CELEBRITY
Riches to Rags: Sport stars who went broke in retirement
When it all goes wrong
The adrenaline rush of competing in front of thousands of cheering fans, along with the lavish lifestyles that come with lucrative contracts, can make the life of a pro athlete seem like a fairytale. However, not all sports stars manage their finances wisely, and some end up facing financial ruin once their playing days are over. Here, we take a closer look at several high-profile athletes who went from living the high life to experiencing the harsh reality of bankruptcy.
Diego Maradona
Diego Maradona, an Argentine soccer legend, captured the world’s attention with his exceptional skills and memorable goals. Despite earning massive sums of money throughout his career, Maradona struggled with addiction, extravagant spending, and legal troubles. In 2009, there Argentine filed for bankruptcy after Italian Tax Authority demanded he pay around £53 million in unpaid taxes from his time as a Napoli player, according to Sportskeeda.
Boris Becker
Boris Becker, a tennis icon and multiple Grand Slam champion, achieved worldwide fame and fortune in the 1980s. However, Becker’s extravagant lifestyle, including expensive homes, luxury cars, failed business ventures and divorce settlements contributed to his financial struggles. In 2017, he was declared bankrupt squandering a fortune of over $200 million, according to the Mirror. He was also jailed for hiding over 3 million dollars in his fraud case relating to his bankruptcy.
Dennis Rodman
Dennis Rodman was characterized as someone who was very generous during his NBA career. But his generosity wasn’t what caused him to go broke. According to ABC News, Rodman had a serious drinking problem in 2012 that led to him filing court papers saying he could not afford to pay child support. At the time, he owed his ex-wife over $837,000 in back child support and was previously ordered to pay her $50,000 a month, according to Nicki Swift.
Mike Tyson
Mike Tyson: Once known as “Iron Mike” and considered one of the greatest boxers of all time, Mike Tyson amassed a fortune estimated at $300 million throughout his career. However, poor financial management, extravagant spending, and legal troubles took a toll on his finances. In 2003, Tyson filed for bankruptcy, with debts exceeding $$38.4 million, according to the Bleacher Report,
Marion Jones
Marion Jones was a track and field sensation, winning multiple Olympic medals and World Championships. However, her career took a dark turn when she admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs and subsequently had her medals stripped. Along with the loss of her reputation, Jones faced a series of legal battles and financial challenges, ultimately leading to her bankruptcy filing in 2007.
Evander Holyfield
Evander Holyfield, a legendary heavyweight boxer, amassed an impressive fortune throughout his career. Despite earning a whopping reported $500 million during his career, according to Sportskeeda, Holyfield faced financial challenges due to extravagant spending, multiple divorces, and poor financial management. In 2012, he faced foreclosure on his Georgia mansion and filed for bankruptcy.
CELEBRITY
Over a million subscribe as Ronaldo launches YouTube channel
![](https://sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ronaldo.png)
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
CELEBRITY
Lionel Messi set to hang boots
![Messi Sets Record Straight Over Hong Kong Absence -](https://sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Messi-Sets-Record-Straight-Over-Hong-Kong-Absence.jpg)
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
CELEBRITY
Bidding opens for Messi napkin that defined soccer great’s career
![](https://sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/messi-napkin.jpg)
Bidding began on Wednesday for a napkin on which soccer club Barcelona penned a promise to sign a 13-year-old Lionel Messi – who went on to become one of the game’s greatest players – with early bids reaching almost $300,000.
The napkin was signed in December 2000 when Carles Rexach, then Barcelona’s sporting director, agreed with agent Horacio Gaggioli to recruit the Argentine teenager who went on to become the club’s all-time top scorer.
Bidding for the document, described by auction house Bonhams as “blue ink on a standard Spanish waxy napkin,” was at 220,000 pounds ($274,824.00) shortly after the sale opened, according to the auctioneer’s website.
The online sale closes on May 17 and has a guide price of between 300,000 and 500,000 pounds.
“It was never legally binding, but emotionally it represents the deep link or the beginning of the deep link, that Messi had with Barcelona,” said Bonhams Chief Marketing Officer Marc Sands.
Messi helped Barcelona win 35 titles, making a record 782 appearances and scoring 674 goals. Messi left Barcelona in 2021 and now plays for Inter Miami.
“If you love football, you’ll know all about Lionel Messi and you will know that he defined football for generations. If you want a slice of that action, this is the thing to get,” Sands said.
-Reuters
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