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    Vinnie Jones buried my tortoise alive while landscaping our back garden… he told me ‘play on son, the ref didn’t see it’

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    VINNIE JONES buried my tortoise alive.It’s not exactly “Freddie Starr ate my hamster” – thankfully dear little Lightning was swiftly dug up, suffering nothing more than a dose of shell shock. But it’s a very true tale.Jones was part of the legendary Wimbledon team who caused one of football’s biggest upsets by beating Liverpool in the 1988 FA Cup finalCredit: GettyThe team lived up to their Crazy Gang tag on and off the pitchCredit: GettyVinnie with Wally Downes Snr after joining Wimbledon in 1986 and then burying his team-mate’s tortoiseLightning enjoying happier times above groundIn 1986, Watford hod carrier Vincent Peter Jones was signed by newly-promoted top-flight side Wimbledon as a young but raw prospect with oodles of potential.In one of the many debacles that plagued Harry Bassett’s magnificent and underrated career, he put the shy Hertfordshire bumpkin under the wing of my dad, midfielder Wally Downes Sr, and said: “Look after him.”With Bassett’s Crazy Gang being a successful rabble of local working-class lads, when the Downes family swapped Shepherds Bush for Kingston-Upon-Thames, my old man didn’t check the Yellow Pages for landscape gardeners.Instead, established first-team pros Mark Morris and Brian Gayle were made project managers – with Jones and a couple of young apprentices roped in to do the leg work.Vin, full of the boundless enthusiasm that would later help him complete the most magnificent FA Cup upset, was eager to impress and set about building the patio.Typically keen to graduate from the cement mixer to more architectural duties, the baby-faced and curly-haired midfielder installed the membrane with expert precision.And then he organised the Dons’ apprentices to rapidly lay the paving slabs to help build new mentor Wally a bespoke BBQ and bar under the glorious weeping willow beloved by the previous owner.Unfortunately, the ex-tenant had also left behind Lightning – a beautiful tortoise who was hibernating throughout the course of the property’s sale.It was agreed after the deeds were exchanged that my mum, Mary, would be in touch as soon as the ancient reptile emerged from its slumber.However, in the weeks after we had the new patio laid, the dinky dinosaur never showed up.Vinnie Jones and Gazza reunited 30 years on from THAT grab And, after repeated visits to the mock-Tudor home, the deflated former owner eventually accepted the loss, along with the estate agents’ fees.Then we realised…And, thankfully before the RSPCA cottoned on, animal-loving Vinnie took a sledgehammer to his freshly laid paving and rescued the bemused Lightning – who is somehow still going today – from the most miserable of deaths.Christ knows what the new neighbours thought, having watched the equivalent of a Premier League side strolling through the allotments and alleyways to build a garden.Lightning, with Wally Jr’s son, also Wally, has somehow survived up to this todayVinnie attacked the rescue mission with the same gusto with which he attacked gamesCredit: GettyThe ball-playing hardman was never afraid to get his hands dirty, as this iconic image of him embracing Paul Gascoigne from 1988 provesCredit: News Group Newspapers LtdAnd he certainly never shied away from a challengeCredit: AP:Associated PressAnd then watching them rip into the ground like desperate pirates looking for treasure, while screaming: “Where the f*** has he buried it?… Get the f***ing thing up before it suffocates!”The patio was eventually re-laid – but the Downes family never did make it on to the Neighbourhood Watch committee.After nine Wales caps and big-money moves to Leeds and Chelsea, plus the odd scandal here and there, Vinnie remains a great family friend.Books and documentaries about the phenomenal feats the Dons achieved – including that 1988 “Crazy Gang beating the Culture Club” FA Cup final upset against Liverpool – regularly pop up, anniversaries come and go.Legends like London youth-football stalwart Geoff Taylor and the Dons’ unlicensed physio/licenced cab driver Derek French are still alive, kicking and screaming from London to Sheffield.I will always remember Jonah as the man who ripped up that patio in record timeTeetotal Vinnie is now, of course, a movie star with over 100 film credits to his name, swapping his bad-boy antics for roles in hit shows such as The Gentlemen and on stage in the West End.The fearsome image of a scrotum-squeezing maniac scything through the divisions – which earned Vinnie a reputation that overshadowed his technical ability and dedication as a player – is a black-and-white one for the ages.He will probably always be the owner of the fastest yellow card in British football history for his caution after just FIVE SECONDS for Sheffield United against Manchester City in 1992.But he is also a brilliantly relatable advocate for men’s mental health, showing a vulnerable side few people would ever have thought possible, following the heartbreaking death of wife Tanya.He may now be starring in Hollywood movies with the likes of Brad Pitt, Sly Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger, but I will always remember Jonah as the man who ripped up that patio in record time.A future football star obliterating bricks and mortar in a frantic search for a tortoise who didn’t have a clue why her charmed little life on a Surrey lawn had suddenly descended into a living hell.Even when I pinged him a WhatsApp message to ask for his memories of the foul-up, he told me, in typical style: “Play on, son. The ref didn’t see it.”Vinnie, seen here in his breakthrough Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels film from 1998, is now a bonafide Hollywood starCredit: AlamyVinnie in his dressing room with Wally Snr during his recent stint in Only Fools and Horses The Musical in London’s West EndHis football talents should not be forgotten though, with the midfielder earning big money moves to Chelsea and Leeds, among othersCredit: GettyHe also represented Wales nine timesCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd More

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      in Boxing

      Confessions of a ring girl: You get covered in blood, sweat & tears – and the way my boxer lover two-timed me was brutal

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      GEMMA Jones has wowed fight fans as a ring girl for seven years and worked at around 700 events – but she has revealed it is far from the glamorous life people might think it is.From cheating boxers to wardrobe malfunctions and insane pre-fight diets, Gemma tells The Sun the truth about life in the ring. Gemma has worked as a ring girl for seven yearsShe has performed at over 700 fights and still loves it at the age of 37The stunning 37-year-old can perform at up to two events every weekend, sometimes working from 1pm until midnight.She earns up to £500 every time, covering mainly MMA, cage fighting and bare knuckle bouts – and juggles her work with being a mum-of-three and another job as a skin treatment expert.Here she lifts the lid on why the life of a ring girl is definitely not all superstars and stilettos….Why I’ll never date another boxerI’ve got a lovely boyfriend, he works in fashion and we were friends for five years before we started going out last year.But four years ago I did date a boxer for a few months until I found out in the worst way possible that he was a cheat.I love boxing and was in the audience for a fight when my friendtold me not to look behind me.I did and right behind me was my boyfriend and anotherwoman who it transpired was actually his girlfriend of years.It all kicked off and he even blamed me and tried to accuse me of causing problems – and it turned out I wasn’t the only woman he’d cheated with.While some of the boxers are lovely, others think they’re God’s gift to women and are very arrogant. I’m never going to risk getting one of the bad ones again.We’re a knockoutPart of the job description is looking great. I’m not one for make-up most of the time, but I’ll spend a good hour or more doing my hair and make-up before I go into the ring. I get my nails done regularly too and go on sunbeds.I carry a huge bag full of everything I need with me – including spare tights as they often get laddered getting into the ring.But it’s not glamorous, the big changing rooms are rightly reserved for the fighters, so sometimes we have a small dressing room, but others we’re doing it in the loos.Conor McGregor parties with his army of ring girls in club just weeks before comeback at UFC 303 vs Michael ChandleThere have been times when other girls have been sent away as they don’t look as good as their photographs.I have to look smiley even when I’ve got a huge wedgie up my bottomIt might sound awful, but I think it’s fine – the bottom line is it is about looking gorgeous in the ring. It would be like someone wanting to be an accountant who can’t do maths.I used to be a model before my best friend asked me to join her doing this. I love my job and don’t think it’s exploitative at all.There are boxers who for religious reasons don’t want us in the ring with them and that’s fine.And if there are going to be children at the show we cover up more and wear leggings rather than skimpy shorts and long sleeves.Gemma admits it’s ‘all about looking gorgeous in the ring’Suffer to be beautifulThere are days when I don’t feel my best. When I first started I used to only drink water for two days before a fight.I can’t do that any more but I’m fairly careful with what I eat. I start my day with a cup of tea, but then I drink lemon water for the rest of the day.I have a meal replacement shake and then a healthy supper. And I work out in the gym too.If I do have a day when I feel bloated, I’ll wear not one but two pairs of shapewear pants.I have to be up there looking smiley, while it feels like I’ve got a huge wedgie up my bottom.I’m just grateful we aren’t allowed to wear stilettos – there’s a worry they’d pierce the floor of the ring so we either wear block heels or trainers.Crowd pleasing… or notWe aren’t only there to announce the round they’re on. We lead in the boxers and get into the ring with them.And we get the crowd enthused, so we might blow kisses back to men who blow them at us, or go in and mingle with people who want to take selfies with us.We are often in front of an audience of over a thousand – the smallest venue I do is around 700.I’ve held the wrong number up or held it upside down, even though I never drink on the jobGenerally, they are pretty good. If women are there they are much more likely to shout abuse like calling us s**gs. I can only remember one occasion when a man shouted abuse at me, and then his girlfriend came and sat down next to him and I realised why.If that happens though, I can talk to one of the promoters and people will get removed – there’s no reason why we should put up with abuse for doing our job.Gemma has worked in most types of combat sports including MMAShe has also worked at bareknuckle bouts and cagefighting eventsBut it’s often far from glamorous, with the girls having to get ready in the toilets sometimesDanger zoneYou have to be prepared to be covered in blood, particularly at a bare knuckle fight – and then at the end you often get hugged by the fighters, and covered in sweat, and the loser sometimes ends up crying so you get soggy from their tears.I always feel sorry for the loser, they’ll have trained for months and it’s such a blow to their pride.The crowd can kick off in a fight and I’ve nearly been hit by a beer bottle.But my worst injury was during a cage fight. I was in there while they warmed up and one of the fighters accidentally pushed me and I ended up with my face pressed against the bar.The outfits are extremely revealing and risk wardrobe malfunctionsMishaps and mayhemI’ve made so many mistakes in my years. I’ve fallen down the stairs leading boxers in and got stuck getting into the ring.The first time I did it, I was so nervous. The other girl waslovely and very experienced and told me just to copy her walk. I looked like Bambi on ice skates, but I soon got used to it and now sashay like a pro.I’ve also held up the wrong number for the round, or held it upside down or even the wrong way round – despite the fact that I never drink on the job, though some girls can, it’s notgenerally forbidden.I live in fear of my boobs popping out when I bend over to get in the ring, so though I wear push up bras, I make sure they’re sturdy ones that will hold me in whatever.My other nightmare is when I’m on my period – our bottoms are so skimpy we cut the strings off our Tampax so they can’t accidentally be seen.For the love of itUnless you’re an absolute top ring girl, there isn’t a lot of money in it.I top up my income by being an aesthetics practitioner, though I don’t do my own Botox and lip fillers.Some ring girls are with agents, but my best friend and I have got great contacts so we sort our own bookings and I could work every weekend if I wanted to.If you use an agency, you might get to the bigger fights, but there’s loads of competition.And of course your agent takes a big slice of your money and you don’t get much unless it’s a massive fight.I usually get paid between £120 and £500. And the vast majority of ring girls are on the same as me.But I love doing the job, so don’t have any plans to give up.And though I’m 37, I’m by no means the oldest ring girl – some do it well into their 40s.It’s a huge buzz standing in the ring with everyone cheering and clapping and the atmosphere is great.And I’ve been doing it for so long that I’m friends with some of thepromoters and even the boxers. One of them I know really well and he finds it funny to lick my face after he’s won. And I love boxing too.Gemma juggles her ring girl work with another job and raising three girls, including Kacy, who is disabledFriends of daughter Caitlan, left, tease her about her ‘foxy’ mumGemma, with youngest daughter Olivia, says her kids are her ‘everything’Kid glovesLike any working single mum it’s a constant juggling act. But I’m incredibly lucky with their fathers.Caitlan, 18, and Kacy, 16, have the same father and Olivia, 10, has another one, but both dads are brilliant.And their mums have always been happy to help too – they have “nan fun” weekends. I’ve been estranged from my own mum though since I was 11 so she’s not part of their lives.I find it funny that my daughter’s friends found my Instagram and always go on about me being foxySome promoters are happy for your kids to come along, but I’ve never done that.The crowds can get unruly and I don’t want to risk their safety, however unlikely it is that they’d be hurt.But I have always made quality time for them, they are my everything and when I’m there, I’m 100 per cent present for them.I have them all through the week and try to have one weekend amonth with them. And if they are ever ill or need me, I’ll cancel my work to be with them.Kacy is disabled. She was 10 weeks premature and at six weeks old she got septicaemia and meningitis.So we have carers that help with her as she needs someone with her 24 hours a day.I don’t know whether Caitlan or Olivia will follow in my footsteps and be ring girls – at the moment neither of them are keen, but they think it’s a “cool” job.I find it funny that Caitlan’s friends found my Instagram and always go on about me being foxy.She isn’t embarrassed though, she’s good at banter and gives as good as she gets.Party timeI’m friendly with some of the boxers and know their ways.For example some of them hate being spoken to before a fight – they’re getting in the zone and focusing only on the fight. Others are nervous and want to chat.I’m actually really boring – I barely drink and have got three daughters, so I’m not up for partying after a fight. I’m usually knackered from all the adrenaline and often have a three-hour drive home to Wrexham from the fight.You do hear about wild parties and girls targeting boxers. But I don’t really experience that scene, the most I’ve done is go for a couple of drinks afterwards.And generally speaking, these men are athletes who don’t want to undo all their hard training by getting legless.At the end of the day we’ve all worked hard and want to get home to our beds… alone!Gemma doesn’t use an agent but still earns up to £500 a showGemma, on the right, said she is friends with some of the fighters but would never date one again More

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      in Soccer

      From begging for McDonald’s burgers to global superstar… How Cristiano Ronaldo is STILL chasing World Cup glory at 41

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      HE is the highest-paid football player in the world, with a net worth of over £229million and a portfolio of luxury properties across six countries.It’s a level of wealth that Cristiano Ronaldo could never have imagined when, aged 12, he relocated to mainland Portugal from Madeira to join the Sporting Lisbon academy.Portuguese goal machine Ronaldo is still banging them in for Al-Nassr in Saudi ArabiaCredit: AFPHis incredible rise comes after begging for burgers as a kid with Sporting Lisbon’s youth teamsCredit: Manuel RochaRonaldo now raises five children with stunning partner Georgina Rodriguez but still finds time to play footballCredit: InstagramRonaldo turns 40 tomorrow but shows no signs of slowing downCredit: GettyThe father-of-five’s humble upbringing was a million miles away from the Hollywood lifestyle he now enjoys, with the star admitting that food and money was scarce when he was a child and that he had to beg for burgers after training.Ronaldo – who turns 40 tomorrow – recalled how free fast food kept him and his friends going, revealing: “Late at night, 10.30 or 11, we are a little bit hungry.“So we have a McDonald’s next to the stadium where we lived.“And we always go to the back door and knocked on the door: ‘Hey, any burgers left?’”Fabio Paim, who was one of Ronaldo’s pals at the Sporting academy, confirmed: “At night we used to go to McDonald’s to pick up the burgers that no one wanted anymore so they weren’t good to sell.“We were there every night.”Ronaldo made an appeal in an emotional interview with Piers Morgan to find the McDonald’s staff who had taken pity on him.He said: “Edna and two more girls, they were unbelievable.“I never found the girls again. They closed that McDonald’s.”But as a result of the publicity, Edna Caldas came forward to say she was one of the workers.Edna said: “This was something that all happened such a long time ago.“I’m really happy at what he’s gone on to become. I never thought he would remember me so many years on.“It shows how wonderful he is that he hasn’t forgotten small things like this from his past.”Cristiano Ronaldo adds stunning £164,000 luxury BMW to £17MILLION car collection as he’s gifted motor by Al-Nassr From such humble beginnings and poor nutrition emerged one of the greatest athletes in sporting history.Pretty much from the day Ronaldo arrived at Manchester United as a skinny 17-year-old to his latest star turn as the £173m-a-year poster boy of the Saudi Pro League, he has devoted himself to self-improvement.Former United team-mate Nicky Butt revealed he and other players would “abuse” Ronaldo at first if he dived in training.But they never questioned his phenomenal work ethic.Butt said: “He was the last to leave the building.“In fact, you couldn’t get him off the training pitch as he worked relentlessly on his technique, as we were all walking off he was carrying a bag of balls to work on those techniques.“We would be having lunch in the canteen or getting ready to go home and you could hear the voice of Sir Alex bellowing across the training fields at two or three o’clock in the afternoon, shouting at Cristiano that it was time to get off the pitch as ‘We have a game in two days – enough now’.”Ronaldo had to leave his own family behind in Madeira when he moved to Sporting’s academy as a kidCredit: CollectRonaldo in 2002 after breaking into the Sporting side as a skinny wingerCredit: GettyHis form saw Sir Alex Ferguson sign him for Man Utd, where he stunned the Scottish manager with his dedicationCredit: AFPHis performances at United helped them win the Champions League in 2008 – and Ronaldo collected his first Ballon d’Or in that yearCredit: AFPA year later, after much speculation, he finally signed for Real Madrid for a then world record fee of £80mCredit: Action Images – ReutersBut at times even Ferguson had to admit he was fighting a losing battle against a player so devoted to getting better.Fergie said: “He sacrificed himself to be the best.“I remember we were playing Arsenal on the Saturday and it was pouring with rain at Carrington.“You know he would always practise after training and I said to him ‘We’ve got a game tomorrow and it’s too wet. The ground is too soft.’“So I went into my office, looked out of the window and what did he do? He went on the Astroturf.“I had no argument. I couldn’t say anything to him. He’s beat me.”To have that mentality he had at 18, he deserves everything he’s gotNemanja VidicWhen Ronaldo arrived at United in 2003, Wayne Rooney was the Premier League’s young superstar and would join him at Old Trafford a year later.But by the time Ronaldo left Old Trafford for Real Madrid in a world-record transfer in 2009, he was the better player, with his first Ballon d’Or already under his belt.Former United defender Nemanja Vidic was in no doubt why the Portugal star went on to become one of the game’s all-time greats – and why Rooney fell short.Vidic said: “You see Cristiano on Instagram, it’s all flashy stuff but he deserves it.”At that age – 18, 19, to 21 – to have that mentality to work hard, not go out, fight for your dream, the way he did it, he deserves everything he got.“For me, Wayne Rooney, he failed in terms of that.”In one moment they are similar, the same. What brought Cristiano Ronaldo much higher was his mentality to change, to work hard, to improve, to have goals.”I’m not saying Wayne didn’t have a mentality, but he played pure on his talent.“He didn’t invest in his body, invest in extra training, the physical side.”Ronaldo with former Man Utd team-mate Wayne RooneyCredit: GettyRonaldo won a host of trophies at Real under Zidane, who called him the best player he ever managedCredit: AFPRonaldo’s incredible stats may never be beatenAt Real, Ronaldo found new levels of achievement and recognition, breaking the club’s all-time goalscoring record, lifting the Champions League four times and winning four more Ballon d’Or crowns as the world’s best player.The Portugal winger claimed the first of his two LaLiga titles under countryman Jose Mourinho.Although the two Portuguese would sometimes clash over Mourinho’s tactical demands, the former Chelsea and Inter Milan boss could only marvel at the player’s dedication under him and throughout his career.Mourinho said: “Cristiano Ronaldo is the epitome of dedication.“His commitment to training is extraordinary. He’s the first to arrive and the last to leave.“He has a professional approach to every aspect of the game, from his physical fitness to his diet.“This relentless pursuit of perfection is what makes him exceptional. I’ve seen very few players with his level of determination and focus.”For him, there is no match more important than the one he’s playingCarlo AncelottiCarlo Ancelotti must have thought he had seen it all in his glittering career as a player and manager.But even he was taken aback by Ronaldo’s commitment to excellence and self-improvement.Ancelotti said: “Although I heard many compliments about Cristiano, I was still surprised.“For him, there is no training more important than the one he’s doing and no match more important than the one he’s playing.“He plays every match as if it was his last. It surprised me a lot.“One late night, we returned from an away game and we all wanted to go back home to sleep except for Cristiano who went to Valdebebas to take an ice bath as a recovery.“I was in total shock as I had never seen this much dedication from a player and couldn’t speak a word.”Ronaldo’s work ethic and dedication even impressed Jose MourinhoCredit: AFP – GettyHis strict diet helps explain why he is in such phenomenal shape as he heads into his 40sCredit: Refer to CaptionRonaldo’s workouts mean he could still be playing at next year’s World Cup – and have helped him become the most followed star on InstagramCredit: Instagram/cristianoRonaldo is a strict teetotaller, having seen the effects alcohol had on his father Dinis, aboveCredit: CollectAncelotti managed Ronaldo in two of the greatest seasons of his career.In 2013/14, he fired Real to LaLiga glory and La Decima, their tenth European title, and in 2014/15 hit 61 goals in 54 club appearances – the highest tally of his career.But perhaps the most telling verdict came from Zinedine Zidane.As one of Real Madrid and football’s all-time greats, and the manager who led Los Blancos and Ronaldo to three Champions League titles in a row, the Frenchman knows a player and competitor when he sees one.Zidane said of Ronaldo: “I think Cristiano is much better, although I had a good career.“There are no more words to define him. What he does every day, every game, is phenomenal.“There have been many players who have made history at this club. But nobody has done what he has – the statistics speak for that.“He is the best player I have had as a coach.”Yet Real allowed Ronaldo to leave in 2018, not long after he had become the first player to win the Champions League five times.The £105m Juventus paid for him was the biggest fee ever for a player over the age of 30.Yet boss Max Allegri detected a deterioration in Ronaldo’s form, urging the club to move him on at the end of his first season despite a Serie A title.One of his plates was quinoa, avocado and a couple of boiled eggs. This guy is in incredible shapeLee GrantIt was Allegri who left, however, and Ronaldo added another Italian championship to his tally of trophies.But after Allegri returned in 2021, the writing seemed to be on the wall. So Ronaldo rejoined Manchester United in the most sensational transfer of the summer.And his ongoing dedication to staying fit and healthy, especially through his diet, made a big impression on the United dressing room.Back-up goalkeeper Lee Grant said: “To give you one instance of the impact he is having on the group, this was Friday night in the hotel.”So, as you guys will be aware, you finish your dinner and usually on a Friday night you’ve got some cheat stuff out. You’ve got some apple crumble and custard or you’ve got a bit of brownie and cream.”I tell you now, not one player touched the apple crumble and custard, not one player went up for that brownie because everybody was sat down.”One of the lads said to me, ‘What has Cristiano got on his plate?’ Obviously it is the cleanest, most healthy plate you can imagine.”Grant added: “I’ll tell you one of his plates – he had several. One of them was quinoa, avocado and a couple of boiled eggs.“This guy is in incredible shape.”Inside Cristiano Ronaldo’s incredible lifeAS arguably the greatest player of all time, Cristiano Ronaldo lives a life befitting such a superstar.Nothing is too much effort for Ronaldo – who had a £40,000 cryotherapy chamber installed at his homeCredit: InstagramHe even paints his toenails to keep them in top shapeHis regime means he also shares plenty of pics of workouts with GeorginaCredit: InstagramRonaldo has sometimes shared details of the regime that has built and maintained his incredible physique and kept him going into a third decade as a professional footballer.To match a demanding, carefully-tailored set of cardiovascular and strength-building exercises, he has up to six meals per day, with an emphasis on protein, wholegrains and fresh fruit and vegetables, and tries to drink six litres of water while avoiding all alcohol.Ronaldo has a £40,000 cryotherapy chamber at home and has been known to follow a pattern of taking five naps of 90-minutes each, rather than one long sleep.It is literally a head-to-toe approach to health and wellbeing – like other athletes, especially MMA fighters, he paints his toenails to keep out fungal and other infections.Unlike many footballers of his generation, Ronaldo does not have tattoos, a stance that forms part of his efforts to help others’ well-being.He is a regular blood donor and knows that having ink applied under his skin would lead to a delay in him being able to donate.Ronaldo has also given blood and bone marrow since he was 24 after learning that the son of former international team-mate Carlos Martins required regular transfusions.Over the years, the superstar has stepped in to help fund treatment for a number of individuals, including terminally-ill children.He has also handed over cash or donated items for auction to raise money for good causes such as Save the Children and Unicef. In 2017, his 2013 Ballon d’Or trophy raised £530,000 for the Make-A-Wish foundation.But perhaps Ronaldo’s biggest contribution to other people’s health came during the Covid-19 pandemic.Ronaldo, seen here on a summer yachting holdiay with Georgina, has an incredible life away from the pitchCredit: InstagramThe couple travel in style, with private jet their favoured choice of planeCredit: instagramAll those hours in the gym paid off for their trip to St Tropez in the summerCredit: The Mega AgencyRonaldo and Georgina with their five kidsCredit: instagramOne of the hospitals in Lisbon which Ronaldo donated huge sums toCredit: Darren Fletcher – The SunHe and agent Jorge Mendes provided £1million to fund life-saving equipment at hospitals in Lisbon and Porto.Daniel Ferro, president of Lisbon’s Santa Maria Hospital, said: “We were contacted by Jorge Mendes, who volunteered with Cristiano Ronaldo to finance two intensive care units for critical patients suffering from Covid-19.“There are fans, monitors, infusion pumps, beds … all the equipment that constitutes an intensive care unit equipped to provide care to a Covid-19 patient.”Ronaldo also persuaded his Portugal team-mates to donate 50 per cent of their bonus for qualifying for Euro 2020, which was postponed until 2021 because of the pandemic, to Covid-19 relief.Ronaldo’s commitment to his and others’ physical well-being is linked to harrowing experiences with his close family.Father Dinis was an alcoholic who died from liver failure in 2005 at the age of just 52.Older brother Hugo, 10 years his senior, suffered from addiction to drink and drugs but got sober with the help and support of Ronaldo.Their mum Dolores, who has twice overcome breast cancer, said: “Cristiano has seen what drink and drugs can do to people close to him.”And it’s part of the reason why he’s become who he is today.”Ronaldo now has a family of his own. Cristiano Jr was born in 2010, with his mother’s name kept secret at her request.The 14-year-old is attempting to follow in his father’s footsteps, scoring goals for fun in Al Nassr’s youth academy.And it is often speculated that Ronaldo may hold off retirement until he can share a pitch with his eldest child.In 2017, twins Eva and Mateo came into the world through a surrogacy arrangement. Later the same year, Ronaldo and glamorous partner Georgina Rodriguez welcomed their first child together into the world, Alana.Tragedy struck in 2022 when Georgina gave birth to more twins and the boy sadly did not survive.Ronaldo was back at United at the time and received a touching tribute from Liverpool fans during a match between the bitter rivals days later – a mark of his status and impact on the game.Surviving Bella, Ronaldo’s youngest, will celebrate her third birthday in April.Ronaldo and Georgina, 31, are among the most photographed and best known people on the planet, thanks to huge social media followings and high-profile roles and endorsements.Ronaldo himself is by far and away the world’s most popular figure on Instagram, with an incredible 647million followers and counting – over 140million clear of old rival Lionel Messi in 2nd.But even at 40, dad-of-five Ronaldo still sees his future on the pitch.He continues to play football and score goals for Al Nassr and Portugal, long after team-mates like Rooney, who is nearly 10 months younger, hung up their boots.And Ronaldo is still eyeing up one last go at winning the World Cup in 2026, when he would be 41.Although CR7 is mocked for a perceived obsession with his image, there is no doubt that his devotion to his body has given him a career unprecedented in football.Not bad for a kid who once relied on hamburger hand-outs.Ronaldo could go out with the ultimate bang – by helping Portugal win the World Cup next yearCredit: Kenny RamsayBLINDING DATERONALDO shares his birth date, February 5, with a host of footballing namesNeymar – (born 1992)Carlos Tevez – (born 1986)Gheorghe Hagi – (born 1965)Adnan Januzaj – (born 1995)Patrick Roberts – (born 1997)Jordan Rhodes – (born 1990)Vedran Corluka – (born 1986)Rodrigo Palacio – (born 1982)Giovanni van Bronckhorst – (born 1975)Billy Sharp – (born 1986) More

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      in Soccer

      Separate rooms, no goodbye & a ‘big f*** you’ – pals reveal brutal truth of Kyle Walker’s crisis talks with Annie Kilner

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      WHEN the black Mercedes people carrier pulled out of the driveway to take Kyle Walker to the airport ahead of a life-changing flight to Italy, talk naturally turned to a fresh start.For those invested in this long-running scandal – and indeed, the uninitiated – that’s certainly how it was framed.As he departed for Italy, it had been hoped this was the fresh start footballing ace Kyle Walker desperately needed – but behind closed doors the atmosphere is anything but positiveCredit: Eamonn and James ClarkeAfter 12 miserable months, the former Manchester City skipper was finally on the cusp of escaping a scandal of his own making – and one that has hooked the country with every one of its twists and turns.But as the car eased through the gates of the family’s sprawling Cheshire mansion, there was little euphoria – and even less optimism – about his move to Italian giants AC Milan.Beneath the murky slate grey skies above Manchester, he left a home devoid of any joy or excitement. In fact, friends tell me he and estranged wife Annie Kilner were in separate rooms and could not even bring themselves to say goodbye to one another.One said: “That’s how strained things are at the moment. It’s as bad as it’s ever been.”He didn’t even sit her down and discuss moving to Italy. He just said ‘I’m going, it’s up to you if you come with me’.”They’re not in a great place and are barely talking. “It’s still unclear if Annie will actually join him permanently in Italy. “Everything is up in the air but, then again, it’s been like this ever since the scandal was exposed.”In the days that followed, Kyle was pictured smiling as he signed for his new club on loan and pulled on the iconic shirt of the Rossoneri.Annie Kilner seen for 1st time since REFUSING to watch Kyle Walker’s AC Milan debut as she steps out without ringIt’s believed Walker and wife Annie are barely on speaking terms, and things are ‘as bad as ever’Credit: BackGridInsiders claim the Man City star didn’t even discuss his move to AC Milan with Annie, and made the decision aloneCredit: GettyA new crisis brewing He even asked for the number 32 – a nod to David Beckham who was the same age when he arrived at the San Siro.Fans mobbed him in the street outside Milan’s Via Dante flagship store as he posed for selfies.But despite the 1,000-mile difference, for all the talk of a fresh start, the drama back home was rumbling on in the background and a new crisis brewing.Instagram influencer Lauryn Goodman, 34, the ex-mistress whom he secretly fathered two children with, was naturally at its core.She wanted to move abroad too (although she floated the Middle East as a possible destination rather than Italy) and hoped to use the proceeds from renting out the £2.4million mansion he bought her in East Sussex to fund it.Annie hit the roof, and who could blame her? Ex-mistress Lauryn Goodman was said to also be eyeing up a move abroad with her kids – an idea Walker quickly put an end toThe social media influencer shares two children with the footballer after a fling, and has been a source of contention for Walker and his understandably upset wifeCredit: social.saviour/Instagram’A big f*** you’ She was also less than pleased after learning he had flown some of his pals out to Milan to join him.Annie had planned to fly out to Italy with their boys – Roman, 12, Riaan, nine, seven-year-old Reign and baby Rezon – to watch Kyle unveiled to an adoring crowd in the San Siro.But she pulled out at the last minute. Another source bluntly said: “She had other plans.”She went out partying to celebrate a pal’s 40th birthday and they all dressed up as stars from the 90s. Annie, her hair in braids, went as pop singer Christina Aguilera (minus the leather chaps, of course).One pal described it as a “big f*** you”.But as the row deepened, Annie also threatened to miss Kyle’s Serie A debut in the 1-1 Milan derby on Sunday .She eventually relented and flew out from Manchester Airport on a private jet.Annie and the boys were photographed arriving in Italy before being reunited with Kyle in the lobby of the five star Melia Milano hotel.Kyle held his toddler son Rezon in his arms and beamed the biggest grin as he waved to fans. The family were later pictured having dinner together. But beneath the surface, ahead of his San Siro bow, all was not well.’They live in a vacuum of volatility’One source said: “For a long time now they have operated in a vacuum of volatility.”They don’t know any other way of living.”That’s how they function. If you look back over the last year they’ve lurched from one crisis to another.”It’s not healthy and everyone around them can see it.”No one, not even those closest to them, want Annie to join him in Italy.”Kyle’s family think the space will do him the world of good, whilst Annie’s family can’t bear what he’s done to her.”They would rather they had a complete break from one another.”If that leads to divorce then so be it, it may be what’s best for everyone involved.”Instead of flying out to Italy, Annie decided to attend a pal’s birthday bashCredit: annievkilner/InstagramAnnie missed Kyle’s Serie A debut in the Milan derby, with the pair said to be barely speakingCredit: GettyCanyon-like chasmThe latest row and its fallout was more proof, if any were needed, that a fresh start was only ever an illusion.Take Christmas, for example. Kyle and Annie smiled for a family photo at the foot of their sweeping staircase wearing matching pyjamas.Again, there was talk of a fresh start: a New Year, a new us.Beyond anyone’s wildest expectations (even his), here he was in the family home – albeit banished to the third floor guest room – enjoying Christmas Day a year after he had turned their lives upside down.”[Annie] wants half of his £27million fortune, nothing less. She thinks she’s earned it, given everything that he’s put her through.An insider But the harmonious snapshot belied the canyon-like chasm opened up by his many affairs, not least with Lauryn – one which widened ever more after Annie served him divorce papers in August last year.At the time, when I broke the news, the couple were said to be found enjoying a quiet night in at their sprawling home in Cheshire, watching TV in the living room and sharing a sofa together (the only thing missing was a roaring fire).Friends scoffed at the idea and insisted the image of them curled up together was yet another careful piece of highly spun choreography to present an image of togetherness. It could not have been further from the truth.The pair have put on a united front for the sake of the kids, but are reportedly at loggerheads away from the camerasCredit: Instagram’She wants half… nothing less’ Two weeks after the Christmas snap was taken, pals say Annie and Kyle were once again sharing a room together, only this time they were across a table from one another in a solicitor’s office to discuss the splitting of assets.A source said: “Lawyers from both sides were there.”An offer was presented to Annie which was far lower than she had expected.”She wants half of his £27million fortune, nothing less. She thinks she’s earned it, given everything that he’s put her through.”And she’s determined to stop any share she is entitled to falling into Lauryn’s hands.”She refused to accept the offer outright. Kyle’s lawyer turned to him and said ‘the only thing left then is divorce’.”Kyle just shrugged his shoulders.”The Sun understands Kyle refused to part with half of his fortune during the round table and instead offered to put her name on his bank accounts.In the days that followed, Kyle sought out Manchester City’s director of football, Txiki Begiristain, and asked to exit the Etihad after eight glorious years at the top.City boss Pep Guardiola revealed his captain’s bombshell in his post-match press conference after his side hit eight past Salford in the FA Cup third round.He said: “I prefer to play players whose mind is here.”Now in his mind, for many reasons, he would like to explore if he can go to another country to play his last years.”Annie believes, given everything she’s been through, she’s entitled to half Kyle’s fortune – and she doesn’t want to settle for lessCredit: instagram/annievkilner’Pain and emotion’Kyle’s head was, indeed, elsewhere. After a year of headlines and near constant firefighting, he wanted an escape route.He had tried to leave before – when Lauryn fell pregnant with his second child – but his £15million move to Bayern Munich collapsed.In an interview with me this time last year he said: “Did I want to leave City? No, of course I didn’t.”We’re the best team in the world at the minute, but for me it was a chance to get away from England and the media I was going to get.”I was acutely aware the clock was ticking.”I came very close to moving. We were having conversations. The numbers were there. I was going to a great club, a massive club.”But in the end I couldn’t go.”There is pain and emotion at the moment but I can go to the house, pick the kids up, take them to school, I can take my little lad to football.”I can do the normal stuff that makes me feel normal.”This time round he wanted the move and signed a loan deal with AC Milan that will keep him at the iconic San Siro stadium until the end of the season.There is every chance it will be made permanent, too.For the time being Walker is living out of a suitcase and away from his family, but is said to be settling in as best he canCredit: AFP or LicensorsYet another crossroad For the time-being, Kyle is living out of a suitcase (not for the first time) in a five-star Milan hotel and settling into his new surroundings like a duck to water.He has already found a place to live and has picked up a new BMW motor.Those close to him have seen a marked change already. He appears happier and more content, they say.And so, three years after they married at Mottram Hall in Cheshire in a less than romantic union conducted after the school run, they have reached yet another crossroad.But this one has the feel of something altogether more final.Annie’s decision to file for divorce was designed to provoke a reaction. Friends say she never intended or wanted them to split up for good – she just wanted what she thought was rightfully hers. A ‘no-split’ financial divorce.To begin with, it achieved all that she had hoped.Kyle was at home when the doorbell rang and was naturally stunned to find a man standing on the porch nervously waiting to ‘serve’ the papers.The summer had been eventful both on and off the pitch, but this moved it to fever pitch.Timeline of Kyle Walker & Annie Kilner’s relationshipEarly years – Kyle and Annie first meet in Sheffield when she was 15 and he was 17Euro 2016 – Walker caught messaging Playboy model Carla HoweApril 2019 – Annie dumps Kyle after his alleged romps with reality TV star Laura BrownApril 2020 – Kyle allegedly hosts sex party with two escorts during covid-19 lockdownFebruary 2020 – Lauryn Goodman gives birth to Kairo, her son with WalkerNovember 2021 – Walker and Kilner marry in secretMarch 2023 – Lauryn announces her second pregnancySpring 2023 – Kyle allegedly flashes and kisses another woman in a Vodka Revolution bar in CheshireAugust 2023 – Lauryn gives birth to a daughterJanuary 2024 – Annie announces split from Kyle after two years of marriage. It emerges Kyle is the dad of Lauryn’s second child. Kyle begs for forgiveness in exclusive Sun interview. Lauryn brands him a ‘pathological narcissist’October 2024 – Annie files for divorceJanuary 2025 – Kyle moves to Italy alone, with Annie refusing to join him. Villain to victim Defeat to Spain in the Euros final had been closely followed by a thumping court win over Lauryn (the judge referring to her use of Kyle as an ‘open-ended chequebook’ summed up his impression of the influencer).Judge Edward Hess branded her an “unreliable” witness who chose to further her own case rather than tell the truth.He even accused her of cashing in on his betrayal of wife Annie, 31.She knew he was desperate to keep the birth of their one-year-old daughter Kinara Storm a secret and used it as “leverage” to get what she wanted, the judge said.Her demands included £33,000 for air conditioning at her £2.5million seven-bedroom mansion in Sussex, a £22,000 furnishing fund, £70,000 for a Mercedes GLE, to be replaced every three years, and a £30,000 car allowance for a nanny.On top of that she wanted £14,750 a month in child maintenance for both children, £3,900 a month in childcare costs, a bespoke wood and glass baby gate – and even an iron. Kyle secretly hoped the judgement – scathing of his former lover’s long list of demands – would somehow elevate him from villain to victim.But Annie was seething – she had no idea of the vast sums being funnelled to her love rival.Kyle had hoped his court win against Lauryn over child maintenance would help vindicate him, and turn him from ‘villain to victim’Credit: PAAnnie was said to be fuming about the staggering sums of money being paid to the mother of his two other childrenCredit: Social MediaDish best served coldNevertheless, divorce papers were the last thing Kyle was expecting to receive.The long(est)-running soap opera featuring him as the (reluctant) lead man had just delivered a cliff-hanging sting in the tale.Annie had spoken to friends during the summer months – she had been pictured looking stony-faced at the Euros – and had floated the idea.They had holidayed together as a family in Turkey and on the Llyn Peninsula in Wales.But she needed little encouragement to act and so, out of the blue, served the coldest of dishes to her wayward husband.It set in train a series of events that Annie had not planned for or expected and now has no control over.As Kyle embarks on the next chapter of his footballing career alone, one pal summed it up perfectly: “Their best chance of staying together now is being apart.” More