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      How Lioness Lauren James could become first female Pele and brother Reece claims she’s better than some male Prem stars

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      ONCE upon a time little girls dreamt of being fairytale princesses and finding their happy ever after with a handsome prince.Today they fantasise about becoming England centre-forwards . . . and bagging the winning goal in a World Cup final. Thank God.
      Lauren’s performance this World Cup has been nothing short of sensational. She is a household name now, but she only made her senior England debut last SeptemberCredit: Getty
      Lauren learning the games as a child, with brother ReeceCredit: Instagram @laurennjjames
      Lauren with brother Reece, 23 — of Chelsea and England fame — and former footballer dad NigelCredit: Instagram
      Lauren James is leading the charge, inspiring a whole generation of females following her very own ­foot-perfect tournament Down Under.
      “It’s what dreams are made of,” she said fittingly on Tuesday night after her two-goal, woman-of-the-match, 6-1 demolition of China, which also saw her set up three goals.
      Lauren’s performance this World Cup has been nothing short of sensational. She may be a household name now, but the 21-year-old only made her senior England debut last September — so it’s been a meteoric rise.
      For long-time followers of the ­Lionesses — of which there are now millions — her performances really aren’t that out of the blue.
      READ MORE ON LAUREN JAMES
      As her big brother, Reece, 23 — of Chelsea and England fame — once declared: “I believe she is the best women’s footballer in the world and will be for the next ten to 15 years.
      “She’s technically better than some Premier League players.”

      By this, he meant the men. And he’s absolutely, categorically correct.
      The Chelsea Women’s Super League star has a technical nous, brains and feel for the game like few others.
      Most read in Football
      She is also refreshingly down to earth. Says one pal: “Lauren doesn’t play football for fame or money — she plays because she’s been in love with the game since the age of four.
      ‘First female Pele’
      “She’s never ridden off her brother’s coat-tails or asked him for handouts or contacts. Instead, she’s quietly been ploughing her own field and doing all of this on her own.
      “She works and trains so hard and is a hugely popular figure in the changing room.
      “Lauren is only 21 and really does have the world at her feet.”
      Despite her success, she doesn’t yet have the social media presence of her male sibling.
      While Reece boasts 1.4million and nearly 3million followers on Twitter and Instagram respectively, his talented sibling has 205,000 and 550,000 which, in advertising and sponsorship revenue terms, is quite a gulf.
      But with England now through to the World Cup final 16, and facing a game against Nigeria on Monday, Lauren’s popularity and earning potential will only rise. Already Nike-sponsored, further highly lucrative endorsement deals are sure to follow.
      Celebrity agent Jonathan Shalit — who has guided the careers of stars including TV judge Simon Cowell, actor Dame Joan Collins plus singers Charlotte Church and Katherine Jenkins — tips her to become one of the game’s first multi-millionaires.
      He says: “I absolutely love Lauren, who is an incredible inspiration to young sportsmen and ladies.
      “If England win the World Cup, Lauren deserves to be the first £50,000 a week women’s player.
      “Already she is ­destined to become a multi-millionaire, but she will be by Christmas if England win the tournament.
      “She could be the first female Pele, and is young enough to compete in four World Cups for England, which is astonishing.
      “Brands will be fighting for her — Nike to keep hold of her — and H&M, Adidas, Ralph Lauren, Chanel, MAC, Urban Outfitters, Levi’s, Calvin Klein, Prada, Louis Vuitton, etc to get her in their products.
      “She has vast appeal to a huge demographic and is a supremely talented young woman.”
      Unlike so many footballers, however, Lauren’s Instagram is refreshingly unflashy. Less Lamborghini on a Cannes beachfront, more grinding away on the training ground Wattbike.
       Her photos are mainly ­trackie-bum filled, or snaps of match day action.
      Lauren — promoting the World Cup in Oz, right — isn’t a fake eyelash, long-nailed, filler-filled Insta type. She’s a sportswoman. And almost every month, it seems she makes history.
       For starters, never in modern top-flight football have a brother and sister represented England.
      The offspring of former footballer dad Nigel — a defender who was on Aldershot’s books when he suffered a broken ankle in a motorbike accident and turned to coaching — the pair grew up playing the game together, alongside eldest brother Joshua.
      In an interview with The Sun last October for Black History Month, Lauren cited tennis aces Venus and Serena ­Williams as her heroes.
      Not so much as a whiff of influencer on her radar, then. Instead, Lauren is open about her ambitions — ones which extend beyond the touchlines. She explains: “To be a global icon and break down barriers is something that I also hope to do in the future. The credit has to go to the Williams women, as well as their father, who played a big ­supporting role, just like our dad.
      “My dad Nigel’s Grenadian ­heritage has been massive in our upbringing and given us a better understanding of different cultures.
      Sexist attitudes
      “I am proud to have that part of me, alongside my mum being English. It is just lovely to have it all.” Lauren is rapidly garnering a huge fanbase among impressionable kids — exactly the kind of woman they should be inspired by.
      Of their formative years growing up in south west London, dad Nigel proudly recalls: “It was just about playing. I used to set challenges in the back garden, and if they did well at that I’d give them 20p and then another 20p. Before you know, you’ve changed up £20 into 20ps and they’re all gone!
      “It became fun. The key thing was that they were doing the right things.
      “If you don’t know the standard you have to set yourself then there is no way they will improve.
      “In the end they pushed themselves to get better. I was doing it as work and they came into training with me so it was like, ‘If you want to be good at this, this is what you have to do’.”
      While many men in the game have been depressingly slow to back their female star counterparts, defender Reece has always been a big supporter. I interviewed him last October and, tellingly, he began the chat with talk of his sister.
      He called for women to be paid more in line with male footie stars and slammed outdated sexist attitudes to women’s football. He said: “I think maybe in the last five years the women’s game has come on — especially from them winning the Euros.
      “It’s put them on a much bigger stage. Most games are televised now and the women’s game is moving in the right direction. I don’t think it’s going to go backwards and that includes pay.
      Lauren in action against Aston Villa in the Women’s Super League in OctoberCredit: Getty
      Lauren won Player of the Match in England’s World Cup victory over ChinaCredit: Getty
      Lauren — promoting the World Cup in OzCredit: Getty
      “As it develops, and the teams and players and quality get higher — the pay, the fans, everything will match it.
      “It’s come a long way. It’s still got a long way to go.”
      With heroes like his sister at the fore, it won’t be long, surely, before we finally see parity between the sexes.
      Until then, it is Lauren’s time to roar.
      SIBLINGS HIT THE HEIGHTS
      LAUREN and Reece James are not the only siblings to represent their country at international level. And sometimes it is the women who outshine their brothers on the biggest stage . . .
      ENIOLA & SONE ALUKO
      England ace Eniola Aluko with Ipswich player brother SoneCredit: Getty
      ENIOLA was one of the Lionesses’ greatest forwards, scoring 33 times in 102 senior appearances for her country.
      The attacker, 36, won the Women’s Super League three times with Chelsea, the women’s Serie A with Juventus, played for Great Britain at the 2012 Olympics and became a TV pundit.
      Her younger brother Sone, 34, played for England at youth level, but got seven senior caps for Nigeria. He is now with Championship side Ipswich Town.
      RIANA & RADJA NAINGGOLAN
      Siblings Riana, right, and Radja Nainggolan have both played for Roma and ItalyCredit: Twitter
      THE 35-year-old Belgian twins both played for Roma in Italy and represented their country at the highest level.
      But heavily tattooed Radja, who was criticised for smoking, played 30 times for Belgium while Riana has just one cap.
      That didn’t stop her once saying: “We kind of have the same style, only he is the male form and I’m the female form. If Radja was a girl too, I would be better.”
      SIMONA NECIDOVA & TOMAS NECID
      Simona Necidova played in the women’s Champions League for Slavia Prague and brother Tomas Necid also played for Slavia Prague’sCredit: extra.cz/fotka
      CZECH defender Simona, 29, has been capped 32 times by her country and has played in the women’s Champions League for Slavia Prague.
      Her striker brother Tomas, 33, also played for Slavia Prague and scored 12 times in 44 games for his country. The siblings both continue to play as pros in their homeland.
      MELANIA & MANOLO GABBIADINI
      Now-retired Melania, 39, played 114 times for Italy, brother Manolo, 31, had a spell at SouthamptonCredit: Twitter
      MELANIA may not have merited the huge transfer fees commanded by her younger brother Manolo – but she has enjoyed more success on the sports field.
      Read More on The Sun
      During her career the now-retired Melania, 39, played 114 times for Italy and scored 45 goals.
      Manolo, 31, has 13 caps, but proved under- whelming during a spell at Southampton after signing for £14million in 2017. More

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      Inside ex-England ace Ashley Cole’s incredible reinvention from serial cheat to family man – and the secret behind it

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      HE was the bad boy of football whose cheating and wild partying destroyed his high-profile marriage to Cheryl Tweedy.But fast forward nearly two decades and Ashley Cole appears to be a changed man, tamed by Italian model Sharon Canu, 30, who he married at the weekend.
      Bride and groom, Sharon Canu and Ashley Cole say ‘I do’ as they tie the knotCredit: Instagram
      The happy couple celebrate their wedding near the bride’s native Rome
      In contrast to his first marriage, the ex-Chelsea and England full-back, 42, has kept this near decade-long romance out the spotlight, rarely posting snaps of his new love or their two children, Jaxon, seven, and Grace, five.
      But last night the loved-up couple released another picture from their fairytale wedding showing them under a huge floral arch as smoke cannons created a rainbow overhead.
      The romantic nuptials, near the bride’s native Rome, were intimate, with just a few of their close family and friends — including Ashley’s former England team-mates John Terry and Frank Lampard — as guests.
      They exchanged vows at the Hotel La Vecchia Posta in Ladispoli, on a clifftop overlooking the Med, with the children as bridesmaid and page boy. The newlyweds then took the floor for their first dance to The Greatest Showman’s Never Enough.
      READ MORE ON ASHLEY COLE
       Spectacular fireworks lit up the al fresco reception before the guests partied late into the night.
      Their big day comes 16 months after Ashley popped the question.
      When he met Sharon in Italy in 2014 he was at his lowest ebb, with his divorce from Girls Aloud singer Cheryl and brushes with the law in his wake, as well as the accidental shooting of a work experience student with an air gun at Chelsea’s Surrey training ground.
      But his romance with Sharon and the birth of their two children has turned him into a devoted family man.
      Most read in Football
      ‘Amazing on and off pitch’
      In a rare 2019 interview with The Telegraph, he said he had “grown up”, adding: “I was a young, angry kid at the time and now I’ve grown up and understand the things I did is life, it happens. I’ve learnt from it, it’s made me a better person. It’s made me a great dad.
      “These are the things I focus on now, my kids and my girlfriend. It’s a different me, I’m more of a family man now. You won’t see me in nightclubs any more, you’ll see me at a park pushing my kids.”
      His latest wedding was much more low-key than the ceremony with Cheryl, at Wrotham Park, Herts, in 2006.
      With her band Girls Aloud riding high and Ashley at the height of his footballing prowess, it was the showbusiness wedding of the decade and cost a reported £500,000.
      The bridesmaids were Cheryl’s bandmates Nadine Coyle, Nicola Roberts, Kimberley Walsh and Sarah Harding.
       And the guest list was said to include Sugababes stars Amelle Berrabah, Keisha Buchanan and Heidi Range, Blue’s Simon Webbe and singer Jamelia, plus footballers Joe Cole, John Terry, Jermaine Jenas, Jermain Defoe and Sol Campbell.
      Cheryl, then 23, celebrated the union with a Mrs C tattoo on her neck.
      But at 25, Ashley was clearly not ready to settle down and a string of cheating allegations plagued the marriage. In 2008, hairdresser Aimee Walton told of an alleged hook-up with Ashley, claiming he was so drunk he threw up on her carpet twice during sex.
      On the moment she learned about his cheating, Cheryl wrote in her explosive memoir: ‘“I hope you enjoyed it!’, I screamed. ‘I hope she was worth it! It’s the end of your marriage. You don’t understand what you’ve done. It’s f***ed!’.
      “After hours of me ranting, screaming and crying uncontrollably, I was exhausted.”
       Cheryl eventually took him back, but called it quits after 2010 claims that he cheated on her with four more women and that he allegedly paid one £10,000 to keep quiet. As well as cheating accusations, Ashley’s wild partying and reckless antics led to two minor brushes with the law.
      In March 2009 he was hit with an £80 fine after an altercation outside a nightclub, where he refused to stop swearing in front of a cop.
      The following January he was slapped with a four-month driving ban and a £1,000 penalty for speeding at 104mph in a 50mph zone.
      Cheryl filed for divorce in May 2010 and the split was finalised that September. But the pair remain close, and Ashley was among the first to text her when she split from second husband Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini in 2016.
      She has also messaged congratulations on the birth of both his kids, as well as wishing him well before last weekend’s wedding. The press-shy footballer also hit the headlines in February 2011 when he accidentally shot a student, 21, at Chelsea.
      Ashley was “larking about” with a .22 air rifle when he fired the gun at Tom Cowan, who was hit in the side and received a minor injury.
      He was fined two weeks’ wages — around £220,000 — but dodged a police rap as no charges were filed.
      Manager Carlo Ancelotti defended the player, insisting: “There was never any chance of Ashley being sacked. He has always behaved very well. He made a mistake. It was an accident.”
      Following his split from Cheryl, Ashley dated reality star Anna Kelle and Towie’s Pascal Craymer.
      But his 2014 transfer to Italian club AS Roma led him to Sharon. The couple kept their blossoming relationship under wraps in the early years, posting no pictures of each other on social media. But Sharon revealed a huge bunch of red roses on her page on Valentine’s day 2016, with the caption, “Miss you”.
      The couple became more public after their first child, Jaxon, arrived in February that year, with Sharon posting snaps of all three of them.
      On his son’s first birthday, Ashley told how fatherhood had changed him after an underprivileged background, and fame and fortune, saw him forget what was important.
      “I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have most things I wanted in life, cars, houses, watches, clothes,” he wrote. “Coming from East London with not a lot growing up and a mum looking after two boys alone, life wasn’t always easy. So of course it’s easy to lose your way in life sometimes, to forget about the things that are most important. But this morning I woke up to something that exceeds anything I’ve ever had before: A smile that never goes away.
      “Every day I wake up to the most beautiful thing I could ever dream of, a son that makes my heart melt, a son that never stops smiling, a son that can make me laugh no matter what kind of mood I’m in.
      “A son that I’m proud of, a son I watch fall asleep because I never want to leave him, a son that reminded me what’s important in life.”
      The couple’s daughter Grace was born in February 2018 and Sharon’s social media is now full of photos of her family and tributes to her “handsome man” and “better half”.
      Hugely supportive, the model’s messages reveal her admiration for her man. In 2019, after Ashley announced his retirement at 39, she wrote: “I love listening whilst you talk about your memories, when you started, when you understood it would have been your job and when you realised you could have made it. You did, you realised your dream, the dream of a kid. It’s been hard and sacrificing but it’s been worth it. You are an amazing man, on the pitch and off. A wonderful father and my biggest love. You make me proud every day.”
      On Ashley’s 40th birthday in December 2020, Sharon wrote: “I love you so much! Happy 40th birthday to the man of my dreams, the love of my life, the kindest heart I’ve ever met. You are the sweetest feeling I know.”
      Ashley was once the bad boy of football whose cheating and wild partying destroyed his high-profile marriage to Cheryl TweedyCredit: Rex Features
      Ex-Chelsea and England full-back, Ashley, has kept this near decade-long romance out the spotlightCredit: PA:Press Association
      Sharon followed Ashley from Rome to Derby for his final playing stint before he went on to coach the team. After joining Frank Lampard at Chelsea, Ashley and Sharon moved to a Surrey mansion where, in 2020, they suffered a horrifying ordeal at the hands of armed raiders who tied Ashley up, threatening to cut off his fingers with pliers.
      Sharon and the children were at home at the time and Ashley had been holding his baby girl just before the attack. The thugs made off with watches, phones, cash, a Gucci bag and a BMW smart key.
      Ashley finally popped the question to Sharon in March 2022, getting down on one knee after filling the room with flowers. She revealed she was celebrating the “easiest yes she’d ever said”. A source said at the time: “Ashley loves Sharon to bits. He’s really happy. He loves his kids. For him, it was the right time. His life is his kids and family now.”
      In June, Sharon posted snaps of her Ibiza hen do with ex-Towie star Sam Faiers, who has become a close pal, plus Ashley’s sister-in-law Lisa and six other mates.
      She wrote: “We laughed a lot, sang a lot, danced a lot, drunk a lot, ate a lot. Barely slept, barely looked nice, barely took pictures. Wouldn’t change one second of it.”
      Ahead of the wedding, a source told The Sun: “Ashley and Sharon are madly in love and have spent months planning their special day.
      Read More on The Sun
      “Loads of her family live there and it’s very romantic. As a couple they have been very private, so they don’t feel the need for a flashy, public wedding.”
      And the quiet, classy nuptials send the ultimate message that the former hellraiser has settled down.
      Ashley and Sharon with their two children on a family break More

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

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

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      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

      Inside David Beckham’s amazing US life…from A-list pals to convincing Lionel Messi to join Inter Miami

      by

      WHEN Lionel Messi lined up for David Beckham’s Inter Miami football team, it was the biggest coup in the history of the sport.In a remarkable piece of wheeler dealing, the former England captain persuaded the world’s greatest player to sign for a team at the bottom of their United States league.
      David Beckham persuaded the world’s greatest player to sign for a team at the bottom of their United States leagueCredit: Getty
      Beckham with new Inter Miami signing Lionel MessiCredit: instagram
      David, Victoria and Harper with the Kardashians at Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami debutCredit: Instagram
      Not only that, 36-year-old Messi, who captained Argentina to victory in last summer’s World Cup, turned down a reported billion-pound offer from Saudi Arabia’s top team.
      Business-savvy Becks has cleverly harnessed the power of his celebrity pals to entice Messi with the kind of glamour that can’t be matched in the Middle East.
      A-listers such as reality TV queen Kim Kardashian, basketball superstar Lebron James and tennis legend Serena Williams were there to watch the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner’s Inter Miami debut on Friday night.
      When Beckham announced the creation of the Florida football side five years ago, music mogul Jay-Z, superstar singer J-Lo, A-list actor Will Smith and Olympic athlete Usain Bolt were by his side.
      Read More on David Beckham
      The 48-year-old appeared to be close to tears after Messi scored an injury time winner in a cup match at the club’s temporary home ground.
      That is understandable, given the setbacks he has endured in setting up a football team from scratch.
      A promised state-of-the-art stadium is yet to be built following legal challenges, residents’ protests and the discovery of arsenic in the soil.
      ‘It’s a dream’
      David’s wife Victoria, 49, has been his rock throughout, uprooting the family to spend a lot of the year in Miami.
      Most read in Football
      A source close to the family told us: “Signing Messi has put the team on the global map.
      “It’s not just players backing the team, however. David and Victoria’s famous friends have all put weight behind it. Kim Kardashian’s son Saint is a huge football fan and Messi is his idol.
      “The same can be said of the Beckhams’ pals like singer Marc Anthony, American football star Tom Brady and Lebron James, who can often be seen at games.
      “It’s not just a club, it’s being seen as more of a brand which is hugely commercially viable.”
      They added: “From the beginning of the venture over five years ago Victoria said she would support David at every step and that couldn’t be more true.
      “Miami is fast becoming a second home for the family and they loved the relaxed pace of life there.”
      Two years ago the Beckhams bought a £18.5million Miami penthouse in a 707ft tower designed by star architect Zaha Hadid, boasting a helipad and views of the Atlantic ocean.
      The couple’s four children now have close ties to the area, too.
      Eldest son Brooklyn, 24, married actress Nicola Peltz, 28, at the home of her billionaire father just down the road in Palm Beach, while footballer Romeo, 20, was on the books of Inter Miami’s reserve team.
      Daughter Harper, 12, spends most of her summer holidays in Miami and musician Cruz, 18, has enjoyed hanging out on the £5million family yacht on the city’s sun-soaked waters. 
      Becks is often seen out on the town himself with celebrity pals, including Tom Brady. 
      Another close pal is nightlife impresario David Grutman, known as the “King of Miami” due to his restaurant and nightclub empire.
      David was best man when Marc Anthony, ex-husband of Jennifer Lopez, wed model Nadia Ferreira at Miami’s Pérez Art Museum in January.
      Goldenballs created a huge buzz when he appeared at the Miami Grand Prix last year, while Victoria has been spotted out locally with her pal, Desperate Housewives’ actress Eva Longoria.
      The Beckhams have eaten at hotspots including Makoto, where the Kardashians have been seen, and Zuma Miami, a favourite of rap star Drake and Will Smith.
      But David also enjoys more humble food and regularly stops by Enriqueta’s Sandwich Shop, a Cuban eatery where the most expensive dishes are £9.
      Leidys Pla, whose family own the restaurant, told us: “He — has a little coffee — he likes Costa Rican coffee and loves the pork or a Cubano sandwich.
      He’s always very nice and takes pictures with anyone who wants them.Leidys Pla
      “He’s always very nice and takes pictures with anyone who wants them.”
      Her mother Lucia Pla added with a smile: “David Beckham is my friend.”
      But even Becks’ A-list pals have been overshadowed by the arrival of Messi, who is being treated like a deity in the majority Latino city.
      Everyone wanted to be at the game to see the South American maestro, with touts charging as much as £85,000 for tickets.
      Murals celebrating the Argentinian striker have sprung up in countless places, while enterprising businesses are offering Messi-themed sandwiches and even a Messi beer.
      Inter fan Maximiliano Infantino, 46, told The Sun: “It’s a dream to have Messi here. Beckham can really make things happen.
      “Miami doesn’t know what’s going to hit it.
      “You look at the bus stops and all you see are pictures of Messi. It’s going to change everything.” 
      One mural covers an entire side of a seven-floor building and shows two images of Messi painted by a local graffiti artist and touched up by Beckham, who stopped by to paint Messi’s teeth.
      Axel Montano, 30, who was selling T-shirts by the mural, said: “I want to thank David Beckham for bringing Lionel Messi to this city.
      ‘Cocktail for success’
      “They are equals and they understand each other.”
      Convincing the sublime soccer superstar to join the club clearly meant a huge deal to Beckham.
      The ex-England captain, who co-owns the club with Miami businessman Jorge Mas, said: “The moment that Leo went on TV and announced that he was coming to Miami, that was an emotional moment.” 
      He has been pursuing Messi for at least two years. 
      The former Barcelona star is rumoured to be on a basic annual wage of £15million, plus £30million in bonuses, and is also due to get a stake in the team when his contract ends in 2025.
      Messi arrived on a free transfer from Paris St Germain and his earnings will be partly funded by a streaming deal with Apple Plus.
      For us it’s a dream to have Messi here. Beckham can really make things happen.Maximiliano Infantino
      Landing his signature has impressed fellow bosses in the game, including The Apprentice star and West Ham vice-chairman Baroness Karren Brady.
      She told The Sun: “With his boots on, Becks proved that unique technical ability and a tireless work ethic — aided by no shortage of charm and a sharp understanding of his own marketability — was a surefire cocktail for success.
      “In the boardroom he is proving just the same as a football club owner.”
      Anyone who dismissed Beckhams as a footballer-turned-underwear model couldn’t be more wrong.
      He earned £657,000 per week last year, with most of the money coming from his brand, which is licensed to Adidas, Electronic Arts video games, Haig Club whisky, Maserati cars and Tudor watches.
      Those sums could be overshadowed by Inter Miami in the future.
      The club is Beckham’s personal project, after he cut a canny deal when he signed to play football for LA Galaxy 16 years ago.
      With his boots on, Becks proved that unique technical ability and a tireless work ethic — aided by no shortage of charm and a sharp understanding of his own marketability — was a surefire cocktail for success.Karren Brady
      As part of the agreement, Major League Soccer promised Beckham could set up his own football team in the US for less than a quarter of the normal fee demanded by the competition.
      But he has had to overcome objections from locals to various plans for a permanent stadium in the Florida city.
      At the moment, the team plays 30 miles away in Fort Lauderdale’s 21,000-capacity DRV PNK Stadium, which used to be the home of another football team.
      The first Inter Miami home match in 2020 had to be postponed due to Covid restrictions — and Beckham has gone through four managers in four years.
      He displayed a ruthless streak by sacking old England and Manchester United team-mate Phil Neville last month, with the club currently languishing bottom at 15th in the Eastern Conference league. 
      The success of the Apple TV football comedy Ted Lasso and the Disney Plus Welcome To Wrexham documentary — about Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney taking over other Welsh non-league side — proves there is an appetite for the sport in the US.
      That interest will only increase when the United States, Mexico and Canada co-host the World Cup in three years.

      Baroness Brady adds: “We can all look on with pride as we see one of our greatest national treasures now helping to inspire another generation by sprinkling more stardust in the US.
      “It can only be positive for the future welfare of our beautiful game as the love of it continues to spread across the world.”
      Messi captained Argentina to victory in last summer’s World CupCredit: Reuters
      Beckham goes grocery shopping at Trader Joe’s in MiamiCredit: BackGrid
      Posh and Becks with Marc Anthony and Serena Williams
      The Man United legend with Tom Brady and their respective daughtersCredit: Instagram / @davidbeckham
      Becks with LeBron James at Messi’s Inter Miami debutCredit: Instagram
      David with Leidys Pla at Cuban eatery Enriqueta’s Sandwich ShopCredit: Instagram
      Miami goes mad for Messi with murals appearing on walls
      Another mural of the Argentinian World Cup winner
      Beckham’s luxury liner named Seven after his shirt numberCredit: Mega
      Beckham’s Miami apartment buiding was designed by star architect Zaha Hadid
      Inside the posh pad with stunning viewsCredit: Mega 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.
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      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.
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      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