Quake aftermath, Brazil election campaigns and other top photos from Latin America and the Caribbean

On Aug 20, 2026

Aug. 14 – 20, 2026

Venezuelans buried quake victims as Colombians assessed damage. Lula and Flavio Bolsonaro campaigned ahead of Brazil’s October elections. U.S. will resume some cattle imports from Mexico, and Bolivians honored the patron saint of dogs.

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Rescuers assess earthquake damage in Cali, Colombia, Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Santiago Saldarriaga)

A cow stands in a milking stall at a dairy farm in Hermosillo, Mexico, Monday, Aug. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

Fans under the rain watch a Copa Libertadores round of sixteen second leg soccer match between Paraguay’s Cerro Porteno and Brazil’s Palmeiras in Asuncion, Paraguay, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Jorge Saenz)

Newlyweds Scarlett Rocha, right, and Fabiana Justiniano walk their dogs in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

Juana Villano, right, and her sister Francesca pose for pictures at a police stand at a hunting, fishing and outdoors fair in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Friday, Aug. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

A bather jumps into the sea in Havana, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

A woman carrying her dog on her shoulders attends Mass at the Gran Poder parish marking the feast day of San Roque, the patron saint of dogs, in La Paz, Bolivia, Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Juan Karita

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva speaks during a presidential reelection campaign rally in Sao Bernardo do Campo, Sao Paulo state, Brazil, Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)

Opposition presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro gives a thumbs-up to supporters as he arrives at a hotel before his campaign rally in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)

A pilot takes off in his hang glider from the Vale do Parana free-flight launch site during the 2026 Brasilia Open Hang Gliding near Brasilia, Brazil, Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

Noemi Marrero, left, and her sisters sit at a cemetery in La Guaira, Venezuela, during the funeral of Marrero’s two children, who died in the earthquakes, Monday, Aug. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

RAVENNA, Italy (AP) — Brazil great Ronaldinho has landed in Ravenna, a city more famous for its nearby beaches than its soccer team.

The lyrics “and the world’s going to know your name” seemed ironically superfluous as one of soccer’s most recognizable figures stepped on stage in front of thousands of fans on Thursday.

That song, “Hall of Fame” by The Script, had been belted out throughout the presentation of third-tier Ravenna’s team for the upcoming season before the team’s new No. 10 walked out.

Thursday was dubbed “Ronaldinho day” as the soccer legend was presented first to the press before a glitzy beachside ceremony in front of around 6,000 fans, waving flags and holding flares aloft — despite the intermittent rain.

In a surprise announcement in June, the 46-year-old Ronaldinho signed with Italian third-division club Ravenna more than a decade after retiring.

“I’m very happy to be here with my friends, but let’s wait and see if things go well with the team,” Ronaldinho said Thursday when asked about how he was feeling, before later answering a question as to when Ravenna fans could expect to see him on the field.

“I feel fine,” he said with a laugh, before later adding: “I don’t know, it depends on the president and coach. I don’t know.”

Ronaldinho arrived by private jet at nearby Forlì Airport — about 30 kilometers (19 miles) from Ravenna — around midday local time. He signed a couple of soccer balls for airport staff before getting into a car on the runway, skipping the handful of fans that were waiting landside.

He was accompanied by Ravenna President Ignazio Cipriani of the Cipriani restaurant brand.

Ronaldinho will not feature in Ravenna’s first Serie C match of the season on Monday, at Reggio Emilia, and it is still unclear how much he hopes to play during the campaign. However, Cipriani has said it is his dream for the Brazilian to score his last career goal for the team.

“If that happens even better, no?” Ronaldinho said. “I’ve come here because of the friendship we have, and that’s it, let’s wait and see how the team does … I’m here to help.”

Ronaldinho last played professionally for Fluminense in 2015. It marks his second spell in Italy after featuring for AC Milan from 2008-11. He won the World Cup with Brazil in 2002 and the Ballon d’Or in 2005.

See AP’s full soccer coverage here

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