Sports
Cristiano Ronaldo Sends Message to Lionel Messi After His Father’s Death
Cristiano Ronaldo has sent a 15-word message to his long-term football rival Lionel Messi following the devastating news that his father, Jorge, passed away last week.
Jorge, 68, was confirmed to have passed away on Saturday following a long illness. Just weeks after his son played in the 2026 World Cup final.
Messi was emotional after scoring in Argentina’s first group game against Algeria, with the Inter Miami star later confirming that he cried due to his father’s health issues.
Lionel Messi Breaks Silence After Jorge’s Passing
Messi has already been back on the pitch since finishing second at the World Cup, playing for Inter Miami against Columbus and San Luis. It is now uncertain when he’ll return to action for his club after the devastating loss.
The 39-year-old has now paid an emotional tribute to his father, who always followed him throughout his career. He revealed that his dad wasn’t well enough to travel to the World Cup final to see Argentina vs Spain.
“Every time a match ended, I would wait for and miss your message. That was when I realised how bad things really were. Even so, I couldn’t stop thinking about getting as far as possible, just to buy you time so you could see a match.
“We made it to the final, but you couldn’t be there. I wanted to win it to bring it to you and show you a new one. I couldn’t—my legs just gave out. This time I tried to push through the physical pain, but I couldn’t. I was never able to feel good physically.”
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Classy Message to Messi
Ronaldo, who has competed with Messi throughout his career to be recognised as the best on the pitch, showed the level of respect the two icons have for each other. He responded to Messi’s lengthy tribute on social media, wishing him and his family well in the tough time they are experiencing.
The Portugal international said: “Huge hug to you and your loved ones in this difficult moment, Leo. Stay strong.”
Messi’s future in football looks uncertain. At 39 years old, the iconic Argentine is already in the twilight of his career, but his letter included a hint that he may be closer to the end than some thought.
”I don’t know what I’m going to do without you; I don’t know how to move forward. I only played football, and now I have serious doubts that I’ll keep doing it for much longer. You were by my side from the very beginning, and we were so close to the end. Why couldn’t you hold on just a little longer so we could finish together?”
He signed off the emotional statement by simply saying: “I love you, Dad.”
Sports
UEFA Super Cup Winners List
Summary
- The UEFA Super Cup pits the winners of the Champions League against the Europa League champions.
- Ajax were fittingly the inaugural winners of a competition created by a Dutch journalist in 1973.
- Real Madrid have dominated the Super Cup in the 21st century, racking up a record-breaking sixth victory against Atalanta in 2024.
Created more than half a century ago, the UEFA Super Cup has a rich history. Since its inaugural edition in 1973, it has pitted the winner of the European Champion Clubs’ Cup (later renamed the Champions League in 1992) against the winner of the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup, which was abolished in 1999 before being merged with the UEFA Cup, now known as the Europa League.
For the first 25 years of its life, the competition was organised during the winter months and played in a two-legged format, allowing both teams to compete in front of their home fans. This format is no longer used, as the two champions face each other in a single match to officially kick off the football season.
Rather than a continental version of the English Community Shield, UEFA’s Super Cup is universally upheld as a significant trophy. Here are the clubs and players that have enjoyed the most success in this prestigious competition.
UEFA Super Cup Winners List
Since the UEFA Super Cup was founded in 1972, 25 clubs have lifted the trophy, but none more so than Real Madrid. The most prolific Champions League winners claimed a record-breaking sixth Super Cup with a convincing 2-0 victory over Atalanta in the 49th edition of the competition in August 2024.
The brainchild of Dutch journalist, Anton Witkamp, the first unofficial Super Cup was held in 1972 when European champions Ajax faced off with Scottish giants Rangers, who had won the European Cup Winners’ Cup but were subsequently banned from UEFA competition due to crowd trouble. Ajax defended their European title and so appeared in the inaugural, sanctioned edition of the competition, thrashing AC Milan 7-1 across two legs.
|
UEFA Super Cup Winners List |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Year |
Winners |
Runners-up |
|
1973 |
Ajax |
AC Milan |
|
1974 |
Not held |
|
|
1975 |
Dynamo Kyiv |
Bayern Munich |
|
1976 |
Anderlecht |
Bayern Munich |
|
1977 |
Liverpool |
Hamburger SV |
|
1978 |
Anderlecht |
Liverpool |
|
1979 |
Nottingham Forest |
Barcelona |
|
1980 |
Valencia |
Nottingham Forest |
|
1981 |
Not held |
|
|
1982 |
Aston Villa |
Barcelona |
|
1983 |
Aberdeen |
Hamburger SV |
|
1984 |
Juventus |
Liverpool |
|
1985 |
Not held |
|
|
1986 |
Steaua Bucuresti |
Dynamo Kyiv |
|
1987 |
Porto |
Ajax |
|
1988 |
KV Mechelen |
PSV Eindhoven |
|
1989 |
AC Milan |
Barcelona |
|
1990 |
AC Milan |
Sampdoria |
|
1991 |
Manchester United |
Red Star Belgrade |
|
1992 |
Barcelona |
Werder Bremen |
|
1993 |
Parma |
AC Milan |
|
1994 |
AC Milan |
Liverpool |
|
1995 |
Ajax |
Zaragoza |
|
1996 |
Juventus |
Paris Saint-Germain |
|
1997 |
Barcelona |
Borussia Dortmund |
|
1998 |
Chelsea |
Real Madrid |
|
1999 |
Lazio |
Manchester United |
|
2000 |
Galatasaray |
Real Madrid |
|
2001 |
Liverpool |
Bayern Munich |
|
2002 |
Real Madrid |
Feyenoord |
|
2003 |
AC Milan |
Porto |
|
2004 |
Valencia |
Porto |
|
2005 |
Liverpool |
CSKA Moscow |
|
2006 |
Sevilla |
Barcelona |
|
2007 |
AC Milan |
Sevilla |
|
2008 |
Zenit Saint Petersburg |
Manchester United |
|
2009 |
Barcelona |
Shakhtar Donetsk |
|
2010 |
Atletico Madrid |
Inter Milan |
|
2011 |
Barcelona |
Porto |
|
2012 |
Atletico Madrid |
Chelsea |
|
2013 |
Bayern Munich |
Chelsea |
|
2014 |
Real Madrid |
Sevilla |
|
2015 |
Barcelona |
Sevilla |
|
2016 |
Real Madrid |
Sevilla |
|
2017 |
Real Madrid |
Manchester United |
|
2018 |
Atletico Madrid |
Real Madrid |
|
2019 |
Liverpool |
Chelsea |
|
2020 |
Bayern Munich |
Sevilla |
|
2021 |
Chelsea |
Villarreal |
|
2022 |
Real Madrid |
Eintracht Frankfurt |
|
2023 |
Manchester City |
Sevilla |
|
2024 |
Real Madrid |
Atalanta |
|
2025 |
Paris Saint-Germain |
Tottenham |
|
2026 |
TBD (Paris Saint-Germain/Aston Villa) |
TBD (Paris Saint-Germain/Aston Villa) |
Clubs With Most UEFA Super Cup Trophies
Just behind Real Madrid’s six triumphs, Barcelona and AC Milan can boast five trophies apiece. The Catalan giants didn’t win their first UEFA Super Cup until 1992 after Johan Cruyff had overseen the club’s maiden triumph in the European Cup at Wembley Stadium. Cruyff had been part of the Ajax side which won the first unofficial Super Cup in 1972, scoring in both legs against Rangers.
Barcelona had lost their first three appearances in the competition and have finished as runners-up on four occasions. Only fellow La Liga outfit Sevilla have suffered more Super Cup defeats than Barcelona, losing six of their seven appearances. Incidentally, the Andalusians’ only triumph in the continental showpiece was against Barcelona in 2006.
|
Most Successful Teams in UEFA Super Cup History |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Rank |
Teams |
Titles |
|
1 |
Real Madrid |
6 |
|
2 |
Barcelona |
5 |
|
AC Milan |
5 |
|
|
3 |
Liverpool |
4 |
|
4 |
Atletico Madrid |
3 |
|
5 |
Chelsea |
2 |
|
Bayern Munich |
2 |
|
|
Ajax |
2 |
|
|
Anderlecht |
2 |
|
|
Valencia |
2 |
|
|
Juventus |
2 |
|
|
6 |
Sevilla |
1 |
|
Porto |
1 |
|
|
Manchester United |
1 |
|
|
Dynamo Kyiv |
1 |
|
|
Nottingham Forest |
1 |
|
|
Aston Villa |
1 |
|
|
Aberdeen |
1 |
|
|
Steaua Bucaresti |
1 |
|
|
KV Mechelen |
1 |
|
|
Parma |
1 |
|
|
Lazio |
1 |
|
|
Galatasaray |
1 |
|
|
Zenit Saint Petersburg |
1 |
|
|
Paris Saint-Germain |
1 |
|
|
Manchester City |
1 |
|
Clubs With Most UEFA Super Cup Appearances
Barcelona and Real Madrid — the two undisputed giants of Spanish football — share the record for most Super Cup appearances with nine each. Milan have graced this vaunted stage on seven occasions. The Italian behemoths were practically ever-presents in the competition as the 1980s bled into the ’90s, gatecrashing four Super Cups in six years.
Arrigo Sacchi’s revolutionary high-pressing machine backed up consecutive European Cup wins with a pair of Super Cup victories in 1989 and 1990. A young Fabio Capello took over from the former shoe salesman and maintained Milan’s illustrious continental record.
|
Clubs with Most UEFA Super Cup Appearances |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Rank |
Teams |
Appearances |
|
1 |
Barcelona |
9 |
|
Real Madrid |
9 |
|
|
2 |
AC Milan |
7 |
|
Sevilla |
7 |
|
|
3 |
Liverpool |
6 |
|
4 |
Chelsea |
5 |
|
Bayern Munich |
5 |
|
|
5 |
Porto |
4 |
|
Manchester United |
4 |
|
|
6 |
Atletico Madrid |
3 |
|
Ajax |
3 |
|
|
7 |
Anderlecht |
2 |
|
Valencia |
2 |
|
|
Juventus |
2 |
|
|
Dynamo Kyiv |
2 |
|
|
Nottingham Forest |
2 |
|
|
Aston Villa |
2 |
|
|
Paris Saint-Germain |
2 |
|
|
Hamburger SV |
2 |
|
|
8 |
Aberdeen |
1 |
|
Tottenham |
1 |
|
|
Steaua Bucaresti |
1 |
|
|
KV Mechelen |
1 |
|
|
Parma |
1 |
|
|
Lazio |
1 |
|
|
Galatasaray |
1 |
|
|
Zenit Saint Petersburg |
1 |
|
|
Manchester City |
1 |
|
|
PSV Eindhoven |
1 |
|
|
Sampdoria |
1 |
|
|
Red Star Belgrade |
1 |
|
|
Werder Bremen |
1 |
|
|
Arsenal |
1 |
|
|
Zaragoza |
1 |
|
|
Paris Saint-Germain |
1 |
|
|
Borussia Dortmund |
1 |
|
|
Feyenoord |
1 |
|
|
CSKA Moscow |
1 |
|
|
Shakhtar Donetsk |
1 |
|
|
Inter Milan |
1 |
|
|
Villarreal |
1 |
|
|
Eintracht Frankfurt |
1 |
|
|
Atalanta |
1 |
|
Players With the Most UEFA Super Cups
Given the club’s modern dominance, and the reluctance of the ownership to break up a winning team, it’s unsurprising that a Real Madrid duo boasts the most UEFA Super Cup triumphs. Luka Modric and Dani Carvajal surpassed Toni Kroos‘s record haul of four victories when defeating Atalanta in 2024.
The brilliant German midfielder, who won his first title with Bayern Munich in 2013 retired after Euro 2024, thereby ceding his joint record – which was shared by the likes of Karim Benzema and Paolo Maldini – to a pair of his former teammates. Kroos could have taken his tally to five wins, but injury forced him to miss out on Madrid’s 2016 triumph against Sevilla.
|
Most Successful Players in UEFA Super Cup History |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Rank |
Player |
Titles |
|
1 |
Luka Modric |
5 |
|
Dani Carvajal |
5 |
|
|
2 |
Mateo Kovacic |
4 |
|
Toni Kroos |
4 |
|
|
Lucas Vazquez |
4 |
|
|
Nacho Fernandez |
4 |
|
|
Karim Benzema |
4 |
|
|
Juanfran Torres |
4 |
|
|
Felipe Luis |
4 |
|
|
Dani Alves |
4 |
|
|
Paolo Maldini |
4 |
|
|
Arie Haan |
4 |
|
|
3 |
Antonio Rudiger |
3 |
|
Jesus Vallejo |
3 |
|
|
Dani Ceballos |
3 |
|
|
Thibaut Courtois |
3 |
|
|
Casemiro |
3 |
|
|
David Alaba |
3 |
|
|
Marco Asensio |
3 |
|
|
Diego Costa |
3 |
|
|
Diego Godin |
3 |
|
|
Koke |
3 |
|
|
Marcelo |
3 |
|
|
Raphael Varane |
3 |
|
|
Sergio Ramos |
3 |
|
|
Gareth Bale |
3 |
|
|
Keylor Navas |
3 |
|
|
Andres Iniesta |
3 |
|
|
Pedro |
3 |
|
|
Lionel Messi |
3 |
|
|
Gerard Pique |
3 |
|
|
Adriano |
3 |
|
|
Sergio Busquets |
3 |
|
|
Eric Abidal |
3 |
|
|
Alessandro Nesta |
3 |
|
|
Fernando Morientes |
3 |
|
|
Jari Litmanen |
3 |
|
|
Albert Ferrer |
3 |
|
|
Hristo Stoichov |
3 |
|
|
Mauro Tassotti |
3 |
|
|
Giovanni Stroppa |
3 |
|
|
Marco Simone |
3 |
|
|
Roberto Donadoni |
3 |
|
|
Alessandro Costacurta |
3 |
|
|
Franco Baresi |
3 |
|
|
Daniele Massaro |
3 |
|
|
Filippo Galli |
3 |
|
All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt. Correct as of 12th August 2026.
Sports
European Athletics Championships Food and Drink Prices [2026]
The European Athletics Championships kicked off this week, and a lot of the attention has been on the ‘disgusting’ food and drink prices for fans attending in person.
Stars like Keely Hodgkinson, Dina Asher-Smith and Katarina Johnson-Thompson are looking to make this Championship a memorable one; the chance to perform on home soil in such an important event certainly won’t be lost on any of the athletes.
However, what should have been a celebration of British competitors on home soil has turned sour thanks to the prices that are being charged in Birmingham.
European Athletics Championship Hit By Pricing Row
It’s not only fans who are being priced out of attending as families and friends of the athletes have not been given complimentary, or even discounted, tickets to watch their loved ones. At most major championships, athletes are given at least one complimentary ticket, and the fact that this has not happened this year has caused some upset.
An anonymous athlete told The Times that ‘it is a little bit of a surprise, a bit of a shame’ and that it would have been ‘good to have more family and friends there’.
With tickets costing as much as £150, it’s no surprise that the city’s Alexander Stadium has featured plenty of empty seats in the early stages of the track and field events. As pricey as tickets are, though, even more backlash has been directed towards the price of food and drink at the event – and with good reason. A photo of the extortionate full menu has now emerged online.
Food and Drink Prices at European Athletics Championships Go Viral
Fans, who have already parted with big money for tickets, are then expected to fork out £18.50 for a BBQ pork roll, £15 for a bratwurst dog and £12 for a portion of loaded fries!
It is not only the food that is extortionate, but even a bottle of water will set you back £3.95 amongst the extreme heat that the country is experiencing currently.
Former England footballer Stan Collymore was active on social media and criticising the pricing: ‘No wonder crowds yesterday were poor. Woeful optics…£18+ for a pork roll, £150 for a Cat A ticket. Could have got a £20 ticket for this morning’s session, but how many can go on a Tuesday in the school holidays?’
Users on social media have not been shy in putting over their frustrations, with one saying: ‘Sorry but this is disgusting and a sure-fire way to turn people off a sport that gets only a couple of opportunities to show itself off each year. European Athletics Championships organisers in Birmingham need to be called out for this price gouging.’
Despite the backlash, organisers have said that: ‘Birmingham 2026 are delighted with ticket sales for the championships, which have far surpassed our targets. Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening sessions are approaching sell-out, with several other sessions close to capacity.’
The European Athletics Championships are currently in full swing, taking place from August 10-16, and Great Britain have put out a field of 96 competitors looking to win big at home.
Sports
Wrexham Player Wages Revealed [2026]
Wrexham have had a rise up the leagues unparalleled by any side in recent memory. Backed by Hollywood icons Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, the pair, along with a successful cohort of players and managerial staff, have taken the Welsh side from the National League all the way to the Championship. Doing so with scrutiny, with many criticising their spending habits, it is a game plan that has proved successful for the club.
Perhaps best known for their documentary that airs on Disney+, the club and its players are known all over the world. Due to the club’s immense popularity and ascension up the football pyramid, the club have been able to sign some of the best players available to them, putting them on wages that may make jaws drop. Hoping to go one step further and achieve Premier League status, they will hope their new signings can help achieve this goal.
With the help of Capology, and other sources where applicable, these are the reported wages for the Wrexham team of 2026/27.
Goalkeepers
Wrexham recently shattered their transfer record by signing Anthony Patterson from Sunderland. The Englishman has joined the club in an £8 million move. He put pen-to-paper on a four-year deal, but it is currently unknown how much he is earning.
One of Wrexham’s first signings after earning promotion to the Championship was acquiring the services of Danny Ward. A keeper with Premier League experience, his arrival back in his home country was a real statement of intent. However, the Welshman, who earns £12,500-per-week, played just eight matches for the club in the 25/26 campaign as he had to settle for a backup role.
Arthur Okonkwo, who helped the Red Dragons get out of League Two and League One, is the club’s lowest-paid goalkeeper, with Ward possessing a weekly wage of £12,500 and Callum Burton on £5,000. The former Arsenal Academy player lives in Wales with a weekly income of £3,000. Despite impressing between the sticks, he could now be on the move following Patterson’s arrival.
|
Wrexham Goalkeeper Wages |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Player |
Weekly Salary |
Contract Signed |
Expiration |
|
Anthony Patterson |
TBC |
August 11, 2026 |
June 30, 2030 |
|
Danny Ward |
£12,500 |
July 1, 2025 |
June 30, 2027 |
|
Callum Burton |
£5,000 |
July 5, 2025 |
June 30, 2027 |
|
Arthur Okonkwo |
£3,000 |
July 1, 2024 |
June 30, 2027 |
Defenders
As is the case with non-Premier League sides, incomings and departures are constant. With Wrexham having risen the ranks phenomenally, they have continued to invest and buy new players and reward performing ones, hence why seven of their first-team defenders were signed in the past year.
Leading the way is former Premier League defender Conor Coady, who, having had spells with Wolverhampton Wanderers and Everton, joined from Leicester City. The Englishman has not justified his £25,000-per-week wages at the time of writing, having spent the second half of the 2025/26 campaign on loan at Charlton Athletic.
Callum Doyle and Liberato Cacace joined the England international last summer. Both earn £15,000-per-week, as does Danny Imray, per SalaryLeaks. Dominic Hyam, Zak Vyner and academy graduate Max Cleworth are the three other defenders that earn £10,000 or more every seven days.
|
Wrexham Defender Wages |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Player |
Weekly Salary |
Contract Signed |
Expiration |
|
Conor Coady |
£25,000 |
August 1, 2025 |
June 30, 2027 |
|
Callum Doyle |
£15,000 |
August 21, 2025 |
June 30, 2029 |
|
Liberato Cacace |
£15,000 |
July 18, 2025 |
June 30, 2028 |
|
Danny Imray |
£15,000 |
July 29, 2026 |
June 30, 2030 |
|
Dominic Hyam |
£12,500 |
September 1, 2025 |
June 30, 2027 |
|
Zak Vyner |
£12,500 |
February 1, 2026 |
June 30, 2029 |
|
Max Cleworth |
£10,000 |
January 16, 2026 |
June 30, 2029 |
|
Dan Scarr |
£8,500 |
August 2, 2024 |
June 30, 2027 |
|
Lewis Brunt |
£7,500 |
July 2, 2024 |
June 30, 2027 |
|
Ryan Barnett |
£5,000 |
November 22, 2024 |
June 30, 2027 |
Midfielders
An incredibly robust midfield to be operating with, all of Wrexham’s midfield contracts were signed from 2024 onwards. The leading two on the list, Lewis O’Brien and Ben Sheaf, were summer signings from the Red Dragons, with their incomings moving straight to the top of the list of highest earners in each position. O’Brien, who has spent time in the MLS and the Premier League, was an astute signing by Phil Parkinson, with Sheaf making the move from fellow Championship outfit, Coventry City.
O’Brien earns £17,500-per-week, while Sheaf, as well as former Leicester player Matty James, earns £15,000-per-week.
Oliver Rathbone and George Dobson, two players that were integral in Wrexham earning promotion from League One to the Championship, are earning £12,500-per-week, just more than George Thomason (£10,000-per-week) and Ryan Longman (£7,500-per-week).
Wrexham signed Preston North End captain Ben Whiteman in a £3m deal this summer. He signed a three-year deal but his weekly salary, at the time of writing, is unclear.
|
Wrexham Midfielder Wages |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Player |
Weekly Salary |
Contract Signed |
Expiration |
|
Lewis O’Brien |
£17,500 |
July 24, 2025 |
June 30, 2028 |
|
Ben Sheaf |
£15,000 |
September 1, 2025 |
June 30, 2028 |
|
Matty James |
£15,000 |
December 19, 2024 |
June 30, 2026 |
|
Oliver Rathbone |
£12,500 |
August 9, 2024 |
June 30, 2027 |
|
George Dobson |
£12,500 |
February 23, 2026 |
June 30, 2028 |
|
George Thomason |
£10,000 |
July 21, 2025 |
June 30, 2028 |
|
Ryan Longman |
£7,500 |
January 24, 2025 |
June 30, 2027 |
|
Ben Whiteman |
TBC |
August 5, 2026 |
June 30, 2029 |
Attackers
As has been the case with all of Wrexham’s contracts, five of their forwards put pen to paper in 2025, with a further two signing in 2026. Among those are two players with plenty of Premier League experience: Kieffer Moore and Jay Rodriguez.
Moore, a Welshman, is the club’s highest-paid player, earning £30,000-per-week. Former England International Rodriguez earns £25,000 every seven days.
Sam Smith earns £15,000-per-week, as does Josh Windass, son of Premier League cult hero, Dean. Elsewhere, Nathan Broadhead rakes in £12,500-per-week, while Davis Keillor-Dunn and youngster Bailey Cadamarteri earn £7,500 and £6,500-per-week respectively.
|
Wrexham Attackers Wages |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Player |
Weekly Salary |
Contract Signed |
Expiration |
|
Kieffer Moore |
£30,000 |
August 5, 2025 |
June 30, 2028 |
|
Jay Rodriguez |
£25,000 |
January 31, 2025 |
June 30, 2026 |
|
Sam Smith |
£15,000 |
January 31, 2025 |
June 30, 2028 |
|
Josh Windass |
£15,000 |
July 23, 2025 |
June 30, 2028 |
|
Nathan Broadhead |
£12,500 |
February 2, 2026 |
June 30, 2029 |
|
Davis Keillor-Dunn |
£7,500 |
July 1, 2025 |
June 30, 2028 |
|
Bailey Cadamarteri |
£6,500 |
February 2, 2026 |
June 30, 2029 |
All statistics courtesy of Capology unless stated – correct as of 12/08/26
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