The Mega Millions jackpot climbed to $743 million ahead of Friday night’s drawing, with a cash value of $323.4 million, making it the 10th-largest prize in the game’s history as players across the country checked their tickets against Friday’s winning numbers.

The winning numbers drawn Friday, July 24, were 2, 5, 42, 44, 60 and a gold Mega Ball of 1. Drawings are held twice a week, every Tuesday and Friday at approximately 11 p.m. Eastern time.

A long stretch without a jackpot winner

The last time a player won the Mega Millions jackpot outright was more than three months earlier, when a ticket purchased in Ohio claimed a $60 million prize on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17. Since then, the jackpot has climbed steadily through repeated rollovers as no ticket has matched all six numbers in the twice-weekly drawings.

That stretch has not been entirely without winners, however. In Tuesday’s drawing preceding Friday’s jackpot, no ticket matched all six numbers for the grand prize, but two players came close to the top prize: one ticket holder in California won $2 million, and another in Arizona won $3 million, both by matching enough numbers to claim a lower-tier prize under the game’s payout structure.

How the numbers compare historically

Friday’s $743 million prize now ranks 10th on the all-time list of largest Mega Millions jackpots, a list still topped by the record $1.602 billion jackpot won in Florida on Aug. 8, 2023. The full top 10 includes $1.537 billion won in South Carolina on Oct. 23, 2018; $1.348 billion won in Maine on Jan. 1, 2023; $1.337 billion won in Illinois on July 29, 2022; $1.269 billion won in California on Dec. 27, 2024; $1.128 billion won in New Jersey on March 26, 2024; $1.05 billion won in Michigan on Jan. 22, 2021; $983 million won in Georgia on Nov. 14, 2025; $810 million won in Texas on Sept. 10, 2024; and Friday’s $743 million prize, with a winner still to be determined.

What winners can choose

Should a single ticket match all six numbers, the winner would face a choice between two payout options: a one-time lump-sum cash payment or an annuitized prize paid out through an initial payment followed by 29 annual installments, each 5% larger than the one before it. Most jackpot winners historically opt for the lump-sum cash payment rather than the long-term annuity structure.

How the game works

Mega Millions is played across 45 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Each ticket costs $5, and players select six numbers across two separate pools: five different numbers from 1 to 70, known as the white balls, and one number from 1 to 24, known as the gold Mega Ball. Players uncertain of their preferred numbers can opt for a “Quick Pick” or “Easy Pick” selection, which lets a terminal generate a random set of numbers on their behalf.

To win the jackpot, a ticket must match all six numbers drawn. In the rare event that more than one ticket matches all six numbers in a single drawing, the jackpot prize is split evenly among the winning tickets.

Mega Millions tickets now come with a built-in multiplier that automatically boosts non-jackpot prize winnings by two, three, four, five or 10 times. That feature replaced the previous system, under which players had to pay an additional dollar to add the optional “Megaplier” to their ticket.

How long winners have to claim a prize

According to Mega Millions, the window for collecting winnings varies by state, typically ranging from 90 days up to a full year from the date of the drawing. Lottery officials encourage players to check with their specific state lottery for the exact claim period that applies to their ticket, since deadlines and procedures are not uniform nationwide.

Where to buy tickets

Mega Millions tickets can be purchased at a range of locations, including convenience stores, gas stations and grocery stores. In some states, tickets are also available for purchase online, offering an additional option for players who prefer not to buy in person.

A broader trend in jackpot growth

Friday’s near-record prize continues a broader pattern of increasingly large Mega Millions jackpots in recent years, driven in part by a 2017 overhaul of the game’s number pool that lengthened the odds of winning the jackpot from roughly 1 in 259 million to about 1 in 302.6 million. Longer odds have generally meant more frequent rollovers and, correspondingly, larger jackpots by the time a winning ticket is eventually sold. Rising ticket prices, which moved from $1 to $2 following the 2017 changes and then to the current $5 price point more recently, have also factored into the size of jackpots the game has produced.

Separately, Powerball, Mega Millions’ chief rival among major U.S. lottery games, recently announced a structural change of its own that officials say could allow its jackpots to grow at a faster pace going forward, a shift that could intensify competition between the two games for players chasing the next big prize.

The next Mega Millions drawing is scheduled for Tuesday, July 28, at 11 p.m. Eastern time. Should no ticket match all six numbers in Friday’s drawing, the jackpot will continue to grow heading into that next drawing, potentially climbing further up the list of the game’s largest-ever prizes. Players hoping to check their Friday tickets against the winning numbers, 2, 5, 42, 44, 60 and Mega Ball 1, are encouraged to verify results directly through their state lottery or the official Mega Millions website.

Saturday’s edition of the New York Times’ Strands puzzle sent players on a tour of clothing history, blending everyday garments with more obscure regional and cultural dress terms, offering a fitting challenge for word puzzle fans who enjoy a bit of fashion trivia mixed into their daily word search.

Strands, the Times’ newer entry in its daily puzzle lineup alongside Wordle and Connections, presents players with a six-by-eight grid of letters and challenges them to find a group of hidden words connected by a shared theme, along with a special “spangram” that touches two opposite sides of the board and summarizes the puzzle’s overall concept. Words can run in any direction, including diagonally, and none of the theme words overlap with one another on the grid.

Saturday’s theme

The official theme for Strands puzzle number 874 was “Frocks and smocks,” a nod to the puzzle’s focus on dresses, robes and tunic-style garments drawn from a range of cultures and traditions. According to Tom’s Guide, the puzzle’s difficulty started off relatively approachable before growing more challenging as solvers worked through less familiar clothing terms tied to specific regional dress.

The spangram and full answer list

Saturday’s spangram was YOUWEARITWELL, a phrase that ties together the puzzle’s clothing theme by celebrating personal style and connecting each of the featured garments back to the central concept of wearing something well.

The remaining theme words for Strands #874 were GOWN, KIMONO, MUUMUU, TUNIC, DIRNDL and PINAFORE. A gown refers to a long, often formal dress typically worn for special occasions. A kimono is a traditional Japanese robe characterized by wide sleeves and a wrapped design secured with a sash. A muumuu is a loose-fitting dress of Hawaiian origin, traditionally designed for comfort in warm climates. A tunic describes a simple, often sleeveless garment that extends to the knees or lower, worn across many cultures throughout history. A dirndl is a traditional regional dress from the Alps, featuring a fitted bodice, a low-cut blouse, a full skirt and an apron, closely associated with Austrian and German folk costume. A pinafore is a sleeveless, apron-like garment typically worn over another piece of clothing.

How solvers experienced the puzzle

Reaction to Saturday’s puzzle varied depending on how familiar individual players were with historical and regional clothing terminology. One Tom’s Guide writer described finding GOWN on the right-hand side of the board with KIMONO positioned below it, then spotting MUUMUU in the bottom-left corner, which helped isolate the remaining letters needed to trace the spangram YOUWEARITWELL. That same solver noted the puzzle then cornered off TUNIC in the top-right section, before DIRNDL appeared spelled vertically down the left-hand side, leaving PINAFORE as the final word to complete the board.

A separate TechRadar review described a more uneven solving experience, noting that the puzzle “started off easy and ended baffling.” That writer found GOWN, TUNIC and PINAFORE relatively quickly as more familiar clothing terms, along with KIMONO after piecing together the spangram, but needed an additional hint to identify DIRNDL, and discovered only after finishing the puzzle that MUUMUU refers specifically to a loose Hawaiian dress rather than a more general term.

Hints for those still working through it

For players seeking help without fully spoiling the puzzle, Tom’s Guide offered a set of supplementary clue words tied to the letters involved in Saturday’s solution: TELL, PAIN, PIANO, WINK, PLUM, PUMA, NOTE and FROWN. The outlet also noted that Saturday’s spangram specifically begins with the letter “Y” and ends with the letter “L,” a structural hint that can help narrow down its placement on the board before attempting to trace the full word.

How Strands works more broadly

Strands operates differently from Wordle or Connections, requiring players to identify theme-related words hidden throughout a grid of letters rather than guessing a single word or sorting items into categories. Players form words by dragging or tapping connected letters, and can double-tap the final letter of a word to submit it. According to the Times, Strands themes can take a variety of forms, including fill-in-the-blank phrases, sequential steps in a process, items belonging to a shared category, or even synonyms and homophones, giving the puzzle’s editorial team flexibility in how each day’s challenge is constructed.

Wordle and Strands editor Tracy Bennett has said she aims to vary puzzle difficulty throughout the week in a similar fashion to how Wordle’s own difficulty shifts from day to day, occasionally introducing unexpected twists to keep regular Strands solvers on their toes.

A newer addition to the Times’ puzzle lineup

Strands remains one of the more recently introduced games within the Times’ broader puzzle offerings, joining established titles including Wordle, Connections, the Connections Sports Edition, the Mini Crossword, Pips and Sudoku. Since its debut roughly a year ago, the game has steadily built a dedicated following among daily puzzle players looking for a format that blends the visual search mechanics of a traditional word search with the thematic cleverness associated with the Times’ broader games portfolio.

A new puzzle every day

A fresh Strands puzzle publishes at midnight local time in each player’s time zone, meaning solvers around the world are frequently working through different daily puzzles depending on when they log in. That structure mirrors the release pattern used across the Times’ other daily word games, allowing players in different regions to compare notes on a given day’s puzzle even as they may technically be solving different numbered editions depending on timing.

A new Strands puzzle will publish at midnight Sunday, continuing the game’s daily run as it works to solidify its place among the Times’ most popular offerings. Players who found Saturday’s clothing-themed puzzle more challenging than expected, particularly around the less familiar DIRNDL and MUUMUU entries, can look forward to a fresh theme and a new opportunity to extend their solving streak with Sunday’s reset.

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Brian Doerksen, the Canadian worship leader and songwriter whose music became a fixture of church services around the world for more than three decades, died July 21 at his family home in Abbotsford, British Columbia, following a brief and swift battle with stage 4 cancer. He was 60.

Doerksen passed away peacefully in his sleep at 6:45 a.m., surrounded by loved ones, according to a statement shared by his family on his official Instagram account. The announcement came just days after his family revealed he had been diagnosed with cancer following months of undiagnosed medical issues.

A rapid decline

Doerksen’s illness progressed with unusual speed. His family said he had been dealing with unexplained health problems for months before being hospitalized earlier in the month after experiencing severe pain. Doctors diagnosed him with stage 4 cancer by that Saturday, though they were still working to identify the specific type. By Monday, a family update revealed his kidneys had failed, and he died the following morning.

“On July 21st, at 6:45AM, our beloved Brian passed away peacefully in his sleep at his family home, surrounded by those who loved him most,” the family’s statement said, thanking the “entire community around the world that prayed, gave, and sent incredible messages of love” throughout his illness.

Remembered for his character as much as his music

Doerksen’s family described a man who remained focused on others even as his health rapidly declined. “Till the very end, Brian continued to love those around him, encouraging them in who they are, and shared incredible gratitude to those in the medical field who tried their best to help him,” the statement said. “He was a beacon of light even in his final moments to his close family and friends, and loved well right to the end.” The family added a broader wish for others following his example: “May we all be like him, to love freely, be kind, and grateful even in the midst of the hardest of times.”

A pioneering figure in modern worship music

Doerksen was among the most widely sung songwriters in contemporary Christian worship music, best known for songs including “Come, Now Is the Time to Worship,” “Refiner’s Fire” and “Faithful One,” compositions that have been performed in churches across the globe for decades. Raised in a Mennonite Brethren family in British Columbia, Doerksen joined the staff of Langley Vineyard Christian Fellowship in his early 20s, serving as worship pastor into the early 1990s. That role placed him at the forefront of an emerging worship style, plainspoken and guitar-driven, focused on intimacy with God rather than performance, that helped reshape congregational singing worldwide.

Vineyard Worship, the organization closely tied to Doerksen’s decades-long career, honored him in a statement following his death. “It is with deep sadness, and with profound gratitude to God, that we honor the life of Brian Doerksen. Brian was one of the fathers of Vineyard Worship,” the group said. “Through his songs, leadership and friendship, he helped shape worship in the Vineyard and, far beyond that, the worship of the global Church.” The organization added that “generations of us have encountered God through songs like ‘Come, Now Is the Time to Worship,’ ‘Refiner’s Fire.’”

Vineyard Worship also emphasized Doerksen’s character beyond his musical output. “Those who knew him speak of a man marked by humility, kindness, generosity and deep faith. He was a worshipper before he was a songwriter, and his life reflected the One he so faithfully sang about,” the group said, adding that “even in the midst of suffering, he continued to encourage others, overflowing with gratitude and hope.”

Tributes from fellow musicians

News of Doerksen’s death drew an outpouring of tributes from worship leaders and musicians around the world. British worship artist Tim Hughes wrote, “So deeply gutted by this. I always” admired Doerksen’s contribution to the genre, according to Premier Christian News. Singer-songwriter Matt Redman, who has described “Faithful One” as his all-time favorite worship song, said he was deeply saddened by the loss and remembered Doerksen as a constant source of personal encouragement throughout his own ministry.

Veteran Christian radio promoter Chris Hauser reflected on the broad reach of Doerksen’s catalog. “Brian Doerksen consistently wrote and performed songs I needed to hear in many important stops in my faith journey,” Hauser said. “‘Come Now Is the Time to Worship,’ ‘Refiner’s Fire,’ ‘Purify My Heart’ and many others have been the soundtrack for tens of millions over decades.”

A career marked by awards and lasting influence

Over the course of his career, Doerksen received numerous awards recognizing his contributions to Christian music, and his songs remain among the most frequently performed in contemporary worship settings globally. His body of work has been credited with helping shape a generation’s experience of congregational singing, moving the genre toward a more direct, personal style of musical worship that continues to influence songwriters today.

Survived by his family

Doerksen is survived by his wife, Joyce, described by his family as his high school sweetheart and partner of 38 years, along with their six children. His family has expressed gratitude for the global outpouring of support during his illness, and a GoFundMe page has been established to assist the family during this time.

A legacy that endures

For many who have attended a church service over the past three decades, Doerksen’s musical fingerprints are likely present in some form, whether through his own compositions or the broader style of worship music his work helped popularize. As tributes continue to arrive from musicians, worship leaders and congregations around the world, Doerksen’s family and the broader Vineyard Worship community have framed his death not only as the loss of an influential songwriter, but as the passing of a man whose character, by the accounts of those closest to him, matched the faith he spent his career singing about.

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Lionel Messi’s wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, publicly defended Argentina’s national team this week amid a wave of criticism following the country’s 1-0 loss to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final, as commentators, fellow players and Argentina’s own president weighed in on the fallout from a contentious final.

Roccuzzo reposted a message from writer and media figure Connie Ansaldi on Instagram, marking one of the more direct public responses from within Messi’s inner circle to the criticism that followed the final. “Proud to be Argentine. Argentina is exactly like a family; we may disagree and quarrel amongst ourselves, but if someone from outside comes and insults us, we will tear out their liver,” the reposted message read.

Where the criticism came from

Sunday’s final, decided by a Ferran Torres goal in extra time, drew sharp criticism both for Argentina’s on-field performance and for the team’s conduct following the match, including an on-pitch altercation involving several players. Former England defender Gary Neville was among the most pointed critics of Argentina’s performance, saying on his show “The Overlap,” “They played like a bag of s***. Sometimes, if it looks like s*** and it smells like s***, it is s***. What we watched was a performance that was really poor.”

British commentator Piers Morgan separately branded Argentina’s conduct following the final a “disgrace,” describing their actions as “disgusting,” while German World Cup winner Toni Kroos offered a more measured take, saying simply that “football won” following the result.

Argentina’s president weighs in

The criticism extended beyond football commentary into national politics, with Argentine President Javier Milei taking to social media to defend the country following the loss. “The problem with Argentina is that we stand out. We don’t go unnoticed, people are jealous of us, and we’re good at almost everything. I’m sorry, but someone had to say it,” Milei wrote on Instagram.

A tribute to her husband

Beyond her defense of the broader national team, Roccuzzo also shared an emotional personal tribute to Messi directly following the loss, posting images of the visibly emotional forward on the field after the final whistle. “You will always be the best, @leomessi. Not just because of your talent, but because you have never stopped being yourself,” she wrote. “Because no matter what happens, you never give up; you always fight to the very end and give your all until the final second. That strength, that mindset, and the way you pick yourself up time and time again are what make you unique.”

Roccuzzo continued the message with a broader reflection on what her husband represents beyond the sport itself. “Thank you for showing us every day that true success is built through hard work, sacrifice, and perseverance, without ever losing sight of who you really are. You are the best example for our children and an inspiration to millions of people. I admire you more than words can express, and I feel immensely proud to walk through life by your side. I love you so much.”

A pattern of public support throughout the tournament

Roccuzzo’s tribute following the final continued a pattern of public messages of support she offered throughout Argentina’s World Cup run. Following the team’s dramatic Round of 16 comeback victory over Egypt, a match marked by its own VAR controversy, Roccuzzo posted photos of herself and the couple’s three sons at the stadium, writing “Let’s go Argentina” in Spanish, followed by a brief message directed at Messi: “@leomessi no more words left.” Earlier in the tournament, after Messi scored his 18th career World Cup goal, Roccuzzo wrote, “What a privilege to see you make history again and again.”

Messi’s own reaction to the loss

Messi has largely kept his own public comments about the final brief, expressing deep disappointment over the result while also extending congratulations to Spain. He has not publicly commented on the surrounding criticism of the team’s conduct or offered any indication about whether the 2026 tournament marked his final World Cup appearance, a question that has continued to generate speculation given his age and the physical toll of a lengthy international career spanning six World Cup tournaments.

A well-established partnership

Messi and Roccuzzo, who have known each other since childhood in their hometown of Rosario, Argentina, married in 2017 and share three sons: Thiago, Mateo and Ciro. Roccuzzo has remained a consistent, visible presence throughout Messi’s international career, frequently attending matches with their children and posting messages of support across his major tournament appearances, including Argentina’s 2022 World Cup title run in Qatar.

A broader wave of reaction

Sunday’s final and its aftermath generated a broad range of reactions beyond Roccuzzo’s response, spanning football commentary, political statements and continued debate over specific refereeing and conduct issues during the match itself. That range of reaction reflects both the significance of the result, Argentina’s bid to become back-to-back champions falling just short, and the intensity of scrutiny that has followed the Argentine team throughout the tournament, dating back to earlier controversies during the group and knockout stages.

With the tournament now concluded and questions still swirling about Messi’s international future, attention is likely to remain focused on whether he chooses to continue playing for Argentina heading into future competitions, or whether Sunday’s final marked the close of his World Cup career. In the meantime, Roccuzzo’s public defense of both her husband and the broader national team reflects a family that has consistently presented a united front throughout Messi’s decorated, if occasionally contentious, run on international football’s biggest stage.

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