Barcelona spent much of the summer chasing Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez, but Raphinha’s explosive start to the La Liga season suggests they may already have the attacking firepower they need.

The Brazilian winger has scored five goals in three games while operating out of position as Barcelona’s No. 9, giving the defending champions plenty of reason for optimism ahead of Sunday’s trip to Valencia at Mestalla.

Barcelona have won all three of their league games and sit on nine points, level with Jose Mourinho’s revamped Real Madrid and Real Betis, who stunned Los Blancos 1-0 on Friday.

The Catalan club failed to sign the marquee forward they wanted to bolster their attack following the summer departures of Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres. Instead, they turned to a deadline-day deal for Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus.

Yet even Jesus, a former Manchester City forward, faces a difficult task in breaking into an attack that is already flourishing, with his fellow Brazilian Raphinha leading the charge.

“I don’t think I’m coming to improve the team because it’s already great,” Jesus said at his presentation Tuesday.

“I’m just coming to help.”

Raphinha is expected to keep his role as the team’s center forward in the weeks ahead, although the start of the Champions League will encourage coach Hansi Flick to rotate his squad.

Raphinha suffered several injury problems last season, so Jesus could help lighten his workload.

Flick’s arrival at Barcelona signaled a new era not only for the team but also for Raphinha, who had become frustrated under Xavi Hernandez.

Under Flick, the former Leeds United winger developed into a vital part of Barcelona’s system, helping the team claim back-to-back league titles and earning the admiration of his teammates.

“At this moment, Raphinha is doing really great,” Flick said Saturday.

“He’s the best option for us at the moment in this position.”

No surprise

Flick was upset when Raphinha missed out on the Ballon d’Or in 2025 and said this week he has not been surprised by how quickly the 29-year-old has impressed through the middle.

“Of course I expected his performance. He’s a world-class footballer. I always want him on my team,” Flick said, describing Raphinha as one of Barcelona’s “leaders.”

With Barcelona’s pressing game central to Flick’s system, Raphinha can literally lead from the front and set the tone.

“Sometimes I feel like I’m annoying for my teammates,” Raphinha admitted last season, as he continually pushed to maintain the team’s standards and work rate.

The winger was given the captain’s armband this season and, instead of battling with Anthony Gordon for a place on the left wing, is showing that he will not easily be dislodged.

“Raphinha is a role model because he helps us all a lot, especially the younger ones. He’s approachable, and that’s what we want, a captain like that,” Barcelona midfielder Marc Bernal told DAZN.

Raphinha scored twice against Elche in the first game of the season as Barcelona ran out 5-0 winners, scored again in the 2-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao and then struck another brace in the 5-2 romp over Rayo Vallecano on Monday.

There is still a question over whether Raphinha can sustain his superb numbers over a long period, particularly against defenses that sit deeper than Barcelona’s opponents have so far. Such teams could deny the Brazilian the space he likes to burst into.

The trip to Mestalla to face Carlos Corberan’s Valencia may offer a different type of challenge, but since joining Barcelona in 2022, Raphinha has risen to the occasion against every opponent he has faced.

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FIFA has described legal applications filed by UEFA in U.S. courts seeking access to documents related to the governing body’s controversial private investment plan as part of a “smear campaign” against FIFA.

UEFA is seeking court-ordered discovery of evidence and documents linked to FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a private company that was envisioned as the vehicle for operating the World Cup and other FIFA competitions.

FIFA confirmed last month that the plan called for private investors to acquire a 20% stake in FFE. FIFA President Gianni Infantino abandoned the proposal on Aug. 1 following opposition from UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation and CONCACAF, which represents football associations across North and Central America and the Caribbean.

That withdrawal has not stopped UEFA from pursuing Infantino and other FIFA officials, with UEFA saying the documents it obtained were intended for use in preparing potential criminal proceedings in Switzerland, according to filings seen by the Press Association on Aug. 27.

The following day, FIFA sought permission to oppose UEFA’s request in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The motion was granted by the court on the next business day, Aug. 31. FIFA has until Sept. 28 to submit a full opposition to the court.

A similar motion to oppose the request was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on Tuesday. Documents from FIFA’s legal team seen by the Press Association described UEFA’s applications as being “little more than press releases in further support of UEFA’s smear campaign against FIFA and its leadership.”

FIFA’s filing asks the New York court to defer consideration of UEFA’s discovery application until the Florida court has ruled on it. Alternatively, FIFA requests that the court allow it to oppose UEFA’s application no later than Sept. 30.

The filing said UEFA’s motivation in opposing FFE and Infantino was “to prevent smaller countries from having the financial strength to compete with the European elite.”

It added: “If soccer is strengthened in the developing world, global competition increases, which ultimately reduces UEFA’s market power and provides more competition for its flagship tournaments.

“By raising funds to allow some of FIFA’s smaller member associations to better develop soccer, FFE would lead to more players from those nations choosing to represent their countries of origin and playing in their home leagues rather than playing abroad.

“All of this would erode UEFA’s dominance over other regions of the world.”

UEFA’s filing accused Infantino of “criminal mismanagement” in relation to FFE and said the proposed $4.2 billion sale of a stake in the company was “a fraudulently off-market price promoted by Infantino for his own benefit.”

In a separate statement published last week, UEFA called for an independent external review of the origins of FFE. It said that if Infantino chose to stand for re-election at next year’s FIFA Congress, UEFA would “join forces with its partner confederations to ensure that member associations are offered a credible alternative – one committed to integrity, accountability, development and genuine institutional change.”

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Nick Kyrgios has accepted a one-month ban for cocaine use and completed a treatment program, clearing the way for the Australian to return to competitive tennis, the International Tennis Integrity Agency said Friday.

Kyrgios, who reached the Wimbledon final in 2022, tested positive for cocaine during an ATP event in Mallorca on June 22.

The 31-year-old was provisionally suspended by the ITIA on Aug. 4 and acknowledged at the time that he had made “a huge mistake.”

According to the ITIA, Kyrgios told investigators that he had used cocaine socially during a night out shortly before competing in Mallorca.

The agency consulted an independent scientific expert at a World Anti-Doping Agency-accredited laboratory, who determined that Kyrgios’ account was consistent with the concentration of cocaine detected in his sample.

“As a result, the ITIA accepted that Kyrgios’ use of cocaine was outside of competition,” the agency said.

Under WADA rules, the default suspension for a breach of this type is three months, but it can be reduced to one month if an athlete commits to a treatment program.

“Kyrgios has entered into a treatment program,” the ITIA said.

“As such, the player’s suspension will end on Sept. 3, 2026, subject to completion of the program. Prize money and ranking points from the Mallorca event will be forfeited.”

Boasting a big serve and booming groundstrokes, Kyrgios was one of tennis’ most dynamic players when at the top of his game.

He has won seven singles titles on the ATP Tour and reached a career-high ranking of No. 13 in the world in 2016.

At Wimbledon in 2022, he reached the championship match before losing in four sets to Novak Djokovic.

Despite his natural talent, that was as good as it got for Kyrgios, whose career has been hampered by injuries, including problems with his right elbow, left wrist, hip, knees, shoulders and collarbone.

He has undergone numerous surgeries, including a complete reconstruction of his right wrist in 2024, and is now ranked No. 918 in the world.

The Australian has barely played in recent years. His most recent appearance came as a wildcard entry in the men’s doubles at Wimbledon in July, when he and partner Alexander Bublik lost in the first round.

Kyrgios, who has previously hinted at retirement, was contrite when news of his cocaine use emerged last month.

“I recently failed a drug test in Mallorca after testing positive for cocaine,” he posted on Instagram at the time. “I made a huge mistake and I take full responsibility for it.

“I’m sorry to my fans, my family, my sponsors and everyone close to me. Above all, I’m sorry to the kids who follow me.

“I know the example this sets and I’m deeply disappointed in myself.”

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At 16, Kübra Denizci Keskin suffered a life-changing spinal injury after a fall that fractured her neck and left her using a wheelchair. Nearly two decades later, she is a clinical psychologist, a rally driver and the first and only woman with a disability to compete in rallying at the international level.

Keskin has built a life around challenging limits. She has earned degrees from two universities, completed a master’s degree in business administration and later studied psychology before becoming a clinical psychologist.

She has also spent four years competing in rallying, winning races in the FIA European Rally Championship and earning podium finishes in Türkiye and Europe.

In 2026, Keskin has taken another major step forward. She won the Rally5 class at both Rally di Roma Capitale and Barum Czech Rally Zlin, giving her two victories in two European championship starts this season.

The result extended a remarkable run at the Czech rally, where she has reached the podium three consecutive years.

She finished first among female drivers and third in her category in 2024, won the Rally5 class and finished second among female drivers in 2025, and returned in 2026 to win Rally5 again while placing third in the women’s standings.

But for Keskin, the trophies tell only part of the story.

Second beginning

“I started life again at 16,” Keskin said. “I never gave up my fight. I tried to adapt myself both mentally and physically to my new life.”

At the time, she was a high school student. She completed high school through open education before preparing for the university entrance exam, eventually earning a place in the international relations program at Uludağ University.

At 19, she also began working for Mudanya Municipality. She has since spent 16 years serving on the Osmangazi Municipality council.

Her education did not stop there. She later earned an MBA from Istanbul Bilgi University before returning to university a decade later to study psychology. She completed a master’s degree in clinical psychology at Üsküdar University and became a clinical psychologist.

Her professional journey has given her another way to help people facing challenges similar to those she experienced herself.

Rallying path

Rallying might seem an unlikely choice for someone who cannot use her legs, but Keskin had always been drawn to speed and adrenaline.

“I was a child who loved adrenaline,” she said. “My mother used to say I could never sit still.”

That changed dramatically after her injury.

“Once you start using a wheelchair, you experience a huge difference in your life. So, in terms of adrenaline, rallying was always something that interested me.”

She grew up watching races and attended events with her father. A family connection to rallying also gave her an early inspiration. Ahmet Burkay, a former rally driver and someone Keskin regarded as an idol, helped fuel her interest in the sport.

She began researching how she could compete and contacted the Turkish federation before reaching out to the FIA, the governing body for international motorsport.

That was when she discovered that a specially adapted car could allow her to race.

The path, however, was anything but easy.

“From 2018 to 2022, I made an incredible effort for four years, but the doors did not open easily,” she said.

Eventually, they did.

Racing on equal terms

Keskin’s story is particularly remarkable because she does not compete in a separate disability category.

“There is no disability category in motorsports,” she said. “People sometimes think this is a Paralympic sport and that I race against other people with disabilities. But I don’t race against people with disabilities. Men and women all compete under the same conditions.”

Her car has been specially adapted to allow her to control it with her hands.

“I drive the car using my hands,” she said. “There is an accelerator on my steering wheel. Next to it is a joystick-operated clutch and brake system. I try to do with two limbs what people normally do with four.”

That adaptation has allowed her to compete directly against able-bodied drivers and establish herself on the international rally stage.

Keskin is also the only woman with a disability competing in rallying at the international level. Another woman, Nathalie McGloin, competes in circuit racing, and both serve on the FIA Disability and Accessibility Commission.

For Keskin, that role carries significance beyond motorsport.

“Being on that commission is very important to me because it creates awareness about people with disabilities around the world,” she said. “I’m very happy to be there.”

Two European wins in 2026

Keskin’s European campaign has produced some of the biggest results of her career.

She chose the FIA European Rally Championship, one of the world’s most prestigious rally series, for her first major European program.

The Barum Czech Rally Zlin quickly became a special event for her.

In 2024, she finished first among female drivers and third in her category. A year later, she won the Rally5 class and finished second among female drivers.

Then came 2026.

At Rally di Roma Capitale, Keskin won the Rally5 class and finished third in the women’s standings.

She followed that with another Rally5 victory at Barum Czech Rally Zlin, again finishing third among female drivers.

That made it two class victories from two European starts in 2026 and gave her three consecutive podium finishes at Barum.

“I have a very special connection with Barum,” she said.

The results have also strengthened her position as one of the most distinctive figures in international rallying.

Belief matters before the trophies arrive

Keskin says support was most valuable before she had results to prove what she could do.

“At the very beginning of this journey, when I had no achievements yet, the support of people who believed in my story was incredibly valuable to me,” she said.

“It is easier to find support after you achieve success. What really matters is for someone to believe in your potential when you are still at the beginning.”

She has now been racing for four years and says that support has been crucial to keeping the project alive.

In 2026, she competes under the Team Binance Türkiye banner with Binance Türkiye as her main sponsor. Her European campaign has produced two Rally5 victories, while she continues to compete in the Turkish Rally Championship.

“We are having a successful season,” she said.

A proud moment in Rome

Her appearance at Rally di Roma Capitale carried a significance beyond the result.

When Keskin took the start, the FIA highlighted her participation as a landmark moment for women with disabilities in rallying.

“For the first time, a woman with a disability competed in an official FIA rally,” Keskin said.

“It was a huge source of pride for me. Everyone who saw it also saw what a person with a disability can achieve.”

She backed up the moment with results, winning Rally5 and taking third place in the Women’s Cup.

Turning experience into a profession

Keskin’s work as a clinical psychologist is closely connected to her own journey.

After living through a life-changing injury and rebuilding her life, she wanted to help others facing similar experiences.

“After everything I went through, I thought I could support people who were going through similar processes,” she said.

Ten years after her first university experience, she returned to the university entrance exam and was accepted into Üsküdar University’s psychology program. She later completed a master’s degree in clinical psychology at the same university.

Today, she works as a clinical psychologist while continuing her motorsport career.

“I think everything I have experienced has also given me a responsibility,” she said.

Her message extends beyond individual resilience. Keskin believes society must focus on removing barriers rather than treating disability as an inherent limitation.

“If you remove the obstacles that people with disabilities face in their lives, they don’t need help,” she said. “When you make the conditions equal, people with disabilities can do everything.”

“People need to see us and recognize the things that create obstacles for us, then remove them.”

Finding love without limits

Keskin’s determination has also shaped her personal life.

She met her husband, fellow driver Ahmet Keskin, through motorsport. He first encountered her at Körfez Racing Circuit, where he helped her while she was testing a car.

Ahmet said he initially did not realize she could drive.

“It was a rainy day, but she got into the car and tried to do something,” he said. “I saw the excitement on her face. That was when I got to know her.”

Their relationship changed Keskin’s outlook on marriage and emotional barriers.

“I was somewhat closed off to these things,” she said. “Because of my disability, I didn’t really think I would get married.”

But that changed after meeting Ahmet.

“I removed the emotional barriers in my mind,” she said. “Everyone has different obstacles in their lives. Some are physical, some are financial and some are related to other things. What matters is that two people love each other and have the motivation to accomplish things in life.”

The couple eventually began racing together, supporting each other’s ambitions.

“We believed that we could achieve things together,” Keskin said.

Ahmet went on to become a Turkish hill-climb champion and compete in rallying, while the pair celebrated their achievements side by side.

“We lifted our trophies together,” she said.

Standing at her wedding

One of Keskin’s most emotional achievements came away from the racetrack.

She had always dreamed of standing during her wedding ceremony.

“Every woman dreams of being the way she wants in her wedding dress,” she said.

To make that possible, the couple had a standing and walking device specially made for her. They spent months training with it.

On the day of the ceremony, Keskin stood during the civil ceremony and said “yes” on her feet.

“For me, that was one of the most unforgettable moments of my life,” she said.

“Don’t ask how. Look at Kübra.”

Ahmet said he thought carefully before deciding to marry Keskin, discussing the decision with his family and friends.

“You are entering someone’s life, and once you enter that life, you have to be committed,” he said. “I thought about it a lot. I discussed it with my family and friends.”

Eventually, the answer became clear.

“We said, ‘We can achieve everything with Kübra,’ and decided to get married.”

He also wanted his proposal to be something they would never forget.

He waited until the right opportunity came during the Bursa Rally, where their families and friends could be present.

“We were starting the rally together,” he said. “I think it turned out to be the best possible thing. It was an unforgettable moment for us.”

World No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz said he plans to take more breaks from the tennis tour, warning that the packed calendar is contributing to player injuries and fatigue.

The Spaniard returned to action at the U.S. Open after a lengthy layoff caused by a wrist injury he sustained in April. After beating Jaime Faria 4-6, 6-0, 6-3, 6-2 on Wednesday, Alcaraz said the demands of the schedule make it difficult for players to compete in every major event without risking burnout.

“I took more time off than I wanted, but seeing how tight the calendar is, I don’t want to take a break because of an injury,” Alcaraz told reporters.

“In the future, I’m going to take some long breaks. Maybe not four months, but one month, two months, missing some tournaments, because it’s impossible to play them all.”

Since 2025, seven of the nine ATP Masters 1000 events have been expanded to 12 days, with only Monte Carlo and Paris retaining their traditional one-week formats.

The ATP has said players control their own schedules and that it is working to encourage an appropriate number of matches during the season.

“They are adding more important tournaments. In a way, they are making us play,” he said.

“You can say no and decide your calendar, but there are some Masters 1000s, some Grand Slams, and we are out playing 40 weeks if we have to play every mandatory tournament that the ATP requires us to play.”

Alcaraz pointed to a growing injury toll on the tour, with Jannik Sinner, Jack Draper, Holger Rune and Joao Fonseca among the players who missed this year’s U.S. Open.

“We are seeing a lot of players getting injured and tired. If they don’t do anything about it, we are going to see even more in the future,” he added.

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Tiger Woods pleaded no contest Wednesday to a reckless driving charge and had his driver’s license suspended for five years following a March rollover crash in Florida, where he initially faced a drunken-driving charge.

Woods, 50, remains one of golf’s most influential figures and one of the world’s most recognizable athletes. But his career has taken a dramatic turn since he won the 2019 Masters for his 15th major championship.

The first player of Black heritage to win the Masters, Woods made history with his 1997 victory at Augusta National. Since then, his career has been repeatedly disrupted by back and knee surgeries, car crashes and an addiction to pain medication.

Woods was arrested in March after his SUV struck a truck and rolled onto its side on a residential road near his home on Jupiter Island. According to a sheriff’s report, deputies found two pain pills in his pocket and said he showed signs of impairment.

Woods passed a Breathalyzer test but refused to provide a urine sample, according to the report. He initially pleaded not guilty to the DUI charge.

During Wednesday’s hearing in Martin County, Woods sat quietly at the defense table and occasionally looked toward the mostly empty courtroom gallery. He said little as he agreed to the reduced charge.

Woods left the courthouse without speaking to reporters.

He had arrived with his girlfriend, Vanessa Trump, President Donald Trump’s former daughter-in-law. She sat behind him during the proceedings.

“Tiger is not absolved of accountability and he surrendered his license for the next five years,” Mark Steinberg, his longtime manager at Excel Sports, told The Associated Press (AP). “He is continuing his treatment and prioritizing all aspects of his health.”

The prosecutor in the case said two toxicologists found there was insufficient proof of impairment and determined Woods had built up a “pharmacological” tolerance after years of using pain pills.

Thomas Bakkedahl, a state attorney, defended his decision to accept the plea, saying, “I did what I think is right.”

Prosecutors obtained the golfer’s pharmacy records, which showed he had a lawful prescription, Bakkedahl said.

The deputy who arrested Woods after the crash found two white pills in his pocket that had markings identifying them as hydrocodone, according to the arrest report. Hydrocodone is an opioid prescribed for pain and can be addictive.

Woods told the deputy he takes a few prescription medications, according to the report, including “Vicodin,” a brand-name painkiller that contains hydrocodone.

He has had numerous surgeries on his legs and back over the last two decades, some to treat cartilage and ligament damage, a ruptured tendon, arthritis and damaged discs in his back.

At Wednesday’s hearing, Woods also pleaded no contest to refusing to submit to testing after the crash and was fined $1,500, according to court documents. A no-contest plea is not an admission of guilt but means the accused does not contest the charge. The plea is treated as a conviction in the criminal justice system.

Andrew Buda, a defense lawyer in Tampa who is not involved in the case, said a positive drug result from a urine test would not have been strong evidence against Woods because prescription medications can remain in the body for extended periods.

“A reduced plea to reckless driving is a plausible and unremarkable outcome, not evidence of special treatment,” said Buda, a former prosecutor. “A defendant with a good attorney who took the same steps, disclosure, mitigation, treatment, could reasonably expect a similar outcome under the same facts.”

Woods’ attorney has not responded to a message seeking comment.

Judge Darren Steele warned Woods that his driver’s license suspension did not include exceptions.

“If you were to drive for any reason at all, you would immediately go back to jail,” the judge told Woods.

The prosecutor said he was confident that Woods would be spotted if he did not heed the message.

“Of all the people in the world who should not get behind the wheel of a car, it’s the gentleman who is one of the most recognizable faces on the planet,” Bakkedahl said.

But there’s one vehicle Woods still can drive, at least in Florida: a golf cart.

That’s because Florida law says that as long as you are at least 18, you can operate a golf cart without a license. That applies to anyone, Bakkedahl said in an email, whether they are on a golf course or public property.

Body camera footage shows Woods taking out his phone after the crash and telling a deputy, “I was just talking to the president.”

Woods can be heard saying, “Thank you so much,” as he hangs up and the deputy approaches. It is not clear if Woods was referring to President Donald Trump.

The footage also shows the handcuffed Woods hiccupping, yawning and repeatedly appearing to nod off during the 15-minute ride.

Neither Woods nor the person in the other vehicle was injured in the crash, according to officials. Woods told a deputy that he was looking down at his phone and changing the radio station when he hit the truck.

In Washington, Trump told reporters that the resolution of the case was fair.

“I told him that a long time ago, ‘Why don’t you get somebody to drive you?’ So he’s going to have somebody drive him from now on,” the president said Wednesday. “And, you know, he’s just a very special guy. I’m glad that was resolved.”

Woods has been involved in four crashes over the years. He took a leave from the golf tour after the 2009 crash and again after the latest crash and has yet to return to tournament play.

He left the United States to seek treatment at an inpatient treatment facility, according to court records.

Woods made his first public appearance since returning from treatment on June 23, when he introduced the PGA Tour’s plans to revamp its schedule for 2028. Woods remained chairman of the tour’s Future Competition Committee after his arrest.