Thierry Henry believes Cristiano Ronaldo has nothing left to prove despite Portugal’s FIFA World Cup 2026 exit, describing the veteran forward’s legacy as “untouchable” following what was confirmed to be his final appearance at football’s biggest tournament. Portugal bowed out of the World Cup after a 1-0 defeat to Spain in the Round of 16, bringing an end to Ronaldo’s sixth and final World Cup campaign. Before the match, the 41-year-old had announced that the ongoing edition would be his last at the global showpiece, though he stopped short of confirming whether he would retire from international football.

Reflecting on Ronaldo’s career, Henry praised not only the Portugal captain’s achievements but also the professionalism and longevity that have made him an inspiration across generations.

“He’s not going to need anybody to define his legacy; his legacy is untouchable. Whatever he’s going to decide, I wish him all the best. I wish he can pass 1,000 goals. He inspired a lot of generations of kids, especially with the way he breathes, lives and thinks about football,” Henry said on Fox Sports.

“Look at his body, look at how he is; he’s an example for everybody. So big man, all the very best in what you wish to do,” he added.

Ronaldo’s World Cup journey ended with 27 appearances, the second-most by any player in the tournament’s history, and 11 goals. While his World Cup record does not mirror his prolific exploits at club level, he still produced three goals in five matches during the 2026 edition.

The Portugal captain also continued to add to his remarkable collection of records. In the Round of 32 victory over Croatia, he became the first player to feature in a FIFA World Cup knockout match at the age of 41 or older. The fixture also became the first in World Cup history to feature two outfield players aged 40 or above, with Ronaldo lining up against former Real Madrid teammate Luka Modric.

Against Croatia, Ronaldo also became the oldest goalscorer in World Cup knockout history at 41 years and 147 days, scoring his first-ever goal in the knockout phase of the tournament.

Portugal’s campaign began with a 1-1 draw against DR Congo before Ronaldo responded to early criticism by scoring twice in a 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan. The brace saw him overtake Eusebio as Portugal’s all-time leading scorer in FIFA World Cup history with 10 goals and become the first player to score in six different World Cup tournaments.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Pro wrestling is often known for its storyline-driven entertainment coupled with hard-hitting and high-flying action in the ring that leads to a crescendo that makes fans feel some kind of emotion. The major companies each try to drive to that moment.

Sometimes, a unique venue adds to the excitement of a show, especially for smaller independent pro wrestling companies who are trying to engage an audience for a few hours at a time. On July 14, Fight Factory Wrestling is going back to the beach for The War on the Shore 3.

COMPLETE PRO WRESTLING COVERAGE ON FOX NEWS DIGITAL

Fight Factory Wrestling hosted The War on the Shore 2 in Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey, last year. (Provided to Fox News Digital)

The event will take place near Martell’s Tiki Bar in Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey, bringing professional wrestling to the beach. Joey Janela, Ben Bishop, Jack Vaughn, Richard Holliday, Steve Maclin, Jay Lethal, Sent 2 Slauter, Lady Frost, Allie Katch, Steph De Lander and others are among those billed to be in matches for the event.

Dave Sturchio, one of the minds behind Fight Factory Wrestling with Chris Payne, talked to Fox News Digital about getting started in the sport. He said he and Payne initially got started wrestling in 2012, but as time went on, the two went their own way. The two came back together in 2024 to do the “Fight Factory Podcast.” He said Payne had aspirations to do a wrestling show on the beach – akin to World Championship Wrestling’s Bash at the Beach.

Sturchio said he called Payne to follow through on doing a beach show despite some apprehension about getting involved in the creative side of the sport. Sturchio said when he first approached the venue about the event, there was a little hesitation, but when he came back with a plan, the venue agreed.

“As the buzz started to develop and build over prepping for the show, I said to Payne, ‘I don’t know if this is a one-off. I think that we have something here,’” Sturchio said. “And Payne and I, we’ve been in the industry since 2012, we’re life-long fans. I’m already an entrepreneur at heart, so how can I take my entrepreneurial stuff for the last three-four years of being my own boss, how do I spin this into becoming a pro wrestling promoter?”

Sturchio said that teaming with Payne allowed for the stars to align and to give each other a shot at building something great. He said the response from the first War on the Shore in 2024 was “overwhelming.”

Fight Factory Wrestling’s Dave Sturchio on the microphone at The War on the Shore 2. (Provided to Fox News Digital)

“We were like, this is actually kind of crazy. People are actually jones-ing for some wrestling in the summer. Typically, when you go to a VFW or your gymnasiums, independent wrestling kind of takes off, and they don’t run as much in the summer because it’s hot. So, I said, if anything, nobody is going to run against us and, unfortunately for us, we were put on a Tuesday night, and we were like, ‘Jesus Christ, there’s no way anybody is going to show up on a Tuesday.’

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“Turns out, nobody is really doing anything on a Tuesday. It was very easy to book the wrestlers in that regard because nobody else had anything going on. … First year was great. I think the best testament that we got was we booked Matt Cardona to be one of our featured guests on the first one and that’s when he tore his pec. So, he was out of action for a little while, but he promised us that he would still show up.”

Sturchio said Cardona was blown away and thought he and Payne had been running shows for a while.

“If you’re going to blow away Matt Cardona, I think we got something. It was off to the races, man,” he added.

Now, Sturchio and Payne are set to put on their third War on the Shore in New Jersey and the card couldn’t be more interesting.

“This year, we really stacked the deck,” he told Fox News Digital. “Some professional wrestling shows you go to on the independents, there are those lulls. Matches where you’re like, ‘Oh, they’re giving this guy a chance over here and they’re gonna give this guy a chance over there.’

“This year, I told Payne, look, based off of everybody that we’ve booked so far, for me, and some independent wrestlers don’t want to hear this, we’re trying to build a roster, build a core roster. Meaning, if we used you before and you’ve done good work, we’re gonna use you again. Instead of saying, hey, random guy over here, who I don’t know who you are, but let’s give you a shot. So we’re trying to build stories and there are a lot of stories that are culminating.”

Sturchio pointed to a number of matches that fans should be eager to see. One specifically is the reformation of The Heavenly Bodies tag team with Justin and Mark Corino.

Pro wrestling fans back in Point Pleasant, New Jersey, for The War on the Shore 2. (Provided to Fox News Digital)

“Those guys are reuniting for the first time in seven years,” he said. “They’re friends of mine, I came up with them. They were my first tag team opponents, and I’ve known these guys forever, and they’re near and dear to my heart.”

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Lady Frost will be in action against De Lander and Katch. Bishop defends the Fight Factory Premier Championship against Holliday and Vaughn. Janela will take on Jay Lethal for the first time ever and the event will feature a rumble and a tiki totem on a pole, which will act as Fight Factory Wrestling’s “Money in the Bank” type of gimmick.

“The card is stacked. I’m very excited about all of it. There’s not one lull,” Sturchio said. “We’re just going to roll right through, and I think it’s going to be one of those nights that we remember for a very, very long time.”

The Minnesota Vikings arguably have a handful of contenders for “most promising player” in 2026, including any rookie drafted in April, quarterback Kyler Murray, newcomer wideout Jauan Jennings, or even steady-eddy running back Jordan Mason. But none are as promising as outside linebacker Dallas Turner, says Bleacher Report.

Kristopher Knox identified each team’s most promising player last week, and for Minnesota, that was none other than Turner, who enters Year No. 3 in 2026.

The Vikings 2024 Trade-Up Debate Gets a New Layer

BR: Turner Is Vikings Most Promising Player

On ‘most promising,’ Knox made the case for Turner: “Unfortunately, quarterback J.J. McCarthy didn’t make the necessary Year-2 strides to establish himself as a promising building block, which is why the Minnesota Vikings brought in Kyler Murray this offseason. However, fellow 2024 first-round pick Dallas Turner did.”

“The Alabama product flashed potential as a rookie, finishing his inaugural campaign with 20 tackles and three sacks. However, he was even better last season, tallying 66 tackles, eight sacks, 11 tackles for loss, and 24 quarterback pressures. Entering Year 3, Turner has the chance to become the face of Minnesota’s pass rush.”

Turner will also benefit from playing in one of the league’s top defenses. Since Brian Flores arrived in 2023, his defense ranks second-best in the NFL per EPA/Play.

“He already led the team in sacks in 2025, but with Jonathan Greenard, Javon Hargrave, and Jonathan Allen gone, Turner may quickly become the focal point of Flores’ defensive front seven,” Knox continued.

“A few more positive steps should push Turner toward double-digit sacks, and possibly, Pro Bowl consideration. It’ll certainly help if Murray can spark the offense enough to leave opposing teams passing often.”

A Peek at the Numbers

Turner is certainly on the right track, based on the last two seasons. Vikings fans were likely wondering why their big trade-up wasn’t immediately creating a stir every Sunday. The simple truth was that Turner was only 21, playing in Flores’ complex defense, and behind seasoned pass rushers. He only saw the field for 28% of defensive snaps in 2024, so a complete picture of his abilities was elusive.

Still, he showed flashes. As a rookie, Turner accumulated 3 sacks, 5 quarterback hits, 3 tackles for loss, and an interception. That was enough for Minnesota to remain patient, a sentiment shared by anyone with a discerning eye.

Then Year No. 2 arrived, and the moment everyone anticipated occurred. Greenard got hurt, and Turner’s playing time surged. His snap share jumped to 66%, and finally, his production began to match the draft-day hype. He finished the season with 8 sacks, 15 quarterback hits, 11 tackles for loss, and 4 forced fumbles.

By November 2025, the earlier concerns had largely dissipated. Turner appeared mentally sharper and more comfortable in Flores’ system. Pro Football Focus awarded him a 65.5 overall grade and a 70.2 as a pass rusher. Those are satisfactory numbers, as the Vikings drafted Turner for growth rather than instant gratification. And that ascent? It’s well underway. It’s all in front of Turner.

Unleashed, Alas, in 2026

This is the moment, the one Turner has likely been biding his time for two long years. As a 1st-Rounder from the 2024 NFL Draft, it was always a bit strange that two Pro Bowl EDGEs lived in front of Turner on the depth chart. The Greenard trade in April wiped that problem away.

Suddenly, the Vikings have limited OLB depth, so much so that Turner must be effective and show that he was worth the ginormous trade in 2024. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, the former Vikings general manager, paid a hefty price to trade up for Turner, and for now, it feels like the Jacksonville Jaguars “won the trade.” Brian Thomas developed into a promising playmaker, and the Jaguars also acquired valuable additional picks that turned into Keilan Robinson and Caleb Ransaw.

For Minnesota, the success of this trade hinges entirely on Turner becoming a dominant EDGE rusher. Nothing less is acceptable according to the trade’s parameters.

The Case for Kyler Murray

One might argue that Murray is the “most promising” Viking, per Knox’s criteria. In the last three seasons, the Arizona Cardinals‘ defense ranked 30th in EPA/Play — also known as the third-worst. During the same timeframe, the Vikings’ defense ranks second-best in the NFL per the metric.

Murray will also have the advantage of throwing the ball to Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Jauan Jennings, and T.J. Hockenson on Sundays, in addition to tutelage from the “quarterback whisperer” head coach, Kevin O’Connell.

The new Viking has all the physical tools to excel in the Twin Cities. All he has to do is stay healthy and buy into the offense.

Murray, Turner, and the Vikings begin the regular season in 68 days.

Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker

First Published: Jul 08 2026 | 1:41 PM IST

Egypt’s heartbreaking 3-2 defeat to reigning world champions Argentina in the FIFA World Cup last 16 has been overshadowed by fierce criticism of the match officials, with head coach Hossam Hassan accusing the refereeing team of denying his side a place in the quarter-finals.

The Pharaohs looked set for one of the greatest victories in their football history after opening a two-goal lead against Argentina. Instead, they conceded three goals in the closing stages as the South Americans completed a stunning comeback.

But Egypt insist the result tells only part of the story.

Their biggest grievance came when Mostafa Zico’s second-half goal was ruled out after the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) judged that midfielder Marwan Attia had fouled Lisandro Martínez during the build-up. The decision prevented Egypt from extending their lead before Argentina’s late revival.

Moments before Argentina’s stoppage-time winner, Egypt also appealed for a penalty after Mohamed Salah went to ground inside the box. Play continued without a VAR review, allowing Argentina to launch the attack that ended with Enzo Fernández heading home the winning goal.

An emotional Hassan did not hide his frustration after the final whistle.

“We have been treated unfairly,” he said.

“There have been a lot of things to question both on and off the pitch. We suffered injustice. Perhaps they wanted to keep the world champions in the competition. Perhaps they wanted Messi to remain in the tournament.”

The Egypt coach also questioned why Salah’s penalty appeal was not reviewed while VAR intervened to disallow his team’s second goal.

“We haven’t seen respect or fair play,” Hassan added. “Our goal was ruled out, yet the penalty incident involving Salah wasn’t even checked. We all saw his shirt being pulled.”

The controversy overshadowed what had been one of Egypt’s finest World Cup performances. Defender Yasser Ibrahim gave the Pharaohs the lead, while goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir produced a brilliant penalty save to deny Lionel Messi.

However, Argentina fought back through Cristian Romero, Messi and Fernández to snatch victory and a place in the quarter-finals.

While Argentina celebrated another famous comeback, Egypt left the tournament believing controversial officiating played a decisive role in ending their World Cup dream. The debate surrounding the VAR decisions is now likely to continue long after the final whistle.

Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez was in the thick of things again for Argentina as they stunned Egypt 3-2 in Atlanta in their World Cup last 16 clash

What a difference four days makes. After Argentina had overcome a scare against Cape Verde to advance to the World Cup round of 16, MEN Sport rightly sung the praises of Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez. While his nation may have looked to Lionel Messi for inspiration, it was Martinez at both ends of the pitch who delivered the victory.

Fast forward to Tuesday evening and it was Martinez in the spotlight but this time, for all the wrong reasons. He was easily beaten in the air for Yasser Ibrahim’s opener before losing sight of Mostafa Ziko to put Egypt on the brink of qualification.

Martinez’s defensive partner Cristian Romero reduced the arrears with 11 minutes of normal time remaining and while Argentina eventually managed to scrape through, it did not save the defensive duo from Gary Neville’s cutting criticism.

“You watch Romero and Martinez, and they’re the best ‘worst centre-halves’ in the world,” he told ITV Sport post-match.

“You watch them, they give goals away constantly. But they don’t care about giving goals away because they’ll score goals at the other end. They have massive personalities and they keep going. Look, at that point in the game, you think Argentina are hanging on for dear life.

“They’re fighting for their lives and Romero is part of that comeback, you know what I mean? Why is he there? You always ask the questions: ‘Why is Martinez scoring in the last game? Why is Romero scoring there?’ Because they don’t give in and they fight, and they fight, and they fight.”

Some of those traits that Martinez has showcased at the World Cup, are what have made him an Old Trafford fan favourite. You can tell the passion he feels, every minute he is on the pitch.

And when it is channelled in the right way, you see magical performances like against Cape Verde or when he proved the critics wrong against Manchester City last season. However, this gung-ho approach has a time and a place, and that is not during a marathon, 38-game, Premier League season.

The issue for Argentina is that Martinez and Romero are cut from the same cloth. They both wear their hearts on their sleeve and neither man is afraid of jumping feet first into a tackle to spark a reaction.

But realistically, you cannot go a full season with two centre-backs like that. You leave yourself too prone to attacks and you simply cannot win every match 3-2.

That doesn’t necessarily mean there is no longer a place for Martinez in United’s defence. We saw last season that he can do well partnered with Harry Maguire who is perhaps the ‘yin’ to the Argentine’s ‘yang’.

The worry is that beyond next season Martinez, were he to stay at Old Trafford, would become the experienced head in that defence. Matthijs de Ligt could take on that responsibility but as we all know, there are questions as to whether he will return to the same standard he reached before his back injury.

Having a player like Martinez in your squad can be valuable, as he has shown in this tournament with some impressive defensive displays. But knowing when to be calm and provide a clear head at the back in order to keep a valuable clean sheet is equally as important, if not more so.

That’s the Martinez United need next season and if he can find that balance, which he managed against Cape Verde, the Reds will benefit.

Bollywood’s enduring love affair with sporting heroes

Ganguly’s career appears tailor-made for cinema

His legacy extends beyond results. Ganguly is widely credited with nurturing a fearless generation of cricketers, backing future stars such as Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan and a young MS Dhoni at crucial stages of their careers. His turbulent fallout with coach Greg Chappell, subsequent omission from the national side and inspiring comeback only added further drama to an already remarkable career, which later culminated in his tenure as president of the BCCI.

Are sports biopics actually successful?

Bhaag Milkha Bhaag and M S Dhoni: The Untold Story were also major commercial hits, with the latter crossing ₹200 crore globally and reinforcing cricket’s box-office pull.

However, not every sports biopic has succeeded. Films such as Azhar, Soorma, Saina and Shabaash Mithu underperformed, while 83, despite positive reviews and a reported ₹270-crore budget, failed to recover costs.

The genre’s track record shows that even celebrated athletes and iconic stories do not automatically guarantee commercial success.

Sports biopics: Budget vs worldwide box office

Why producers keep backing sports biopics

There’s a balance of factors when ranking the Big 12 coaches.

How do you judge a coach that overperforms with limited resources?

Or what about a coach with unlimited resources that can’t seem to deliver?

It’s a balancing act that’s not easy to do considering the lack of success the league has had in the Playoff. There’s no clear-cut favorite.

Here’s how I rank the Big 12 Coaches for 2026.

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1. Willie Fritz, Houston

It didn’t take long for Willie Fritz to lead Houston to a 10-win season.

Having that level of success at a program like Houston is distinguishable.

Imagine what he would do at a school with more resources.

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2. Kalani Sitake, BYU

A proven culture-builder with a strong foundation in place.

BYU football is a growing powerhouse in the Big 12.

Consistent success is hard to come by. Kalani Sitake knows how to get the job done.

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3. Kenny Dillingham, Arizona State

The Sun Devils are flying under the radar this offseason.

There aren’t any real expectations and the buzz is minimal.

But don’t be surprised if ASU exceeds expectations this year.

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4. Sonny Dykes, TCU

The run to the National Championship Game in 2022 was historic.

But with an up-and-down career, Sonny Dykes will be judged by what happens next.

TCU has the resources to compete. The onus is on Dykes to deliver.

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5. Joey McGuire, Texas Tech

The blowout defeat to Oregon in the Playoff is a stain on Joey McGuire’s resume.

Combined with the Brendan Sorsby disaster, it’s been an ugly period for Texas Tech.

With so much money to compete, the results should be better.

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6. Rich Rodriguez, West Virginia

A washed-up has-been. That’s what some would say about Rich Rod.

The truth is he’s one of the best coaches in college football.

He will get it rolling again in West Virginia.

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7. Brent Brennan, Arizona

This season could change the trajectory of Brent Brennan’s career.

Coming off nine wins in 2025, the expectations are raised. Both coordinators return along with a senior quarterback.

The stars may be aligning for Arizona.

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8. Scott Satterfield, Cincinnati

Momentum is building in Cincinnati.

The Bearcats are becoming competitive in league games after stumbling in their first few seasons in the Big 12.

It takes time to build a consistent foundation. With that now in place, the expectations to continually improve are real.

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9. Dave Aranda, Baylor

Willing to go for it on fourth down with regularity, Dave Aranda is unique.

But Baylor has been underperforming lately. The expectations for this year are muted.

The Bears might be in for another season of mediocrity.

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10. Lance Leipold, Kansas

It’s not easy to win at a place like Kansas.

Lance Leipold makes the most out of the resources he has available.

With an artificially low bar, the primary challenge is staying consistent.

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11. Scott Frost, UCF

With no benefit of the doubt, Scott Frost enters a critical year.

He led UCF to five wins in 2025. If he can deliver a bowl appearance this season, his job will be secure.

Frost’s past coaching record doesn’t exactly inspire confidence, though.

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12. Deion Sanders, Colorado

Colorado is trending in the wrong direction.

The hype around the program has faded.  Once the darlings of the college football world, reality has set in.

All it takes is one season to regain the momentum.

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13. Jimmy Rogers, Iowa State

After spending one season at Washington State, Jimmy Rogers took the opportunity that Iowa State provided.

He led the Cougars to a respectable 6-6 mark in his first year as an FBS coach.

Lauded for his results at the FCS level, the Cyclones might’ve made a home run hire.

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14. Eric Morris, Oklahoma State

The former coach of North Texas takes over for Oklahoma State. He spent three years in Denton, accumulating a career coaching record of 22-16.

He enters a big stage in Stillwater.

Keep an eye on the Pokes. The potential for a surprising season is real.

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15. Morgan Scalley, Utah

First year coaches are wildcards.

Utah is talented enough to compete in the Big 12. Yet, regime changes are never easy.

How Morgan Scalley navigates Year One will be critical.

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16. Collin Klein, Kansas State

Entering his first year as a head coach, the expectations outside of Manhattan are low.

Without any experience to judge, it’s hard to handicap Collin Klein and Kansas State’s season.

Perhaps the Wildcats overperform under his leadership.

Miller covers College Basketball and College Football as well as Formula 1 racing as a Senior Writer and Assistant Editor for SuperWest Sports.

Latest posts by Dane Miller (see all)

France‘s World Cup campaign has already tested their firepower, patience and nerves, but Thursday’s quarter-final against Morocco will offer Didier Deschamps‘ side something different: their first ​full football examination ‌of the tournament.

The meeting is a rematch of the 2022 World Cup semi-final ⁠when France ended Morocco’s historic run in Qatar, but this time the North Africans arrive not as surprise outsiders but as a confident, gifted side ‌who have been open about their ambition to win the tournament.

France reached the last eight ⁠after a 1-0 win over Paraguay, a game that demanded character and patience more than fluency. Paraguay sat deep, slowed the rhythm and forced France to find a way through a ​packed defensive structure.

Deschamps’ team did enough, with Kylian Mbappé scoring his seventh goal ‌at this World Cup, but the performance also underlined that the knockout stage is beginning to ask harder questions of a side whose attacking talent has carried them through much of the tournament.

Read more‘A joy to watch’: World Cup fans embrace Les Bleus as Deschamps finally takes the brake off

Against Morocco, the challenge will be different. ‌Mohamed Ouahbi’s side have shown they can suffer, control spells of possession and punish opponents with speed and precision.

Their 3-0 win over Canada in the ​last 16 confirmed the impression of a team growing into the tournament after coming through the group stage unbeaten.

Morocco had already shown their level in a demanding group, collecting seven points from matches against Brazil, ​Scotland and Haiti, and their performances have backed up their stated belief that they are not merely ​here to repeat the emotional charge of 2022.

France, by contrast, have yet ​to face a side with Morocco’s blend of technical quality, athletic intensity and self-belief. Sweden were brushed aside in the last 32, while Paraguay provided resistance ​without posing the same footballing threat Morocco are likely to bring.

Read moreWorld Cup 2026: Ounahi fires Morocco to quarter-finals with decisive brace

The quarter-final should offer the clearest indication yet of whether France’s attacking quartet can continue to bend the tournament to their will against opponents capable of hurting them in transition and testing their defensive balance.

They will probably be without midfielder Aurélien Tchouameni, who has been suffering ⁠from a muscle injury, while Morocco are expected to be without key striker Ismael Saibari.

Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, Michael Olise and Bradley Barcola ⁠have given France one ​of the most dangerous forward lines at the World Cup, but Morocco’s organisation and confidence should provide a more complete measure of the team behind the big names. 

(FRANCE 24 with Reuters)

People love to say “you can’t predict baseball,” and here’s another chapter in the long history of that being the case. There’s a major-league player who just became the first in the expansion era (1961-present) to record a hit in 12 consecutive plate appearances, tying the overall MLB record. He was in the No. 9 hole for the Royals, one of the worst teams in baseball, on Tuesday evening. His name? Tyler Tolbert. 

Tolbert was a career .247 hitter in 85 at-bats at the big-league level before he started this streak. In seven minor-league seasons, he is a career .246 hitter. If we were tasked with predicting who could get a hit in 12 straight plate appearances, we’d get deep into the hundreds before we even thought about him. But that’s why they play the games. 

Things started innocently enough on Saturday against the Phillies with a weak infield hit. He then singled on a grounder with eyes to right field before being removed from that game. On Sunday, he didn’t even play. Monday, he was back in the lineup as Kansas City closed out its series with Philadelphia. Tolbert singled on another grounder, doubled on a line drive to the gap to drive home a run, before powering up for a home run. It was the first of his career. 

He singled two more times to go 5 for 5. 

Then came Tuesday evening in New York in a wild 16-12 win over the Mets. Tolbert was slotted ninth in the Royals’ lineup. He hit a two-run home run in the second inning. 

Hey, when you’re hot, you’re hot. 

Tolbert would single in the fourth, reach on another infield single in the fifth and then yet another infield single in the sixth. 

And, are you ready for this? In the seventh inning, he had another infield single to tie the all-time record. This was in the midst of the Royals turning a 9-4 deficit to the Mets into a 16-9 lead, by the way. 

That’s 12 consecutive plate appearances with a hit for Tolbert. That tied him for the MLB record.  

The MLB record for consecutive hits in at-bats is 12, which was done by Johnny Kling in 1902, Pinky Higgins in 1938, Walt Dropo in 1952 and Juan Miranda in 2024. If we made the requirement plate appearances, it’s just Kling and Dropo at 12. And now Tolbert has joined the latter group. 

Tolbert came to the plate again in the ninth inning with a chance to break the record, but he flied out to right field. He was unable to hold it all for himself, but he still made history and became part of the MLB record book.

Tolbert’s batting average this season was .200 before the streak. It is now .396. Gotta love those small-sample jumps.

Further, Tolbert has back-to-back five-hit games. The list of players in MLB history with back-to-back five-hit games isn’t very long. It had previously only happened twice: Hi Myers for the Brooklyn Robins in 1917 and Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente with the 1970 Pirates. Tolbert has joined them with two straight five-hit games. 

What an incredibly unlikely run.