Category: 6. Sports

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From oval-cut brilliance to lab-grown perfection, these rings channel the unbelievable dazzle of Georgina Rodriguez’s new rock.

International soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo and longtime girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez are engaged! Nine years is a long time to wait for an engagement ring, but when it looks like Georgina’s ring from Ronaldo, you can’t be mad. That rock is unreal.

It looks so unreal, that even our USA Today Shopping team had questions about whether the Instagram announcement was AI-generated.

Luckily, Lorraine Brantner, GIA-certified gemologist and Director of Sales and Service at James Allen, weighed in to help set the record straight.

“While many are quick to speculate that Cristiano Ronaldo’s engagement ring may be AI-generated, I can say that the design details, particularly the carat weight, shape and setting, are entirely within the realm of what’s possible in high-end jewelry today,” Brantner said. “As someone who’s seen many large-carat diamonds up close, I can say that this style is absolutely in line with what high-profile clients and celebrities gravitate toward.”

The diamond is reportedly valued at up to $5 million. He is, afterall, Cristiano Ronaldo.

Brantner weighed in on the look of the stone.

“Based on the images circulating, the center stone appears to be an oval cut diamond, likely ranging between 20-25 carats, possibly even more depending on finger size,” says Brantner. “In an era where AI can generate hyper-realistic renderings, skepticism is natural, but this ring’s proportions, clarity, and craftsmanship reflect the kind of piece created for elite clients.”

Below, check out a few dazzling lookalikes, albeit smaller than the absolute rock on Rodriguez’s finger:

Shop similar styles to Georgina Rodriguez’s engagement ring from Cristiano Ronaldo

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James Allen Comfort Fit Solitaire Engagement Ring

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James Allen Three-Stone Setting

Blue Nile Classic Four-Prong Solitaire Engagement Ring

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Save up to 40% on jewelry during Blue Nile’s Anniversary Sale

Blue Nile is celebrating 26 years of craftsmanship by offering up to 40% off select jewelry styles and up to 25% off engagement ring settings during their Anniversary Sale. The sale kicked off on Tuesday, August 12 and runs until Monday, September 15. Here’s a look at top styles to shop during the Blue Nile Anniversary Sale:

Seven Stone Low Dome Basket Lab-Grown Diamond Ring

Princess Cut Lab-Grown Diamond Princess Cut Stud Earrings

Four Prong Basket Solitaire Lab Grown Diamond Pendant

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Sky Blue Topaz Tennis Bracelet

ISTANBUL, Turkey — Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce surged into the Champions League qualifying playoffs by overturning a two-goal deficit on Tuesday against Robin van Persie-coached Feyenoord.

Fenerbahce had lost 2-1 in the Netherlands last week and fell further behind in the second leg of the third qualifying round clash when Feyenoord defender Tsuyoshi Watanabe scored the opener in the 41st minute.

Mourinho’s team rallied quickly with two goals before halftime — the second by Colombia forward Jhon Durán, on a season-long loan from Saudi club Al Nassr — on the way to a 5-2 win Tuesday.

Fenerbahce advanced 6-4 on aggregate score.

Fenerbahce will host Benfica or Nice in the first leg of the playoff round next week with a place in the lucrative 36-team league phase at stake. Benfica started the second leg against Nice with a 2-0 lead at home later Tuesday.

Team Penske breathed a sigh of relief Sunday afternoon.

Will Power led a race-high 78 of 110 laps in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet to capture the victory in the BITNILE.COM Grand Prix of Portland presented by askROI, earning the team its first win of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES season. The victory wasn’t just a long-awaited result – it was a statement.

The win marked the first since Jonathan Diuguid was promoted to president of Penske Racing following a major midseason leadership shakeup. On July 4, Diuguid officially stepped into the role, while longtime Penske sports car team leader Travis Law was appointed as competition director.

Their promotions came in the wake of a sweeping leadership change. In May, team owner Roger Penske parted company with three longtime executives, president Tim Cindric, managing director Ron Ruzewski and general manager Kyle Moyer, following penalties assessed to Power’s and Josef Newgarden’s cars during Indy 500 qualifying.

“This team’s used to winning a lot, and this year has been difficult,” Diuguid said. “But when Will put on a drive like he did today, it’s rewarding for everybody.”

Still, Diuguid was quick to deflect credit. That’s what leaders do. Instead, he praised the entire Penske organization for staying grounded through a season that kept slipping away.

“When you win like today, it just makes it that much sweeter,” he said. “This is a team that’s won five or more races every year. We know how to win. We’ve been doing the same things this season. We just finally put it all together. I couldn’t be prouder.”

Before Sunday, Penske stared down its first winless season since 1999, part of a 54-race drought stretching back to 1997. The 2025 campaign hadn’t been much kinder. Heading into Portland, Penske had recorded 14 did-not-finish results, its most in a single season since 1998.

“There’s only one way you can go when you hit rock bottom,” Team Penske driver Scott McLaughlin said. “I think it doesn’t get much worse.”

For Power, the victory came at a crucial time – for his team and himself. With speculation swirling about his future with Team Penske, Sunday’s win served as a personal exclamation point. It was the 45th win of his INDYCAR career, fourth-most all-time. Of those, 42 have come with Team Penske, the most by any INDYCAR SERIES driver in the team’s history, including his 2018 Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge triumph.

He also leads all Penske INDYCAR SERIES drivers in road and street course wins (32), holds the all-time series record for pole positions (71), ranks fourth in podium finishes (108) and fifth in top-five finishes (142).

Sunday was his 18th season with at least one win, tying A.J. Foyt for second-most. Scott Dixon’s 23 ranks highest.

Power also claimed series championships in 2014 and 2022. At 44 years old, he isn’t slowing down, and he’s not afraid to say so.

“I am not slower; I am faster,” Power said. “My toolbox is still big when it comes to understanding the cars, racecraft, all that. I never stop working at it. It’s a passion. I love it. That’s why I’m still winning.

“I won three races last year. If you’re waiting to find out whether I’m good enough just go back to last year, and you’ll have your answer.”

Still, neither Power nor Diuguid offered clarity on his future with the team.

“I have no clue,” Power said bluntly. “Nothing else to say. I don’t know.”

Diuguid, too, was vague.

“Will’s future is about 30 minutes old from winning a race,” he said Sunday in the post-race press conference. “His future’s definitely bright. He did an amazing job today. We’re looking forward to the last two races of the season.”

In a sport that rarely slows down, Power’s longevity and consistency continue to earn him admiration from fans and competitors alike.

Graham Rahal was one of many paddock voices quick to praise the veteran.

“I don’t know where Will goes, but all I can say is, there’s not many guys better in this series than Will Power,” Rahal said. “For Will to do what he’s doing is very impressive – for an old man. It gives all of us hope. He’s a stud.”

ATHENS (Greece) – Greece are one of just six countries with multiple FIBA EuroBasket crowns and the proud basketball nation will be fighting for title number three as they make their 18th straight appearance on the continental stage.

Despite all those opportunities, reaching the podium has been an elusive endeavour for the Greeks. The last time Greece finished in the top three of a FIBA EuroBasket, current head coach Vassilis Spanoulis was averaging 14 points and 4 assists in 2009. And this summer is the 20th anniversary of Hellas last hoisting the trophy in 2005.

Greece have already started another generational change with a number of youngsters brought into the training camp. But it will be up to the hungry and motivated group of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Dinos Mitoglou and Kostas Sloukas to finally bring back some hardware.

Schedule

August 28: vs Italy (20:30 CET)
August 30: vs Cyprus (17:15 CET)
August 31: vs Georgia (14:00 CET)
September 2: vs Bosnia and Herzegovina (14:00 CET)
September 4: vs Spain (20:30 CET)

Star Player

Giannis Antetokounmpo is the face of the Greece national team as one of the biggest superstars in the NBA. The 30-year-old Antetokounmpo has already been playing for Hellas for 11 years – debuting in the senior national team at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2014. This will be his third EuroBasket to go with two FIBA World Cups and the 2024 Olympics. But Greece have not finished on the podium of a major competition since the 2009 EuroBasket.

Antetokounmpo has not slowed down at all from a quality standpoint – still one of the world’s most dynamic and dominant players. He still struggles shooting from long range but his playmaking skills have improved more and more over the past couple of years. And he is truly a dominant all-around player at both ends of the court.

The Milwaukee Bucks star poured in 25.8 points at the 2024 Olympics while also picking up 6.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists. Greece reached the Quarter-Finals as one of the best third-placed teams before losing to Germany in the top eight stage. The Greeks lost to Germany in the Quarter-Finals of the 2022 EuroBasket where Antetokounmpo averaged 29.3 points, 8.8 rebounds and 4.7 assists. Giannis will need to be at the top of his game to have success.

History

Greece’s qualification for FIBA EuroBasket 2025 marks their 29th overall appearance in the prestigious tournament, further cementing their legacy as one of Europe’s basketball stalwarts. They will be appearing in their 18th consecutive EuroBasket.

And Hellas has been a force on the continent since missing the tournament for the last time in 1985. They hoisted the trophy in 1987 and 2005 while finishing second in 1989 and took third in 2009. Greece have registered eight top four results since 1987.

Champions: 1987, 2005
Runners-up: 1989
Third Place: 1949, 2009

EuroBasket Top Scorers

How they qualified

Gameday 1: GRE 72-64 CZE
Gameday 2: NED 72-74 GRE
Gameday 3: GBR 73-72 GRE
Gameday 4: GRE 77-67 GBR
Gameday 5: CZE 89-93 GRE
Gameday 6: GRE 63-53 NED

Poll: Where will they finish?

Tickets

FIBA

MADRID (Spain) – Spain were young and inexperienced and yet won the FIBA EuroBasket 2022. This summer’s Espana team will be even younger and less experienced. But they still have the maestro on the sidelines – for one last tournament. Can LaFamilia give Sergio Scariolo one last title as a going away gift?

The 64-year-old Scariolo – the architect of all four of Spain’s European crowns (2009, 2011, 2015, 2022) – will be leaving the Spanish team after the summer, following a career that also includes the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 title, 2012 Olympic silver , 2016 Olympic bronze and a third place EuroBasket finish in 2017.

The Spanish run at EuroBasket has been incredible: 21 consecutive top eight finishes. The last time they placed outside the top eight was 1977 when Scariolo was 16 years old. Spain have reached the podium in the last seven EuroBaskets and 10 of the last 11 editions. But the cracks are starting to show – failing to reach the Quarter-Finals of the FIBA World Cup 2023 and placing 10th at the 2024 Olympics.

Schedule

August 28: vs Georgia (14:00 CET)
August 30: vs Bosnia and Herzegovina (20:30 CET)
August 31: vs Cyprus (17:15 CET)
September 2: vs Italy (20:30 CET)
September 4: vs Greece (20:30 CET)

Star Player

Santi Aldama is only 24 years old but he has already become the main leader of the Spanish national team, having played in the last two major competitions – the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 (his senior national team debut) and the 2024 Olympics. Aldama was actually the MVP of the 2024 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament Spain to get the Spanish to the 2024 Paris Games.

Aldama continues to improve his standing in the NBA with the Memphis Grizzlies as well, setting career highs in scoring, three-point percentage, rebounds and assists. The Las Palmas native is a deadly inside-outside weapon as the power forward has shot 43 percent on three-pointers in 10 NBA playoff games as well as 45 percent from the outside at the 2024 Olympics.

All that leaves Aldama as the main man for Spain as he plays at the EuroBasket for the first time. With the retirement of most of Spain’s veteran leaders, Coach Scariolo will rely on the experience that Aldama has gathered to lead his team.

History

Spain are without a doubt one of the most dominant teams in FIBA EuroBasket history, with four continental titles won, all in the 21st century, from 2009 to 2022. They are still on a run of seven straight podium place finishes, and the only time they failed to reach the top three spots over the last 25 years was in 2005, when they finished fourth. Before that incredible sequence, they had already won four FIBA EuroBasket medals, taking their medal tally to 14 overall.

Champions: 2009, 2011, 2015, 2022
Runners-up: 1935, 1973, 1983, 1999, 2003, 2007
Third Place: 1991, 2001, 2013, 2017

EuroBasket Top Scorers

How they qualified

Gameday 1: ESP 75-79 LAT
Gameday 2: BEL 58-53 ESP
Gameday 3: SVK 72-76 ESP
Gameday 4: ESP 84-71 SVK
Gameday 5: LAT 83-66 ESP
Gameday 6: ESP 59-52 BEL

Poll: Where will they finish?

Tickets

FIBA