Yulo, Yape set for highest Asian Games cash bonus

Manila Times - Oct 5, 2026

GYMNAST Carlos Yulo and taekwondo jin Jeus Yape emerged as the top cash incentive earners among Filipino athletes who medaled at the just-concluded 20th Asian Games in Japan. Under Republic Act 10699 or the National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act, Asian Games gold winners will receive P2 million from the government while silver and bronze medalists will receive P1 million and P400,000, respectively. Winning two gold medals with floor exercise and vault titles, Yulo will take a total of P4 million. On the other hand, Yape will seize P2.4 million for his gold in mixed individual virtual taekwondo and bronze in the men’s individual poomsae. Yape served as the Philippine flag bearer in the Asiad closing ceremony on Sunday. Pole vaulter Ernest John "EJ" Obiena rose as the third highest earner from the Games with P2 million for securing a second straight gold in his sport. Obiena is also entitled to additional incentives after setting a new meet record with his 5.91-meter clearance. The Philippines finished in 17th place at the Asiad with four golds, nine silvers, and 16 bronzes which translate to P23.4 million in cash incentives. Meanwhile, Team Philippines coaches will also receive cash incentives amounting to half of the incentives of the athletes...

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Messi readies for final farewell

Oct 5, 2026

Messi readies for final farewell

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Lionel Messi will bring the curtain down on his glittering Argentina career on Tuesday with a farewell friendly against Benin that marks the dawn of a new era for the South American champions. After more than two decades of service to his country, the 39-year-old superstar will hand over the captain’s armband for good as he makes his final appearance in the Albiceleste jersey at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires. Messi will be joined for his international swansong by 85,000 spectators and several of the teammates with whom he reached the pinnacle of football at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, alongside members of Argentina’s emerging generation. The friendly marks a symbolic passing of the torch for a player whose international legacy includes a World Cup title, two Copa America crowns and the Finalissima. Messi also bows out as Argentina’s record appearance-maker and leading scorer, with 125 goals in 207 games, as well as a record 68 assists. His farewell comes two and a half months after Argentina’s ill-tempered World Cup final defeat to Spain in New Jersey, where Messi exited in tears after making little impression. “I gave it my all; I have nothing left to give, and besides, there are great young players coming up who deserve their chance,” Messi wrote when announcing his international retirement in August. Messi remains under contract with Inter Miami until 2028, although following the death of his father, Jorge, two months ago, he revealed he may hang up his boots for good sooner than anticipated. Members of Argentina’s 2022 World Cup-winning squad — the players who delivered the country’s third star — and their families will join Messi for Tuesday’s farewell against Benin, ranked 93rd in the world. Veterans of that Doha triumph such as Angel Di María, who retired from international football in 2024, will be there to witness the passing of the torch to a new generation charged with extending the Albiceleste’s golden era. Several of the newcomers, including Franco Mastantuono and Leonel Flores, were not even born when “La Pulga” (“The Flea”) made his Argentina debut in 2005 for a team whose history had for so long been dominated by Diego Maradona.