Luke Littler issues Cristiano Ronaldo plea after scooping second prize at BBC SPOTY

by | Dec 19, 2024 | Blog

Darts sensation Luke Littler finished runner-up at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards and the 17-year-old made a plea to Manchester United icon Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of the ceremony

Darts sensation Luke Littler finished runner-up at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards and the 17-year-old made a plea to Manchester United icon Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of the ceremony Darts sensation Luke Littler finished runner-up at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards and the 17-year-old made a plea to Manchester United icon Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of the ceremony

Luke Littler has named Cristiano Ronaldo as the “only person I’d like to meet”, with the darts star a huge Manchester United fan.

Littler made the comment at the Sports Personality of the Year awards, with the 17-year-old finishing runner-up behind Keely Hodgkinson who claimed the trophy after winning gold in the 800m at the Paris Olympics.

Ahead of the ceremony, Littler was asked if he was looking forward to meeting any of the other famous sports stars who were in attendance. However, he told 90min: “There’s only one person I’d like to meet and that’s Cristiano Ronaldo.”

Despite missing out on the top prize, Littler did win the Young Sports Personality of the Year award. He is the first darts player to win the award, beating skateboarder Sky Brown Para-swimmer William Ellard.

“It goes to show how well I’ve done this year, but not only myself,” Littler said after claiming the award. “[We] changed the sport of darts, all the other professionals, but I have played a big part in it.

“I know the amount of academies that have been brought up in different locations, how big the sport has got, tickets selling out for Ally Pally in hours and the Premier League sold out quick as well. It just goes to show how much I’ve changed it.”

Littler also thanked his fans for their support on social media, writing: “First SPOTY and taking home 2 trophies. Huge honour for me to win young sports personality of the year and finish 2nd for sports personality.

Manchester United legend Cristiano Ronaldo

Littler is a huge fan of Cristiano Ronaldo
(

Image:

AFP via Getty Images)

“Support this year has been amazing and want to say thank you to everyone who voted and sent messages.” And the teenager also received well-wishes from United, who responded: “Huge congrats from your United family, Luke!”

Littler has enjoyed a brilliant year which began with him finishing runner-up at the World Championship, losing 7-4 to Luke Humphries in the final, and also saw him win the Premier League.

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Red Bulls sign Choupo-Moting as DP for 2 years

by | Dec 19, 2024 | Blog

Red Bulls sign Choupo-Moting as DP for 2 years

The New York Red Bulls signed veteran forward Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting to a two-year contract as a designated player.

The New York Red Bulls signed veteran forward Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting to a two-year contract as a designated player. The New York Red Bulls signed veteran forward Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting to a two-year contract as a designated player.

Dec 18, 2024, 12:59 PM ET

The New York Red Bulls signed veteran forward Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting to a two-year contract as a designated player.

The deal announced on Wednesday with the 35-year-old Cameroon international includes an option for 2027.

Choupo-Moting spent the past four seasons at Bayern Munich, where he scored 38 goals in 122 matches and won three Bundesliga titles, one German Cup and one FIFA Club World Cup.

“We are excited to add a player of Maxim’s caliber to our roster,” NYRB head of sport Jochen Schneider said. “Maxim is a great player, a winner and his experience in Europe’s top leagues will be greatly important to our club in 2025 and beyond.”

Before Bayern, Choupo-Moting contributed nine goals in 51 appearances with Paris Saint-Germain from 2018-20, winning two Ligue 1 championships and one French Cup. He also has played for England’s Stoke City (2017-18) and Germany’s Schalke 04 (2014-17).

Internationally, Choupo-Moting has scored 20 goals and appeared in 73 matches for Cameroon, including action in three FIFA World Cups (2010, 2014 and 2022).

www.espn.com – SOCCER

The New York Red Bulls signed veteran forward Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting to a two-year contract as a designated player.

Red Bulls sign Choupo-Moting as DP for 2 years

by | Dec 19, 2024 | Blog

Red Bulls sign Choupo-Moting as DP for 2 years

The New York Red Bulls signed veteran forward Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting to a two-year contract as a designated player.

Dec 18, 2024, 12:59 PM ET

The New York Red Bulls signed veteran forward Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting to a two-year contract as a designated player.

The deal announced on Wednesday with the 35-year-old Cameroon international includes an option for 2027.

Choupo-Moting spent the past four seasons at Bayern Munich, where he scored 38 goals in 122 matches and won three Bundesliga titles, one German Cup and one FIFA Club World Cup.

Internationally, Choupo-Moting has scored 20 goals and appeared in 73 matches for Cameroon, including action in three FIFA World Cups (2010, 2014 and 2022).

www.espn.com – SOCCER

The New York Red Bulls signed veteran forward Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting to a two-year contract as a designated player.

Sandro Tonali makes Newcastle statement as Eddie Howe’s men reach Carabao Cup semi-final

by | Dec 19, 2024 | Blog

NEWCASTLE 3-1 BRENTFORD: Eddie Howe's side are on the cusp of another trip to Wembley after Sandro Tonali produced a...

Red Bulls sign Choupo-Moting as DP for 2 years

by | Dec 19, 2024 | Blog

Red Bulls sign Choupo-Moting as DP for 2 years

The New York Red Bulls signed veteran forward Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting to a two-year contract as a designated player.

Dec 18, 2024, 12:59 PM ET

The New York Red Bulls signed veteran forward Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting to a two-year contract as a designated player.

The deal announced on Wednesday with the 35-year-old Cameroon international includes an option for 2027.

Choupo-Moting spent the past four seasons at Bayern Munich, where he scored 38 goals in 122 matches and won three Bundesliga titles, one German Cup and one FIFA Club World Cup.

Internationally, Choupo-Moting has scored 20 goals and appeared in 73 matches for Cameroon, including action in three FIFA World Cups (2010, 2014 and 2022).

www.espn.com – SOCCER

The New York Red Bulls signed veteran forward Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting to a two-year contract as a designated player.

Maresca ‘trusts’ Mudryk innocence after failed test

by | Dec 19, 2024 | Blog

Maresca ‘trusts’ Mudryk innocence after failed test

Enzo Maresca has said that Chelsea believe Mykhailo Mudryk is innocent following his positive drugs test and will continue to “support” the player.

Enzo Maresca has said that Chelsea believe Mykhailo Mudryk is innocent following his positive drugs test and will continue to “support” the player. Enzo Maresca has said that Chelsea believe Mykhailo Mudryk is innocent following his positive drugs test and will continue to “support” the player.

play

Chelsea ‘not ready’ to compete for Premier League title (1:27)Enzo Maresca has poured cold water on any talk of Chelsea competing for the Premier League title this season. (1:27)

Dec 18, 2024, 08:19 AM ET

Enzo Maresca has said that Chelsea believe Mykhailo Mudryk is innocent following his positive drugs test and will continue to “support” the player.

Mudryk and Chelsea released statements on Tuesday confirming that the FA had been in contact over the Ukraine winger supplying an adverse urine sample, with both player and club expressing their surprise.

Head coach Maresca faced the media for the first time since that news on Wednesday and insisted that everyone at Chelsea trusts Mudryk, who is not training with the team while they await further test results.

“We are all upset, sad,” Maresca said. “We are giving him general support.

“We trust Mykhailo, when these types of things happen you need to support your player in all the aspects. He is one of the players in my squad so it is my duty to be in contact with him, we are all there. The teammates, the club, me, we are all there.

“Trust means we believe Myka, we support him. We want to help him in anything he needs. It is normal that in this moment he needs help from the club and we are there to support.”

Pressed on whether “trust” meant Chelsea feel Mudryk is innocent, Maresca nodded and replied: “We all believe [he is innocent].”

Reports in Ukraine on Tuesday suggest a prohibited substance was found in an “A” sample given at the end of October. Those same reports state the “B” sample has not yet been tested but will be in the coming days.

Confirmation that Mudryk has used a banned substance could trigger a lengthy ban from football. FIFA’s guidelines state that the maximum ban for an anti-doping violation is four years.

“It is not the first time this has happened. It will happen again for different players, they know exactly what they have to do,” Maresca added. “I think he is going to come back, but for sure we don’t know when.”

Mudryk was one of the most sought-after players in Europe when he joined Chelsea in January 2023, for a fee which could potentially rise to £88 million.

But the 23-year-old has started just 26 Premier League games and only one this season under new boss Maresca, who admitted Chelsea could well look to more January reinforcements.

“We have three or four games before January,” he said. “After these three games, we will see if we need to do something.”

Chelsea play Shamrock Rovers in the UEFA Conference League on Thursday before Premier League fixtures against Everton, Fulham and Ipswich Town to close out 2024.

www.espn.com – SOCCER

Enzo Maresca has said that Chelsea believe Mykhailo Mudryk is innocent following his positive drugs test and will continue to “support” the player.

Luke Littler issues Cristiano Ronaldo plea after scooping second prize at BBC SPOTY​

Red Bulls sign Choupo-Moting as DP for 2 years​​

Red Bulls sign Choupo-Moting as DP for 2 years​​

Sandro Tonali makes Newcastle statement as Eddie Howe’s men reach Carabao Cup semi-final​

Red Bulls sign Choupo-Moting as DP for 2 years​​

Maresca ‘trusts’ Mudryk innocence after failed test​​

Luke Littler issues Cristiano Ronaldo plea after scooping second prize at BBC SPOTY

Red Bulls sign Choupo-Moting as DP for 2 years

Red Bulls sign Choupo-Moting as DP for 2 years

Sandro Tonali makes Newcastle statement as Eddie Howe’s men reach Carabao Cup semi-final

Red Bulls sign Choupo-Moting as DP for 2 years

Maresca ‘trusts’ Mudryk innocence after failed test