Football

Hector Sanchez, a Chilean automobile salesman, has triumphed over adversity to become an international football champion. Diagnosed with a liver disease in his youth, Sanchez was advised against playing football. However, after two liver transplant operations, he joined a team of 20 other organ donor recipients and emerged victorious at the Transplant Football World Cup in September.Sanchez's victory is a testament to the power of organ donation. He credits his "second chance at life" to the transplant he received. Now, he is dedicated to promoting organ donation through sports.Despite progressive legislation in Chile, organ donation rates remain low. The law presumes all adults as donors unless they opt out, but many people still refuse. Chile's transplant rate of 10 per 1 million people is significantly lower than the regional leader, Uruguay, and the European Union.Cultural factors also contribute to the low donation rate. Some families believe that organ donation desecrates the body. Ruth Leiva, head of the transplant unit at San Jose Hospital, explains that "there are many people who believe that (the corpse) will have its eyes gouged out."Sanchez's story challenges these misconceptions. He emphasizes that organ donors are "normal people" who can live full and active lives. On the field, his team does not use any special protection or rules.Sanchez's victory at the Transplant Football World Cup is a powerful reminder of the importance of organ donation. He hopes to inspire others to consider becoming donors and to give others a "second chance at life."

Argentina's World Cup qualifying campaign hit a roadblock as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Venezuela, despite Lionel Messi's return. Messi's free-kick set up Nicolas Otamendi's early opener, but Salomon Rondon's header equalized for Venezuela. Argentina remain atop the standings, but the draw dents their hopes of a comfortable qualification.Meanwhile, Brazil got their campaign back on track with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Chile. Eduardo Vargas gave Chile an early lead, but Savinho and Igor Jesus equalized for Brazil. Luiz Henrique's late strike secured the win, moving Brazil into fourth place.Bolivia boosted their World Cup hopes with a gutsy 1-0 win over Colombia in the thin air of El Alto. Miguel Terceros' stunning individual goal lifted Bolivia into the automatic qualification positions. Bolivia's move to play qualifiers in El Alto has paid off, with two wins in two games at the high-altitude venue.Ecuador and Paraguay played out a goalless draw in Quito, leaving Ecuador in fifth place. The top six finishers in South America's 10-team round-robin qualifying competition will earn a ticket to the 2026 World Cup finals in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

After nearly 90 minutes of relentless dominance, Argentina, led by the enigmatic Lionel Messi, secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Chile in the Copa America quarterfinals. The match, played at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, was a testament to Argentina's unwavering determination and Messi's enduring brilliance.From the outset, Argentina asserted their authority on the game, controlling possession and peppering the Chilean goal with shots. Messi, despite being a day past his 37th birthday, was at the heart of every attacking move, weaving through defenders with ease and creating numerous scoring opportunities. However, the Chilean defense, anchored by goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, stood firm, denying Argentina a breakthrough.As the match wore on, the tension mounted, and the frustration began to show on the faces of the Argentine players. But just when it seemed like the game would end in a stalemate, a moment of brilliance from Lautaro Martínez broke the deadlock.In the 88th minute, Messi's corner kick found its way to Lisandro Martínez, who headed it towards goal. The ball fell to Giovani Lo Celso, who wrestled with Chile's Nicolás Fernández. The ball ricocheted off Bravo and landed at the feet of Igor Lichnovsky, who tried to clear it. However, Martínez, who had entered the game as a substitute just 15 minutes earlier, calmly slotted the ball into the net, sending the Argentine fans into raptures.The goal was a fitting reward for Argentina's relentless pressure and a testament to their never-say-die attitude. It also marked Martínez's second goal of the tournament, solidifying his status as one of Argentina's most promising young players.Argentina's victory sets up a mouthwatering semifinal clash against Ecuador, who upset Brazil in the quarterfinals. Messi, who is chasing his first major international trophy with Argentina, will be determined to lead his team to glory and cement his legacy as one of the greatest footballers of all time.

Claudio Bravo, the oldest player in Copa America history, made four crucial saves to help Chile secure a scoreless draw against Peru in the tournament opener. At 41 years and 69 days, Bravo denied Gianluca Lapadula's first-time shot on a corner kick and Paolo Guerrero's rebound attempt in front of 43,030 fans at AT&T Stadium.Chile's best scoring chance came early in the match when Alexis Sánchez was left unmarked in front of the goal, but his redirection went over the crossbar. The physical battle featured 37 fouls and four yellow cards, reflecting the intensity of the rivalry between the two South American nations.Chile and Peru trail Argentina in Group A. Argentina, which began its Copa America title defense with a 2-0 victory over Canada on Thursday, faces Chile on Tuesday in a rematch of the 2016 Copa America final. Peru plays Canada on Tuesday in Kansas City, Kansas, and closes the first round against Argentina on June 29 in Miami Gardens, Florida.Fourteen U.S. stadiums are hosting the tournament, which runs through July 14 and ends at Miami Gardens, Florida. Six nations from North and Central America and the Caribbean were added to the 10 South American teams, just as in the centennial Copa America in 2016.