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      Meet Christian Horner’s boss and Red Bull owner worth nearly 27 times more than Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo combined

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      ALLEGED “leaked texts” have put Christian Horner’s position as Team Principal of Red Bull into doubt – but he does still have the support of the most powerful man at Red Bull.The British boss was cleared of wrongdoing by his team’s internal investigation on Wednesday, but less than 24 hours later was hit by a dossier of texts being leaked to journalists and F1 team principals.Chalerm Yoovidhya and wife Daranee, were pictured alongside Christian and Geri HornerCredit: GettyIt’s a clear indication that Red Bull’s most important man is standing by his team principalCredit: AFPThe investigation into Horner, relating to accusations of “inappropriate behaviour” began in February, and has seen his previously untouchable position at Red Bull put into doubt.Crucially for Horner, though, he has the support of majority Red Bull shareholder Chalerm Yoovidhya, 73.The Thai businessman is estimated by Forbes to have a net worth of £26.8billion.That’s almost 27 times the net worth of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, thought to be worth nearly £1bn between them.READ MORE ON CHRISTIAN HORNERYoovidhya inherited much of his wealth when his father, Chaleo died in 2012 – although he was involved in running the Red Bull conglomerate before that.He owns 51 per cent of the Red Bull company and has the power of veto on shareholder decisions, making him a very important ally for Horner to have.Although not a great deal is known about the Thai businessman’s personal life, he lives in Bangkok and has three children – all potential heirs in the Red Bull dynasty.According to the Daily Mail, he is thought to be incredibly loyal to Horner, and has put down any attempts from within the team to get rid of him.Most read in MotorsportThe businessman has been pictured with both Christian and Geri Horner several times and is thought to have a good personal relationship with the couple.A power vacuum has been present at Red Bull since the death of Dietrich Mateschtiz who passed away in 2022.Motor racing world in ‘disbelief’ at Christian Horner alleged leaked messagesMateschitz founded Red Bull alongside Chaleo Yoovidhya in 1984 in a joint Austrian and Thai venture.Dietrich’s death saw his son Mark, 31, inherit his 49 per cent of shares and while Dietrich was an avid supporter of Horner, Mark is not thought to be.He is allegedly joined in the power struggle against Horner by Oliver Mintzlaff, who oversees Red Bull’s other sporting operations as well as F1, Helmut Marko and Max Verstappen’s father Jos, according to The Mail.They claim that Mark, along with the Austrian faction of Red Bull wanted Horner to be dispatched “quickly” while the investigation was still ongoing.But the support of Chalern Yoovidhya and the Thai branch of Red Bull has seen Horner remain as Red Bull’s team principal. More

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      What is Max Verstappen’s net worth and who is the richest F1 driver?

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      FORMULA ONE racers put their lives on the line every time they jump behind the wheel – so it only makes sense that winners such as Max Verstappen earn large amounts.Red Bull earned a reported £110million following Max Verstappen’s dominant championship win during the 2023 campaign.Max Verstappen won 86% of the 2023 F1 racesCredit: GettyThe F1 icon won 19 of last year’s 22 races which meant that he finished first in 86 percent of the races – smashing Alberto Ascari’s 1952 record of 75 percent.And in doing so, Verstappen added a lot of first-place bonuses to his bank account. But just how much is the serial winner worth?What is Max Verstappen’s net worth?Max Verstappen has commanded the most lucrative F1 contract for the past two seasons when accounting bonuses which has taken his net worth up to approximately £165.5million.Read more on Max VerstappenThe four-time champion is an ambassador for EA Sports and has a host for personal sponsors, all of which helped him earn a place in Forbes’ 2023 list of sports top young earners.Verstappen, 26, also has a great affinity of cars, with his collection to be worth around £2.3m and the Dutchman has even invested in his own GT team.He resides in Monaco which says it all for the type of lifestyle he lives – not cheap at all.Reports suggest that Verstappen’s contract is worth around £43m a year with Red Bull.Most read in MotorsportMax Verstappen’s contract figures are staggeringCredit: GettyWho is the richest F1 driver?For all of Max Verstappen’s earnings, the 2023 F1 championship winner is surprisingly not the richest driver – Michael Schumacher is.An era-defining driver for many fans of motorsport, the seven-time F1 champion was named the highest-paid athlete by Forbes in 1999 and 2000 and even predicted to be the first billionaire athlete in 2005.In 2017, he was named as the fifth-highest athlete of all time in terms of career earnings, but he has not been seen publicly since his life-changing skiing accident in 2013.The German was well-known for his charitable donations, including a £39.5m donation to UNESCO during his final five years of racing.Predictably, Schumacher and his family have a worldwide real estate portfolio, while Schumacher also earned a staggering amount through brand endorsements, including a £8.5m deal to wear a shell hat and show its logo in nearly all public appearances.Here is the top 5:
      Michael Schumacher: £462.5m
      Lewis Hamilton: £224.7m
      Fernando Alonso: £205m
      Max Verstappen: £165.5m
      Kimi Raikkonen: £140.6m
      What is the F1 2024 calendar?Below is the entire race calendar for the F1 2024 season:🏁 Complete F1 2024 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix and start time this year 🏁  More

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      Ultimate F1 team principals rich list as Christian Horner’s net worth is revealed, but his wealth is dwarfed by a rival

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      BEING an F1 team principal guarantees a fair wedge.They are paid huge salaries, with Red Bull supremo Christian Horner earning £8million-per-year, while Mercedes rival Toto Wolff is said to have a salary worth around £7million.Red Bull Racing supremo Christian Horner is one of the most recognisable faces of F1 and commands a salary of £8m-per-yearCredit: GettyHorner’s rival Toto Wolff at Mercedes-Benz earns slightly less per-year – but has he got a great net worth?Credit: GettyWith those great pay packets comes great responsibilty, with those at the top driving things behind the scenes while being teh public face of the operation. But, who is the richest?Join SunSport in counting down the ultimate F1 team principals rich list, from estimates researched online.10. Bruno Famin, £500,000Famin took over the reigns as team principal for Alpine on an interim basis in 2023.READ MORE F1 NEWSHe will continue in the role this season, but is a relative newbie to the game.The Frenchman has held a number of leading roles in motorsport, including as director of Peugeot Sport.He originally joined Alpine in 2022 and served as CEO in charge of engine development.Bruno Famin took over the reigns as team principal for Alpine on an interim basis in 2023 and is estimated to have a £500,000 fortuneCredit: GettyRacing world in ‘disbelief’ at Christian Horner alleged leaked messages9. Ayao Komatsu, £650,000Similarly to Famin, Komatsu has an established career in motor racing.Most read in MotorsportHe enjoyed spells with BAR and Lotus until moving to Haas in 2016 as their trackside engineering director, following Romain Grosjean.Clearly, the American team believe in the Japanese engineer.Back in January, he was promoted to team principal after the departure of the legendary Guenther Steiner.Ayao Komatsu was promoted to team principal of Haas after the departure of the legendary Guenther Steiner and has an estimated £650,000 net worthCredit: Getty8. Mike Krack £800,000Aston Martin moved to replace Otmar Szafnauer with Krack in 2022.In truth, though, he is a seasoned pro – having worked with BMW Sauber from the mid-2000’s.He held a variety of roles, including overseeing their Formula E, IMSA and GT programme.With Aston Martin continuing to improve, he could be higher on the list this time next year.Mike Krack worked with BMW Sauber from the mid-2000’s until becoming team principal and CEO of Aston Martin and is worth £800,000Credit: Gettyread more sport features7. Laurent Mekies, £1millionMekkies was in a cushy role at Ferrari as their sporting director.But, fancying a challenge, he took on the role of team principal with AlphaTauri from January, taking over from Franz Tost.”A new adventure starts now, and it is with a great sense of gratefulness that I go from a very special racing family to another very special racing family,” he said on joining Red Bull Racing’s sister team.Before joining Ferrari he was safety director at the FIA and deputy race director. Laurent Mekies took on the role of team principal with AlphaTauri from January after taking over from Franz Tost and has £1million in the bankCredit: Getty6. Andrea Stella, £1.2millionLast season, Stella took over the reigns at the famous McLaren team from Andreas Seidl.A graduate in aerospace engineering at La Sapienza University in Rome, with a PhD in mechanical engineering with an experimental study on fluid dynamics of flames, he began as performance engineer at Ferrari in 2000.Between 2002-2006, the Italian worked with Michael Schumacher and then Kimi Raikkonen from 2007-2008.He moved to McLaren in 2015 as head of race operations, before working his way up the ranks.Andrea Stella, worth £1.2million, moved to McLaren in 2015, before working his way up the ranks to become team principal last seasonCredit: Getty5. Fred Vasseur, £3.5millionVasseur has one of the dream jobs – as principal of Scuderia Ferrari.It’s a high-pressured role, which he jumped into in 2023 on a reported salary of £2.5million per-year – so, again, expect him to jump up this list in the years to come.In the six years prior, Vasseur worked at Alfa Romeo Sauber and Renault as team boss.Next year, he will be working with Lewis Hamilton.Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur is in a high-pressured role and earns a whopping salary with estimates putting his fortune at the £3.5million markCredit: Getty4. James Vowles, £4millionEnglishman Vowles came to Williams as team principal last season.He was formerly Mercedes’ motorsport strategy director, until he took on the post.He made his Formula 1 debut as an engineer for the Honda racing team before moving on as a strategist for Brawn GP. James joined Williams at the end of 2022 and at the age of 44, is the youngest team principal on the grid, with an estimated £4million fortune.James Vowles, who is in the hotseat at Williams, is the youngest team principal on the grid and has earned £4millionCredit: Getty3. Alessandro Alunni Bravi, £4millionIn 2022, Alfa Romeo tried to break away from the traditional structure of team principal by appointing a management structure to oversee the team.Heading that up is Alunni Bravi as team representative, an Italian who is also a qualified lawyer.His duties pretty much echo that of team principal – he deals with F1 bosses and sponsors.He was previously the team principal of the trident GP2 team and has served as a board member of Sauber since 2017.Italian Alessandro Alunni Bravi, team representative of Alfa Romeo F1, is tied with Vowles with an estimated wealth of £4millionCredit: Getty2. Christian Horner, £50millionRed Bull Racing principal Horner is the highest paid on the F1 circuit – with an annual salary said to be in the region of £8million.He’s been with the Austrians since 2005, and has successfully led them to nine titles.Horner began in motorsport with aspirations to become a driver – and had some success in the late 90s – even founding his own team, but ended his driving career in 1998 at just 25.Away from the grid, the Englishman is married to Spice Girl Geri and they share two homes, in Oxfordshire and Hertfordshire.But his F1 career has been tainted after he was caught up in a texting probe involving female colleague.£50m man Christian Horner, seen with wife Geri Halliwell, is the most famous team principal on the circuitCredit: Getty1. Toto Wolff, £1.2billionTop of the pile, with a staggering net worth, is the German Wolff.Forbes listed him as a billionaire back in 2023, thanks mainly to his one-third stake in the Mercedes F1 operation along with parent company Daimler AG and ‘principal partners’ INEOS.A banker before an F1 legend, more of Wolff’s wealth was built through two investment firms he founded.READ MORE SUN STORIESHe paid $50million (about £40m) for his 30 per cent share in Mercedes in 2012, which is now believed to be substantially more.Prior to that, he put money into Williams in 2009. He is miles ahead of his competitors.Toto Wolff is worth a staggering £1.2billion thanks, in part, to a savvy 30 per cent investment in the Mercedes-Benz F1 teamCredit: Getty More

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      Inside Christian and Geri Horner’s £50m fortune – including prize-winning side-hustle & jaw-dropping Spice Girls payday

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      THE future of Christian Horner’s Formula One career continues to hang in the balance amid bombshell allegations about his workplace conduct.The Red Bull Racing chief, 50, is awaiting the verdict of bosses after being accused of “inappropriate behaviour” by a female colleague and sending “sexually suggestive” texts. 
      Christian and Geri Horner are worth tens of millionsCredit: Instagram @therealgerihalliwell
      Horner’s future with Red Bull Racing were reportedly be decided in 10 daysCredit: PA
      Racing boss Christian earned a staggering £8m in 2022Credit: Getty
      Christian, who has categorically denied all claims, was put through an eight-hour grilling as part of an independent investigation and his fate will reportedly be decided within 10 days.
      It risks ending his 19-year career with Red Bull Racing, where he’s paid in excess of £8million a year, and putting a sizeable dent in the fortune earned by him and his ex-Spice Girl wife Geri. 
      The couple have netted tens of millions of pounds over the years, with a fortune of at least £50million, which has afforded them an enviable and comfortable country lifestyle.
      From £2.4million in rental properties to a horseracing firm and royalties, we look into Geri and Christian Horner’s finances. 
      READ MORE ON CHRISTIAN HORNER
      £8M Red Bull salary
      Red Bull boss Christian is believed to be the highest-paid team principal in F1 and began working for them in 2005 . 
      Company accounts reports, which span between 2011 and 2022, show the F1 boss has been paid a staggering £40.2million over that 11-year period. 
      His 2022 pay from Red Bull was listed at £8,044,000, which was almost £3million higher than the £5,085,000 salary he bagged a year earlier.
      It’s an impressive hike from his £1,343,000 salary back in 2011.
      Most read in Motorsport
      Popstar fortune
      Geri amassed a staggering fortune from her time as both a solo artist and a member of the Spice Girls, who remain the best-selling female group in history.
      Red Bull debuts design with Mercedes-style element reportedly dubbed ‘illegal’ by Christian Horner
      Her popstar earnings were paid in Wonderful Productions Limited, which was set up in 1997 – one year before the singer left the band. 
      During the company’s first three years of trading, it reported a £13.1million turnover and that she paid herself £8.9million. 
      No pay disclosures were reported by her in accounts between 2001 and 2018. Figures suggest the firm entered a non-trading phase between 2009 and 2012. 
      Geri bagged £2.2million in pay following the return of the Spice Girls – minus Victoria Beckham – in 2019, reportedly for just six gigs. 
      The Spice Girls remain the best-selling female group in music historyCredit: PA:Press Association
      A 2019 Spice Girls reunion, minus Victoria, saw Geri bag £2.2millionCredit: PA:Press Association
      The bombshell claims that have rocked F1F1 was rocked earlier this month by the sudden news that Christian Horner had been placed under investigation by Red Bull’s Austria-based parent company.
      This was thought to be over a “dossier of incriminating material” regarding “inappropriate and controlling behaviour” towards one female, The Telegraph reported.
      Red Bull’s Austrian parent company flew an independent lawyer to the UK to question the multi-millionaire race ace and his accuser.
      The former racing driver, who runs world champion Max Verstappen’s all-conquering Red Bull team, endured an eight-hour grilling over the claims last week.
      Most recently however, more allegations have come out as the De Telegraaf reported that Horner allegedly sent sex messages to his employee “over an extended period of time”.
      Messages were said to have been saved and presented as evidence to the external ­barrister running the inquiry after the woman made a complaint last December.
      Mr Horner categorically denied the new allegations and is thought to be taking legal action against De Telegraaf.
      An F1 source told The Sun last week that “Christian has not been sacked or asked to resign and he is not going to resign”.
      The investigation raises the question of who could take over the helm of the all-conquering racing team of world champion Max Verstappen.
      His wife Geri Halliwell is also said to be “terrified her life will unravel” amid Horner’s “inappropriate behaviour” probe.
      The ex-Spice Girl, who was “in floods of tears” when the Red Bull boss was hit with the bombshell allegations, fears the drama will drag on for years, a source has claimed. 
      But Geri, 51, is understood to be standing by her husband.
      She has told pals: “Christian has done nothing wrong.”
      Horner has overseen a huge period of success for the racing team – winning multiple F1 championships with Sebastian Vettel and Verstappen.
      Red Bull has won seven Formula One world drivers’ championships and six world ­constructors’ titles under Horner’s leadership.
      Last season, the team won 21 of the 22 races on the global F1 tour, and Verstappen, 26, won the drivers’ crown.
      Horner was awarded a CBE for services to motorsport in the 2024 New Year’s Honours List

      The Daily Mail reported that the firm was worth £3million the following year and she paid herself £1million from the company.
      The paper also claims Wonderful Productions made £152,000 profit in 2022 and Geri paid herself £762,240 that year. 
      Last year’s accounts showed losses of £77,994 but held reserves of nearly £1.4million. 
      Geri also has the firm Falcon Queen Limited, which was set up in May 2021 to provide “business support activities”. All shares are owned by Wonderful Productions.
      According to the Mail, Falcon Queen Limited made losses of £75,521 last year and plunged £276,000 into the red. 
      Geri is still believed to receive earnings for Spice Girls Limited – a joint venture between her, Victoria, Mel B, Mel C and Emma Bunton. 
      Media ventures
      Geri has released seven books for children and two autobiographiesCredit: Alamy
      Alongside music, the singer has had successful stints as an author.
      Geri released two autobiographies – If Only, which became a best-seller in 1999 and sold more than a million copies in the UK alone, and Just For The Record three years later.  
      In 2008, she released a six-part children’s series called Ugenia Lavender, which sold 250,000 copies in its first five months.
      Last year, Geri released her latest children’s book Rosie Frost And The Falcon Queen. 
      Her earnings have been topped up over the years by other media work including a stint as a judge on The X Factor in 2011 and 2012 and Australia’s Got Talent in 2013.
      She also made cameos in TV shows including Sex And The City, US show Extra and appeared in the films Spice World, Crank: High Voltage and Gran Turismo. 
      Geri was a judge on The X Factor for two years until 2012Credit: ITV
      Last year, she made an appearance in the film Gran TurismoCredit: Alamy
      Horseracing empire
      The Horners have a number of race horses, all of whom are named after Geri’s songs and covers including It’s Raining Men, Look At Mee, Lift Me Up and Mi Chico Latino.
      Among the most successful is Lift Me Up, an eight-year-old male who was born in 2016 and cost £28,000. 
      The horse, real name Hector, was lined up as a potential Cheltenham Festival hopeful but hasn’t run since last May. 
      Lift Me Up, who has raced at least twice, earned the couple £2,361.18 in prize money for winning a race in front of 70,000 punters, according to the British Horseracing Authority.
      Christian Horner’s life and careerCHRISTIAN Horner is among the most well-known names in Formula One having helped build Red Bull into one of the biggest teams in the sport.
      1973 – Born in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
      1991 – Wins a Formula Renault scholarship after impressing in karting races
      1993-1997 – Competed in a host of competitions including British Formula Three, British Formula Two, and Formula 3000
      1997 – Founded and developed the F3000 team Arden
      1999 – Retired from driving and continued developing the Arden team
      2005 – Appointed head of Red Bull team, becoming the youngest ever team principal at that time
      2009 – Wins his first races as team principal with Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber
      2010 – Wins the Constructors’ Championship and Drivers’ Championship with Vettel – the first of four doubles in a row
      2013 – Has a daughter with ex-wife Beverly Allen shortly before the couple split
      2014 – Gets engaged to Spice Girls member Geri Halliwell
      2015 – Marries Halliwell in Woburn, Bedfordshire
      2017 – Horner and Halliwell welcome their son
      2021 – Wins another Drivers’ Championship with Max Verstappen, pipping Lewis Hamilton on the final lap of the season
      2022-23 – Red Bull win the Drivers’ Championship and Constructors’ Championship two years in a row

      Last month, Geri revealed Hope – named Look At Mee after the singer’s 1999 solo hit – had her first race and finished fifth.
      The couple owns a horseracing company called OMBI, which was set up in 2021, and lists the nature of its business as “activities of racehorse owners”.
      The couple built a 14-horse stable at their Oxfordshire mansionCredit: Instagram/gerihalliwellhorner
      As well as stables, they also have farm animals including donkeysCredit: Instagram @therealgerihalliwell
      Its latest accounts, for the year ended 30 June 2022, showed they held £113,378 in “biological assets” – believed to refer to the horses – and £400,000 worth of goods.
      The company retained £68,852 in funds after bills were deducted. 
      Last year, work finished on a 14-horse stable, including two foaling stalls, at their Oxfordshire home and ex-jockey Maxine Filby was hired to run the yard.
      Christian told The Telegraph his passion for horses was “just a bit of fun” and “escapism away from the madness of F1”. 
      He said: “We don’t really know what we’re doing but it’s exciting. It’s something Geri and I both get a kick out of and something we enjoy as a family.” 
      Rental properties
      Away from the equine world, the couple also have a buy-to-let business named Estelle Ward, which was set up in 2021.
      It’s listed as the owner of a £2.1million flat in Highgate, North London, according to Land Registry. 
      The latest accounts for Estelle Ward lists property assets of £2.4million with a £1.6million ‘loan facility’, which the couple pays interest on at 1 per cent above the Bank of England base rate. 
      Geri inside the couple’s indoor pool, which is in a converted barn on their Oxfordshire estateCredit: Instagram @therealgerihalliwell
      Christian preparing a large feast on a plush barbeque unit at their Oxfordshire mansionCredit: Instagram @christianhorner
      As of November 2022, the firm reported a £6,455 deficit – as a result of the loan and other bills. 
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      The couple also owns two stunning mansions, in Hertfordshire and Banbury, Oxfordshire, which boast swimming pools, a boating lake and a farm.
      The latter is a luxury estate that has an indoor pool inside a converted barn, stables for their horses as well as pens for their other farm animals and sprawling country grounds.  More

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      Porto 1 Arsenal 0: Galeno scores 94th-minute screamer as wasteful Gunners’ Champions League last-16 woes continue

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      NEW Arsenal. Same old Champions League anxieties.This was a chance for the Gunners to banish those last-16 demons of years gone by, to plonk one foot into this competition’s quarter-finals for the first time in 14 years.
      Galeno netted the winner with a late screamerCredit: Reuters
      Porto take a lead to North LondonCredit: Getty
      Arsenal’s Champions League knockouts curse continuedCredit: Reuters
      It was the first time they failed to register a shot on target in two yearsCredit: Rex
      Instead of finally putting that hoodoo to bed, this North London crop have emphatically breathed new life back into the beast.
      A nervy, below-par night from Arsenal at the Estadio do Dragao without a single shot on target ended with the hosts landing a spectacular last-minute sucker punch through Galeno’s long-range beauty.
      It seemed to hang in the air for an eternity before looping over David Raya’s outstretched dive and nestling into the bottom corner. Having missed a sitter in the first half, the Brazilian celebrated his redemption wildly.
      Next month’s second leg at the Emirates is now do or die for Arsenal and Mikel Arteta in a competition that often throws surprises and early exits their way.
      READ MORE ON ARSENAL
      From 2011 to 2017, they lost seven two-legged ties in a row at this stage of Europe’s grandest tournament. 
      Arteta will be livid. The Spaniard spoke glowingly pre-match of his dreams to win the Champions League at Wembley in June.
      On this performance alone, those fantasies need to be parked. Back in 2010, Arsenal lost 2-1 to Porto in the last 16 before winning 5-0 in North London. A similar result will have Arteta believing again.
      Arsenal started slow, hesitant in their approach, their minds seemingly elsewhere.
      Most read in Champions League
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      Declan Rice picked up a needless yellow in the second minute, forced into a wayward lunge having taken his eye off William Saliba’s pass. Gabriel then lost control moments later.
      Maybe it had just dawned on this young squad where they were, the stage they were playing on, and those in red in white in past years who had consistently failed to make that next step.
      David Raya shows off his plaster-covered ‘abnormal shovel’ hands that got him from non-league to Arsenal
      For so many European campaigns, the familiar faces left them bruised and beaten: Lionel Messi of Barcelona. Arjen Robben of Bayern Munich.
      In a desperately poor first half for the visitors, Galeno of Porto should have joined that pantheon of players still giving Arsenal fans nightmares earlier than expected.
      You will not see a miss like the Brazilian’s in the 20th minute for the rest of this season, or any season for that matter. It is hard to think of a worse one in recent European history.
      Gabriel half-cleared a cross with the ball spinning into the air inside the six-yard box. Saliba froze, allowing Galeno to breeze past him and connect with a fierce half volley.
      It smacked Raya’s right post and back into the path of Galeno, the Spanish keeper rooted to his own line, but the rebound was somehow fizzed wide of the opposite post.
      The majority of the stadium believed it had nestled into the bottom corner, rather than smacking the advertising boards. The stadium DJ briefly blasted some celebratory music.
      Arteta gestured to his players to stay calm, even if inside he was livid with his side’s apparent lack of urgency to break Porto down.
      It should have come as no surprise to Arsenal or Arteta that Porto would be defensively efficient, especially at home. In the Primeira Liga, they have not conceded in front of their own fans since December 9.
      Faltering from open play, even Arsenal’s trusted set-piece routines – usually orchestrated and executed to perfection – were falling flat, even if Saliba did come close with a header.
      Porto were gaining confidence up the other end as Evanilson tested Raya from a tight angle just before the break. Arteta welcomed the half time whistle with open arms.
      Arsenal’s efforts to build momentum were being disrupted by their opponents’ desire to win cheap fouls and earn the likes of Kai Havertz and Jakub Kiwior more harsh yellows.
      In the 55th minute, a corner routine finally came off but Rice’s skimmed pick-out of Leandro Trossard at the far post was blazed over. Gabriel headed over a free-kick late on.
      That was as good as it got for Arsenal, failing to score in a match in all competitions for the first time since January 7, and then came Galeno who took charge and fired in from around 30 yards. 
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      The quarters are still in sight, but Arteta knows more than most that Champions League second legs and Arsenal rarely go well together.

      The return leg against Porto is on March 12. More

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      I’m an ex-Premier League star who plays with Lionel Messi – but I’m richer than him at just 23 despite his £515m fortune

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      DESPITE having a fortune worth over £500miliion, Lionel Messi is NOT Inter Miami’s richest player.The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner’s net worth is dwarfed by that of a former Premier League striker.
      Leonardo Campana is richer than team-mate Lionel Messi at just 23-years-oldCredit: Reuters
      The Inter Miami striker’s family are valued at more than $1billionCredit: instagram @leonardocampana
      Leonardo Campana’s family are reportedly valued at more than $1billion, which is close to £800m.
      Prior to making his loan move to Inter Miami permanent in 2023, he spent three years as a Wolves player.
      However, the 23-year-old failed to make a first-team appearance for the club, instead spending time on loan in Portugal and Switzerland.
      Since heading to the MLS, though, Campana has scored 23 goals in 65 appearances for Inter Miami.
      READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
      The Ecuador international is the son of tennis player-turned-politician Pablo Campana.
      His dad represented Ecuador at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta before becoming the country’s Minister of Commerce.
      Nowadays, the 51-year-old is the CEO and founder of Milenium S.A, a real estate development firm in his homeland.
      Campana is also the great-grandson of ex-footballer Gabriel, who won six Ecuadorian league titles in the 1920s.
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      Meanwhile, his grandmother is one of the most prominent businesswomen in Ecuador.
      Isabel Noboa’s business empire spans across agriculture, real estate and tourism according to Latin Trade.
      ‘This is gonna make Messi s*** his pants’, says Will Ferrell during announcement of LAFC’s new kit
      She also studied at Harvard and the University of London.
      The family’s valuation is almost double that of Messi’s £515m fortune.
      The World Cup winner’s career has seen him pen lucrative contracts with Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami.
      He also has multiple endorsement deals, including a reported £16m-a-year contract with blockchain firm Socios, as well as his own clothing line and a life-long deal with Adidas.
      Campana is the son of an Olympian-turned-politician, whilst his grandmother has a business empireCredit: Reuters
      The Ecuador international spent three years at Wolves but failed to make an appearanceCredit: instagram / @wolves More

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      World’s richest footballer is worth 12 times Ronaldo and Messi’s wealth COMBINED – but you won’t have heard of him

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      THE world’s richest footballer has a whopping net worth of almost £16billion – but we bet you’ve never heard of him.Faiq Bolkiah, 25, is 12 times richer than Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi combined but he tragically spent the weekend in hospital after suffering a horror injury on the pitch.
      The world’s richest footballer Faiq Bolkiah has suffered a nasty ankle injury in a gameCredit: instagram
      He even met Queen Elizabeth IICredit: instagram
      Faiq in hospital after injuring his ankle during a football matchCredit: Jam Press

      Faiq is the nephew of the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah – a man who is worth up to £23billion and widely regarded as the second richest royal walking the planet.
      But all his money and luxury lifestyle couldn’t stop the ex-Chelsea wonder kid from getting chopped down by an opposition player over the weekend.
      Playing for Thai League 1’s Ratchaburi FC, Fariq was quickly rushed to hospital after suffering an agonising ankle injury.
      A Police Tero player smashed into him and left him writhing in pain on the floor after he landed awkwardly on his right leg.
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      Although he had some of the finest doctors in Thailand the exciting, young winger will now need surgery and is expected to be out for some time.
      Ratchaburi president Thanawat Nitikarnchana said: “Today is a very sad day as Faiq has suffered serious injuries from yesterday’s match.
      “He will undergo surgery soon. I extend my condolences to Faiq from everyone.
      “This is his first major injury, but we will take care of Faiq to the best of our ability and look forward to the day Faiq returns to play with us again.”
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      Ratchaburi went on to win the match 1-0 and currently sit fifth in the table of Thailand’s top league.
      And to make matters worse for the rich athlete, this was his first game back since he saw red and was sent off last week.
      Meet Faiq Bolkiah who is the richest footballer in world
      Born in Los Angeles and educated at Bradfield College in Berkshire, Faiq joined Ratchaburi from fellow Thai top-flight side Chonburi last summer.
      Having started his football journey at Berkshire non-Leaguers Newbury in 2008, he moved onto Southampton, Chelsea and Leicester, also having trials with Arsenal.
      He played for the Brunei national team between 2016 and 2018 and was the captain.
      He found the back of net once the in six games he played for them.
      His father Jefri Bolkiah was known as the playboy of the Brunei royal family.
      Jefri reportedly lived quite the life of excess, reportedly blowing around £10billion in 15-years as head of the Brunei Investment agency.
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      At one point, he was said to be spending £35m a month on cars, watches, erotic white gold pens and up to a £1m a hit on karaoke parties with a swarm of beautiful women.
      The Prince of Brunei once even spent £17million on hiring Michael Jackson for own his 50th birthday party.
      Faiq used to play over in England where he had trials for massive teams like Chelsea and ArsenalCredit: Getty
      Faiq is the nephew of the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal BolkiahCredit: AFP – Getty
      Bolkiah’s gold limoCredit: Getty – Contributor
      Faiq has an estimated net worth of over £16billionCredit: instagram
      The Sultan of Brunei on his golden throneCredit: Getty – Contributor More

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      in Motorsport

      Top 10 richest F1 drivers in history revealed as Lewis Hamilton dwarfs Max Verstappen… but misses out on top spot

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      FORMULA ONE is well known as a glamour sport where vast riches can be both acquired and shown off.And the top drivers in the sport can amass wealth that rivals any of the highest-earning athletes in the world.
      Max Verstappen has the biggest salary in Formula OneCredit: Getty
      Lewis Hamilton has a huge portfolio that has earned him a staggering amount of wealthCredit: PA
      The likes of Jenson Button remain key figures behind the scenes in F1Credit: Rex
      The 2023 grid – which has remained the same for the upcoming 2024 season – saw drivers earning huge sums topped out at a whopping £45million for reigning champion Max Verstappen.
      But over the course of an F1 career the figures are even more staggering, with the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher reaching mega-wealth status.
      Accounting for the huge salaries some drivers command, plus sponsorship deals and property portfolios, net worths are in the region of hundreds of millions.
      Below we take a look at the top ten F1 drivers in history with the highest net worth, according to figures compiled by Planet F1 and GQ Australia.
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      10. Eddie Irvine – £92.5million
      Eddie Irvine battled it out for an F1 title in the 1990sCredit: Getty – Contributor
      He owns a property empire said to include 40 properties
      He flogged a plush Irish mansion for £2.6m in 2021
      A four-time race winner in F1 who battled it out with the likes of Schumacher and Mika Hakkinen in the late 1990s.
      However, Eddie Irvine never managed to get his hands on an F1 drivers title.
      Instead, much of his wealth comes from investment into an estimated 40 properties worldwide, including an Irish mansion he sold to Matt Damon in 2021.
      According to the Sunday Times Rich List in 2006 this made him the fifth richest person in Northern Ireland.
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      9. Mario Andretti – £100.1million
      Mario Andretti is one of three racers to win races in F1, Indycar, Nascar and the World Sportscar ChampionshipCredit: X @MarioAndretti
      Andretti owns a stunning 18,513 square foot property in Pennsylvania, USACredit: X @MarioAndretti
      An icon of motorsport, Andretti is one of three drivers to win races in F1, Indycar, Nascar and the World Sportscar Championship.
      Some of his wealth includes an 18,513 square feet property in Nazareth, PA, USA, that features four bedroooms, 15 bathrooms and an indoor and outdoor swimming pool.
      He has seen corners on streets and race tracks alike named after him and is now gearing up for a team move into F1.
      So his inclusion in this list should be little surprise.
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      8. Sebastian Vettel – £107.9million
      Sebastian Vettel’s F1 career earned him a fortuneCredit: Splash
      Since retiring Vettel has invested in green projectsCredit: Getty
      Vettel has a stunning car collection including the 2010 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMGCredit: tomhartleyjnr.com
      Four-time F1 world champion Sebastian Vettel is a name synonymous with motorsport despite keeping a fairly low profile away from the track which has included a visit to a top German medical clinic.
      Green-fingered Vettel commanded one of the highest salaries in the sport during his time with Red Bull, Ferrari and Aston Martin.
      Vettel also has a stunning car collection including the 2010 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG worth £175,000.
      Since retiring he has invested in green projects in a bid to tackle climate change.
      7. Jenson Button – £115.6million
      Jenson Button has amassed a huge fortuneCredit: Instagram
      Jenson Button married Brittny Ward in 2022Credit: brittny/Instagram
      Button’s car collection includes a 2015 McLaren P1 GTRCredit: SWNS
      Shock 2009 F1 champion Jenson Button continues to be a familiar face in the sport thanks to his TV appearances and recent role in the Brawn documentary as well as being a senior adviser to Williams F1.
      Button, who finished third on his Daytona 24 hours debut, has a large property portfolio and was reportedly one of F1’s biggest earners even before he landed his one and only title.
      He has also taken a liking to cars and has owned a stunning garage, with which he can chaperone wife Brittany Ward around in.
      These have included a McLaren P1, a Bugatti Veyron and Ferrari 275 GT.
      6. Kimi Raikkonen – £140.6million
      Kimi Raikkonen was one of F1’s best paid drivers during his time on the gridCredit: Instagram @mintturaikkonen
      Raikkonen owns a stunning ‘Bond villian-like lair’ which houses an impressive motor collectionCredit: Instagram @kimimatiasraikkonen
      A one-time F1 title champion like Button, “The Iceman” could command one of the highest salaries in the sport during his peak and famously almost bankrupt Lotus during his time with the team.
      Like some of his former rivals, Raikkonen is a property investor – including a $24m Swiss villa – and he is now helping his son Robin with his own motorsport career.
      The villa in question has been dubbed a “Bond villian-like lair” which houses an impressive collection of motors including a £$360,000 Rolls-Royce Wraith Black Badge and a $3.6million Ferrari Enzo.
      Raikkonen is also said to own three homes in Finland, and have properties in Dubai and Thailand.
      5. Niki Lauda – £154.1million
      Niki Lauda played an integral role in Lewis Hamilton joining MercedesCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Lauda ran airlines after retiring from the sportCredit: Reuters
      The three-time World Champion was the only man to win the title at both Ferrari and Mercedes.
      After retiring from F1, he founded and ran three successful airlines, Lauda Air, Niki and Lauda.
      He also stayed in and around the paddock with his former teams, Jaguar and owned 10 per cent of Mercedes Motorsport.
      Lauda passed away aged 70 in 2019.
      4. Max Verstappen – £165.5million
      Verstappen is dating Kelly PiquetCredit: instagram/@kellypiquet/
      Verstappen lives in Monaco and has invested in his own GT team
      Verstappen’s car collection includes an Acura NSX Type S worth around £122,000Credit: Acura
      At present, Verstappen has commanded the most lucrative F1 contract for the past two seasons when accounting for bonuses.
      Verstappen has invested in his own GT team, is an ambassador for EA Sports and has a host of personal sponsors, all of which helped him earn a place in Forbes’ 2023 list of sports top young earners.
      He also has a great affinity for cars, with his collection worth around £2.3m.
      Verstappen also lives in Monaco, which is not exactly on the cheap end of the property market.
      3. Fernando Alonso – £205million
      Fernando Alonso is F1’s most experienced driverCredit: Splash
      The Spaniard naturally has a Ferrari in his collectionCredit: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cs0iZ8Cor2q/
      Alonso also owns a McLaren P1Credit: INSTAGRAM @fernandoalo_oficial
      F1’s most experienced driver, and also one of its best, it should come as no surprise to see two-time champion Fernando Alonso high on the list.
      As well as commanding huge contracts, Alonso has invested into the next generation with his Alonso Sports Complex in his native Asturias which features a museum and a karting track.
      Like many others in this list the Spaniard owns a number of supercars.
      These include a McLaren P1, Aston Martin DBX luxury SUV and Ferrari 599 GTB Fernando Alonso Edition.
      2. Lewis Hamilton – £224.7million
      Lewis Hamilton has invested in a wide array of projects
      Hamilton often jets around the world during the off seasonCredit: Instagram / @lewishamilton
      Hamilton invested in the Denver Broncos in 2022Credit: https://www.instagram.com/lewishamilton/
      Hamilton was recently labelled a “brand” due to his involvement in so many projects.
      Expected to earn £50million at Mercedes during the 2024 season, Hamilton is a cool earner salary wise.
      Hamilton has investments in property, cars, fashion and initiatives encouraging wider representation in sport and even teams, with Hamilton investing in NFL side Denver Broncos in 2022.
      Luckily a wide range of sponsors including the likes of Tommy Hilfiger, IWC and Bose allow him to fund this far reaching influence which has landed on him on the Sunday Times Rich List.
      1. Michael Schumacher – £462.5million
      Michael Schumacher is top of the F1 driver rich listCredit: AFP
      Schumacher owns a Ferrari Enzo
      An era defining driver for many fans of motorsport, the seven-time F1 champion was named the highest-paid athlete by Forbes in 1999 and 2000 and even predicted to be the first billionaire athlete in 2005.
      In 2017, he was named as the fifth-highest athlete of all time in terms of career earnings, but he has not been seen publicly since his life-changing skiing accident in 2013.
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      The German was well-known for his charitable donations, including a £39.5m donation to UNESCO during his final five years of racing.
      Predictably, Schumacher and his family have a worldwide real estate portfolio, while Schumacher also earned a staggering amount through brand endorsements, including a £8.5m deal to wear a shell hat and show its logo in nearly all public appearances.

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