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      in Motorsport

      MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi retires to glam lifestyle with former grid-girl Wag, 14-years his junior, and a £4m yacht

      by

      VALENTINO ROSSI has hung up his helmet on an illustrious 25-year MotoGP career.The Italian motorcycle rider, 42, said goodbye in an emotional farewell at Sunday’s Valencia Grand Prix.
      Valentino Rossi said goodbye to MotoGP in an emotional farewell at the Valencia Grand PrixCredit: Getty
      In an illustrious 25-year MotoGP career Rossi won nine world championshipsCredit: Rex
      His retirement drew well wishes from tennis legend Roger Federer, Hollywood movie star Tom Cruise, as well as F1 heroes Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen.
      Rossi won nine world championships in the motorsport, amassing a wealth of around £150million.
      Now, he can enjoy a well-earned rest with Wag Francesca Sofia Novello, 14-years his junior.
      The Doctor can also take his luxury yacht, worth £4million, out for a spin whenever he likes.
      GLAM WAG
      Valentino met glam partner Francesca in 2018.
      She is a former lingerie model, who was the face of various fashion campaigns in Milan.
      But, the pair prefer to keep their romance private and rarely share anything about the relationship.
      Even on Francesca’s Instagram, which has almost half a million followers, there’s very few glimpses into their lifestyle.
      However, she was a regular in the paddock – playing the role of supportive Wag during the racing legend’s final seasons on the circuit.
      Gorgeous Italian model Francesca Sofia Novello is Rossi’s girlfriend
      Francesca is 14-years Rossi’s junior
      Francesca shows off her curves in lingerie
      A former MotoGP grid girl, Francesca has half a million followers on Instagram
      The gorgeous brunette once worked as a MotoGP grid girl, but revealed a horror ordeal when she was groped.
      Sofia told Vanity Fair: “In reality it is a job like many others, a stage in my career of which I am proud.
      “At 19 it’s not easy to work with people who look at your butt when you pass by, and touch your butt when you take a picture.
      “Motorsport is a male environment. You have to wake up, you can’t be a smiling goose.
      “I’m for girl power. But it’s part of the game, it does happen.
      “You have to learn to be respected. If you let it go and show yourself to be ‘beautiful and stupid’, you’re done.”
      YACHT
      Rossi is believed to have property in London, Ibiza and his home town of Tavullia.
      But it’s his most recent purchase that is his most impressive.
      He has always been a connoisseur when it comes to yachts, so at the turn of the year it was no surprise to see him splash £4million on a brand new toy.
      The 89-foot long vessel is a Sanlorenzo X88 has a maximum speed of 23 knots and can make long journey thanks to a 9,300-litre fuel tank.
      Better still, it’s big enough to sleep up to eight people.
      Previously, Rossi has owned a Mochi Craft, which he sold after 15 years.
      He also once bought a Pershing 56 luxury yacht for £1.4million called Titilla.
      Loving a sequel, his latest purchase has been labelled Titilla II.
      Rossi splashed £4million on a yacht earlier this year
      The 89-foot long vessel is a Sanlorenzo X88 and has a maximum speed of 23 knots
      EXPECTANT FATHER
      Over the years, Rossi has dated a string of beautiful women, including former beauty pageant winner Linda Morselli for nine years.
      But fatherhood seemed far away for the eternal bachelor, who didn’t appear to want any offspring of his own.
      That is until most recently, when he revealed he was about to become a dad for the first time.
      In a hilarious social media post back in August, Rossi dressed up as a doctor while holding a stethoscope pressed up against the stomach of girlfriend Francesca.
      He captioned the snap: “After a careful visit we can tell you that Franci is pregnant! We are expecting for a girl.”
      However, don’t expect wedding bells to ring any time soon.
      Francesca told GPOne.com back in February: “For me it is not essential.
      “If it happens, all well and good, but we love each other all the same.
      “I always say that you don’t need to have a ring on your finger to have faith in your heart.”
      Back in August, Rossi – nicknamed The Doctor – revealed Francesca was expecting his baby
      Francesca and Rossi are expecting a baby girl
      FAMILY AFFAIR
      While Rossi may have retired from motorsport, there’s a family member following in his footsteps.
      Maternal half-brother Luca Marini, 24, was the runner-up in the 2020 Moto2 World Championship.
      This year, he joined the MotoGP class with the Esponsorama Avintia and raced alongside Rossi.
      And in October, he secured his first-ever MotoGP front row in qualifying for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.

      At the time, Valentino revealed: “This is very important for him, for his future, for his career because next year we will do the team together and I think he will have a good bike and a good team behind him.
      “So, the second year he needs all the support to try to arrive at the good results. I think that he has the speed, he has the talent, he can do some good things.”
      However, he will have some way to go to escape the shadow of MotoGP’s greatest.
      Luca Marini is following in the footsteps of his half-brother Valentino Rossi
      MotoGP icon Valentino Rossi will retire at end of the season More

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      in Boxing

      My mate Tyson Fury is a real champ for taking up mental health fight, says Frank Bruno

      by

      FRANK Bruno today crowns Tyson Fury as the most inspirational sports star on the planet.He tells how the Gypsy King is now following in his own legendary footsteps — both in and out of the ring.
      My mate Tyson Fury is a real champ for taking up mental health fight, says Frank BrunoCredit: Richard Pelham – The Sun
      In an exclusive interview to mark turning 60, Frank says Tyson has taken on the mantle of being Britain’s best heavyweight boxer, but deserves even more credit for his work championing mental health awareness in troubled youngsters.
      And Frank says his friendship with Tyson is even helping him to win his own battle with mental health problems after years of trying to overcome his demons.
      Frank — who celebrates his landmark birthday today — told The Sun: “I’ve seen a lot over my 60 years but witnessing the way Tyson has turned his life around may well top the lot.
      “Nobody has done more in the past few years to raise awareness of mental health problems than Tyson. He’s the most inspirational sports star on the planet in my book.
      “We’ve both had difficult days but it has made us great friends and I am now seeing first-hand how Tyson is truly on a mission, inside and outside of the ring, to help others.
      “Tyson has told me he even wants to try and find a cure for mental health problems one day so others don’t go through what we have. And I’d back him to do it. I’d trust Tyson more than most of the politicians around these days.”

      With a steely look, Frank added: “I am determined to carry on fighting to smash down stigma until the day I die. But it’s reassuring to know Tyson will be there carrying the baton for many years after that.”
      It is typical heart-on-his-sleeve, no-nonsense stuff from Frank, who is still adored by the nation, 25 years after he retired from boxing.
      In 1995, the year before he quit the ring, he defeated Oliver McCall at Wembley to win the WBC Heavyweight Championship, which is still ranked among British sport’s greatest moments.
      As well as a glittering career which saw him win 40 out of 45 fights, he has also become a national treasure for his career on stage and screen.
      A poll in 1996, the year he retired, ranked him the second most popular Briton, behind Princess Diana. But five years after retiring, Frank was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and his life unravelled.
      The illness has since seen him sectioned — detained as a psychiatric hospital inpatient — four times, most recently last summer.
      LIFE UNRAVELLED
      Now he is planning to open a string of mental health centres to help those who have gone through similar struggles.
      Frank says: “The last 12 months have been probably the hardest in my life. Last summer I couldn’t have put my hand on my heart and said I’d have been out of hospital to celebrate my birthday.
      “I thought I had things under control but Covid and lockdown just pulled the rug from under my feet. I struggled to cope with being locked down and losing friends from Covid.
      “I had to reset and get better. And I did. But if getting my freedom back and turning 60 has shown me anything it is that there is still so much to be fighting for.
      “I’ve got a lot I still want to do. But it is not about belts or titles now. It is about supporting others.”
      It is that determination which has led Tyson, who also suffers from bipolar, to bond with Frank in a unique way. The pair regularly talk privately about their illness and discuss coping strategies.
      Nobody has done more in the past few years to raise awareness of mental health problems than TysonFrank Bruno
      They also both run their own charity foundations. Before Tyson flew out to face Deontay Wilder in Las Vegas last month, Frank spent a day with the 33-year-old at a new centre that Tyson is opening in Morecambe, Lancs.
      And when he got back, Tyson was one of the first people on the phone to wish his buddy well at turning 60. Frank said: “I got a video message from him.
      “I think Tyson’s been relaxing and enjoying himself since he got back from the Wilder fight. But good luck to him, he deserves a break. But Tyson won’t be sitting still for long. He’s not cut that way.”
      Frank feels the same about Britain’s former Olympic and world champ Anthony Joshua, who has barely been seen since his brutal defeat by Ukrainian powerhouse Oleksandr Usyk in September.
      AJ’s defeat means the planned superfight with Tyson that fans were looking forward to now hangs in the balance.
      But Frank, who won his own world title at the fourth attempt, is backing 32-year-old AJ to recover and thinks he will eventually fight pal Tyson.
      KANGAROO BALLS
      He said: “This isn’t the end of the AJ story. Sometimes in life you have to lose to win. I know that better than most.
      “Anthony now needs to keep a level head, work hard and come back. I think he’s still got the fire in his belly and he’ll want to prove a few people wrong by coming back stronger. If I can help in any way I’d love to. He just needs to call me.
      “AJ will also want to fight Tyson and prove he’s the best fighter in the world — but that part won’t be easy!” Despite his age, Frank, who still trains daily, is regularly offered the chance to return to the ring. 
      In the past year alone, he has been offered potentially lucrative deals to take part in exhibition bouts against Evander Holyfield and Riddick Bowe.
      But Frank, who suffered an eye injury in his final fight against Mike Tyson in 1996, is not tempted.
      He said: “One more punch to the eye could blind me, so I won’t be going there. I want to see my grandchildren grow up. I’m still fit and I will always miss the buzz of boxing, but I’ve had my time.”
      I wouldn’t change a single day of the last 60 years. Even the difficult ones happened for a reason.Frank Bruno
      However, the prospect of doing battle on the dance floor is a different matter. Frank said: “I think I’d be OK on Strictly. I’ve loved music from the day I was born and when I’m not in the gym I’ll be on the decks and love a bit of DJing.
      “Apparently I’m not a bad mover so I think I’d enjoy the show — plus, they wouldn’t have to spend much on a spray tan.”
      He added: “I’d opt for that over I’m A Celeb. I hate snakes and don’t fancy eating kangaroo balls. I’d rather have a nice steak and some garlic.”
      Frank’s friendship with legendary boxing commentator Harry Carpenter remains one of the joys of his life. It led to his infamous “Know what I mean, ’Arry?” catchphrase, which people still shout at him every day, Frank says.
      It is 11 years since Harry died, but earlier this year Frank was moved close to tears when he discovered a previously unseen interview that he had given to the BBC icon.
      It forms part of Frank’s new life story, 60 Years A Fighter. He says: “I still think about Harry a lot. He was a gentleman, a diamond who helped me inside and outside the ring more than he could ever know. He played a massive part in my life.”
      Last Friday Frank marked his milestone birthday with a celebratory ball, raising money for his charity, The Frank Bruno Foundation.
      ‘DUST YOURSELF DOWN AND GO AGAIN’
      Among those to send tributes were Piers Morgan, Wayne Rooney and Stephen Fry. And his old fighting foe Mike Tyson even sent a happy birthday message via video.
      Despite being rivals in the ring, Frank says the pair are now more like brothers. He added: “Mike’s misunderstood. We met up last year and it was great to just talk about old times.
      “He’s mellowed a hell of a lot — that might be because he runs a cannabis farm in America! He may have been the baddest man on the planet for a long time but he’s just a grandad like me now.”
      And for Frank, who is reportedly dating Scottish hairdresser Nina Coletta, mental health campaigning, family and staying fit and healthy are the priorities now.
      He said: “I wouldn’t change a single day of the last 60 years. Even the difficult ones happened for a reason. They make you stronger. You have to dust yourself down and go again.
      “I’ve been very lucky. I’ve met kings and queens but I’m just a normal geezer and no better than anyone else — know what I mean?”

      SMASHING STIGMA AROUND MENTAL HEALTH
      AFTER a glittering ring career Frank is now focused on a new fight — smashing the stigma around mental health.
      His charity The Frank Bruno Foundation has just opened its first centre in Northampton which has already helped more than 1,000 people.
      Pal Tyson Fury has agreed to be an ambassador for the charity and Frank, who wants to open several more centres next year, is even eyeing a meeting at No10.
      He says: “I’d love to sit down with Boris Johnson and tell him where we need to improve things.
      “Lockdown has created a new crisis in mental health and the help isn’t there for many who need it. I want to change all that — and so does Tyson.”

      Frank Bruno has crowned Tyson Fury as the most inspirational sports star on the planetCredit: Rex
      Frank as the WBC champion pictured in 1995Credit: Getty Images – Getty
      Frank meets boxing great Muhammed Ali in 1984Credit: (c) 1984 Rex Features. No use without permission.
      Tyson Fury pictured in his third bout with Deontay WilderCredit: AP
      Bruno cuts a special Frank Bruno Foundation cake to celebrate his 60th birthdayCredit: Andrew Styczynski
      Tyson Fury jogs along drizzly Morecambe beach with Joseph Parker, dad John and bro Tommy ahead of his Jake Paul showdown
      We pay for your stories!Do you have a story for The Sun news desk? More

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      in Motorsport

      MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi retires to glam lifestyle with former grid-girl Wag, 14-years his junior, and £4m yacht

      by

      VALENTINO ROSSI has hung up his helmet on an illustrious 25-year MotoGP career.The Italian motorcycle rider, 42, said goodbye in an emotional farewell at Sunday’s Valencia Grand Prix.
      Valentino Rossi said goodbye to MotoGP in an emotional farewell at the Valencia Grand PrixCredit: Getty
      In an illustrious 25-year MotoGP career Rossi won nine world championshipsCredit: Rex
      His retirement drew well wishes from tennis legend Roger Federer, Hollywood movie star Tom Cruise, as well as F1 heroes Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen.
      Rossi won nine world championships in the motorsport, amassing a wealth of around £150million.
      Now, he can enjoy a well-earned rest with Wag Francesca Sofia Novello, 14-years his junior.
      The Doctor can also take his luxury yacht, worth £4million, out for a spin whenever he likes.
      GLAM WAG
      Valentino met glam partner Francesca in 2018.
      She is a former lingerie model, who was the face of various fashion campaigns in Milan.
      But, the pair prefer to keep their romance private and rarely share anything about the relationship.
      Even on Francesca’s Instagram, which has almost half a million followers, there’s very few glimpses into their lifestyle.
      However, she was a regular in the paddock – playing the role of supportive Wag during the racing legend’s final seasons on the circuit.
      Gorgeous Italian model Francesca Sofia Novello is Rossi’s girlfriend
      Francesca is 14-years Rossi’s junior
      Francesca shows off her curves in lingerie
      A former MotoGP grid girl, Francesca has half a million followers on Instagram
      The gorgeous brunette once worked as a MotoGP grid girl, but revealed a horror ordeal when she was groped.
      Sofia told Vanity Fair: “In reality it is a job like many others, a stage in my career of which I am proud.
      “At 19 it’s not easy to work with people who look at your butt when you pass by, and touch your butt when you take a picture.
      “Motorsport is a male environment. You have to wake up, you can’t be a smiling goose.
      “I’m for girl power. But it’s part of the game, it does happen.
      “You have to learn to be respected. If you let it go and show yourself to be ‘beautiful and stupid’, you’re done.”
      YACHT
      Rossi is believed to have property in London, Ibiza and his home town of Tavullia.
      But it’s his most recent purchase that is his most impressive.
      He has always been a connoisseur when it comes to yachts, so at the turn of the year it was no surprise to see him splash £4million on a brand new toy.
      The 89-foot long vessel is a Sanlorenzo X88 has a maximum speed of 23 knots and can make long journey thanks to a 9,300-litre fuel tank.
      Better still, it’s big enough to sleep up to eight people.
      Previously, Rossi has owned a Mochi Craft, which he sold after 15 years.
      He also once bought a Pershing 56 luxury yacht for £1.4million called Titilla.
      Loving a sequel, his latest purchase has been labelled Titilla II.
      Rossi splashed £4million on a yacht earlier this year
      The 89-foot long vessel is a Sanlorenzo X88 and has a maximum speed of 23 knots
      EXPECTANT FATHER
      Over the years, Rossi has dated a string of beautiful women, including former beauty pageant winner Linda Morselli for nine years.
      But fatherhood seemed far away for the eternal bachelor, who didn’t appear to want any offspring of his own.
      That is until most recently, when he revealed he was about to become a dad for the first time.
      In a hilarious social media post back in August, Rossi dressed up as a doctor while holding a stethoscope pressed up against the stomach of girlfriend Francesca.
      He captioned the snap: “After a careful visit we can tell you that Franci is pregnant! We are expecting for a girl.”
      However, don’t expect wedding bells to ring any time soon.
      Francesca told GPOne.com back in February: “For me it is not essential.
      “If it happens, all well and good, but we love each other all the same.
      “I always say that you don’t need to have a ring on your finger to have faith in your heart.”
      Back in August, Rossi – nicknamed The Doctor – revealed Francesca was expecting his baby
      Francesca and Rossi are expecting a baby girl
      FAMILY AFFAIR
      While Rossi may have retired from motorsport, there’s a family member following in his footsteps.
      Maternal half-brother Luca Marini, 24, was the runner-up in the 2020 Moto2 World Championship.
      This year, he joined the MotoGP class with the Esponsorama Avintia and raced alongside Rossi.
      And in October, he secured his first-ever MotoGP front row in qualifying for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.

      At the time, Valentino revealed: “This is very important for him, for his future, for his career because next year we will do the team together and I think he will have a good bike and a good team behind him.
      “So, the second year he needs all the support to try to arrive at the good results. I think that he has the speed, he has the talent, he can do some good things.”
      However, he will have some way to go to escape the shadow of MotoGP’s greatest.
      Luca Marini is following in the footsteps of his half-brother Valentino Rossi
      MotoGP icon Valentino Rossi will retire at end of the season More

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      in Soccer

      Brazil out to avenge Copa America defeat to Argentina in World Cup qualifier, as South America’s giants go head-to-head

      by

      ARGENTINA’S World Cup qualifier at home to Brazil on Tuesday night is unlikely to descend into September’s farce in Sao Paulo – when the game was interrupted by Brazilian health officials seeking to expel Argentina’s Premier League players.This one will go the full ninety minutes – and looks like a rare treat.
      Messi and Neymar will lock horns as Argentina and Brazil face each other in a World Cup qualifierCredit: Alamy
      Brazil have already qualified for Qatar, and Argentina have all but mathematically booked their place.
      There is no pressure, then, of a desperate search for points. Instead, there is the opportunity to prepare for the World Cup by taking on a top quality rival – both teams are unbeaten in the marathon campaign.
      And there is also the question of bragging rights between two of the world’s great football nations, the countries that can claim to have produced the best ever players in the history of the global game.
      This is what makes Argentina vs Brazil so special. There is no background of war between them. It is pure footballing rivalry.
      Not including the aborted game in Sao Paulo, this will be the ninth World Cup qualifier between them. It is a tradition that only began in the current century, with the 2002 campaign.
      And while Argentina won the recent Copa America on Brazilian soil, beating the hosts in the final, when it comes to World Cup qualification, there is no doubt that Brazil are on top.

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      They have won four games to Argentina’s two, with two matches drawn, scoring 16 goals and conceding eight.
      Three of the goals they scored came from one of the finest individual displays I have ever seen.
      It was mid 2004, and the teams were meeting in the Germany 2006 qualifiers. The great, original Ronaldo had worked out the importance of the occasion.
      This was to be the biggest match he ever played for his country on home soil – and it took place in what, for him, was a second home. The venue was the Mineirao stadium in Belo Horizonte, the venue where a decade earlier he first made his name as a skinny kid with Cruzeiro.
      By 2004, of course, he was no longer a skinny kid. He had blown up into perhaps the best match of pace and power running with the ball that the game has ever seen, and he was inspired by the occasion.
      TIME FOR ARGENTINA?
      Marcelo Bielsa’s Argentina played most of the football, weaving pretty patterns all over the field. But they simply could not cope with Ronaldo. Three times he burst through the defence. Three times he was fouled. Three times he picked himself up to score from the penalty spot.
      A year later Ronaldo was out of action and not part of the squad that travelled down to Buenos Aires for the return match. By this time Bielsa had resigned, and his replacement Jose Pekerman was building a team round the subtle talents of playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme.
      Brazil picked an ultra-attacking side, gave Riquelme too much room and found themselves 3-0 down at half time. They roared back after the break.
      Roberto Carlos scored a screamer from a free kick, Adriano hit the post, but 3-1 was the final score at the end of another classic from the great South American rivals.
      It is the last time that Argentina beat Brazil in World Cup qualification. They will hope to put that right on Tuesday. We neutrals should just be hoping for a game worthy of the tradition.
      Brazil legend Ronaldo scored a hat-trick of penalties against Argentina in a 2004 qualifierCredit: AP:Associated Press
      Hernan Crespo was one of the scorers last time Argentina beat Brazil in a World Cup qualifierCredit: AFP More

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      in Soccer

      Panini stickers over 60 years, from humble origins and swaps at school to a Maradona card that sold for £400,000

      by

      PANINI football stickers were so big in the 80s that even the tooth fairy got involved.This reporter can recall vividly the thrill of lifting up the pillow to find that he had been left two yellow Football 81 packets instead of the customary 10p piece.
      Football legends Bobby Moore, George Best, Pele and Diego Maradona as Panini stickers
      Giuseppe Panini (second from the right) founded Panini with his brother Benito in 1961[
      Countless memories like this – remember the smell of them – come flooding back as you look through a new book celebrating 60 years of Panini’s relationship with football.
      What began as two brothers from Modena, Italy, selling cards became a multinational, multi-million-pound phenomenon.
      And it still is, with The Sun offering free World Cup 2022 stickers to all readers this weekend.
      From the launch of the first UK-specific album in 1978 up until 1993, collecting Panini stickers was an essential part of being a football fan.
      Greg Lansdowne, author of Panini Football Stickers: The Official Celebration, said: “There were a few other staples – magazines such as Shoot, Match Weekly and Roy of the Rovers, plus football programmes.
      “But Panini stickers had the most community spirit. Everything else divided but they brought football supporters together.
      Managers who featured include Pep Guardiola, Antonio Conte, Arsene Wenger and Carlo Ancelotti
      TV pundits as they appeared in Panini albums when they were players
      “It didn’t matter which team a player played for, every sticker was worth getting.
      “Everyone was in it together, everyone wanted to finish the album and everyone wanted to help each other.”
      At the heart of the fun was swapping. Playgrounds up and down the country echoed with cries of, “Got, got, need”.
      Every school had its own rules about how many normal stickers were worth a badge, foil or ‘shiny’ (in 1981 at St Mary’s in Royston, Hertfordshire, it was usually two).
      As Lansdowne, 47, writes: “Swapping was a rite of passage that provided a whole range of life lessons far more character-building than endless hours spent trying to decipher algebra or fumbling with a Bunsen burner.
      Some of the crazy moustaches that appeared over the years
      Big hair was a big thing in the 1980s

      “Diplomacy, persistence, perseverance, fortitude – all of these character traits and more were required to survive the law of the Panini jungle.”
      In an era before the internet and wall-to-wall TV coverage of football, Panini albums were the best way to find out what players looked like.
      The World Cup and European Championship editions provided first glimpses of the kind of exotic foreign stars who would later flood into English football as players.
      Or as managers – it is fun to see Pep Guardiola and Antonio Conte with their original hair.
      By 1987, Panini was selling 100million packets of football stickers a year in the UK alone.
      Panini stickers show off some weird and wonderful haircuts
      England legends Stuart Pearce, Paul Gascoigne, Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer
      Stars of today including Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Gareth Bale, Mohamed Salah and Neymar
      The company lost the Premier League rights in 1994 but the international tournament albums maintained their presence.
      And the company’s embracing of digital technology means they have become stronger than ever by adding a new generation of collectors.
      The first virtual album was produced for the 2006 World Cup, with online swapping, player rating games and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) – a sort of digital proof of ownership – bringing football stickers into the 21st century.
      Lansdowne, who also wrote Stuck On You, about the rise, fall and rise of Panini, said: “The revival began with Germany 2006. In the UK alone,
      Brazil 2014 was back to the 100million packet mark and around the world it was their biggest seller ever.
      Stuck on you60 YEARS OF PANINI
      1961 Brothers Giuseppe and Benito Panini start selling cards of Italian players under brand name Calciatori -“footballers”.
      1970 First World Cup album, mostly containing cards but some stickers.
      1974 All sticker “Munchen 74” World Cup album.
      1977 Euro Football is free in the UK with Shoot.
      1978 First UK-specific album, Football 78.
      1989 Robert Maxwell buys company for £96million.
      2006 First virtual album for World Cup in Germany.
      2011 First women’s World Cup album.

      “Panini pulled off a masterstroke by giving away albums for the first time. Lots of people, especially lapsed older collectors, saw them and thought, I’ll give it a go.
      “They enjoyed it so much they’ve been doing all the albums since.”
      Now interest in the stickers is set to hit a whole new level, thanks in part to the pandemic.
      Lansdowne explained: “In America, there’s a big culture of collecting cards for investment, particularly sports cards.
      Some of the album covers through the years
      “About 18 months ago, lots of
      Americans in lockdown decided they were going to collect football stickers and cards.
      “As a result, the prices, especially for the really big names, have risen exponentially.
      “A few months ago, a version of Diego Maradona’s first Panini sticker sold for $555,960 (more than £400,000) in America.
      David Beckham’s various hairstyle over the decades
      Diego Maradona through the years
      “We haven’t even seen the tip of the iceberg. When the World Cup is in America in 2026, I think it’s going to explode even more.”
      That means it is going to be difficult ? and expensive ? for Lansdowne to complete all the unfinished albums he found at his parents’ house a decade ago.
      But he and millions of others will continue to collect Panini products.
      Lansdowne said: “You still can’t beat getting a card or a sticker with a player from your favourite club.
      “Whereas in the old days we were reliant on our parents to give us money to get a couple of packets, we can buy whole boxes and almost live out our childhood dreams.”
      And we all “got, got need” to do that once in a while.

      Another Panini brother, Umberto, invented the Fifimatic, a machine that ensured stickers were distributed randomly into packets.
      Juventus defender Carlo Parola, known as ‘Mr Bicycle Kick’, was thought to be the player depicted on the iconic Panini packets. In fact, he was one of a number of inspirations.
      The only player to feature in every UK Panini album from 1978 to 1993 was Bryan Robson (West Brom and Manchester United).
      The Football 83 sticker bearing the name of Manchester United’s Arthur Albiston actually carried an image of team-mate Kevin Moran.
      When Panini asked for images for the first women’s World Cup album in 2011, the Mexican FA initially sent photos of the men’s team.

      Panini Football Stickers: The Official Celebration by Panini and Greg Lansdowne (Bloomsbury Sport, hardback) releases on Thursday, November 25 and is available to pre-order now.
      Cristiano Ronaldo has been one of the most popular stickers More

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      in Boxing

      Tyson Fury’s amazing six meal a day diet including CURRY which helped body transformation before Wilder fight

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      TYSON FURY’S phenomenal body transformation is down to a diet of six meals a day – including a wholesome CURRY.The WBC champ, 33, lost an incredible 10st before his fights with Deontay Wilder.

      Apple cranberry stuffed porkloin, with butternut squash, quinoa, walnuts, and spinach is a favourite for dinnerCredit: Instagram
      George Lockhart flew over to the UK to help Fury again
      Tyson Fury still gets his intake of meat and fish – but it’s cooked to perfectionCredit: Instagram
      The nutritionist even makes cauliflower look appetisingCredit: Instagram
      Fury got in shape with his diet after snapping up UFC chef and Conor McGregor nutritionist George Lockhart.
      And Lockhart even took to Instagram to reveal he was flying back to the UK to help Fury back in 2020.
      Along with a picture of his British Airways ticket, he wrote: “Here we go again!!!! #tysonfury #lockhartandleith #cookingforthechamp #ufc #weightcut #takingover”
      Naturally-gifted 6ft 9in Fury has always used to appear as though he played fast and loose with the science of the sport.
      Friend and camp manager Timothy Allcock was also his personal cook ahead of his first fight against Wilder in December 2018 and peanut butter chicken was on the menu almost every night.
      Fighting man Fury showed little interest in the diet fads and micro meals that come in and out of fashion among fighters and celebrities.
      But he has handed over the pots and pans to former US marine and MMA fighter Lockhart to get in shape – and stay there.
      Lockhart makes salmon cakes with spicy jalapenos, coriander and Greek yogurt dressing for Fury.
      The heavyweight boxer is encouraged to wolf down Dijon,maple syrup, and greek yogurt dip with flaxseed lavish, black bean brown basmati puree, spinach, lemon juice, wrapped and seared with prosciuttoCredit: Instagram
      Tyson Fury has previously hired in his own artisan butcher to load up on meat before fights

      The expert cook even managed to make brussel sprouts look appetising in one social media post.
      Fury’s tastebuds would have been left tingling by Sriracha honey salmon laid out on a bed of quinoa and Greek rice and skewered chicken with tzatziki sauce was probably a big hit for the fighter.
      Team Fury were purring over a dish of strawberry and mango salsa with tomato and cilantro rice and chilli bean shrimp patty.
      And the once 28st food lover was allowed to pig out on a stunning pork dish of apple and cranberry stuffed loin with butternut squash, quinoa, walnuts, and spinach and topped with a citrus avocado vinaigrette.
      With Fury’s intense training leading to a calorie deficit, he would have been boosted by a meaty serving of dijon maple syrup seared wild salmon with rosemary, garlic, roasted sweet potatoes, and tomato, spinach and bean chilli.
      Lockhart even manages to make cauliflower appetising by jazzing it up with hummus patties with cilantro lime shrimp and rice, with macadamia nut, avocado, cilantro, lime sauce.
      And Fury might be able to deal with his next opponent a little easier after scoffing a healthy version of sausages.
      The Morecambe man had apple and chicken sausage with sweet potatoes, spinach quinoa, cooked in chicken broth with a side of baked kale chips and avocado.
      Even Fury’s favourite, a curry, makes the list, with Lockhart keen to make sure the boxer gets his red meat intake just right.
      Sriracha honey salmon is on the menu for the Gypsy KingCredit: Instagram
      Tyson Fury tells Anthony Joshua to ‘grow a pair’ and fight him in December in behind-closed-doors UK battle More

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      Inside F1 star Max Verstappen’s £12m private jet that Red Bull star bought from Virgin tycoon Richard Branson

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      THIS Red Bull driver really does have wings.Max Verstappen, 24, showed yet again he was king of the circuit over the weekend – winning the Mexican Grand Prix by 16 seconds ahead of fierce rival Lewis Hamilton.
      Max Verstappen is the proud owner of a £12m Falcon-900EX private jet
      Verstappen currently leads the driver standings by 19 points
      Virgin boss and British business magnate, Richard Branson was the previous ownerCredit: AP
      The victory extended his lead to 19 points in the driver standings with just four races to go.
      And motor racing isn’t the only thing Verstappen is flying high in.
      For he is the proud owner of his own private jet, that he splashed the cash on in 2020.
      Max paid around £12million for the Falcon-900EX, that used to have a famous owner.
      It was previously in the hands of Virgin boss and British business magnate, Sir Richard Branson, according to reports.

      LAVISH EXPENSE
      Verstappen already leads a life of luxury, and is said to have a £45million fortune.
      He lives in a stunning apartment in Monaco, like most F1 heroes, worth millions.
      Mad Max also has an incredible car collection, owning various Aston Martins through the years. And he’s awaiting their £2million Valkyrie, which he has on order and is due for delivery next year.
      But in the meantime, he has another toy to play with – and like his team’s drink’s motto, it gives him wings.
      Dutch star Verstappen paid around £12m for his own plane
      Inside the cockpit of Verstappen’s stunning plane
      Verstappen pays around £1m-per-year in up-keep of the Falcon-900EX
      Last year, Verstappen bought himself a Falcon-900EX private jet worth about £12m to travel in style with.
      Better still, you can bet it was very well looked after by its previous owner.
      That’s because it was said to be owned by Virgin Atlantic billionaire Sir Richard Branson.
      PLANE SPEC
      Incredibly, the Falcon-900EX costs about £1million-per-year to keep.
      But that won’t dent Verstappen’s bank balance, who is happy to fly in style and sometimes give mates like Daniel Ricciardo a lift to a Grand Prix.
      Made in 2008, it was given a significant upgrade before it was handed over to F1’s youngest ever Grand Prix winner.
      Now powered by three Honeywell TFE731-60 engines, it’s capable of a maximum range of 8,750 kilometres before it requires refuelling, can hit a top speed of 892 km/h, and cruising speed of 850 km/h.
      As for the interiors, it’s just as luxurious.
      Capable of seating up to 12 passengers, two seats can be reclined to make a full-size bed.
      Daniel Ricciardo hitches a ride on Verstappen’s private jet
      A fully equipped bar would allow Verstappen to celebrate victory in style
      The jet boasts a luxury bathroom
      Verstappen now has a stranglehold on the F1 World ChampionshipCredit: Rex

      There’s tables fitted to enjoy a meal and a drink.
      There’s even a bar to celebrate, in case you want to pop open some champagne after victory.
      You can bet Max’s flight home from Mexico last weekend was a fun one.
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      in Motorsport

      Inside F1 legend David Coulthard’s former Monte Carlo hotel which he sold for £30m and where guests arrive by helicopter

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      BACK in his heyday, F1 legend David Coulthard fancied himself as a hotelier.He opened the amazing Columbus hotel in Monte Carlo, after buying a former three-star accommodation and renovating it.
      F1 legend David Coulthard was the king of Monte Carlo in the noughties and owned his own hotelCredit: columbushotels.com
      The lavish Columbus welcomed A-list guests during Grand Prix weekendCredit: Andrew Barr – The Sun Glasgow
      The beautiful hotel overlooks the MediterraneanCredit: columbushotels.com
      Supermodel Naomi Campbell and even David and Victoria Beckham were just some of the celebrity clientele, who took in its designer bedrooms and lavish lounge.
      In 2010, The Scottish driver sold the Columbus for £30million to the same hotel group who own Hilton Park Lane in London and the Fairmont Hotel in Monaco.
      A GOOD INVESTMENT
      In 2001, Coulthard – already enamoured by living in Monaco – bought a standard three-star hotel with the idea of turning it into a luxury place to stay.
      It already had a head-start with its location, being in the lavish Fontvieille district where the rich and famous prefer to hangout.
      Overlooking the Mediterranean and the Princess Grace Rose Gardens, the Columbus boasts 181 bedrooms.
      Award-winning interior designer Amanda Rosa was behind the decor in the rooms, using cools tones and the latest appliances.
      Even PlayStations were installed to entertain gamers who stayed.
      In terms of the hotel’s amenities, opposite the lobby is a bar, as well as a trendy terraced brasserie, which offers French and Italian cuisine.
      When it’s Grand Prix weekend, both are buzzing with locals and famous faces.
      Inside a standard bedroom at the ColumbusCredit: columbushotels.com
      A stylish lobby greets guests as they enter the ColumbusCredit: columbushotels.com
      An Art Deco outdoor swimming pool is perfect for guests to lounge aroundCredit: columbushotels.com
      While, there’s also a lush Art Deco outdoor swimming pool that guests can take a dip or lounge by.
      And a state-of-the-art gym, should they want to maintain their physiques.
      Over the years, guests have included Princess Stephanie of Monaco, the Beckhams, and Naomi Campbell.
      While F1 clients are who’s who of drivers, from Kimi Raïkonnen, Romain Grosjean, Jenson Button, Mark Webber, Sebastian Vettel, Paul di Resta, Daniel Ricciardo, Michael Schumacher, Niki Lauda, and Damon Hill.
      JET-SET
      Catering for the mega-wealthy, and being in Monte Carlo, the hotel offers plenty of activities that would appeal to the jet-set.
      Anyone arriving at Nice airport has the option of getting picked up helicopter and delivered to the Columbus.
      The Columbus caters for the mega-wealthy of Monte CarloCredit: columbushotels.com
      Upscale living has never been more comfortable than at the ColumbusCredit: columbushotels.com
      While management have also made a speedboat available for guests to rent that rests in the harbour.
      For the full VIP experience, they even supply canapes and champagne.
      As you can expect, staying at the Columbus will set you back. But it’s more reasonable given your surroundings.
      Roughly £250-per-night gets you a standard room.
      GOING, GOING, GONE
      According to reports, Coulthard sold his stake for a staggering £30m.
      That’s just £5million short of what he was said to have earned from his racing career over the years.
      The money allowed him to invest in an amazing car collection.
      Coulthard takes a seat inside his former hotelCredit: Andrew Barr – The Sun Glasgow
      In 2010, Coulthard sold his stake in the Columbus for £30mCredit: Andrew Barr – The Sun Glasgow

      Private hotel company London & Regional are the owners, whose portfolio includes the iconic Hilton Park Lane, the Hilton Trafalgar Square and the Hilton Green Park.
      Coulthard still has an apartment in Monaco, and enjoys spending time there.
      And you can bet he will always be welcome at the Columbus.
      F1 star Max Verstappen owns a £12m private jet that he bought from Richard Branson More