Sports
Portugal coach: 'No one should doubt' Ronaldo could play 2030 World Cup
Nov 28, 2022; Lusail, Qatar; Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo (7) reacts during the second half of the group stage match in the 2022 World Cup at Lusail Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Yukihito Taguchi-Imagn Images With Cristiano Ronaldo set to be 45 years old when Portugal hosts the 2030 World Cup alongside Spain and Morocco, one might think it’s unlikely that he’ll be on the squad for what would be his seventh World Cup.
But don’t tell that to Portugal’s manager Roberto Martinez.
“No one should doubt that (he could play in 2030),” Martinez said Thursday in an appearance on Cadena Ser radio. “He’s earned it.”
Ronaldo, who debuted for Portugal at 18 in August of 2003, is comfortably the country’s leader in all-time appearances (226, 80 more than Joao Moutinho) and goals (143, 96 more than Pauleta).
He led Portugal to the 2016 European Championship and to a fourth-place finish at the 2006 World Cup, the country’s best finish at a World Cup since a third-place showing in 1966.
A penalty-kick goal against Ghana at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar made him the first player to score at five different World Cups.
Ronaldo and Argentina’s Lionel Messi are set to simultaneously become the first players in history to appear in six World Cups at this summer’s event.
“I have worked with many players that have won a Champions League or a Ballon d’Or, and the next day they lose their appetite. What we have with Ronaldo is an example of a different mentality,” Martinez said.
“I believe that having that goal is what allows for longevity. Of course, there is a genetic aspect, the work he puts in – he uses everything that can help his body – and his mentality.”
Portugal, in Group K for the first-ever 48-team World Cup, opens play June 17 against the Democratic Republic of Congo in Houston.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Stephan Jaeger (back) WDs from Charles Schwab Challenge
May 24, 2026; McKinney, Texas, USA; Stephan Jaeger plays his shot from the second tee during the final round of THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images Stephan Jaeger withdrew from Friday’s second round of the Charles Schwab Challenge with a back injury.
Jaeger, 36, carded a 5-over 75 in Thursday’s opening round at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas.
He finished tied for ninth at last week’s CJ Cup Byron Nelson and is 84th in the Official World Golf Ranking.
The Germany native has one PGA Tour title to his credit, coming at the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Twins place LHP Kendry Rojas (elbow) on 15-day IL
May 18, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Kendry Rojas (60) delivers a pitch against the Houston Astros in the first inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images The Minnesota Twins placed left-hander Kendry Rojas on the 15-day injured list on Friday, one day after he was scratched from his scheduled start due to inflammation in his pitching elbow.
The move is retroactive to Tuesday.
Rojas, 23, is 1-0 with a 1.26 ERA in five games (one start) since making his major league debut on April 22.
Also on Friday, the Twins returned right-hander Cody Laweryson from his rehab assignment and reinstated him from the 15-day injured list and recalled left-hander Kody Funderburk from Triple-A St. Paul.
Minnesota also optioned right-hander Travis Adams to St. Paul after Thursday’s 6-2 loss to the host Chicago White Sox.
Laweryson, 28, has a 4.26 ERA and one save without a decision in five relief appearances with the Twins. He has missed the team’s last 45 games due to a right forearm strain.
Funderburk, 29, went 1-1 with one save and a 2.81 ERA in 19 games (no starts) for the Twins prior to being optioned to the Saints on May 10.
Adams, 26, is 1-0 with one save and a 7.20 ERA in seven relief appearances this season with Minnesota.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Caddie fired after PGA starting-time gaffe finds new job
Jul 31, 2020; Truckee, CA, USA; Caddie Austin Gaugert during the second round of the Barracuda Championship golf tournament at Old Greenwood. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Wevers-Imagn Images The caddie who was fired after a late tee-time arrival at the PGA Championship is on a new bag this week.
Austin Gaugert gained notoriety when Garrick Higgo was a minute late to start his first round at Aronimink Golf Club near Philadelphia two weeks ago.
Higgo was penalized two strokes and wound up missing the 36-hole cut at the major by just one shot. He fired Gaugert the following Monday and brought back former caddie Nick Cavendish-Pell.
Gaugert shouldered the responsibility for the controversial penalty following his dismissal.
“As a caddie, you try to do everything you can to prepare your player for competition and I fell short of that,” he wrote on Instagram. “Garrick was understanding throughout the situation and handled it with professionalism and class. This has happened to players before and will again. Garrick handled a difficult situation with grace, and I wish him nothing but success moving forward.”
Gaugert has moved forward. He is caddying this week for Dylan Wu at the PGA Tour’s Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas.
Wu, who missed the cut in his five previous events, opened with an even-par 70 at Colonial Country Club on Thursday.
–Field Level Media
Stephan Jaeger (back) WDs from Charles Schwab Challenge
Twins place LHP Kendry Rojas (elbow) on 15-day IL
