Lula Wins Brazil's Presidency Again, Machado Returns to Venezuela, and Soccer Crowns Its Best

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won Brazil's presidential election for a fourth time, beating his opponent in a close race that shocked markets and voters around the world. Lula's win came in the second round of voting, where he edged out right-wing senator Flávio Bolsonaro, son of former president Jair Bolsonaro. A higher-than-expected voter turnout helped push Lula over the finish line. Bolsonaro had led after the first round earlier that month, and many people expected him to win.

Bolsonaro refused to accept the result right away. He claimed there were voting problems and said he would take legal action to try to cancel the final count. He pointed to a decision by a Supreme Court judge who allowed voting to go two extra hours in some areas. Reuters reporter Oliver Griffin in São Paulo said Lula will face tough times because many members of Congress lean to the right and may not support his plans.

Brazilian financial markets had been doing well after Bolsonaro's strong first-round showing. Investors had hoped Bolsonaro would cut spending and ease business rules. But after Lula's surprise win, stocks in Brazil fell by around 10 to 15 percent. That reversed all the gains that had built up since the first round of voting.

In neighboring Venezuela, opposition leader María Corina Machado made a long-awaited return to her home country after nearly a year away. She won the Nobel Peace Prize last year and had tried to run against former leader Nicolás Maduro in 2024. Maduro's government blocked her from running and forced her to flee the country. But with Maduro out of power and a new, U.S.-backed leader in charge, Machado was finally able to come home on Sunday.

Huge crowds lined the streets as Machado traveled toward the capital, Caracas. One man along the road in Lara State declared that Machado would be his country's next president. Many Venezuelans hope she will help lead the country back toward democracy. Her return was seen as a powerful symbol of hope for people who suffered under Maduro's rule.

In Serbia, a student-backed political party scored a shocking win over long-time leader Aleksandar Vučić, who had been either president or prime minister since 2014. Students had been leading large protests against him since 2024, saying his government was corrupt and too controlling. Vučić admitted defeat on Sunday, saying it was clear he had lost. Tens of thousands of people celebrated in the streets of the capital, Belgrade.

In the soccer world, the annual Ballon d'Or awards honored the best men's and women's players on the planet. This year's ceremony was held in London for the first time in the award's 70-year history. England captain Harry Kane had a stunning season, scoring 73 goals for club and country — a number compared to the peak years of Messi and Ronaldo. Other strong contenders included Spain's Lamine Yamal and France's Kylian Mbappé, who topped the scoring charts in three major competitions.