2024) – The LA Galaxy today confirmed that midfielder Riqui Puig suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee and will miss the 2024 MLS Cup presented by Audi on Saturday The torn ACL was revealed in an MRI performed this morning Puig sustained the injury in the second half of the match continuing to play over thirty minutes despite his injury and providing the game-winning assist on Dejan Joveljić’s 85th minute goal His contributions led to the 1-0 win over Seatle Sounders FC in the Western Conference Final at Dignity Health Sports Park on Nov Puig will undergo surgery on a date to be determined The 2024 MLS All-Star recorded 37 goal contributions (17 goals 20 assists) in 36 matches played (34 starts) across all competitions for the LA Galaxy during the 2024 campaign In four matches played (4 starts) during the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs native finished the 2024 MLS Regular Season with 16 goals and 14 assists in 29 matches played (28 starts) The Business of FashionAgenda-setting intelligence analysis and advice for the global fashion community access one complimentary BoF Professional article of your choice Receive news, offers and invites from BoFOur newsletters may include 3rd-party advertising, by subscribing you agree to the Terms and Conditions & Privacy Policy Puig, the Barcelona-based company behind perfume brands Rabanne, Carolina Herrera and Jean Paul Gaultier reported an 8 percent rise in first-quarter sales on Monday The company reported €1.21 billion ($1.38 billion) in sales during the first three months of the year beating a FactSet consensus of €1.19 billion cited by Renta4’s analyst in a recent note The results come as analysts expect global beauty companies’ revenue growth to slow and with the looming threat of US tariffs that the Spanish company priced in to its annual revenue estimate Puig maintained its expectation for a slowdown in revenue growth to 6-8 percent this year following an 11 percent sales increase during 2024 partly due to tariffs in the US at current levels Chairman and CEO Marc Puig said the company expects any impact the tariffs may have will already be offset by the extra inventory Puig has in its US warehouses “Plus a certain price increase that we will be implementing during the year once the stocks are depleted,” he said during a call with analysts Puig may have benefited in the first three months from stockpiling in anticipation of tariffs but in the medium term it could be hit by the economic impact of trade protectionism Sales in its core fragrance and fashion business grew by 10 percent in the first quarter while the company’s make-up division fell 4.2 percent Competitor L’Oreal also reported a rise in first-quarter sales as strong demand for its creams and perfume in Europe helped counter challenging conditions in the US the Middle East and Africa and a third from the Americas where the company’s sales grew 12 percent during the first quarter By Corina Pons; Edited by Charlie Devereux L’Oréal Sales Rise Despite Challenging US Market The French conglomerate reported sales growth of nearly 4 percent on the strength of its skincare and fragrance offerings For more information read our Terms & Conditions facialists descended on New York City to set up treatment rooms for their celebrity clientele in a marketing exercise that is becoming common for skincare brands hoping to give their products a high-fashion gloss Art museums like the Met make $50 million per year in retail revenue What happens when beauty brands try to exit through the gift shop The company’s latest results show progress in cutting costs but projects a steeper slide in sales this year than previously anticipated will be preferred on CVS Caremark’s standard formulary Riqui Puig Approaches a New Chapter in His Professional Career After several successful seasons in Major League Soccer the Spanish midfielder is considering the possibility of returning to LaLiga His performance in the United States has opened several important doors in Europe Since his arrival at Los Angeles Galaxy in 2022 the former Barça player has delivered high-level performances  His technical quality and vision on the field have not gone unnoticed.  Now several teams are considering his addition for the upcoming market He has become a leader on the field and one of the media stars of the competition establishing himself as one of the best midfielders in the tournament The 25-year-old player feels that the time has come to face a new challenge Returning to one of the best leagues in the world is his priority one proposal clearly stands out above the rest His style fits perfectly in Spanish soccer.  Capable of distributing the ball with precision and generating play in tight spaces Especially for those teams that prioritize control and possession there is a club working decisively to secure his signing They believe that his addition can strengthen the project for the coming years They see him as an ideal solution for an important vacancy in their squad Everything will depend on the economic conditions put forward by his current club in the United States there is optimism in Spain regarding his return The footballer is also willing to make an effort His desire to compete at the highest level is firm The project offered to him is appealing both in sports and personal aspects The club in question is looking for an organizer for their midfield for the immediate future With one of their great references nearing the end of his career finding a reliable replacement is a priority The bet on a young but proven profile responds to this strategy Riqui Puig appears as the perfect piece to inherit that role and his ability to take on responsibilities fit the plan Everything indicates that his return is closer than it seemed a few months ago there is already a clear favorite to secure his services who are strongly betting on him as the future heir of Dani Parejo ➡️ Male Know thy enemy and know thyself; in a hundred battles according to ancient Chinese general Sun Tzu Wise advice and a good way to spend spare time while you wait for the next match at work we’ve picked out a few of the brightest stars the Galaxy have to offer ahead of MNUFC’s Conference Semifinal match against LA and we turned all our research into a couple of handy scouting reports let’s get to know the first name on the list: Among Major League Soccer’s most dynamic players Riqui Puig does a little bit of everything It’s hard to identify weaknesses in this midfield engine’s game as he covers an incredible amount of ground and performs every technique flawlessly for 90 minutes His tireless work rate has contributed to him racking up almost 500 more touches on the ball than the second-highest tally in the league as well as 200 more completed passes than the next highest player and Puig’s résumé starts to seem like a snub for the league’s MVP consideration Though he’s perhaps the most influential player in the league his 1v1 ability is not among his greatest strengths but that doesn’t mean he can stop them or get by them on his own That would make isolating him seem like a good strategy but he’s slippery on account of his constant A player this hard to pin down needs to be closed down quickly and firmly; if given too much space he’ll literally run riot and tire out the Loons’ two-man midfield But don't just take my word for it—check out some of Riqui's best moments this season to get a taste of what the Loons are coming up against: Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Former Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig is set to return to South Korea for the 2025 season after he revealed on social media that he signed with the Kiwoom Heroes The commitment will require Puig to leave his winter league team Puig, 33, has not played in the major leagues since 2019 when he batted a combined .267 with 24 home runs and 84 RBIs over 149 games with the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians In six seasons (712 games) for the Dodgers Puig batted .279 with 108 home runs and 331 RBIs finishing second in voting for National League Rookie of the Year in 2013 and playing in his lone All-Star Game in 2014 Puig batted .277 with 21 home runs and 73 RBIs he played for El Aguila de Veracruz in the Mexican League and batted .314 with 18 home runs and 43 RBIs in 64 games Puig became a United States citizen in 2019 that include multiple sexual assault accusations as well as multiple reports in 2022 that he placed wagers with an illegal sports betting operation Commerce Nearly all aspects of the company’s operations witnessed rising revenues to start the year By Zach James for Luxury Daily News Service Spanish fashion and fragrance business Puig is growing its global revenues Share your thoughts. Click here The two companies’ strategic partnership will extend until Puig assumes ownership and Charlotte Tilbury Limited will retain minority brand ownership until then Spain-based Puig has an extensive stable of owned, majority-owned and licensed fashion and beauty brands including Rabanne, Carolina Herrera, Dries Van Noten, Nina Ricci and Jean Paul Gaultier. The company’s May IPO on the Spanish Stock Exchanges was followed by a 27% reported profit drop in its first earnings after listing which the company attributed to “one-off IPO costs The company said in Wednesday’s release that Charlotte Tilbury Limited is the top-ranked makeup brand in the U.K and the top-ranked beauty brand “globally for influencer advocacy despite its highly selective distribution.” Puig added both companies are committed to continuing to growing the beauty brand moving forward “It is a privilege to continue our strong collaboration with Charlotte and her team,” Marc Puig differentiated from other makeup artist brands and was already redefining the future of makeup and skincare when we first started to work together in 2020 and it is with great pleasure that we announce the extension of our partnership.” chief creative officer and founder of her namesake brand added in the release that the partnership with Puig has been an important part of shaping her brand’s success “I am fully convinced of the value and potential that is still to be created and captured in the upcoming years by Charlotte Tilbury Limited,” Tilbury said “Continuing this collaboration with my team and Puig feels like a natural progression vision and ambition that have defined this iconic brand over the years This extended partnership is a significant step forward enabling us to further grow and solidify the brand’s position as a leader in the world of beauty.” Get the free daily newsletter read by industry experts While closing the duty loophole for low-value goods from China and Hong Kong may offer some benefits The partnership will feature an assortment of high-end men’s and women’s brands Want to share a company announcement with your peers The free newsletter covering the top industry headlines Nearly six years removed from his last MLB at-bat We don’t fault any baseball fans now learning the 2014 All-Star plays for the KBO’s Kiwoom Heroes they can thank Puig himself for trying to educate those who forgot all about him Puig posted a video Friday morning of him crushing a walk-off single against the KT Wiz you struggle and you are in your own head,” Puig wrote on X “Your own thoughts get so loud that you can hear nothing else.” Puig owns a .218 average with three home runs and a .644 OPS across 97 plate appearances He previously played in the KBO during the 2022 season mashing 21 home runs with a .841 OPS for the Kiwoom Heroes most baseball fans remember Puig as the energetic outfielder who burst onto the scene for the Dodgers in 2013 helping begin the Dodgers’ modern stretch of 11 NL West titles in 12 seasons Puig tallied 9.6 bWAR during that time and emerged as one of baseball’s premier young superstars He even appeared on the cover of Sony’s “MLB 15 The Show” ahead of the 2015 campaign Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig Puig never quite regained his old form and only totaled 8.2 WAR over the next four years and eventually lost the Dodgers’ fanbase Puig at least made his final days with the Dodgers count, hitting a three-run homer off Boston Red Sox lefty Eduardo Rodriguez in Game 4 of the 2018 World Series The Dodgers traded Puig to the Cincinnati Reds in December 2018, who subsequently traded him to the Cleveland Guardians less than eight months later He’s since bounced around the world We’ll see if he ever makes it back to the majors though we’re understandably skeptical given how long it’s been.  2016 Olympic gold medalist Monica Puig is going to be a mom. The 31-year-old announced on social media on Saturday that she and her husband, Nathan Rakitt, are expecting a daughter this summer. Posting a photo of herself and Rakitt holding a sonogram photo on Instagram, the former World No. 27 wrote that the pair is "so excited to jump into our most exciting adventure yet." The couple married in 2022 after reconnecting as adults, as Puig first met Rakitt, a former Georgia Tech University player, at a tennis academy when they were both 15 years old. Since her retirement from tennis nearly three full years ago, Puig has joined Rakitt, an avid runner, in finishing multiple marathons, and has also competed in Ironman triathlons with his support. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mónica Puig (@monicaace93) Puig famously became the first Puerto Rican to win a gold medal in any sport when she stormed to the top of the podium in Brazil almost a decade ago in her Olympic debut Puig topped seeded players including Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova Garbiñe Muguruza and Petra Kvitova before defeating No 2 seed Angelique Kerber -- the reigning Australian Open champion and World No.1 later that year -- in the gold medal match who also won the 2014 Internationaux de Strasbourg peaked at her career-high ranking in the fall of that season but cumulative injuries -- including major shoulder surgery -- resulted in her premature retirement from the sport at age 28 She has also become a commentator in her post-playing career working as a broadcaster on Tennis Channel in the U.S "The LA Galaxy today confirmed that midfielder Riqui Puig suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee and will miss the 2024 MLS Cup," the club said in a statement. "Puig sustained the injury in the second half of the match and providing the game-winning assist on Dejan Joveljić’s 85th minute goal." Puig was instrumental for LA Galaxy's success in the playoffs with four goals and three assists total—including the aforementioned game winning assist against Seattle whilst already suffering the injury The former Barcelona player had by far his best season in MLS since his arrival in 2022 In 29 appearances for LA during the regular season becoming an integral part of one of the most dangerous attacks in the country Greg Vanney now faces the tough challenge of finding another player that can fill the void left by Puig in LA Galaxy's lineup, as the team prepares to host New York Red Bulls in the 2024 MLS Cup Final this coming Saturday Puig will undergo surgery in the coming days and a long recovery journey will begin for him He'll be out of action for much if not all of the 2025 MLS season I will be off the pitch for several months but am already looking towards and motivated to return stronger than ever and ready to continue making history in this club," the 25-year-old player wrote on social media A post shared by R I C A R D P U I G (@riquipuig) as the only major names that won't be available for LA Galaxy in the final on Saturday LA Galaxy will give much of the creative responsibility in the attacking midfielder role to summer signing the German has to step up and be the difference maker Reus has started six games since his arrival in LA and has just one goal and two assists since August but more is expected of him and now he'll have a chance to have a statement performance in the biggest game of the season in MLS Marco Delgado appears poised to enter the XI in place of Puig With Reus playing a more attacking role and Edwin Cerrillo as the midfield anchor the high-energy Delgado will likely play as a box-to-box midfielder to offer support and add balance to LA's center of the pitch Diego Fagúndez would be another option to enter the XI if Vanney wants to field a more attacking lineup leaving Cerrillo to be the only defensive midfielder to start the game LA Galaxy has more than enough dangerous attacking players to win the final on Saturday Vanney's decision on who replaces Puig on the lineup is significant and could play a major role in the team's ability to add a sixth MLS Cup Trophy to its cabinet ROBERTO CASILLASRoberto Casillas is a Sports Illustrated Soccer freelance writer covering Liga MX, the Mexican National Team & Latin American players in Europe. 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Please see our privacy policy for more information 2024 was a big year for Spanish conglomerate Puig, which went public on the European stock exchange in May and completed the acquisition of the Dr Barbara Sturm brand in January the company reported a strong finish to the year Revenues for 2024 rose 10.9 per cent to €4.7 billion on a like-for-like basis while fourth-quarter revenues were up 14.3 per cent to €1.36 billion in which we celebrated our 110th anniversary and became a publicly listed company driven by the exceptional performance of our core fragrance business and our core geographies the fragrance and fashion division (accounting for 73 per cent of Puig's net revenue) — comprising brands including Rabanne Carolina Herrera and Dries Van Noten — reported a sales increase of 21 per cent in Q4 and 13.6 per cent for the year Skincare (a portfolio including Dr Barbara Sturm Charlotte Tilbury Skincare and Uriage eau Thermale and making up 11 per cent of Puig's net revenue) was up 11.7 per cent in Q4 and 19.8 per cent for FY24 with sales down 7.2 per cent in the fourth quarter and 1.3 per cent for the full year 2024 – accounting for 16 per cent of total net revenue who highlighted on the call that the category’s setback was mainly due to a flat Charlotte Tilbury makeup performance thanks to difficult comps and recovery from a December voluntary withdrawal of the brand’s Flawless Filter Setting Spray Middle East and Africa (EMEA) — which accounts for 55 per cent of Puig’s revenue — rose 13 per cent in the quarter and 12.8 per cent in FY24 The US market performance (up 18.1 per cent in the quarter UP 11.1 per cent in 2024) was fuelled by fragrance As for APAC (representing 10 per cent of net revenue in 2024) Puig sales rose 10.2 per cent (in Q4) on a reported basis and increased by 3.7 per cent in 2024 versus 2023 Puig said this was largely due to newly created subsidiaries in Korea Fragrance and fashion continue to be the largest business segment for the conglomerate contributing 73 per cent of Puig’s net revenue Puig was bullish about the category’s performance in the last year and highlighted Jean Paul Gaultier as its fastest-growing brand The brand’s La Male line is a top performer among masculine fragrances Carolina Herrera’s Good Girl line was another leader in the category The group plans to remain heavily invested in its fragrance innovation pipeline for 2025 and the CEO is “very comfortable” with what’s on the way for the new year the CEO is cautious regarding the continued growth acceleration of the category and the global fragrance market as a whole He said growth percentages are slowing down (when comparing the group’s results alongside its competitors) since the pandemic Can we predict a scent slowdown on the horizon in 2025 CEO Puig said it's too early to determine “The desirability and strength of our brands and geographic footprint have enabled us to outperform the premium beauty market as well as our mid-term revenue growth guidance.” Comments, questions or feedback? Email us at feedback@voguebusiness.com Inside K-beauty’s second coming How beauty should prepare for a fragrance slowdown Can Louis Vuitton win in beauty? Inside the beauty dupe fightback The makeup industry needs a makeover. Can it pull one off? Sign up to our newsletter for a truly global perspective on the fashion industry 2024) – The LA Galaxy today announced that midfielder Riqui Puig underwent a successful anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructive surgery on his left knee Ramón Cugat at the Quirónsalud Barcelona Hospital in Barcelona Sustaining the injury in the second half of the 1-0 win over Seattle Sounders FC in the Western Conference Final on Nov Puig played over thirty minutes with a torn ACL and then provided the game-winning assist on Dejan Joveljić’s 85th minute goal native totaled 37 goal contributions (17 goals Puig finished the 2024 MLS Regular Season with 16 goals and 14 assists in 29 matches played (28 starts) In two and a half seasons with the LA Galaxy (2022 – Present) 2024) has recorded 29 goals and 32 assists in 82 matches played (79 starts) across all competitions was most recently named to the 2024 MLS Best XI and helped the Galaxy win their sixth MLS Cup (2002 2024) – Major League Soccer today announced that LA Galaxy midfielder Riqui Puig has been named to the 2024 MLS Best XI presented by Continental Tire which recognizes the league’s top players at each position as determined by members of the media tallied 13 goals and 15 assists in 29 games played (28 starts) for the LA Galaxy during the 2024 MLS Regular Season and led the league in touches (2,847) fouls suffered (83) and multi-assist performances (6) becomes the Galaxy’s league-leading 38th Best XI selection Puig was one of four players in MLS this season with at least 13 goals scored and 15 assists (Lionel Messi In four matches played during the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs including recording the game-winning assist in LA’s 1-0 win over Seattle Sounders FC in the Western Conference on Nov 30 to propel the Galaxy to their league record 10th MLS Cup appearance Puig totaled 36 goal contributions (17 goals 19 assists) in 36 matches played across all competitions for the Galaxy during the 2024 campaign In 82 career matches played (79 starts) across all competitions in three seasons with the Galaxy (2022 – Present) Puig has registered 61 goal contributions (29 goals native was one of four LA Galaxy players during the 2024 MLS Regular Season to record at least 10 goals which is the first time in MLS history that a team had four players achieve that feat in a single season Puig tallied a goal or an assist in 15 consecutive games played across all competitions at Dignity Health Sports Park as the home team dating back to March 30 playHow much will LA Galaxy miss Riqui Puig in MLS Cup final (1:22)Herculez Gomez and Mauricio Pedroza discuss Riqui Puig's ACL injury ahead of the MLS Cup final Puig carried on, and whether it be due to adrenaline or a desire to continue conducting the attack as he so often does, he provided a moment of extraterrestrial-like magic that decided an invitation to this weekend's MLS Cup final Following a turnover and a pass from teammate Mark Delgado, Puig rapidly received the ball, looked up, and perfectly placed a pass forward to striker Dejan Joveljić With a chance to move the Galaxy one step closer to their first trophy in 10 years the forward then scored the dramatic lone goal of the playoff game in the 85th minute But while the team soon celebrated after the final whistle, Puig looked distraught with his ACL tear requiring surgery and an extended amount of time off the field who was initially unaware of the severity of the injury was seen consoling the proactive midfielder who was in tears after the win "He was able to do things on one foot and protect the knee but still execute play," Vanney said ahead of Saturday's MLS Cup final against the New York Red Bulls but it was extraordinary how he was able to manage the situation." Of the all-time selfless acts in the history of the league few could top what Puig did against the Sounders but one lingering question remains: Can the Galaxy win their sixth MLS Cup title without their key figure And "key" is an understatement here for the stellar Barcelona academy graduate who has rocketed the league's once-sleeping giants to new heights which means that getting ready for Saturday won't just be about preparing for the Red Bulls but also preparing for the significant absence in the starting lineup So what exactly will the Galaxy be missing Puig's finesse style and forward-thinking approach clearly have him passing the eye test but what do the numbers say about the diminutive but bustling starter the 2024 member of MLS' Best XI was ranked at No 1 across all players in the regular season when it came to touches (3,368) pass completions (2,425) and carries (2,524) He's also second in the league in through-balls (30) fifth in total shots (107) and tied for seventh in goal contributions (29) After tearing his ACL in the Western Conference final Riqui Puig will be absent from the LA Galaxy lineup at MLS Cup. Shaun Clark/Getty ImagesSimply put: He creates a colossal amount of attacking output "We're definitely going to miss Riqui out there everyone can see that," Delgado said to media on Tuesday He just brings something completely different." With GM Will Kuntz serving as the architect that has cleverly built around Puig as the base that output has catapulted the Galaxy from fan protests and a position at fourth-worst in 2023 to finalists and supporter jubilation just one season later "If you would've told me last year that the LA Galaxy would be in the MLS Cup we've waited 10 long years to reach this point to frustrations in management and player signings This season has been one of the best as a supporter you can feel the vibe from the stands to the players and from the players to the stands." Those players and countless others have also been part of a promising project that is growing under Vanney and his staff Nobody can truly recreate the talents of Puig who was gaining momentum with eight goals and seven assists in his past 10 appearances Herculez Gomez and Cristina Alexander debate the biggest storylines and break down the best highlights that soccer in the Americas has to offer. Stream on ESPN+ (U.S. only) "He's the ultimate competitor," Vanney said and he wants responsibility out on the field...when you look at the end of a stat sheet on any given day who are probably overanalyzing the Galaxy's handful of Puig-less performances in 2024 Vanney is currently keeping his altered set of cards close to his chest "Nothing that I want to share for the opposition specifically but it's going to be a different type of player than Riqui," said the Galaxy coach on Tuesday about upcoming changes in the starting lineup I also look at Red Bulls and see them as a little bit of a unique competitor because of their pressing and they want to be disruptors as much as they want to be creators in many ways." The health of some recovering options like Reus and Delgado will be a factor but as opposed to simply placing another player in the Puig role the workload will have to be redistributed or tinkered with against the Red Bulls "Playing in front of family, definitely it hits a special spot," the midfielder said ahead of the championship game. "[It's] something I don't take lightly, just all a lot more of a reason to just get out there and give everything I have just to show and put on for my city and my family." play1:28Is NY Red Bulls' MLS Cup playoff run a fluke?Mauricio Pedroza assesses the New York Red Bulls' playoff form ahead of the MLS Cup final. No matter what combination is selected, the Galaxy still have enough to be the slight favorites on Saturday. The fact that they aren't immediately the underdogs is a testament to what Kuntz has put in with the roster rebuild. It's also not as if the Galaxy collapsed during the handful of games that their Spanish star was unavailable either: The Galaxy lost just one of the five matches in which Puig was absent. "In a season that is 34 games long, plus we had to go through it three to four games without Riqui during the course of the season, we were able to be successful to find the right formula with this group in those moments," Vanney said. "It's never something that we wanted, but we at least have something to look back on." As difficult as the injury is for Puig, he isn't going to vanish altogether. The emotional toll is a heavy one, but it's clear that he'll continue to back the team in any way he can off the field. "He's devastated," Vanney said. "To work as hard as he has, and to care as much as he does about being in this moment, this is what he came here for, is to be in this game that's coming up and to win a championship. That's what he's been driven and motivated by and so you can imagine it's difficult. "It's going to be hard for him, but he's going to be positive for the group. I can already see that in the messages he's sent the group. So he's there and the group's going to want to fight for him on the weekend, too." That group is also cognizant that one single star, no matter how bright, doesn't define a galaxy. As much as the injury has hurt Puig's teammates, there's a sense of rechanneling those feelings into extra motivation for a much-desired trophy after escaping a recent worrisome period. Practically playing on one leg, Riqui Puig helped lead the Galaxy to the Western Conference Championship last Saturday. Ronald Martinez/Getty Images"We have to move forward, the game stops for no one, and we just gotta sort it out," Delgado said. "Our heart is with him and [that] definitely gives us just another reason to go out there and give it our all for him." The absence will also be a tough one for the wider MLS fanbase. When watching Puig dart around like a furious bee, hell-bent on only thinking of attack-minded soccer, it's easy to feel reminded of why so many fall in love with the sport in the first place. It's a genuine joy to see him play so freely, and for those watching from home or in the stands, there will undoubtedly be a void that's the size of a black hole in the Galaxy lineup. For supporters or for the club itself, this vacancy can feel more akin to a cataclysmic supernova that has created a crisis as those in charge figure out what to do with the remnants of the impact of their fallen star. Here's the thing about supernovas, though: What can often be left behind is material that can create new celestial lights. And on Saturday, there will be opportunities for others to shine on the most prominent stage in MLS. "Even with the injury to Riqui, I feel like this team is just destined to lift the title," said Castillejo, the longtime supporter. "The universe has aligned all the stars to add the sixth one to the LA Galaxy crest." Tap to enable a layout that focuses on the article He will undergo surgery soon and is expected to be out until next summer at least And that leaves the Galaxy searching for a replacement for their most irreplaceable player “We’re definitely going to miss Riqui,” midfielder Mark Delgado said Tuesday He just brings something completely different that nobody can really bring The game stops for no one and we just have to sort it out Loyal fans had seen enough of the Galaxy’s mediocrity and an orchestrated boycott got the attention of the team’s ownership “It’s going to be a different type of player than Riqui,” Vanney said. “Marco, we’ll see how his health is as the week progresses. Diego gives us a little bit of the option that we saw before. I also look at the Red Bulls [and] see them as a little bit of a unique competitor because of their pressing. “We’re working through, talking through, the right personnel to try to approach the game.” The Red Bulls, 11-14-9 in the regular season, finished seventh in the Eastern Conference table but went on a run in the playoffs, sweeping the defending MLS champion Columbus Crew in the best-of-three first round, then shutting out New York City and Orlando City in elimination games to become the lowest-seeded team ever to reach the Cup final. The Red Bulls, who won just two of their final 14 regular-season games, dating to June 22, have given up only two goals in the postseason, with goalkeeper Carlos Coronel pitching three shutouts and making 19 saves. The only team to finish the regular season with a losing record before winning the league title was Real Salt Lake (11-12-7), which beat the Galaxy on penalty kicks in 2009. The Red Bulls, an original MLS team, have never won the MLS Cup, losing the only final in which it played in 2008. That game was also played in Carson. Improving their chances in this one is the fact that the Galaxy won’t have Puig, who scored a career-high 13 goals and had a team-high 15 assists in the regular season, the 28 goal contributions in 29 games ranking 10th in MLS. He also led the league in touches and passes, making him the motor of the only team in MLS history to have four players finish with 10 or more goals. Galaxy forward Riqui Puig controls the ball during a playoff win over Minnesota on Nov. 24. (Shaun Clark / Getty Images) And he was even better in the playoffs, scoring four goals and getting three assists, contributing to the scoring in all four Galaxy wins. Including playoffs, Puig has had a goal or assist in 12 of his last 15 MLS games dating to mid-July. The Galaxy had a winning record in the five MLS games Puig missed this season, going 3-1-1, but the team averaged just 1.6 goals in those five games as opposed to 2.33 when Puig played. Puig torn the ligament in his left knee early in the second half of Saturday’s conference final on a non-contact play. In the 60th minute, Seattle’s Cristian Roldan brought Puig down with a heavy tackle just outside the Sounders’ penalty area, drawing a yellow card and leaving Puig writhing on the ground and clutching his left knee. Puig eventually made his way to the Galaxy bench, where he was briefly attended to by trainer Cesar Roldan, Cristian’s brother. But three minutes after the Roldan tackle, while racing Seattle’s Pedro de la Vega for a loose ball, Puig’s left leg gave way and he went down untouched. That was when the injury occurred although Puig played on, setting up Dejan Joveljic’s game-winning goal in the 85th minute. “It was a pretty straightforward ACL tear,” Vanney said. “I think, given the moment, the adrenaline, the competitor inside of him, I don’t know if he completely knew that. “He felt like his knee was a little unstable, he felt some clicking. But he didn’t necessarily hear or feel like a pop, which sometimes is an indication. I actually didn’t even know that he had a knee issue.” Galaxy The Galaxy probed the stout Seattle defense before Dejan Jovelic scored in the 86th minute, beating the Sounders and clinching a spot in the MLS Cup final. It was obvious he was ailing; late in the game, after planting on his left leg to take a shot, he limped away, flexing the knee. After the final whistle, the seriousness of the injury became apparent and a tearful Puig gestured to his parents to come out of the stands and join him on the field, where they tried to console him. Vanney also embraced and comforted Puig, who was then wearing a towel over his head. “Emotionally, he’s devastated,” Vanney said. “This is what he came here for, to be in this game and to win a championship. That’s what he’s been driven and motivated by.” Vanney has some experience with devastating injuries. He was named to the U.S. World Cup team in 2002 but missed the tournament after being injured in one of the final warm-up games. “I understand a little bit the devastation that comes with it, and I hope to try to be a resource for him,” he said. “But it’s going to be hard for him. I can already see that the messages he sent the group, so he’s there, and the group’s going to want to fight for him. Because he’s certainly helped us to get here.” Puig, 25, an MLS all-star, was named to the league’s postseason Best XI Tuesday. He emerged as one of the league’s most dynamic and influential players after the Galaxy paired him with speedy wingers Joseph Paintsil and Gabriel Pec this season. The three designated players, nicknamed “The Killer Ps,” combined for 39 goals and 39 assists during the regular season, making them the most productive trio in the league. Kevin Baxter writes about soccer and hockey for the Los Angeles Times. He has covered seven World Cups, five Olympic Games, six World Series and a Super Bowl and has contributed to three Pulitzer Prize-winning series at The Times and Miami Herald. An essay he wrote in fifth grade was voted best in the class. He has a cool dog. Soccer Subscribe for unlimited accessSite Map playDejan Joveljic's late winner sends LA Galaxy to MLS Cup final (1:04)Dejan Joveljic's 85th-minute winner earns LA Galaxy a 1-0 win over Seattle Sounders to win the Western Conference playoffs The LA Galaxy announced on Sunday that midfielder Riqui Puig tore the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee during the Western Conference final against Seattle Sounders FC on Saturday night at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson The player underwent testing on Sunday morning Puig will now miss the MLS Cup final on Dec. 7, when the LA Galaxy host the New York Red Bulls but am already looking towards and motivated to return stronger than ever and ready to continue making history in this club," Puig wrote on social media on Sunday "Thank you to everyone for your messages of support and love they truly give me strength to tackle this recovery I'm so proud of how hard we've fought to get here and I know my teammates will give their all to bring the trophy home." The midfielder sustained the injury during the second half of the match but continued playing for over 30 minutes in the 1-0 win over the Sounders despite the discomfort in his left knee Riqui Puig leaves the field in pain after the LA Galaxy's playoff win over the Seattle Sounders. Getty ImagesPuig's even assisted the game-winning goal by Dejan Joveljic in the 85th minute of the match with a torn ACL He is set to undergo surgery at a later date The former Barcelona player was an integral part of the Galaxy's success throughout the postseason, recording four goals and four assists in four matches. Prior to the playoffs, he managed 16 goals and 14 assists in 29 MLS matches to propel the Galaxy to second place on the Western Conference table with 64 points and a 19-8-7 (W-L-D) record The Galaxy's road to the MLS Cup final included wins over the Colorado Rapids in the first round Minnesota United in the Western Conference semifinal and the Seattle Sounders in the conference final The team returns to the final for the first time since 2014, when the Galaxy triumphed 2-1 over the New England Revolution to win their sixth MLS Cup Tomás Puig is the Founder and CEO of Alembic Technologies The technology was inspired by epidemiological models developed during the COVID-19 pandemic and has been applied to address the challenges of the marketing industry The platform provides real-time analysis of marketing campaigns empowering CMOs to make data-driven decisions to increase their impact on revenue.  Puig started his career at NASA’s Ames Research Center his creative side later beckoned him into film and advertising where his leadership on projects won four National ADDY Awards and two Cannes Lions Puig has helped propel multiple high-growth companies to successful exits including WP Engine’s acquisition by Silver Lake and Emarsys’ acquisition by SAP.  Puig’s diverse passions span the creative and adventurous He spent two years as a Bollywood filmmaker and trained his voice in opera His culinary journey includes professional training in San Francisco and Paris which he now applies to hosting an exclusive underground dinner party series He likes to race motorcycles on the track for thrills He indulges his love for Japanese culture in his downtime by collecting manga and anime For LA Galaxy superstar Riqui Puig MLS Cup 2024 presented by Audi is just the beginning The Spanish playmaker, who missed Saturday’s 2-1 win over New York Red Bulls with an ACL tear believes LA have another dynasty in the making The Galaxy's latest MLS Cup win was their record sixth overall and first in 10 years “I think we’re the best team in Major League Soccer,” Puig said Sunday during the club’s championship celebration at Dignity Health Sports Park “I think we need more room to add another star here [on the jersey crest] The 25-year-old FC Barcelona product – who produced 36 goal contributions (17g/19a) in 36 matches across all competitions this season including 4g/3a in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs – boldly envisioned earning a place along the statues of club legends David Beckham and Landon Donovan at DHSP’s Legends Plaza “I think another statue belongs here,” the Best XI midfielder said Concacaf [Champions Cup] and we’re here with this amazing group.” A rally fit for MLS Cup Champions 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 pic.twitter.com/RbL1nlUDyf Puig was the centerpiece of the Galaxy’s high-octane attack in 2024, starring alongside striker Dejan Joveljić and DP wingers Gabriel Pec and Joseph Paintsil The quartet entered the record books by scoring at least 10g/10a each – the first time an MLS team had four players score 10 or more goals in a single season “I hope everybody stays next year because we have a wonderful group,” Puig said Both Pec and Joveljić have been the subject of transfer rumors with the former linked to Premier League giants Arsenal and Liverpool in recent days Seemingly aware of the growing interest in Pec, Puig saved special praise for his teammate who won the 2024 MLS Newcomer of the Year award he deserves it,” Puig pointed directly at the Brazilian star “I think this guy is the real MVP of all the season 🍾🍾🍾@LAGalaxy // #MLSCup pres. by Audi pic.twitter.com/UemBwtjRh8 Whatever transpires in the winter transfer market, Puig will return next season – likely no earlier than the summer as he recovers from the ACL tear suffered in the Galaxy’s Western Conference Final win over Seattle Sounders FC The LA fan favorite wants to keep DHSP a fortress with the Galaxy going 17W-0L-4D at home and lifting MLS Cup during a year to remember "I have to say that the fans helped us a lot this year we didn’t lose any game at home," Puig said "And I have to thank you from the bottom of my heart Five years after acquiring a majority stake in Charlotte Tilbury’s eponymous cosmetics company the Spanish fashion and beauty conglomerate Puig announced on Tuesday that it will extend their partnership to 2030 with Puig to assume full ownership of the brand in early 2031 we established a partnership that has been pivotal in shaping our success,” Tilbury said in a statement calling the extension “a significant step forward” in solidifying the future of her namesake business Chief executive and chairman Marc Puig hailed Tilbury’s “unique pioneering vision differentiated from other makeup artist brands.” The UK-based makeup label has “more than tripled” net revenue since Puig acquired a majority stake in 2020 sources valued Tilbury’s business at over £1 billion ($1.2 billion) Puig’s beauty portfolio includes fragrance brands like Byredo as well as licenses for Christian Louboutin cosmetics and Antonio Banderas perfumes It grew significantly with majority stake acquisitions in Charlotte Tilbury in 2020 and in the German premium skincare brand Dr Puig reported net revenues of €4.3 billion ($4.5 billion) in 2023 Puig Acquires Dr. Barbara Sturm The Spanish beauty and fashion conglomerate has taken a majority stake in the German premium skincare brand Editor’s Note: This article was amended on Dec The torn ACL was revealed in an MRI performed Sunday morning Puig will undergo surgery on a to-be-determined date Puig sustained the injury in the second half of the match vs. Seattle, continuing to play over 30 minutes despite his injury. He provided the game-winning assist on Dejan Joveljić’s 85th-minute goal "Today begins a new challenge," Puig wrote on social media "I will be off the pitch for several months but am already looking towards and motivated to return stronger than ever and ready to continue making history in this club "Thank you to everyone for your messages of support and love; they truly give me the strength to tackle this recovery." MLS Cup 2024 is set for Saturday, Dec. 7 at LA's Dignity Health Sports Park (4 pm ET | Apple TV - Free; FOX The Galaxy are the West No. 2 seed and host the resurgent New York Red Bulls (East No "I’m so proud of how hard we’ve fought to get here and I know my teammates will give their all to bring the trophy home," Puig wrote I’ll be cheering from the sidelines with the same passion as always Midfielder @RiquiPuig has sustained a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee. Puig sustained the injury in the second half of the match, continuing to play over thirty minutes despite his injury, and providing the game-winning assist on Dejan Joveljić’s 85th… pic.twitter.com/roTZASvPZ3 10 was among the league's best players in 2024 recording 36 goal contributions (17g/19a) in 36 matches across all competitions In four games during the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs The Spanish playmaker conducts LA's attack, which also features DP wingers Joseph Paintsil and Gabriel Pec, Joveljić, and German star Marco Reus. For MLS Cup, head coach Greg Vanney could turn to Reus and Diego Fagúndez as replacements Puig, 25, joined LA in August 2022 from boyhood side FC Barcelona. In May, the two-time MLS All-Star signed a DP contract extension through the 2027 season While no recovery timeline was immediately available Puig is expected to miss a significant portion of LA's 2025 campaign CARSON, Calif. – LA Galaxy were clear in their stance heading into MLS Cup 2024 presented by Audi They badly wanted their sixth MLS Cup title. But most importantly, they wanted to win it for Riqui Puig It was a powerful message in support of their primetime playmaker, who missed the club’s biggest match in a decade after tearing his ACL in the Western Conference Final win over Seattle Sounders FC On Saturday afternoon, the Galaxy made good on their promise, defeating New York Red Bulls, 2-1 “It’s really special,” said midfielder Mark Delgado "It was just more of a motivation and another reason to step out there and win this thing A brother of ours went down and we got to win this thing It took the hosts less than 10 minutes to establish the lead when Joseph Paintsil tucked his shot past the onrushing Carlos Coronel the Ghanaian international looked to the bench to grab Puig’s jersey and raise it toward the Galaxy faithful He has been fantastic from the beginning of the season until now,” Paintsil said postgame I cannot do anything for Riqui but just to show the appreciation for the love that he has showed us throughout the season All I can do is just to lift his jersey and show LA Galaxy that he is the man." Dejan Joveljić followed suit four minutes later doubling the lead and racing to the bench to hoist Puig’s jersey into the Los Angeles sky yet another clear indication of the motivation that losing their star midfielder had provided Puig was in the stands to support his side during the match and although he was unable to help the Gs claim their sixth MLS Cup with his on-field play the Spanish star expressed his gratitude toward his teammates’ willingness to represent and include him “Honestly, I’m very happy," the Best XI playmaker told MLS El Resumen postgame "I apologize for not being able to respond to almost anybody because it’s been really complicated for me to face this type of injury," the Spaniard continued And I think today the team played spectacularly.” an immense roar arose from the crowd and chants of “Riqui Riqui!” rang around as Puig was displayed on screens in the stadium LA's main man rushed onto the field to embrace his teammates and celebrate in front of a raucous DHSP crowd as a newly-crowned MLS Cup champion WHAT A MOMENT 🏆🥹@RiquiPuig and Marco Reus are #MLSCup pres. by Audi Champions! pic.twitter.com/57PVGgJj9B One of the league’s most entertaining talents Puig’s value to the Galaxy has been immeasurable The Spaniard netted 13g/15a during the regular season and was in fine form during the playoffs “This guy is unbelievable. One of the best players in the league, Riqui,” added Diego Fagúndez We’re with each other so much that we’re like brothers And it doesn’t matter if someone goes down Puig has added a dimension that has been crucial in bringing LA back to MLS’s pinnacle leadership and mentality were all key in helping his teammates believe the Galaxy were destined for glory “The first message that he said today before we were in the huddle … ‘don’t do it for me do it for each other,’ and that’s the right kind of mentality that we want to have," Fagúndez said LA Galaxy Midfiedler Riqui Puig has been named to Major League Soccer's Team of the Matchday for Matchday 37 following his two-assist performance in the Galaxy's 2-1 win vs Puig's two assists bring him up to 15 on the year in the MLS Regular Season It was also Puig's sixth mluti-assist game of the season Riqui Puig’s assist on the opening goal by Gabriel Pec in the 31st minute and assist on Forward Dejan Joveljić’s goal in the 76th minute makes Puig the seventh all-time assists leader for the LA Galaxy in MLS Regular Season play with 28 assists left to right): Oscar Ustari (MIA) - Pedro Santos (DC) Santiago Rodríguez (NYC) - Ramiro Enrique (ORL) LA Galaxy midfielder Marco Reus said he's "not sure" if he'll be fit and available for Saturday's MLS Cup final match against the New York Red Bulls I'm really confident that I will be there," said the Galaxy star during a media availability on Thursday Despite needing to recover from a groin issue that saw him play limited time in last week's 1-0 Western Conference final victory over Seattle Sounders FC Reus remains hopeful for a return this Saturday so tomorrow we have another day and then one more night It's a little bit the question of the timing but I'm pretty confident that we'll be fine," said the German playmaker The absence of Reus would mean a second prominent player out for the Galaxy who will also be without MLS Best XI winner Riqui Puig In the second half of the win over the Sounders Puig suffered an ACL tear that will require surgery and an undetermined amount of time off the pitch Missing an additional leader would put the favorites -- looking for their first MLS Cup trophy in 10 years -- in a tough spot we know how dangerous he is and we've seen what he's done all year long but we've played really quality players all year long as well," said Tolkin on Thursday but we also want to kick the s--t out of them [the Galaxy] I think we're gonna try and do that this weekend and it's what we've done all year long and I think we got to just hone in on that this weekend." Doing so also means employing a strategy in which the Red Bulls are more than happy to give up possession away from home at Southern California's Dignity Health Sports Park it's no problem because I don't like to try and break down a tough team," said Tolkin "Hopefully we can do that to these guys and pick up some loose balls some loose strings and get them on the counter and capitalize." The Galaxy are looking to extend their league-leading tally of MLS Cups to six while the Red Bulls are aiming for the first-ever after narrowly missing out in the 2008 final ESPN's Jeff Carlisle contributed to this story CARSON, Calif. – He won’t be in uniform on matchday, and he’s keeping a low profile as he pivots towards the surgery and lengthy rehabilitation process by which he’ll heal the ACL he tore in the LA Galaxy’s dramatic Western Conference Final victory last weekend Riqui Puig’s figure looms large over Saturday's MLS Cup 2024 presented by Audi against the New York Red Bulls just the same (4 pm ET | Apple TV - Free; FOX “We have to win for Riqui,” Galaxy captain Maya Yoshida told reporters as he and other key protagonists fielded questions during media day at Dignity Health Sports Park on Thursday afternoon The Spaniard’s catastrophic injury robs his team of its beating heart for the biggest game of the year opening up a hole too big for any one teammate to fill Yet it also provides another potent source of motivation for a side who’ve picked up a sense of destiny as they churn through the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs “I'm really sad for him, because this is also something that really means a lot to him. So for us as players, we are not only doing this for ourselves, we are also doing this for him,” said LA winger Joseph Paintsil revealing that he’d exchanged text messages with Puig about the group’s collective resolve to complete their championship quest at DHSP where they’ve yet to taste defeat in 20 matches this year just focus and just do whatever you need to do.’ And the kind of spirit that he gives us Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney was pragmatic in addressing the loss weighing how it will affect his team’s approach against the upstart Red Bulls “He's special and unique and he does special things for us He can turn a game on a dime in one quick play – he’s extraordinary “We're going to have to take up that slack in a collective way both with and without the ball and how we move the ball quickly and the things that we do in attack But also in the ways that we do defensively in trying to clog things up but we’re going to need to do a little bit more of it [Saturday].” Vanney and his staff face a tricky lineup decision in their central midfield trio particularly given RBNY’s rugged pressing qualities sturdy defensive structure and counterattacking menace Riqui Puig tore his left ACL in the second half of the Western Conference final against Seattle Sounders.He continued to play and in the 85th minute assisted the winner to send LA Galaxy to the MLS Cup final 😲 pic.twitter.com/FKEbPQR4D4 Edwin Cerrillo has quietly been a vital stabilizing force at the No. 6 spot with defensive reliability that helps liberate the stars ahead of him to attack with confidence, and German star Marco Reus would be an important linking presence if he can work through the groin issue that forced him to leave last week's match at halftime “They’re just two different players,” said Diego Fagúndez on Thursday you can tell he's a young player with a lot of energy 'You look like you're playing in slow motion,' because he doesn't have the speed just shows a different quality of player.” Could LA continue with two offensively-minded No. 8s, perhaps with Fagúndez stepping into Puig’s slot next to Reus? Or will a tough, ball-winning presence like Mark Delgado be needed to help win the engine-room battles and limit the influence of Emil Forsberg, Lewis Morgan & Co “It's not a team that necessarily wants to have a ball but they're going to put you on your heels and you're going to try to make you defend in transition moments,” said Vanney of the Red Bulls “So making sure that we try to win the middle of the field is going to be really important How we set up our midfield and how we structure ourselves both behind our attacks but also just in defensive moments Eyes on the prize 🏆 pic.twitter.com/OcfEEotPCo The Galaxy were 3W-1L-1D in regular-season matches without Puig who was quite reliable in availability terms up until this knee injury It’s a very difficult circumstance this time around though Reus projected quiet confidence on Thursday “It was not so quite often that we play without Riqui in the season I guess the playing style will be a little bit different without him But I have really the feeling that the team knows how we’re going to play against [RBNY] because they will try always to stress us in every situation especially to [Gabriel] Pec or Joe [Paintsil]," Reus said “We have to make sure that we have to stay calm trust in our strength … We always can score goals with our offense it's a little bit the balance we have to find.” LA Galaxy Midfiedler Riqui Puig has been named to Major League Soccer's Team of the Matchday for Matchday 36 following his two-goal performance in the Galaxy's 3-1 win at the Colorado Rapids 10 to 13 goals in the 2024 MLS Regular Season to accompany his 14 assists in 31 games played The 25-year-old was instrumental in the Galaxy's come-from-behind performance in Colorado after LA trailed 1-0 at halftime Puig finished off a counterattack with a curling strike to the bottom corner to put the Galaxy ahead Puig put the game away with his second goal once more off of a counterattack with a similar composed curler Head Coach Greg Vanney praised Puig's performance following the comeback win: "As you guys have seen he's one of the best players if not the best player in the league at being able to pick up the ball and get himself facing forward Sometimes we open it up so he can drop a little lower and pick it up look through the lines and then guys are finding him as he's moving forward and now he's back on the ball but on the other side of the midfield and driving the attack in that way I think the commitment for him on those long attacks to then ride into that secondary space for the cutback or for something to set him up and getting himself into that box or the top of box gives him those goal-scoring chances he was able to come up with." Puig last made the MLS Team of the Matchday during Matchday 32 when he was joined by forward Dejan Joveljić and Vanney as the Team of the Matchday coach Forward Gabriel Pec, who made the Team of the Matchday for Matchday 34 and won the MLS Player of the Matchday honor for the same week landed on the bench for Matchday 36 after his one-goal and one-assist outing in Colorado Pec is now at 14 goals and 14 assists in his debut season in MLS with the Galaxy the Galaxy sit atop the Western Conference with 61 points from 32 games played six points ahead of LAFC at 55 points after 31 games played playLA Galaxy hoist trophy after record 6th MLS Cup (0:30)Maya Yoshida and the LA Galaxy lift the club's record sixth MLS Cup after a 2-1 victory over the New York Red Bulls Such was their exhaustion -- physical and mental -- that it was about all the energy they could muster The win marked the end of a 10-year drought between titles for L.A. and while it was the second MLS Cup for manager Greg Vanney it was his first with the Galaxy after being on the losing end three times as a player with Los Angeles the thought was the Galaxy was back as an organization But it needed to win to confirm their return to league heavyweight status it's about winning championships," he said He added: "These guys did it and they cemented their legacy [at] a club with incredible history and legacy and I'm proud of them [This] will bond them together as a group for forever." The domination continued through the 25th minute, at which point New York began to climb back into the game. Three minutes later, New York pulled a goal back through Sean Nealis from a goal-mouth scramble there was a sense that a long slog awaited the Galaxy That proved to be the case, and in the second half, it was up to the team's defense to carry the load. There were moments when the Red Bulls looked like they might catch the Galaxy at the tape, but thanks to the midfield and some perfectly timed tackles from defender Emiro Garces -- along with some missed chances by the Red Bulls -- the Galaxy were able to get across the finish line given that he had replaced the Spaniard on those occasions during the season when he couldn't play opting for Delgado and Brugman to flank Cerrillo in the Galaxy midfield It seemed a head-scratcher at first given that the trio looked to be more defensive in nature and would weigh down the lightning quick attacks that had become the Galaxy's trademark But Vanney had his reasons for his choice of players play0:42Joseph Paintsil puts Galaxy ahead with tidy finishJoseph Paintsil shows off Riqui Puig's jersey after opening the scoring for the LA Galaxy vs it's a tough decision because [Fagundez] has been incredible all year you have a guy like [Reus] who we weren't quite sure but we were hoping he was going to be ready," Vanney said "But for me it was coming down to the battles in the midfield the ability to again just win the middle of the park against a team like that especially early in the game when they usually like to have it really fast and pressing and disruptive they came out a little bit slower than I was expecting them to come out The Galaxy didn't dominate possessions to the degree that it normally does But the three delivered on the plays that mattered it provided some redemption for seasons that didn't go according to plan Brugman began the campaign still coming back from knee surgery the previous season Cerrillo had cemented his spot in the starting lineup at the base of the Galaxy's midfield triangle While he appeared in 22 regular-season games But Brugman got word Tuesday that he was likely to get considerable playing time I was excited to play for everything that we have done," Brugman said through a translator I dreamed it yesterday and I dreamed of something that I could give to the team and then I was able to do it and we were deserved winners for the game [and] how we played it." "He's been a top guy in our club and one of the leaders in our locker room For Delgado, the stakes were even higher. This is a player who grew up going to Galaxy games with this family. Even though he had won a title in 2017 with Toronto FC Yet the midseason arrival of Reus saw Delgado's playing time diminish a whistle from the referee was mistaken for the final whistle resulting in players and photographers swarming the field only to be waived off and returned to the sideline the difficulty of the match combined with the realization of a lifelong dream catching up with him standing in a corridor underneath Dignity Health Sports Park it was difficult for him to keep his emotions in check it was like I accomplished a dream for myself as a kid but I held them in and to finally hear the final whistle blow and come out on top play0:46Dejan Joveljic's off-balance finish doubles Galaxy's leadDejan Joveljic finds the back of the net while falling over to give the LA Galaxy a 2-0 lead over the New York Red Bulls in the MLS Cup the first whistle thinking the game was over People thought I was in pain because I landed on my shoulder Now I get the sixth star for this amazing club." Even Puig got to take part in the celebrations 6 for the number of MLS Cups the team has won It's a title that seemed far away at the beginning of the season The Galaxy was coming off a campaign in which it finished next-to-last in the Western Conference But a warp speed roster rebuild by Vanney and GM Will Kuntz not only got the Galaxy competitive again but it has them also at the top of the MLS heap Rahm and Puig walk together during the 152nd Open Championship at Royal Troon Kevin Yu with the Sanderson Farms Championship trophy Arizona State University men's golf associate head coach Thomas Sutton explained why expectations surrounding two-time pro winner So after coaches and teammates at Arizona State University labelled David Puig as a future Major winner within the first three months of the Spaniard stepping on campus in 2020 Spain had been winning long before he moved over to America Count victories at the 2016 Catalonia U18 Championship the 2018 Spanish U18 International and 2018 Spanish U18 Championship as well as a team success at the 2018 European Boys Amateur Championship That kind of triumphant habit only continued with the support of ASU behind him, with three college victories in just two seasons before Puig opted to turn pro and join the LIV Golf League in the latter half of 2022 It's fair to say that expectations - at least in relation to anyone associated with ASU - are high surrounding Puig with some chatter among the school's other graduates that he is actually more talented than two-time Major winner and 2024 LIV individual champion Current ASU associate head coach Thomas Sutton who arrived just a couple of months before Puig departed revealed that from what little he saw - combined with what others had told him - Puig's ability might outweigh that of almost every other Sun Devil Asked by Golf Monthly just how much potential Sutton believes Puig possesses but he came to college and when he plays well And there is something to be said about that There's different kind of players that play well all the time Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts "They thought he was a major winner within three months of him being here this guy is next level." We have alums that are on the PGA Tour that say that he is more talented than Rahm that is a crazy thing to say because Rahm is arguably the best or second best player in the world you're putting all these things together - you're going to win he's really close with a lot of our guys on our team and you just sit there and watch him hit balls and you're like A post shared by David Puig Corrius⛳️ (@davidpuigcorrius) he's a top-80 player in the world with just DP World Tour and Asian Tour starts There's not many people who have gone to LIV and their world ranking has gone like this [upwards] most guys are kind of experiencing the opposite." While Puig is not currently a habitant of the world's top-80 Sutton's point about his trajectory is true Having started life as a pro in 2022 as World No.1144 the Spaniard has made significant strides ever since first breaking into the top-100 after a T4th result at the DP World Tour's Alfred Dunhill Links Championship last year and going on to represent Spain at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games A post shared by RFEG (@rfegolf) Two wins on the Asian Tour have done nothing to harm his upwards momentum with success at the 2023 International Series Singapore and the 2024 Malaysian Open coupled with his regular team success as part of Torque and then Fireballs GC suggests ASU's feeling about their man could well be true But the Sun Devils coach insists that it's not just Puig who possesses the consistent quality needed to be successful on tour there is another unsung hero who recently broke through at the 2024 Sanderson Farms Championship Sutton said: "I think he [Puig] might be one of the top guys, but on the other side, you have a guy like Kevin Yu who is on the PGA Tour if you look in the top-20 in almost every leaderboard "You come watch him hit balls and he's never misses - three or four time All-American as well it's hard to say "you're for sure the best" but it'd be hard to put someone way ahead of [Puig] He graduated from the University of Brighton with a degree in Sport Journalism in 2017 and spent almost five years as the sole sports reporter at his local newspaper Jonny has interviewed several stars of the game Jonny enjoys learning as much about the game as he can and recently reached his Handicap goal of 18 for the first time He attended both the 150th and 151st Open Championships and dreams of attending The Masters one day you will then be prompted to enter your display name GOAL takes a look at some of the biggest storylines surrounding the defending champions ahead of the 2025 season LA Galaxy sort of chugged away last season. While all eyes were on Inter Miami and their spring to the Supporters' Shield, the Galaxy steadily picked up points out west. The only real drama came on the final day of the regular season when they were narrowly pipped to the top seed of the Western Conference by LAFC this was a well-rounded side full of quality and Dejan Joveljic added quality elsewhere And even though they looked wide open in transition at times the Galaxy had enough to pretty much outscore everyone else when it came to the playoffs Ahead of the 2025 season, things look different in Los Angeles. Puig is gone for a good chunk of the season after tearing his ACL in last year's playoffs but head coach Greg Vanney made it clear that the Galaxy will have their star man in some capacity this season There are issues elsewhere, too. Joveljic plays for Sporting KC now. Paintsil will miss nearly two months with a hamstring injury But there is good news. A full season of former Dortmund star Marco Reus should undoubtedly raise the levels while a couple of new signings should make things interesting for the experience that comes with winning things GOAL takes a look at the Galaxy and tries to answer some of the biggest questions ahead of their MLS Cup defense Use of this constitutes acceptance of our privacy policy The material on this site may not be reproduced except with the prior written permission of Rodman Media This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page despite not playing in the majors since 2019 Per Hector Gomez on social, Puig said the following: Yasiel Puig: "I hope one day @MLB can open up opportunities for me like they've opened up for others who have been suspended Many will say things about me that aren't true but I ask that you look at this: I've never been suspended for off-field reasons It's unclear what exactly Puig is referring to but he has dealt with multiple off-field issues over the last several years He was previously accused of sexual assault multiple times, settling those cases. He also had an issue involving an illegal sports gambling operation Now 34 years old, Puig is a seven-year veteran of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Guardians producing a 4.7 WAR in just 104 games for the Dodgers He made the All-Star team the following year and had three straight years of 20 homers or more from 2017-2019 Puig did not play in the COVID 2020 season He spent the 2021 campaign in Mexico and went to Korea in 2022 He played Winter Ball in 2023-2024 before going back to Mexico for the summer of 2024 He's currently playing for the Kiwoom Heroes in the KBO and went 2-for-3 in his first game ANOTHER OPENING DAY NOD: Chris Sale will make his sixth Opening Day start this season, putting him in a rare class among current pitchers. CLICK HERE: UNREAL STREAK: The Cincinnati Reds have one of the more bizarre streaks in baseball going as Opening Day nears. CLICK HERE: $1.1 MILLION CARD: A Paul Skenes rookie card just sold for $1.1 million, which is more than Skenes' actual salary for the season. CLICK HERE: Continue to follow our Fastball on SI coverage on social media by liking us on Facebook and by following us on Twitter @FastballFN LA Galaxy's Puig to miss MLS Cup 2024 with torn ACL LA Galaxy midfielder Riqui Puig in the club’s 1-0 Western Conference Final victory over Seattle Sounders FC on Saturday night Riqui Puig will miss MLS Cup and likely miss the majority of the 2025 season after tearing his ACL in LA Galaxy’s Western Conference win on Saturday It’s the most influential absence possible for this year’s title-deciding match We have a few thoughts and we’ve decided to publish the publishable ones that aren’t just us yelling profanities Puig apparently played the last 30 minutes of Saturday’s match with a torn ACL It’s an injury that presents itself in different ways in different circumstances for different people - some folks are unable to walk immediately some can go until they win the Western Conference final - but let’s just all go ahead and agree Puig’s game-winning assist in the 85th minute is an all-time great assist in MLS history now It becomes especially legendary if LA go on to win MLS Cup winning the conference with half of your anterior cruciate ligaments is gutsy as hell It’s hard to overstate Puig’s influence in attack We’ve talked about it a ton over the last couple of years but it’s worth repeating just how often Puig is involved in LA’s attack American Soccer Analysis keeps track of “touch percentage.” It’s exactly what it sounds like: A measure of how often a player gets on the ball relative to the rest of his teammates More than 1.1% more than second-place Héctor Herrera for Houston Dynamo FC If we look at just the attacking and middle third of the pitch Puig took a league-high 18.4% of his team’s touches There are only two seasons in ASA’s database (back to 2013) that saw a player take more than 18.4% of his team’s touches in the middle and attacking third who took 18.7% and 18.5% of Seattle’s touches in 2019 and 2018 The big difference is the Galaxy are in attacking phases far more often than those Seattle teams exactly 300 more than any other individual season in ASA’s database And yet he’s still one of two players with more than 2,000 passes to have completed more than 85% of his attempts All of the above kind of makes it seem like the Galaxy are doomed this Saturday But there are a few things that might ease some of the panic the Galaxy have some experience playing without Puig this season Diego Fagúndez spent time playing centrally during Puig’s early season absence and did just fine I called it “pretty much the most superfluous signing in MLS history.” LA’s already outstanding attack didn’t need Reus to be great He’s only made six starts for the Galaxy since arriving but he’ll likely be called upon to make a very He won’t have the same influence Puig would have but there are far worse options to turn to He’ll be up against a Red Bulls side that’s looked right at home sitting in a low block this postseason Missing Puig as a locksmith against that setup is massive but LA should still have opportunities to score Reus still has the talent to be a difference-maker The Galaxy will desperately need him to be one this weekend Red Bulls are close to their first-ever title and everyone not in New York is going to be talking about Puig’s absence if they win no one will really care that the Galaxy didn’t have Puig But the internet remembers this kind of stuff It doesn’t mean you don’t get your name on the trophy it just means you’ll have to deal with people pointing out you caught a huge break (or two or three or four) on your way to a title That’s a sacrifice New York fans are probably willing to make One of the true Cinderella stories in MLS history keeps getting help from a fairy godmother who is a little too invested in MLS Slowing down the Galaxy’s seemingly un-slowable attack just became more manageable And teams are always fighting through injuries… even if we’ve never seen an injury quite so devastating right before MLS Cup the shiny trophy ain’t gonna stop being shiny I’d just imagine there’s a small part of New York fans’ souls that wanted to take down the best version of LA It’s hard not to focus on the short-term with LA one win away from their first title in a decade Puig is going to be out for a significant chunk of 2025 We don’t know how effective he’ll be when he returns We don’t know what this Galaxy attack will be like next year and beyond If Gabriel Pec leaves for a huge chunk of money There’s a lot to be concerned about beyond Saturday A trophy would make all of that totally palatable though The Galaxy either get to use the “We pulled it all together and did it for Riqui” narrative and celebrate a title that will live on for years what could have been if we had Riqui” narrative until… pretty much eternity Hopefully Puig is back and healthy as soon as possible And it’s a serious bummer he won’t get to show why on the biggest stage G's up for the Cup.@LAGalaxy are back in #MLSCup pres. by Audi for a shot at a sixth title. 🏆 pic.twitter.com/AQo79GEEVb LA Galaxy stars put on a Hollywood show to begin their Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs campaign on Saturday night After fumbling the Western Conference No. 1 seed on Decision Day, the Galaxy bounced back emphatically behind the dynamic duo of Riqui Puig and Dejan Joveljić By the time it was over, the pair had helped LA equal the largest playoff win in club history with a 5-0 rout of the Colorado Rapids in Saturday's Round One Best-of-3 Series opener at Dignity Health Sports Park it is a special thing because I scored two goals and assisted one but that is not important,” Joveljic said on the postgame Apple TV broadcast “The win is important and I am happy we won 5-0 in front of our fans After assisting on the opener with a pinpoint corner kick onto the forehead of Joveljić, Puig marked a 13th consecutive home game with a goal or assist dating back to March 30 (totaling 9g/11a) It was the continuation of a stellar campaign for LA's Spanish standout who was the centerpiece of the club's attack this season with 13 goals and 15 assists in 29 appearances very good at being able to play on the move things like that,” head coach Greg Vanney said “Once the game opened up a little bit we have so many attacking weapons that on the run are so dangerous and the different movements create space for each other and it becomes very difficult to defend the waves of attack that are coming.” returning the favor for Puig with an assist on Galaxy’s third The pair then each finished off braces to round out the 5-0 thrashing Carrying the 1-0 series lead, LA will now have the opportunity to close it out with a win in Colorado on Friday (9:30 pm ET | MLS Season Pass) “I thought it was a very clean performance and probably one of the best [of the season],” said Vanney but it was definitely one of the best ones and at a good time said on Thursday the withdrawal was expected to impact performance of its makeup segment but was not expected to have a “material” impact on its overall full-year performance The company said that a routine product testing found an isolated quality issue in a limited number of batches It added that no other Charlotte Tilbury products were affected Makeup and skincare brand Charlotte Tilbury known for its “Pillow Talk” make-up collection was one of Puig’s top three brands last year Makeup contributed 18 percent of its net income in 2023 JPMorgan analysts said the withdrawal could have as much as mid single digit additional impact on makeup like-for-like growth in the fourth quarter They added there could be a potential spillover into the first quarter of 2025 depending on the speed of product replacement said it was confident in achieving its goals for 2024 including a stable EBITDA margin compared with 2023 Shares fell as much as 9 percent but recovered some losses and by 0902 GMT were down 3.5 percent among top fallers on the Europe-wide STOXX 600 index Puig Posts 11% Rise in Third-Quarter Sales, Beats Expectations Spanish fashion and perfumes company Puig reported an 11 percent rise in third-quarter sales on Tuesday beating analysts’ expectations after sector rivals posted disappointing results due to lower demand in China Family-owned global premium beauty and fashion house Puig has posted a net revenue of €4,790 million (US$5,077 million) in 2024 marking a year-on-year rise of +11.3% on a reported basis (+10.9% like-for-like) The company outperformed the premium beauty market despite a -0.8% negative impact from exchange rates Like-for-like (LFL) growth was driven by a +1.1% adjustment for hyperinflation in the Argentine Peso contrasting with the adverse effect recorded in 2023 Puig’s Q4 revenue exceeded that of the previous quarters totalling €1,362 million (US$1,443 million) while a negative FX impact of -0.9% slightly offset gains The hyperinflation adjustment for Argentina provided a +4.0% boost to LFL growth Puig Chairman and CEO Marc Puig said: “2024 was a historic year for Puig “We also continued developing our Makeup and Skincare segments achieving meaningful milestones such as the acquisition of Dr. Barbara Sturm and the extension of our partnership agreement with Charlotte Tilbury The desirability and strength of our brands and geographic footprint have enabled us to outperform the premium beauty market as well as our mid-term revenue growth guidance.” Puig’s core Fragrance and Fashion division emerged as the top contributor generating €3,538 million (US$3,750 million) in net revenue This segment accounted for 73% of Puig’s total net revenue reflecting a +13.6% increase on both a reported and constant perimeter basis compared to 2023 Puig’s fastest-growing brand Jean Paul Gaultier made its debut in the top 10 fragrance rankings while Le Male is on track to become the third-leading men’s fragrance line globally Good Girl by Carolina Herrera delivered a strong performance retaining its position as the number two global women’s fragrance line and marking a major achievement as the number one women’s fragrance line in the USA Niche brands also maintained strong growth with double-digit growth from Penhaligon’s the category sustained its strong momentum Excluding the impact of Argentina’s hyperinflation adjustment Prestige fragrances remained a key growth driver complemented by double-digit growth across all Niche fragrance brands Puig’s makeup business delivered €763 million (US$780 million) with a decrease of -1.3% on a reported and constant perimeter basis against 2023 Charlotte Tilbury posted flat growth after challenging year-on-year comparisons and specific sell-in/sell-out dynamics The makeup segment was weighed down by the weaker performance of some of Puig’s smaller brands This was partly due to the voluntary withdrawal of select batches of Charlotte Tilbury’s Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray in December The overall segment performance was also influenced by more challenging year-on-year comparisons largely due to the sell-in impact of Charlotte Tilbury’s Ulta launch in late 2023 and a slowdown in other makeup product sales across the portfolio Skincare sales grew strongly by +20% on a reported basis and +7.4% at constant perimeter compared to the prior year reaching €516 million (US$527 million) and accounting for 11% of Puig’s total net revenue Puig’s Dermo-Cosmetics brands maintained their strong performance with Uriage delivering double-digit growth This was supported by the successful launch of Uriage Age Absolu Serum and the accelerated growth of its hero franchise The company further diversified its portfolio with the addition of Dr Q4 Skincare sales grew +11.7% on a reported basis and +2.1% at constant perimeter year-on-year The category was impacted by a tougher comparison mainly due to Charlotte Tilbury’s pipelining into Ulta and significant product launches in the second half of 2023 EMEA emerged as the top-performing region with overall sales of €2,620 million (US$2,680 million) This marks an increase of +12.8% reported and +11.6% at constant perimeter compared to 2023 The sharp growth was underpinned by solid performance across all segments with EMEA emerging as Puig’s largest region in Q4 reflecting a +13.1% growth on a reported basis and +12.4% at constant perimeter Net revenues in the Americas reached €1,715 million (US$1,755 million) This marks an increase of +11.1% on a reported basis and +9.5% at constant perimeter versus the same period in 2023 The region posted a standout Q4 performance with revenues surging by +18.1% on a reported basis and +16.1% at constant perimeter largely due to sustained strength in fragrances across North America While reported growth in Q4 was impacted by a difficult year-on-year comparison from Charlotte Tilbury’s Ulta entry in 2023 the overall performance was reinforced by a +13.3% boost from the Argentine Peso’s hyperinflation adjustment reversing the prior year’s negative impact which contributed 10% to Puig’s net revenue sales grew by +3.7% for the year despite challenging market conditions The region also delivered strong Q4 results with a +10.2% increase on a reported and constant perimeter basis versus 2023 Puig’s growth was bolstered by the successful expansion into Korea with newly formed subsidiaries playing a key role Subscribe to our newsletter for critical marketing information delivered to your inbox The highly regarded Mette Engell is charged with elevating the travel retail experience for beauty lovers She replaces the much-respected Guilhem Souche President and Chief Executive Officer Stéphane de la Faverie says “Travel retail declined -28% organically [in Q3] and it continues to shrink as a percentage of our business towards the low teens.” Worse is to come in Q4 he adds but lower base comparisons and a “strategic reset” underway will help in fiscal 26 Club culture meets beauty retail: The second iteration of the YSL Beauty campaign exemplified how O2O engagement personalised beauty and retail theatre can converge to deliver high-impact beauty experiences in travel retail Copyright © The Moodie Davitt Report | Website by Yellowball We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website Please click on one of the buttons below to accept We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze how you use this website and provide the content and advertisements that are relevant to you These cookies will only be stored in your browser with your prior consent You can choose to enable or disable some or all of these cookies but disabling some of them 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scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text + " Ricardo Jiménez Hernández The greatest asset for any listed company is investor confidence It is the fundamental pillar that encourages fund managers to invest their money But companies often believe that their best asset is to keep the share price as high as possible because the stock price is the consequence of many factors that are outside companies’ control – from regulatory risks to geopolitical factors and interest rate levels has a direct impact on a company’s ability to access markets and obtain financing volatility and the market value of companies It affects above all the propensity to invest and take risks Building trust is a process that starts even before going public – something we have seen play out in recent months Puig Brands was the largest IPO in Europe in 2024 so far operating in the fashion and beauty sectors delivered a good communication campaign throughout the IPO process that made it a ‘must have’ stock which made it a candidate to join the IBEX 35 index Its size ensured the liquidity needed by large funds to be able to buy and sell without significantly altering the price The family-controlled company was placed in May at the maximum price of the valuation range which automatically generates an additional demand for shares that helps to maintain or increase the share price in the short – or rather very short – term where net result fell by 26.5 percent compared to the previous year in part due to the IPO expenses themselves In the best tradition of bad stock market stories the share price fell by 13.65 percent that day The exit of investors and the poorer outlook for the business led to a further decline to €18 ($19.61) compared to a listing price of €24.5 – down almost 25 percent A 10 percent surge after the company reported third-quarter sales is an example of share price volatility – a factor that scares away quality investors Puig is listed in a luxury sector that features peers such as LVMH which includes brands including Louis Vuitton Christian Dior and Givenchy and is a giant among European listed firms Puig and its sector are highly visible and well-followed by investors And in going public it enjoyed a lot of freedoms including shares with different voting rights What the company needs now is to be as active in explaining the business as it was in placing at its shares at the maximum price investors put money in and only ask for answers investors will sell and they will not come back to the company for years – if ever – because trust is like a China jar that is easily broken and almost impossible to mend There have been many cases of companies whose results after their IPO have been below expectations. Ferrovial It listed a few years ago at the maximum price and with a slowing business and immediately joined the IBEX 35 its first half-year results disappointed the market: fall was followed by fall and it took four years for the share price to recover to its starting price a clear commitment to transparency in financial information and a very proactive investor relations program allowed it to finally turn positive and be considered a reliable company The value of the company has increased tenfold but it is an exception Companies such as Gestamp (which went public in 2017) one of the world’s best-known suppliers in the manufacture of metal components for automobiles or Prosegur Cash (2017) never recovered their IPO prices after publishing disappointing first results following the IPO Some companies undermine trust without ever completing an IPO Europastry is a leader in the frozen bakery dough sector and made a first attempt at a listing in the summer with a valuation expectation that was seen as demanding in a difficult environment It tried again in October with adjusted multiples and it seemed to find investors it is tempting to present a range to see where the interest is if the valuation is stretched upwards but this conveys a perception of ‘greed’ investors are generally only willing to participate in capital increases where money comes into the company They avoid participating in secondary transactions where the company’s balance sheet is not strengthened but the money is taken by the selling shareholder another transaction often perceived as greed Europastry finally cancelled its IPO for the second time this year The result is that any investor who has spent time with the company is unlikely to participate in the future Companies can bet on high earnings expectations allowing them to go public at a low multiple for a given valuation at the risk of disappointment if results are not achieved implying a high valuation multiple that investors are not buying today buying shares in an IPO is a risky decision They are buying companies for which they only have past data and do not know how they will manage in the future That is why they are asking for significant discounts on initial valuations affects the profitability of their entire portfolio and discourages them from investing in other IPOs Whether trust is built or destroyed depends on the company it takes 20 years to build trust that can be destroyed in 20 minutes forget about the share price for a long time and forget about having long-term shareholders They will sell their shares and will not be replaced by the arrival of new investors Neither Puig Brands nor Europastry immediately returned a request for comment In partnership with WHEN 8.00 am PT / 11.00 am ET / 4.00 pm BST / 5.00 pm CET DURATION 45 minutes About the event Amid constant tariff news geopolitical upheaval and other developments stemming from the new US administration IR teams have their work cut out as they prepare… In partnership with WHEN 8.00 am PT / 11.00 am ET / 4.00 pm BST / 5.00 pm CET DURATION 45 minutes About the event The demands on IR teams have climbed steadily in recent years An invitation-only event exclusively for senior IR officers Stay informed on critical issues affecting IR teams Our new tool lets you benchmark your IR program against peers in your region and sector Packed with industry trends and insights that define best-in-class practices across key Powered by the world’s largest survey of the buy side discover data-driven insights on running a successful IR program Save articles to a personalized dashboard and share with peers Sitting on the floor of her bedroom closet surrounded by clothes destined for the suitcase Her fingers close on the lime-green ribbon she sees the flash of gold and takes in a short breath -- it never fails to astonish her “It still doesn’t seem real,” Puig said of the tennis medal she won at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro “I’ll pull it out and see it and reminisce on the good times But for Puig’s relationship with the Olympic Games … well Her only previous title on the Hologic WTA Tour came two years earlier in Strasbourg No one expected much from Puig in Rio de Janeiro Garbiñe Muguruza and Laura Siegemund all in straight sets -- dropping only 14 games in four matches Puig prevailed over two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova 6-4 6-3 in the semifinals and drew Angelique Kerber in the gold-medal match who had won the Australian Open earlier that year and was destined to win the US Open one month later my God.” She sobbed on the medal stand when they played the national anthem She became the first Puerto Rican to win an Olympic gold medal while representing Puerto Rico and the first unseeded woman to win since tennis was reintroduced in 1988 There’s times when it still hasn’t sunk in because the moment was so surreal “When people ask if you could have a Grand Slam or an Olympic medal What it meant for my country and what it means to me But there was a quick letdown soon afterward Puig felt burdened by the audacity of the accomplishment She lost to Zheng Saisai in the first round of the US Open “Suddenly you have a target on your back because people are trying to beat the current Olympic champion “I tied my self-worth to my wins and losses When injuries and the inevitable surgeries became too much -- the ulnar nerve in her right elbow the rotator cuff in her right shoulder and a torn right biceps muscle -- Puig retired two years ago She had played three matches in the previous three years I have to think I did something that will remain with me for the rest of my life,” she said “and that’s something nobody can take away from me.” It wouldn’t surprise Puig if World No.1 Iga Swiatek wins gold -- the same venue sat which she’s already won four French Open titles “I feel her mental maturity over the past couple of years has made her a much stronger contender She’s more aware of what she brings to the table You’re living in this constant euphoria of so many athletes and so many events You have to really pick and choose your schedule this summer She said she understands that when the day comes the gold medal likely will be in the first sentence of her obituary “It’s still kind of hard for me to wrap my head around the fact that my name is in the history books I always said to myself that I want to retire from tennis with something to show for it Puig is one of nine female gold medalists since the sport returned in 1988 the Williams sisters and Justine Henin headline the celebrated list Puig is one of only three who didn’t win a Grand Slam singles title Puig’s medal is still in that dusty box in the closet it looked like it was never leaving the Miami home of her parents does that mean that we get the medal?” Nathan asked his then-fiancee we had to go through their storage,” Puig said “It was actually with a lot of other really important trophies that I had that is coming home and we’re not going to talk about this ever again.’ ” Spanish fashion and fragrance company Puig reported a 14.3 percent rise in fourth-quarter sales on Thursday beating analyst expectations for the key holiday period The Barcelona-based company behind perfume brands Rabanne Carolina Herrera and Jean Paul Gaultier said net sales for the three months to Dec above the €1.30 billion average forecast from analysts polled by LSEG which generates most of its revenue from fragrance sales with analysts estimating that nearly half of its prestige perfumes are sold in the quarter that includes Black Friday and Christmas which also owns luxury skincare and make-up brands Byredo and Charlotte Tilbury said full-year sales reached €4.79 billion ($4.99 billion) surpassing its goal of increasing sales faster than the 6-7 percent forecast for the global premium beauty market The average of analyst estimates was for sales of €4.72 billion in 2024 given that it is less exposed to sluggish demand in China and that more than half of Puig’s revenue comes from Europe the Middle East and Africa while 18 percent comes from the United States The 2024 performance of larger rivals such as Estée Lauder and L’Oréal was hampered by muted demand from China where a property crisis and high youth unemployment have curbed consumer spending Puig said sales in its core fragrance and fashion business grew by 21 percent in the holiday quarter Sales in the make-up division fell 7.2 percent with its Charlotte Tilbury brand affected by a voluntary withdrawal of select batches of Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray in December over what Puig described as “an isolated quality issue in a limited number of batches” detected during routine product testing Reporting by Corina Pons; Editing by David Latona and David Goodman Puig Shares Drop After Withdrawal of Some Batches of Charlotte Tilbury Spray Shares in Puig dropped sharply in early Friday trade after the luxury beauty and fashion company said its Charlotte Tilbury brand was voluntarily withdrawing select batches of its make-up setting spray will be preferred on CVS Caremark’s standard formulary.