They have evolved into highly prized collectibles, with some fetching staggering prices at auctions and private sales. This article will delve into the realm of the top 10 most expensive and valuable action figures that have ever been bought or sold.

Top 10 Most Expensive and Valuable Action Figures in 2026

Without further ado, here are the most valuable action figures in the world.

10. Scratch the Cat – $1,000

Scratch the Cat is not a very well-known character in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series. The feline convict is somewhat based on another character named Hallocat, and his action figure was only produced in very minimal numbers hence its price tag and rarity. He did make an appearance as the first boss in the 1993 video game Radical Rescue on the Game Boy. Some people are lucky enough to grab the figure for only hundreds of bucks but at the cost of missing accessories or box.

9. 8-back 1981 Skeletor – $1,650

He-Man’s skeletal nemesis had an action figure released in 1981 equipped with a purple ram-headed staff and a sword splashed in the same tint. An elastic spring is installed in its waist, allowing kids to twist Skeletor and deliver a powerful strike. There are cheaper versions of this Skeletor figure if it is a 12-back. If you are confused as to what 8-back and 12-back means, it is the number of the franchise’s characters displayed behind the package. So if you see eight Masters of the Universe characters then that’s an 8-back and that is pretty pricey.

8. Transformers Jetfire Super Valkyrie Fighter – $2,500

The Super Valkyrie Fighter was a mecha that appeared in the 1982 anime series Super Dimension Fortress Macross. Toy company Hasbro saw the popularity of the mecha in the east and realized that the western audiences might also find the design cool. Hasbro acquired the Valkyrie’s design from Japanese toy company Takatoku which led to the creation of the Transformer Jetfire. After Takatoku’s closure in 1984 plus the resurgence of Macross and its arrival on western shores, Jetfire was changed to Skyfire and went a cosmetic overhaul. The original Jetfire with the Valkyrie design can fetch a high price especially if the detachable armor is still complete and with a package.

7. He-Man with Battle Cat Set $7,000

He-Man leaps into the fray with his feline steed Battle Cat, who is originally known as the cowardly cat Cringer. This toy set was released in 1981 during the height of the original cartoon series. Individual pieces without a box can purchased for only triple digits or less. On the other hand, a complete set encased inside an unopened 8-back box is worth a fortune.

6. Mego Elastic Batman – $15,000

Toy company Mego was famous for their affordable dime store toys and action figures of known characters. In 1979 they ventured in the realm of stretch toys as the interest in 8” action figures waned. Mego manufactured the line of stretchable figures known as the Elastic Superheroes line, and Mego Elastic Batman was part of it. This caught the attention of Kenner, the toy company responsible for the famous Stretch Armstrong action figure, as these elastic superheroes were quite similar to their stretchy blonde. A lawsuit from Kenner, coupled by poor build quality, effectively axed the production of Elastic Superheroes. It is reported that only two Elastic Batman figures exist and they fetch quite a handsome price.

5. Vinyl Cape Jawa – $18,000

Jawas are the small caped humanoids who were responsible for bringing C-3PO and R2D2 to Luke Skywalker in A New Hope. The action figure version of these humanoids originally donned vinyl capes until Kenner decided to change the material to cloth for aesthetic purposes. The sudden switch of capes made the original Jawas rare as it took place only a few months after their release. There are a lot of fake vinyl cape Jawas out there as it is quite easy to do so: by equipping the Jawa with a vinyl cape obtained from a different action figure like a vintage Obi-Wan, then insert the figure to a 12-back card. Such deception however cannot easily fool eagle-eyed collectors.

4. 1978 Telescoping Lightsaber Darth Vader

This action figure is considered the ‘holy grail’ among collectors, primarily due to its rarity. Only a handful were made before Kenner Products decided to change the design, making it an extremely sought-after piece. It has been known to fetch up to $25,000 in mint condition.

3. Michael Lau Gardener “Uncle” – $35,000

Michael Lau is an artist responsible for the propagation of toys designed in urban vinyl style. His efforts earned him numerous awards and accolades. His Gardener line of figures is based on his comic strip of the same name featured in the magazine East Touch. The Uncle figure from his Gardener line features a man with a grocery bag and a skateboard. Only a few pieces of this figure were created by Lau hence its high value. He has other rare high-cost figures whose release in Asia was sponsored by Sony.

2. 1979 Boba Fett Prototype – $150,000

The bounty hunter Boba Fett is without a doubt one of the most popular characters in Star Wars. Kenner made an action figure of Boba Fett with a backpack that can fire a rocket, and showcased it during the New York Toy Fair in 1979. However production was cancelled due to safety concerns involving the backpack as its projectile could possibly hurt a child. The prototype was featured in the “The Pawn Awakens” episode of Pawn Stars in which the seller put it up for $150 grand. It was auctioned in eBay for the same price and now the item is no longer available. Maybe some lucky (and rich) individual got his / her hands on what could possibly be the holy grail of collectibles in a galaxy far far away.

1. G.I. Joe Prototype $200,000

The G.I. Joe toys from Hasbro were famous to boys as how Barbie was to the little girls, and these army men were responsible for the creation of the term “action figure”. Millions of action figures were sold and the 11” prototype itself rested in the home of its creator Don Levine for 40 years. It boasted 21 movable parts and came with a helmet and canteen. The olive green fatigues and backpack it wore were all hand-sewn. In August 2003 the prototype was auctioned and comic store businessman Stephen Geppi took home the prize for $200 grand.

There we go with the most expensive action figures. Do you know other action figures that cost a lot of dough? Let us know in the comments below.

The post Top 10 Most Expensive and Valuable Action Figures in 2026 appeared first on Gazette Review.

However, not all inventors lived long enough to claim their fame and money. Some of them were, ironically, killed while using their own inventions. Today we’re taking a look at 10 people who are no longer alive thanks to products they’ve come up with! If this is a little to dark for your liking, we also have a more light hearted article covering 10 of the most clever inventions ever conceived as well!

10) Frederick Duesenberg

Frederick and his brother August founded a car company that they’ve named using their surname – Duesenberg. Duesenberg was founded in 1913, and was producing higher-class sports cars. Their company was making each car manually, and so-called “Duesy” cars were considered some of the best cars in the world during their existence. However, that didn’t help Frederick when he was flooring a Duesy on the Lincoln Highway. Due to high speeds, his car turned itself over and badly wounded the driver. Frederick Duesenberg died 23 days after the accident, due to injuries he sustained from it. Duesenberg stopped their car production 5 years after the accident, in 1937.

9) Ismail al-Jawhari

Ismail a-Jawhari is known as the author of “The Correct Language” Arabic dictionary, that featured around 40,000 entries. He is also known for attempting to fly in circa 1003, when attempted it using wooden wings and a rope. During his first (and only) flight attempt, he tried to leap off a mosque in Nishapur so that his invention would make him fly. Unfortunately, it was an unsuccessful attempt, and Ismail died by falling on the ground from the top of the mosque.

8) Franz Reichelt

Similar to al-Jawhari, Franz Reichelt also wanted to leap from tall buildings. However, unlike al-Jawhari who wanted to fly, Reichelt wanted to land safely using a parachute prototype. He was a tailor by profession and assumed that his hand-made parachute would be good enough to glide him to safety. Franz Reichelt, today known as the Flying Tailor, jumped from the Eiffel Tower in 1912, with his invention strapped to his back. Prior to that, he had several attempts where he used dummies, and they were successful. However, his attempt wasn’t. His parachute failed to deploy and he took a hard fall that left him dead at the spot.

7) William Bullock

William Bullock was an American inventor who lived during the 19th century. His most notable invention is the rotary printing press, that greatly increased the speed and efficiency of printing. During his career, he submitted 5 patents to the US patent office, one of which would end him. During an installation of the above-mentioned printing press, Bullock accidentally crushed his toe and contracted gangrene. He died during the amputation of his infected leg.

6) Thomas Midgley Jr.

Thomas Midgley Junior was an American mechanical engineer, inventor and a chemist. During the course of his career, he patented over a hundred products, and made important discoveries in chemistry. He is known for being one of the most important members of the team who developed tetraethyllead and chlorofluorocarbons. In 1940 he contracted polio which left him partially disabled and pinned to his bed. As an attempt to help patients (including himself) to lift up from a bed, he devised a system of ropes and strings that would make it easier for them to sit up. However, four years later he got tangled in the strings and ended up being strangled by them.

5) Alexandar Bogdanov

Alexandar Bogdanov was a (you guessed it) Russian philosopher, writer and a revolutionary mind. Born in 1873, he would become an important figure in the Bolshevik faction, and a rival to Vladimir Lenin. Oh and he was also trying to achieve eternal youth by using blood transfusion. He sincerely believed that he could achieve it, at least partially, and decided to be the test subject. Unfortunately for him, the blood he took was from a student infected with malaria and tuberculosis. The transfusion attempt killed Mr. Bogdanov in 1928.

4) Marie Curie

Marie Sklodowska Curie was famous for being both a renowned physicist and a chemist. Her research on radioactivity was, and still is, of great importance, and she was the first woman to ever win the Nobel Prize award. Oh yeah, she also won it twice. During her time (19th-20th century), the harmful effects of radiation weren’t as known as they are today, so she spent many years exposed to radioactive test tubes she carried around. She died from aplastic anemia caused by radioactive exposure. While she technically didn’t invent radiation, she was a arguably the most important person in the field, so we’re listing her in this list. Even today, her personal items such as her notebook, are too radioactive for anyone to handle without protection.

3) Karel Soucek

Karel Soucek was a professional stuntman who died while performing his job. He is best known for successfully going down the Niagra Falls in a barrel in 1984. Soucek invested $45,000 into the stunt, but made it back easily after gaining mass popularity. A year after that, he tested his new invention, a shock-absorbent barrel, by dropping in it from the roof of the Houston Astrodome. Unfortunately, the barrel didn’t land in a water tank where it was supposed to. It missed and hit the rim, leaving Karl Soucek fatally wounded. He did manage to get out of the barrel, but died shortly after.

2) Li Si

Li Si was the today’s equivalent of a Prime Minister in the Qin Dynasty from 246 BC until his death in 208 BC. Li Si is called one of the two most important figure in the Chinese history, because of his governmental skills that made Qin Dynasty extremely powerful. Unlike other people from this list who invented a product, Li Si invented a certain torture and execution method known as the Five Punishments. And sure enough, he died after his own torturing method was executed on him. The method included tattooing, cutting the nose without an anesthetic, amputation of one or both feet, castration, and finally – death. The last punishment was performed using various methods such as boiling the offender alive, cutting his body into four pieces, slowly slicing it, and more.

1) Max Valier

Max Valier was an  Australian pioneer in the rocketry industry who invented an alcohol-fueled rocket that would kill him during the initial test. He helped the founding of the Society for Space Travel association in Germany, that would one day make space flight a reality. Along with Fritz von Opel (the car manufacturer founder), he started working on liquid-powered cars and rockets. During a test of such a rocket in Berlin, Valier was killed. A rocket he was testing that day exploded and instantly killed its inventor.

Honorable Mentions:

• Michael Dacre, who died in 2009 during the test of his flying taxi device known as AVCEN Jetpod.
• Auriel Valicu, an airplane constructor died from a crash that happened while he was piloting his own, hand-made aircraft.
• Horace Hunly and several crew members drowned after a failed test of his combat submarine, the first one in the world.
• Jim Fixx, the author of The Complete Book of Running died from a sudden heart attack, caused by one of his daily jogging routines.
• Segway Inc. CEO, Jimi Heselden, died after driving his Segway off a cliff into his deathž

If you’re interested in more unusual deaths, you should go ahead and read our Top 10 Most Unusual, Bizarre & Weird Human Deaths list! If you think we should add some additional honorable mentions to this list let us know in the comment section below!

The post 10 Inventors Killed By Their Own Inventions appeared first on Gazette Review.

10) The Wheel

The wheel was invented in 3500 B.C. Before this invention humans had a really difficult time with transporting things. They were limited on how much they can carry and they were loosing a lot of time. Although, the wheel is a great invention, the main problem was attaching the wheel to the non-moving platform. So, they came to the idea of a wheel-and-axle concept which had to be conducted very precisely. Well, the hard work really paid off and today we are using wheels in every day life. The wheel is implemented in everything and is vital for the modern way of life.

9) The Nail

Before the invention of the nail, humans were building the wood structures by interlocking boards geometrically, which was much more complex to do. The invention of the nail dates back to the Ancient Roman period, nearly 2000 years ago. Until the early 1800s and the invention of the nail making machines, the norm were hand-wrought nails. Crafting nails technology continued to advance. By the time Henry Bessemer developed a process of mass producing steel from iron, the old iron nails became past. Furthermore, we modified the first version of the nail and called it the screw, it is harder to insert but much more stronger.

8) The Compass

Mariners in the past had to navigate their ships by the stars. That method was very unsafe and complicated due to the lack of the navigation system on cloudy nights or during the day. The first compass was invented by the Chinese somewhere between 9th and 11th century. Soon, the technology was passed to Europeans and Arabs. The main component of the compass is a magnetised needle, which shows north magnetic pole. The invention of the compass was a real breakthrough that enabled safer navigation and increased over the sea trades.

7) The Printing Press

It is invented by the German, Johannes Gutenberg in 1440. It was one of the most influential inventions of the second millennium. The printing press is a device that transfers the ink by applying pressure to an inked surface, which is resting upon a paper. The device was usually used for texts and it really revolutionized the way of describing and conceiving the world. Also, a lot more people gained access to the books, which made big progress in education. Today, we have printing machines that are way faster and precise and affordable to everyone.

6) The Internal Combustion Engine

The contribution to the development of the internal combustion engine was made by many scientists and engineers. The final form of the engine was made by the end of the 19th century. It converts chemical energy into mechanical. When the fuel is combusted, it releases a high temperature gas, which expands and moves the piston by applying force on it. The Invention of the engine led us in the Industrial Age and enabled the invention of a variety of other machines. For example, all cars today have an internal combustion engine because of its high power-to-weight ratio. And when there is more power needed, like in jets or big ships, it appears in a form of a gas turbine.

5) The telephone

Although, there were numerous scientists and engineers who tried to make an electronic voice transmission, the first one who really did it was Alexander Graham Bell. In 1876, he was awarded a patent for electrical telephone. His inspiration for telephone came from teaching deaf, as well as his mother was deaf too. The invention took off quickly and it made communication and global bussiness much easier. There is an actual fun fact that Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone, could not call anyone because everyone in his family were deaf.

4) The light bulb

The light bulb is the invention that literally changed the way of living. Many people played their part in inventing a bulb, but the credits were given to Tomas Alva Edison. He created a lighting system that was completely functional, including a bulb, a wiring and a generator. Before the existence of the light bulb, the only lightning that people had was the natural light and candles that were not really efficient. Due to that, people were forced to do everything during the day. Nowadays, we can stay up late and even do our jobs at night.

3) Penicillin

It is the most famous story in the history of discoveries. In 1928, the Scottish scientist, named Alexander Fleming, accidentally left the lid on the Petri dish filled with bacteria opened. It became contaminated with a mold and he noticed that the bacteria were dead wherever the mold was laying. That antibiotic mold was the fungus Penicillium.Through the next 20 years, chemists succeed to purify it and came up with the drug Penicillin. Penicillin is well known to fight a numerous variety of bacteria and is not harmful for the humans. In the 1940s the drug was mass produced and caused a big turn in medicine.

2) Contraceptives

Condoms, birth control pills and other forms of contraception were the beginning of a sexual revolution in the world. People nowadays are not having sex only for procreation, but they can have it just for leisure. Also, the fact is that in countries where contraceptives are used, there is a much less number of offspring by a woman. As a result, with a fewer mouths to feed, people can achieve higher standards and provide more for their families. Some contraceptives even stoped the spreading of sexually transmitted diseases. Scientists continued researches on contraceptives and there are many rumours today about creating a male birth control pill.

1) The Internet

Greatest invention of all time. This global networking system is used by billions of people around the world. The internet allows us to have the access to all the information we want, new ideas and much more. It gives us a great way of interacting with people, running a business, advertising, learning and so on. When it comes to the creation of the Internet, the credit is given to the computer scientist Lawrence Roberts. In the 1960s, Roberts worked with his team in the ARPA (Advanced Research Projects Agency), who built a network used to connect the agency computers, called ARPANET. ARPANET is the predecessor of the Internet we know now.

This is our top 10 list of greatest inventions. Do you agree with our choice? Is there any invention we missed to mention? We’ve been known to miss a couple here and there so be sure to share your opinion in the comment section below.

The post Top 10 Most Clever Inventions Of All Time appeared first on Gazette Review.

If anything, their athletic prowess is only matched by their dedication to the game and their charismatic personalities off the field.

Top 10 Hottest Female Field Hockey Players in 2026

Without further ado, here are the top ten hottest female field hockey players in the world.

10. Kathleen Sharkey

Born on July 30, 1990, in Moosic, Pennsylvania, Sharkey’s prowess and dedication to field hockey have been evident from a very young age. She began her journey in the sport during her schooling years and rapidly ascended the ranks due to her talent and hard work. Sharkey’s career in field hockey took off at Lake-Lehman High School where she was a four-time All-State First Team selection.

Her exceptional performances caught the attention of many, leading her to be recruited by Princeton University. Here, she not only continued her athletic prowess but also demonstrated an unparalleled commitment to academic excellence. During her time at Princeton, Sharkey became a two-time Ivy League Player of the Year and was also named an All-American three times.

9. Frederique Matla

Born on December 28, 1996, in Vught, Netherlands, Matla has emerged as one of the most talented and dynamic players in the sport.

As a child, she joined the renowned Dutch club ‘s-Hertogenbosch at a very young age and was already playing for the senior team by the time she was 17. Through her consistent performance and exceptional skills, she quickly made her mark and caught the attention of national selectors.

Her debut for the Dutch national team came in 2017 during a match against Spain. Since then, Matla has been an integral part of the team, playing a pivotal role in many of their successes.

8. Sophie Polkamp

Born in 1984 in Groningen, Netherlands. She was one of the main factors in the Dutch great generation who were crowned World Champions in 2006 and runners-up in 2010. Also, she has a gold medal from both Beijing 2008 and the London 2012 Olympics. Considering that Netherlands won the Champions Trophy in 2007 and European Championship in 2011 she decided to retire from international hockey. The decision came shortly after another trophy win, but this time for her team Amsterdam HBC.

7. Eva de Goede

The Dutch midfielder was born in 1989 in a small town of Zeist. She is a regular international for Netherlands field hockey team and has achieved even more than Polkamp because she is actively playing for the Netherlands. Eva participated in three Olympic tournaments with the last one of them being Rio de Janeiro 2016, where the Dutch team won a silver medal.

6. Kelsey Kolojejchick

Kelsey Kolojejchick was born on October 2, 1991, in Kingston, Pennsylvania. She started her sports career as a soccer player, but later transferred to playing field hockey. In college, she also did various other sports like softball, gymnastics, track and swimming. Kolojejchick attended University of North Carolina, where she was  a crucial player in the field hockey team and lead them to the National title on her first year in college. She debuted for the National team in 2012, and her first big competition was the 2014 World Cup where she scored 5 times.

5. Ellen Hoog

This AHBC’s midfielder was born 26 March 1986. Since her debut for the national team in 2004, she has represented Netherlands in 232 caps, scoring 60 goals. Her most important goals were in a shootout in 2012 Olympic tournament semifinals against New Zealand and in 2016 Olympics semi-final against Germany.

Hoog has gold medals from all four biggest field hockey international competitions. Two from Olympic Games (2008 and 2012), two from World Cup (2006, 2014), three from European Championship (2005, 2009, 2011) and two Champions Trophy golds (2004, 2005). She was FIH Player of the Year 2014.

4. Fatima Moreira de Melo

Maybe a surprise entrance on this list, considering that she’s retired and now aged 39, but this Dutch-born field hockey player of Portuguese descent (her father was a Portuguese diplomat in the Netherlands) has a very special lifestyle. Her first match for the Netherlands was in 1997 in a 2-1 victory against Germany. She ended her career after 191 appearances, scoring solid number of 30 goals.

In her club career, she has played for three Dutch teams: Tempo 34, HGC and HC Rotterdam. De Melo is a Master of Laws and has presented TV programs for various stations in the Netherlands. She even has a singing career and had been performing at many ceremonies before and after field hockey events. In 2006, she won individual award Rotterdam Sportswoman of the Year, after which she signed a sponsorship contract with Rabobank. Her boyfriend is a tennis player Raymond Sluiter. Now, after her career has ended, she plays online and live poker tournaments for TeamPokerStars.

3. Marsha Cox (Marsha Marescia)

She was born on January 13, 1983, in Durban, South Africa. Marsha comes from great field hockey family. Her father is a former player and now coach, Marian Marescia.

Marian Marescia is known to be one of the best South African hockey players which could not play for national team due to Apartheid. Since her debut in 2001, Marsha has collected over 300 caps for South Africa and is captaining the national team. She was selected three times for the IHF World XI  (2007, 2009, 2010). In 2013 she married her boyfriend, Dutch hockey coach Alexander Cox.

2. Anna Flanagan

This hockey player was born in Canberra in 1992. She is also known by her nickname Flanno. Her whole family played field hockey, so she started playing it aged 5, and was coached by her father many years later.

Anna’s father is a PE teacher so she developed interests in many sports, which is the reason why she has a degree in Sports Journalism from the University of Canberra and was working for Fox Sports in Perth. She plays as a defender and is specialist in taking corner penalties. Now, she has 150 caps for Australia, debuting aged 18 in a test match against the Republic of Korea. Her favorite number is 9. In national league, she plays for ACT Strikers. She was crowned as the FIH Young Player of the Year 2012, which stands out as her biggest individual award. Flanagan is an ambassador for a Donar Mate (Organ Donation), National Breast Cancer Association and Cerebral Palsy ACT.

1. Luciana Aymar

Now retired, this Argentinian field hockey player is ex-number one in the World. She was born in Rosario in 1977 and is nicknamed ‘La Maga’ (The Magician) due to her amazing pace and dribbling skills and a lot of people drew a comparison with her and two most famous Argentinian soccer players, Rosario-born Lionel Messi and Diego Armando Maradona.

She is the only player in history to win eight FIH Player of the Year awards. Aymar is famous for being first female field hockey athlete flag bearer, representing Argentina in 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Also, Mayer is second Argentinian in history who have won four Olympic medals. She started her club career in Fisherton, after proving herself, she went to Rosario. After Rosario, she spent two years in Europe, more precisely in Germany (Rot-Weiss Cologne) and Spain (Real Club de Polo Barcelona) and then returned to her homeland to play for Quilmes and GEBA. Luciana was declared ‘Legend of Hockey’ in 2008 by the International Hockey Federation.

The post Top 10 Hottest Female Field Hockey Players – 2026 List appeared first on Gazette Review.

This article will provide insights into the top 10 highest-paid male volleyball players in the world.

Top 10 Highest Paid Male Volleyball Players in the World – 2026  Update

10. Ivan Zaytsev – $620,000

Ivan Zaytsev, often referred to as “the Zar” in the world of volleyball, is an Italian professional volleyball player of Russian descent. Born on October 2, 1988, in Spoleto, Italy, Zaytsev has made significant contributions to the sport, both at the national and international levels.

Zaytsev’s career in volleyball began at a young age, following in the footsteps of his father, Vyacheslav Zaytsev, who was a well-known volleyball player in his own right. His professional career took off when he signed with RPA-LuigiBacchi.it in 2004. Over the years, he has played for several leading clubs including M. Roma Volley, Lube Banca Macerata, Dinamo Moscow, and Sir Safety Perugia among others.

In terms of accomplishments, Ivan Zaytsev has an impressive list to his name. As an integral part of the Italian national team, Zaytsev led his team to victory in the 2015 European Championship. He was instrumental in securing the silver medal for Italy at the 2016 Summer Olympics held in Rio de Janeiro. In addition to these, he has been a part of three World League bronze-winning teams and was awarded “Best Server” at the 2014 World Championship.

His club success is also noteworthy. With Dinamo Moscow, he won the Russian Championship in the 2012-13 season. During his tenure with Sir Safety Perugia, they clinched the Italian Cup and Italian Super Cup in the 2017-18 season.

9. Aleksandar Atanasijevichane – $800,000

Born in Belgrade, Serbia, Aleksandar Atanasijevichan’s journey in volleyball began at an early age. His natural talent and skill quickly propelled him into the professional arena, where he has been making his mark ever since. Atanasijevichan’s professional career took a significant upturn when he joined the Serbian Men’s National Volleyball Team. With his impressive performances and consistent scoring, he played a pivotal role in leading the team to several international victories.

One of the significant highlights of Atanasijevichan’s career was his extraordinary performance in the European Championship. His exceptional skills and strategic gameplay were instrumental in Serbia’s triumph, earning him widespread acclaim and recognition. Furthermore, he has consistently been a high scorer in numerous World Championships, contributing significantly to his team’s success on multiple occasions.

In addition to his team victories, Aleksandar Atanasijevichan has also earned numerous individual accolades that stand as a testament to his prowess on the court. He was named “Best Opposite Spiker” at the World Cup, an honour that acknowledges his powerful and precise attacks. He has also received the prestigious “Best Server” award multiple times, demonstrating his versatility and comprehensive mastery of the game.

8. Matt Anderson – $850,000

Anderson, who was born in Buffalo, New York, began his illustrious journey at Penn State University where he was named the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) National Player of the Year in his junior year.

Matt Anderson’s prowess on the court was not limited to his university years. Following graduation, he embarked on a professional volleyball career that has taken him across the globe and earned him a reputation as one of the sport’s top players.

Anderson’s first significant achievement came when he was named USA Volleyball’s Indoor Male Athlete of the Year in 2012. His stellar performance on the global stage continued when he led the US national team to win gold at the 2014 FIVB World League and then again at the 2015 FIVB World Cup. His commanding presence and formidable skills were instrumental in securing these victories.

In addition to his team accomplishments, Matt Anderson has also achieved personal recognition on numerous occasions. He was named Best Server at the 2014 World League and later the Best Outside Spiker at the 2015 World Cup. His crowning personal achievement came in 2016 when he was selected as USA Volleyball’s Male Indoor Player of the Year for the second time.

7. György Grozer – $870,000

György Grozer, a Hungarian-born German volleyball player, has made significant contributions to the sport and has accomplished remarkable feats in his illustrious career. Standing at 6’6″, Grozer is a formidable presence on the court, marked by his intimidating spike serves and powerful attacks. His exceptional athleticism combined with his strategic acumen has led him to become one of the most respected figures in international volleyball.

Grozer’s accomplishments are numerous and impressive. He started his professional career in 2005 with the German club VfB Friedrichshafen, where he quickly established himself as a powerhouse player. During his time at VfB Friedrichshafen, Grozer played a pivotal role in leading the team to victory in the CEV Champions League in 2007. His next stint was with the Russian club Belogorie Belgorod, where he won the Russian Championship, Russian Cup, and once again the CEV Champions League.

Internationally, György Grozer has been just as influential. He was a part of the German national team that won a bronze medal at the 2014 World Championship and has represented Germany in multiple international tournaments including the European Championships and World Cup. Grozer has received several individual accolades as well, including being named ‘Best Server’ at the 2014 FIVB World Championship and ‘Most Valuable Player’ at the 2015 CEV Champions League.

6. Bartosz Kurek – $920,000

Bartosz Kurek, a Polish professional volleyball player, has achieved remarkable success with his performance in the sports industry. His journey to prominence began at a young age, and his dedication to the game has led him to become one of Poland’s most decorated athletes.

Kurek’s impressive list of achievements is a testament to his prowess on the volleyball court. Born on August 29,1988, Kurek started his professional career in 2005 with ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle. His exceptional performance caught the attention of many and he soon became a vital player for Poland’s national team.

One of the most significant accomplishments of Bartosz Kurek includes being named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) at the 2018 World Championships. His contribution was instrumental in leading the Polish team to victory in this prestigious tournament. This achievement not only solidified Kurek’s position as one of the world’s top volleyball players but also marked a historic moment for Polish volleyball.

Not only that but Bartosz Kurek has also won numerous awards and recognitions throughout his career, including Best Opposite Spiker and Best Server awards in different leagues. He was also bestowed with the Gold Cross of Merit by the President of Poland for his outstanding sports achievements and for promoting Poland on an international level.

5. Robertlandy Simón – $950, 000

Robertlandy Simón, a Cuban volleyball player, has carved an impressive niche for himself in the realm of international volleyball. Born on 11 June 1987, Simón has been a pillar of strength and a symbol of exceptional talent for his teams. His remarkable height of 2.08 meters makes him a formidable player on the court, but it is his skill and strategy that truly sets him apart. Throughout his career, he has played for clubs in South Korea, Qatar, Brazil, and Italy, leaving an indelible mark with his performances.

His accomplishments are numerous and continue to grow with each passing year. Robertlandy Simón’s excellence in the game is evident from his numerous awards. He was named the Best Middle Blocker at the 2009 NORCECA Championship and received the same honor at the World Championship later that year. In 2010, he was declared the Most Valuable Player (MVP) at the World League, further cementing his status as one of the most skilled players in the sport.

In addition to his individual accolades, Robertlandy Simón has also contributed significantly to team successes. He played a key role in Cuba’s silver medal finish at the 2010 World Championships and led his team to victory at the 2015 Pan American Games. Currently, he plays for Cucine Lube Civitanova in Italy where he continues to display his prowess on the court. His powerful attacks and solid defense are a spectacle to behold and a nightmare for opponents.

4. Earvin N’Gapeth – $1 Million

Earvin N’Gapeth is a renowned professional volleyball player who hails from France. Born on 12th February 1991, N’Gapeth has carved a niche for himself in the world of volleyball due to his exceptional skills and dynamic playing style. He is widely recognized as a versatile player, proficient in both offense and defense, and has been instrumental in leading his teams to numerous victories.

N’Gapeth’s career is adorned with a plethora of accomplishments. In the year 2015 and 2016, he was named the Best Outside Spiker by FIVB World League. He played a significant role in helping France win the gold at the 2015 World League, the European Championship in 2015, and the World Cup in 2017.

His individual brilliance has also been recognized on multiple occasions; he was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) at the CEV Champions League in 2017 and the FIVB Club World Championship in 2019.

In addition to his national successes, N’Gapeth has achieved remarkable feats playing for clubs like Modena Volley and Zenit Kazan. With Modena Volley, he won the Italian Championship and Italian Cup in 2016. At Zenit Kazan, he played alongside other prominent players like Dmitry Muserskiy, contributing significantly to their victory in the Russian Championship and Russian Cup in 2020.

3. Dmitry Muserskiy – $1 Million

Born on October 29, 1988, Muserskiy is widely recognized for his exceptional height, standing at 2.18 meters (approximately 7 feet 2 inches), making him one of the tallest athletes in the world. However, it is not just his physical stature that sets him apart, but also his remarkable skill set and contributions to the game of volleyball.

Muserskiy’s professional career took off in 2006 when he joined Belogorie Belgorod, a prominent Russian volleyball club. His performance quickly propelled him into the international arena where he represented Russia in various tournaments. Among his most significant achievements is leading the Russian team to victory at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. His dominating performance in the final match against Brazil, where he scored a whopping 31 points, earned him immense recognition and praise.

In addition to his Olympic gold, Dmitry Muserskiy has also been an integral part of teams that have won numerous championships including the European Championship in 2013 and 2017, and the World League in 2011 and 2013. Moreover, he was a key player for Russia when they secured gold at the World Championship in 2011.

Alongside these team accomplishments, Muserskiy has also been lauded for his individual performances. He has been awarded the Best Middle Blocker at the World League (2011 & 2013) and was named Most Valuable Player at the Club World Championship in 2014.

2. Maxim Mikhaylov – $1.3 Million

Born on March 19, 1988, in Tayga, Mikhaylov has been instrumental in shaping the trajectory of Russian volleyball in the international sports community.

Throughout his career, Mikhaylov has consistently demonstrated remarkable agility, strategic acumen, and unwavering determination. His accomplishments are a testament to his talent and dedication to his sport. As an integral part of the Russian national team, he has significantly propelled the team to victory in various international competitions. He took center stage as a leading player in the FIVB World League, where he earned gold medals in 2011 and 2013. Moreover, he led the Russian team to an impressive victory in the 2012 London Olympics, bringing home the gold medal.

Mikhaylov’s individual achievements are equally impressive. He was named Best Spiker at the World Cup in 2011 and was honored as Most Valuable Player (MVP) at the 2012 Olympics and the 2013 European Championship. His performances have also earned him numerous accolades in domestic leagues; he has been a vital player for Zenit Kazan since 2008, leading the club to multiple Russian Championships and CEV Champions League titles.

1. Wilfredo Leon Venero – $66 Million

Number one on our list is Wilfredo Leon. Born in Santiago de Cuba, he began playing volleyball at the age of seven. Coached by his mother, he eventually made his national debut in 2008 at the age of fourteen. By 2009, he had won the ‘Best Receiver’ title at the World League and a silver medal at the World U21 Championships.

While he initially played for Cuba, he eventually left to play for a Russian club in 2014, with whom he won multiple leagues and cups. And in 2018, he joined the Italian club, SIR Safety Perugia. He’s also a member of the Polish national volleyball team (he became elligible after receiving his Polish citizenship in 2015).

Known for his powerful serves and spikes, Leon, who hails from Cuba, is highly regarded in the world of volleyball. He plays for the Russian club Zenit Kazan, and his annual earnings are estimated to be around 1.4 million euros.

If anything, these top 10 highest-paid male volleyball players have contributed significantly to the popularity and growth of volleyball globally.

Over the years, they have showcased exceptional skills and talent, making them not only the highest-earning but also some of the most influential figures in the sport. Their success serves as a testament to the potential rewards and recognition that a career in professional volleyball can provide.

The post Top 10 Richest Male Volleyball Players in the World – 2026 List appeared first on Gazette Review.

As of 2026, there are more than 11,000 cards in the game, and like all collectible card games, some are worth more than others.

Curious to know which? Want to know how much they’re worth? Then be sure to keep reading- we’ll be listing the top ten below!

Top 10 Most Valuable Yu-Gi-Oh Cards in 2026

Without further ado, here are the most valuable Yu-Gi-Oh cards in 2026.

10. 2002 1st Edition LOB Monster Reborn

Monster Reborn is one of the most sought-after spell cards and was originally released as a Super Rare in the first set of booster packs, Legends of Blue-Eyes White Dragon (LOB) in the spring of 2002. The code at the top right-hand corner of the description indicates that it’s card number 118 from the set.

The spell card allows you to bring back any of the monsters that have gone to either player’s graveyards. This means you can special summon your opponent’s monster against them if you wish. It’s so mighty that it’s currently included in the Forbidden and Limited Card List, with the limitation that you can only have one copy in your deck (most cards are limited to three per deck).

In May 2021, a certified mint condition 2002 LOB Monster Record card was sold for a record-breaking $6,600 on eBay. It was also a first edition card, meaning that it was one of the first to have been printed in the set.

9. 2002 1st Edition LOB Exodia the Forbidden One

If you’ve ever watched the anime, you’ll know that Exodia is an immensely powerful monster. There’s a catch, though. It’s split up into five distinct cards: Exodia the Forbidden One, Left Leg of the Forbidden One, Right Leg of the Forbidden One, Left Arm of the Forbidden One, and Right Arm of the Forbidden One.

To summon Exodia, which will allow you to win the duel automatically, you must have all five cards in your hand at the same time.

In the TCG, the five cards were initially released as Ultra Rares in LOB. For this reason, they’re limited and super hard to find.

In November 2020, a first-edition PSA GEM Mint Exodia the Forbidden One was sold for $8,000. Interestingly enough, of the other four cards, the left leg sells for the most. In October 2020, one went for over $6,600. The other limbs are noticeably lower in price, which is probably a good thing for collectors.

8. 2003 First Edition MFC Dark Magician Girl

The Dark Magician Girl is one of Yugi’s favorite cards and is adored by fans. Given that, it’s not surprising to know it’s highly valuable. A level 6 monster, it comes with 2000 attacks and 1700 defense points. She made her anime debut when Yugi faced off against Arkana, a malevolent magician, in episode 62.

First released in October 2003, it was part of the North American-only Magician’s Force (MFC) set, which had a special focus on Spellcasters. The Dark Magician Girl was later released as part of the Master Collection Volume 2 compilation set and was made available in booster packs, in October 2005.

The Dark Magician Girl is also notable in that she has been censored for her breasts being too sexually suggestive (the size of her breasts was reduced and her cleavage was completely erased when she was brought over from Japan to the West). For this reason, there are several variants of her artwork. It’s the original, however, that fetches the highest price.

In November 2020, a PSA Gem Mint first edition Dark Magician Girl card was sold for $9,100.

7. 2002 First Edition Red-Eyes Black Dragon

The Red-Eyes Black Dragon is a powerhouse with 2400 attack and 200 defense points. It’s also Joey’s signature card, which has made it a fan favorite. He used it while dueling with Yugi at the Duelist Kingdom tournament, albeit under Malik’s control.

In fact, it was his popularity that spawned the release of the Starter Deck Joey (SDJ) in 2003. Unsurprisingly, the Red-Eyes Black Dragon was made available as the deck’s opening card. However, the Red-Eyes Black Dragon was available even before then, in Legends of Blue-Eyes White Dragon (LOB), as an Ultra Rare.

In October 2020, a flawless version of the card sold for nearly $10,000. Not long afterward, a first-edition copy of the 2002 original fetched more than $11,000. Needless to say, you might have to spend some money (potentially five digits) if you want to add such a card to your collection.

Fortunately, the later releases are much easier to get for those who aren’t worried about the first edition status.

6. 2008 Doomcaliber Knight From the Shonen Jump Championships Series

Shonen Jump created a series of North American tournaments called the Shonen Jump Championships in 2004. In total, seven different cards were handed out as prizes at the tournaments, including the Doomcaliber Knight. Seeing as how only a couple of the cards were given out each time, it’s easy to see why they’re so rare- and pricey.

The Doomcaliber Knight was the sixth tournament exclusive to be handed out. Between 2008 and 2009, only 68 copies were given away.

Despite being a four-star monster, it has 1900 attack and 1800 defense points, making it a powerhouse for players. Not only that but because it’s level four, you can normal summon it directly from your hand; you don’t need to sacrifice any monsters. It also comes with a quick effect- one that negates the effect of and destroys one of your foe’s monsters.

In March 2021, a PSA Near-Mint Doomcaliber Knight from the Shonen Jump Championships sold for more than $15,000. Given how rare and scarce they are, we wouldn’t be surprised if a mint version of the card fetched an even higher sum.

5. 2004 Cyber-Stein from the Shonen Jump Championship Series

Cyber-Stein is special in that it was the first-ever prize card to be handed out at the Shonen Jump Championships between 2004 and 2005. In total, it was given out in nine different tournaments, the first being the GenCol SoCal, a regional version of Gen Con which took place in Anaheim, California.

Two of these rare cards were given away at each tournament, with 18 copies released in total. Several years later, two extra copies were given out as prizes at the 2008 Costa Mesa Shonen Jump Championships, with one embedded with lucite, a special material for display. An additional 126 copies were released as part of a promotional event called Upper Deck Day in early 2009.

In other words, less than 150 copies of this rare card were made, making it one of the more expensive cards of all time.

A level 2 monster, it comes with a quick effect that lets you special summon any fusion monster from your deck as long as you pay 5000 life points. For this reason, players can only have one copy in their deck at a time.

In October 2020, a PSA GEm Mint copy of the card fetched over $30,000. Another copy sold for a similar amount not long afterward.

4. 2007 Crush Card Virus From the Shonen Jump Championships

Crush Card Virus was the fourth card to be given out at the Shonen Jump Championships. In total, only 40 copies were released between January and July 2007. As with Cyber-Stein, two additional copies were distributed at the 2008 Costa Mesa Shonen Jump Championships, one of which came with lucite. Another three (potentially more) were released accidentally at a sneak preview event, which brings the total to 46.

Unlike some of the other cards on our list, it’s not a monster card, but a trap card. Its use has also caused some confusion over the years as its description has been changed four times since it first come out. Put simply, the Crush Card Virus allows you to destroy high-attack monsters on your opponent’s field as well in their hand.

Given how powerful it is, it was included in the Yu-Gi-Oh Banlist for many years- that is, players weren’t allowed to use the card in official duels. Nowadays, however, you can have up to three in your deck as its effects have been balanced out.

In June 2020, a PSA Gem Mint version of the card sold for nearly $50,000. To date, only two copies of this rare card have ever been sold on the PSA website.

3. 2003 1st Edition LOB Dark Magician

The Dark Magician boasts 2500 attack and 2100 defense points and is Yugi’s signature card. A level 7 spellcaster, he’s one of the most powerful monsters in the trading card game. Given that, it’s not surprising to know that he’s also one of the most valuable.

As it is, the most sought-after version is the red variant, owned by Arkana, who made her debut in episode 60 of the anime. In the show, both duelists dueled with Dark Magicians but it was Yugi’s Dark Magician who defeated Arkana’s after combining the effect of his Dark Magician Girl, which gave the spellcasters an extra 600 attack points.

In June 2021, a version edition of the red variant of the Dark Magician sold for a staggering $85,000. Similar to the Red-Eyes Black Dragon, it was originally released as an Ultra Rare in the Legend of Blue Eyes White Dragon set.

Yugi’s classic purple Dark Magician was also released as the opening card of the Yugi Starter Deck in 2002. As for Yugi’s Dark Magician, it was available only as a Dark Duel Stories promotional card, which came with the Game Boy Color game Yu-Gi-Oh Dark Duel Stories in 2002. In November 2020, one of these cards fetched nearly $10,000.

2. 2002 1st Edition LOB Blue-Eyes White Dragon

As most of you probably know, the Blue-Eyes White Dragon is Kaib’s signature card. It’s also one of the strongest monsters in the Yu-Gi-Oh franchise with 3000 attack and 2500 defense points. A level 8 monster, it requires the player to sacrifice two tributes for it to be summoned onto the field. In October 2020, a mint condition first edition sold for nearly $85,000, making it one of the most expensive Yu-Gi-Oh cards to have ever been sold.

Unsurprisingly, it was released as part of the Legends of Blue Eyes White Dragon set as an Ultra Rare Card. The artwork on the card, however, is different than the one that’s shown in the anime.

The Blue-Eyes White Dragon with the same artwork as the anime was released in March 2002 as part of, you guessed it, the Starter Deck Kaiba (SDK). And similar to the Dark Magician, the Blue-Eyes White Dragon was also given out as a promotional card with the Yu-Gi-Oh Game Boy Color Dark Duel Stories Game.

In February 2021, one of these promotional game cards fetched over $25,000.

1. Tyler the Great Warrior

In 2002, a young fan named Tyler Gressle was battling a rare type of liver cancer. Upon hearing his story, the Make-A-Wish Foundation put him in contact with 4Kids Entertainment, who agreed to let him make his own Yu-Gi-Oh card. Not only that but they also gave Gressle and his family a tour of their facility in New York and it was there that they revealed the very card he created. They also gave him his very own TYL card set code.

A level 8 monster, Tyler the Greater boasts an amazing 3000 attack and 1500 defense points. As it is, the monster’s artwork is based on Future Trunks from the Dragon Ball franchise and can be seen throwing shuriken stars.

Not only is the monster powerful but the card itself also comes with an effect in which the opponent’s life points go down each time Tyler the Great destroys and sends one of the opponent’s monsters to the graveyard.

Interestingly enough, the effect is the same as Jaden Yuki’s signature card, Elemental Hero Flame Wingman.

And for those who are wondering- there’s a happy ending to this story. Not only did Gressle survive his battle with cancer, but it was confirmed via Instagram in 2015 that he still owns Tyler the Great.

The post Top 10 Most Valuable Yu-Gi-Oh! Cards – 2026 Update appeared first on Gazette Review.

Top 10 Hospitals In the World In 2026

Without further ado, here are some of the best hospitals in the world in terms of patient outcomes, care philosophy, account specialization quality, and research.

10. Sheba Medical Center – Israel

The Sheba Medical Center is located in the Tel Aviv District of Ramat Gan and is the largest hospital in Israel. Established in 1948, it was originally built to treat casualties of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. It wasn’t until 1953 that it became a civilian hospital, with Dr. Sheba as its director. Following his death in 1971, the facility was renamed in his honor.

Situated on an 0.31 square mile campus, the hospital features 120 departments with 1,400 beds, 1,250 physicians, and more than 1,500 other healthcare workers. They also have nearly 1,000 researchers, interns, and volunteers. In terms of facilities, they have a rehabilitation center, an acute care center, a children’s hospital, a women’s hospital, a PTSD clinic, an eating disorder clinic, an outpatient division, a laboratory division, as well as an academy campus.

Every year, the hospital sees more than one million patients, including 200,000 ER visits, and conducts more than two million medical tests and exams. While most patients are from the Middle East, they also provide mentoring and guidance to other hospitals in the world. They’ve also sent medical support to Sri Lanka, Kosovo, Rwanda, Armenia, and Cambodia.

9. Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center – Los Angeles

The UCLA Medical Center is located on the campus of the University of California, Los Angeles, and is considered one of the best hospitals in the United States. Not only do they have research centers in a number of specialties, including medicine, nursing, and dentistry, but they also have a level I trauma center for both pediatric and adult patients, making it one of the most advanced and comprehensive healthcare systems in the country.

Opened in 2008, the new medical center has replaced the older facilities across the street—ones that were built in the 1950s (the old complex had suffered structural damage following the 1994 earthquake). Named after President Ronald Reagan, the 1.05-million-square-foot hospital contains 525 hospital beds, many of which are accessible to physicians and nurses from 360 degrees. Not only that but it also features a sophisticated aluminum cladding system that’s designed to survive and resist even the most severe of earthquakes.

While most of the old hospital complex has been torn down, some buildings are still standing and will be turned into office space in the near future.

8. Karolinska University Hospital – Sweden

The Karolinska University Hospital is a teaching hospital located in Stockholm, Sweden. Closely affiliated with the Karolinska Institutet, it’s the second largest in Sweden with more than 15,000 employees and 1,300 patient beds. It’s also the birthplace of Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden (born 1977).

While the original hospital was built in 1940, the present-day hospital is a result of a merger between the Karolinska Hospital in Solna, and the former Huddinge University Hospital, which was located south of Stockholm, in Huddinge. It also incorporates the Children’s Hospital in Huddinge and the Astrid Lindgren Children’s Hospital in Solna. Not only that but they also conduct leading clinical research in collaboration with the Karolinska Institute and other universities.

In 2008, the Stockholm Country Council decided to build a new hospital as that would be more cost-effective compared to renovating the existing facilities. The decision, however, was met with controversy. The building of the hospital has also been criticized for its lack of management and construction planning.

After several years of construction, the cardiovascular and pediatric departments moved into the new building in 2016. The other departments eventually moved into the new building in 2018.

7. Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital – Paris

The Pitié-Salpêtrière University Hospital was originally a gunpowder factory. Under the direction of Louis XIV, it was eventually converted into a hospice for the poor, mentally ill and learning disabled. At one point, a prison facility was also added to the site with a total capacity of 300.

By the start of the French Revolution, it had become the world’ largest hospitals, with a capacity of more than 10,000 patients. However, it had no medical function until after the revolution. Before that, all patients were routed to Hotel-Dieu, the oldest hospital in France.

In the end, it wasn’t until 1964, that the original hospice, the Hôpital de la Pitié, fused with the Salpêtrière in 1964, to form the current hospital. It now operates as a teaching hospital with departments in many major medical specialties.

Over the years, numerous personalities have been treated on the premises including Ronaldo, Alain Delon, Valerie Trierweiler, and Michael Schumacher. Diana, Not only that, but several celebrities have also died at the Pitié-Salpêtrière, including Diana, Princess of Wales. The hospital has also hosted a number of notable doctors including Jean-Etienne Esquirol, Jean-Martin Charcot, Christian Cabrol, Philippe Pinel, and Alfred Vulpian.

6. The Johns Hopkins Hospital – Baltimore

Johns Hopkins Hospital is considered to be one of the greatest medical institutions in the world. Located in Baltimore, Maryland, it’s the birthplace of many famous medical traditions including residents, rounds, and house staff. Many medical specialties were also formed at the hospital including cardiac surgery, neurosurgery, and child psychiatry. An oncology center was also established in the 80s and 90s.

Currently, the hospital occupies 20 buildings on the Johns Hopkins Medical Campus and sees more than 80,000 patients a week. It has over 1,000 hospital beds and had a staff of over 30,000, including 1,700 physicians. In addition to the main hospital, the system also operates four other outpatient care facilities in the Washington and Baltimore metro areas. In 2019, a $80 million expansion project, one that offered imaging, outpatient surgery, and oncology treatment was also completed.

The Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, which is located next to Johns Hopkins Hospital, is also a nationally ranked hospital. It provides comprehensive specialties and subspecialties to children, infants, teens, and young adults and is one of the only ACS-verified Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Centers in the area.

5. Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin – Germany

The Charité is one of the largest university hospitals in Europe. Not only that but it’s also one of the most research-intensive medical institutions in Germany. For one thing, over half of all German Nobel Prize winners in Medicine or Physiology have worked the hospital, including Paul Ehrlich, Emil von Behring, and Robert Koch.

It also has a long history that dates back hundreds of years. Originally built in 1710, the hospital was established in anticipation of the bubonic plague. It was later turned into a teaching hospital in the 19th century. During this time, it became home to many notable medical pioneers including neurologist and psychiatrist Otto Binswanger, and Rudolf Virchow aka “the father of modern pathology.”

While many parts of the hospital were destroyed or damaged during World War II, it was eventually restored. By the 1990s, it had become one of the leading teaching and research hospitals in the world. Currently, the hospital has four different campuses across the city: Campus Benjamin Franklin, Campus Virchow Klinikum, Campus Berlin Buch, and another one in Mitte, Berlin. In total, there are more than 3,000 hospital beds.

4. Toronto General Hospital – Canada

Toronto General Hospital is a teaching hospital for the University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine. Located in Downtown Toronto, the hospital is renowned for thoracic and cardiac surgery and is also the largest organ transplant center in North America. In 2017 alone, they performed over 600 transplants, including those for the heart, liver, kidney, lungs, small intestine, and pancreas.

The world’s first lung transplants, both single and double, were also performed at the hospital, as was the world’s first valve-sparing aortic root replacement. In 1950, surgeons at the hospital also successfully installed the world’s first external heart pacemaker. And more recently in 2016, they successfully performed the first hand transplant in Canada.

Not only that but the hospital is also home to the Peter Munk Cardiac Center, the largest open heart center in Canada and is ranked among the top ten in North America.

Built in 1812, the hospital started as a small shed and was used as a military hospital during the War of 1812. York General Hospital, as it was known as, was eventually moved to College Street, near its current location in 1913. A new wing for the hospital has since been completed.

3. Massachusetts General Hospital – Boston

Massachusetts General Hospital is one of the oldest general hospitals in the United States. The largest teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School, it has more than 1,000 beds and houses one of the largest research programs in the world with an annual budget of more than $1 billion.

Founded in 1811, the original hospital was intended to care for the poor. Nowadays, it handles approximately 1.5 million outpatient visits and 50,000 patients each year. The surgical staff performs more than 34,000 operations yearly and the obstetric department handles nearly 4,000 births each year.

The hospital’s trauma center is also one of the oldest and largest in the area. In 2004, they also opened the Yawkey Center for Outpatient Center, which is the most comprehensive outpatient facility in New England.  Since then, a 530,000-square-foot building has also been built; it houses three floors of radiation oncology suites, an expanded emergency room, neurosurgery floors, oncology floors, as well as three floors of operating rooms.

The hospital is also directly attached to the Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, which provides comprehensive pediatric specialties and has approximately 100 pediatric beds.

2. Cleveland Clinic – Cleveland

Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit medical center that’s operated by the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. Based in Cleveland, Ohio, it’s consistently rated one of the top hospitals in the United States, with some of the best pediatric and adult specialties; it’s particularly known for its technological management systems.

Currently, the hospital has more than 67,000 employees, which includes 17,000 registered nurses and 4,500 physicians in 140 specialties. Not only that but it also has 1,900 residents and fellows in training.

In addition to the main hospital, Cleveland Clinic also operates other surgery centers in surrounding areas, including a 1,000-bed hospital in Florida, and two Cleveland Clinics in Toronto, Canada. On top of that, they operate Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, which has over 560 beds. More recently, they also opened a 198,000-square foot hospital campus in London, England.

Biomedical research is also conducted at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute. In fact, they regularly host graduate student research through different phD programs in conjugation with universities such as Cleveland State University, Case Western Reserve University, and Kent State University.

They also publish the peer-reviewed Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine every month, which focuses on diabetes, endocrinology, and internal medicine.

1. Mayo Clinic – Rochester

The Mayo Clinic has been ranked number one in the United States for nearly ten years. A nonprofit academic medical center, it focuses on integrated education, health care, and research. There are currently three campuses: Jacksonville, Florida; Rochester, Minnesota; and Phoenix, Arizona.

The hospital offers highly specialized medical care, with the majority of patients being referred from hospitals and smaller clinics from the United States, especially those across the Upper Midwest. As the hospital that performs the highest number of transplants in the U.S., they also draw in patients from around the world.

Not only that, but their research personnel also includes more than 4,000 full-time researchers, 250 full-time scientific faculty members, as well as 766 physicians. In 2018 alone, over 3,000 new human research studies were approved by the review board.

Mayo Clinic also operates the nonprofit college, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, which is dedicated to training allied and medical health professionals at hospitals in Florida, Arizona, and Minnesota.

In 2021-21, Mayo Clinic in Rochester was ranked the number one hospital in the U.S. by US News & World Report. More specifically, they’re ranked first in diabetes, endocrinology, geriatrics, gastroenterology, nephrology, gynecology, urology, neurology, neurosurgery, and pulmonology. As of 2022, the hospital employees more than 63,000 individuals across its different campuses.

The post Top Hospitals in the World – 2026 Update appeared first on Gazette Review.

Are you a fan? Wondering who the richest tennis players in the world are? If so, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve compiled a list of some of the wealthiest tennis stars below. Keep reading to find out who they are!

Top 10 Richest Tennis Players In The World In 2026

Without further ado, let’s take a look at who’s on the list (along with their net worths).

10. John McEnroe – Net Worth: $100 Million

John McEnroe is the only male tennis player in history to be ranked number one in both singles and doubles simultaneously. Not only that but he is also the only male players to have won over 70 titles in both the men’s singles and doubles categories. Known for his volleying and shot-making skills, he began his career as an amateur in 1977 and quickly progressed through the ranks. By 1979, he and his partner Peter Fleming had won the men’s doubles titles at the Wimbledon Championships.

He then had his best season in 1984, achieving a new singles match record of 82-3, which remains to be the highest single-season win rate of the Open Era. That same year, he won 13 singles tournaments including the US Open and Wimbledon Championships.

After a multi-decade career, McEnroe retired from singles in 1994 and from doubles in 2006. To this day, he holds multiple records including having contributed to the Davis Cup title five times. He was also named the ITF World Champion and ATP Player of the Year three times.

Since retiring, he has stayed active in the sport, often competing on the ATP Champions Tour, which is meant for former professional tennis players. From time to time, he also works as a commentator during major tennis tournaments.

9. Andy Murray – Net Worth: $100 Million

Andy Murray is a professional tennis player who represents Britain. Originally coached by his mother, he began training at the Sanchez-Casal Academy at the age of fifteen. By 2005, he had made his professional debut on the main tour in Barcelona.

Since then, he has defeated Djokovic at the US Open and have become the first British tennis player to win the men’s singles title. Not only that but he has also won three Grand Slam single titles, one at the US Open and two at Wimbledon. In 2012, he also won a gold medal in the men’s singles category. He would later win two additional gold medals at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

An all-court player, he excels in multiple areas including returning serve, defense, and constructing points. In fact, it’s often considered as having one of the best two-handed backhands. In Great Britain, he’s also regarded as a national hero for having re-established the nation as a leading force in men’s tennis–something that hasn’t been achieved since the early twentieth century.

8. Pete Sampras – Net Worth: $150 Million

Pete Sampras, also known as “Pistol Pete” for his powerful and precise serve, began playing tennis at a young age after moving to Palos Verdes, California, with his family. By the time he was a teen, his talent had become apparent; he subsequently began training with Robert Lansdorp, from whom he learned his forehand.

In 1988, he turned professional at the age of 16. His first match was against Sammy Giammalva, Jr. at the Ebel US Pro Indoor. Though he lost, he eventually defeated two top-40 players at the Lipton International Players Championships just a week later. By 1991, he had won his first career title at the Tennis Masters Cup.

In the end, he continued playing professional until 2002. During that period, he won 14 major singles titles, including two Australian Open titles, seven Wimbledon titles, and five US Open titles, which was an all-time record at the time of his retirement. In 1993, he also reached number one in he world rankings, a position that he held for 286 weeks. He was eventually inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2007.

7. Andre Agassi – Net Worth: $175 Million

Pete Sampras is a former professional tennis player who represented the United States. Not only is he an eight-time major champion, but he also won a gold medal in the men’s singles event at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games.

As a teen, he trained at Nick Bollettierri’s Tennis Academy in Florida. Though he was only meant to stay for three months, as that was all his family could afford, his talent impressed Bollettieri to the point where he eventually offered him free training. Agassi subsequently dropped out of school to pursue tennis full-time.

By the time he was 16, he had turned professional, having participated in his first tournament, where he won against John Austin. In the end, he continued playing until 2006; he ultimately retired from the sport after suffering from sciatica and a bone spur, the latter of which affected his nerve.

To date, he remains the most recent American tennis player to have won the Australian Open and the French Open. Throughout his professional career, he also won 17 Masters title and was a member of the winning Davis Cup teams between 1990 and 1995. And while he was struggled with various personal issues during that period, he reached number one in the world rankings for the first time in 1995.

6. Maria Sharapova – Net Worth $180 Million

Maria Sharapova is a Russian tennis player who previously held the world number one title. Raised in Sochi, Russia, she began playing tennis at the age of four after being given her first tennis racket. She then attended a tennis clinic run by former professional tennis player Martina Navratilova.

Encouraged to pursue professional training, Sharapova and her family eventually traveled to the United States, where she initially trained with Rick Macci. By the time she was nine, she was signed by IMG, who agreed to pay her tuition fees at the IMG Academy.

At the age of 18, she became the world number one for the first time, a position that she retained for six weeks. She then went on to win five major titles, two at the French Open, and one at the US Open, Wimbledon, and Australian Open. She also represented Russia at the 2012 London Olympic Games, where she won silver in the women’s singles event.

In 2016, however, she failed a drug test after testing positive for a banned substance at the Australian Open. As a result, she was banned from competing by the International Tennis Federation for two years. The suspension was later reduced after it was determined that she hadn’t committed “significant fault.”

5. Rafael Nadal  – Net Worth: $220 Million

Rafael Nadal is a professional tennis player who represents Spain. Currently, he is ranked number two in men’s singles. He also previously held the number one position for 209 weeks.

Born in Manacor, Spain, he began playing tennis at the age of three after being introduced to the sport by his uncle, who also became his coach. By the time he was eight, he had won his first under-12 regional championship. Despite turning down the tennis federation’s request for him to train at Barcelona, he eventually turned professional at the age of 15.

Since then, he has won 22 Grand Slam men’s singles titles, which is an all-time record, 92 ATP singles titles, including 36 Master titles. Not only that but he has also completed the Career Golden Slam in singles and is one of only two male tennis players to have achieved such a feat. Representing Spain, he has also won two Olympic gold medals–one from the 2008 Beijing Games and one from the 2016 Rio Games.

Currently, he trains at the Rafa Nadal Sports Centre, which he owns in his hometown of Manacor. In addition to that, he owns and operates there additional facilities in Cancun, Kuwait, and Al Zahra.

4. Novak Djokovic – Net Worth: $225 Million

Novak Djokovic is a Serbian professional tennis player who is currently ranked world number one by the ATP. Born in Belgrade, SFR Yugoslavia, he began playing tennis at the age of four after his parents gave him a small racket and ball. Noticing his talent, they eventually sent him to a local tennis camp.

At the age of 16, he turned professional after entering the ATP tour, during which he mainly played in Challenger and Futures tournaments. Around the same time, he made his first Grand Slam tournament appearance after qualifying for the Australian Open.

Since then, he has made numerous strides in his professional career. In 2008, he won his first major title at the Australian Open, which disrupted both Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer’s streak of 11 consecutive major titles. In 2011, he also won three major titles and five Master titles, making him the most successful male tennis player of the decade.

Representing Serbia, he also competed at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where he won the bronze medal in the men’s singles event.

3. Serena Williams – Net Worth: $250 Million

Serena Williams is often considered one of the greatest tennis players of all time. Along with her sister Venus, she was coached by her parents Richard Williams and Oracence Price and had turned professional at the age of 14.

By the 2000s, she had won numerous major titles, having won the US Open, Australian Open, and French Open. While she continued to compete, injuries eventually led her to take a break. She eventually returned to the sport in 2007, retaking the world number one ranking. Not only that but she also represented the United States at the 2012 London Olympic games, where she won gold in the female’s singles event.

She then won her 23rd major singles title at the 2017 Australian Open, before taking a break from the sport due to becoming pregnant. She later returned and played her final match at the 2022 US Open.

To date, she is one of the highest-earning woman athletes of all time. In 2016, she earned nearly $29 million, a feat that she later repeated in 2017. More recently, she was also included in Forbes’ World’s Highest Paid Athletes list.

2. Roger Federer – Net Worth: $550 Million

Roger Federer is a Swiss professional tennis player who is widely regarded as the best tennis player of all time. Along with Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, he was known as the Big Three and regularly dominated men’s tennis.

During the height of his career, he played 21 major singles finals, where he won three of the four majors. He also competed at the Wimbledon and US Open regularly and had won five consecutive titles. In 2009, he also completed the career Grand Slam at the French Open. From there, he surpassed Pete Sampras’ all-time record of 14 major men’s titles at the 2009 Wimbledon tournament.

After competing for more than two decades, he retired from professional tennis in September 2022 after the Laver Cup. One of the highest-paid athletes in any sport, he is an active philanthropist and runs the Roger Federer Foundation, which helps impoverished children in Africa. Not only that but he also played a huge role in the making of the Laver Cup competition.

1. Ion Tiriac – Net Worth: $1.2 Billion

Ion Tiriac, aka “Brascov Bulldozer” is a former professional tennis player and the current president of the Romaniain Tennis Federation. From 1998 to 2004, he was also the president of the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee.

During his professional career, he played dramatic five-settlers against Manuel Orantes, Jan Kodes, Rod Laver, and Stan Smith. He also won against Roscoe Tanner, Anders Gimeno, Niki Pilic, and Adriana Panatta.

Since retiring from professional tennis in 1979, he has become a successful businessman with many companies under his name. He’s also an avid car collector and has hundreds of historical vehicles, which are on full-time display at The Tiriac Collection. Not only that but he has served as manager and coach for several notable names including Mary Joe Fernandez, Marat Safin, Ilie Nastase, and Guillermo Vllas. He also managed the career of Boris Becker from 1984 to 1993.

According to Forbes Magazine, he has an estimated net worth of $1.2 billion. For his work in promoting tournaments, he was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2013, after being nominated in the contributor category the previous year.

The post The Top Ten Richest Tennis Players in the World – 2026 Update appeared first on Gazette Review.

Outside of the United States, sports are also incredibly popular. Take the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo, for example, it had a global audience of over 3 billion. While it’s a slight decrease from the previous Olympics, it’s still a staggering number. The opening ceremony alone drew more than 16.7 million viewers on NBC.

But have you ever wondered which sports are the most popular? How many fans they have? Because that’s what we’ll be going over in this post. Keep reading to learn more!

Top 10 Most Popular Sports In 2026

Without further ado, here are the top ten most popular sports in the world.

10. Golf – 450 Million Fans

Golf is the most popular sport in the world with more than 450 million fans worldwide. A club-and-ball sport, it originated in 15th-century Scotland, though its exact origins are unknown.

Unlike other ball games, golf does not utilize a standard playing area. Rather, courses consist of various terrains, all of which are an essential part of the game. There are two main types of golf courses- 9 holes or 18 holes, each of which consists of a tee box, rough, putting green, and other hazards.

While many holes can be seen directly from the teeing area, many are hidden to increase the level of difficulty.

Generally speaking, one group will contain one to four people playing the ground. Depending on the pace of play, it can take up to four hours for an 18-hole round or two hours for a 9-hole round.

The game starts when a player puts a ball into play by hitting it with a golf club on the tee. Ultimately, the goal is to get the golf ball into the hole in as few strokes as possible. Various obstacles such as grass and sand may also impede players as they progress through the round.

While golf is popular worldwide, it is particularly popular in the U.S., UK, Ireland, Finland, Denmark, New Zealand, Austria, and Canada.

9. Rugby – 475 Million Fans

Rugby is second on our list with more than 475 million fans worldwide. A contact team sport, it originated in Warwickshire, England, in the early 19th century.

Unlike other ball sports, it allows players to run across the field with the ball in hand. Ultimately, the goal is to advance the ball into the opposition’s end zone, where the goalpost is located. While there are different variations, the most common type of game is played between two teams, both of which consist of 15 players.

Generally speaking, players in a team are divided into seven backs and eight forwards; the former defends the back line while the latter is responsible for gaining possession of the ball.

While rugby was originally popular in Ireland and Great Britain, it has since spread to other countries including France, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. In fact, international matches have taken place since the early 1870s. Take the Rugby World Cup, for example, it is held every four years. There’s also the Rugby Championship and the Six Nations Championship, the latter of which occurs in Europe.

8. Baseball – 500 Million Fans

Baseball has its origins in older bat-and-ball games, which were played in England in the mid-18th century. The game was eventually brought over to North America by immigrants, where they developed the modern version. By the late nineteenth century, it had become the national sport of the U.S.

A bat-and-ball sport, it’s played between two teams, who take turns fielding and batting. In each play, the pitcher throws a ball that the batting team tries to hit; their goal is to hit the ball away from the other team’s players so that their players can advance to the different bases. As for the defensive team, their goal is to prevent the batters from running to the bases.

To do that, they try to get the runners or batters “out”, which forces them out of the field.

Currently, the MLB is the highest level of professional baseball in Canada and the U.S., with teams in the American League and National League. There are three main divisions: Central, West, and East.

In fact, the World Baseball Classic is one of the biggest international sports competitions in the world.

7. Basketball – 825 Million Fans

Basketball is a popular team sport with more than 825 million fans across the globe. The game was invented by James Naismith, a Canadian physical education teacher, in 1891 in Massachusetts. His goal was to create a sport that students would be able to play indoors during the winter months; he also wanted something that’s less injury-prone.

After publishing the rules of the game, the first basketball match was held on December 21, 1891. The sport quickly became established and by the 20th century, had become popular in many countries, including the United States. By 1946, the American National Basketball Association was established.

A team sport, it’s played with two teams, each of which tries to throw a basketball through the other team’s hoop. The ball is advanced across the rectangular court through dribbles or it can be passed to a teammate. In total, each team consists of five players, the tallest being the center,

Some of the biggest international basketball events include the Men’s Olympic Basketball Tournament and the FIBA Basketball World Cup.T THe Women’s Olympic Basketball Tournament and FIBA Women’s World Cup also features some of the best U.S. teams.

6. Table Tennis – 875 Million Fans

Table Tennis is the sixth most popular sport in the world with more than 875 million fans. Also known as ping pong, the sport originated in England during the late 19th century and was often played by the upper class. Makeshift versions of the game were eventually developed by military officers in the 1860s, who brought the sport back with them. Several decades later, the International Table Tennis Federation was founded.

In 1988, table tennis was officially made an Olympic sport, with women’s and men’s singles as event categories. Men’s and women’s teams have also existed since 2008.

Nowadays, the largest international tournaments for professional players include the World Championships, which were started in 1926, the WTT Grand Smashes, and the Olympic Games.

While table tennis is played across the world, it’s the most popular in China. If anything, they’re known for producing some of the most successful players in the sport’s history. Take Deng Yaping, for example, he has won every professional title in the sport.

Aside from China, the sport is also popular in Japan, Korea, Germany, and Sweden. Some of the biggest names in the sport include Jan-Ove Waldner, Liu Guoliang, Deng Yaping, Wang Liqin, Dimitrij Ovtcharov, and Fan Zhendong.

5. Volleyball – 900 Million Fans

Volleyball is the fifth most popular sport in the world. In the United States alone, there are more than 37 million players. Not only that but many also tune into live game streams. Take the Women’s Volleyball Championship, for example, it drew more than 20 million viewers in 2020.

Originally known as “mintonette”, the sport originated in the late 1890s in Massachusetts and was created by the director of the YMCA William George Morgan.

A team sport, it’s played between two teams of six, each of which tries to score points by sending the ball to the ground on the other side. Each game consists of five sets, the last of which goes to 15, with the team winning the most matches being the winner (a team must win a set by at least two points). Depending on the level of competition, however, there may be fewer sets.

Currently, the biggest volleyball tournaments include the Olympic Games, FIVB Volleyball World Nations League, FIVB World Grand Championship, FIVB World Cup, and FIVB Volleyball World League.

4. Tennis – 1 Billion Fans

Tennis originated in Northern France during the 12th century. Unlike the modern version, which is played with a racket, the initial sport was a handball game where players would hit the ball with their hands or glove. It wasn’t until the late 1870s that it was modified to be played on an outdoor court.

In 1881, the United States Tennis Association (formerly known as the United States National Lawn Tennis Association) was formed. Not long afterward, the first men’s singles championships were held in Newport, Rhode Island. By the end of the decade, it had also become popular in France, and Australia. In fact, they now host two of the most prestigious tennis events in the world- the French Open and the Australian Open.

Nowadays, tennis is one of the most popular sports in the world with millions of recreational players acoss the globe. Not only that but it’s also a popular spectator sport. Aside from the French Open and Australian Open, the US Open National Championship is also popular with some of the world’s best tennis athletes competing.

3. Field Hockey –  2 Billion Fans

Although field hockey was played since the middle ages in The Netherlands, Scotland, and England, the modern game grew in popularity in the English public school system in the nineteenth century. The Hockey Association was founded in 1886 and the first international match took place in 1895 between Ireland and Wales when the Irish team won by three goals to nil.

The game was inaugurated as an Olympic sport in 1908 and the competition was dominated by India and Pakistan until 1968. With the introduction of synthetic pitches in the 1970’s the domination of those two nations ended as artificial surfaces were too expensive for developing nations, and other nations began to challenge the previous masters of the game, most notably The Netherlands, Germany, New Zealand, Australia and Spain.

Despite their lack of form in recent years, Pakistan, where field hockey is the national sport, holds an unbroken record of four World Cup wins to this day and many of the sport’s two billion fans are from there and neighboring India.

2. Cricket – 2.5 Billion Fans

The exact origins of Cricket are not known, however, it is believed to have originally been a children’s game that was played in England at least as early as 1550. By around 1610 it had begun to be played by adults and its popularity grew.

Matches were often held between neighboring villages on a casual basis and as the British Empire grew, so did the popularity of Cricket, particularly in Australia and the Indian subcontinent.

By the 19th-century cricket clubs were formed at the county level, with the first being Sussex County Cricket club in 1839, and the sport soon became established in North America, The Caribbean, South Africa, and New Zealand.

1. Soccer – 3.5 Billion Fans

The earliest known form of soccer was played in China during the Han Dynasty, around 200 BC, in a game called ‘Cuju’, which translates literally as ‘Kick Ball’. The modern game was founded in England in 1883 with the formation in Britain of the Football Association (FA), which standardized the rules for competition.

The popularity of the sport grew rapidly throughout Europe and an international governing body, FIFA was founded in Paris in 1904. Today the sport is played at a professional level throughout the World, with an estimated 250 million people playing it regularly at an amateur level. The popularity of the sport grew in South America, Australasia, and Asia, and in 1930 FIFA held the inaugural FIFA World Cup. The competition has been held every four years since then, with the exception of 1942 and 1946 when World War two halted the competition.

Today top players can expect to earn hundreds of millions of dollars annually, and are treated with almost religious respect by legions of passionate fans. Brazil is generally recognized as the most talented national team and leads the World Cup rankings with five wins throughout the competition’s history. Today the sport is followed by 3.5 billion fans Worldwide.

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