Djokovic and Messi shine at 39 with historic wins

On a day that showcased the enduring brilliance of two sporting icons, Novak Djokovic and Lionel Messi each delivered historic performances on July 7, 2026. Djokovic, 39, survived the longest Wimbledon quarterfinal in the tournament's history, a five-hour and 15-minute marathon against Felix Auger-Aliassime to advance to the semifinals. Simultaneously, across the Atlantic, 39-year-old Lionel Messi scored a goal and provided an assist to lead Argentina to a comeback victory over Egypt in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16.

Djokovic's grueling 6-7(10), 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(4), 7-6(10) victory on Centre Court tested his physical and mental limits. After the match, a journalist noted the parallel of both athletes excelling at 39, prompting Djokovic to offer a wry response. He said he would like to play 90 minutes like Messi, but his comment underscored the open-ended, physically demanding nature of best-of-five-set tennis compared to football's fixed match duration.

The Serbian star acknowledged the immense challenge of his win, stating he prevailed with a racket and a lot of heart. He described managing extreme tension in a match that felt like anybody's game until the final point, adding...