Latest news with #DavidBeckham
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Meet Gen Z's female David Beckham: How Swiss footballer Alisha Lehmann became the world's sexiest footballer - with lucrative brand deals, underwear campaigns and high-profile romances
The 90s era of football celebrity had Posh and Becks, sultry Calvin Klein ads and trendy tracksuits - and now, the newest face of the sport has brought with her 17 million Instagram, a sultry Tezenis campaign and a history-making 'couple transfer' never before seen in the game. At just 26, Juventus FC forward Alisha Lehmann has become a global sensation thanks to her knockout looks, high-profile love life, and impressive endorsement empire that rivals that of the Inter-Miami president. The Swiss star, who is set to face Spain tonight in a pivotal Women's Euros quarter-final, is known for embracing full glam on and off the pitch - demonstrating that athletic excellence and femininity can go hand in hand. Born in the small town of Tägertschi, Lehmann, who has accumulated 60 international caps so far enjoyed a rise to stardom which has been nothing short of meteoric. With her tattoos, signature platinum blonde hair, and off-pitch persona, it's no wonder fans have dubbed her the female David Beckham. Like Becks in his prime, she's blurred the lines between athlete and celebrity - and brands can't get enough. After her early years at FC Konolfingen, Lehmann signed her first professional contract with BCS YB Frauen in 2016. She spent two years with the Swiss team before transferring to West Ham United Women. The 26-year-old also had a half-season loan stint with Everton in 2021, before making a permanent move to Villa in the summer. After spells at the prestigious football clubs, the forward found fame not just for her skills on the pitch, but her striking appearance and confident social media presence. She's since turned her image into a global brand, racking up partnerships with Adidas, EA Sports, and even launching her own fitness and fashion lines. Meanwhile, she has also been snapped up by underwear brand bikini brand Tezenis for an international campaign. Lehmann revealed news of the partnership with an Instagram post - featuring herself wearing a red bikini. In a video upload, the sports star could be seen sunbathing before she took a ball from a bag and started doing kick-ups. 'Same energy. Different uniform @tezenisofficial,' she penned. While with Villa it is said that Lehmann was earning around £160,000 per year, sponsorships with Adidas and EA Sports likely helped bolster her earnings further. With more than 17 million followers on Instagram, the Swiss professional footballer is the most-followed female footballer in the world, and she's not shy about flaunting her glam lifestyle In addition, reports suggest the sports star secured a lucrative endorsement deal with sports drink brand Prime, reportedly valued at more than £928,000, according to The Sun. While the specifics of her contract with Juventus remain undisclosed, estimates from early last year placed her net worth at approximately £1.9million. And footie isn't the only skill the athlete possesses for future career prospects. 'I wouldn't say that working as a model was on my bucket list, but it is certainly cool and it is definitely a change,' she told a recent interview with 20 minutes. 'I always feel confident in front of the camera. That's why I really enjoy modelling. And when you work with different people, you can always learn something. I wouldn't say that I'm a model, I'm a footballer.' Brand expert Hayley Knight revealed she could also rake in 'anywhere from £20,000 to £60,000 per sponsored post' on social media thanks to her mega following. S'While Beckham built his empire through a mix of footballing success, fashion, and celebrity culture, Lehmann represents the next evolution: a footballer whose digital presence drives immense brand value,' she told FEMAIL. 'With that kind of following, brands will be paying her anywhere from £20,000 to £60,000 per sponsored post — and a great deal more for global advertising campaigns. 'Recent deals with Adidas, EA Sports, and Guess showcase her intense pulling power. Add in her beauty, fashion and lifestyle endorsements, and her off-pitch earnings are likely well into six figures annually - and increasing quickly, exceeding £1 million if she continues this trajectory. 'For comparison, Beckham's brand was valued in the hundreds of millions at its peak, and in today's influencer economy, athletes can fast-track to similar fame.' However the expert did acknowledge the gender pay gap in football, meaning she might be paid less on the field - but could rack up her earnings off the pitch with brand deals. She added: 'What's different from Beckham, is the speed and scale. Lehmann has been able to use social media to attract a global audience beyond football fans, and build an online empire away from the pitch. 'She's smart, and if brands are too, they'll recognise she's not just a face of women's football, but an icon in the making.' But it's not just her football or photoshoots making headlines - her love life has also kept fans glued. The beauty previously dated Swiss teammate Ramona Bachmann, making them one of football's most talked-about power couples. After spells at the prestigious football clubs, the forward found fame not just for her skills on the ball, but her striking appearance and confident social media presence Their relationship was documented in BBC Three show Britain's Youngest Football Boss. They first met in 2018 when Lehmann played for West Ham and Bachmann was at Chelsea. Three years later, they began dating. Lehmann told Marca: 'It's 2025. I think everyone can date whoever they want and be with whoever they want. 'It's important to open your mind and stop seeing this as a problem and instead see it as progress. 'Be who you are and who you want to be. Love is love. It's simple.' The relationship only ended up lasting a year but Lehmann was then linked to Brazilian ace Douglas Luiz shortly after the split. The Swiss star first began seeing him back in 2021 before a break-up - however, the romance looks to have been rekindled at the start of 2024. Since then, the couple had enjoyed a close relationship and both sealed a move to Italian giants Juventus during the summer window last year. Luiz joined from Aston Villa for £42.4 million having emerged as one of the best midfielders in the Premier League. Lehmann followed suit just seven days later, also moving from Villa. Juventus reportedly paid £60 million for the pair and Lehmann revealed it was a joint decision. It was the first 'couples transfer' of its kind. According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Lehmann and Luiz split some time ago and the pair are seen having different futures with Juventus. Despite her lack of game time, Lehmann is expected to remain at the club, with the Swiss international contracted to the club until 2027. Much like Beckham redefined what it meant to be a footballer in the early 2000s, Lehmann is also expanding the scope of her role far beyond the field. She has received widespread praise online and is often a target for autograph or selfie-hunting fans at games who are keen to meet the players. As a result, home nation Switzerland have revealed that Lehmann has been given added protection as the tournament reaches the knockout stages and interest is ramped up even higher. 'We always ensure that the safety of the players is our top priority in all stadiums,' Sven Micosse, press spokesperson for the Swiss women's national team, told Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet. 'This is organized by UEFA during the tournament, and our head of security is always on site. 'After the matches, he is always there when the players approach the fans, and due to Alisha Lehmann's fame, he sometimes accompanies them a little further.' Lehmann has been giving her followers a behind-the-scenes look into life at the Euros away from the pitch, as she embarks on sight-seeing trips and days off with her team-mates. This week, she shared a snap alongside two fellow Switzerland players, donning a crop top, cap, sunglasses and three-quarter length trousers, giving her followers an insight of what the players are up to when not on the pitch. Bild have reported that a 'man in a suit' often appears near Lehmann, focusing on her safety as the head of security at the Swiss national team. He is said to make sure she is safe as fans shout and hunt for photos and autographs after training and at games.
Telegraph
3 days ago
- General
- Telegraph
Telegraph style book: Bb
B baby boomers: People born 1945–1964. Boomers only in features/comment articles back benches, backbenchers, back-bench (adj) bacteria: Plural form of bacterium Badenoch: Kemi is Mrs Badenoch at second mention, not Ms Bafta: never BAFTA bale/bail: Bale is something made of hay; bail is on a set of cricket stumps or a surety. Bail out is the verbal form. Bailout acceptable when referring to finance balls: Unless a ball has an adjective before it (May ball, hunt ball etc), the plural is 'dances' BAME: Avoid unless in quotes or in direct reference to reports. Always spell out (black, Asian and minority ethnic) banister Bangalore: Do not use except in historical contexts. It is now called Bengaluru Bank of England: The Bank at second mention bank holiday: Lower case Bannister, Sir Roger barbecue: Not barbeque or BBQ Barclays Bank Barnardo's: Note the apostrophe baronets: Sir John Smith, Bt, when necessary to distinguish from a knight. Baronets are not knights battles: Specific ones are capped – Battle of Hastings, Battle of Britain battleships: Use only in historical context. Use warships otherwise baulk: Not balk BBC style: BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio 5 Live sports extra; but BBC 6 Music and 1Xtra, CBeebies BC: Follows dates Beckham, Sir David: His wife is Lady Beckham in news copy; Victoria Beckham in fashion/professional contexts Beck's beer begging the question: A specific logical fallacy involving founding a conclusion on a basis that itself needs to be proved. It does not mean avoiding a question or inviting a question Belarus, Belarusian benefited: One T Beretta: The gun – not to be confused with biretta Berwick-upon-Tweed between: for when things are shared between two people 'He divided the money between his two children' see among Beverly Hills / Beverley (East Yorks) / Beverley Knight Bible: Cap unless figurative ('his bible'). Biblical is lower case Biblical references: e.g. Genesis 1:1, Matthew 3:2 bi- (prefix): Use bimonthly, biweekly, biannual with caution; the meanings are often unclear bid: Use only in context of auctions, finance, football transfers, Olympic bids, bridge biennial: Once every two years biannual: Twice a year big tech, big five etc: lower case billion: A thousand million. Abbreviate to bn for money (£10bn) but not for other things (10 billion people) bin Laden, Osama Birds Eye: Frozen food brand (no apostrophe) biretta: A priest's headgear. Not to be confused with Beretta the gunmaker Biro: A trademark Bitcoin: Capitalised black: Preferred term for African-Caribbean ethnicity. Capitalise only in organisation names Blanchett, Cate blizzard: Use only when wind speed is at least 35mph bloc: Lower case, as in 'Eastern bloc'; from French. Also bloc vote blond/blonde: Blond for men, blonde for women Blumenthal, Heston Blu-Tack BMJ: Abbreviation of British Medical Journal. Full name no longer used Boudicca: Not Boadicea Bonhams: Auctioneers Bonham Carter, Helena: And others – no hyphen bon viveur: Incorrect French; use bon vivant. A woman is a bonne vivante border: Between Scotland and England is lc born of: Not born out of Botox: Botulinum toxin bottle bank Bournville: No middle e bouquet: Adding 'of flowers' is tautological Boy's Own Paper Brands Hatch: No apostrophe brave: Use for courageous acts, not for illness Brexit: Capped, as are Leave and Remain. Withdrawal agreement lower case unless referring to the Bill brilliant: Use carefully. Describes dazzling objects or intellectual distinction, not just anything good British/UK: Avoid unnecessary repetition. Assumed in most stories Bros: Only in company names. No full point. Tech bros only in features brussels sprouts BSE: bovine spongiform encephalopathy (lc) BTec bubbly: Hackneyed as description of a lively woman; vulgar as drink name Buck's fizz: The drink – apostrophe included. No apostrophe for the pop group Budget: Capped when referring to the Chancellor's statement. Lower case for company/local authority budgets budget airline: Avoid. Use low-cost airline bumf: NOT bumph. (Derived from bum-fodder) bungee jumping bureaus: Not bureaux Burka: Not burqa Burns Night: No apostrophe bussed, bussing: Try to avoid. Prefer taken by bus bus stop Bush, George W / George HW / George Bush Sr Butlins: No apostrophe buyout: Noun buy out: Verb buzzwords by-election: Hyphenated
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
30 best players in MLS history: From BWP to Beckham, Messi to Moreno. See who made the cut
MLS has seen its fair share of stars over what is now a 30-season lifespan. Whether those players were global icons, cult figures, or unknowns who used the league to make their name in the soccer world, the league has seen some outstanding talents grace its fields. Some of the biggest names are obvious: Lionel Messi is a player with no equal, while even the most casual soccer fan in the U.S. knows names like David Beckham and Landon Donovan. However, MLS history extends beyond the "retirement league' cliches, and to see the league as nothing more than a home for aging big names and U.S. men's national team hopefuls would be a huge mistake. From the get-go, MLS has been home to some extravagantly skillful players, as well as some incredible underdog stories, comebacks and top-level international talent that real soccer heads know all about. With that thought in mind, here are USA TODAY's picks for the 30 best players in MLS history: Jeff Agoos Only Landon Donovan has surpassed Agoos' five MLS Cup rings. The longtime USMNT defender, who today is the president and general manager of the NWSL's Portland Thorns, was a crucial piece for the most dominant team in MLS history (the D.C. United sides of the 1990s) and then arguably even more important on a San Jose Earthquakes club that won MLS Cups in 2001 and 2003. Miguel Almirón Almirón has only played three seasons in MLS, but his impact is undeniable. The Paraguayan put together two marvelous MLS Best XI campaigns with Atlanta United in 2017-18, helping a brand-new team redefine what it is to hit the ground running in this league. Almirón then joined Newcastle United in a reported $26 million transfer, which remains a league record. Moreover, the move validated MLS as a place for elite younger players to blossom before moving on to the world's elite leagues. The Five Stripes brought 'Miggy' back this season in part hoping to recapture the club's early success. DaMarcus Beasley As a fleet-footed winger, Beasley burst onto the scene with an excellent Chicago Fire side that won three trophies in his five seasons there. The Indiana native – who is the only USMNT player to appear in four World Cups – then broke new ground with a transfer to Dutch power PSV, eventually playing in the Premier League and Bundesliga before returning to MLS in 2014 to join the Houston Dynamo. Remaking himself as a left back, Beasley became a leader in Houston, helping the Dynamo to the 2018 U.S. Open Cup. Kyle Beckerman The dreadlocked Crofton, Maryland, native owns the MLS record for minutes played by a field player (41,164), a remarkable achievement for a player whose career started before teams in this league really knew what to do with talented youngsters. His other MLS record (most yellow cards, with 152) speaks to a win-at-all-costs grit that made him a club legend for Real Salt Lake. Beckerman played in six MLS All-Star Games and is one of 15 players with 400-plus league appearances. David Beckham Beckham's place in MLS history is fascinating. The global superstar was an important piece of the puzzle for an LA Galaxy side that won MLS Cups in 2011 and 2012, putting up 20 goals and 42 assists in 124 appearances in all competitions. However, he was not the most important player on that team and missed time due to a torn Achilles tendon suffered on a winter loan to AC Milan that, at the time, went down like a lead balloon. As a cultural force, though, Beckham's impact was absolutely essential for MLS' growth. His arrival served as rocket fuel for a league that was seemingly stuck in place, opening wallets domestically and doors abroad that were previously closed. Sergio Busquets Busquets' career speaks for itself: nine championships and three UEFA Champions League wins with a Barcelona side whose stylistic qualities fundamentally changed the sport, and a pivotal role on the Spain team that won the 2010 World Cup to boot. The 36-year-old may play an unglamorous position, but his presence in MLS remains mind-blowing for any long-standing league observer. Since coming to Inter Miami in 2023, Busquets has been nearly ever-present, functioning as a leader and the driving force of the possession-based style that allows Messi and company to make all the headlines. Dwayne De Rosario 'De Ro' is a thoroughly MLS success story. De Rosario won eight major trophies and was named to the MLS Best XI six times in his 14 seasons in the league. With the San Jose Earthquakes, he scored a brilliant Golden Goal to secure the 2001 MLS Cup and later scored a physics-defying free kick that remains arguably the best goal in MLS history. In 2011 he won the MLS MVP award despite being traded twice after that season had begun (playing for Toronto FC, the New York Red Bulls, and D.C. United). Between his wandering career, his trademark goal celebration, and a staggering highlight reel, the Ontario native is unquestionably an MLS legend. Clint Dempsey Dempsey started his career in MLS with the New England Revolution in 2004, eventually earning a move to the Premier League after three seasons. However, the second chapter of Dempsey's MLS career with the Seattle Sounders is what earned him his place on this list. A blockbuster $8 million return to the league after European success with Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur broke new ground for MLS, with an in-demand USMNT star coming to the league at a time when that simply didn't happen. Dempsey's swaggering, brash personality and creativity are ingredients MLS clubs have often had to find abroad, making him a uniquely important figure in league history. Landon Donovan Donovan's MLS career was so impressive, and so important to what was a fledgling league when the California native arrived on the scene, that the league MVP award is officially titled the Landon Donovan Most Valuable Player Award. No one has won more MLS Cups (six), made more Best XI lists (seven), or had more assists (136) than Donovan, who also sits third on the league's all-time goal scoring list with 145. Between his time with the Earthquakes and Galaxy, Donovan lifted nine major trophies. Marco Etcheverry Etcheverry was the cornerstone of what remains the most successful run by a single club in MLS history. D.C. United won eight trophies from 1996 to 1999, including three MLS Cup victories and the first continental trophy in league history (the 1998 Concacaf Champions Cup). Moreover, the Bolivian playmaker was exactly what MLS wanted to be: his skills would have fit in anywhere in the world, and his competitive fire (his nickname, 'El Diablo,' was no joke) drove D.C. to heights it couldn't have achieved otherwise. Etcheverry's 101 assists in league play came in just 191 appearances, making him one of the most prolific chance generators MLS has ever seen. Sebastian Giovinco Giovinco wasn't in MLS for all that long, but his four years with Toronto FC were unprecedented. The pint-sized Italian won the league MVP award in 2015, leading MLS in both goals (22) and assists (15). TFC would go on to be the only team in MLS history to win a treble in 2017, claiming the MLS Cup, the Supporters' Shield, and the Canadian Championship. In just four MLS seasons, Giovinco scored a league-record 13 direct free kick goals. Thierry Henry Henry's numbers (52 goals, 40 assists in 135 appearances) speak to his class as a player, but where the Arsenal and Barcelona icon truly stood out came by changing perceptions about MLS. Many global stars came to the league at the same point in their careers as Henry, who arrived in the league at age 33. However, none with his profile had brought the intensity and commitment to winning that the France legend did, and it's fair to say he sparked a sea change at a Red Bulls franchise that had never won anything before his arrival. Zlatan Ibrahimović Whether you buy into the Zlatan persona or not, the towering Swedish striker made an impact in MLS that stands alone. Ibrahimović joined an LA Galaxy side in 2018, scoring 52 goals in 56 games for what was otherwise one of the worst teams in the league at the time. Ibrahimović's combination of skill, creativity and pure power remain unmatched in league history, and his subsequent success at AC Milan showed that MLS wasn't as far from the world's top leagues as some would say. Robbie Keane As much as the LA Galaxy's best era as a team are defined by Beckham and Donovan, Keane was arguably that group's most vital player. The Ireland striker was relentless for a Galaxy team that won the MLS Cup three times in four seasons, scoring 83 times in 125 total appearances. His forward partnership with Donovan has arguably never been matched in the league, and Keane's intense competitive nature was just as important in pushing the biggest club in MLS to capitalize on Beckham's presence with on-field success. Kei Kamara A refugee who escaped the Sierra Leone civil war, Kamara has had a remarkably unlikely path to MLS stardom. The striker has played for a record 12 MLS teams, and he sits second on the league's all-time goal scoring chart with 146. Despite rarely staying with any team for more than two years, Kamara has aerial ability and an outsized personality that have won fans over across MLS. At age 40, Kamara is in the midst of his 18th MLS season, and he's not merely hanging around. The target man is an often-used substitute for a serious contender in FC Cincinnati, and last season he had a similar role with another big-time franchise in LAFC. Chad Marshall Marshall's 35,843 minutes played place him fifth all-time, and third among field players. A remarkable 16-year run in MLS saw the California native establish himself as a defensive cornerstone for the Columbus Crew and Seattle Sounders, leading both teams to tremendous success. In Ohio, Marshall helped the Crew to an MLS Cup win in 2008 and three Supporters' Shields. The center back then joined the Sounders, lifting three trophies (including the 2016 MLS Cup), and was a model of consistency throughout his career. Despite long being on the outside looking in with the USMNT, Marshall is the only player to win MLS Defender of the Year three times. Josef Martínez Martínez may currently play for San Jose, but he is synonymous with the incredible early success Atlanta United experienced when the club entered MLS in 2017. Martínez bagged 111 goals and 17 assists in 158 appearances for Atlanta, terrorizing defenses with a wide range of finishes. There have been few players to feel as inevitable as Martínez did from 2017 to 2020, before a torn ACL slowed his output and hastened his exit with the Five Stripes. While his performances at Inter Miami, CF Montréal and with the Earthquakes may not quite have matched the good old days, the Venezuelan is sixth in MLS history with 123 goals. His strike rate of 0.62 goals per appearance is the best among any of the 13 players to cross the 100-goal barrier. Tony Meola Meola was a vital figure in MLS' first few years, lending the notoriety he gained as the USMNT's starting No. 1 (which also resulted in an NFL tryout with the New York Jets, among other things) to a league that needed all the help it could get. The New Jersey native remains the only MLS goalkeeper to win an MVP award, doing so in 2000 as he helped a defense-first Kansas City Wizards (now Sporting Kansas City) to an MLS Cup victory. Meola's 16 shutouts that season remain an MLS record, and we'd be remiss if we ignored what remains the best season a goalkeeper has had in league history. Lionel Messi If you're regarded in plenty of quarters as the best player in soccer history, and you play in MLS, you definitely belong on this list. Messi's output for Inter Miami (49 goals, 24 assists in 59 games) is jaw-dropping, even knowing how good he has been at the very top of the sport, and only Beckham has come close to matching the Argentine's cultural impact as an MLS player. He is, simply put, one of one. Could MLS have more clearly capitalized on his presence? Certainly, but the GOAT being in the league has still been revolutionary. Jaime Moreno Moreno (133 goals, 102 assists) remains an icon with D.C. United, having been two different versions of himself in two stints with the club. In the '90s, Moreno was the best forward in MLS, a classic speed-first No. 9 who was indispensable for a team that won three of the first four MLS Cup titles. After a back injury that nearly ended his career in a 2002 trade, he returned to the District in 2004 slower but craftier, helping United win another championship in 2004. The Bolivian was a part of 12 of United's 13 major trophy wins, landing on the Best XI five times. He and Donovan are the only two players to sit in the league's all-time top 10 in goals and assists. Pat Onstad Now the president of soccer at the Houston Dynamo, Onstad won two MLS Goalkeeper of the Year honors in 2003 and 2005 (earning a spot in the Best XI on both occasions as well). Quiet and unspectacular, Onstad made positioning, sound fundamentals and organizational ability his top priorities. The result? He was a key piece in the San Jose team that claimed the 2003 MLS Cup and 2005 Supporters' Shield, then carried on when the team relocated, becoming the Houston Dynamo. That same group, now in Texas, continued an outstanding run, going back-to-back with MLS Cup wins in 2006 and 2007. In a nine-year MLS career, the Canadian posted a 1.14 goals-against average, one of the 10 best marks in MLS history. Eddie Pope In an era where center backs were big, mean, and slow, Pope was like a visitor from the future. The North Carolina native's 12 MLS seasons were characterized with an unshakable calm with and without the ball, as well as the kind of mobility and comfort with the ball that became hallmarks in soccer over a decade after he had hung up his boots. Pope won eight trophies in his years with D.C. United (scoring a legendary game-winner in the first-ever MLS Cup final), and landed on the MLS Best XI four times (twice with D.C. and twice with the MetroStars). He remains arguably the best center back the USMNT has ever had, another highly unlikely achievement for a player whose pro career was entirely spent in MLS. Preki Predrag Radosavljević had the kind of career that can scarcely be believed: Stints in Serbia, Sweden, and in the Premier League with Everton were broken up by years spent plying his trade in the various indoor soccer leagues that served as the best option in the U.S. before MLS kicked off in 1996. In 10 MLS seasons (nine of which came with the Kansas City Wizards), Preki was named MLS MVP in 1997 and 2003, making him the only player in league history to win that award twice. With his trademark cutback move and powerful shot, Preki won two Golden Boot awards, while his 112 career assists rank him fifth in league history. Steve Ralston MLS's first-ever Rookie of the Year, Ralston was a six-time All-Star Game participant and landed on the league's Best XI three times (1999, 2000, 2002). The Missouri native's 135 career assists are one shy of Donovan's all-time record, while his 33,143 career minutes played rank 10th all-time. Ralston thrived alongside Carlos Valderrama with the Tampa Bay Mutiny, then became a key cog for the best era in New England Revolution history once the Florida-based side folded in 2001. His consistent play over such a long span eventually won him a role with the USMNT, where he scored the goal that clinched the team's qualification for the 2006 World Cup. Nick Rimando No player has spent more time on the field in MLS games than Rimando, whose 46,336 minutes played are easily the league record. He also holds league records for shutouts (154) and saves (1,701). While Rimando is held in high esteem at D.C. United, his legend was truly built with Real Salt Lake, where he made 389 appearances over 13 seasons. There, the California native's prowess at saving penalty kicks became mythical, and he would claim the MLS Cup MVP award in helping RSL claim its lone championship victory in 2009. While the league's Goalkeeper of the Year award (controversially) never went his way, his place in MLS history is secure. Carlos Valderrama A legend in Colombian soccer, Valderrama was much more than his iconic hairstyle. One of the great playmakers on the planet in the '90s, 'El Pibe' piled up 114 assists in 175 MLS matches (the fourth-highest total all-time), including a 26-assist masterclass in 2000 that remains the league's single-season mark. During time with the Tampa Bay Mutiny, Miami Fusion, and Colorado Rapids, Valderrama played the game with a casual ease that MLS has only really seen in one other player: Messi. Valderrama's vision and ability to weigh a pass perfectly meant that he could play with casual ease and still be the most dangerous player on the field. Diego Valeri Humble, dedicated, and possessing lavish skill, Valeri is the kind of player every MLS fan hopes their team will sign. Portland Timbers fans fell in love with the Argentine straight away, as Valeri led MLS in assists and clinched the first of three appearances on the league's Best XI after joining the club in 2013. During his nine seasons with Portland, Valeri would become just the third MLS player ever to surpass 80 goals and 80 assists, and he helped the Timbers win the MLS Cup in 2015 by scoring just 27 seconds from kickoff, the fastest goal in the league final's history. Carlos Vela Vela was LAFC's first designated player, and it could hardly have found a better candidate for the job. The Mexican forward came to MLS in 2018 and was instantly dangerous in a 14 goal/10 assist campaign. That was just the appetizer. Vela's 2019 remains the single-season bar all other players aspire to: a 34-goal, 10-assist masterpiece that set a new MLS record for goal scoring in one year and helped LAFC to the 2019 Supporters' Shield. That's the kind of productivity that only Messi has really matched, and it helped set a standard for LA's second club that has thus far seen the team in the discussion for trophies during every single season it has existed. Chris Wondolowski There is no better MLS underdog story than 'Wondo,' who was the 89th player selected across MLS' two different college drafts in 2005. Wondolowski earned a contract with the Earthquakes but saw little action, largely stuck out of position as a right winger. By the time his 17th season in the league had ended, the California native had scored 171 goals, which still stands as the league's all-time record. It's a staggering feat, especially when you consider that he didn't become a starter (or score more than five goals in one season) until 2010. What followed was unmatched consistency: 10 straight seasons with at least 10 goals, including five instances in which he broke the 15-goal barrier. Bradley Wright-Phillips Wright-Phillips didn't look like he would be much of an MLS signing. With a more famous sibling (his brother Shaun played for Manchester City) and a solid career in the English second and third tiers, 'BWP' seemed like a shot in the dark when the New York Red Bulls signed him in the summer of 2013. After a tepid debut half-season, the move turned out to be a stroke of genius for both parties. Wright-Phillips scored 27 goals in 2014, equaling what was the league record at the time and landing the first of two Golden Boot awards during his nine seasons in MLS. The English striker scored at least 17 goals in five straight seasons and sits seventh on MLS' all-time goal scoring list with 117 goals in 234 games. USA TODAY Sports' 48-page special edition commemorates 30 years of Major League Soccer, from its best players to key milestones and championship dynasties to what exciting steps are next with the World Cup ahead. Order your copy today.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Maria Sharapova is reduced to TEARS by brutal hot wings challenge - as tennis legend opens up on her notorious grunting habit
Tennis legend Maria Sharapova was reduced to tears as she took on a hot wing-eating challenge while featuring on YouTube talk show Hot Ones. The career Grand Slam champion retired at the start of 2020, focusing full-time on her business interests, such as her board role with fashion brand Moncler, and investments in UFC, and Clio Snacks. But Sharapova has recently returned to the tennis circuit, taking in this year's Wimbledon Championships as an ambassador for Stella Artois' Perfect Serve campaign in partnership with the SW19 tournament. The 38-year-old appeared alongside the brand's fellow ambassador David Beckham, pouring pints at the summit of Henman Hill, before both sporting superstars took in the tennis on Centre Court. Her latest press appearance was a more uncomfortable one, however, with Sharapova a guest on Sean Evans' famously challenging online programme. A number of previous guests including Jennifer Lawrence and Margot Robbie have succumbed tearfully to the heat of the wings offered to guests as they answer questions. And Sharapova warned Evans ahead of time that she was unlikely to 'cry elegantly' like the latter interviewee. While making her way through trialing the warm-up hot sauces, Sharapova shed some light on her infamous on-court grunting. The former Wimbledon champion was a notoriously loud competitor during her playing career, but Sharapova stressed that she hadn't sought to amplify her natural exertion sounds to torment her opponents. 'I want to say it's an intimidation factor, but that would be a lie,' Sharapova admitted. 'It was something that I started doing at a young age, and it just clicked and I kept it up and it got louder and louder. 'But it might get louder with these wings The heat began to tell for Sharapova as she asked Evans how it was possible that he was able to continue questioning her as they made their way through the array of chicken wings. The Russian star was later taken to the limit by a particularly spicy wing as Evans continued to fire questions at her despite her visible discomfort, as per the show's premise. 'In doubles, would you rather be partnered with a cherry-picker or a poacher?' Evans asked as Sharapova dabbed her streaming eyes with a napkin. 'What the f*** is a cherry-picker?' Sharapova said, before questioning: 'Can I swear on this show?' Sniffing, Sharapova struggled to continue the interview, eventually sharing that she would prefer a partner who was a 'cherry-picker'. During her playing career, Sharapova won three doubles titles, but with her focus squarely on singles, she could only rank as high as 41 in the standings. Sharapova's retirement five years ago came against the backdrop of persistent injury complaints upon her return to tour after serving a 15-month doping suspension. The player had failed a test undertaken at the 2016 Australian, with her sample returning a positive result for recently banned substance meldonium. That June, she received a two-year sanction for her usage of the heart medication, but months later saw her sentence reduced after it was revealed that her doctor had prescribed the substance to her. Sharapova was deemed to have the 'good faith belief that it was appropriate and compliant with the relevant rules'.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Aspiring chef Brooklyn Beckham whips up a pasta dish in the kitchen amid plans to take over food industry - after liquor line setback and his ongoing family feud
showed off his cooking skills as he whipped up a pasta dish as he continues his aim of taking over the food industry. The son of David and Victoria Beckham, 26, has launched a whole host of culinary partnerships in recent months as well as his very own hot sauce brand, Cloud23. He also hoped to create his own liquor line but was forced to withdraw his application to avoid a trademark dispute with German booze brand Beck's. Despite the setback, Brooklyn got straight back into the kitchen as he shared his latest advertisement with Italian pasta producer Barilla. The aspiring chef took to Instagram on Tuesday to share a video of himself whipping up a vegetarian Fusilloni dish in the kitchen. He revealed it was one of his 'favourite' meals as he detailed how to make the creamy zucchini and asparagus pasta dish. Brooklyn, who is married to Nicola Peltz, first put the pasta on to boil before chopping up the asparagus and other vegetables, which he then stirred into a creamy sauce. At the end of the clip, Brooklyn tasted a single piece of pasta which he dipped in a cream sauce - though it did not appear to be the complete dish he had whipped up. 'It's so good,' he declared before flashing a smile to the camera. Bottles of his Cloud23 sauce could also be seen on the shelf in the background as he also plugged his other business venture. In a caption, he added: 'This is one of my favorite dishes – simple, satisfying and full of flavor from zucchini, onion, squash, and asparagus. 'What truly makes this dish shine is the pasta itself. The rough texture of Barilla Al Bronzo pasta clings to sauce effortlessly, so every bite is rich and flavorful. 'With a sauce this delicious, I want to savor every last drop. Italians call that gesture Scarpetta, and Barilla Al Bronzo does it perfectly! 'I hope you love this recipe as much as I do.' BROOKLYN'S BARILLA FUSILLONI RECIPE Fusilloni with Creamy Vegetable Sauce Ingredients • 1 Package Barilla Al Bronzo Fusilloni pasta • 4 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil, divided • ¼ cup yellow onion, chopped • 2 zucchinis, diced small • 1 yellow squash, diced small • 1 cup asparagus, diced • 1/3 cup white wine • 1 cup heavy cream • 2 cups baby spinach • 1 cup diced roma tomatoes • ½ cup Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, grated • To taste, salt and black pepper Instructions 1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil, cook pasta according to package directions 2. Meanwhile, in a skillet sauté onion with half the olive oil for two minutes over medium heat 3. Increase the heat and add zucchini, yellow squash, asparagus, cook for two minutes, then deglaze with white wine. Evaporate, add cream, salt and pepper and bring to boil. 4. Drain pasta and toss with veggies and spinach for one minute. 5. Finish with remaining olive oil and cheese before serving. His latest culinary venture comes after Brooklyn was faced with a setback when he was forced to withdraw a trademark application for his liquor line. He also hoped to create his own liquor line but was forced to withdraw his application to avoid a trademark dispute with German booze brand Beck's. This week, Brooklyn gave up on his plan to create his own liquor line – after being handed a headache by the firm behind German booze brand Beck's. He hoped to expand his Cloud23 hot sauce line with more food and drink options and had applied to trademark Becks Buns in the US so he could sell beer and spirits. However, the company that makes Beck's beer challenged it and was given time to bring a case against Brooklyn's line before his application was passed. Parent firm Brauerei Beck & Co opposed it and had been granted an extension to file documents to try and sink Brooklyn's plan. Brooklyn then filed papers with the US Patent and Trademark Office to remove 'beer' and 'distilled spirits; wine; mirin in the nature of Japanese shochu-based mixed liquor' from his application to avoid going to war with the drinks firm. Brooklyn launched his first hot sauce, Cloud 23, last year and said: 'It's been a passion project of mine for the last two and a half years, something I've literally put everything into.' In his personal life, Brooklyn also appears to be locked in a family feud with his parents and brothers over his relationship with his wife and US heiress Nicola Peltz. Last week, it was revealed that Brooklyn and Nicola's Instagram accounts no longer follow his brothers Cruz and Romeo in the latest twist in the family drama. However, Brooklyn's friends told MailOnline on Friday that Cruz and Romeo have actually blocked them on the social media platform. This would make sense given Brooklyn, 26, and Nicola, 30, are still following his parents Victoria, 51, and David, 50. In his personal life, Brooklyn appears to be locked in a family feud with his parents and brothers over his relationship with his wife and US heiress Nicola Peltz Cruz and Romeo were still following Brooklyn and Nicola earlier this week but appeared to take action after Brooklyn posted a birthday tribute to sister Harper, sharing a family photo without them in it - which Nicola reposted. There was much speculation whether Brooklyn would reach out to Harper on her 14th birthday on Thursday, but despite him doing so, it seems all is not well in the camp. Brooklyn's birthday tribute to Harper marked his first public interaction with his family since he paid tribute to his grandmother Sandra on June 26, despite remaining silent and shunning his father's 50th birthday earlier that same month. Sources close to the family have told MailOnline of their fears that Brooklyn and his wife Nicola have also distanced themselves from Harper after they failed to visit her when they flew into London in May to film an advert for French-Italian clothing brand Moncler just over a mile from the family home in Holland Park. David and Victoria had no idea whether Brooklyn, who Harper has idolised since she was a little girl, would message her privately or publicly on Instagram because they have no communication with him. The news that Cruz and Romeo had blocked their older brother followed Cruz's many pointed digs towards Brooklyn on social media last month. Amid the escalating feud, Romeo stepped in as he shared a very pointed statement about 'appreciating people that love you' and insisted 'life was too short' to not tell people you care about them. Brooklyn and Romeo have been living a somewhat fractious relationship over the last few months following claims Romeo's ex-girlfriend Kim Turnbull was the reason behind their rift. Kim addressed the speculation June 16 and insisted she has only ever had a friendship with the eldest Beckham son. Sharing a statement on her Instagram page, she said: 'I've avoided speaking on this topic to prevent adding fuel to the fire, however it's come to a point where I feel the need to address it so I can move on. 'I will not continue to receive harassment or be embarrassed on the basis of lies, to fit a certain narrative. 'I have never been romantically involved in ANY capacity at ANY point with the person in question. 'Nothing between us has occurred further than a school friendship at age 16. I would like to remove myself from the ongoing conversation & set the record straight for the sake of everyone involved.' Kim had been at the centre of the row after Nicola claimed that she felt uncomfortable around her, with sources close to the US heiress saying that Kim had dated Brooklyn when they were teenagers - which she then denied. Last month, Romeo and Kim then split after seven months together, with friends saying that the romance 'fizzled out' three weeks after David's 50th birthday. Following their split, friends said things remain 'amicable' between Romeo and Kim, and that their parting is 'nothing to do' with Kim being blamed by Nicola for being the catalyst for the feud that has ripped the Beckham family apart.
