Cowboys give Brandon Aubrey 4-year deal averaging $7M per season - ESPN
FRISCO, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys have made Brandon Aubrey the highest-paid kicker in NFL history.
France Sport News
Billion-dollar attack: France boasts a rich scoring depth other World Cup teams only dream of
PARIS: France will have rich depth in attack at the World Cup. About a billion dollars’ worth. That’s the estimated total value of the attacking players France is expected to bring to the tournament, from two-time World Cup final scoring sensation Kylian Mbappe to rising star Desire Doue. For coach Didier Deschamps the headache is not about who to choose, but who to leave out of his starting lineup for France’s World Cup opener against Senegal on June 16. He has a huge amount of talent to complement the prolific scoring of Mbappe, who is enjoying another prolific season with Real Madrid and needs one more goal to tie Olivier Giroud as France’s all-time leading scorer with 57 goals. There’s the speed and finishing of Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele; the clinical scoring and exquisite passing of Michael Olize; the maverick skill of the technically gifted Rayan Cherki; or the fleet-footed runs of fellow newcomer Maghnes Akliouche. According to estimates from football website transfermarkt and the CIES Football Observatory, which take into account the remaining time on a players’ contract, France’s 10 attacking players are worth €855 million, which is a fraction over $1 billion. Here’s a look at the top players. Mbappe tops the list Unsurprisingly, the 27-year-old Real Madrid superstar leads the way at €200 million ($236 million). Mbappe is followed by the Bayern Munich star Olize at €140 million.
Real Sociedad secure Copa del Rey penalty triumph over Atletico
SEVILLE, Spain: Real Sociedad edged Atletico Madrid 4-3 on penalties to win the Copa del Rey for a fourth time in the club’s history after a 2-2 draw in a gripping final on Saturday in Seville. After Alexander Sorloth and Julian Alvarez missed from the spot for Diego Simeone’s Atletico, Pablo Marin smashed home his kick to claim victory for the Basque side. Ander Barrenetxea had headed Real Sociedad ahead after just 14 seconds, with Ademola Lookman levelling for Atletico. Mikel Oyarzabal put the Basque side ahead from the penalty spot before the break but Alvarez rescued Atletico and forced extra time and ultimately penalties with a superb strike. La Real’s season seemed set to be one of struggle until American coach Pellegrino Matarazzo was appointed in December, and he resuscitated their campaign. At La Cartuja stadium it was a battle between two teams that often attack fast and direct, and Real Sociedad certainly did that, netting the quickest ever goal scored in a Copa del Rey final. Goncalo Guedes scampered away down the left on to a long ball, crossing for Barrenetxea to head beyond Juan Musso before the Rojiblancos had even touched the ball. Simeone’s side, who last won the competition back in 2013 near the start of his 14-year reign, wrestled their way back level through Lookman. Antoine Griezmann laid off the ball to him on the edge of the box and without much on, the Nigeria international spied a route to goal and drilled into the bottom corner. Lookman almost created a goal for Griezmann but Real Sociedad scrambled to block the 35-year-old French forward, who is leaving Atletico at the end of the season for MLS side Orlando City. Atletico goalkeeper Musso, chosen ahead of the fit-again Jan Oblak after he
Vinicius hits winner as Real Madrid eliminate Benfica after racism row
MADRID: Vinicius Junior scored the winner on the night as Real Madrid beat Benfica 2-1 in the Champions League on Wednesday, progressing 3-1 on aggregate to the last 16. It was the Brazilian forward’s superb goal which separated the teams in a first leg marred by an incident of alleged racial abuse aimed at him by Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni, who denies it. Jose Mourinho’s side were still alive in the play-off round tie and took the lead early on at the Santiago Bernabeu through Rafa Silva, although Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni swiftly levelled. Benfica gave the record 15-time champions a rough ride but fittingly Vinicius, who never hides from the spotlight, scored on 80 minutes to effectively end the contest. It was Portuguese coach Mourinho’s first time back at the Santiago Bernabeu since he coached Real Madrid from 2010-2013, but he could not lead his team from the dug-out because of suspension. After a week dominated by the fall-out from the first leg, Vinicius lined up for Real Madrid alongside Gonzalo Garcia, who stepped in for injured French superstar Kylian Mbappe. Benfica were without banned midfielder Prestianni, after an appeal against his provisional one-game sanction was turned down earlier on Wednesday, with UEFA still investigating the incident. Madrid hung a large banner reading “no to racism” at one end, with the game played under the shadow of what happened last week in Lisbon. There were boos for Vinicius from the visiting Benfica fans and he prodded wide in the early stages, appealing in vain for a penalty as Nicolas Otamendi collided with him after he got his shot away. Benfica took a deserved lead in the 14th minute as Madrid defender Raul Asencio clumsily turned the ball toward his own goal. Bel
Liverpool's Konate says he is close to agreeing new contract
April 20 : Liverpool centre back Ibrahima Konate said he is close to agreeing a new contract with the Premier League club, with his current deal set to expire at the end of the season.
Ibrahima Konate close to agreeing new Liverpool contract despite ‘tough year’
Ibrahima Konate is close to agreeing a renewal of his contract and boost Liverpool’s summer transfer plans.
Munich win fuels hopes of US men's clay revival, Shelton says
April 20 : Ben Shelton said he had laid down a claycourt marker for U.S. men with his Munich Open win on Sunday after the world number six became the first American to claim an event above the ATP 250 level since Andre Agassi's 2002 Rome Masters triumph.
Fils powers past Rublev to win Barcelona Open
BARCELONA, April 19 : Frenchman Arthur Fils continued his run of good form since returning from an eight-month injury layoff as he overpowered Russia's higher-ranked Andrey Rublev 6-2 7-6(2) to win the Barcelona Open, clinching his first title since 2024.