Photos of María Corina Machado’s return to Venezuela as supporters welcome opposition leader

Supporters greet María Corina Machado in Venezuela as she returns after months in exile. The opposition leader left in December to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in Norway after nearly a year in hiding. Following the U.S. military’s capture of President Nicolás Maduro, Machado and her allies are demanding a presidential election, challenging Delcy Rodríguez’s interim government.

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Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado greets supporters in Valencia, Venezuela, following her return to the country after months abroad, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Jacinto Oliveros)

Supporters surround Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado in Valencia, Venezuela, following her return to the country after months abroad, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Pedro Mattey)

Supporters of Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado rally as they await her arrival in Caracas, Venezuela, following her return to the country after months abroad, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Javier Campos)

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado attends a religious Mass outside a church in Barquisimeto, Venezuela, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Jesus Hernandez)

Supporters of Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado celebrate her return to the country after months abroad in Caracas, Venezuela, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026 (AP Photo/Javier Campos)

Supporters surround Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado in Valencia, Venezuela, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, following her return to the country after months abroad. (AP Photo/Pedro Mattey)

Supporters of Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado cheer as they wait for her to arrive in Caracas, Venezuela, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Javier Campos)

Supporters surround Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado in Valencia, Venezuela, following her return to the country after months abroad, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Pedro Mattey)

Supporters of Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado celebrate her return to the country after months abroad in Caracas, Venezuela, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026 (AP Photo/Javier Campos)

Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado greets supporters in Valencia, Venezuela, following her return to the country after months abroad, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Pedro Mattey)

Supporters of Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado celebrate her return to Venezuela after months abroad in Caracas, Venezuela, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026 (AP Photo/Javier Campos)

Supporters of Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado celebrate her return to the country after months abroad in Caracas, Venezuela, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026 (AP Photo/Javier Campos)

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, center, greets supporters in Barquisimeto, Venezuela, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Jesus Hernandez)

Supporters of Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado celebrate following her return to the country after months abroad in Caracas, Venezuela, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Pedro Campos)

Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado greets supporters in Valencia, Venezuela, following her return to the country after months abroad, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Pedro Mattey)

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Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado greets supporters in Valencia, Venezuela, following her return to the country after months abroad, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Jacinto Oliveros)

Supporters surround Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado in Valencia, Venezuela, following her return to the country after months abroad, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Pedro Mattey)

Supporters of Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado rally as they await her arrival in Caracas, Venezuela, following her return to the country after months abroad, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Javier Campos)

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado attends a religious Mass outside a church in Barquisimeto, Venezuela, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Jesus Hernandez)

Supporters of Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado celebrate her return to the country after months abroad in Caracas, Venezuela, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026 (AP Photo/Javier Campos)

Supporters surround Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado in Valencia, Venezuela, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, following her return to the country after months abroad. (AP Photo/Pedro Mattey)

Supporters of Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado cheer as they wait for her to arrive in Caracas, Venezuela, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Javier Campos)

Supporters surround Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado in Valencia, Venezuela, following her return to the country after months abroad, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Pedro Mattey)

Supporters of Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado celebrate her return to the country after months abroad in Caracas, Venezuela, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026 (AP Photo/Javier Campos)

Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado greets supporters in Valencia, Venezuela, following her return to the country after months abroad, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Pedro Mattey)

Supporters of Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado celebrate her return to Venezuela after months abroad in Caracas, Venezuela, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026 (AP Photo/Javier Campos)

Supporters of Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado celebrate her return to the country after months abroad in Caracas, Venezuela, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026 (AP Photo/Javier Campos)

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, center, greets supporters in Barquisimeto, Venezuela, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Jesus Hernandez)

Supporters of Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado celebrate following her return to the country after months abroad in Caracas, Venezuela, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Pedro Campos)

Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado greets supporters in Valencia, Venezuela, following her return to the country after months abroad, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Pedro Mattey)

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — A chorus of boos echoed through Rogers Arena as Quinn Hughes stepped on the ice for warmups Sunday night.

The former Vancouver captain was back inside the rink for the first time since being traded to the Minnesota Wild in December, and scored to give the Wild a 3-0 lead on a power player midway through the second period.

Hundreds of people — many clad in Canucks jerseys emblazoned with Hughes’ name and No. 43 — stood around the glass ahead of warmups, hoping to get a glimpse of the star defenseman. One held a sign reading “And I thought I had commitment issues.”

More boos rained down when Hughes’ name was mentioned by the team reporter on the big screen ahead of puck drop.

Picked seventh overall by the Canucks in 2018, Hughes played 6 1/2 seasons in Vancouver before the blockbuster trade sent him to Minnesota.

The deal saw Vancouver acquire Marco Rossi and Liam Ohgren, defenseman Zeev Buium and the Wild’s first-round pick in the 2026 NHL entry draft.

Patrik Allvin, then Vancouver’s general manager, said Hughes had made it clear he was unlikely to sign a long-term extension with the Canucks following the expiration of the six-year, $47.1 million deal he signed in October 2021.

In 2024, Hughes won the Norris Trophy — awarded annually to the league’s top defenseman — after helping Vancouver win a Pacific Division title and make the playoffs for the first time since 2020.

Photos of María Corina Machado’s return to Venezuela as supporters welcome opposition leader