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      in Motorsport

      Inside F1 drivers’ globe-trotting hols that make even footballers’ look budget – including Ibiza party with superstar DJ

      by

      THEY quite literally live life in the fast lane, so it’s not surprising Formula 1 stars love to slow down, relax and unwind in absolute luxury. With the summer break upon them, F1 drivers like Max Verstappen, Pierre Gasly and George Russell have jetted off around the world on jaw-dropping trips that put even millionaire footballers’ to shame.
      Formula One World Champion Max Verstappen and his partner Kelly Piquet were recently seen enjoying a family boat trip out in the Sardinian seaCredit: BackGrid
      From Sardinia to Ibiza to jet-packing and raving – often with their glam other halves – this is how the super rich stars are spending their vacations.
      Max Verstappen
      World champion Verstappen extended his title lead at the Belgian Grand Prix, securing his eighth straight victory, so no doubt he’ll be feeling very happy going into the summer break.
      The 25-year-old and his model girlfriend Kelly Piquet, 34, have been enjoying a romantic getaway to Sardinia, Italy, flying in on a private jet days after the final race.
      Kelly has posted on Instagram, showing off the beautiful surroundingsCredit: Instagram
      Max and Kelly have been together since 2020 and are one of the golden couples of the sportCredit: Getty
      The pair jetted off to SardiniaCredit: https://www.instagram.com/kellypiquet/?hl=en
      Since then, the couple have been enjoying the beautiful scenery and coastal views, and have visited the local towns with Kelly’s daughter Penelope, who she welcomed in 2019 with her ex, Daniil Kvyat.
      READ MORE FORMULA 1 FEATURES
      Kelly began dating Verstappen in late 2020 – one year before he won the F1 World Championship – and the pair have been going strong ever since.
      Pierre Gasly
      Pierre Gasly and Francisca Gomes have been spending time together in the Algarve, PortugalCredit: Instagram
      Pierre is enjoying some down time, pictured here relaxing in the hot tubCredit: Instagram
      The star took his foot off the pedal to enjoy a round of golfCredit: Instagram
      Pierre Gasly, 27, and his girlfriend Francisca ‘Kika’ Gomes started dating last year and went Instagram official with their romance at the beginning of 2023.
      And it seems the pair are clearly still very much enjoying the honeymoon phase.
      They are currently spending some time in the Algarve, Portugal, and they’ve both posted a series of loved-up photos together.
      Most read in Motorsport
      Pierre has been enjoying time relaxing in the hot tub, and earlier this week Francisca even posted a ‘cheeky snap’ showing off their tans – and derrieres – at the beach.
      While away, Gasly’s swapped driving for a spot of golf, and while he posted a photo enjoying an ice cream, he hasn’t gone full ‘holiday mode’ – still making sure he goes to the gym while abroad too.
      The driver’s girlfriend Francisca posted this cheeky snap showing off their golden tansCredit: Instagram
      Naturally, Pierre has a snazzy motor at the readyCredit: Instagram
      Francisca found a perfect spot to sunbatheCredit: Instagram
      George Russell
      Among the most adventurous couples are Brit George Russell, 25, and investment broker girlfriend Carmen Mundt, who have been together since 2020.
      The pair are currently away with their families and have spent a lot of time at sea, paddle boarding, jet skiing, hoverboarding and even playing around with hydro-jet packs.
      Posting photos of their adventures, George wrote: “Really fun times trying some new things.
      “I’ve never been very comfortable in water but have enjoyed pushing myself outside my comfort zone. A few small bruises later, we’re away!”
      George and Carmen have been together since 2020, and are spending the summer break spending time with their familiesCredit: Instagram
      Carmen was previously a student at the University of Westminster and studied for a degree in business management and financeCredit: Instagram
      The sporty pair had a go at paddleboardingCredit: The Mega Agency
      Even hydro jet packs were on the itineraryCredit: Instagram
      Daniel Ricciardo
      While Aussie racer Daniel Ricciardo has won eight Grand Prixs, last August he hit a career low, getting ditched by McLaren and failing to secure a seat for the 2023 season.
      He went on to make a surprise F1 return at the Hungarian GP, and since the season ended he’s enjoyed a much-needed trip to Ibiza alongside DJs Martin Garrix and Tiesto.
      Garrix posted a photo on his Instagram of the trio enjoying a lunch captioned: “CRAZY day in Ibiza!! thanks for partying in the rain.”
      Ricciardo, 34, – who is dating Heidi Berger – also owns a luxury mansion in Los Angeles, and is said to enjoy spending most of the summer in LA, telling the West Australian: “The weather, having the beaches close by, I feel like you can escape the madness of it all.” 
      Daniel Ricciardo has been spending time in IbizaCredit: Instagram
      Lewis Hamilton 
      He recently posted a cool underwater snap of himself, and while it’s not known where Lewis Hamilton is holidaying currently, it will no doubt be phenomenal.
      He’s no stranger to lavish trips, having previously travelled around America and Mexico in his summers off, and has enjoyed jaunts to Jamaica and Costa Rica.
      The driver, 38, is rumoured to be dating singer Shakira, 46, and the pair are reportedly embracing a “hot summer romance” and have become “inseparable”.
      Lewis Hamilton uploaded this photo to his Instagram, with the caption ‘Out of office’Credit: LEWIS HAMILTON / INSTAGRAM
      Lewis previously posed with his arm around Shakira as they went out for dinnerCredit: Instagram – Mustafa
      Lance Stroll
      He managed to crash his car and fall down the stairs at the Belgian Grand Prix, so Lance Stroll was probably feeling ready for a break.
      The 24-year-old shared a selection of photos showing his break so far on Instagram captioned: “Summer dump”, showing him enjoying an ice cream and wake-surfing.
      There’s been no sign of girlfriend Sara Pagliaroli in his summer pics as yet, who he’s dated since 2021.
      Lance Stroll is making the most of the summer breakCredit: Instagram
      Lando Norris
      He recently posted a video if himself jumping off a yacht into the crystal blue sea, so it seems Lando Norris is finally taking some much earned rest with his family.
      Read More on The Sun
      However, as soon as the season finished, the 23-year-old first hopped in a helicopter alongside Max Verstappen to visit their mutual friend DJ Martin Garrix.
      In true ‘work hard, play hard’ style, the pair partied at Tomorrowland dance festival in Belgium together before taking a much needed proper break.
      After the last race, Lando Norris boarded a helicopterCredit: Instagram
      Lando and pal Max Verstappen flew into Belgium for the Tomorrowland festivalCredit: AFP More

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      in Soccer

      I live next to Premier League stadium – players like Roy Keane used to LIVE next door and cause chaos… I got one sacked

      by

      RESIDENTS who live a stone’s throw from one of the noisiest stadiums in the Premier League say they love it – but have had to scold future stars, including an international legend.The 30,000 capacity City Ground, where Nottingham Forest has played since 1898, is surrounded by tightly-packed Victorian housing, with one of its entrances as the end of a red-brick terraced street.
      Nottingham Forest have played at the City Ground since 1898Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      Local resident Jane Benwell says she once told off legend Roy Keane, who was a ‘naughty boy’ when he played for Forest aged 19Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      But locals claim they enjoy the buzz of match days – especially since Forest were promoted back into English football’s top flight last year, for the first time since 1999.
      Many are also season ticket holders – meaning they can be in their seats in the stand just moments after leaving home.
      But living literally in the shadow of the ground – rated last season by experts as having one of the loudest atmospheres in the UK – does have its drawbacks.
      When The Sun visited as part of our Life’s A Pitch summer series, locals told us they have to deal with noisy TV vans and residential roads being completely closed by metal gates before and after kick-off.
      READ MORE LIFE’S A PITCH
      Meanwhile neighbours described how teenage Forest apprentices were housed on their street in properties owned by the club – but would play loud music, kick footballs around the street and hold late night parties.
      Incredibly, resident Jane Benwell told how she once had to tick off former Republic of Ireland captain and Manchester United legend Roy Keane – now a respected broadcaster – when he lived in digs next door to her on Colwick Road.

      Then 19, he moved to Forest from Irish club Cobh Ramblers in 1990.
      The shop assistant said he was “a naughty boy”, adding: “He would answer back if you asked him to quiet down.
      Most read in Football
      Roy Keane played for Nottingham Forest for 13 years before moving to Manchester UnitedCredit: Sports Photo Agency
      Local resident Jane says she once told off legend Roy Keane who was a ‘naughty boy’Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      “It’s really funny now when I see him on TV and think back to those days.
      “Another one who lived there as a youngster was Sean Dyche, who is now Everton manager – although I don’t recall any specific problems with him.”
      Jane, 69, also once marched into the office of then-Forest boss Paul Hart to complain when one young player who lived opposite her exposed his backside in the street.
      She said: “There were children about at the time – it was completely unacceptable. So I walked round to the ground and asked to see the manager.
      “I was shown into his room and said, ‘One of your young players has been dropping his trousers’. 
      Roy Keane would answer back if you asked him to quiet down. It’s really funny now when I see him on TV and think back to those daysJane Benwell
      “He sort of listened and nodded, and asked if I knew who it was. I didn’t, but asked if he could have a word anyway. 
      “Within 15 minutes of me arriving home, Paul turned up at the house. He went in and demanded to speak to the culprit.
      “Once he identified them, he ordered them to pack their bags – and told them they were out for good.
      “He then came over and apologised, and said to let him know if it happened again.”
      Jane says she once marched into Paul Hart’s office to complain about the behaviour of his playersCredit: Action Images – Reuters
      Jane told how on another occasion, one of the young lads was sitting on her car bonnet – and when he refused to get off, she “dragged him off by the scruff of his neck”.
      “They would also play loud music to deliberately wind my husband up, and we’d have girls knocking on our door looking for them,” she recalled.
      “There was a house next door, which is literally next to the ground, and a large property directly opposite.
      “But we don’t have any problems with that anymore because they haven’t been living in for about three or four years. They house them somewhere else now.”
      Jane, who has lived in her terraced home for 34 years, added: “Other than that, living here has been absolutely fine really. It isn’t as noisy as people think it would be.
      I asked to see the manager. I was shown into his room and said, ‘One of your young players has been dropping his trousers’… Once he identified them, he ordered them to pack their bagsJane Benwell
      “And the turnstiles at the end of our road are home fans only – so we don’t see any trouble with away supporters.”
      She said the only real drawback is when her road is shut off by a large metal barrier for around an hour before and after kick-off, which she claimed is an “anti-terror measure”.
      It means residents can’t drive in or out, but Jane said long-time locals have become used to planning their journeys around matches.
      She added: “When Forest games are on TV, the broadcast vans park right behind our house.
      “They can be very noisy with their generators and have spotlights on all night – we’ve had to get blackout blinds to sleep at the back.”
      ‘We love it’
      Residents say young players used to have kickabouts in the streetCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      Fellow resident Mary Smith, 68, said: “We did have a few issues with some of the younger Forest players they put up in the street a few years ago – parties where we had to ask them to quiet down a bit, that sort of thing.
      “They would also have a kickabout in the road, and because they were obviously trained how to kick a ball well it would sometimes smack really hard into a car or window. 
      “But I suppose they were only young lads away from home for the first time having a bit of fun, as young lads do.
      “Some have gone on to have very good careers in the game.
      “Apart from that, which was a while ago, we really love living here.
      “My husband and son are big Forest fans and love only having to leave just before a game then getting back almost as soon as the final whistle has gone.”
      ‘Added bonus’
      Chris Soar is a Nottingham Forest supporter and says living by the stadium is an ‘added bonus’Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      The quiet street comes alive on matchdays with TV vans and thousands of football fansCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      Supporter Chris Soar, 38, lives behind the Bridgford End, which has a lower roof at one end to allow light onto the street.
      He said: “I had a season ticket until last season, so it was ideal for me living here. 
      “We have lived here around seven years – we really like the house and having Forest literally on your doorstep was an added bonus. 
      “We don’t have any complaints – the ground has been here for 120 years and I don’t think you would move next to one without knowing what to expect, especially a big club like Forest.
      “If anything, it’s really interesting. When they played games behind closed doors during Covid you could hear the players shouting on the pitch.”
      Young players would also have a kickabout in the road, and because they were obviously trained how to kick a ball well it would sometimes smack really hard into a car or windowMary Smith, local resident
      Resident Helen Fitzsimmons, 52, added: “My husband, son and stepson are all season ticket holders, and my parents were.
      “We are a big Forest family so we enjoy living here.
      “The bustle and buzz of a matchday is great, especially when a really big club like Manchester United or Liverpool are in town.
      “The barrier doesn’t really bother us – you just plan around it accordingly. It’s not like we don’t have plenty of warning of kick-off times.
      “We moved in after the players moved out of their digs so didn’t experience that – but I gather from others in the street it could be a bit chaotic at times.
      “In fact, I think I may have been to a party in one of the houses once upon a time when I was younger. 
      Read More on The Sun
      “Overall, it’s a fantastic place to live.
      “Now Forest are in the Premier League, there are only 19 games here a year, plus any home cup games, so any inconvenience or noise is really only for a very small percentage of the year.”
      Chris says people who move next to the stadium know what to expect as it’s been there for so longCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      Nottingham Forest have played at the City Ground since 1898Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd More

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      in Boxing

      Tyson Fury opens up on crushing 7am call that told him of cousin’s murder – as family feared it would push him over edge

      by

      TYSON Fury was relaxing in Majorca with wife Paris when he was woken at 7am with a call that changed his life. His beloved cousin Rico Burton, who he treated as a brother, had been stabbed to death outside a club, at the age of 31.
      Tyson was devastated by his close cousin’s murderCredit: NETFLIX
      Rico was stabbed on a night out in Cheshire
      The devastating effect on the world heavyweight champ is captured in moving scenes in the new Netflix series At Home with the Furys.
      Tyson, who has bipolar disorder and was struggling with retirement from the ring at the time, plunged into a deep low on hearing the news, leaving wife Paris fearing he would spiral into a long and damaging depression. 
      “Tyson got the call early in the morning,” she says on camera. “He went into a really low, quiet mood which isn’t good for Tyson.
      “Such a devastating phone call can change everything that’s going on in his life and I think Tyson found it really hard to process that it happened.”
      Read More in Features
      Horror stabbing
      Rico was stabbed in the neck with a seven-inch blade during a brawl outside a group of bars in Altrincham, Cheshire.
      Last week, killer Liam O’Pray, 22, was jailed for life at Manchester Crown Court over the senseless murder.
      At the time of the tragedy, Tyson posted a heartfelt plea to end knife crime. But the nine-part documentary, released on August 16, reveals the full impact of the tragedy on The Gypsy King, and the part it played in his triumphant comeback to the ring, in December.
      It also highlights the fears that both Tyson, 34, and Paris, 32, – who have six kids and seventh on the way – have about the long term effects of the sport, including brain damage, and the battle between his poor mental health when inactive and the risk of physical harm in the ring.
      Most read in Boxing
      Tyson struggles to deal with his grief in the days afterCredit: Netflix
      Hundreds gathered for the funeral of tragic Rico
      Thug Liam O’Pray was jailed for lifeCredit: Greater Manchester Police
      The night of Rico’s death, Tyson, dad John and Paris were watching the world heavyweight title bout between Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk, in Majorca, ahead of a meet-and-greet with fans.
      Tyson went on to party with Paris, unaware of the horrific events unfolding at home until the call from his cousin Justin, the following morning, brought him crashing down.
      “Last night I was on a high after the Usyk fight,” he says. “We had a great party, me and Paris were dancing. It was a great night. 
      “Then this morning I got a phone call telling me my cousin Rico has been killed. It’s like someone took the plug out of me and all the life had come out of me. Rico had a whole lot of life to live and now he’s finished, shocking news. ”
      Reminiscing about their childhood together he adds: “Me and Rico are really close. We trained at the same boxing club together. We used to play up and down when we were small kids, hide and seek, building dens. Precious moments.”
      Fears of suicidal thoughts
      While anxious Paris sits by the pool in the luxury villa, heartbroken Tyson lies on a chaise longue inside, staring blankly into space.
      Mum-of-six Paris, who met Tyson when he was 17 and she was 15 and married him in 2008, worries that the grief will overwhelm him.
      Remembering the spiral of depression and drug and drink addiction that followed the death of their unborn baby and his beloved uncle Hughie, in the same hospital, in 2014, she says: “Tyson doesn’t handle death very well. 
      “He doesn’t know the normal procedures of life and he handles it in his own way, so his own way today is that he’s locked himself in the room and hasn’t really spoken to any of us since.
      “I think he’d like to be at home right now but he can’t go anywhere because he’s got something like 1,500 people coming to the show tonight and to be the cheery, upbeat Tyson Fury they’ve all paid to come and see.
      “He’ll dig deep and find his space because he is a showman and that’s what they do.”
      Rico was stabbed in the neck outside pubs in Goose Green, AltrinchamCredit: PA
      Paris worries about how Tyson handles griefCredit: Courtesy of Netflix
      Dad John was anxious about the effect Rico’s death had on TysonCredit: Courtesy of Netflix
      The boxer, who has been open about his mental health struggles, ballooned to 28st and was drinking 18 pints a day at his lowest ebb in 2015, and admitted he was on the brink of suicide.
      With the sad news coinciding with his feelings of having no purpose, having stepped away from the ring, Paris fears a return to those dark days but says she’ll pull him through.
      “Tyson has taken Rico’s death really hard so I’m supporting him 100 per cent. We’re in it, ride or die,” says Paris.
      “Me and Tyson, we’ve been through some tough times, we’ve had some serious tough situations whether it’s been the kids being ill,  or me being in hospital or Tyson having his depression times, we went through some tough stuff. We can make it through anything.”
      But dad John worries the new heartbreak could send him over the edge again.
      “Tyson doesn’t deal very well with death but none of us do,” he says. “What he tends to do is think to himself ‘Life isn’t worth living. What am I doing all this for? Why have I done what I’ve done in my life when it can all be taken away from you in the blink of an eye.”
      ‘Awakening day’
      While Tyson retreats into himself, he puts on a brave face to attend the Majorca show, just hours after his loss.
      He tells the audience about the moment he was told of Rico’s death: “I’ve had my blood turned cold because you never know when your time’s up and you’re only ever one phone call away from disaster so it’s been a real awakening day. 
      “I’ve had that many emotions today I’m not too sure how to handle it. You people came to see the show but I’ve had the f***ing day from hell to be honest with you. 
      “But it’s made me realise one thing – that life and time is very precious and it can be taken away from anybody at any time.”
      It’s made me realise one thing – that life and time is very precious and it can be taken away from anybody at any timeTyson Fury
      Flying home, he barely speaks and when they meet Paris’ mum Lynda for a pub lunch, close to their Morecambe Bay home, he sits alone outside and broods.
      “Tyson hasn’t said more than ten words to me in the last two days,” says Paris. “Tyson wants to stick his head in the sand, I’m letting him have that moment for himself because obviously he’s still upset.”
      The troubled champ withdrew into himself after the newsCredit: Netflix
      Tragic Rico was like a brother to Tyson
      Just two days later, on a run along the bay, the ever-impulsive fighter finds his own solution to his low mood – posting an Instagram message challenging boxing promoters to raise £500million to lure him back into the ring,
      “If I’m going to put all on the line boys it has to be half a billion or more,” he says, giving them seven days to raise the cash, “If not, thank you very much it’s been a blast. So let the games begin.”
      Blindsided, Paris worries he’s not in the “right frame of mind” to be making huge decisions, but the dramatic change in Tyson’s mood, as he begins to dream of a comeback, gives he pause for thought
      After she challenges him over the post, he jokes: “If I got half a billion I might start shopping at Sainsbury’s instead of Asda and if I get another half a billion, I might up the ante and shop in M&S. Come on!”
      “You can instantly see how delighted he is in boxing talk,” she says. “You can see the mood lift on him, he’s excited, he’s happy, just because he’s had a conversation about boxing.”
      Even so, Paris is shocked when Tyson announces he has made a deal on his comeback, without telling her, announcing in a restaurant that: “I can confirm I’m coming home baby. I’m fighting Nov 12.”
      Tyson returned to the ring to battle Chisora in DecemberCredit: Getty
      Tyson is devoted to his familyCredit: parisfury1/instagram
      To make matters worse he tells his worried wife: “I’m sad that I ever thought of retirement. I’m going to continue ‘til I can’t fight anymore. I’m going to be like all the rest of them, battered to pieces with brain damage.”
      “Boxing is not a game, it’s a very dangerous sport,” she says. “One punch can cause life devastating effects.”
      But Tyson reveals he is “lost” without the sport and that he felt choked by retirement.
      “Why am I boxing? Because it’s the only thing I’ve got in my life,” he says. “That might sound strange with me having a family. However, having retired for a few months, I realise it’s the only thing I can do. Without it I’m lost.”
      Tyson announced he was coming out of retirement in October 2022 and defeated Derek Chisora in his comeback bout, in front of a 60,000 strong crowd at Tottenham Hotspur’s stadium in December.
      He is set to fight UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on October 28.
      With his second retirement over, Tyson has no plans to quit for some time.
      Read More on The Sun
      “When I knew it was finally over it was like someone cut a lifeline on me and stopped me breathing almost,” he says.  “As soon as I said I was coming back, it was gone, and I’m feeling great again. I don’t think I’ll ever be ready to let go.”
      At Home with the Furys is available on Netflix from August 16 More

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      in Soccer

      I live next to crumbling football stadium ‘stuck in time’ – pitch view is amazing but awful noise at 5am is unbearable

      by

      EVERY time Southend United play at home, father-of-two Tyrone Buckingham has a near-perfect view of the game from his bedroom window.But rather than enjoying the action unfold at Essex’s biggest football stadium, most match days he can be found watching his beloved Arsenal play on television instead.
      Tyrone Buckingham’s home backs on to Southend United’s stadiumCredit: JOHN McLELLAN
      The decaying Roots Hall needs a revampCredit: Google Earth
      Tyrone is such a dedicated Gunners fan that he has painted the walls of his flat red and white.
      He moved into a flat overlooking decaying Roots Halls stadium by coincidence seven years ago and says he has become increasingly enraged by his lower league neighbours.
      As part of our Life’s a Pitch summer series, we visited the seaside city to see what locals made of life living next to the troubled team, which faces existential problems on and off the pitch.
      Tyrone, 35, told The Sun: “They are an absolute nightmare. They keep leaving their alarms on and they go off at all hours.
      Read More Life’s A Pitch
      “The alarms are regularly keeping me and my children up at night and I am a lorry driver so I have to be up at 4.30am.
      “The alarms have been an ongoing problem for years. We complained and it stopped for a while but now it has started again.
      “They went off at 2am the other night and kept going for hours. They are totally taking the Mickey.”
      To prove his point, Tyrone played us a recording he made of the alarm ringing outside his bedroom window.
      Most read in Football
      The high-pitched sound filled the speaker of his mobile phone as he showed our reporter the video, which he says was taken at 5.30am on a recent morning.
      He added: “My kids are aged three and six and we all need our sleep. The club also test their speakers at 10pm some nights and they had their floodlights on at about the same time last night.
      “I guess this would be a great flat for a Southend fan but I’m Arsenal – my bedroom is red and white – so I’ve got no interest in following their team.
      “I never, ever watch the games from my window and if the club decides to move to a new stadium that will be absolutely fine with me.”
      Floodlights and noise wake residents up at nightCredit: JOHN McLELLAN
      Local Paul Burton says the ground is ‘stuck in time’Credit: JOHN McLELLAN
      Tryone’s wish isn’t as fanciful at it might seem.
      In recent months, Southend United has been dragged back and forth from the courts over its financial difficulties, with fan group The Shrimpers Trust saying it remained under “existential threat” until owner Ron Martin sells up.
      This week, the National League granted the team a licence to start the season after it paid its staff for the first time in three months.
      A spokesman told The Sun: “Staff are fully up to date with their salaries.”
      The 117-year-old club lost its Football League status in 2021 following back-to-back relegations and Southend West MP Anna Firth recently raised its plight in Parliament.
      Martin has been trying to find a buyer for the club since March and earlier this month said he has done “everything in my power to close the deal quickly”.
      ‘Stuck in time’
      While all this goes on the stadium Roots Hall, which has been the Shrimpers’ home since 1955, is falling into a state of disrepair and fans have been gathering outside to protest.
      Policeman Paul Burton also lives next to the ground, although his upper-level flat does not boast a view of the pitch.
      Paul, 39, said: “The stadium is stuck in time. It’s like living next to a relic – nothing has changed over there for years.
      “The owner is not the most popular person in the world, but it’s a historic club and it will be a shame if they go under.
      “Last season they had the highest average attendance in the league. They can get 8,000 or 9,000 fans turning up if they are playing one of the big London teams in the cup.
      “It doesn’t bother me having them here at all. They only play once every two weeks and if I close my windows I can’t hear the crowd. Also, this is a nice area so I enjoy living here.”
      Flats overlook the stadium and can even see on to the pitchCredit: Getty
      Hazel Newbold says litter is a nightmare on match daysCredit: JOHN McLELLAN
      Supermarket worker Hazel Newbold is less keen on the Shrimpers remaining next door to her home, however.
      Southend’s chairman bought the club in 1998 with the intention of relocating them to a new stadium at Fossetts Farm, north of the city.
      But numerous delays – one caused by the discovery of a Bronze Age burial site – have caused the proposed move to become a painful saga, dragging on for years.
      Hazel, 54, said: “We get a lot of litter on match days – that’s my main gripe. The fans put beer bottles on our wall and they fall off and smash, which is dangerous for the children.
      “The club doesn’t clear up our street, only the path that leads to the stand next to our house.
      “The floodlights are an issue as they fill our bedrooms with light and you get a lot of glare.
      “We’ve heard the alarms too but we don’t know where they came from.”
      Hazel’s son Brad Newbold, 28, lives next door to her with his partner Nikki Crockett, 36, but they are now planning to move.
      Lorry driver Brad said: “I used to go and watch games at Roots Hall when I was younger and it was a decent stadium back then, but they’ve totally let it go.
      “The parking situation is a nightmare and will only get worse if the new homes get built as there will be so many more people living here then.”
      Receptionist Nikki added: “We’re moving into town where they have parking permits because we’ve had enough. We have both agreed that wherever we go, it’s not going to be near a football stadium.”
      ‘They’re a great team’
      One person that has been happy living next to the 12,000-plus capacity stadium is police officer Mel, 35, who remembers going to watch Southend with her grandfather as a little girl.
      Almost three years ago, when they first opened, she didn’t hesitate snapping up a one bedroom flat in the new apartment complex on neighbouring Fairfax Drive.
      Mel has asked us not to use her real name because of the sensitive line of work she is involved in.
      She said: “I’ve always loved football and you can see almost the entire pitch from the terrace next to my flat.
      “I didn’t buy it for that reason. It was just that I could get a mortgage here as a first-time buyer.
      “But I’ve loved living here and the only reason I am moving is that I need a bigger place.
      “The view is definitely a selling point and I’ve had a few people come round to view it and say, ‘Wow, you can see the football stadium!’
      Read More on The Sun
      “I’m going to be sad to leave and I really hope the club has a future as they’re a great team and all the players and staff are fantastic.”
      The Sun contacted Southend United for comment, who only confirmed that salaries have been paid. More

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      in Soccer

      How Kylian Mbappe went from growing up in poverty-stricken estate to £604m fortune as he’s offered ‘£11.6m a WEEK’ deal

      by

      HE’S one of the greatest footballers of our time and strikes fear into the hearts of defenders thanks to his ability to sprint like Usain Bolt. Now Kylian Mbappé, 24, could become the highest-paid sports star of all time as part of a record-breaking £259million transfer deal.
      Kylian Mbappé could become the world’s highest-paid footballerCredit: Getty
      If the French striker accepts the Saudi offer, it’s reported he could earn up to £11.6million a week (pictured as a teen)Credit: Offside Sports
      The French striker may move from Paris Saint-German to Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal after an offer was accepted by the club.
      It would see him make an eye-watering £11.6m per week as part of a £604m deal for just one year at the club, according to CBS Sport’s James Benge. 
      The staggering sum is worlds away from his childhood in the Paris suburb of Bondy, renowned for “violence and drugs”, where a giant mural of the star now stands with the slogan “ville des possibles” – “the town where anything is possible”. 
      Prior to the Saudi offer, Mbappé was already worth a whopping £144million and doesn’t shy away from enjoying living the high life.
      READ MORE ON TRANSFER NEWS
      From owning an £8.5million luxury pad with views of the Eiffel Tower to amassing a £1.2million car collection, we look at his glam life and the difficult start he left behind.
      Born to immigrant parents – his mum Fayza Lamari is of Algerian descent and his dad Wilfried Mbappé descends from Cameroon – Mbappé grew up in a town notorious for its riots.
      In 2005, when Mbappé was five, violent protests against police harassment saw angry youths torch cars, attack cops and vandalise buildings. 
      When Bleacher Report visited in 2017, it reported the working-class area still has high crime rates and the unemployment rate is double the national average, but locals say things are improving.
      Most read in Football
      A mural in Bondy pays tribute to its footballing legendCredit: Getty
      One optimistic resident Elfilali Ahmed said: “When I used to tell people I was from Bondy, they would ask about the violence and drug use. Now, they all ask me about Kylian Mbappé and if I know him.”
      Another resident who lives in a block of flats yards from the one Mbappé grew up in told the Mirror: “What he has achieved is a great inspiration for children around here.
      “Life in Bondy is sometimes hard and he is showing them there is a way out of what can be a dark place.”
      Mbappé has put his success down to practice and determination.
      “In football, everything is possible through hard work and I think that has been important,” he told beIN Sports last year.
      “I’ve always believed in myself and I knew I was capable of doing great things. It isn’t just about desire and wanting to succeed, you must work hard.”
      £8.5m luxury pad
      Inside Mbappé’s luxury Paris apartment, which boasts a basketball courtCredit: Instagram
      These days Mbappé lives in a luxurious £8.5million multi-floor apartment in Neuilly-sur-Seine, an exclusive Paris neighbourhood loved by celebrities which boasts views of the Eiffel Tower.
      Mbappé has remained tight-lipped about what his home is like, but it’s believed to have 12 bedrooms, a basketball court, library, gym and Turkish bath.
      It’s also believed to have an outdoor jacuzzi perfect for relaxing and gazing at the Eiffel Tower.
      £1.2m cars
      Mbappé owns many high-end vehicles but cannot driveCredit: Instagram
      The sports star’s most expensive vehicle is a Ferrari 488 Pista, worth £450,000Credit: Getty
      Over the years Mbappé has owned an enviable array of beautiful cars – despite being unable to drive. 
      He rationed that having “drivers at my disposal” meant it had “never been a priority” to get his driving licence. 
      His jaw-dropping vehicles include a Ferrari Hybrid SF90 Stradale, which he bought for £400,000 – one week’s salary.
      The striker also boasts a Ferrari 488 Pista that goes from 0-62mph in 2.8 seconds and costs an estimated £450,000.
      Among Mbappé’s collection are several more practical vehicles including a seven-seater Mercedes Benz V-Class, which cost around £115,000.
      He also has a £103,000 Volswagen Touareg, a £65,000 Wolkswagen Multivan and a Volkswagen Tiguan worth £49,000. 
      Goal.com also claims he owns a BMW, an Audi and a Range Rover – but no details regarding what models have been released. 
      Designer clobber
      Mbappé fell in love with trainers after getting his first pair of Nike Air Max 1sCredit: Instagram / @k.mbappe
      He has a range of expensive pairs including high-tops from a Dior-Nike collaborationCredit: Getty
      Mbappé is a self-confessed “sneakerhead” – someone with a love for trainers – and admitted having a “small collection” in a 2018 interview with Hype Beast.
      The footballer said the shoes brought him “real pleasure” and described himself as “like a kid with a new toy” whenever he gets a new pair. 
      He added: “I’ve always been a sneaker lover, so it’s a pleasure to buy new pairs and mix them with my clothes to flex a little.”
      In a 2019 Complex video, Mbappé forked out £935 for two pairs of trainers – Air Max 90 Ice in ‘Gym Red’ and Jordan XI ‘Parton’ in blue.
      He revealed he fell in love with the footwear after his mum saved up to buy him a pair of Nike Air Max 1s.
      Describing them as the “apple of my eye” he said he “cleaned them every day”.
      The footballer’s other favourite trainers include neon yellow Air Jordan 1 Gatorade due to their “flashy colour”. He also professed love for Air Jordan 5 PSGs and high-top Air Jordan 1s.
      Jetset holidays
      While Mbappé is relatively private, he enjoys sharing snaps from his lush holidaysCredit: Instagram
      The footballer is snapped flying on a private jetCredit: Instagram / @k.mbappe
      When Mbappé’s not enjoying the views from his beautiful Paris home, he’s known to love holidaying abroad. 
      Just last month he was spotted playing paddle tennis with friends on Miami’s South Beach in Florida.
      Mbappé was also snapped playing a game of Jenga with two bikini-clad women.
      It’s not the only holiday he’s taken this year, with the star being pictured during a trip to Marrakech, Morocco.
      Spanish newspaper Mundo Reportivo reported Mbappé was joined by France teammate Eduardo Camavinga and other Real Madrid stars during multiple trips.
      Mbappé regularly shares photos of himself on private jets and at envy-inducing locations including a remote temple, beside a beautiful cove and in high-end hotels.
      Just a few of the other spots he has visited have included Disney Land Paris, Cameroon and New York.
      Celebrity pals
      The French strikes is also close pals with Basketball star LeBron JamesCredit: Instagram / @k.mbappe
      Mbappé appears to be good friends with ex-England ace David BeckhamCredit: Instagram / @k.mbappe
      The sports star isn’t just popular on the pitch, but off it too, boasting a number of A-list pals including basketball legend LeBron James, who he collaborated with for the Nike footwear range ‘Chosen 2’.
      For the collaboration, Mbappé co-designed football boots for the clothing giant, which cost £250 a pair, were named Mercurial Superfly and were black with an iridescent finish.
      It seemed he and James hit it off as they have been pictured together multiple times since including once while exchanging shirt.
      Mbappé also has a wealth of admirers from the footballing world including David Beckham, Theirry Henry and the late great Pele.
      £150k watch stash
      Mbappé holding a £48,900 Hublot Integrated King Gold watchCredit: Instagram / @k.mbappe
      It’s not just trainers that Mbappé appears to have an eye for – he has a thing for extremely expensive watches boasting a collection worth nearly £150,000.
      During the FIFA World Cup last year he was seen posing with a £48,900 Hublot Big Bang King Gold.
      Mbappé has also sported a number of other timepieces from the brand including Big Bang Steel Diamonds, which cost £16,100, and the Unico Titanium Rainbow, which cost £59,900.
      The most expensive he’s been pictured wearing in public to date was a Big Bang Unico, which costs up to £65,161.
      Generous star
      While he lives a privileged lifestyle, Mbappé hasn’t forgotten his roots and is known for generously giving away large sums of his vast wealth.
      The Sun reported he donated his 2018 World Cup match fees and bonuses – roughly £400,000 – to a children’s charity.
      The following year Mbappé donated £25,000 to help fund a private search for the footballer Emiliano Sala after his plane vanished while travelling from Nantes to Cardiff. 
      Sadly, the striker’s body and the aircraft wreckage were discovered in the English Channel one month after he disappeared in February 2019.
      Mbappé was also reported to have made a “very large” donation to homelessness charity Abbe Pierre Foundation.
      Read More on The Sun
      In a 2021 statement the organisation thanked him for his generosity that would help with “first aid actions, access to water and hygiene”.
      Mbappé even launched his own charity, Inspired by KM, in 2020 and supports 98 disadvantaged children in Paris “until their working lives begin”.  More

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      in Soccer

      My home overlooks my team’s football ground but I’ve shunned club after row with owner got me arrested & banned for LIFE

      by

      FORMER Gillingham FC fan Malcolm Scott thought he had found his dream home when he purchased a terraced house overlooking Priestfield Stadium.It allowed him to watch every match from the comfort of his loft conversion.
      Gillingham fan Malcolm Scott enjoyed watching games from his loft window when he first bought his house by the stadiumCredit: JOHN McLELLAN
      The Medway Stand, which replaced the old Main Stand, is the largest and northernmost of the fourCredit: JOHN McLELLAN
      But years later he was not only banned from attending games, he was also arrested following a bitter falling out with the club’s owner Paul Scally.
      At the centre of the dispute was the decision to erect the huge new Medway stand that blocked his view of the pitch, and led to a long-running battle over planning permission.
      For Malcolm, the conflict got so ugly that he stopped supporting his beloved Gills and has taken up gardening instead.
      Pensioner Malcolm, 90, told The Sun – who visited as part of our summer series, Life’s a Pitch, which looks at life next to Britain’s weirdest and most wonderful stadiums: “I moved here 54 years ago because I wanted to go to the games.
      READ MORE LIFE’S A PITCH
      “My wife was less keen and kept asking to move, but I refused because I fell in love with the area.
      “One of the best things was that we could see the pitch from the top room in the loft conversion.
      “My grandson would come round and sit on the roof to watch the games on the weekends.
      “The view was fantastic and you could see everything – until they built the new stand.
      Most read in Football
      Priestfield Stadium is surrounded by Victorian housingCredit: JOHN McLELLAN
      Locals say the temporary stand is an eyesore as people dump rubbish next to it all the timeCredit: JOHN McLELLAN
      “Residents including myself objected because we did not like the way they were doing it.
      “We raised a number of issues with the council and it was the way the club treated us that got us so upset.
      “There was no respect and Scally even put a new nightclub in there. He claimed it was a social club, but people were coming out of there at 1am.
      “One day there was a meeting about the new stand and Scally threw me out after I said a few things.
      I didn’t know anything about his car being scratched but someone accused me and about a year later the police arrested me. There was no evidence so they had to let me go, but it was horrendousMalcolm Scott
      “Later that night, someone scratched his car while it was parked on double yellow lines.
      “I didn’t know anything about it but someone accused me and about a year later the police arrested me.
      “There was no evidence so they had to let me go, but it was horrendous.
      “I was also given a lifetime ban by the club and I stopped supporting them after that.
      “My son-in-law still goes to games, but I’ve lost interest.”
      Malcolm’s wife Margaret raised their four children in the same house, which is a 10-minute walk from Gillingham train station in Kent.
      Local resident Ted Turner has also clashed with former Millwall fan ScallyCredit: JOHN McLELLAN
      Fans walk past residential homes to access the stadium entranceCredit: JOHN McLELLAN
      She has a different take on the decision to demolish the old main stand in 1999, which included a section housing away fans.
      She grimaces when she recalls how the previous low-rise structure would provide an unobstructed view of their garden.
      Margaret, 86, said: “The away fans used to call to me when I was outside, singing ‘We can see you!’
      “They would wolf-whistle at my daughters when they were in the garden.
      The away fans used to call to me when I was outside, singing ‘We can see you!’ They would wolf-whistle at my daughters when they were in the gardenMargaret Scott
      “We didn’t think anything of it as it was just banter and I don’t have any problems now.
      “I have double glazed windows, so I don’t hear all the noise during games.”
      Father-of-seven Scally, 66, has become a controversial figure since taking over the club in 1995.
      For some he is the saviour that rescued Gillingham FC from bankruptcy and kick-started an era of unprecedented success.
      For others he is a bully who threw his weight around and threatened the identity of the club.
      Paul Scally has become a controversial figure since taking over the club in 1995Credit: Rex
      The Brian Moore stand became an embarrassment for locals and a sore point for away fansCredit: JOHN McLELLAN
      The London-born businessman, who made his fortune through the Metronote photocopier company, took on debts of up to £2million when he snapped up Gillingham FC for just £1.
      The club was about to be expelled from the Football League but he saved it from being liquidated and closed down.
      Scally’s shrewd managerial appointments – bringing in first Tony Pulis before he was sacked and then Peter Taylor, who went on to manage Leicester City – paved the way for glory on the pitch.
      His tenure has overseen three promotions, three Wembley play-off finals and four FA Cup victories over top division opponents.
      The Gills also achieved their highest league finish of 11th in the Championship during the 2002/03 season.
      Three stands including the Medway were demolished and rebuilt between 1995 and 2000, while a fourth called Town End was knocked down as part of a redevelopment in 2003.
      Malcolm says the social club turned into a night clubCredit: JOHN McLELLAN
      Clay Bell, 61, also lives near the stadiumCredit: JOHN McLELLAN
      A temporary stand named after legendary footie commentator Brian Moore was erected the same year.
      However, the scaffolding-like structure remains in place today despite the fact it has reportedly been damaged by years of exposure to the elements.
      Rebuilding was supposed to take place in 2004 but financial issues and Scally’s fiercely contested proposal to move the club to a different part of Kent put the plans on hold.
      Reporters with the Kent Messenger Group and Alan Liptrott, chairman of the Gills Independent Supporters Club, were all banned from attending games for a time after criticising the chairman.
      In the meantime, the Brian Moore stand became an embarrassment for locals and a sore point for away fans forced to stand out in the pouring rain.
      Retired BP refinery worker Ted Towner, 78, is another resident that has clashed with former Millwall fan Scally.
      He said: “No one likes him because he doesn’t listen.
      Gillingham FC was relegated from League One in 2022Credit: JOHN McLELLAN
      Gills fan Rick Turner is much more upbeat about the clubCredit: JOHN McLELLAN
      “I fought him as part of the residents association and he doesn’t like people criticising him. 
      “I only met him at the meetings and I can tell you, he always has to get his own way.
      “The temporary stand is an embarrassment for us and it is also an eyesore as people dump rubbish next to it all the time. I don’t know how they’ve gotten away with it for so many years.”
      Gills fan Rick Turner is much more upbeat about the club, despite the fact they were relegated from League One in 2022.
      He has been a supporter since the 1960s and continued watching games even after a new £2m Gordon Road Stand was erected opposite his house in 1997.
      Father-of-three Rick, 69, said: “I’ve lived here for 30 years and at one point, for about two seasons, you could see the entire pitch from my top bedroom.
      I’ve lived here for 30 years and at one point, for about two seasons, you could see the entire pitch from my top bedroomRick Turner, local resident
      “It was fantastic and saved me about £150 a year on a season ticket.
      “The atmosphere wasn’t as good at home, but the kids would have their friends over and my eldest became a big Gills fan.
      “Supporting this club has its ups and downs but I absolutely love it.
      “I used to follow the Premier League. I lost interest as it’s all about money now, while players at my club actually care about the fans.”
      Gillingham FC is now owned by American property tycoon Brad Galinson and his wife Shannon.
      They are promising to revive the club just like Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have turned things around at Wrexham FC in Wales.
      Last year the couple purchased a majority share from Scally, who is now based in Dubai and retains a minority share.
      Liz Shearer welcomes the new investorsCredit: JOHN McLELLAN
      Last year it was reported that Scally was subjected to intense harassment following the club’s relegation. He took an enforced break from club duty after some fans trespassed on his property, damaged his car and intimidated his family.
      He said the group of fans in question had “crossed a line” with their “relentless and personal” abuse.
      Scally told talkSPORT’s Jim White in an interview: “I’ve fallen out of love with Gillingham and I’ve fallen out of love with football and that’s why I’ve decided that I need to take this break and step away to try and get my life back a bit and try to get some normality back in my life for me and my family.”
      Liz Shearer’s home backs on to the Rainham End stand and she is excited by the prospect of the Gills playing Wrexham in League Two this season.
      Mum-of-one Liz, 50, said: “I think Scally did well for us until the money ran out – and the future is bright now we’ve got new investors.  
      “The Galinsons have worked wonders already and every match is going to be a sell-out next season, especially the one against Wrexham.
      Read More on The Sun
      “I want to say to Ryan Reynolds, if he is reading this, that he is very welcome to pop over for a cup of tea.”
      The Sun reached out to Paul Scally for comment.
      Gillingham FC is now owned by American property tycoon Brad Galinson and his wife ShannonCredit: JOHN McLELLAN
      The £2m Gordon Road Stand was erected in 1997Credit: JOHN McLELLAN More

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      in Motorsport

      Inside F1’s most outrageous driver Daniel Ricciardo’s lavish life with stunning girlfriend ahead of Hungarian GP return

      by

      DANIEL Ricciardo is Formula 1’s most entertaining star – and his rollercoaster career hasn’t been short of drama either.While the Aussie racer has won eight Grand Prixs, last August he hit a career low, getting ditched by McLaren and failing to secure a seat for the 2023 season.
      Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo has joined AlphaTauri for the remainder of the 2023 season and is set to make his comeback at the Hungarian GPCredit: Getty
      Away from the race track, Ricciardo lives a very luxurious lifestyle with glam girlfriend Heidi BergerCredit: danielricciardo/instagram
      However, this weekend the 34-year-old is set to make a sensational F1 return with AlphaTauri at this weekend’s Hungarian GP, having filled Nyck de Vries’ spot for the remainder of the season.
      Away from the grid he’s one of the most popular professionals in the sport – regularly pictured larking about with the likes of former team mates Lando Norris and Max Verstappen, and new team mate Yuki Tsunoda.
      No doubt fans will be thrilled to see Daniel – nicknamed the Honey Badger – back, especially with glamorous girlfriend Heidi Berger in tow.
      And despite his dip in form, some reports suggest Ricciardo is still worth an impressive £38million – which means he’s been able to maintain a very luxurious lifestyle while away.
      READ MORE F1
      Here, we take a closer look inside Daniel’s lavish life away from the grid, including a £15million property portfolio and a very, very impressive multi-million pound private car collection.
      Love in the fast lane
      When Daniel was dropped by his team last year, at least he could rely on the support of his super stunning girlfriend, Heidi, 26.
      She already knows a thing or two about the F1 life too, as her Austrian father Gerhard Berger is a retired driver, who competed for 14 seasons.
      Speaking last year on the Fitzy & Wippa podcast when asked if he was in love, Daniel said: “Yeah mate, I’m in love, I got a good thing going, so yeah. I’ve got a good balance in life right now.
      Most read in Motorsport
      “I think love eliminates stress, yeah absolutely.”
      Actress Heidi, who studied at New York University, has posted plenty of photos from the track presumably supporting her beau, and while the couple are incredibly private, they went public with their romance last August.
      They were spotted enjoying a getaway to Venice in May, and also shared a special intimate moment from the romantic holiday on social media last month, showing they’re still very much loved-up.
      Heidi is an aspiring actress, and the daughter of former F1 driver Gerhard BergerCredit: instagram.com/heidiberger
      Heidi has been a huge support for her beauCredit: heidiberger_/instagram
      Daniel Ricciardo and his girlfriend Heidi Berger have been able to spend more time together latelyCredit: BackGrid
      £15m property empire
      Regardless of form, a career in F1 can be short-lived, so Ricciardo has already made the sensible move into property investment, and boasts a staggering £15million portfolio already.
      He owns a one-bedroom pied-à-terre in Monte Carlo, which is home to plenty of other drivers including Max Verstappen and Charles LeClerc.
      Speaking about the Monaco Grand Prix, Ricciardo said: “It feels like a real racetrack, and I’m not thinking ‘there’s a cafe I eat at’ or ‘there’s a street I ride my Vespa down’ or whatever.
      “You wake up in your own bed, kick around your apartment and then start the journey to work.” 
      Not forgetting his roots, Daniel also has an impressive abode in his native Perth, Australia, which is said to have an underground garage (of course) and pool.
      Even more impressively, he also snapped up a stunning five-bed, five bath mansion in Los Angeles in 2018.
      Daniel Ricciardo’s LA home is where he enjoys spending time during summer breaks in particularCredit: Realtor.com
      The driver loves the US, and owns a home in LACredit: Realtor.com
      His mansion boasts an outdoor pool, five bedrooms and five bathroomsCredit: Realtor.com
      As a result he is said to enjoy spending most of the summer in LA, telling the West Australian: “The weather, having the beaches close by, I feel like you can escape the madness of it all.” 
      He paid a whopping £10million for the modernised 1960s Beverly Hills home, which also has an outdoor pool and a two-door garage for his luxury cars.
      Multi-million pound private car collection
      Unsurprisingly given their need to impress on the race track, F1 drivers are also known to boast very impressive private car collections – and Ricciardo is no exception.
      Speaking about his passion for motors to Top Gear, he said: “I am fascinated by some modern cars and how close they can be to a race car.
      “If I accelerate away from a set of traffic lights in a quick car, sure it feels fast, but I’m not exactly high-fiving my mate in the passenger seat.
      “That’s why I’m starting to warm towards the older stuff. It’s completely different. The H-pattern gearboxes, the vibrations and all that – I appreciate that.”
      Unsurprisingly, Ricciardo boasts a very impressive private car collectionCredit: gopro
      The racing pro’s motors are thought to be worth millionsCredit: danielricciardo/instagram
      He often drives a McLaren 720S, said to be worth around £215,000, and when he’s back in Australia, he cruises around his hometown in a Toyota HiLux – his first car and a gift from his parents.
      He also owns an Aston Martin Valkyrie, reportedly worth a whopping £2.5million, a Porsche 918 Spyder and a Porsche GT3 RS.
      Luxury holidays
      For work Daniel obviously has to travel the world, but when he’s not racing he also enjoys the finer things in life and visiting exotic locations.
      Last year he went Instagram official with Heidi while holidaying in the US, where they enjoyed hiking in the mountains and horse riding, and earlier this year they were pictured looking loved up in Venice.
      Previously he’s been seen living it up onboard a yacht in the Mediterranean, and earlier this year he was spotted partying in Las Vegas.
      And it seems Ricciardo made the most of his break away from the track, recently writing in a LinkedIn post: “This is the first year in as long as I can remember that my goals aren’t going to be 100 per cent about racing and competing.”
      Either way, it seems he was always destined for this career, saying: “Two, three years old, I’ve got faint memories of being at the track, putting the earmuffs on and that was like the first kind of attraction where I was kind of like scared by the noise.
      Read More on The Sun
      “But I also loved it, because I knew that represented like the speed and there was excitement that was with that.”
      Daniel and girlfriend Heidi recently enjoyed a loved-up getaway to Venice togetherCredit: heidiberger_/instagram
      In between racing, Ricciardo makes the most of the breaksCredit: danielricciardo/instagram More

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      in Soccer

      Ultimate Women’s World Cup rich list – highest-paid Lionesses star to Chelsea striker who bagged FIFA video game deal

      by

      ENGLAND’S roaring Lionesses captured the heart of the nation on their way to victory at the Euros last year.But while they will be hoping to go one better at the Women’s World Cup this summer, they face stiff competition from the likes of the USA, Spain, Germany and France.
      Chloe Kelly and the team pulled in huge crowds to their games in the UK for the Women’s EurosCredit: Getty
      Marta is often considered the greatest female footballer of all timeCredit: Getty
      In the money leagues, top stars like Marta and Megan Rapinoe may earn just a fraction of their equivalents in the men’s game.
      However, the best players can still earn hundreds of thousands a year – boosted by sponsorship deals and lucrative side projects.
      Here, we reveal some of the highest earners who will be dazzling in Australia and New Zealand over the coming weeks.
      Marta
      Brazilian Marta, 37, is often regarded as the best female footballer ever, so it’s no surprise she can command one of the highest salaries.
      READ MORE ON RICH LISTS
      The forward reportedly earns £311,000 a year at Orlando Pride, topped up by sponsorship deals with the likes of LATAM Airlines, Avon Brasil, shampoo brand Clear and pharmaceutical company Neo Quimica.
      In some of her campaigns for Clear, she has appeared with Cristiano Ronaldo. She has also had deals with Coca-Cola and Puma.
      Marta is Brazil’s all-time top goalscorer, with a record 17 World Cup goals, and has been named FIFA’s World Player of the Year five consecutive times.
      Wendie Renard
      Wendie has captained the French national team for ten yearsCredit: Getty
      French centre back Wendie, 33, has been the captain of the French women’s team for ten years.
      Most read in Football
      As the skipper of Lyon at club level, she is one of the most decorated players in modern times, with an astonishing 15 French league titles and eight European Cups to her name.
      It’s no surprise then that she’s on a reported £298,000-a-year salary.
      One of her sponsors is Adidas and she was previously an ambassador for MasterCard alongside England’s Alex Scott, too.
      Earlier this year, she told fans she was pulling out of what will be her third World Cup.
      She said in a statement: “It is a sad day, but necessary to preserve my mental health. It is with a heavy heart that I come to inform you of my decision to step back from the French team.”
      However, after returning to the French team for friendlies against Colombia and Canada in April, she will be wearing the armband once more this tournament.
      Megan Rapinoe
      Megan has gained a huge profile for her footwork on the pitch and activism off itCredit: Getty
      Megan’s famous celebration against France at the last World CupCredit: AFP
      With her signature bleached hair and even more dazzling footwork, USA winger Megan is one of the most instantly recognisable female footballers in the world.
      At the last World Cup in 2019, her celebration against France – in which she saluted the crowd with outstretched arms – became an instant meme and even went on to be added into the FIFA video game.
      The athlete, 38, is thought to take home a salary of £348,000 from OL Reign and, according to Celebrity Net Worth, has a fortune of £3.9million.
      She tops this up with sponsorship deals and cover interviews, having appeared on the front page of Sports Illustrated, Marie Claire, and InStyle.
      Her brands deals include luxury fashion brand Loewe, Nike and Samsung.
      Alex Morgan
      Alex Morgan has topped up her earnings by writing a children’s book seriesCredit: Getty
      Her tea-sipping celebration has gone down in World Cup folkloreCredit: Rex Features
      England fans will remember USA striker Alex for her now infamous tea-drinking celebration, after scoring the winner against the Lionesses at the last World Cup.
      The San Diego Wave FC captain – who CNW estimates has a fortune of £2.3million – has played in 217 international matches and made a short-lived move to Tottenham back in 2020.
      Away from the pitch, the 34-year-old has published The Kicks, a four-book series for school children and even appeared in a music video for Maroon 5’s song “Girls Like You”, which features Cardi B.
      Her long list of sponsorship deals include Nike, Panasonic, AT&T, Chobani, McDonald’s, P&G, Mondelez International, and Coca-Cola.
      She is married to Servando Carrasco, also a football player, and they have one child together, three-year-old Charlie.
      Lucy Bronze
      Lucy is thought to be one of the UK’s wealthiest female footballersCredit: Getty
      British Lucy, 31, is one of the wealthiest Lionesses and is thought to take home around £200,000 a year for FC Barcelona.
      The right-back has played for the England team since 2013 and has also represented the country in the Olympics. She tops up her earnings with deals from Pepsi, EE, Klarna, and Visa.
      Lucy is believed to be the top-earning England player, but along with other Lionesses has slammed the FA’s decision not to pay players extra money on top of the funds dished out by FIFA this tournament.
      Speaking about it, she said: “We want to keep pushing our own standards, but also our federations’ standards, the FIFA and UEFA standards. It isn’t just about the numbers. It is the principle of what we want to improve in women’s football.
      “There is always another step the game can take. Whether that is commercial, on the pitch or off the pitch, whether it is performance based or not. It is about being rewarded for what we have done – we are the European Champions.”
      Sam Kerr
      Sam has a $1million deal with Nike among other lucrative dealsCredit: Getty
      Goal-machine Sam, 29, is believed to take home a salary of £400,000 a year at Chelsea, who she has just helped to another Women’s Super League title.
      The Australian captains her national team and will be hoping to take them all the way as the hosts.
      Her 13-year deal with Nike is thought to be worth $1million. She was also the first female player to appear on the cover of the FIFA video game.
      Sam also has sponsorship deals with luxury watch brand IWC Schaffhausen, Australian bank CommBank, and EA Sports.
      Chloe Kelly
      Chloe won legions of fans for her last minute goal at the EurosCredit: Getty
      England’s super-sub Chloe, 25, secured her place in the history books at last year’s Euros with her winning goal against Germany.
      It is not known how much her Man City contract is worth, but the club’s average salary for female players is thought to be around £75,000 a year.
      However, off the back of her legendary goal – and celebration – last year, Chloe remains one of England’s most marketable stars.
      The Mail on Sunday reported that she was set to sign a deal with Land Rover worth up to £2 million.
      A spokesperson for Chloe told the paper: “I can’t comment on her business dealings but… she is in demand.”
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      She has also worked with Nike, KFC and last month appeared in a Calvin Klein ad alongside Alex Morgan. More