OLYMPIADS: BRAZIL LOSES TO POLAND, BUT GETS A PLACE IN THE VOLLEYBALL QUARTERFINALS

Two young Brazilians on the rise on the international sports scene have demonstrated mutual admiration : 20-year-old driver Gabriel Bortoleto, in his debut season in Formula 1 with Sauber, and 18-year-old tennis player João Fonseca , who competes on the ATP professional circuit.

Gabriel Bortoleto on João Fonseca: "He is incredible"

In an interview with the official F1 website, Bortoleto was asked what career he would pursue if he weren't a driver. His response was good-natured: "I admire a Brazilian, João Fonseca . He's incredible. He's climbing the ATP rankings, and I think he'll be a future star ."

Despite his admiration for tennis, the Brazilian admitted that his experience in the sport is still limited. "Tennis is fascinating, I love watching it and I like the players' mentality , but I don't play it often. I play a lot of padel, but I need to start playing real tennis."

FOCUS ON FORMULA 1

When asked where he sees himself in five years, Bortoleto was blunt: " I'd like to be world champion ." According to him, being in F1 is already part of that process: "The best drivers in the world are here. I've always wanted to be here precisely to fight against them and, who knows, become the best one day."

A native of São Paulo, the driver began his karting career at the age of six and now rubs shoulders with some of the biggest names in motorsports. He also praised his team principal, Mattia Binotto , and highlighted the importance of idols like Ayrton Senna.

FRIENDSHIP WITH VERSTAPPEN

Bortoleto also revealed his closeness with current four-time world champion Max Verstappen. " Max and Ollie Bearman are the two guys I'm closest with in the paddock . I started playing video games with Max, and then we started training together on the simulator, back in the Formula 3 days."

According to the Brazilian, this friendship has evolved, and today the two share time off the track. " We have a group of friends with whom we play simulators . I'm even an ambassador for his team, Team Redline. Since then, we've spent a lot of time together—and it's been a lot of fun."

Coach Carlo Ancelotti , the current manager of the Brazilian national team, was sentenced by a Spanish court to one year in prison for tax fraud. The sentence relates to the Italian coach's time at the helm of Real Madrid in 2014, when he failed to declare approximately €1 million—a figure now equivalent to approximately R$6.4 million—in income from image rights.

According to information from the newspaper EFE Notícias, in addition to the custodial sentence, Ancelotti was also fined 387 thousand euros (around R$ 2.4 million). As a result of the decision, the coach is prohibited from receiving any type of subsidy or public benefit in Spain for the next three years.

PRISON SENTENCE WAS CONVERTED INTO FREEDOM

Despite the formal conviction, Ancelotti will not serve his sentence in a closed regime. According to Spanish law, sentences of up to two years are usually converted to conditional release when the offender is a first-time offender and not involved in violent crimes. This prerogative applies to the coach, who has no criminal record and will therefore remain free.

So far, the conviction has not directly impacted Carlo Ancelotti's performance as head coach of the Brazilian national team . The coach remains in his position, and the Brazilian Football Confederation ( CBF ) said it has not yet been officially notified of further details of the case.

When contacted by the press, the organization said it was awaiting an official statement from Ancelotti himself. “We are just waiting,” the CBF summarized, without saying whether the episode could change future plans related to the national team’s preparation for the World Cup.

ANCELOTTI'S TRAJECTORY AND EXPECTATIONS

Ancelotti was announced as the coach of the national team with the mission of leading the sports project that aims to win the sixth world championship. With vast experience and spells at major European clubs , the Italian also has the support of the CBF, which is waiting for a legal definition before making any decision.

World football is in mourning . Diogo Jota, Liverpool's Portuguese striker, passed away in the early hours of Thursday, the 3rd, at the age of 28. The information was initially released by the Spanish newspaper Marca. Jota lost his life in a tragic car accident that occurred in Zamora, in northern Spain. He was accompanied by his brother, André Silva, 25, who also died in the accident.

Diogo Jota was married to Rute Cardoso, whom he married last month , and leaves behind three children. André Silva, who was also a professional football player, played for Penafiel, in the second division of Portugal.

BRILLIANT CAREER

Diogo Jota was a prominent name in the Portuguese national team, with whom he won two Nations League titles, the most recent being last month. The striker, who scored 14 goals in 49 appearances for the national team, had been at Liverpool since 2020 , where he won major titles including the 2024/25 Premier League, two English League Cups and an FA Cup.

Before that, Jota had spells at Paços de Ferreira, Porto and Wolverhampton, a club with which he won the Championship, the second division of English football.

FOOTBALL WORLD REACTS

After the accident, several teams that the duo played for left messages of support for their loved ones. Porto , where Diogo Jota began to shine internationally and André Silva was part of the youth teams , expressed their solidarity with the player's family and friends at this time of immense pain.

Liverpool , the club Diogo Jota played for since the 2020/21 season, said they were devastated and asked that the privacy of the striker's family and loved ones, as well as other team staff, be respected during this time of mourning .

The Portuguese Football Federation also expressed its solidarity with the family. The organization recalled Diogo Jota's more than 50 call-ups and recalled that the player was a respected and admired human being due to his 'contagious joy'.

Gazeta do Urubu offers its condolences to family and loved ones during this period of mourning.