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    Top ten highest-paid athletes of 2022 released by Forbes with Lionel Messi still top despite struggles at PSG

    LIONEL MESSI is the highest-paid sports star in the world for 2022 – and now earns as much as Cristiano Ronaldo off the pitch.The legendary Argentine has endured a tough first season at Paris Saint-Germain following his shock Barcelona exit.
    Neymar and Lionel Messi both feature in the top four for highest-paid athletes in 2022Credit: AFP

    But he has continued to rake the cash in from his new club and his various sponsors.
    And that sees him return to the top of the Forbes rankings for 2022 after doing so in 2019.
    However, last year’s top dog, Conor McGregor, does not even make the top ten this time around – with the majority of his £148million earnings coming from selling his Proper No. Twelve whiskey brand.
    Other notable absentees this time around include F1 pair Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, Naomi Osaka, Tiger Woods, Tyson Fury and Kylian Mbappe.
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Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-i1acvs:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}BISH BASH DOSH .css-8h3gc3{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,37,38,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-8h3gc3:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}Fury leading McGregor in sport rich list for 2022 with Canelo top fighter
    So who are the world’s top-earning athletes right now?
    10. Giannis Antetokounmpo – Basketball – £66m
    The ‘Greek Freak’, 27, has pretty much an even split of on-court and off-court earnings and is the youngest member of this exclusive club – in fact he is the only one still in his 20s.
    Giannis Antetokounmpo completes the top ten and is the youngest of the groupCredit: Getty Images – Getty
    The Milwaukee Bucks’ two-time MVP boasts the biggest contract in NBA history and has plenty of sponsors including WhatsApp and Google as well as an NFT platform and Disney+ biopic on the way.
    9. Tom Brady – NFL – £69m
    Brady’s short-lived retirement means the iconic quarterback will be back on the pitch for Tampa Bay Buccaneers later this year.
    Tom Brady already earns big before his mega-deal with Fox Sports startsCredit: Getty
    Not that the 44-year-old needs the extra cash, with £43m of his money coming from various ventures including NFTs, production companies and a clothing label – plus he has a £307m deal as a Fox Sports commentator when he does retire.
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    8. Canelo Alvarez – Boxing – £74m
    He may have just lost his second career fight with a shock defeat to Dmitry Bivol, but one look at his bank balance will soon boost the Mexican, 31, and top-paid boxer in the world.
    Canelo Alvarez is the only combat sportsperson in the top ten and has the highest percentage of on-field earningsCredit: Reuters
    A whopping 95 per cent of his earnings came from inside the ring thanks to two PPV fights earning as least £33m each – the Bivol fight was not included in the current list – supplemented by his taco restaurant and Hennessy deal.
    7. Roger Federer – Tennis – £74m
    For a 40-year-old man who won just nine tennis matches since February 2020 – none since last summer – and is currently in rehab from another knee surgery, Federer is doing alright for himself.
    Federer has not won a tennis match since July 2021 but is the No1 for sponsorshipsCredit: Getty
    The Swiss maestro is world sport’s No1 brand ambassador with £73.5m of his £74m coming from sponsors such as Uniqlo, Rolex and Swiss shoe brand On.
    6. Kevin Durant – Basketball – £76m
    The Brooklyn Nets hero, 33, brings in the majority of his cash from commercial deals and a business empire, with £23m alone for wearing Nike trainers.
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    A whole host of business ventures help Kevin Durant earn the big bucksCredit: AP
    Other sources of incoming include Coinbase, Weepmaps, Boardroom, Thirty Five Ventures, an NFT platform and a digital fitness startup.
    5. Steph Curry – Basketball – £76m
    No NBA player earned more this season on the court than Curry – and that £38m figure is only going up after he signed a whopping new contract to see him pocket nearly £50m by 2025-26.
    As one of the most marketable NBA players, Steph Curry has huge incoming on and off the courtCredit: Getty Images – Getty
    Away from Golden State, the 34-year-old has an FTX endorsement which includes an equity stake and NFTs in three metaverses – although he pledged to donate the earnings – as well as a production company Unanimous Media.

    Neymar, 30, is on around £600,000 a week as his basic wage at PSG, delivering just 12 goals in all competitions this term and only a Ligue 1 winners medal to show.
    Neymar is one of the top-paid footballers in the world before considering his dealsCredit: AFP
    But Forbes have him down as earning another £500,000 per week on average from various bonuses and signing-on fees – plus £20m from endorsements such as Puma, Red Bull, Netflix and his recent launch of an electric car in Germany alongside Alica Schmidt.

    Time for the big hitters and no surprise to see Ronaldo’s name right among them with his mammoth Manchester United wages and various extra bonuses.
    Cristiano Ronaldo is forced to settle behind Lionel Messi once againCredit: Getty
    Just shy of half of the 37-year-old’s £94m came from off-field payments including mega bucks from Nike, Herbalife and Clear shampoo while the Portuguese icon rakes it in from the likes of ZujuGP as the most-followed person on Instagram.
    2. LeBron James – Basketball – £99m
    James’ basketball accolades speak for themselves with the LA Lakers great continuing to be paid huge wages in the NBA.
    LeBron James is the top-paid athlete in all of American sportsCredit: Getty
    But two-thirds of his 2022 comes from elsewhere including featuring in Space Jam, his The Shop talk show, selling his stake in a production company and various endorsements including with Crypto.com – together they made James, 37, the tenth athlete to pass the 12-month $100m landmark.
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    Top of the pile is Messi, 34, who bags an eye-watering £1.2m per WEEK simply by being a PSG player once bonus fees are added to his monster wages – although apparently that £61m is £18m less than his annual wage during his last year at Barcelona.
    The £16m deal with Socios, together with being on the payroll of adidas, Budweiser, PepsiCo and Hard Rock International means the Ballon d’Or winner made the same amount off the field (£45m) as Ronaldo for the first time since 2013.
    PSG money pagnet Messi is crowned king once again – just as he was in 2019Credit: Getty More

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    Daley Thompson backing runner Keely Hodgkinson to shine in golden summer of athletics

    DALEY THOMPSON is backing Keely Hodgkinson to become a “complete world beater” ahead of a golden summer of athletics.Leigh athlete Hodgkinson, 20, made headline news last summer when she won an Olympic 800m silver medal at the Tokyo Games.
    Keely Hodgkinson won 800m Olympic silver last year at the Tokyo GamesCredit: AP
    The Leigh athlete could run at three major events this summer – at world, Commonwealth and European levelCredit: Getty
    In a few months’ time, she has the opportunity to win medals at world, Commonwealth and European level – all within the space of five spectacular weeks.
    Hodgkinson has the speed in her legs and the right personality and charisma to become a nationwide hero in the coming years.
    Thompson, the two-time Olympic decathlon champion, knows top talent when he sees one and he said: “The ladies are taking over, which is a great thing, and starting to win things.
    “Keely is tremendous. She has had the most incredible year or 18 months.
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    “Providing she can handle the pressure over the next couple of years, she is going to turn out to be a complete world beater. She will be fabulous.
    “You know what – it does help not being a real shrinking violet. I believe it does help to have a bit of faith in yourself.
    “Keely has got to go in there every day thinking that she has got to prove herself.
    Daley Thompson is a British sporting legend after winning two decathlon Olympic gold medalsCredit: Rex
    Thompson, now 63, works with Laureus and supports their community projectsCredit: PA:Press Association
    Laureus Academy Member & Olympic legend @Daley_thompson is calling on the sporting community to get active & raise funds for Laureus’ Sport for Peace Humanitarian Action Fund Help raise funds to support those impacted by the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine#Sport4Peace #IDSDP— Laureus (@LaureusSport) April 6, 2022

    “Honestly once you get to the top and start thinking you have made it, you are actually on the start of the slippery slope on the way down.
    “She does have to be tough. Because nobody gives away those medals.
    “Everyone wants them really badly. They are all training just as hard as you are – or trying to. Yeah, you do have to be a bit selfish.”
    Today represents 100 days to go until the start of the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, the biggest UK sport event since the Covid pandemic.
    Humorous Thompson jokes that he would have signed up willingly for all three events if he was still competing in the British squad.
    The 63-year-old said: “I’d have enjoyed the challenge of going to those three major championships, which would have been a total of 30 events!
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    “It would have been a lot of fun. And you don’t need to ask me what I think the results would have been!”
    Thompson was speaking at the launch of the award nominees for the 2022 Laureus World Sports Awards.
    Emma Raducanu is the favourite to win the Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year award following her epic US Open triumph last September.
    Brits Sky Brown (skateboarding), Mark Cavendish (cycling) and Tom Daley (diving) will battle out with Simone Biles (gymnastics) for the Laureus Comeback of the Year category.
    For more details please visit www.laureus.com/World-Sports-Awards/2022. More

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    Alistair Brownlee eyeing history by finishing an ironman triathlon under seven hours for first time

    ALISTAIR BROWNLEE is eyeing history – by becoming the quickest Ironman.Inspired by Eliud Kipchoge’s successful 2019 experiment to run a marathon under two hours, triathlon king Brownlee is trying to do the same for the swim-bike-run event.
    Brothers Alistair and Jonny Brownlee have won five Olympic medals between them over three GamesCredit: The Sun
    Alistair has given up Olympic-distance triathlon and is now focusing on the Ironman disciplineCredit: Getty
    On June 5 or 6 at the Dekra Lausitzring race track in Germany, the two-time Olympic champion will attempt to cover a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride and 26.2-mile run in under SEVEN HOURS.
    Boffins will only let Brownlee go when the temperature and humidity are right – plus he will have swimsuits and pacemakers for the Sub-Seven project.
    There remains dispute over the official world record in competition – either it’s set by Norwegian Olympic champion Kristian Blummenfelt (7:21:12) or German Jan Frodeno (7:27:53).
    Brownlee, 33, told SunSport: “This is a massive goal of mine.
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    “I’ve been working really hard towards it on loads of different levels.
    “It’s trying to do the fastest Ironman race distance ever under seven hours on a perfect course.
    “Exactly the same premise as what Kipchoge did in the marathon.
    “It’s on a car-testing track in Germany, 6km long, a big oval, so it’s perfectly fast. A flat course with no corners.
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    “We’ve got a window to pick the best possible time for the conditions and aerodynamics on the bike to make it as fast as possible.
    “Basically it came from a conversation a load of us had sitting round – what would be an amazing challenge, what would be an interesting target to do.
    “I went away, did some modelling around it, literally did some maths on a spreadsheet to work out if it was possible.
    “A lot of things – technology, physiology, nutrition, meteorological conditions, air resistance – are in-play.
    The Brownlees both realise nutrition is vita as they look to prolong their careers
    Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge ran a marathon under two hours in Vienna in October 2019Credit: AFP
    The older Brownlee sibling will travel to Germany in June for the sub-seven project attemptCredit: Supplied
    “It feels like lots of plates are spinning but it has been a really fascinating and interesting project to be involved with.”
    Brownlee, who had an ankle injury as he failed to qualify for the Tokyo Games, is planning to do two ironman world champs this year – one in Utah in May and another in Hawaii in October.
    The Paris 2024 Olympics are off the table and his Olympic-distance career is over despite gold at the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Games.
    The tough Yorkshireman, who is sponsored by American Pistachio Growers, said: “The Ironman is better in terms of managing a slightly older, less resilient body. The training for it seem to be working quite well.
    “I’ve had injuries but right now, I’m really good, touch wood, and hopefully it stays that way.
     “The injuries last year were really tough and really I didn’t start doing any kind of proper running until into September.
    “I feel very lucky and am in a really good place now.
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.nk-headline-heading{color:rgba(71,30,121,1);}.css-1uyse24:before{content:”;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;overflow:hidden;position:absolute;z-index:1;}.css-xpuujo{border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(149,199,208,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-tqcu81{padding:0;border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(149,199,208,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-124tga5{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-5jzxpx{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-bq4915{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,97,108,1);text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-bq4915:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}BREAKING COVER .css-8h3gc3{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,37,38,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-8h3gc3:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}Harry & Meghan seen together in Europe for first time since Megxit
    “I want to race, I want to be competitive, I want to train hard and see what I can do in the longer-distance and different forms of triathlons.
     “They’ve always been on my radar, ever since I was an 8-10 years old. I’ve always known about it. Now is my opportunity to do it.”
    Alistair Brownlee is sponsored by American Pistachio Growers – a convenient protein snack which has been incorporated into his training diet to fuel an active lifestyle and to help refuel and recover before and after a workout. For details visit www.americanpistachios.co.uk More

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    Watch terrifying fireball crash as car is flipped into air before bursting into flames but driver somehow escapes injury

    A NASCAR driver miraculously escaped unhurt after his car flipped through the air and exploded into a fireball. Myatt Snider clambered out of his ruined vehicle relatively unharmed after the terrifying high-speed smash.
    The horrifying moment Snider’s car flipped up into the airCredit: AP
    Parts of the car were sent flying in all directions after the high-speed smashCredit: AP
    Flames bellowed out of Snider’s car as he slid dangerously along the trackCredit: Twitter / @Motorsport
    On the very last lap of the Xfinity Series race at Daytona, Snider’s Chevrolet got caught up in a tangle with Anthony Alfredo and Jade Buford.
    And it was Snider who was sent careering into the air in what seemed like slow motion.
    With NASCAR cars regularly reaching speeds of up to 185mph the fact Snider escaped unharmed is a minor miracle.
    The 27-year-old spun sideways and collided with the trackside wall, which caused the engine to be EJECTED from the car.
    The front and rear sections of the vehicle were also detached from the main body as he crashed back down on to the track in flames.
    Snider’s high-speed meant the car kept travelling in a huge fireball, before finally coming to a halt in a huge mangled pile.
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    Responders rushed to the scene with fire extinguishers, helping Snider clamber out of the window and walk away unscathed.
    Snider was then treated at Daytona’s medical centre, but later released after the horror smash.
    And he told a relieved huddle of reporters: “It was violent, saw sparks kind of going everywhere. You don’t really know what’s going on.
    “You just kind of know you’re going some direction, and it’s not the right one. I was just kind of holding on, kind of hunched over, keeping everything together as much as I could.
    “I can’t profess enough how glad I am that I’m all good.”
    Snider’s car was left in a mangled heapCredit: AP
    Despite being on the last lap of the race, NASCAR immediately issued a caution after the crash which froze the field as it was.
    That saw Austin Hill come out on top of the 120-lap contest at Daytona.
    Elsewhere Floyd Mayweather’s Money Team secured a spot in Sunday’s Daytona 500, a different race to the Xfinity Series.
    Driver Kaz Grala qualified to make sure Mayweather would be represented in the main race on the weekend of the Money Team’s NASCAR debut. More

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    Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke’s amazing £500m ranch is largest in USA and bigger than New York and LA combined

    ARSENAL and Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke is worth an incredible £8.2BILLION and has a property portfolio to match.The American sports tycoon and his Walmart heiress wife purchased the United States’ largest ranch in 2016 and it’s so big you could fit the entire cities of New York and Los Angeles inside its borders.
    The W.T Waggoner Ranch is the largest in the USA
    The estate in Texas stretches over a staggering 535,000 acres
    Kroenke paid £500m for the land in 2016
    New York City AND Los Angeles would both fit inside its borders
    At a whopping 535,000 acres, the W.T Waggoner Ranch in Texas was bought by Kroenke and his wife Ann Walton for a cool £500million.
    The ranch includes thousands of cattle, hundreds of horses and oil wells, and 30,000 acres of farmland.
    The 74-year-old billionaire’s company Kroenke Sports and Entertainment owns Arsenal and cut 55 jobs during the pandemic due to financial issues at Emirates Stadium.
    He also owns Super bowl-bound NFL side LA Rams, NBA team Denver Nuggets, NHL franchise Colorado Avalanche and MLS side Colorado Rapids.
    And he has invested billions of dollars into the construction of the 70,000 seat SoFI Stadium in Inglewood, California, which will host the showpiece event on Sunday night.
    When he secured the ranch in 2016, Kroenke said: “This is an incredible opportunity and an even greater responsibility.
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    Kroenke said he was honoured to protect the American landmark when he bought the ranch in 2016. “We are honoured to assume ownership of the Waggoner – a true Texas and American landmark – and are deeply committed to continuing the proud legacy of W.T. “Tom” Waggoner, his family and his descendants.
    “Our gratitude to them and to the many parties involved in this process is immense. We will continue to preserve and protect this uniquely American treasure.”
    Kroenke is a fairly unpopular figure at Arsenal and in 2019 Gunners fans issued a joint statement calling on him to reinvigorate the club.
    The statement said supporters had “never felt more marginalised”. The club then sacked Unai Emery and hired Mikel Arteta.
    Kroenke is married to Ann, whose father Bud was an early partner in Walmart, which was founded by his brother Sam.
    In 2012, Kroenke bought another historic property, the 124,000-acre Broken O Ranch in Montana.
    He also owns ranches in Wyoming, Arizona and British Columbia.
    New York City could fit inside the ranch’s border
    And Los Angeles could still fit alongside NYC within the boundaries
    The ranch comes with 30,000 acres of farmland
    Agricultural machinery is seen across the gigantic swathes of land
    Oil wells are also dotted across the property in Northern Texas
    Picturesque stone outhouses also feature on the land
    Kroenke’s estate stretches as far as the eye can see More

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    ‘I love fast cars’ – Boxing legend Floyd Mayweather, 44, moving into motorsport by launching own NASCAR racing team

    BOXING legend Floyd Mayweather is moving into motorsport by launching his own NASCAR racing team. The Money Team Racing is set for the Daytona 500 in Florida later this month.
    Mayweather is launching his own NASCAR racing team
    The unbeaten boxer has called his outfit The Money Team racingCredit: Getty
    Unbeaten fighter Mayweather, 44, said: “I love fast cars and I love to compete.
    “I know NASCAR will not be easy, but anything easy isn’t worth doing to me.”
    The former five-division world champ took to Twitter to announce his new venture.
    He posted a video of the dazzling multi-coloured car being unveiled, captioning the post: “TMT AT THE DAYTONA 500 2022!!!!”
    Mayweather launching a NASCAR team has been in the pipeline for some years, but had previously been delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
    But now driver Kaz Grala is set to get behind wheel of a yellow, red, purple and blue Chevrolet sporting the No50 for The Money Team, the same number of wins on Mayweather’s flawless 50-0 professional record.
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    But Mayweather is right about his new venture not being easy, as his team are not actually guaranteed a spot in the Daytona 500.
    The team doesn’t have the required charter needed to secure automatic qualification for the race.
    Grala will have to earn his spot in the field with 40 teams set to take to the track on race day, and 42 teams hoping to be there.
    And after the Daytona 500 the team plans on taking part on at least four more races, but with the hope of taking to the track up to 15 times
    William Auchmoody will take on the role of General Manager for Mayweather’s team after personally telling the boxer to get into the sport.
    Auchmoody said: “He [Mayweather] loves cars. I met him a couple of years ago and had the conversation, ‘Man, you should check NASCAR out’.
    “He started watching it a little bit and next thing you know, I’m in Las Vegas and were hashing out the details of what it would look like to get involved in NASCAR.”
    Driver Kaz Grala will be the man behind the wheel for The Money TeamCredit: AP
    Meanwhile Mayweather’s driver Grala said: “I know Floyd is here to win, and I absolutely feel that everyone involved in this program is capable of making that happen.
    “We know we will need some time to grow together as a new organisation, but I couldn’t be more thrilled to be a part of building this team from the ground up.”
    Mayweather joins Basketball great Michael Jordan and music artist Pitbull as the latest celebrity to launch their own NASCAR team.
    Pitbull recently agreed a marketing partnership deal with UFC President Dana White for his own team, Pitbull’s Trackhouse Racing.
    Meanwhile Mayweather’s sponsorship comes via sunglasses company Pit Viper. More

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    Premier League referee Mike Dean looks unimpressed as he is spotted watching snooker at Scottish Open on day off

    PREMIER League referee Mike Dean stayed calm as the reds flew about.But for once there was no controversy for the top whistler as he was watching the Scottish Open snooker on a day off from his main job.
    Leading top-flight football referee Mike Dean showed little emotion as he looked on at the Scottish Open snooker in Wales
    Mike Dean has been a Prem ref for 21 years but loves other sports tooCredit: Rex
    Multi-sport fan Dean also throws in a bit of summer caddying for pro golfers.
    But this time he dressed down in a hoodie and white trainers to see Scotland’s John Higgins beat Thailand ace Noppon Saengkham 4-1.
    Eurosport cameras caught Dean looking on impassively – or was it imperiously –  at the Venue Cymru in Llandudno, Wales.
    And it might have been the relaxing ‘break’ he needed after another contentious week in the Prem spotlight.
    Dean faced criticism on social media from Arsenal fans after reffing Everton’s last-gasp 2-1 win on Monday night.
    Despite a VAR review, Toffees’ defender Ben Godfrey escaped even a yellow card for catching grounded Gunners’ star Takehiro Tomiyasu in the face with his boot.
    And Anthony Gordon was also unpunished for flooring Arsenal left-back Nuno Tavares with a studs-in challenge that VAR did not even look at.
    @font-face{font-family:’The Sun’;src:url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Regular.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Regular.woff’) format(‘woff’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Regular.ttf’) format(‘truetype’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Regular.svg#’) format(‘svg’);font-style:normal;font-weight:400;font-display:swap;}@font-face{font-family:’The Sun’;src:url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Medium.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Medium.woff’) format(‘woff’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Medium.ttf’) format(‘truetype’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Medium.svg#’) format(‘svg’);font-style:normal;font-weight:500;font-display:swap;}@font-face{font-family:’The Sun’;src:url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.woff’) format(‘woff’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.ttf’) format(‘truetype’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.svg#’) format(‘svg’);font-style:normal;font-weight:400;font-stretch:semi-condensed;font-display:swap;}@font-face{font-family:’The Sun’;src:url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Bold.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Bold.woff’) format(‘woff’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Bold.ttf’) format(‘truetype’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Bold.svg#’) format(‘svg’);font-style:normal;font-weight:700;font-stretch:normal;font-display:swap;}@font-face{font-family:’The Sun’;src:url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.woff’) format(‘woff’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.ttf’) format(‘truetype’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.svg#’) format(‘svg’);font-style:normal;font-weight:700;font-stretch:condensed;font-display:swap;}.css-qu9fel{border-top:1px solid #dcdddd;}.css-b9nmbi{margin-bottom:16px;border-top:1px solid #dcdddd;}.css-1qsre5o{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:flex-start;-webkit-box-align:flex-start;-ms-flex-align:flex-start;align-items:flex-start;-webkit-align-content:flex-start;-ms-flex-line-pack:flex-start;align-content:flex-start;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;-webkit-box-pack:justify;-webkit-justify-content:space-between;justify-content:space-between;}.css-q8gelu{margin-bottom:24px;}.css-7ysxcx{padding:0;text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-7ysxcx:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-jkwlot{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;-webkit-box-pack:justify;-webkit-justify-content:space-between;justify-content:space-between;padding:0;text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-jkwlot:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-zkaekv{font-family:The Sun;font-size:24px;line-height:1.1666666666666667;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:semi-condensed;padding:1px 0px;}.css-zkaekv::before{content:”;display:block;height:0;width:0;margin-bottom:calc(-0.24520833333333342em + -1px);}.css-zkaekv::after{content:”;display:block;height:0;width:0;margin-top:-0.2333333333333334em;}.css-1lobn43{display:inline;font:inherit;margin:0;color:rgba(0,0,0,1);}.css-1lobn43 svg{fill:rgba(0,0,0,1);}Most read in Football.css-1gojmfd{margin-bottom:16px;}.css-zdjvqv{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:flex-start;-webkit-box-align:flex-start;-ms-flex-align:flex-start;align-items:flex-start;-webkit-align-content:flex-start;-ms-flex-line-pack:flex-start;align-content:flex-start;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;-webkit-box-pack:space-around;-ms-flex-pack:space-around;-webkit-justify-content:space-around;justify-content:space-around;margin-top:calc(-12px/2);margin-bottom:calc(-12px/2);}.css-zdjvqv:before,.css-zdjvqv:after{content:”;display:block;}.css-1meuhfk{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;margin-top:calc(12px/2);margin-bottom:calc(12px/2);}
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    One supporter posted: “Awful, awful game from everyone, us, Everton, Mike dean, var… but how the sweet mother of Mary Godfrey stayed on the pitch & this Gordon tackle on Tavares weren’t looked at!?!?”
    In contrast, Dean watched on peacefully and out of the limelight as four-time world champ Higgins, 46, overcame 29-year-old outsider Saengkham in a disappointing cue contest.
    Golf, however, is usually considered the veteran official’s second sport.
    Five-handicapper Dean, 53, caddied for Aussie Whitney Hillier on the Ladies European Tour in June.
    And he famously had the same role when she got a hole in one in 2019.
    But now Dean must hope he doesn’t get himself into any more holes this season when he returns to the middle in the Prem.
    Mike Dean caddied for Oz golfer Whitney Hillier at the Scandinavian Mixed Event More

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    Cristiano Ronaldo vs Michael Jordan net worth, properties & endorsements as Man Utd star likened to Chicago Bulls icon

    CRISTIANO RONALDO was compared to basketball great Michael Jordan by his manager last night.Ole Gunnar Solskjaer heaped praise on the Manchester United striker after his late equaliser rescued them at Atalanta.

    Cristiano Ronaldo was compared to NBA icon Michael Jordan by his managerCredit: Getty
    Michael Jordan is one of the greatest sportsmen of all timeCredit: AFP
    And the 36-year-old striker was hailed by his boss for another slam dunk in injury time.
    Solskjaer declared: “You play for Manchester United or the Chicago Bulls because you can come up with these moments.
    “I’m sure the Chicago Bulls didn’t mind having Michael Jordan. And that’s what Cristiano is like for us.”
    That got us thinking here at SunSport, how do the two match up against each other?
    Basketball legend Jordan, 58, retired in 2003 after a stellar 19-year career which made him one of the greatest US sportsmen ever.
    He won six NBA titles with the Chicago Bulls and was five times named the Most Valuable Player in the league.
    And the 14-time All-Star also led USA to Olympic gold at Los Angeles 1984 and Barcelona 1992.
    He is widely credited with making the NBA a commercial success and changing the image of the sport.
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    Jordan is now an owner of his home town Charlotte Hornets NBA team.
    According to Forbes, he has banked an incredible £1.32billion from sponsorships with the likes of Nike, Hanes and Gatorade.
    His link-up with Nike, in particular the Air Jordan trainer that bears his name, he pocketed him around £1billion since 1984.
    The former Chicago Bulls star’s profile has been boosted again thanks to Netflix’s 10-episode show The Last Dance.
    All that means his income last year of £95m was still higher than Ronaldo.
    Michael Jordan still rakes in huge sums despite retiring in 2003Credit: Getty
    Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodriguez are one of sport’s power couplesCredit: Instagram @cristiano
    The Portuguese superstar, meanwhile, has an estimated net worth of £367m after banking £91m in earnings last year.
    One area he does have an edge over Jordan is in social media following with a massive 362 million fans compared to 22 million.
    Ronaldo has won seven domestic league titles with Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus.
    He’s captured five Champions League titles – one at Old Trafford and four in the Spanish capital – and is a five-time Ballon d’Or winner.
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    Both superstars aren’t short of a property or two on their portfolio, either.
    He currently lives in a £3million Cheshire mansion having been at similar luxury properties in Madrid and Turin.
    In 2019, Ronaldo reportedly spent £1.4million on a holiday home in the Costa del Sol.
    The area the lavish house sits in is called ‘The Superstars Cul-De-Sac’ because of the number of famous residents who live there.
    UFC star Conor McGregor is also believed to own a property nearby.
    But back on his home island of Madeira, his £7m seven-storey mansion in Funchal has two swimming pools, a football pitch and incredible sea views.
    Jordan, meanwhile, can’t seem to shift his property.
    He has been trying to sell his £12m mansion in Chicago for eight years now but still can’t find a buyer.
    He also has a £6m mansion in Utah on the market.
    They’ll both always have a roof over their head, it’s fair to say.
    Cristiano Ronaldo is defended by Man Utd legend Rio Ferdinand over work rate criticism More