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh.
Pirates' Ryan O'Hearn sets club record with 10 RBIs during 3-homer night vs. Braves
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Ryan O'Hearn set a franchise record by driving in 10 runs on three homers against Atlanta. O'Hearn hit a grand slam in the first inning, a three-run shot in the third, and another three-run homer in the sixth. His 10 RBIs broke the franchise record of nine RBIs set by Johnny Rizzo in 1939. O'Hearn's 10 RBIs are the most by any player in the majors this year. An All-Star last season, O'Hearn also became the 16th player in Pittsburgh's 145-year history to hit three homers in a game.
Lionel Messi scores his eighth goal of this year's World Cup, takes lead in Golden Boot race
ATLANTA (AP) — Lionel Messi let the tears flow at the final whistle, succumbing to emotion after Argentina conjured up an incredible two-goal comeback to beat Egypt 3-2 and advance to the World Cup quarterfinals. Argentina’s three goals came in the final 11 minutes of regulation and injury time. Messi played a direct hand — or foot — in two of them. He assisted on Cristian Romero’s header in the 79th minute and leveled the match at 2-2 four minutes later. Messi's goal marked his eighth of this year's World Cup, putting him at the top of the Golden Boot race.
Same old story: US men's soccer team has been stagnant for quarter century
SEATTLE (AP) — The U.S. men's national soccer team remains stagnant despite growth in American soccer. Christian Pulisic and teammates have not advanced beyond the round of 16 at the World Cup, similar to past teams. The U.S. lost to Belgium 4-1 on Monday in the round of 16. Billions have been invested to boost the team, but it remains far from elite. Coach Mauricio Pochettino plans to discuss his future with the U.S. Soccer Federation. Goalkeeping has become a weak spot, and qualifying for future World Cups should be less challenging with 48-team tournaments. Folarin Balogun and Malik Tillman have shown promise.
Shohei Ohtani hits his 300th career homer, a leadoff shot for Dodgers star against the Rockies
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani has hit his 300th career homer, a leadoff shot against Colorado Rockies pitcher Michael Lorenzen. It made Ohtani the first Japanese-born player in the majors to reach the milestone. The Los Angeles Dodgers’ two-way superstar blasted a 409-foot line drive to center on a 2-0 pitch for his 20th homer of the season. Center fielder Cole Carrigg could only watch it fly out. It was Ohtani’s 31st career leadoff homer and seventh this season. He also homered in the Dodgers’ 8-7 victory in 11 innings on Monday night to highlight a 3-for-4 performance. Teammate Freddie Freeman bowed as Ohtani made his way back to the dugout.
Former Dallas Cowboys defensive end Kneeland had early stage CTE at time of death
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Former Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland had a brain abnormality linked to repeated head trauma when he killed himself after a high-speed chase with police in November 2025. The findings of a postmortem analysis of Kneeland's brain tissue were released Tuesday by his family through the Concussion and CTE Foundation. Researchers at the Boston University CTE Center determined Kneeland was in stage one of four of chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Kneeland was 24. He had played at Western Michigan University, before he was selected by the Cowboys in the second round of the 2024 NFL draft.
Knicks, Taylor Swift, World Cup: Is Serena Williams at the US Open next in the Summer of New York?
LONDON (AP) — Serena Williams could be up next in the Summer of New York. After the Knicks’ first NBA championship in more than 50 years. After Taylor Swift’s wedding at Madison Square Garden. And the World Cup final to be played just across the Hudson River. It looks like another circus is coming to town. To the Flushing Meadows section of Queens. All indications point to the 44-year-old Williams playing the U.S. Open next month for the first time in four years. Williams' coach Rennae Stubbs says “her intention is to keep playing; the U.S. Open as well.”
Clark hopeful of returning for Fever against Sparks but may avoid back-to-back against Storm
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Three-time WNBA All-Star Caitlin Clark hopes to return from her back injury Wednesday night when the Indiana Fever visits the Los Angeles Sparks but may be forced to sit out Thursday’s highly anticipated rematch at Phoenix. Clark missed each of Indiana’s last two games since departing the June 24 contest at Phoenix with the back problem. The next day, league officials issued a one-game suspension to Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas for “recklessly making contact with her fist to the throat area” of Clark. Clark said she expects to be on a minutes restriction Wednesday, hoping to play a little over 20 minutes.
