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Browsing: Ranked
Naoyuki Kataoka entered the week at No. 500 in the Official World Golf Ranking. He hadn’t won a tournament since the Japan Players Championship in 2021. He had just two top-10 finishes this season on the Japan Golf Tour.
On Sunday night, Kataoka stood alone at Nikko Country Club with a ticket to the 2026 Masters and 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale in his hand after winning the 2025 Japan Open.
A recent decision by Augusta National Golf Club and the R&A changed the qualification criteria to award winners of certain national opens entrance into their fields. That meant the 2025 Japan Open came with added incentive for those in the field.
Kataoka shot a final-round 68 and then made a par on the first playoff hole to beat Satoshi Hara and clinch the first two major starts of his career. Scores were high at Nikko Country Club. Kataoka shot 70-70-69-68 to finish the 72 holes at three under par.
“It’s really a dream come true for me,” the 27-year-old Kataoka said after the win, via The Japan Times. “I’m really happy to be able to play in the Masters and The Open.
“I’ll work as hard as I can, prepare by April, and do my best to be able to compete. I felt a really strong sense of accomplishment as I finally won again after enduring so many near misses during those barren four years [since the 2021 Japan Players Championship].”
With the win, Kataoka jumps to No. 355 in the OWGR, which puts him right behind Dylan Wu and in front of NIcholas Colsearts. Kataoka is the second player to earn a trip to the Masters and Open Championship since the qualification criteria changed. Marco Penge won the 2025 Spanish Open, which was his third win of the year on the DP World Tour.
The decision by Augusta National Golf Club and the R&A show the governing bodies, at least these two, are shifting their priorities to embrace international golf and its history while adjusting to the more tiered structure of the PGA Tour. Our Dylan Dethier dove into that here.
“The Masters Tournament has long recognized the significance of having international representation among its invitees,” Augusta National Golf Club and Masters chairman Fred Ridley said in a statement. “We, along with The R&A, have a shared commitment to the global game and are proud to work together.
“Today’s announcement strengthens our organizations’ collective vision of rewarding top talent around the world who rise to the top of historic national open championships.”
“We share the same goal as Augusta National to offer places in both The Open and the Masters to players competing in national opens and by doing so to help to showcase and strengthen our sport in those regions,” added R&A CEO Mark Darbon.
The tournaments that now have tickets to the Masters and Open Championships include the Japan Open, the Spanish Open, the Australian Open, the Hong Kong Open and the South African Open.
The Women’s Champions League is under way, with Arsenal aiming to defend their title, Barcelona chasing a sixth consecutive final, and Chelsea hoping to lift the trophy for the first time.
Manchester United’s presence marks a second consecutive season with three Women’s Super League teams in the competition.
This season promises exciting clashes, emerging stars, and potential upsets, but who are the 10 favourites to win the competition?
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Women’s Champions League favourites: 10. Atletico Madrid
Perhaps the surprise package, Atletico Madrid have progressed past the qualifying rounds for the first time since 2020/21.
While they’ve struggled to compete with Barcelona in Liga F in recent years, an unbeaten start this season, including a win over rivals Real Madrid, suggests potential to cause upsets in Europe.
9. Paris Saint-Germain
Olga Carmona is now at PSG (Image credit: Getty Images)
PSG, runners-up in 2015 and 2017, shockingly missed the 2024/25 Champions League group stage after losing to Juventus, ending a six-year streak of reaching at least the quarter-finals.
New signings include Crystal Dunn, Olga Carmona, Rasheedat Ajibade, and young Canadian Florianne Jourde, but they lost key players like Kadidiatou Diani to rivals Lyon and Grace Geyoro to London City Lionesses.
Having finished runners-up to Lyon in seven of the past eight seasons, PSG will be desperate to challenge Europe’s elite, and they have the talent – though they’ve won just two of their opening four league fixtures.
8. Wolfsberg
Two-time Champions League winners and four-time runners-up, Wolfsburg may not dominate Europe like they once did, but always pose a threat on the big stage.
Under new manager Stephan Lerch, replacing Tommy Stroot in the summer, they’ll face a brutal league phase including Chelsea, Lyon, Real Madrid, and PSG.
Standout talents include midfielder Janina Minge and young Swiss forward Smilla Vallotto, who impressed at the Euros, and with their stars firing, Wolfsburg have the quality to make a deep run in Europe.
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7. Bayern Munich
England international Georgia Stanway stars for Bayern Munich (Image credit: 2023 UEFA)
Frauen-Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich, led by new manager Jose Barcala, boast stars including Lioness Georgia Stanway and German talents Giulia Gwinn and Klara Buhl.
Their toughest challenge? A brutal league phase featuring former winners Barcelona, who they have already endured a 7-1 defeat to on Matchday 1. They also face current holders Arsenal and PSG.
Historically, their best Champions League runs ended in the semi-finals, losing to Barcelona in 2018/19 and Chelsea in 2020/21. With their talent and domestic success, Bayern have the quality to navigate tough matches and make another deep run in Europe.
6. Real Madrid
Boasting talents including Athenea del Castillo, Caroline Weir, and new signing Sara Dabritz, Real Madrid are steadily rising in women’s football, making history in March when they beat Barcelona for the first time.
Last season, they narrowly lost both group-stage ties to Chelsea (3-2 away, 2-1 home) but stunned Arsenal 2-0 in the first leg of the quarter-finals before Arsenal’s brilliance blew them away in the return fixture.
These glimpses of brilliance could be enough to see them progress far, although their start to Liga F under new manager Pau Quesada has seen them win just three from six games.
5. Manchester United
Manchester United are making history, reaching this stage of the Champions League for the first time.
After a 1-0 away loss to Norwegian side Brann in qualifying, they bounced back emphatically with an Elisabeth Terland hat-trick. Terland’s attacking flair is matched by Melvine Malard, who leads the WSL Golden Boot race with four goals in five games.
A recent league draw against Chelsea highlights their growing credentials as title contenders, while November’s clash with PSG promises extra spice as Mary Earps returns to her former club, with Ella Toone admitting to texting her with excitement immediately after the draw.
4. Arsenal
Reigning champions Arsenal stunned Europe by dethroning Barcelona last season in Lisbon, but their title defence has started shakily with a 2-1 defeat to Lyon on Matchday 1.
With a squad featuring seven Ballon d’Or nominees (including four in the top 10), their individual quality is undeniable – many felt Mariona Caldentey and Alessia Russo, who placed second and third respectively, deserved the top prize.
However, Renee Slegers’ challenge is consistency in her team’s performances and they earned a reputation of being the comeback queens in last year’s competition. Winless in four and slipping in the WSL race, they’ll need a statement result against Benfica next week to steady momentum.
3. OL Lyonnes
Ada Hegerberg is still a force (Image credit: Getty Images)
Record eight-time winners Lyon remain a powerhouse in Europe and show no signs of slowing as they came out firing on matchday one with a 2-1 victory over reigning champions Arsenal.
Backed by Michele Kang and with a squad featuring Marie-Antoinette Katoto, Kadidiatou Diani, Melchie Dumornay, new signing Jule Brand and the competition’s all-time top scorer Ada Hegerberg, their lethal attacking threat will be hard to stop.
Lyon’s nouse in this competition combined with a plethora of talent makes them a serious threat to reclaim their European throne once again.
2. Barcelona
Barcelona may have lost 17 players over the summer, but their core of world-class talent remains intact.
The three-time champions sent a clear message on matchday one with a 7-1 demolition of Bayern Munich, and they’ve started Liga F with a staggering +30 goal difference in six games. Even amid transition, Barcelona can never be underestimated.
1. Chelsea
Chelsea completed a domestic treble last season, winning the WSL, FA Cup and League Cup (Image credit: Getty Images)
Despite last season’s domestic treble, Chelsea remain desperate for the one trophy that continues to evade them.
Their closest attempt to the Champions League crown came in 2021, when they were dismantled 4-0 by their European nemesis Barcelona in the final. Barca have repeatedly been their stumbling block, including an 8-2 aggregate defeat in last season’s semi-final.
Determined to change the narrative, Chelsea have invested heavily this year, notably in their club-record signing of Alyssa Thompson from Angel City to bolster an already impressive attack of perennial goalscorer Sam Kerr and Aggie Beever-Jones, who is on fire this season.
A group-stage clash with Barcelona on matchday four could set the tone for their campaign, and getting a taste of their rivals earlier in the competition than usual with the new format could play in their favour.
This could finally be the year…
Next Match:
at Carleton College
10/8/2025 | 7 p.m.
Oct. 08 (Wed) / 7 p.m.
at Carleton College
History
STEVENS POINT Wis. – Returning to the lineup after missing the last three matches due to injury, Ava Carlson (SO, Cloquet, Minn./Cloquet HS) had 27 kills with 10 digs, as her Augsburg University volleyball team dropped a pair of matches to nationally ranked teams on Friday at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Papa John’s Invitational.
THE BASICSÂ
FINAL SCORES:Â Carthage (Wis.) def. Augsburg 3-0 (25-15, 25-20, 25-17); Washington-St. Louis (Mo.) def. Augsburg 3-0 (25-18, 25-21, 25-23)
LOCATION:Â Quandt Fieldhouse, Stevens Point, Wis.
RECORD:Â Augsburg 6-10 overall
CARTHAGE 3, AUGSBURG 0
• Playing Carthage College for the second time in a week, the Auggies hit just .074 (31 kills, 24 errors, 95 attacks), while Carthage, receiving votes in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association Division III national poll, hit .333 (41 kills, nine errors, 96 attacks). The Auggies also fell victim to 13 Carthage team blocks in the match.
• Carlson recorded nine kills and six digs, adding a service ace, while Taliah Triggs (SO, Moorhead, Minn./Moorhead HS) had nine kills and a block assist.
• Taylor Hoehns (SR, Cedar Falls, Iowa/Dike-New Hartford HS) and Gwynn Gorter (SO, Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Simley HS) had four kills each.
• Jovial King (SO, Caledonia, Minn./Caledonia HS) had 21 assists and eight digs, and Maggie Lile (JR, Spring Grove, Minn./Spring Grove HS) had nine digs and six assists.
WASHINGTON-ST. LOUIS 3, AUGSBURG 0
• Washington University-St. Louis, ranked No. 10 in the latest AVCA national poll, hit .278 (36 kills, 14 errors, 79 attacks), compared to Augsburg’s 153 (38 kills, 23 errors, 98 attacks). The Bears also had eight team blocks to Augsburg’s four.
• Carlson recorded her 11th double-digit kill effort of the season, with 18 kills to go along with four digs and two service aces.
• Triggs had seven kills and a solo block, and Hoehns had five kills.
• Sierra Washington (SR, Prior Lake, Minn./Prior Lake HS) had three solo blocks with two kills.
• King had 29 assists and six digs.
FOR THE FOES
• Kristina Manojlovic had 14 kills and three block assists for Carthage against the Auggies.
• Leah Oyewole had nine kills and two block assists for Washington-St. Louis.
UP NEXT
• Augsburg returns to Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play on Wednesday (10/8) at 7 p.m., with a match at Carleton College in Northfield, Minn.
Good morning! Clinch your series today.
Pulse Power Rankings: Multiple WNBA dramas highlight frenzied day
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There are not many days in which we start this newsletter by saying, “I have to just tell you everything that happened yesterday.†Yesterday, however, was so good that weâ€re going to do exactly that.
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Consider this a power ranking of Mondayâ€s incredible playoff action, starting with the WNBA stealing the spotlight:
1. The Aces are back in the WNBA Finals, barely
For the third time in four seasons, the Las Vegas Aces will play in the finals. Itâ€s an expected outcome after a most unexpected, bonkers game last night.
The Aces and Fever played to overtime in a Game 5 classic, with Vegas only separating after Indiana lost Kelsey Mitchell to injury and Aliyah Boston to foul trouble. The Aces were clearly the better team, but anyone watching last nightâ€s game came away equally impressed with a Fever team thatâ€s been through a lot this year. To come five minutes from reaching the finals after all that is almost unbelievable.
The W also soaked up an entire news cycleâ€s worth of headlines yesterday outside of the exquisite game:
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Minnesota Lynx superstar Napheesa Collier said the league has the “worst leadership in the world†in a prepared statement during a news conference. Collier was largely referencing some pain points with game officials, who became a focal point after Collier suffered an ankle injury in Game 3 of Minnesotaâ€s semifinal loss to Phoenix. Collier and Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve were furious with the lack of a foul call. Read Collierâ€s full statement here.
Collier also referenced ongoing negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement, which seem like a mess at this point. Kelsey Plum said yesterday the league is stalling. Plum and others agreed with Collier that the league needs new leadership, too. Tough day for commissioner Cathy Engelbert.
Oh, and the finals begin Friday. I asked Ben Pickman for his early read on the matchup:
“This series has a fascinating frontcourt matchup as the Mercury have reached the WNBA Finals in large part because of their star bigs, Alyssa Thomas and Satou Sabally, while the Aces are led by four-time WNBA MVP Aâ€ja Wilson. How the two coaches try to defend each teamâ€s frontcourt will go a long way in determining who takes home the title. Bonus interesting question: Can the Aces re-ignite any dynasty talk by winning a third title in four years?â€
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2. Shohei Ohtani went nuclear
In baseballâ€s nightcap, the Dodgers took a 1-0 series lead over the Reds with a 10-5 win, fueled by Shohei Ohtaniâ€s two home runs. L.A. hit five dingers in the game, and this one felt over quickly. Look how quickly his leadoff homer got out:
Dude might be pretty good. Letâ€s take a quick news break before returning to the rankings:
News to Know
Wild sign Kaprizov after all
The Minnesota Wild agreed to a record eight-year, $136 million extension with superstar Kirill Kaprizov, the richest in NHL history by both total salary and average annual value ($17 million). It comes three weeks after the 28-year-old Kaprizov declined to sign an eight-year deal worth $128 million, which many thought could lead to Kaprizov hitting free agency next summer. Instead, Minnesota secured its future.
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More news
Eagles coach Nick Sirianni insists A.J. Brown wants to be in Philadelphia despite some cryptic social posts yesterday.
The Jonathan Kuminga saga is over in Golden State. The 22-year-old agreed to a two-year, $48.5 million contract yesterday. Full details here.
Golf legend Tom Watson was “ashamed†of the American Ryder Cup crowds. See his comments.
The Angels will also be searching for a new manager after announcing yesterday that Ron Washington will not return.
Chris Koras, head of baseball for the Klutch Sports agency, abruptly resigned last week.
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A warning given to Daniil Medvedev at the China Open about his effort level was an error, according to the ATP. Strange story.
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Pulse Power Rankings, Cont.: Shout-out to pitchers
Back to the power rankings:
3. Bostonâ€s steely swipe
The Yankees entered these playoffs as arguably the hottest team in the bracket. A loaded roster and a great September made them a trendy World Series pick.
The division-rival Red Sox instead went to Yankee Stadium last night and exited with a thrilling 3-1 win. Garrett Crochet was spectacular over 7 2/3 innings, giving up just the one run. And Aroldis Chapman, who has reinvented himself in Boston, got out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the ninth to win the game.
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Sox can clinch tonight. Wild.
4. Tarik Skubal course-corrected
For now, the story of Detroitâ€s season is its historic collapse down the stretch. The thing the Tigers needed most, after letting the AL Central slip to the Guardians, was a Game 1 win, on the road in Cleveland, in the AL Wild Card Series.
Staff ace Skubal delivered just that in 7 2/3 innings of one-run ball, as Detroit eked out a 2-1 road win. The margins are so small in this round. This was a massive, massive win.
5. The Cubs found a buzz
Chicago finished the season 92-70, which in a normal year wouldâ€ve been plenty good to win a division title. But this is a wild-card team, and the emotions are more tenuous in this fan base.
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The Cubbies used back-to-back home runs yesterday to beat the Padres, 3-1, the franchiseâ€s first postseason win since 2017. There was pent-up energy at Wrigley Field, as Patrick Mooney wrote, and a Game 1 win was cathartic.
What a day all around. Letâ€s do it again in a few hours.
What to Watch
📺 MLB: Tigers at Guardians
1 p.m. ET on ESPN
We have the same run of schedule today as we did yesterday. The Tigers, Cubs, Red Sox and Dodgers can all advance. See all the games here.
📺 Soccer: PSG at FC Barcelona
3 p.m. ET on Paramount+
The Champions League also continues today with a full slate. This is probably the juiciest matchup, but decide for yourself.
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Get tickets to games like these here.
Pulse Picks
The college QB class has been … surprising this year. Itâ€s still “special,†as Bruce Feldman reports, but itâ€s different than we expected. Hereâ€s what scouts have gotten right and wrong about the top signal callers.
Want a preview of the future of college sports? Read Ralph Russoâ€s breakdown of the SCORE Act and the SAFE Act.
Jurgen Klopp is one of the best managers in the modern era of European soccer. In an exclusive interview with The Athletic, he said he never wants to coach again.
I really enjoyed Dan Woikeâ€s story from earlier in the week on Austin Reaves, whoâ€s at an inflection point with the ever-interesting Lakers. Reaves wants to stay in L.A. — but just made a huge bet on himself.
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Most-clicked in the newsletter yesterday: NFL Power Rankings, of course.
Most-read on the website yesterday: â˜ï¸
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
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We’ve finally made it, folks. It’s Ryder Cup Week.
Twenty-four of the best players in the world are assembled at Bethpage Black, and someone’s career is going to change. A handful of players will play all five matches. Even more are likely to just play three times.
How about just two matches? The ultimate sign of … we don’t really need you right now.We’ll wait to see about that, but in the meantime we’ve compiled the truest, most accurate, unfailing power ranking of all 24 players in the event. Enjoy!
24. Sepp Straka
Five months ago, we would have expected Straka to play at least four matches, but he’s had a lot going on, adding a newborn to his family. All in, Straka has played just two tournaments since The Open, and the most recent one was quite bad. He’s a prime candidate to play just two matches, but maybe Luke Donald will surprise us.
23. Justin Rose
Rose punched his ticket to this team in August, during a three-week string of form. And remember what he did at Augusta in April? Two major problems: Augusta National is not Bethpage Black, and his golf between those two peaks was not good. At 45 years old, he’s limited in what he can offer physically. Mentally, though, he’s a bastion of experience, which means he is liable to grind out a match on the 18th hole and beat his chest into Ryder Cup lore.
22. Rasmus Hojgaard
One of the best cart-drivers at the 2023 Cup, Hojgaard needs to be an elite golf ball driver this week, which he decidedly was not in the team tuneup at Wentworth two weeks ago. His game is so similar to his brother Nico’s that it feels like Team Europe has the literal same squad. Which would lead you to expect Ras plays a couple four-ball matches, trying to make as many birdies as possible on his own ball.
21. Collin Morikawa
It may feel wrong to rank Morikawa this low, but the last few months have not been good for him. He’s had a bunch of different people carrying his clubs, the most recent being Mark Urbanek, who looped for Tony Finau at the 2021 Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits, and the results have been all over the place. In the end, he’s still one of the best irons players on the planet and could have a reclamation of sorts alongside Sam Burns, the best putter in the world.
20. Shane Lowry
Lowry has been an emotional leader for Team Europe at both of the last two Cups, but his play hasn’t exactly been the most impressive. Both in those Cups and in the summer of 2025. So what do you do with him? Probably send him out in foursomes with a good putter and hope the irons are hot.
19. Harris English
English earned his way into the Ryder Cup by playing well at the exact right time, earning a bunch of points with second-place finishes in two majors this year. Does his game wow you? No. Will he play four matches at Bethpage? Probably not. But at least he isn’t a rookie.
18. Justin Thomas
Thomas is only listed this low because of how mediocre he’s been lately. He finished middle of the pack in Napa and has been turning in one bad round for every two good ones in recent weeks. Up-and-down play can get masked by the format of a team event, but I just get the sense that he is more team leader than team baller, if you will. And that’s ok!
17. Sam Burns
The undisputed best putter in the world … has actually fared better in team competition than most people think. He was the third-best American, Strokes Gained-wise, at the 2023 Cup, and he’s been very good since the start of August. I’m mostly curious about which ball-striking wizard he gets paired with.
16. J.J. Spaun
Spaun practiced with Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley during the U.S. team training camp in Napa, which makes you think he could play alongside both of them in New York. His game lends itself to be paired with a great putter, though. So a Sam Burns or Ben Griffin type might be the better option. Either way, he’s played the best golf of his life this year, and the all-around nature of his game needs to be an asset for Keegan Bradley. If it isn’t a win may not be in the cards for the U.S.
15. Bob MacIntyre
Two years ago, MacIntyre was undoubtedly the biggest concern entering the Ryder Cup. Plenty of Europeans weren’t keen on him even being on the team. But then he went undefeated in three matches, turned into one of the best players in the world and is now a massive player for Europe. I’m not sure who Donald will pair him with, particularly in any foursomes match, but if he’s playing alternate shot — which he did none of in Italy — that’s your biggest sign that Bob is in good form.
14. Tyrrell Hatton
He’s never been one of the four best players on a Ryder Cup team, but Hatton has always been a token of depth that the Europeans rely upon immensely. People forget that he not only played well in Rome, but also solidly in Wisconsin, and still grabbed a point in the European victory in France. He’s the lucky one who most likely gets to play alongside Jon Rahm.
13. Cameron Young
The Ryder Cup rookie has been playing some nuclear golf lately. His finishes in August and September: Win, solo 5th, 11th, T4, T9. If he can keep up the ball-striking, he could be a lot like Griffin and find himself playing four matches as a rookie.
12. Patrick Cantlay
Cantlay has been a Ryder Cup killer, no matter how you look at it. He paired great with Xander Schauffele at Whistling Straits and carried Wyndham Clark during a match win in Rome. His late-season form was dialing in … so will Patty Ice return at Bethpage? I’m here for zero-smiles pairing with Cameron Young.
11. Viktor Hovland
Hovland may have been the best golfer on the planet ahead of the 2023 Ryder Cup. He’s not anymore, but his floor is still incredibly high. His putter has been much hotter throughout the summer, which bodes well for the birdie chase that these matches end up becoming.
10. Matt Fitzpatrick
Six months ago, it seemed Fitzpatrick might not have a spot on this European roster. But something changed in the spring and he’s been incredible since, racking up seven top 10s in his last nine starts. There’s been no wins on the board, but he’s played some of the most consistent golf and can pair well with anyone. Maybe he gets to play with Rory McIlroy again.
9. Ben Griffin
Griffin is the highest ranked rookie on the list, but he deserves it. He’s playing the best golf of his life — and even if he’s not a bomber off the tee, he does everything else at an elite-elite level. If he gets paired with an in-form teammate, he could pop off a 3- or 3.5-point performance. The main question is: how shaky will his knees get on that 1st tee?
8. Xander Schauffele
Schauffele would be ranked higher if he would have competed at all lately, but he hasn’t played in a month — taking time away to be with his wife as they welcomed a newborn to the family. He still hasn’t missed a cut in years, thanks to an incredibly high floor. He won’t be counted on to play five matches, and may not even play four. We’ll have to see what kind of shape his game is in.
7. Ludvig Aberg
Very, very quietly, Aberg has returned near his apex, with a great all-around game you can pair with anyone else. We’d expect him to pair with his Nordic pal Hovland again. We would not expect them to win another match 9 and 7, but are not going to be surprised if they fare well. The floor is so high.
6. Russell Henley
Henley has been penciled in as a solid teammate for Scottie Scheffler, but he may be too good for that role now. He’s been one of the eight best golfers in the world for much of the last 12 months, just grinding out solid performances on any type of golf course. Bethpage won’t be a perfect fit for him, but course fit hasn’t kept him down in 2025. He just keeps on trucking.
5. Bryson DeChambeau
It’s hard to know exactly what DeChambeau has been up to the last month, since the LIV Golf season ended. Well, we know he’s been giving away cars via trick shots and making appearances at the Walker Cup and even at team events in Napa — but when it comes to getting his game ready, there’s probably no bigger wild card. He could play five matches, electrify the crowd and somehow earn even more fans than he already has. He also could continue good-not-great form, get unlucky alongside people he’s never paired with before and end up playing just three matches.
4. Tommy Fleetwood
Fleetwood is playing the best golf of his life, he got the monkey off his back with a victory in the Tour Championship and has as sparkling of a Ryder Cup record as anybody. He may not play five matches, but if he gets rocking with the right teammate — perhaps McIlroy — he may not sit a single session.
3. Rory McIlroy
No one in the field has as much Ryder Cup experience as McIlroy, who has been proclaiming a European victory for a full two years now. He wobbled a bit this summer, but corrected back into place at the K Club with an Irish Open victory. McIlroy will have to be up against Scottie Scheffler in order to be an underdog in any match this week.
2. Jon Rahm
Having been rested for a session in Rome, I would guess Rahm politely requests a full slate of five appearances this week. He’s gone toe-to-toe with Scheffler at each of the last two Cups, and doesn’t get that opportunity nearly enough anymore. Here’s to Round 3 taking place this week.
1. Scottie Scheffler
He is the undisputed best player on earth and is on a journey to knocking McIlroy off the mantle of Best Player Since Tiger. A good first step would be having his best team event yet. If he doesn’t play five matches, something is seriously wrong.
Money. It’s what makes the world go round. And it’s why, in their first 30 years of existence, Major League Soccer teams have been able to purchase some of the biggest stars in world soccer.
Arguably, the two most influential MLS signings – David Beckham and Lionel Messi – both arrived on free transfers. However, there are plenty of other players who joined MLS clubs for a mouth-watering fee.
We taking a look at the 10 most lucrative transfers in MLS history.
10. Aleksei Miranchuk: $13.8m (Atalanta to Atlanta United)
Alexei Miranchuk high fives his team-mates after scoring for Atlanta in July (Image credit: Kevin C. Cox – Leagues Cup/MLS via Getty Images)
Spoiler alert: six of the 12 most expensive transfers in MLS history have been Atlanta United signings, including Aleksey Miranchuk. After developing his talents at Lokomotiv Moscow, the Russian attacking midfielder spent four years in Serie A with Atalanta and Torino before making the move to Atlanta United on July 30, 2024.
Miranchuk joined Atlanta for $13.8m, according to Transfermarkt, signing a contract until the 2028 MLS season with the option for a further year. He’s emerged as a crucial figure in attack and a creative outlet with 11 goals and 7 assists in his first 45 appearances.
“I think Alexey has settled in now well and shown his quality – he’s essential,” stated Atlanta Utd commentator Jason Longshore to FourFourTwo. “It was too crowded in the areas where he thrived earlier this season, but he’s been so good as of late. He’s been the best player in the attack in 2025. I like the trio with him and Steven Alzate/Bartosz Slisz behind him as a building block for 2026.”
9. Brenner: $13.9m (Sao Paulo to FC Cincinnati)
Brazilian-born Brenner Souza da Silva has been loaned back to FC Cincinnati after requesting a transfer away in 2022 (Image credit: Getty Images)
After developing his skills at Sao Paulo, Brenner made the move to FC Cincinnati for a reported $13.9m, joining the club as a young Designated Player. Whilst he scored on his debut vs Nashville, he struggled to parlay that into consistent form in his debut season, scoring just 8 goals and 1 assist in 33 appearances.
The Brazilian striker found his footing in 2022, however, racking up 18 goals and 6 assists in 32 appearances. After growing unhappy at Cincinnati, he requested a transfer out, only to be denied his move. He remained for the entire season and helped them qualify for the playoffs for the first time before eventually getting his move.
He joined Udinese in the summer of 2023 but was unable to make his mark in Italy, scoring just twice in 19 appearances. It’s why, in August 2025, Brenner was loaned back to Cincinnati with an option to buy, where he’ll be looking to lead them to a deep postseason run.
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8. Myrto Uzuni: $14m (Granada to Austin FC)
(Image credit: Getty Images)
After bouncing around from Albania to Croatia to Hungary, Myrto Uzuni made the move to Spanish club Granada in January 2022. Unable to rescue them from relegation in his first few months, emerged as an attacking talisman and helped them return to LaLiga, racking up 49 goals and 8 assists in 106 matches.
It’s why Austin FC decided to sign him for a club-record $14m in January 2025; despite leaving midway through the season, he finished as the club’s top scorer in the Segunda. The 30-year-old striker struggled to get going in his first few months in Texas, but he’s managed to shake off that rust and get back to his best recently.
Uzuni has scored 7 goals and 3 assists in his first 26 appearances; out of those 10 goal contributions, 7 came since the start of July, with the Albanian stepping up in Brandon Vazquez’s absence and guiding them to the playoff spots.
7. Hirving Lozano: $14m (PSV to San Diego FC)
Hirving Lozano scored for Mexico vs Peru at the Rose Bowl in 2022 (Image credit: Omar Vega/Getty Images)
Eight months before taking to the pitch for their first-ever match, San Diego FC sent shockwaves throughout the USA by announcing the signing of Hirving Lozano for $14m. Over the past decade, Lozano had won the league title in Mexico, the Netherlands, and Italy, whilst he had also made a name for himself with the Mexican national team, writing his name into history with the winning goal vs. reigning champions Germany at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
The nimble winger kicked off his MLS journey with a trip to 2024 MLS Cup winners LA Galaxy, where Lozano set up Anders Dreyer’s opening goal in the 52nd minute. Dreyer would complete his brace in extra time to secure a shock 2-0 win, with him and Lozano striking up a superb chemistry against the reigning champions of American soccer.
He hasn’t looked back since then, with the 30-year-old forward helping San Diego punch above their weight and soar to the top of the Western Conference.
6. Esequiel Barco: $14.4m (Independiente to Atlanta United)
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If there’s one thing that Atlanta United know how to do, it’s sign South American players. The Five Stripes won the 2018 MLS Cup in their second season thanks to various South American stars like Josef Martinez, Miguel Almiron, and Esequiel Barco, with the latter joining from Independiente just 11 months prior for an MLS record fee of $14.4m.
Barco’s opening season was marred by an act of indiscipline, where he reportedly made romantic overtures towards his teammate Brandon Vazquez’s girlfriend, causing him to be suspended and dropped from the starting line-up. He never quite recovered from that and was unable to showcase his world-class potential in MLS over a consistent period.
The diminutive attacking midfielder struggled to find a consistent position in the team due to injuries, international call-ups, a pandemic and coaching turnover (six different managers in four years). He scored just 19 goals and 18 assists in 107 matches before making the move to River Plate in 2022; two years later, he joined Russian side Spartak Moscow.
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5. Gonzalo Martinez: $17m (River Plate to Atlanta United)
Signed to replace Miguel Almiron, Gonzalo Martinez struggled to live up to the price tag during his time in MLS. Pity. (Image credit: Getty Images)
Barco lasted just a year as the most expensive transfer in MLS history before Gonzalo ‘Pity’ Martinez joined Atlanta United in January 2019 for $17m. However, he was unable to work under his compatriot Tata Martino, who departed the same month for the Mexican national team, and instead struggled to find his footing under Frank de Boer.
Having won the South American Footballer of the Year after leading River Plate to the Copa Libertadores, it seemed that MLS would be a walk in the park for Martinez. Instead, however, Martinez would struggle to fill Almiron’s void in attack, drifting in and out of games, turning over possession with regularity, and struggling to deliver a consistent end product.
Whilst he did manage to win the U.S. Open Cup and Campeones Cup in 2019, he never came close to justifying his price tag and translating those skills to the North American game. He departed in September 2020 and joined Saudi club Al-Nassr, spending three years there before returning to River Plate.
4. Thiago Almada: $16m (Velez Sarsfield to Atlanta United)
A diminutive Argentinian no.10 have lead to inevitable Messi comparisons for Thiago Almada (Image credit: Getty Images)
Unlike Martinez and Barco, Thiago Almada successfully lived up to his billing after joining Atlanta for a league-record $16 million. The Argentine attacking midfielder scored 26 goals and 24 assists in 83 appearances, winning the MLS Newcomer of the Year in 2022 and the MLS Younger Player of the Year in 2023.
He then made the move to Brazil in 2024, where in just a few months, he guided Botafogo to their first Copa Libertadores trophy as well as their first league title in 29 years. Almada then took his talents to Europe in January 2025, joining Lyon. He would last just a couple of months in France before moving to Spanish heavyweights Atletico Madrid.
After becoming the first active MLS player to win the World Cup in 2022, Thiago Almada is one of the many players in the mix for Argentina’s 2026 World Cup squad alongside the likes of Nico Paz, Marcos Senesi, and Matias Soule. And at just 24 years of age, he’s already being tipped as the long-term successor to Lionel Messi’s throne.
3. Kevin Denkey, $16.2m (Cercle Brugge to FC Cincinnati)
Kevin Denkey: a Togolese forward, with an English name, raised in France, made in Belgium and now playing in the USA (Image credit: Getty Images)
Born in Togo, Kevin Denkey moved to France at 12 years old, staying with his uncle in Paris before moving to Lyon to live with his aunt. He developed at Nimes’ academy before leaving for Belgium in 2021 and joining Cercle Brugge.
The 24-year-old has scored 15 goals and 2 assists in 29 appearances for Cincy, elevating them to second in the East and third in the overall standings. Alongside the likes of Evander and Brenner, he looks set to play a pivotal role in attack and help Cincinnati achieve success.
2. Emmanuel Latte Lath: $22m (Middlesbrough to Atlanta United)
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Denkey’s record fee would last just three months before being smashed by another West African forward – Emmanuel Latte Lath. Born in the Ivory Coast, Lath moved to Italy at a young age and developed at Atalanta’s academy, undergoing eight different loans before joining Middlesbrough on a permanent deal in 2023.
He didn’t need any time to settle in England’s second tier and quickly thrived in Boro’s attack, finishing as their top scorer in 2023/24 with 18 goals in all competitions. These stellar displays drew the attention of Atlanta United, who signed him for $22 million in February 2025.
Lath kicked off his time in Atlanta with five goals in his first six matches; since then, he’s scored just twice in 21 matches. With a contract until December 2028, there’s still ample time for him to turn it around, but it’s fair to say that he hasn’t quite paid off the investment thus far.
1. Heung-min Son: $26.5 (Tottenham to LAFC)
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After getting his start in professional soccer in Germany, the South Korean forward made the move to Tottenham Hotspur in 2015, where he helped them go from midtable mediocrity to challenging for silverware, eventually leading them to a first trophy in 17 years.
Having staked his claim as one of the best players in England and a club icon, Son decided to ride off into the sunset and depart Spurs in August 2025, joining LAFC for a league-record $26.5 million. He’s kicked off his time in California with an assist vs. New England and a goal vs. Dallas, and he looks set to play a crucial role in the Black and Gold’s postseason ambitions.
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