Busquets is a true legend of the game. Rodri going on to lift the World Cup as Spain captain would put him out on his own. The greatest midfielder of his type in history, an unrivalled CV. Four in a Row, Treble winner, Champions League winning goal, Balon Dor. All without Messi.
A 24-year-old Polish tennis player arrived in Paris last week ranked 114th in the world, with no sponsors, no guaranteed income, and no certainty she could even pay for her hotel room.
She had to win three qualifying matches just to enter the French Open main draw. Prize money is only paid at the end of the tournament, so a Polish sports drink brand quietly stepped in and covered her hotel bill.
Her name is Maja Chwalinska. And today, she plays in the French Open final.
Before this tournament, she had won exactly one Grand Slam main draw match in her entire career. She had battled depression so severe that in 2021 she couldn't get out of bed. She underwent knee surgery in 2022. She spent years grinding through small tournaments across Europe just to stay afloat.
Then she arrived in Paris, won three qualifiers, and kept winning. Zheng Qinwen. Elise Mertens. Maria Sakkari. Diana Shnaider. Nine straight matches. One set dropped.
She is now the first qualifier in French Open history to reach the final. The last time a qualifier reached a Grand Slam final, it was Emma Raducanu at the 2021 US Open. Raducanu won.
By simply making the final, Chwalinska has earned more prize money than her entire career combined. The runner-up cheque alone is $1.6 million. If she wins today, she takes home $3.25 million.
One week ago she couldn't pay for her hotel room.
Pep actually shed tears watching that farewell message. One of the most proper heartfelt ones I've seen. I'm in bits too, man. It's not easy accepting he's not our gaffer anymore. Proper hard, this.
Word, Stuart Pearce on Talksport: "It's not just Man City that will be sad, but it's the world of football should be.
"He (Pep) bought the best style of play that I've ever seen in my 50 years of life... he's in an argument as one of the best managers there has ever been.”
🚨🏆 OFFICIAL: Pep Guardiola has now won 20 TROPHIES in 10 years at Manchester City.
🏆 1x Champions League
🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 x6 Premier League
🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 x5 League Cup
🏆🏆🏆 x3 FA Cup
🏆🏆🏆 x3 Community Shield
🏆 1x UEFA Super Cup
🏆 1x FIFA Club World Cup
Seamus Coleman, take a bow. A long-time favorite player and personality in my book. Everton bought him for £60,000 in 2009 from Sligo Rovers. Must be one of the biggest bargains in the Premier League history. #everton
“Arsenal have been blocking the opponent’s goalkeeper all season long, they would NEVER be on top of the league if we disallow these goals!”
Peter Schmeichel thank you for calling them out. have your cheating title VARSENAL. 👏
Poznan vs Arsenal at Wembley.
Poznan vs Liverpool at the Etihad.
Poznan vs Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Manchester City Football Club, ladies and gentlemen.