Messi scored 5 goals in first 2 World Cup games
Lionel Messi scored five goals in Argentina's first two World Cup matches, a stunning display that Ben Rhodes called unbelievable.
Where this was said
The World Cup: Joy, Underdogs, and Soft Power for Humanity
At 1:02:55 · chapter starts 54:25
The mood lifts completely as Tommy and Ben turn to the FIFA World Cup, which both say they're addicted to. Tommy describes attending the US-Paraguay game, calling it the best experience ever, while both marvel at the US team looking serious in the tournament for the first time. The real story, though, is Cape Verde: a tiny island nation of half a million people, 350 miles off West Africa, holding Spain to a draw and then Uruguay to a draw. [1] — Tommy Vietor "Cape Verde — a half-million-person island nation 350 miles off West Africa — held Spain and Uruguay to draws. Their 40-year-old goalkeeper …" 1:00:30 Their 40-year-old goalkeeper went from 50,000 to 15 million Instagram followers overnight; one player almost ignored the national coach's LinkedIn DM as spam. Ben adds Messi's 5 goals in 2 games, France looking lights out with Mbappé, and the DRC drawing Portugal. [2] — Ben Rhodes "Messi scored 5 goals in first 2 World Cup games: Lionel Messi scored five goals in Argentina's first two World Cup matches, a stunning disp…" 1:02:55 But the fan videos are what's capturing everyone's hearts. Tommy and Ben watch a compilation showing Norway fans rowing in Times Square, Scottish Tartan Army fans marching through Little Havana, English fans singing Sweet Caroline at a Texas rodeo, a Scot in a kilt rollerblading through Miami, and Uzbeki fans riding into Houston's stadium on horseback in full traditional dress. Iranian players left a locker-room note in LA reading 'we came with pride, competed with honor, and leave with dignity.' Ben says this is soft power for humanity itself — every country winning at once.
Colombia's 'El Tigre' Wins — Latin America Shifts Right
Right-wing candidate Abelardo de la Espriella won Colombia's presidency by less than one percentage point, promising jungle mega-prisons and a militarized drug war. With Ecuador and El Salvador already in the same camp, the only firewall is Brazil's October election.
Colombia election decided by less than 1 point
Right-wing candidate Abelardo de la Espriella 'El Tigre' won Colombia's presidential runoff by less than one percentage point — 49.66% to 48.7% — in a deeply divided country.
The World Cup as Soft Power for Humanity
The World Cup is producing extraordinary moments of cross-cultural joy: Scottish fans marching through Little Havana, Uzbek fans riding into Houston's stadium on horseback, Iranian players leaving a heartfelt locker-room note in LA. Ben Rhodes calls it soft power not for any one country — but for humanity.
Cape Verde: The World Cup's Greatest Underdog Story
Cape Verde — a half-million-person island nation 350 miles off West Africa — held Spain and Uruguay to draws. Their 40-year-old goalkeeper went from 50,000 to 15 million Instagram followers. One player thought the national team's LinkedIn outreach was spam. This is what the World Cup is for.
Cape Verde: 40-year-old goalie, 50K to 15M followers
Cape Verde's 40-year-old goalkeeper helped hold both Spain and Uruguay to draws at the World Cup, and in the process went from 50,000 to 15 million Instagram followers overnight.
Similar snapshots
CrossFit athlete: top 2,000 worldwide
Thomas's wife is already ranked in the top 2,000 CrossFit athletes in the world — roughly the top 1% — and Thomas wants her to pursue the sport professionally now that he is graduating law school.
Athletes improve with mental rehearsal
Research shows athletes who mentally imagine practicing basketball or soccer have better performance than those who do not include imagination in their training.
~10 rounds dominated vs Usyk
Rico Verhoeven dominated approximately 10 of 12 rounds against undisputed heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk before a controversial post-bell stoppage.
Stopped after the bell
Rico's appeal confirmed the fight was stopped after the bell rang, and the ringside doctor found no concussion or disorientation — yet the result was never overturned.
Glory uses 5 judges vs boxing's 3
Glory Kickboxing uses 5 judges rather than boxing's 3, which Joe Rogan argues reduces the chance of a corrupt or incompetent minority swinging the result.
1 professional boxing match before Usyk
Rico Verhoeven had only one professional boxing match before fighting undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk for the WBC title.
15 years of boxing training
Despite having just one pro boxing match, Rico Verhoeven had been training boxing for 15 years alongside his kickboxing career.
6-month boxing transition camp
Rico used a full 6 months to transition from kickboxing stance to a proper boxing stance under trainer Peter Fury, calling it essential rewiring.
75+ kickboxing fights in career
Rico Verhoeven has had approximately 75 professional kickboxing fights, giving him a massive combat sports experience advantage over pure boxers.
