An England World Cup isn’t just football – it is money, politics and a nation’s bad habits Sport Business England are being asked to win the World Cup, yes, but the absurdity is that they are required to do so much more in the process, both commercially and politically, writes Ed Warner. And so they’ve begun. Our boys, Tom’s 26. Their world is in motion, three lions on their shirts, out to erase 60 [...]
Why Messi taking 100 per cent stake in UE Cornella matters Sport Business Lionel Messi’s purchase of Spanish fifth-tier side UE Cornella represents a broader trend of players seeing football assets as long-term investment opportunities, top football finance experts have said. The Argentinian, who will be heading to the Fifa World Cup this year looking to defend the title he won in Qatar, will own 100 per cent [...]
Italy World Cup flop kills five per cent of bets on tournament winner Sport Business Italy’s failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup this week was an early win for bookmakers as it killed five per cent of wagers on the outright winner, betting data shows. Four-time champions Italy lost on penalties in a play-off with Bosnia and Herzegovina on Tuesday, meaning they will miss a third men’s World [...]
Youri Djorkaeff on investing, SailGP and buying an English football club February 16, 2026 French football legend Youri Djorkaeff and his son Sacha on their investment vehicle Playmaker, backing SailGP and buying an English club. Two years after helping his country to win a home World Cup in 1998, Youri Djorkaeff was ticking off another life goal in France colours. Only this time it was on the waters around [...]
Kylian Mbappe wins £53m payout from Paris Saint-Germain December 16, 2025 Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain have been ordered to pay Kylian Mbappe €60m (£53m) after he won a legal dispute over unpaid wages and bonuses. Mbappe had been claiming €263m (£231m) from PSG, who counter-sued the France captain for €240m (£211m), following his acrimonious move to Real Madrid in summer 2024. A French labour court [...]
Zverev latest to enter luxury market with Loewe deal November 14, 2025 Tennis player Alexander Zverev is the latest sports star to cross over with luxury, announcing a deal with German AV brand Loewe. Zverev, also German, is taking part in the ATP Finals this week in Turin and follows Kylian Mbappe in agreeing a global brand ambassador deal with Loewe, which is headquartered in Kronach. It [...]
Chelsea investors Ares buys stake in Mbappe SailGP team June 18, 2025 Chelsea, McLaren Racing and Miami Dolphins investor Ares Management has joined Kylian Mbappe in buying into the French SailGP team. The US firm’s minority stake will see the sailing team become entirely privately owned, and follows recent celebrity investments in the series from the likes of Anne Hathaway (Italy) and Ryan Reynolds (Australia). Ares Management [...]
Paris Saint-Germain: Inside Champions League finalist’s reinvention May 29, 2025 In the Champions League final this weekend, Paris Saint-Germain have enjoyed a reinvention since the departure of Kylian Mbappe. When historians come to chronicle the evolution of Paris Saint-Germain, it is likely they will highlight last summer’s acrimonious departure of Kylian Mbappe as an inflection point. The France striker was the last of PSG’s true [...]
Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe invests in France SailGP team March 14, 2025 France and Real Madrid footballer Kylian Mbappe has expanded his sports portfolio by investing in SailGP. The World Cup winner has invested in his native France SailGP Team with 10 of the 12 teams on the circuit now having some form of private backing. The 26-year-old joins the likes of former F1 driver Sebastian Vettel, [...]
England star named world’s most valuable footballer January 8, 2025 England and Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham has been named the world’s most valuable football player in a new independent ranking. Bellingham’s double-winning success with the Spanish side and leading role at international level have lifted his value to £210m, according to the CIES Football Observatory. That puts the 21-year-old ahead of record-breaking Manchester City [...]