CELEBRITY
RUSSIAN TENNIS STAR, MARIA SHARAPOVA ENGAGES BRITISH MILLIONAIRE
Maria Sharapova’s secret is out. The five-time Major champion announced on Instagram that she is engaged to British millionaire Alexander Gilkes, 41.
The retired Russian tennis superstar, 33, wrote on Thursday (Dec 17): “I said yes from the first day we met. This was our little secret, wasn’t it? @gilkesa.”
Gilkes, an art dealer, also posted on Instagram simultaneously.
“Thank you for making me a very, very happy boy. I look forward to a lifetime of loving you and learning from you @mariasharapova,” he wrote, adding a ring emoji.
According to various media reports, Sharapova confirmed that she was dating Gilkes in October 2018.
The pair were rumoured to be together in January that year after being pictured together at Los Angeles’ LAX airport.
Sharapova was engaged to National Basketball Association player Sasha Vujacic, 36, who proposed to her in 2010 on the anniversary of their first meeting. But they broke up in 2012, with Sharapova confirming that the split was due to their demanding schedules.
Sharapova also previously dated Bulgarian tennis star Grigor Dimitrov, 29, for three years until 2015.
The former world No. 1 announced her retirement in February. Following the end to a career that saw her complete a career Grand Slam, Gilkes posted on Instagram: “To the kindest and most professional person I know, here is to you Maria, and all that awaits you in your next chapter! May you continue to inspire us all with your deep humility, self-deprecation, strength and focus.”
He is the former husband of Misha Nonoo, a close friend of the Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle, the wife of Britain’s Prince Harry.
Gilkes is also reportedly friends with Prince William since their Eton College days.
Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo crossed one billion followers across his social media accounts, aided by his newly-launched YouTube channel that has attracted more than 60 million subscribers in just over three weeks.
Ronaldo, who scored his 900th career goal last week to help Portugal beat Croatia 2-1 in the Nations League, is the first human being to reach a billion followers on social media, global media reports said.
“We’ve made history, one billion followers! This is more than just a number, it’s a testament to our shared passion, drive, and love for the game and beyond,” Ronaldo posted on X.
“You’ve been with me every step of the way, through all the highs and the lows. This journey is our journey… thank you for believing in me, for your support, and for being part of my life.”
The former Manchester United and Real Madrid player reached the milestone with over 639 million followers on Instagram, 170 million on Facebook and 113 million on X.
The 39-year-old topped Forbes’ list of highest-paid athletes this year, with off-field earnings of $60 million, boosted by his large social media following.
Ronaldo’s club Al-Nassr will host Al-Ahli in the Saudi Pro League on Friday.
-Reuters
Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo launched his YouTube channel on Wednesday and hundreds of thousands of subscribers signed up within a couple of hours.
The 39-year-old five-times Ballon D’Or winner plays for Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr.
“The wait is over. My @YouTube channel is finally here! SIUUUbscribe and join me on this new journey,” Ronaldo posted on his social media accounts.
A couple of hours after posting his first video, 1.69M subscribers had joined he channel.
Ronaldo has 112.5 million followers on the X platform, 170 million on Facebook and 636 million on Instagram.
The former Real Madrid and Manchester United player is preparing for his team’s Saudi Pro League opener against Al-Raed on Thursday.
-Reuters
Inter Miami will be the last club Argentina captain Lionel Messi plays for, the 36-year-old forward said on Wednesday, adding he feels “a little bit scared” at the thought of the day he decides to retire.
Messi, a World Cup winner with Argentina in 2022, has a contract with the Major League Soccer side until 2025 following his arrival last summer after a spell with French champions Paris St Germain.
“Inter Miami will be my last club. I love playing football. I enjoy everything even more because I am aware that there is less and less left,” Messi told ESPN.
“I’m not ready to leave football. I’ve done this all my life, I love playing football, I enjoy training, the day-to-day, the matches… And yes, there’s always a little bit of fear that it’s all over.”
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi is preparing with his national team to defend their Copa America title, with the tournament kicking off on June 20 in the United States.
Argentina will take on Canada in the opening match before facing Group A rivals Chile on June 25 and Peru four days later.
-Reuters
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