Lionel Messi, Luis Surez and Neymar surpassed 100 goals in all competitions for the season as Barcelona beat Villarreal 4-1 in La Liga. Barcelona have now scored 158 goals this season, 100 of which have been by either Lionel Messi (50), Luis Suarez (34) or Neymar (16)
21: The first chance for Barcelona!
Alvaro Gonzalez handles right on the edge of the box, and earns himself a booking. More importantly, it gives Barca a great chance to open the scoring. Messi lines it up, clips it over the wall, and into arms of Andrés Fernández.
GOAL! BARCELONA 1-0 VILLARREAL (Neymar, 21)
Deadlock broken, and the visitors are not happy. Messi brings the ball down in the box, fires across for Neymar, who takes a touch before firing into the bottom corner to break Villarreal's resistance. Arms are raised for offside, but the flag stays down. Replays show it was very, very tight.
A very strange goal. Even some of the stadium thought it would be disallowed. Neymar is flagged offside after another ball into the middle, cue ironic applause from the Villarreal defenders.
25: Villarreal taking the attack to Barca now. They still look a little angry. They need to find some composure on the ball.
27: Confusion between Gerard Pique and Marc-Andre ter Stegen sees the defender loop a cross over his own crossbar. Not very convincing goalkeeping.
29: Messi got another Chance!
Ivan Rakitic threads the ball through for Messi, who struggles to get the ball out of his feet, before dragging his strike well wide.
GOAL! BARCELONA 1-1 VILLARREAL (Bakambu, 31)
Great finish from the Villiarreal hitman to level proceedings. Barca play a very high line, Bakambu races onto a throughpass from Roberto Soldado, the flag again stays down, he has too much pace for Pique to make up the ground, keeps his composure and slots past Ter Stegen.
38: CLOSE!
Messi whips a delightful cross to the back post, but Pique is always stretching, and can only glance a header wide.
42: CHANCE! Huge chance for Soldado!
The Villarreal striker is found in the penalty area by a brilliant cross from Soriano, but a header from the Spaniard is guided wide of the target. Opportunities don't get much clearer than that at Camp Nou. He had to at least test Ter Stegen. Barcelona head up the other end, with Suarez releasing Neymar into the box, but the Brazilian drags a shot shy of the far upright.
42: CLOSE! Another chance!
Suarez shows great strength to beat two men, threads the ball through for Neymar. The Brazilian runs wide, before dragging an effort across the face of goal.
GOAL! BARCELONA 2-1 VILLARREAL (Messi, 45)
Out of nowhere, Barca are back in front. There didn't seem to be much danger on, but when Messi is around anything can happen. The Barca talisman made space for the shot, before slotting the ball into the bottom corner from just outside the box. The slight deflection on the effort wrong-footed Villarreal stopper Fernandez.
47: Fernandez Save!
Neymar does it all himself, dancing his way into the box. He is forced wide, but still manages to get the shot away, only to be denied by Fernandez.
51: CHANCE!
Super pass from Iniesta plays Digne in, but the young defender panics and lashes the ball across the face of goal and out for a goal-kick.
57: Great Save!
Neymar pokes the ball into the path of Messi, who lashes for goal first time, but Fernandez is equal to it, tipping over the bar.
GOAL! BARCELONA 3-1 VILLARREAL (Suarez, 69)
Quick break from Barcelona. Suarez gets one on one with Alvaro, drops the shoulder, makes space for the shot, before firing into the bottom corner. Fernandez got a hand to it, but couldn't keep it out.
77: CHANCES! Neymar is clear, through on goal, but inexplicably elects to chip over Fernandez, who stands his ground and easily saves.
GOAL! BARCELONA 4-1 VILLARREAL (Messi pen, 81)
PENALTY TO BARCELONA. Costa adjudged to have handled. Cheeky from Messi as he chips the ball down the middle. Strange decision really to award the penalty. There were no appeals from the Barca players as Suarez fired into the body of Costa.
Saturday, 6 May 2017
Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo undervalued in Portugal - Santos
Portugal coach Fernando Santos believes Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo is underappreciated in his homeland.
Ronaldo, 32, is Portugal's most-capped player as well as their all-time leading goal scorer, having netted 71 times in 138 appearances, while he captained the nation to their first major trophy at Euro 2016 last summer.
The forward has also won the Ballon d'Or four times as well as three Champions Leagues among a host of other trophies, yet Santos still feels he is not given the credit he deserves back home in Portugal.
"Sometimes I don't understand how we Portuguese sometimes value Cristiano so little," Santos told reporters.
"In qualifying for the [2016] European Championship and after the first games of the finals it was said he did not score goals, that he would not open the floodgates. Then, when he started scoring goals, we saw the other side.
"But Cristiano Ronaldo always scores. I've known him since he was 18 and he's always been the same, he's always scored and will continue to do so."
Ronaldo, 32, is Portugal's most-capped player as well as their all-time leading goal scorer, having netted 71 times in 138 appearances, while he captained the nation to their first major trophy at Euro 2016 last summer.
The forward has also won the Ballon d'Or four times as well as three Champions Leagues among a host of other trophies, yet Santos still feels he is not given the credit he deserves back home in Portugal.
"Sometimes I don't understand how we Portuguese sometimes value Cristiano so little," Santos told reporters.
"In qualifying for the [2016] European Championship and after the first games of the finals it was said he did not score goals, that he would not open the floodgates. Then, when he started scoring goals, we saw the other side.
"But Cristiano Ronaldo always scores. I've known him since he was 18 and he's always been the same, he's always scored and will continue to do so."
Gareth Bale open to Premier League move this summer- United and Chelsea are on standby
There’s plenty of supporters here in the Transfer Tavern that would love to see former Tottenham man Gareth Bale playing back in England and they could soon have their wish…
The former Spurs winger has endured an injury-plagued season in La Liga in what has been his most disappointing campaign in Spain since making the move.
And according to Don Balon, it’s thrown his future at the Bernabeu into the dark and the Welsh international has told his agent that he’d be open to a transfer back to England this summer.
It’s thought to have put Manchester United and Chelsea on alert, both of whom would be able to afford his predictably high wage demands.
As the news has filtered through to the pub, it’s put Red Devils and Chelsea supporters into a state of disarray and if this does happen over the summer, there’s going to be a real tug-of-war between the two!
The former Spurs winger has endured an injury-plagued season in La Liga in what has been his most disappointing campaign in Spain since making the move.
And according to Don Balon, it’s thrown his future at the Bernabeu into the dark and the Welsh international has told his agent that he’d be open to a transfer back to England this summer.
It’s thought to have put Manchester United and Chelsea on alert, both of whom would be able to afford his predictably high wage demands.
As the news has filtered through to the pub, it’s put Red Devils and Chelsea supporters into a state of disarray and if this does happen over the summer, there’s going to be a real tug-of-war between the two!
Key journalist confirms Chelsea star is in talks over staggering transfer to China
It’s been a superb season down at Stamford Bridge for Chelsea and their supporters here in the pub can smell the Premier League title!
You have to admit that crown is moving closer and closer to the Bridge after Tottenham’s loss to West Ham United last night and there will be few Blues fans that think Spurs will catch them now.
But with the title nearly in the bag and the season going down as a real success, attention will now turn to the summer and who needs to be sold at the club.
And one man that has been seriously linked with a move away from the club in recent weeks is Spanish striker Diego Costa.
Now, French journalist Johnny Severin has confirmed that a staggering 100million Euro deal is in the offing between the Blues and Chinese outfit Tianjin Quanjian.
The reporter, who works for SFR Sport in France tweeted details of the eye-watering deal, which would certainly make Costa one of the biggest players to have ever made the jump to Chinese football.
Former team-mates Oscar and Ramires are already playing their football in the up-and-coming nation.
Coutinho Talks is Just Pure Press Speculation
Earlier this week reports were appearing in the media intimating that Barcelona were interested in acquiring the talented Liverpool midfielder, Philippe Coutinho.
The 24-year-old Brazilian midfielder has been impressive in the Premier League since arriving at Anfield.
In fact, his form has impressed those at Liverpool so much that he recently put pen-to-paper on a new contract back in January.
However, it seems that the speculation is misplaced with the Spanish journalist, Guillem Balague, in an interview with Sky Sports revealing and as reported by the local media in Liverpool, the Liverpool Echo
'There are more stories coming out that Barcelona want Coutinho and he is willing to go.
'I have no doubt he is willing to go, but Barcelona are not after him.
'It`s just moves the agents are making to try to convince Barcelona to move for him. But they do not want him.'
So, it really is just press speculation.
The 24-year-old Brazilian midfielder has been impressive in the Premier League since arriving at Anfield.
In fact, his form has impressed those at Liverpool so much that he recently put pen-to-paper on a new contract back in January.
However, it seems that the speculation is misplaced with the Spanish journalist, Guillem Balague, in an interview with Sky Sports revealing and as reported by the local media in Liverpool, the Liverpool Echo
'There are more stories coming out that Barcelona want Coutinho and he is willing to go.
'I have no doubt he is willing to go, but Barcelona are not after him.
'It`s just moves the agents are making to try to convince Barcelona to move for him. But they do not want him.'
So, it really is just press speculation.
Messi Rejects Barcelona Contract Offer
We`re at that stage again whereby Barcelona and Lionel Messi are playing a game of poker when it comes to contracts being renewed.
According to the news vehicle Daily Star, the 29-year-old Argentine superstar has rejected Barcelona`s first offer.
The offer, so our source suggests, was said to be in the region of €30-€40 million net per season, a huge amount.
Messi`s current contract expires in June 2018 and although the first offer has been rejected, it shouldn`t really be of concern to the Barca support.
Apparently talks between the club and Messi`s father, Jorge, have been taking place for several months with our source revealing that Messi has given the club reassurances he is looking to remain at the Nou Camp.
It appears that Messi is playing some kind of waiting game and is aware of the deals the club recently agreed with both Neymar and Luis Suarez.
Like we suggested in our opening gambit, Messi is just involved in a game of poker waiting to see the hand he is dealt with next by Barcelona.
According to the news vehicle Daily Star, the 29-year-old Argentine superstar has rejected Barcelona`s first offer.
The offer, so our source suggests, was said to be in the region of €30-€40 million net per season, a huge amount.
Messi`s current contract expires in June 2018 and although the first offer has been rejected, it shouldn`t really be of concern to the Barca support.
Apparently talks between the club and Messi`s father, Jorge, have been taking place for several months with our source revealing that Messi has given the club reassurances he is looking to remain at the Nou Camp.
It appears that Messi is playing some kind of waiting game and is aware of the deals the club recently agreed with both Neymar and Luis Suarez.
Like we suggested in our opening gambit, Messi is just involved in a game of poker waiting to see the hand he is dealt with next by Barcelona.
Pep Guardiola: Jose Mourinho is never going to drop even one game
Pep Guardiola is paying no attention to Jose Mourinho's suggestion that Manchester United have given up on the top four.
Only a point separates the city rivals and Guardiola is not buying the assertion that old foe Mourinho is about to throw in the towel.
'I am pretty sure that United are going to [Arsenal] to win the game,' the Manchester City boss said on Friday.
'What I know from the times I've faced my colleague Jose Mourinho is that he is never going to drop even one game.
'It doesn't matter about the team he's going to play. His decision is he is going to London to win the game.'
Guardiola has tinkered with his team more than any other Premier League manager and claims rotation has not impacted on results.
'With a lot of games you have to rotate. We didn't win or lose because of that. When you win the rotation is very good - when you lose it is very bad.'
City start the most important 10 days of their season against Crystal Palace without Sergio Aguero, who is still feeling the effects of a groin injury picked up last weekend.
David Silva remains a doubt, while John Stones is still struggling with a muscle problem ahead of two other home games with Leicester and West Brom in a period which will determine whether or not they qualify for next season's Champions League.
Guardiola blamed a lack of cutting edge for winning only half of his league matches at the Etihad Stadium, with the return of Gabriel Jesus a welcome boost.
Asked if attacking instincts in the box are an issue, Guardiola replied: 'And quality. The most difficult in football by far is putting the ball in the net, scoring goals.
'In golf, it's putting. Not the drive, the seven iron. In basketball the most difficult thing is putting in the basket.
'We are the team in the Premier League with the most clear-cut chances, but are are seventh in the statistics of the teams scoring the most goals.
'We can accept the opponent scoring one goal, but we haven't scored enough goals. We didn't score two, three, four goals enough times.'
Only a point separates the city rivals and Guardiola is not buying the assertion that old foe Mourinho is about to throw in the towel.
'I am pretty sure that United are going to [Arsenal] to win the game,' the Manchester City boss said on Friday.
'What I know from the times I've faced my colleague Jose Mourinho is that he is never going to drop even one game.
'It doesn't matter about the team he's going to play. His decision is he is going to London to win the game.'
Guardiola has tinkered with his team more than any other Premier League manager and claims rotation has not impacted on results.
'With a lot of games you have to rotate. We didn't win or lose because of that. When you win the rotation is very good - when you lose it is very bad.'
City start the most important 10 days of their season against Crystal Palace without Sergio Aguero, who is still feeling the effects of a groin injury picked up last weekend.
David Silva remains a doubt, while John Stones is still struggling with a muscle problem ahead of two other home games with Leicester and West Brom in a period which will determine whether or not they qualify for next season's Champions League.
Guardiola blamed a lack of cutting edge for winning only half of his league matches at the Etihad Stadium, with the return of Gabriel Jesus a welcome boost.
Asked if attacking instincts in the box are an issue, Guardiola replied: 'And quality. The most difficult in football by far is putting the ball in the net, scoring goals.
'In golf, it's putting. Not the drive, the seven iron. In basketball the most difficult thing is putting in the basket.
'We are the team in the Premier League with the most clear-cut chances, but are are seventh in the statistics of the teams scoring the most goals.
'We can accept the opponent scoring one goal, but we haven't scored enough goals. We didn't score two, three, four goals enough times.'
David Luiz says he has matured as a footballer since his first spell at Chelsea, and insists he reads the game better now.
David Luiz says he has matured as a footballer since his first spell at Chelsea, and insists he reads the game better now.
Luiz's Chelsea are on course to win the Premier League title in his first season back at the club following a move from Paris Saint-Germain last summer, having left the club in 2014 under Jose Mourinho.
The Brazilian, who was named in the PFA Team of the Year this season, says he has returned to England with a better understanding of the game, but insists he is continuing to learn under Antonio Conte.
Asked if he had matured, Luis said: "You have to, and also as a person. I think the experience gives you many things, and yes, as a person and a footballer, you have to if you want to learn. If you are open every day.
"I read more of the game now, I can understand more of the game, it is a different pressure now with the big games. Many, many things. I think if you want to improve, you need to think you are a better player than you were.
"I've worked with six, seven, eight coaches, they have improved my game, different leagues and different countries."
Asked if the Premier League had changed since he'd been away, Luiz added: "I think the intensity is the same, I think the level is the same, because it is always six, or seven teams fighting for the title. I don't see a lot of difference.
"It continues with the high credibility, it is one of the best leagues in the world, if not the best, and it is difficult to win."
Chelsea moved to a back-three system earlier this season, something that has seen them rise to the top of the Premier League under Conte in his first season.
Luiz revealed he played in that formation when he was younger, and says working with the Italian has been beneficial to his game.
"I started in this system when I was young, a long time ago, and now I come back to play in the back three. In this system you work a lot in a tactical way, Conte gives me a lot of good advice in ways to read the game," he said.
"In my position I need to be the cover for everybody, the cover for the midfielders and the defence and the wingers. It's a tactical place, and I love to work with Conte, he loves to work on the details. He's helped me a lot and he's great to work with."
Luiz and Chelsea would be forgiven for feeling the pressure going into the final weeks of the campaign, but the 30-year-old says the pressure comes with playing for a big side and aiming for success.
"I think you have to enjoy it. We have to know our life is great, and it is a pleasure to wake up every day, you never know if you wake up tomorrow, so we need to enjoy it in the best way," he added.
"Of course with the compromise, with the focus, everything, and the responsibility to understand your job, but of course with the pleasure of enjoying the job too.
"It's nice to have the pressure, this means we are fighting for something big."
Luiz's Chelsea are on course to win the Premier League title in his first season back at the club following a move from Paris Saint-Germain last summer, having left the club in 2014 under Jose Mourinho.
The Brazilian, who was named in the PFA Team of the Year this season, says he has returned to England with a better understanding of the game, but insists he is continuing to learn under Antonio Conte.
Asked if he had matured, Luis said: "You have to, and also as a person. I think the experience gives you many things, and yes, as a person and a footballer, you have to if you want to learn. If you are open every day.
"I read more of the game now, I can understand more of the game, it is a different pressure now with the big games. Many, many things. I think if you want to improve, you need to think you are a better player than you were.
"I've worked with six, seven, eight coaches, they have improved my game, different leagues and different countries."
Asked if the Premier League had changed since he'd been away, Luiz added: "I think the intensity is the same, I think the level is the same, because it is always six, or seven teams fighting for the title. I don't see a lot of difference.
"It continues with the high credibility, it is one of the best leagues in the world, if not the best, and it is difficult to win."
Chelsea moved to a back-three system earlier this season, something that has seen them rise to the top of the Premier League under Conte in his first season.
Luiz revealed he played in that formation when he was younger, and says working with the Italian has been beneficial to his game.
"I started in this system when I was young, a long time ago, and now I come back to play in the back three. In this system you work a lot in a tactical way, Conte gives me a lot of good advice in ways to read the game," he said.
"In my position I need to be the cover for everybody, the cover for the midfielders and the defence and the wingers. It's a tactical place, and I love to work with Conte, he loves to work on the details. He's helped me a lot and he's great to work with."
Luiz and Chelsea would be forgiven for feeling the pressure going into the final weeks of the campaign, but the 30-year-old says the pressure comes with playing for a big side and aiming for success.
"I think you have to enjoy it. We have to know our life is great, and it is a pleasure to wake up every day, you never know if you wake up tomorrow, so we need to enjoy it in the best way," he added.
"Of course with the compromise, with the focus, everything, and the responsibility to understand your job, but of course with the pleasure of enjoying the job too.
"It's nice to have the pressure, this means we are fighting for something big."
Friday, 5 May 2017
Tottenham beaten by West Ham: Does that mean the title race is now over?
Tottenham were beaten 1-0 by West Ham at the London Stadium on Friday Night Football to remain four points adrift of Premier League leaders Chelsea.
Does that mean the title race is now over? What does the result say about this Tottenham team? And what of Kyle Walker's performance?
Here we pick out five questions for Spurs following the defeat…
Title tilt now over?
It was fun while it lasted with the form team in the Premier League recording win after win in recent months but Tottenham's hopes of a first English league title since 1961 are surely over after this defeat with Manuel Lanzini's second-half goal enough to separate the sides.
The result leaves them four points behind Chelsea with the gap likely to increase given that lowly Middlesbrough are the visitors to Stamford Bridge on Monday Night Football. The Blues could even wrap up the title before Spurs are back in action if they win on Monday and again next Friday against West Brom. For the second season in succession, Tottenham are set to come up just short, but there's no shame in that...
Was it a bottle job?
Tottenham were on a sequence of nine consecutive Premier League wins going into this match. A remarkable run given that no other side in the competition has won their last three. Far from bottling it, Spurs should be applauded for giving everyone a title race.
Their rivals may mock but Tottenham are the ones who have been the most consistently excellent team in English football over the past two years. They are the team that have overachieved throughout that period. The wait for the title goes on but Chelsea have been top since November. Spurs were always an outside bet.
What went wrong?
A London derby played in a sparky atmosphere brought back memories of Tottenham's own trip to Stamford Bridge last season where their hopes of hauling in Leicester came to an end. Credit to West Ham. Their work rate was impressive throughout and, unusually, they actually outran Mauricio Pochettino's men.
Indeed, West Ham are the first team to cover more ground than Tottenham since Liverpool beat them 2-0 in February. Spurs won the nine games in between. Perhaps that offers opponents a clue as to what's needed to stop them - the only option is to outwork a Pochettino team and that's not easy.
Issues with Walker?
Having seen Kieran Trippier selected ahead of him in big games against Chelsea and Arsenal recently, Kyle Walker found himself under the spotlight on his return to the starting line-up amid reports of a possible summer move to Manchester City. It was a curious performance.
Walker struggled defensively as West Ham exploited the spaces he left and while there was one wonderful no-look pass to carve out a chance for Christian Eriksen it was not a huge shock when Trippier replaced him late on. This display will only add to the speculation.
What happens next?
The disappointment was palpable among supporters and staff with midfielder Eric Dier clearly crestfallen in his post-match interview. "I don't know what else I can say," he told Sky Sports in the wake of the disappointment. So where do Spurs go from here?
The challenge for Pochettino is to convince his young team that all the effort has not been for nothing. The Wembley move will be a challenge but it's one they must embrace. The game is about glory or so the saying goes. Spurs now know they need to get better again if they are to taste it.
Does that mean the title race is now over? What does the result say about this Tottenham team? And what of Kyle Walker's performance?
Here we pick out five questions for Spurs following the defeat…
Title tilt now over?
It was fun while it lasted with the form team in the Premier League recording win after win in recent months but Tottenham's hopes of a first English league title since 1961 are surely over after this defeat with Manuel Lanzini's second-half goal enough to separate the sides.
The result leaves them four points behind Chelsea with the gap likely to increase given that lowly Middlesbrough are the visitors to Stamford Bridge on Monday Night Football. The Blues could even wrap up the title before Spurs are back in action if they win on Monday and again next Friday against West Brom. For the second season in succession, Tottenham are set to come up just short, but there's no shame in that...
Was it a bottle job?
Tottenham were on a sequence of nine consecutive Premier League wins going into this match. A remarkable run given that no other side in the competition has won their last three. Far from bottling it, Spurs should be applauded for giving everyone a title race.
Their rivals may mock but Tottenham are the ones who have been the most consistently excellent team in English football over the past two years. They are the team that have overachieved throughout that period. The wait for the title goes on but Chelsea have been top since November. Spurs were always an outside bet.
What went wrong?
A London derby played in a sparky atmosphere brought back memories of Tottenham's own trip to Stamford Bridge last season where their hopes of hauling in Leicester came to an end. Credit to West Ham. Their work rate was impressive throughout and, unusually, they actually outran Mauricio Pochettino's men.
Indeed, West Ham are the first team to cover more ground than Tottenham since Liverpool beat them 2-0 in February. Spurs won the nine games in between. Perhaps that offers opponents a clue as to what's needed to stop them - the only option is to outwork a Pochettino team and that's not easy.
Issues with Walker?
Having seen Kieran Trippier selected ahead of him in big games against Chelsea and Arsenal recently, Kyle Walker found himself under the spotlight on his return to the starting line-up amid reports of a possible summer move to Manchester City. It was a curious performance.
Walker struggled defensively as West Ham exploited the spaces he left and while there was one wonderful no-look pass to carve out a chance for Christian Eriksen it was not a huge shock when Trippier replaced him late on. This display will only add to the speculation.
What happens next?
The disappointment was palpable among supporters and staff with midfielder Eric Dier clearly crestfallen in his post-match interview. "I don't know what else I can say," he told Sky Sports in the wake of the disappointment. So where do Spurs go from here?
The challenge for Pochettino is to convince his young team that all the effort has not been for nothing. The Wembley move will be a challenge but it's one they must embrace. The game is about glory or so the saying goes. Spurs now know they need to get better again if they are to taste it.
Lewis Hamilton tops UK sport rich list on £131m... but Manchester United star Zlatan Ibrahimovic isn't far behind
Lewis Hamilton is still the richest sportsman in the UK but Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is a close second after he gatecrashed the top 10 of the new Sunday Times Rich List.
Mercedes Formula One driver Hamilton, who is bidding to win his fourth world championship this year, has a £131million fortune and has seen his wealth increase by £25million in the last 12 months.
Ibrahimovic, United's 35-year-old Swedish striker, leapfrogged team-mate Wayne Rooney to become the richest footballer on the list after he joined the English side in July last year.
The imposing forward has a wealth of £110million after more than a decade playing for Europe's elite clubs including Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan, Barcelona, Juventus and Inter Milan and a lucrative long-term endorsement deal with Nike.
Formula One's Jenson Button and golfer Rory McIlroy make up the top five with wealth of £86million and £82million respectively.
McIlroy's fortune rose by £26million in the last 12 months, the biggest rise on the list, while Button's personal fortune grew by £9million even though he handed over his McLaren seat at the end of last season.
Football is the best-represented sport in the top 10, with five of the wealthiest sports people either players or managers.
Rooney (£93million, up £11million) is third, while Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is in seventh place (£61million) and Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola equal ninth (£50million).
Wales and Real Madrid striker Gareth Bale has seen his wealth rise by £20million in the last year to a total of £54million, to place him eighth in the top 10.
Sir Andy Murray is now worth £77million, making him the sixth-richest sportsman. The world No 1 in men's tennis earned nearly £13million on court and plenty more off it to carry him to the total, the same number as that borne by his management company after he won his first Wimbledon 77 years after the last Briton to do so, Fred Perry.
Los Angeles Lakers basketball player Luol Deng completes the top 10 in joint ninth place with Guardiola (£50million).
Deng is Sudanese-British and came to London aged eight after fleeing civil war in his home country. He moved to the United States as a teenager and has played for the Chicago Bulls, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Miami Heat before switching to the Lakers.
None of the top 10 richest sports stars saw their wealth decline this year, with the cumulative rise standing at £129million.
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