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☆ Saudi Arabia is reportedly trying to plug a $21 billion deficit by selling bonds
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-28 | by ( George Glover | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

You can opt-out at any time by visiting our Preferences page or by clicking "unsubscribe" at the bottom of the email. Read previewSaudi Arabia plans to raise money by selling bonds as it presses ahead with massive spending projects, Bloomberg reported. Riyadh previously sold $12 billion of sovereign debt in January, while planned desert megacity Neom has also reportedly mulled issuing Islamic bonds in a bid to raise more cash. AdvertisementThe latest bond sale comes as Saudi Arabia presses ahead with Mohammed bin Salman's Vision 2030 plan that seeks to diversify its oil-reliant economy. In February, The Wall Street Journal reported that Saudi Arabia had started borrowing to help fund Neom and other Vision 2030 "gigaprojects."

Persons: —, Goldman Sachs, Mohammed bin Salman's, Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Neymar, LIV, Tim Callen Organizations: Service, Bloomberg, Business, Citigroup, BNP, Saudi Pro League, Street Journal, Gulf States Institute Locations: Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Washington, Saudi

☆ Cristiano Ronaldo set to play in 11th international tournament after 39-year-old makes Portugal’s Euro 2024 squad
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Cristiano Ronaldo is set to play in his 11th international tournament for Portugal later this year, after the 39-year-old was named in his nation’s squad for Euro 2024. It seemed as though Ronaldo might have made his last appearance in a major international tournament at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Ronaldo made his first tournament appearance for Portugal at Euro 2004. Darren Walsh/Action Images/ReutersHowever, Ronaldo will not be the oldest player in the Portugal squad. “His communication, his positioning mean that, when he’s fit, he’s a very important player.”Portugal will play Turkey, Georgia and Czech Republic in Group F at Euro 2024.

Persons: CNN — Cristiano Ronaldo, Ballon d’Or, Roberto Martinez, “ Cristiano, It’s, who’s, ” Martinez, Ronaldo, “, Fernando Santos, Darren Walsh, Pepe, ” Organizations: CNN, Portugal, Saudi, Portugal’s UEFA Nations League, Al, UEFA, Porto, European, Champions League, Sporting Lisbon, Czech Republic, Czech Locations: Europe’s, Saudi Arabian, Portugal, Greece, Portugal’s, Qatar, ” Portugal, Turkey, Georgia, Czech, Czech Republic

☆ Kharkiv: Life goes on as Russian advance menaces city
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-19 | by ( Andrew Carey | Daria Tarasova-Markina | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +17 min

Kharkiv, Ukraine CNN —Thirty miles to the north, Russian forces are invading again. 00:41 - Source: CNNHotel manager Olha SokolenkoOlha Sokolenko, director of Kharkiv Palace Hotel, was in the hotel at the moment of the strike. This is my homeland.”Kharkiv’s mayorKharkiv's mayor, Ihor Terekhov, was elected just a few months before the Ukraine war broke out. To send signals both to Kharkiv residents who stay here that life goes on, and signals to those outside of Kharkiv that Kharkiv is a Ukrainian city and people live here.”Lomako explains that he and his partners traveled across the country to collect local recipes and techniques. Kharkiv theater goes undergroundThis theater in Kharkiv is one of several city institutions forced underground by the war.

Persons: Yuriy Sapronov, Sapronov, Chasiv Yar, ”, Yuriy, Daria Tarasova, ” Sapronov, Olha Sokolenko, Sokolenko, Olha, “, Kolotay, Cristiano Ronaldo, Matviy, Mikhaylo Galushko, ” Galushko, Ihor Terekhov, Volodymyr Zelensky, ” Terekhov, Borys Lomako, “ It’s, ” Lomako, Lomako, Dmytro Gurov’s, Dmytro Gurov, CNN Gurov, Gurov, it’s, Oksana Stetsenko, ” Stetsenko, Neda Nezhdana Organizations: CNN, Ukraine CNN, Emergency Service, Soviet, Kharkiv, CNN Hotel, Hotel, ” FC Metalist Kharkiv Matviy Kolotay, FC Metalist Kharkiv, Hirnyk Sport, Coaches, FC Metalist, English, Everton, UEFA, Kharkiv's, Russia, Hyundai, Russian, Employees, Schools Locations: Kharkiv, Ukraine, Russian, Ukraine’s, Che, Russia, “, Kaliningrad, Soviet Union, Soviet, Kyiv, Kremenchuk, Uzhhorod, Poltava, Ukrainian, Dnipro

☆ Cristiano Ronaldo tops Forbes’ list of the world’s highest-paid athletes
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Cristiano Ronaldo may be in the twilight of his career, but the soccer star still tops Forbes’ list of the world’s highest-paid athletes thanks to his huge wages in Saudi Arabia. According to Forbes’ list, which was released on Thursday, Ronaldo earned $260 million over the last 12 months, $200 million from his club contract with Al-Nassr and $60 million in off-field earnings. Rahm’s total earnings are $218 million, Forbes calculated – $198 million through playing wages alone – while Messi’s are $135 million, more than half of which ($70 million) are off-the-field payments. Ronaldo, one of four Saudi-based soccer players on the list of the 50 highest-paid athletes, made his debut for Al-Nassr in January 2023. Forbes’ 10 highest-paid athletes in 2024:

Persons: CNN — Cristiano Ronaldo, Forbes, Ronaldo, Jon Rahm, LIV, Lionel Messi, Nassr, Neville Hopwood, LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Steph Curry, Karim Benzema –, Mbappé, Lamar Jackson, Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, Li Na, Naomi Osaka Organizations: CNN, Forbes, Al, Inter Miami, Saudi Pro League, Neymar, –, Baltimore Ravens, NFL, Forbes ’ Locations: Saudi Arabia, Saudi, Hilal

☆ How soccer club Juventus is becoming one of the leading sports brands on social media despite 'tough times' on the pitch
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-09 | by ( Marta Biino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Juventus is a 127-year-old Italian soccer club with a long history of success. With 32.7 million followers, Juventus' account is the fifth-most-followed soccer team on the platform, and its audience is bigger than that of the NBA or WWE. It's also the sixth in the world across all social media, according to data from the soccer analysis platform Football Benchmark. From left: Juventus players Wojciech Szczęsny and Kenan Yıldız with YouTuber Celine Dept during the launch day of Juventus Creator Lab. One of the areas of the new Juventus Creator Lab.

Persons: It's, Juventus, Mike Armstrong, Cristiano Ronaldo, Paulo Dybala, Armstrong, Filippo Alfero, he's, we've, fandoms, it's, Wojciech Szczęsny, Kenan Yıldız, Celine, Daniele Badolato Organizations: Juventus, UEFA Champions, NBA, WWE, Business, Juventus FC, Amazon Prime, YouTube, EA Sports, Getty, Juventus FC At Locations: Italian

☆ Jude Bellingham: How a 20-year-old Englishman fueled Real Madrid’s record-extending La Liga title
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Jude Bellingham celebrated winning his first ever La Liga title with his mother, posting a picture on Instagram of the two hugging with the legendary Santiago Bernabéu Stadium stretching out behind them. We had a lot of continuity from the first to the last game.”When Bellingham joined Real Madrid, expectations were high for the young Englishman. Jude Bellingham celebrates with Real Madrid fans after winning the Champions League quarterfinal against Manchester City. He scored 10 goals in his first 10 games, won La Liga’s player of the month for August and quickly displayed his knack of finding late winners, rescuing Real late on against Getafe in September. It isn’t just his goalscoring that has proven so effective for Real Madrid.

Persons: CNN — Jude Bellingham, Santiago, Rodrygo, Ballon, Carlo Ancelotti, ”, Realmadrid, “, Jude Bellingham, Molly Darlington, Karim Benzema, Kylian Mbappé, “ Jude Bellingham, David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane, Zidane, Steve McManaman, “ There’s, I’ve, Cádiz, CNN’s Amanda Davies Organizations: CNN, Liga, Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, La Liga, Bellingham, El, Barcelona, League, Manchester City, Reuters, Champions League, La, Real, Getafe, Spanish, Marca, TNT Sports, TNT, Warner Bros . Locations: Bellingham, La, Spanish, Madrid

☆ Selena Gomez: Getting off Instagram was 'the most rewarding gift I gave myself'
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-28 | by ( Nicolas Vega | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

There are few people in the world better at Instagram than Selena Gomez. The "Spring Breakers" star said during the panel discussion that taking an extended break from Instagram was helpful for her mental health. "I took four years off of Instagram and I let my team post for me," she said. "I felt like it was the most rewarding gift I gave myself. Plus, sign up for CNBC Make It's newsletter to get tips and tricks for success at work, with money and in life.

Persons: Selena Gomez, Gomez, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Raquel Martin, Martin Organizations: Tennessee State University, CNBC Locations: Instagram

☆ Cristiano Ronaldo red carded for elbowing opponent during Saudi Super Cup defeat
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-09 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Cristiano Ronaldo was red carded for elbowing an opponent during Al-Nassr’s defeat against Al-Hilal in the Saudi Super Cup semifinal. Sadio Mané did score for Al-Nassr following Ronaldo’s departure, but earlier goals from Salem Al-Dawsari and Malcom gave Al-Hilal a 2-1 victory. There was no way back for Al-Nassr from there, despite Mané’s consolation goal after Ronaldo’s red card. The defeat on Monday means that Ronaldo and Al-Nassr are likely to end this season without a trophy. Al-Hilal will now face Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Super Cup final in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.

Persons: CNN — Cristiano Ronaldo, Hilal’s Ali Al, Bulayhi, Sadio Mané, Dawsari, Malcom, Hilal, Jorge Jesus, Otávio, Ronaldo remonstrates, Stringer, Ronaldo Organizations: CNN, Al, Saudi Super, Salem Al, men’s, Saudi Pro League, Asian Champions League, SPL Locations: Hilal, Abu Dhabi, Portuguese, Salem, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Ittihad

☆ Lionel Messi says he hasn’t yet thought about when he will retire
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-28 | by ( George Ramsay | Patrick Sung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Age, they say, is just a number – an adage that appears to ring true for soccer star Lionel Messi. “The truth is I haven’t thought about it yet,” said Messi, who turns 37 in June. “Today, I try to enjoy it day-by-day, enjoy every moment without thinking about it more than that. Messi celebrates winning the World Cup with Argentina in 2022. Asked about what will factor into his decision to retire, Messi said: “The moment that I’m not at the level to deliver, that I’m not enjoying it, that I’m not helping my teammates.

Persons: Lionel Messi, Messi, hasn’t, Ballon d’Or, ”, it’s, Cristiano Ronaldo, aplenty, Nassr, Carl Recine, Reuters Messi, I’m, “, ” Messi, Argentina’s, El Savaldor Organizations: CNN, Argentina, La Liga, Barcelona, Reuters, MLS, Inter Miami, Leagues, Eastern Conference, El, Inter, New York Locations: “, Portugal, Saudi Arabian, Costa Rica, New York City

☆ Al-Hilal: Saudi Arabia club sets record for most consecutive wins in men’s soccer
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-13 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal set the world record for the most consecutive victories in men’s soccer on Tuesday, defeating Al-Ittihad 2-0 in the AFC Champions League. Before that, Dutch giant Ajax had held the record for 44 years after a 26-game winning streak between 1971 and 1972. “Everyone at Al Hilal is delighted to achieve world football history by winning 28 consecutive matches,” said manager Jorge Jesus. “It is up to everyone at Al-Hilal to ensure that we close out the season as Roshn Saudi League champions and meet our targets in the cup competitions. According to Guinness World Records, Olympique Lyonnais Féminin has the most consecutive wins in soccer – men’s or women’s – with 41 across all competitions between 2012 and 2013.

Persons: Hilal, Al Hilal, ”, Jorge Jesus, Romarinho, Yasser Al, Shahrani, Hilal's, Yasser Bakhsh, Abderrazak, Ali Al, Malcom, Jesus, ” Al, Al Ain, Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al, Nassr, Neymar Organizations: CNN, Saudi, Al, AFC Champions League, Welsh, New Saints, Ajax, ”, “, Saudi League, Champions League, Saudi Pro League, Guinness World Records, Olympique Lyonnais Féminin Locations: Saudi Arabian, Ittihad, Al, Hilal, Jeddah

☆ Al-Nassr knocked out of the AFC Champions League by Al Ain after Cristiano Ronaldo’s costly miss
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-12 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr crashed out of the AFC Champions League after a thrilling tie against Al Ain ended 4-4 on aggregate before the Emirati side triumphed on penalties. Monday’s end-to-end game could have gone either way, though Ronaldo will likely regret his staggering miss in the second half which could have seen Al-Nassr progress to the semifinals. Together, always!”After Al Ain won the first leg 1-0, the visiting team got off to a superb start in Riyadh thanks to two first-half goals from Soufiane Rahimi, whose neat finish had been the difference between the teams last week. Al Ain players celebrate their dramatic victory. Al Ain, chasing its first AFC Champions League title in 21 years, will next face another Saudi Arabian team – either Al-Hilal or Al-Ittihad – in the semifinals.

Persons: CNN — Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al, Nassr, Al Ain, Ronaldo, “, Soufiane Rahimi, Khalid, Sadio Mané, Abdulrahman, Fayez, Alex Telles ’, Ayman Yahya, Sultan Al, Shamsi, Raghed Al, Yasser Bakhsh, Marcelo Brozović Organizations: CNN, AFC Champions League, Al, Getty, AFC, League, Saudi Arabian Locations: Riyadh, Portuguese, Al Ain, Saudi, Al, Hilal, Ittihad

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Spanish state prosecutors have accused Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti of alleged tax fraud, claiming he used shell companies to hide parts of his income during his first stint at the club a decade ago. Prosecutors in Madrid said in a statement Wednesday that they are accusing Ancelotti of two accounts of tax fraud and are requesting a prison sentence of four years and nine months. Photos You Should See View All 60 ImagesFormer Madrid coach Jose Mourinho received a one-year suspended sentence after reaching a guilty plea for tax fraud in 2019. Star players Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo — among others — have also been found guilty of tax fraud in Spain. Madrid is leading the Spanish league and is set to play Leipzig on Wednesday for a spot in the Champions League quarterfinals.

Persons: Carlo Ancelotti, Ancelotti, Jose Mourinho, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo —, —, Mourinho, Ronaldo, Messi, ___ Organizations: Real Madrid, Prosecutors, Madrid, Champions League, AC Milan, Spanish, Star, Leipzig Locations: BARCELONA, Spain, Spanish, Madrid, Ancelotti, England, Italy, Germany, France

CNN —Portuguese and Al-Nassr star Cristiano Ronaldo has been banned for one match and fined for “provoking” fans in a Saudi Pro League match on Sunday. In footage from the game, Ronaldo can be seen cupping his hand to his ear, taking in the chanting from the opposing Al-Shabab fans. Ronaldo gestures towards the Al-Shabab fans. As a result, Ronaldo has been suspended for one match, ordered to pay around $2,666 (10,000 riyals) to the SAFF and an additional $5,333 (20,000 riyals) to Al-Shabab for complaint filing fees. Ronaldo, a five-time Balon d’Or winner, joined Al-Nassr following an acrimonious exit from English Premier League side Manchester United in late 2022.

Persons: Cristiano Ronaldo, Al Nassr’s, Ronaldo, Al, Lionel Messi’s, Yasser Bakhsh, Waleed Al, Farraj, ” Ronaldo, Yannick Carrasco’s, Nassr, Anderson Talisca, Shabab, Carlos Júnior’s, Talisca, Hazm Organizations: CNN, Saudi Pro League, Riyadh, Al, Saudi Arabian Football Federation, English Premier League, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, Reuters Al Locations: Shabab, Al, Saudi

CNN —Cristiano Ronaldo has come under scrutiny for a gesture he made towards fans following Al-Nassr’s 3-2 win against Al-Shabab in the Saudi Pro League on Sunday. In footage from the match, fans can be heard taunting Ronaldo by chanting about Lionel Messi, a long-time rival of the 39-year-old forward. The gesture is now being investigated by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF), according to Saudi-owned media outlet Asharq Al Awsat, which cited unnamed sources. CNN has contacted Ronaldo’s representatives, the SAFF, Al-Nassr and Al-Shabab for further comment. It was Al-Nassr, however, which would have the final say as Talisca’s second goal deep into the match completed a 3-2 victory in an exciting encounter.

Persons: CNN — Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Al Awsat, Nassr, –, Yannick Carrasco’s, Shabab, Carlos Júnior’s, “, Waleed Al, Farraj, Asharq Al Awsat, John Duerden, ” Organizations: CNN, Al, Saudi Pro League, Saudi Arabian Football Federation, Guardian Locations: Shabab, Saudi, Al, Riyadh, Hilal, Portuguese, Saudi Arabia

☆ Lionel Messi’s last-gasp goal earns Inter Miami a draw against LA Galaxy in front of star-studded crowd
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The stars were out in force to watch Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami against LA Galaxy in Sunday’s 1-1 draw – and the Argentine, unsurprisingly, didn’t disappoint. LA Galaxy, once a home for some of Major League Soccer’s superstar signings following David Beckham’s arrival in 2007, took the lead in the 75th minute through Serbian striker Dejan Joveljić. Despite its new star-studded lineup, which now also features Luis Saurez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, Inter Miami was thoroughly outplayed for much of the match and looked to be heading for defeat until Messi’s intervention in the 92nd minute. Former Galaxy star Beckham, who has a statue outside of the the club’s stadium and is now a part-owner of Inter Miami, didn’t celebrate the equalizing goal against his former team. Actors Edward Norton and Liv Tyler watched alongside David Beckham and son Brooklyn Beckham.

Persons: Lionel Messi’s, Novak Djokovic, Halle Berry, Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, Anderson Paak, Tobin Heath, Diana Taurasi, David Beckham’s, Dejan Joveljić, Luis Saurez, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, Kevork Djansezian, Messi, Alba, John McCarthy, Marco Delgado, Busquets, Beckham, “, Riqui Puig, Gerardo Martino, ” Martino, Joseph Paintsil, David Beckham, Brooklyn Beckham, Leo, ”, Cristiano Ronaldo Organizations: CNN, Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami, LA Galaxy, Argentine, Christen Press, Major League, Serbian, Inter Miami, Barcelona, Galaxy, Miami, didn’t, North, Messi Locations: Miami, Argentina, North America

☆ 9 professional athletes who make more money from endorsement deals than playing sports
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-24 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Read previewMany professional athletes get paid a lot of money to play their sports, but for some, their endorsement deals are more lucrative than their salaries. Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James is the professional athlete who earned the most from endorsements and sponsorship deals last year, per Sportico. Athletes tend to retire younger than the average worker, so endorsement deals help them maximize their earnings while they're still in the spotlight. But without these restrictions, star athletes like James would likely earn much more over the course of their careers. AdvertisementThe athletes with the lowest endorsement earnings are listed first.

Persons: —, LeBron James, Dre, Cristiano Ronaldo, they're, Travis Kelce, James Organizations: Service, Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron, Nike, PepsiCo, Lakers, Business, Al, Kansas City Chiefs, NBA, NFL, NHL Locations: Saudi

☆ US lawmakers question the loyalties of McKinsey and other big American consulting firms over their work in Saudi Arabia
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Lakshmi Varanasi | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

American consulting shops like McKinsey & Co., BCG, Teneo, and M. Klein & Co. are helping Saudi Arabia diversify its oil-dependent economy through its lucrative Public Investment Fund. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Saudi Arabia, though, has imposed strict rules on what information the American consulting companies can share with the US government, and that's irked some American lawmakers. AdvertisementSo much so that Congress forced the heads of McKinsey, BCG, Teneo, and M. Klein & Co. to testify this week about their failure to comply with subpoenas regarding their firms' work with Saudi Arabia . BCG, Teneo, and M. Klein & Co. did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

Persons: —, Cristiano Ronaldo, Sen, Richard Blumenthal, Bob Sternfels, Rich Lesser, Blumenthal, Michael Klein Organizations: Service, McKinsey & Co, Klein, Co, Public Investment Fund, Business, Saudi, Al, McKinsey, Investigations Locations: Saudi Arabia, United States, Saudi

☆ French superstar Kylian Mbappé decides to join Real Madrid after PSG contract expires, per reports
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-03 | by ( Homero De La Fuente | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

According to ESPN, Mbappé has not informed PSG or Real Madrid of his decision but is expected to make an announcement next week. CNN has reached out to PSG, Real Madrid and Mbappé’s representation for comment. Paris St Germain's Kylian Mbappé in action with Newcastle United's Anthony Gordon on November 28, 2023. Sarah Meyssonnier/ReutersMbappé, for his part, has flirted with Real Madrid year after year. “My father received a call from someone at Real Madrid, inviting me to come to Spain for a training session over the holiday break,” Mbappé told The Players’ Tribune.

Persons: Kylian, he’s, Germain, Le, Mbappé, –, de Cordée, “, ” Mbappé, David Beckham, Ronaldo Nazário, Zidane, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaká, Germain's Kylian, Newcastle United's Anthony Gordon, Sarah Meyssonnier, Zinedine Zidane, ‘ Zidane, ’ ” Organizations: CNN, Real Madrid, Paris Saint, PSG, Le Parisien, ESPN, Real, AS Monaco, peerless, Madrid swirled, The New York Times, ”, Blancos, Newcastle, Reuters, Players ’ Tribune Locations: French, Paris, Real Madrid, ” Real Madrid, Spain

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Lionel Messi and Inter Miami kicked off their tour of Saudi Arabia by losing to Al-Hilal 4-3 on Monday. The Major League Soccer team is playing two games in the oil-rich kingdom as part of its preseason preparations, but even Messi could not inspire it to victory in Riyadh. While Messi got on the score sheet with a second-half penalty, Malcom came up with the decisive goal to win the match in the 88th. He ultimately opted for a move to the United States to join David Beckham's Miami and quickly led the team to its first trophy, the Leagues Cup. Just when Miami looked to have a draw, Malcom came up with the winner.

Persons: — Lionel Messi, Messi, Malcom, Hilal, Germain, David Beckham's Miami, Cristiano Ronaldo's Al, Nasser, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Abdullah Al, Hamdan, Luis Suarez, Michael, Messi's, David Ruiz, ___ Organizations: Inter Miami, Al, Major League Soccer, Messi, Paris Saint, Leagues, Newcastle, Fulham Locations: RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Hilal, Riyadh, Paris, United States, Miami, Hong Kong, Japan, Al

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Inter Miami played six preseason matches last season. It's basically an around-the-world, big-crowd, big-money, bright-spotlight batch of preseason games for Inter Miami, which instantly became a global brand when Messi announced last summer that he was joining the Major League Soccer club. Political Cartoons View All 253 Images“It’s incredible,” said DeAndre Yedlin, the Inter Miami defender who was captain until Messi arrived. But Inter Miami not only understands the value of having Messi, it welcomed this massive preseason stretch in advance of an MLS season that starts Feb. 21. “You have to see how many times these people are going to have this possibility.”The financial benefit of Inter Miami and Messi playing in Saudi Arabia hasn't been revealed.

Persons: Lionel Messi's, Al Nassr, Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, ”, DeAndre Yedlin, it’s, Leo, he’s, what's, Ballon, Messi —, Germain, Gerardo “ Tata ” Martino, Saudi Arabia hasn't, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, Luis Suarez, LIV Golf, hasn't, ” Messi, Drake Callender, “ Organizations: — Inter Miami, Inter Miami, Al, Dallas, Cotton, Major League Soccer, ” Inter Miami, Argentina, MLS, Inter Miami —, Paris Saint, “, Messi, Saudi, Florida International University, it's, Ronaldo Locations: FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla, Florida, Saudi Arabia, Hilal, Portugal, El Salvador, Hong Kong, Japan, Saudi, Spanish, Riyadh, “

☆ Jordan Henderson: After six months in Saudi Arabia, England international has returned to European soccer
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Soccer player Jordan Henderson has announced that he is returning to Europe to join Ajax, six months after making a controversial move to Saudi Arabia. Henderson makes a pass during the Saudi Pro League match between Al Ettifaq and Al Ittihad in November. Yasser Bakhsh/Getty ImagesHenderson’s move from Liverpool to Al-Ettifaq came under scrutiny given the midfielder’s previous support of LGBTQ rights. But in moving to Saudi Arabia – where same-sex sexual activity is an offense, according to Human Rights Watch – Henderson attracted criticism from LGBTQ campaign groups and the wider soccer community. He made 17 league appearances during his six months with Al Ettifaq, which is managed by Liverpool great Steven Gerrard.

Persons: Jordan Henderson, “, I’ve, Ettifaq, Samer Al Misehal, ”, “ Jordan, he’d, Saad Allazeez, Henderson, Al Ettifaq, Yasser Bakhsh, – Henderson, ” Henderson, Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Steven Gerrard Organizations: CNN — Soccer, Ajax, England, Saudi Pro League, Al, Twitter, Jordan, ESPN, SPL, Stonewall, Saudi Arabia –, Human Rights, Liverpool, Athletic, Champions League, Premier League Locations: Europe, Saudi Arabia, Al Ittihad, Liverpool, Al

☆ Vinícius Jr. scores first-half hat-trick as Real Madrid dominates Barcelona to win Spanish Super Cup
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Samuel Joseph | Sam Joseph | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Real Madrid claimed its 13th Spanish Super Cup with a comprehensive 4-1 demolition of arch-rival Barcelona in El Clásico on Sunday. The result was sweet revenge for Madrid, which was defeated 3-1 by Barcelona in the 2023 edition of the tournament. “We wanted to win the final,” said Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti after the game. Real doubled its advantage three minutes later when Vinícius scored his second, sliding in to meet a low Rodrygo cross to leave Barcelona reeling. Yasser Bakhsh/Getty ImagesHowever, the moment of hope turned out to be fleeting as Vinícius completed his hat-trick only minutes later.

Persons: Vinícius Jr, Rodrygo, “, ”, Carlo Ancelotti, “ Vinícius, Atlético, Robert Lewandowski, Barça’s, Ronald Araújo, Xavi, We’ll, ” Madrid, Vinícius, phenom Jude Bellingham, Iñaki Peña, Yasser Bakhsh, Cristiano Ronaldo’s, siu, Nassr –, Cristiano, ” Vinícius, Ferran Torres, Andriy Lunin, Torres, Lunin, Lewandowski, Jules Koundé, Araújo, Giuseppe Cacace, João Félix Organizations: CNN — Real Madrid, Spanish, Los, Atlético Madrid, ”, Vinícius, King Saud University, Madrid, Lewandowski, Real, Barcelona, La Liga, Getty Locations: Barcelona, El Clásico, Madrid, ” Barcelona, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Pedri, AFP, Bellingham, Girona

☆ From livestreaming to 'shoppertainment,' Gen Zers lead the way in Singapore's online shopping space
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Audrey Wan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Logos of online social media and social networking sites displayed on a smartphone screen on August 01, 2023 in Bath, England. Many social media sites have introduced e-commerce features on their platforms, providing an alternative to popular online shopping sites like Lazada and Shopee. For example, users can purchase directly from TikTok shop or Facebook Marketplace without navigating outside of the application. Creators promoting products can also appeal to Gen Zers' preference for credibility by using livestreaming functions on social media platforms. As Gen Zers are digitally savvy, they rely a lot on social media nano-influencers to guide their purchasing decisions, he said.

Persons: Matt Cardy, Zers, Gen Zers, TikTok, Lawrence Loh, Tracy Loh, Wu Zu, Wu, Loh, millennials, Gen, SMU's Loh, Cristiano Ronaldo, Gen Zs Organizations: Getty, SINGAPORE, Meta, Bain & Company, Research, Social, Facebook, National University of Singapore's, Business, Singapore Management University, SMU, NUS, National University of Singapore Business, CNBC Locations: Bath, England, Singapore, Zers, Southeast Asia

☆ Tiger Woods and Nike’s ‘seismic’ partnership is over. Where do they go from here?
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-10 | by ( Jack Bantock | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

After 27 years, 15 major championships, 82 PGA Tour wins and hundreds of millions of dollars in endorsement contracts, Tiger Woods and Nike announced the end of their collaboration on Monday. With Woods marking the sportswear company’s “significant entry” into golf, the partnership – and its impact – was “seismic,” explained Ben Peppi, sports commercial expert at JMW Solicitors. “For a long time post-Michael Jordan’s retirement, pre-Cristiano Ronaldo, Tiger Woods was Nike,” Peppi told CNN Sport. He transcends his sport – he wasn’t just a golf ambassador, he was a Nike icon.”As Woods became synonymous with golf, Nike became synonymous with Woods. Woods and Knight at the Tiger Woods Foundation's 20th Anniversary Celebration, held at the New York Public Library in 2016.

Persons: Tiger Woods, Woods, –, J.D, ”, Ben Peppi, Michael Jordan’s, Cristiano Ronaldo, ” Peppi, “, Tiger, Tiger …, David Cannon, Arnold Palmer, Bob Dorfman, ” Nike, Phil Knight, Knight, Gustavo Caballero, Peppi, “ There’s, Jason Day, Roger Federer, Federer, Yoshikazu, Michael Jordan, David Beckham, Usain Bolt, Puma, “ They’re, that’s, ’, it’s Organizations: CNN, Nike, Stanford University, Pumpkin, JMW Solicitors, “, CNN Sport, Augusta National, Gatorade, Accenture, Arnold Palmer Invitational, Baker, New York Public Library, Adidas, PGA, & $ Locations: golf’s, Cornelius , Oregon, Woods, ’, Japan

☆ ChatGPT, Oppenheimer and Indian entertainment top the most-viewed Wikipedia pages in 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Sergio Padilla | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Given its massive surge in popularity, the page about OpenAI’s virtual chatbot ChatGPT was the most viewed page on Wikipedia this year, amassing more than 49.4 million page views. The Wikipedia entry about the series drew more than 38 million page views. Virat Kohli of India bats during the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup India 2023 Final between India and Australia at Narendra Modi Stadium on November 19, 2023 in Ahmedabad, India. The page for the league itself received more than 32 million views and the 2023 season receiving more than 20 million views. Chris Pizzello/APThe Oppenheimer film received more than 28 million page views, the page about real-life physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer himself received 25.6 million views while the Barbie film received 18 million.

Persons: New York CNN —, ChatGPT, ”, Anusha Alikhan, Alikhan, It’s, “ Oppenheimer, Virat Kohli, Narendra Modi, Gareth Copley, Jawan, Pathaan ”, Barbie ”, ” Barbie, Oppenheimer, Chris Pizzello, J, Robert Oppenheimer, Taylor Swift, Elon Musk, Lionel Messi, Andrew Tate, misogynist influencer, Tate, Barbie, Cristiano Ronaldo, Matthew Perry, Lisa Marie Presley Organizations: New, New York CNN, New York CNN — Wikipedia’s, Wikimedia Foundation, CNN, Indian Premier League, Cricket, ”, United Nations, Internet, Mobile Association of India, eventual, Australia, ICC Men's Cricket, Narendra, Getty, Men’s Cricket, Warner Bros, Los Feliz Theatre, Major League Soccer, Inter Miami, Premier League Locations: New York, ” India, India, United States, United Kingdom, China, Australia, Ahmedabad, Wikipedia’s, Los Angeles, Gaza, Ukraine, Hamas, Israel, Romania, ChatGPT, Water

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