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World’s Five Highest Paid Football Players Lost $173M in Market Value, Messi Tops with a $66M Drop

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Real Madrid's Portuguese forward Cristia

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an enormous impact on the entire football eco-system, causing considerable drops in clubs’ revenues and their players’ market value.

According to data presented by SafeBettingSites.com, the combined market value of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Kylian Mbappe, and Mohamed Salah, as the world’s five highest-paid football players, plunged by $173 million in the last year.

Messi Lost $66M in Market Value, more than Neymar and Cristiano Ronaldo Combined

The Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi backs up his talent with the highest earnings. The famous right-winger, who is considered by many to be the greatest player on the planet, tops Forbes’ list of the highest-paid football players. Messi makes an annual salary of $126 million at the Nou Camp, although his contract expires at the end of the 2020/21 campaign.

However, the world’s highest-paid football player also witnessed the biggest drop in market value in 2020. The TransferMarkt data show his valuation plunged from $154 million in December 2019 to $88 million in January 2021. Statistics also indicate Messi’s market value has constantly been falling since May 2018, when it peaked at €180 million.

The Portuguese superstar and the most popular athlete on the planet, Cristiano Ronaldo, is the second highest-paid football player globally. His Juventus contract brings him an annual salary of $117 million, $9 million less than Messi.

However, the Juventus forward also witnessed a substantial market value drop last year, with the figure going down from $82.5 million in December 2019 to $66 million in December 2020.

Neymar set a world-record with his $263 million transfer to PSG from Barcelona in 2017. With an annual salary of $96 million, the Brazilian footballer ranked third on the Forbes list. However, the TransferMarkt data show his market value plunged by $35.2 million in 2020, the second-largest drop among the top five players. In December 2019, the 21-year-old was valued at $176 million. This figure slumped to $140.8 million in October last year.

Kylian Mbappe and Mohamed Salah Lost $55M in Combined Market Value

The next generation leader, Kylian Mbappe confirmed his place among the best players on the planet by scoring four times as France won the 2018 World Cup. His $215 million worth transfer from Monaco to Paris Saint Germain in 2018, which made him the sports’ highest-paid teenager, remains the second most expensive in history.

The 22-year-old, who ranked fourth on the Forbes list, makes $42 million per season. However, his market value dropped by $22 million last year.

As the fifth football player on this list, Mohamed Salah made $37 million last season after leading Liverpool to its first Premier League title in 30 years. Although the Egyptian footballer has the highest win rate of any league player to have appeared in more than 100 matches, his market value also dropped significantly last year. In December 2019, Salah was valued at $165 million. In the next ten months, this figure fell to $132 million.

Is the CEO and Founder of Investors King Limited. He is a seasoned foreign exchange research analyst and a published author on Yahoo Finance, Business Insider, Nasdaq, Entrepreneur.com, Investorplace, and other prominent platforms. With over two decades of experience in global financial markets, Olukoya is well-recognized in the industry.

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Cristiano Ronaldo New YouTube Channel, Gains Over 14M Subscribers in 24 Hours

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cristiano ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo, the world-renowned Portuguese soccer star, launched his official YouTube channel on Wednesday, amassing 14.9 million subscribers within just 24 hours.

The channel, titled “UR,” broke several records shortly after its launch on Wednesday, solidifying Ronaldo’s digital dominance.

Announcing the channel on his social media accounts, Ronaldo excitedly shared: “The wait is over. My @YouTube channel is finally here! SIUUUbscribe and join me on this new journey.”

The announcement quickly garnered millions of reactions across platforms, and fans worldwide flocked to YouTube to connect with Ronaldo in this new format.

The channel’s unprecedented growth broke multiple milestones on its first day. After going live at 2 PM BST, Ronaldo’s channel became the fastest to reach 100,000 subscribers, achieving the feat in just 55 minutes.

The momentum didn’t stop there—Ronaldo surpassed one million subscribers within 90 minutes, breaking the previous record set by the popular “Sidemen Reacts” channel.

By 6 PM BST, the channel had doubled the number of subscribers held by Lionel Messi’s YouTube channel, which stood at 2.16 million.

The channel, which has only posted 19 videos as of now, already boasts over 40.6 million views.

Ronaldo’s immense popularity on social media—where he remains the most followed person with around a billion followers across all platforms—played a key role in the rapid success of his YouTube venture.

The “UR” channel offers fans an intimate glimpse into Ronaldo’s life outside of football. From his love for the game to personal moments with his family, insights into his wellness routine, and an inside look at his growing business empire, the channel promises to offer a multifaceted view of the legendary athlete.

Beyond Ronaldo’s own story, “UR” will also feature exclusive interviews with notable athletes, providing viewers with an in-depth look into the lives of other sports icons.

Ronaldo expressed his excitement about the channel’s launch, stating, “I have always enjoyed having such a strong relationship with fans on social media, and my YouTube channel will give me an even bigger platform to do so. They will learn more about me, my family, and my views on many different subjects.”

With the channel’s exponential growth, Ronaldo’s leap into YouTube signifies his commitment to engaging with fans in deeper, more personal ways.

The overwhelming response shows that millions are eager to join him on this new journey, solidifying his standing not just as a sports icon but as a global media powerhouse.

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Tobi Amusan Falls Short of 100m Hurdles Final at Paris Olympics

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Tobi Amusan

In a surprising turn of events at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Tobi Amusan, the world record holder in the 100m hurdles, was unable to advance to the final of her event.

Amusan, who had previously dazzled spectators with her performance at the Olympics, finished third in her heat with a time of 12.55 seconds.

Despite a strong showing in the semifinals on Wednesday, where she clocked an impressive 12.49 seconds to win her heat, she was unable to replicate that form in Thursday’s competition.

Having missed out on the two automatic qualification spots from her heat, Amusan was pinning her hopes on securing one of the remaining places as a fastest loser.

However, her time was not sufficient to make it to the final eight, leaving her Olympic journey in the 100m hurdles at an unexpected and disappointing end.

Amusan’s failure to qualify for the final is a significant blow not just for her, but also for Team Nigeria, which had high hopes for her in the track and field events.

The hurdles event, a showcase of speed and agility, had been one of the key areas of focus for the Nigerian team, and Amusan’s performance was seen as crucial in their overall medal prospects.

In a statement following her exit, Amusan expressed her disappointment but also her determination to continue improving.

“It’s not the result I was hoping for,” she said. “I gave it my all, but sometimes things don’t go as planned. I will take this as a learning experience and work even harder to come back stronger.”

The result also underscores the unpredictable nature of track and field, where even the best athletes can face challenges in high-stakes situations.

While Amusan’s Olympic journey in the 100m hurdles may have ended sooner than anticipated, her achievements leading up to this point remain a testament to her skill and dedication.

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Spain Triumphs in Euro 2024 Final, Defeats England with Last-Minute Winner

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Spain clinched their fourth European Championship title with a thrilling 2-1 victory over England, thanks to a last-minute goal from Mikel Oyarzabal.

The dramatic finale at Berlin’s Olympiastadion on Sunday saw Spain’s dominance throughout the tournament crowned with a well-deserved win, while England suffered their second consecutive final defeat.

The match began cautiously, with Spain controlling 65% of possession in the first half but failing to capitalize on their dominance.

England’s Phil Foden had the only shot on target, reflecting a tense and tightly contested opening period.

The breakthrough came just two minutes into the second half when teenager Lamine Yamal, who had been effectively contained in the first half, found space down the right wing.

His precise cross met Nico Williams, who slotted the ball past England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, giving Spain a 1-0 lead.

Spain enjoyed a period of sustained pressure following the goal, with Dani Olmo, Alvaro Morata, and Williams all coming close to extending their lead.

England’s previously solid defense appeared to be losing its shape under the relentless Spanish attacks.

In response, England manager Gareth Southgate made strategic substitutions, bringing on Ollie Watkins and Cole Palmer.

The changes paid off when Jude Bellingham set up Palmer, who curled a low shot from 20 meters out into the net in the 73rd minute, leveling the score and igniting hope among the English fans.

The match seemed destined for extra time until a lapse in England’s defense allowed Spain to strike again. Marc Cucurella, left unmarked on the left flank, delivered a cross into the box.

Oyarzabal, who had come on as a substitute, stretched to poke the ball home, securing Spain’s victory four minutes from the end.

The final moments of the game saw frantic action, with Spain’s goalkeeper Unai Simon making a crucial save from a Declan Rice header, and Dani Olmo clearing a follow-up effort off the line. Despite England’s late surge, Spain held firm to secure the 2-1 win.

Spain manager Luis de la Fuente expressed his pride in his team after the match. “I couldn’t be happier. This confirms what we are. For me, they are the best in the world,” he said.

England, who had fought back from a goal down for the fourth consecutive match in the tournament, were left to rue missed opportunities and defensive lapses.

Southgate, who has led England to two Euro finals and a World Cup semi-final during his tenure, acknowledged the team’s effort but conceded Spain’s superiority.

“The players have got to take enormous credit for getting us to the point they did. They fought and represented the shirt with pride. But I think Spain were the best team in the tournament and they deserved to win,” Southgate said.

Spain’s victory adds a fourth European Championship title to their collection, following wins in 1964, 2008, and 2012.

As only the third team in the last nine Euros to win the trophy without a penalty shootout, Spain’s triumph cements their place as one of the dominant forces in European football.

Meanwhile, England’s wait for a major tournament victory continues, extending their “30 years of hurt” since their 1966 World Cup win to at least double that number.

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