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      in Soccer

      Man Utd kid Lee Roche made his Champions League debut against Deportivo La Coruna in 2003, but now works as a builder

      by

      ON March 18, 2003 Lee Roche was thrown in at the deep end – handed his Champions League debut against Deportivo La Coruna in a 2-0 defeat.Some five years later, he was left on the football scrapheap and now works on building sites installing cavity wall insulation, and is a trained plumber.
      Former Man Utd youngster Lee Roche made his Champions League debut in 2003Credit: AP:Associated Press
      Today, Roche is a builder and trained plumber

      Now 40, Roche was given a free transfer two months after his bow in Europe’s premier club competition.
      And when a football career petered out – after spells at Wrexham, Burnley and Droylsden, the youngster had to come up with a different plan in life with the help of the PFA.
      COMING TO AN END
      At the age of 27, Roche was admittedly fed up of the game.
      He’d bounced from a loan deal at Wrexham to Burnley, then back to Wrexham again.
      Injuries began to take their toll, and the former England U21 star lost his hunger for playing.
      “I was coming home and not wanting to even watch football on the TV, he told Planet Football.
      After he was released by the Welsh club, he trained with Royal Antwerp and former United youth Warren Joyce.
      But when a move failed to materialise, he signed for non-league Droylsden in 2007.
      It was there he started to think about a life after the beautiful game.
      Promising youngster Roche was released by Man Utd in 2003 and after bouncing around at different clubs needed to find a different careerCredit: Getty
      Roche, chatting to PFA member Don Goodman, was helped by the organisation to retrain in a new careerCredit: Twitter @PFA
      With the help of the PFA, Roche now has his own cavity wall insulation business
      The PFA supported the lost talent and helped him retrain in another profession.
      Today, Roche is a qualified plumber and has his own cavity wall insulation business.
      “I have had a few fellow workers on the building sites asking me about United and how have I ended up here,” he revealed.
      “It can get pretty tiresome so I don’t go shouting about that I played for United. I do think young players today should be made to train as something, so they know about the real world.
      “Most of them probably don’t have a plan to fall back on if they don’t make it as a professional.”
      BAPTISM OF FIRE
      Roche made two starts for United, but it was always in scratch sides.
      His debut came in 2001 in a Worthington Cup tie against Arsenal – a 4-0 thrashing in a team that featured mainly reserve players.
      In 2001 Roche appeared for Man Utd for the very first time against Arsenal in a Worthington Cup tieCredit: PA
      Roche, up against Arsenal striker Kanu, couldn’t believe the size of his opponents feetCredit: PA
      “Sylvain Wiltord scored a hat-trick and I remember Kanu being a massive handful – I couldn’t get over the size of his feet,” Roche joked.
      “At one point, he flicked the ball over my head and volleyed it, but it went just over the bar, thankfully, otherwise it would have been one of those goals which would have been shown forever.
      “There was no hairdryer from Sir Alex afterwards because he knew we had been up against it. I took what I could from that game and tried to learn from it.”
      A year later, Roche came on as a sub against Newcastle United in front of a packed house at Old Trafford in a 5-3 win.
      “It was unbelievable, coming on in front of 75,000 fans at Old Trafford,” he said.
      “I did okay, but I remember Sir Alex talking to me afterwards because Alan Shearer had beaten me at the far post to win a header, so he told me to get up first and not let the forwards do that to me.”
      THE BIG LEAGUE
      Roche’s third and final performance for United was in the Champions League.
      Roche made his final appearance for United against Deportivo La Coruna in the Champions LeagueCredit: Getty
      At half-time Roche was hauled off as United lost 2-0 to the LaLiga sideCredit: PA
      He appeared against Deportivo, who at the time were LaLiga challengers to Real Madrid and Barcelona.
      Playing in a back three with Laurent Blanc and John O’Shea, the Red Devils look disjointed in a different formation.
      Roche, himself, was hauled off at half-time with the Premier League giants trailing 1-0 at the break.
      “I was up against (Albert) Luque and thought I had done alright, but I wasn’t going to come off and start arguing with Sir Alex,” he said.
      “Giggsy told me to keep my chin up and that I had not done anything wrong. Sir Alex didn’t tell me why I had been substituted, but I didn’t want to overthink it.”
      ‘NO REGRETS’
      Despite how his football career turned out, Roche is thankful for his time at Manchester United.
      Although he doesn’t have any regrets, there is one thing perhaps he might’ve done different.
      “I don’t have any regrets,” Roche revealed.
      Despite his career not panning out how he had hoped, Roche was no regretsCredit: Rex

      “The only thing I would point out is that I was known at United for being really quiet, so perhaps I should have been more assertive and mingled more with the lads.
      “I’d be straight off home after training to hang out with my own group of friends. I look back now at team-mates like John (O’Shea) and Darren Fletcher and think I should have been more like them and gone out and socialised.
      “I think it would have gone down better with United.”
      Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says he’s very disappointed after Man Utd loss against Leicester in FA Cup More

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      in Boxing

      Dillian Whyte was shot twice, stabbed three times, and was a dad at just 13 – but still achieved his boxing dream

      by

      DILLIAN Whyte is gunning for rematch redemption when he fights Alexander Povetkin this Saturday in Gibraltar.The Bodysnatcher was stunned by the veteran Russian when he was knocked out in the fifth round of their first scrap in August.
      Dillian Whyte’s road to the glory has been anything but smoothCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Now he has his chance of revenge in what really is a career-defining bout on the ‘rock in the sea’.
      The plush surroundings are a long way from how far he has come.
      ‘The Body Snatcher’, as he is frighteningly nicknamed, grew up in the concrete jungle of Brixton as a self-confessed thug, where he had to use his fists to get himself out of bother.
      But that didn’t always work when guns and knives were brought to the fight.
      As a street kid, the 31-year-old British heavyweight boxer was shot twice and stabbed three times on the mean streets of South London, as gangs ran rife.
      And as soon as he became a teenager, Whyte’s life changed dramatically when he became a father for the first time.
      However, that hasn’t stopped the 6ft 4in brawler from succeeding in life – who recently saw his name cleared of any doping charges as he still targets a world championship title fight.
      Whyte was born in Jamaica in poverty, and his mum left the family home in Portland when he was just a toddler to find a job in London.

      The Body Snatcher Whyte was shot twice and stabbed three times before making it in the ringCredit: Action Images – Reuters
      Whyte’s mum left the boxer when he was two-years-old in Jamaica and moved to LondonCredit: Instagram

      “Man when I was growing up in Jamaica we suffered, suffered, suffered,” he told BBC Sport last year.
      “Some days we couldn’t eat, we’d go to bed hungry. She left me with people who didn’t take very good care of me.
      “They were taking the money my mum was sending and was telling me she wasn’t sending anything.”
      By the age of 12, Whyte and his brother Dean joined his mother in Brixton. But soon he was wayward, corrupted by the cruel, impoverished surroundings he was growing up in.
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      When Whyte was 12 he moved to Brixton to rejoin his mum
      He was stabbed three times, once sewing himself back together instead of heading to his local A&E at King’s College Hospital in Camberwell.
      Whyte was also shot twice after getting caught in a gang war in Clapham, and painfully had to remove a bullet from his leg because he didn’t want to bother his hard-working mum.
      “I took the bullet out and hid out,” Whyte told The Telegraph.
      “It was out of respect for my mum. I didn’t ever want to bring police to her house.
      “Doesn’t matter what I did or how bad I was, I showed respect for her. If I was ever injured, I couldn’t go to the hospital in case they alerted my mum, so I did what I had to do.”
      TIME INSIDE CHANGED EVERYTHING
      At school and growing up on an estate, Whyte was often asked to take on bullies, who he gladly put on their backsides in exchange for change and sandwiches.
      “I’ve always been a fighter,” Whyte told the Daily Mirror. “I’ve never had a choice. Growing up I had to fight to survive.
      “Kids used to pay me to fight bullies for them, I swear. At schools and around my estate. The bullies were older and bigger than me.
      “Sometimes they gave me food, it could be sandwiches or it could be money. I think £2 was the most I got and £2 was a lot back then. You could buy a hell of a lot of sweets for £2 back then.”
      A threat of spending life behind bars changed Whyte foreverCredit: Dave Pinegar – The Sun
      In his late teens, Whyte found himself in prison in Bristol awaiting trial and facing up to 20 years behind bars.
      An emotional visit from his mum and sister opened his eyes, and he hated seeing them upset.
      “My older brother died and she was saying she didn’t want to lose another son,’ Whyte told the Daily Mail.
      “As bad as I was, I never wanted to disappoint my mum.
      “When she came to the prison in Bristol, she said, ‘Son, we’ve been through so much in life’. I looked at my mum’s face and the tears rolling down her cheeks and I felt bad and I felt ashamed.”
      It made Whyte change his ways for the better.
      Whyte began life as a kickboxer training at Miguel’s GymCredit: PA:Press Association
      Whyte also competed in the MMA, flooring his only opponent Will Riva
      Whyte needed something to channel his anger and aggression growing up, and he found it in the discipline of boxing.
      It’s fair to say that Miguel’s Gym provided him with the platform to build another life for himself.
      “I didn’t do too well at school, to be honest, but boxing saved me and changed my life,” Whyte once said.
      “And it was going well, because I knew it was my best chance in life.”
      But originally, Whyte tried his hand at professional kickboxing. And he was a success too.
      He was a two-time British heavyweight kickboxing champion, claiming the BIKMA Super Heavyweight British Championship title, and was also a one-time European K1 champion.
      He ended his K1 career with an impressive record of 20 wins and just one loss, before turning to MMA.
      In 2008, he fought at the Ultimate Challenge MMA – defeating Mark Stroud with a hugely destructive left hook only 12 seconds into the first round.
      DADDY DAYCARE
      When he was just 13-years-old, Whyte became a father for the first time. He has since had two more children.
      But it was becoming a teenage dad that meant he had to grow up quick.
      “I was a dad at 13-years-old so I have been looking after kids and I had to rush my mental state, growing up a lot faster,” he told 1 News.

      “When you become a dad it changes everything, where most kids were running around I’m working two jobs and doing other things to get money to feed my children.

      “I’m trying to win these fights so my kids have a good life and make sure they don’t have to struggle the way I struggled.”
      At the age of 13 Whyte became a father for the first time. He has since had two more children

      In 2009, Dillian began a career in boxing at amateur level.
      And for his first fight, at the age of 20, he couldn’t have fought anyone tougher.
      Whyte squared off against future heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua, and in truth he battered him.
      Joshua was floored in one round, with his opponent on the front foot throughout their three-round fight. In the end, Whyte was the victor by unanimous decision.
      In another contest, he left another amateur opponent in a coma after knocking him out – thus earning his vicious ‘The Body Snatcher’ moniker.
      But Whyte’s amateur career was short-lived after a dispute with the ABA regarding his kickboxing background, and he was forced to turn pro in 2011.
      As an amateur, Whyte famously defeated Anthony Joshua
      Whyte, posing with Tyson Fury, also one put an opponent in a coma after knocking him out in a amateur fightCredit: Instagram
      In 2012, Whyte failed a drug test after his victory over Hungary’s Sandor Balogh.
      He tested positive for the banned stimulant methylhexaneamine (MHA), which he claimed he mistakingly took with a nutritional supplement called Jack3D, and was handed a two-year ban.
      Whyte appealed a year later, but the ban was upheld even though a tribunal accepted he didn’t knowingly take MHA.
      Despite a drugs ban in 2012, Whyte has got his career back on trackCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      “The supplement was described on the container as ‘an ultra-intense muscle supplement, giving strength, energy, power and endurance’,” Charles Flint QC, the chairman of the appeal tribunal, said in 2013.
      “It was plainly intended to be a performance-enhancing supplement which an athlete should only take after having taken great care to ensure that it does not contain a prohibited substance.
      “The athlete took no steps to make any proper enquiries of his manager or coach, any person with medical or anti-doping expertise, or the sports authorities, as to whether the supplement was safe to take.”
      Although that set him back, Whyte is now stronger than ever.
      From life experience alone, he’s certainly worth it.
      Dillian Whyte says he’s going for the knockout and isn’t considering a loss against Alexander Povetkin More

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      in Soccer

      Ronaldo and Messi’s incredible lifestyles, with stunning homes and expensive cars – but who is living their best life?

      by

      FOOTBALL icons Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are still on top of their game and have lives that would make anyone envious.The Portuguese legend, 36, recently celebrated overtaking Pele’s goals record with hat-trick against Cagliari – and now has a staggering 740 career goals to his name.
      Cristiano Ronaldo is still top of his gameCredit: PA
      Like Ronaldo, Lionel Messi is a football billionaire and has an amazing lifestyleCredit: Rex
      While the Barcelona ace, 33, equalled Xavi’s appearance record against Huesca – the 767th time he’s played for the Catalans – and for good measure he scored twice too in a 4-1 win.
      Because of their brilliance over the years, the pair have seen their bank accounts swell and boast vast fortunes.
      And according to Forbes, they are the ONLY two footballers who have become billionaires.
      So what do they spend their money on?
      HOMES
      Cristiano has lived in some amazing homes through the years – and has a come a long since his humble beginnings in Madeira.
      After making it at Old Trafford, Ronaldo splashed £3m on an incredible estate in Alderley Edge.
      Then, when he moved to Real Madrid in 2009 for £80million he bought a stunning £4.8million mansion in the exclusive La Finca neighbourhood.
      Currently he lives in Turin in two adjoining villas found on a private road guarded by security, which leads to an entrance gate.
      The villas themselves have separate entrances, and are surrounded by lush gardens and vegetation.
      The property is so high up, ‘it’s as if Turin were at the feet of CR7, a tribute of the city to the long-awaited and newly-arrived champion,’ La Gazzetta dello Sport reported at the time of purchase.
      Ronaldo’s home in Turin features two adjoining villasCredit: Instagram
      The property boasts amazing views of the city of TurinCredit: Instagram
      The property boasts plenty of space for the whole Ronaldo familyCredit: Instagram
      Ronaldo relaxes in one of the many lounge areas of the homeCredit: Refer to Caption
      Ronaldo works out in the state-of-the-art gym
      There’s a state-of-the-art gym that he and former shop assistant Georgina love to use together. And there’s also a swimming pool, which Ronaldo cools down in by doing a few laps following a strenuous session lifting weights.
      Ronaldo also has a £1.4million holiday home in the Costa del Sol, as well as a £7million home in Madeira his mum and brother live in.
      Messi’s modern £5.5million Barcelona mansion he lives in with Antonella Roccuzzo features incredible views of the Balearic Sea, and due to environmental restrictions a no-fly zone is in place over the Castelldefels property.
      Just 12 miles away from the Camp Nou, Messi’s abode also has a small football pitch, a swimming pool, an indoor gym and a playground for his three children.
      Earlier this year, Messi was also said to have splashed £7.25m on a luxury apartment in the Porsche Design Tower in Miami.
      Amazingly, the building boasts three car lifts allowing residents to park their vehicle on the same floor as their suite.
      The Messis live in a stunning mansion in the exclusive suburb of CastelldefelsCredit: Instagram @antoroccuzzo88
      The home boasts a stunning and spacious loungeCredit: Instagram @antoroccuzzo88
      Messi has a room dedicated to a collection of shirts in his home
      Lionel Messi reportedly bought an apartment at the Porsche Design Tower – which boasts stunning views of the Miami coastlineCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Each suite has a lift that allows residents to park their cars on the same floor as their home
      A spacious living room and open plan kitchen can be seen in this showhome
      CARS
      Juventus forward Ronaldo is a car collector, and SunSport has estimated in the past his garage is worth £16million.
      The two standouts of his collection are his Bugatti Centodieci that cost £8.5million, and is one of only 10 in the world.
      He also owns a Bugatti Chiron worth £2.5million and a £1.7million Bugatti Veyron.
      For his 35th birthday, his gorgeous Wag Georgina Rodriguez gifted him a Mercedes G-Class Brabus, an SUV that can cost up to £600,000.
      A £260,000 Lamborghini Aventador and a Ferrari F12 TDF that would’ve set CR7 back £350,000 are also kept in pristine condition in his collection.
      Ronaldo is believed to be one of 10 people lucky enough to buy the incredible new Bugatti Centodieci, which costs £8.5m
      Cristiano Ronaldo poses outside his former Madrid home on his £1.7m Bugatti VeyronCredit: Instagram @cristiano
      The Ferrari F12 is one of Ronaldo’s favouritesCredit: Instagram @cristiano
      Messi also loves luxury cars – although he isn’t in the same bracket as Ronaldo in terms of being a collector.
      The six-time Ballon d’Or winner has a £1.5million Pagani Zonda, which is the most expensive in his collection.
      He has a penchant for Maserati, with a £100,000 GranTurismo S and a GranTurismo MC Stradale among his fleet.

      Messi has also been seen driving a Ferrari F43 Spider worth £173,000 around Barcelona.
      Before Barcelona’s deal with Audi expired, he wasn’t afraid to drive their sponsored cars too.
      Although with Barcelona’s deal with Audi ending last year, there were no more freebies from the German car giants.
      A rare Pagani Zonda worth £1.5million is the jewel of Messi’s car collectionCredit: Handout
      Messi loves Maseratis and has two different GranTurismosCredit: Xposure
      Barcelona’s sponsorship deal with Audi has expired, so Messi doesn’t get a company car anymoreCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      PRIVATE JET
      Both Ronaldo and Messi enjoy a jet-set lifestyle, so it’s no wonder they have their own planes.
      In 2015, CR7 reportedly paid £20million for a a Gulfstream G200 twin-engine jet.
      Originally named the ‘Astra Galaxy’, the G200 is capable of reaching a top speed of 560mph.
      Its range is up to 3,910 miles with four passengers in tow, so it’s ideal for quick flights from Italy to hubs around Europe.
      And the G200 offers a generous seating configuration, and can fit as many as eight to 10 passengers for one flight.
      Ronaldo reportedly owns a Gulfstream G200Credit: Rex Features
      Ronaldo and partner Georgina Rodriguez often use their private jet to zoom around EuropeCredit: Instagram @georginagio
      Family games are easy for the Ronaldos onboard the spacious aircraftCredit: Instagram
      Messi leases a £12million Gulfstream V jet, which he first started using in 2018.
      The plane was infamously forced to make an emergency landing in Brussels due to a technical fault last year.
      It boasts a number of incredible features, including its very own kitchen. There are two bathrooms and enough seats for 16 people.
      Messi even has the names of his family adorned on the jet, with wife Antonella, plus children Thiago, Ciro and Mateo all having their names etched on the steps.
      Lionel Messi has got a luxury plane tooCredit: Goal
      There are names on the steps and a No 10 on the tailCredit: Goal
      The plane was forced to make an emergency landing in Brussels after a technical fault was reported last year
      YACHT
      In 2019, Ronaldo took to the seas to expand on his empire of amazing things.
      He added a £5.5million superyacht to his life, and why not?
      Built in the Versilia shipyards of Azimut-Benett, it boasts five luxury cabins and six stunningly decorated bathrooms.
      There’s also a modern kitchen onboard, as well as two relaxation areas, a huge lounge, and a lavish dining room.
      Juventus legend Ronaldo is the proud owner of the Azimut Grande.
      The superyacht cost around £5.5million
      It has five luxury cabins
      Ronaldo releaxes on board his yacht with Wag Georgina
      No stranger to a life at sea, Messi doesn’t own a yacht – but often holiday with pals including Luis Suarez and Cesc Fabregas onboard the Seven C yacht in
      Measuring nearly 92ft long, it was first built in 2003 before having a refit in 2011.
      Boasting luxury interiors throughout, the vessel sleeps ten guests in four rooms, including a master suite, a VIP stateroom and two twin cabins.
      Her sizeable deck area offers plenty of room for sunbathing and relaxing, while there’s an outdoor bar to cater for guest’s thirsts.
      Astonishingly, it costs £40,000 a week to rent.
      Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Cesc Fabregas regularly rent this stunning yacht in Formentera
      Suarez and Messi spent time on board the luxury Seven C yacht while in the Mediterranean with their WagsCredit: Splash News
      You can live like a king in the luxurious master bedroom
      No expense is spared with the luxurious interiors onboard the Seven C
      HOTELS
      With an eye on retirement, Ronaldo and Messi are both hoteliers now.
      The Argentine’s business MiM is run by brother, Rodrigo and features three hotels in Spain.
      There’s his Hotel MiM Sitges, in a coastal area of Barcelona which SunSport had the pleasure to visit, which he bought in 2017.
      Messi added an Art-Deco Ibiza resort to his portfolio the same year – with rooms costing £250-per-night.
      His reasonable MiM Mallorca costs £70-per-night, and was snapped up in 2019.
      While the most recent addition to the group is the Himalaia hotel at the Spanish ski resort Baqueira-Beret.
      Ronaldo is slowly building his hotel empire.
      Messi owns the Hotel MiM Sitges, a coastal town of Barcelona
      The same year Messi purchased Hotel Es Vive in IbizaCredit: Golders/@HotelEsVive
      The recently-renovated hotel is situated along the stunning Figueretas beachCredit: Golders/@HotelEsVive
      There are 52 rooms in Messi’s Ibiza hotel, which boasts a luxury pool, rooftop bar and burlesque roomsCredit: Golders/@HotelEsVive
      Ronaldo opened his first hotel in Funchal, Madeira in 2016Credit: Pestana CR7 Funchal
      Rooms at the Pestana CR7 Funchal can cost as little as £79-per nightCredit: Pestana CR7 Funchal
      The Pestana CR7 Funchal is located on the waterfront and boasts views of Madeira’s mountainous landscapeCredit: Pestana CR7 Funchal
      Ronaldo opened his second hotel in Portugal in the capital LisbonCredit: PestanaCR7
      Designs for Ronaldo’s Marrakech hotel show it’ll be a place for the jet set when it launches

      Through the Pestana CR7 Group, the forward already has budget places to stay in Funchal and Lisbon.
      But plans are afoot to open hotels in New York, Madrid, Paris and Marrakech.
      Where would you stay?
      Dominant Juventus beat Barcelona 3-0 as Ronaldo betters Messi by scoring twice More

    • 213 Shares199 Views

      in Soccer

      Ronaldo and Messi’s amazing lifestyles, expensive cars and stunning homes but who is living their best life?

      by

      FOOTBALL megastars Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are still on top of their game and have lives that would make anyone envious.The Portuguese legend, 36, recently celebrated overtaking Pele’s goals record with hat-trick against Cagliari – and now has a staggering 740 career goals to his name.
      Cristiano Ronaldo is still top of his gameCredit: PA
      Like Ronaldo, Lionel Messi is a football billionaire and has an amazing lifestyleCredit: Rex
      While the Barcelona ace, 33, equalled Xavi’s appearance record against Huesca – the 767th time he’s played for the Catalans – and for good measure he scored twice too in a 4-1 win.
      Because of their brilliance over the years, the pair have seen their bank accounts swell and boast vast fortunes.
      And according to Forbes, they are the ONLY two footballers who have become billionaires.
      So what do they spend their money on?
      HOMES
      Cristiano has lived in some amazing homes through the years – and has a come a long since his humble beginnings in Madeira.
      After making it at Old Trafford, Ronaldo splashed £3m on an incredible estate in Alderley Edge.
      Then, when he moved to Real Madrid in 2009 for £80million he bought a stunning £4.8million mansion in the exclusive La Finca neighbourhood.
      Currently he lives in Turin in two adjoining villas found on a private road guarded by security, which leads to an entrance gate.
      The villas themselves have separate entrances, and are surrounded by lush gardens and vegetation.
      The property is so high up, ‘it’s as if Turin were at the feet of CR7, a tribute of the city to the long-awaited and newly-arrived champion,’ La Gazzetta dello Sport reported at the time of purchase.
      Ronaldo’s home in Turin features two adjoining villasCredit: Instagram
      The property boasts amazing views of the city of TurinCredit: Instagram
      The property boasts plenty of space for the whole Ronaldo familyCredit: Instagram
      Ronaldo relaxes in one of the many lounge areas of the homeCredit: Refer to Caption
      Ronaldo works out in the state-of-the-art gym
      There’s a state-of-the-art gym that he and former shop assistant Georgina love to use together. And there’s also a swimming pool, which Ronaldo cools down in by doing a few laps following a strenuous session lifting weights.
      Ronaldo also has a £1.4million holiday home in the Costa del Sol, as well as a £7million home in Madeira his mum and brother live in.
      Messi’s modern £5.5million Barcelona mansion he lives in with Antonella Roccuzzo features incredible views of the Balearic Sea, and due to environmental restrictions a no-fly zone is in place over the Castelldefels property.
      Just 12 miles away from the Camp Nou, Messi’s abode also has a small football pitch, a swimming pool, an indoor gym and a playground for his three children.
      Earlier this year, Messi was also said to have splashed £7.25m on a luxury apartment in the Porsche Design Tower in Miami.
      Amazingly, the building boasts three car lifts allowing residents to park their vehicle on the same floor as their suite.
      The Messis live in a stunning mansion in the exclusive suburb of CastelldefelsCredit: Instagram @antoroccuzzo88
      The home boasts a stunning and spacious loungeCredit: Instagram @antoroccuzzo88
      Messi has a room dedicated to a collection of shirts in his home
      Lionel Messi reportedly bought an apartment at the Porsche Design Tower – which boasts stunning views of the Miami coastlineCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Each suite has a lift that allows residents to park their cars on the same floor as their home
      A spacious living room and open plan kitchen can be seen in this showhome
      CARS
      Juventus forward Ronaldo is a car collector, and SunSport has estimated in the past his garage is worth £16million.
      The two standouts of his collection are his Bugatti Centodieci that cost £8.5million, and is one of only 10 in the world.
      He also owns a Bugatti Chiron worth £2.5million and a £1.7million Bugatti Veyron.
      For his 35th birthday, his gorgeous Wag Georgina Rodriguez gifted him a Mercedes G-Class Brabus, an SUV that can cost up to £600,000.
      A £260,000 Lamborghini Aventador and a Ferrari F12 TDF that would’ve set CR7 back £350,000 are also kept in pristine condition in his collection.
      Ronaldo is believed to be one of 10 people lucky enough to buy the incredible new Bugatti Centodieci, which costs £8.5m
      Cristiano Ronaldo poses outside his former Madrid home on his £1.7m Bugatti VeyronCredit: Instagram @cristiano
      The Ferrari F12 is one of Ronaldo’s favouritesCredit: Instagram @cristiano
      Messi also loves luxury cars – although he isn’t in the same bracket as Ronaldo in terms of being a collector.
      The six-time Ballon d’Or winner has a £1.5million Pagani Zonda, which is the most expensive in his collection.
      He has a penchant for Maserati, with a £100,000 GranTurismo S and a GranTurismo MC Stradale among his fleet.

      Messi has also been seen driving a Ferrari F43 Spider worth £173,000 around Barcelona.
      Before Barcelona’s deal with Audi expired, he wasn’t afraid to drive their sponsored cars too.
      Although with Barcelona’s deal with Audi ending last year, there were no more freebies from the German car giants.
      A rare Pagani Zonda worth £1.5million is the jewel of Messi’s car collectionCredit: Handout
      Messi loves Maseratis and has two different GranTurismosCredit: Xposure
      Barcelona’s sponsorship deal with Audi has expired, so Messi doesn’t get a company car anymoreCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      PRIVATE JET
      Both Ronaldo and Messi enjoy a jet-set lifestyle, so it’s no wonder they have their own planes.
      In 2015, CR7 reportedly paid £20million for a a Gulfstream G200 twin-engine jet.
      Originally named the ‘Astra Galaxy’, the G200 is capable of reaching a top speed of 560mph.
      Its range is up to 3,910 miles with four passengers in tow, so it’s ideal for quick flights from Italy to hubs around Europe.
      And the G200 offers a generous seating configuration, and can fit as many as eight to 10 passengers for one flight.
      Ronaldo reportedly owns a Gulfstream G200Credit: Rex Features
      Ronaldo and partner Georgina Rodriguez often use their private jet to zoom around EuropeCredit: Instagram @georginagio
      Family games are easy for the Ronaldos onboard the spacious aircraftCredit: Instagram
      Messi leases a £12million Gulfstream V jet, which he first started using in 2018.
      The plane was infamously forced to make an emergency landing in Brussels due to a technical fault last year.
      It boasts a number of incredible features, including its very own kitchen. There are two bathrooms and enough seats for 16 people.
      Messi even has the names of his family adorned on the jet, with wife Antonella, plus children Thiago, Ciro and Mateo all having their names etched on the steps.
      Lionel Messi has got a luxury plane tooCredit: Goal
      There are names on the steps and a No 10 on the tailCredit: Goal
      The plane was forced to make an emergency landing in Brussels after a technical fault was reported last year
      YACHT
      In 2019, Ronaldo took to the seas to expand on his empire of amazing things.
      He added a £5.5million superyacht to his life, and why not?
      Built in the Versilia shipyards of Azimut-Benett, it boasts five luxury cabins and six stunningly decorated bathrooms.
      There’s also a modern kitchen onboard, as well as two relaxation areas, a huge lounge, and a lavish dining room.
      Juventus legend Ronaldo is the proud owner of the Azimut Grande.
      The superyacht cost around £5.5million
      It has five luxury cabins
      Ronaldo releaxes on board his yacht with Wag Georgina
      No stranger to a life at sea, Messi doesn’t own a yacht – but often holiday with pals including Luis Suarez and Cesc Fabregas onboard the Seven C yacht in
      Measuring nearly 92ft long, it was first built in 2003 before having a refit in 2011.
      Boasting luxury interiors throughout, the vessel sleeps ten guests in four rooms, including a master suite, a VIP stateroom and two twin cabins.
      Her sizeable deck area offers plenty of room for sunbathing and relaxing, while there’s an outdoor bar to cater for guest’s thirsts.
      Astonishingly, it costs £40,000 a week to rent.
      Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Cesc Fabregas regularly rent this stunning yacht in Formentera
      Suarez and Messi spent time on board the luxury Seven C yacht while in the Mediterranean with their WagsCredit: Splash News
      You can live like a king in the luxurious master bedroom
      No expense is spared with the luxurious interiors onboard the Seven C
      HOTELS
      With an eye on retirement, Ronaldo and Messi are both hoteliers now.
      The Argentine’s business MiM is run by brother, Rodrigo and features three hotels in Spain.
      There’s his Hotel MiM Sitges, in a coastal area of Barcelona which SunSport had the pleasure to visit, which he bought in 2017.
      Messi added an Art-Deco Ibiza resort to his portfolio the same year – with rooms costing £250-per-night.
      His reasonable MiM Mallorca costs £70-per-night, and was snapped up in 2019.
      While the most recent addition to the group is the Himalaia hotel at the Spanish ski resort Baqueira-Beret.
      Ronaldo is slowly building his hotel empire.
      Messi owns the Hotel MiM Sitges, a coastal town of Barcelona
      The same year Messi purchased Hotel Es Vive in IbizaCredit: Golders/@HotelEsVive
      The recently-renovated hotel is situated along the stunning Figueretas beachCredit: Golders/@HotelEsVive
      There are 52 rooms in Messi’s Ibiza hotel, which boasts a luxury pool, rooftop bar and burlesque roomsCredit: Golders/@HotelEsVive
      Ronaldo opened his first hotel in Funchal, Madeira in 2016Credit: Pestana CR7 Funchal
      Rooms at the Pestana CR7 Funchal can cost as little as £79-per nightCredit: Pestana CR7 Funchal
      The Pestana CR7 Funchal is located on the waterfront and boasts views of Madeira’s mountainous landscapeCredit: Pestana CR7 Funchal
      Ronaldo opened his second hotel in Portugal in the capital LisbonCredit: PestanaCR7
      Designs for Ronaldo’s Marrakech hotel show it’ll be a place for the jet set when it launches

      Through the Pestana CR7 Group, the forward already has budget places to stay in Funchal and Lisbon.
      But plans are afoot to open hotels in New York, Madrid, Paris and Marrakech.
      Where would you stay?
      Dominant Juventus beat Barcelona 3-0 as Ronaldo betters Messi by scoring twice More

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      in Soccer

      Ronaldo and Messi’s amazing lifestyles, with stunning homes and expensive cars but who is living their best life?

      by

      FOOTBALL megastars Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are still on top of their game and have a life to envy.The Portuguese legend, 36, recently celebrated overtaking Pele’s goals record with hat-trick against Cagliari – and now has a staggering 740 career goals to his name.
      Cristiano Ronaldo is still top of his gameCredit: PA
      Like Ronaldo, Lionel Messi is a football billionaire and has an amazing lifestyleCredit: Rex
      While the Barcelona ace, 33, equalled Xavi’s appearance record against Huesca – the 767th time he’s played for the Catalans – and for good measure he scored twice too in a 4-1 win.
      Because of their brilliance over the years, the pair have seen their bank accounts swell and boast vast fortunes.
      And according to Forbes, they are the ONLY two footballers who have become billionaires.
      So what do they spend their money on?
      HOMES
      Cristiano has lived in some amazing homes through the years – and has a come a long since his humble beginnings in Madeira.
      After making it at Old Trafford, Ronaldo splashed £3m on an incredible estate in Alderley Edge.
      Then, when he moved to Real Madrid in 2009 for £80million he bought a stunning £4.8million mansion in the exclusive La Finca neighbourhood.
      Currently he lives in Turin in two adjoining villas found on a private road guarded by security, which leads to an entrance gate.
      The villas themselves have separate entrances, and are surrounded by lush gardens and vegetation.
      The property is so high up, ‘it’s as if Turin were at the feet of CR7, a tribute of the city to the long-awaited and newly-arrived champion,’ La Gazzetta dello Sport reported at the time of purchase.
      Ronaldo’s home in Turin features two adjoining villasCredit: Instagram
      The property boasts amazing views of the city of TurinCredit: Instagram
      The property boasts plenty of space for the whole Ronaldo familyCredit: Instagram
      Ronaldo relaxes in one of the many lounge areas of the homeCredit: Refer to Caption
      Ronaldo works out in the state-of-the-art gym
      There’s a state-of-the-art gym that he and former shop assistant Georgina love to use together. And there’s also a swimming pool, which Ronaldo cools down in by doing a few laps following a strenuous session lifting weights.
      Ronaldo also has a £1.4million holiday home in the Costa del Sol, as well as a £7million home in Madeira his mum and brother live in.
      Messi’s modern £5.5million Barcelona mansion he lives in with Antonella Roccuzzo features incredible views of the Balearic Sea, and due to environmental restrictions a no-fly zone is in place over the Castelldefels property.
      Just 12 miles away from the Camp Nou, Messi’s abode also has a small football pitch, a swimming pool, an indoor gym and a playground for his three children.
      Earlier this year, Messi was also said to have splashed £7.25m on a luxury apartment in the Porsche Design Tower in Miami.
      Amazingly, the building boasts three car lifts allowing residents to park their vehicle on the same floor as their suite.
      The Messis live in a stunning mansion in the exclusive suburb of CastelldefelsCredit: Instagram @antoroccuzzo88
      The home boasts a stunning and spacious loungeCredit: Instagram @antoroccuzzo88
      Messi has a room dedicated to a collection of shirts in his home
      Lionel Messi reportedly bought an apartment at the Porsche Design Tower – which boasts stunning views of the Miami coastlineCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Each suite has a lift that allows residents to park their cars on the same floor as their home
      A spacious living room and open plan kitchen can be seen in this showhome
      CARS
      Juventus forward Ronaldo is a car collector, and SunSport has estimated in the past his garage is worth £16million.
      The two standouts of his collection are his Bugatti Centodieci that cost £8.5million, and is one of only 10 in the world.
      He also owns a Bugatti Chiron worth £2.5million and a £1.7million Bugatti Veyron.
      For his 35th birthday, his gorgeous Wag Georgina Rodriguez gifted him a Mercedes G-Class Brabus, an SUV that can cost up to £600,000.
      A £260,000 Lamborghini Aventador and a Ferrari F12 TDF that would’ve set CR7 back £350,000 are also kept in pristine condition in his collection.
      Ronaldo is believed to be one of 10 people lucky enough to buy the incredible new Bugatti Centodieci, which costs £8.5m
      Cristiano Ronaldo poses outside his former Madrid home on his £1.7m Bugatti VeyronCredit: Instagram @cristiano
      The Ferrari F12 is one of Ronaldo’s favouritesCredit: Instagram @cristiano
      Messi also loves luxury cars – although he isn’t in the same bracket as Ronaldo in terms of being a collector.
      The six-time Ballon d’Or winner has a £1.5million Pagani Zonda, which is the most expensive in his collection.
      He has a penchant for Maserati, with a £100,000 GranTurismo S and a GranTurismo MC Stradale among his fleet.

      Messi has also been seen driving a Ferrari F43 Spider worth £173,000 around Barcelona.
      Before Barcelona’s deal with Audi expired, he wasn’t afraid to drive their sponsored cars too.
      Although with Barcelona’s deal with Audi ending last year, there were no more freebies from the German car giants.
      A rare Pagani Zonda worth £1.5million is the jewel of Messi’s car collectionCredit: Handout
      Messi loves Maseratis and has two different GranTurismosCredit: Xposure
      Barcelona’s sponsorship deal with Audi has expired, so Messi doesn’t get a company car anymoreCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      PRIVATE JET
      Both Ronaldo and Messi enjoy a jet-set lifestyle, so it’s no wonder they have their own planes.
      In 2015, CR7 reportedly paid £20million for a a Gulfstream G200 twin-engine jet.
      Originally named the ‘Astra Galaxy’, the G200 is capable of reaching a top speed of 560mph.
      Its range is up to 3,910 miles with four passengers in tow, so it’s ideal for quick flights from Italy to hubs around Europe.
      And the G200 offers a generous seating configuration, and can fit as many as eight to 10 passengers for one flight.
      Ronaldo reportedly owns a Gulfstream G200Credit: Rex Features
      Ronaldo and partner Georgina Rodriguez often use their private jet to zoom around EuropeCredit: Instagram @georginagio
      Family games are easy for the Ronaldos onboard the spacious aircraftCredit: Instagram
      Messi leases a £12million Gulfstream V jet, which he first started using in 2018.
      The plane was infamously forced to make an emergency landing in Brussels due to a technical fault last year.
      It boasts a number of incredible features, including its very own kitchen. There are two bathrooms and enough seats for 16 people.
      Messi even has the names of his family adorned on the jet, with wife Antonella, plus children Thiago, Ciro and Mateo all having their names etched on the steps.
      Lionel Messi has got a luxury plane tooCredit: Goal
      There are names on the steps and a No 10 on the tailCredit: Goal
      The plane was forced to make an emergency landing in Brussels after a technical fault was reported last year
      YACHT
      In 2019, Ronaldo took to the seas to expand on his empire of amazing things.
      He added a £5.5million superyacht to his life, and why not?
      Built in the Versilia shipyards of Azimut-Benett, it boasts five luxury cabins and six stunningly decorated bathrooms.
      There’s also a modern kitchen onboard, as well as two relaxation areas, a huge lounge, and a lavish dining room.
      Juventus legend Ronaldo is the proud owner of the Azimut Grande.
      The superyacht cost around £5.5million
      It has five luxury cabins
      Ronaldo releaxes on board his yacht with Wag Georgina
      No stranger to a life at sea, Messi doesn’t own a yacht – but often holiday with pals including Luis Suarez and Cesc Fabregas onboard the Seven C yacht in
      Measuring nearly 92ft long, it was first built in 2003 before having a refit in 2011.
      Boasting luxury interiors throughout, the vessel sleeps ten guests in four rooms, including a master suite, a VIP stateroom and two twin cabins.
      Her sizeable deck area offers plenty of room for sunbathing and relaxing, while there’s an outdoor bar to cater for guest’s thirsts.
      Astonishingly, it costs £40,000 a week to rent.
      Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Cesc Fabregas regularly rent this stunning yacht in Formentera
      Suarez and Messi spent time on board the luxury Seven C yacht while in the Mediterranean with their WagsCredit: Splash News
      You can live like a king in the luxurious master bedroom
      No expense is spared with the luxurious interiors onboard the Seven C
      HOTELS
      With an eye on retirement, Ronaldo and Messi are both hoteliers now.
      The Argentine’s business MiM is run by brother, Rodrigo and features three hotels in Spain.
      There’s his Hotel MiM Sitges, in a coastal area of Barcelona which SunSport had the pleasure to visit, which he bought in 2017.
      Messi added an Art-Deco Ibiza resort to his portfolio the same year – with rooms costing £250-per-night.
      His reasonable MiM Mallorca costs £70-per-night, and was snapped up in 2019.
      While the most recent addition to the group is the Himalaia hotel at the Spanish ski resort Baqueira-Beret.
      Ronaldo is slowly building his hotel empire.
      Messi owns the Hotel MiM Sitges, a coastal town of Barcelona
      The same year Messi purchased Hotel Es Vive in IbizaCredit: Golders/@HotelEsVive
      The recently-renovated hotel is situated along the stunning Figueretas beachCredit: Golders/@HotelEsVive
      There are 52 rooms in Messi’s Ibiza hotel, which boasts a luxury pool, rooftop bar and burlesque roomsCredit: Golders/@HotelEsVive
      Ronaldo opened his first hotel in Funchal, Madeira in 2016Credit: Pestana CR7 Funchal
      Rooms at the Pestana CR7 Funchal can cost as little as £79-per nightCredit: Pestana CR7 Funchal
      The Pestana CR7 Funchal is located on the waterfront and boasts views of Madeira’s mountainous landscapeCredit: Pestana CR7 Funchal
      Ronaldo opened his second hotel in Portugal in the capital LisbonCredit: PestanaCR7
      Designs for Ronaldo’s Marrakech hotel show it’ll be a place for the jet set when it launches

      Through the Pestana CR7 Group, the forward already has budget places to stay in Funchal and Lisbon.
      But plans are afoot to open hotels in New York, Madrid, Paris and Marrakech.
      Where would you stay?
      Dominant Juventus beat Barcelona 3-0 as Ronaldo betters Messi by scoring twice More

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      in Soccer

      Tottenham’s darkest European nights after Dinamo Zagreb defeat, including a Bayern thrashing and Cologne humiliation

      by

      TOTTENHAM fans you might want to look away now.Spurs might’ve become the first British team to win a European trophy, when Bill Nicholson’s 1963 side thrashed Atletico Madrid 5-1 to win the European Cup Winners’ Cup.
      Spurs’ stars look dejected at the final whistle after losing to Dinamo Zagreb 3-0Credit: Getty
      But there’s also been some embarrassments along the way.
      Take Thursday night’s humbling at Dinamo Zabreb in the Europa League, when Jose Mourinho’s men succumbed to a 3-0 defeat in Croatia after winning the first leg 2-0.
      Unfortunately for Spurs, there have been even darker European nights.
      SPURS 2-7 BAYERN MUNICH
      On their way to winning the Champions League last season, the Bavarians put a Spurs side to the sword in London.
      And things started brightly, with Son Heung-min giving the home side a lead after 12 minutes.
      However, three minutes later the Germans were level with a Joshua Kimmich strike.
      Then, former Arsenal star Serge Gnabry stole the show – netting four times in a remarkable second half that saw Bayern Munich score five times to record a 7-2 win.
      Former Arsenal star Serge Gnabry scored four times in a 7-2 rout of SpursCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
      Tottenham were left shell-shocked by the German championsCredit: EPA
      COLOGNE 8-0 SPURS
      German sides have got previous when it comes to playing Spurs on their own patch and giving them a hiding.
      But in fairness to Tottenham, this was an Intertoto Cup they didn’t really want to be in.
      They played a weakened side full of kids, while Cologne went full-strength.
      It was 4-0 at half-time, and it didn’t get much better in the second half as the Bundesliga side ran riot.
      [embedded content]
      GENT 1-0 SPURS
      It was the precursor of what was to come.
      Gent weren’t exactly Belgium’s most-feared team, but they put the willies up Tottenham back in 2017 in the Europa League.
      In the first leg, they defeated the North London side 1-0, which in truth could’ve been more.
      It set them up nicely for the second leg, where they managed to draw 2-2 and knock Tottenham out at the last-32 stage.
      Gent take the lead in the first leg of their Europa League tieCredit: PA:Empics Sport
      Spurs woes got worst in a second leg as they couldn’t overturn a 1-0 deficitCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      RB LEIPZIG 3-0 SPURS
      Last year, Mourinho’s side were handed a lesson by RB Leipzig in the Champions League.
      Going into the second leg a goal down, Spurs were more open than usual.
      And the attacking threat the German side, who reached the semi-finals last season, was too much for an injury-hit Tottenham team.
      It was 2-0 after 21 minutes, and from then on in it was damage limitation. Spurs ended up losing 3-0 on the night, 4-0 on aggregate.
      Jose Mourinho comforts Lucas Moura after their 3-0 defeat to RB LeipzigCredit: AP
      REAL MADRID 4-0 SPURS
      In 2011, former Arsenal man Emmanuel Adebayor came back to haunt Spurs scoring a double at the Bernabeu.
      Before the game, manager Harry Redknapp said it was a “dream” to go further – but if it was it must’ve been a nightmare.
      Di Maria and then Ronaldo added gloss to proceedings, as Los Blancos won the game with ease – 4-0 in this first leg of a Champions League quarter-final.
      Spurs’ ambitions for glory were over, pretty much, at the half-time point of this tie.
      Emmanuel Adebayor opens the scoring for Real Madrid against Spurs in 2011Credit: Times Newspapers Ltd

      BORUSSIA DORTMUND 3-0 SPURS
      Before Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang turned up at Arsenal, he was tormenting Spurs in the Champions League in 2016.
      The Gabon striker registered the opener, before Marco Reus gave the Germans breathing space in the first leg round of 16 with a further two goals.
      A 3-0 lead was impossible for Spurs to turn around.
      To add insult to injury they Aubameyang scored twice in the second leg, and it finished 5-1 on aggregate.
      Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was the scourge of Tottenham in a Champions League round of 16 tie in 2016Credit: REUTERS
      Harry Kane and Co had no answer in a 3-0 humblingCredit: Reuters
      Joe Hart forced to apologise for awkward Instagram gaffe as Tottenham star’s team post ‘job done’ after Europa League KO More

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      Barcelona legend Lionel Messi was cured by doctor Giuliano Poser from sickness before games with Bach flower remedy

      by

      IN 2013, after suffering from a series of niggling injuries that were hampering his form, Lionel Messi decided to make a lifestyle change.Admittedly, the Barcelona legend didn’t have the best diet – living off pizza and red meat at the time.
      Lionel Messi met with Dr Giuliano Poser in 2013 who advised a lifestyle change
      But, as he got older, intolerances to what he was consuming caused a reaction in his body that would see the little No10 vomit uncontrollably on the pitch.
      Messi, 33, flew to Italy to meet with Dr Giuliano Poser in Sacile to discuss his issues.
      Poser, a sports medicine practitioner for more than two decades, preached methods somewhat different to his contemporaries.
      Nutrition, postural corrections, osteopathy, Bach flowers, kinesiology, massage and emotional therapy are all key components in Poser’s arsenal.
      TOUGH ON THE SIX-TIME BALLON D’OR WINNER
      “Messi was told, according to well-informed Argentine journalist Veronica Brunati, to eat only what his body needs, not what it wants.”
      Out went foods that aren’t well tolerated by the body. Flours, yeasts and refined wheat that’s found in pasta, pizza and white bread were eliminated.
      Pork and beef, eggs, shellfish and dairy products were off the menu too in the diet overhaul.
      Dr Giuliano Poser practices alternative medicine and believes in Bach flower remedies

      Alcohol intake, of course, was also banned. As was Messi’s love for fizzy soft drinks.
      They were replaced with more organic and fresh foods, mineral water and South American caffeine-rich infused drink, yerba mate tea.
      “Vegetables, seasonal fruits and a good mineral water are essential fuels for our muscles.
      “You have to reduce the intake of processed foods or foods contaminated with pesticides, herbicides, antibiotics, medications,” Poser says.
      BACH FLOWER REMEDIES
      But it wasn’t just about diet.
      As part of his more colourful approach, Poser encouraged Messi to undertake emotional work, psychotherapy and take Bach flower remedies.
      The latter might seem like a hippified solution in combating stress and anxiety, but the Bach flower is said to restore the balance between mind and body.
      The science says it targets the limbic system, a part of your brain that deals with emotions, memories and arousal.
      Messi went on a diet overhaul, swapping fizzy drinks for yerba mate teaCredit: Instagram @LeoMessi
      Messi also used Bach flower remedies to ease anxiety and stress that cured him from vomiting on the pitch during gamesCredit: Getty – Contributor
      What are Bach flower remedies?Bach flower remedies were developed by English homeopath Edward Bach in the 1930s.
      Bach claimed that dew found on the petals of wild flowers could be used as a complimentary medicine to relieve ill health by influencing underlying emotional stress.
      They are believed to gently restore the balance between mind and body by casting out negative emotions including fear, indecision, hatred and worry that can interfere with the equilibrium of the person as a whole.
      It’s been claimed that Bach flower remedies encourage peace and happiness, leaving the body free to heal itself.
      “Disease of the body itself is nothing but the result of the disharmony between soul and mind,” Dr Bach said.
      “Remove the disharmony, and we regain harmony between soul and mind, and the body is once more perfect in all its parts.”
      And it’s not just footballers who are engaging in Bach flower remedies, several movie stars are also believers.
      Actresses Salma Hayek, Cate Blanchett, Jennifer Aniston and Emma Watson have all revealed in the past that they take the holistic medicine to keep calm under pressure.

      The lifestyle change has helped Messi continue to compete at the highest level at 33Credit: Getty Images – Getty
      By simply dissolving a number of drops on your tongue or in water, fear, worry, hatred and indecision are believed to be allayed.
      Lighter by 3 kilos, Messi came back by firing in the 2014-2015 season – scoring 58 goals – he’d managed 41 the previous year.
      He also played an additional 11 games that he might’ve missed through injury in the past.
      Poser’s advice put Messi in good stead and has helped him prolong his status at the top of the game.VISITS TO POSER STOPPED
      When he became Barcelona captain, succeeding Andres Iniesta, Messi’s visits to Poser stopped.
      Now, the diminutive maestro pins his hopes on Dr Maria Antonia Lizarraga Dallo, who leads Barcelona’s nutrition team.
      But Poser is well aware of the effect looking after the well-being of one of sports’ biggest names has had on his life.
      “I’d say the Messi effect turned my life upside down, especially during the first three months, because the phone never stopped ringing and journalists appeared from all the corners of the world, who I didn’t see, of course,” he told Mundo Deportivo.
      Messi has since stopped visiting Poser and instead relies on Barcelona’s nutrition teamCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Giuliano Poser, pictured with Jefferson Montero, is thankful that Messi has opened up a world of footballers to him
      “That affects anyone’s day-to-day, ever more for a person like me, living a very calm life.
      “But, all around the world they’ve seen and they see Messi, and since then they can’t no longer doubt my method. It can be seen every week.”
      HIGUAIN AND DYBALA
      And Messi isn’t Poser’s only success story. Gonzalo Higuain came to the Italian with a crisis of confidence in 2015.
      On the doctor’s advice, he stopped eating red meat, limited his fish intake and replaced sugar with hone in his diet.
      The Argentinian poacher lost a remarkable four kilos as he went on to have the season of his life, netting 38 times in 42 games.
      Gonzalo Higuain enlisted the help of Poser to change his dietCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      He lost four kilos and enjoyed the season of his life during the 2015-16 season after Poser’s helpCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Juventus sensation Paulo Dybala also visited Dr PoserCredit: AP:Associated Press
      With Dr Poser’s help, Dybala overcame an injury to play in a crucial Champions League tie, netting the winnerCredit: AP:Associated Press

      After nearly firing Napoli to a Serie A title win, he earned a big money move to Juventus for £75.3m a season later.
      And in 2018, Paulo Dybala visited Dr Poser in an attempt to recover from injury in time for a Champions League last 16 tie against Tottenham.
      While Dybala missed the first leg, he did return for the second to score the winning goal in the tie that knocked Spurs out… it seems that the doc clearly knows what he’s talking about.
      World football stars join forces to fight coronavirus as Lionel Messi and Pep Guardiola each make €1MILLION donations to provide equipment More