Lionel Messi Wins Two ESPY Awards

Posted on July 13, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Lionel Messi is celebrating a double victory…

Winners of this year’s ESPY Awards winners, with the 36-year-old Argentine soccer star earning two awards during Wednesday’s ceremony.

Messi, who is readying to play with Inter Miami CF, won the trophies for Best Championship Performance (for his World Cup performance) and Best Soccer Player.

ESPN’s ESPY Awards celebrate the best players, teams and moments in the world of sports.

The show was broadcast on ABC.

Here are the winners:

Best Team: Kansas City Chiefs
Best WNBA Player: A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces
Best UFC Fighter: Jon Jones
Best Comeback Athlete: Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets
Best Athlete, Men’s Sports: Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
Best Athlete, Women’s Sports: Mikaela Shiffrin, Skiing
Best Championship Performance: Lionel Messi, Argentina — World Cup Final
Best Boxer: Claressa Shields
Best Breakthrough Athlete: Angel Reese, LSU Tigers Women’s Basketball
Best Play: Justin Jefferson with the catch of the century
Best Record-Breaking Performance: LeBron James surpasses Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for NBA career scoring record
Best College Athlete, Men’s Sports: Caleb Williams, USC Football
Best College Athlete, Women’s Sports: Caitlin Clark, Iowa Women’s Basketball
Best Athlete with a Disability: Zach Miller, Snowboarding
Best NFL Player: Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
Best MLB Player: Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Angels
Best NHL Player: Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
Best NBA Player: Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
Best Driver: Max Verstappen, F1
Best Soccer Player: Lionel Messi, Argentina/PSG
Best Golfer: Scottie Scheffler
Best Tennis Player: Novak Djokovic
Arthur Ashe Award for Courage: U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team
Jimmy V Award for Perseverance: Liam Hendriks, Chicago White Sox
Pat Tillman Award for Service: Buffalo Bills training staff
Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award: Jrue and Lauren Holiday
Billie Jean King Youth Leadership Award: Jordan Adeyemi, Ashley Badis, Rishan Patel

Real Madrid Has Agreed to Sign Endrick on Five-Year Contract from Palmeiras

Posted on December 9, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Things are about to get Real for Endrick…

Real Madrid has agreed a deal to sign the 16-year-old Brazilian soccer wonderkid on a five-year contract from Palmeiras, according to ESPN.

Sources said the transfer is worth €72 million, although Endrick will only be able to move to Madrid in 2024, when he turns 18. The deal will begin when the transfer window opens in July 2024, according to sources.

The official announcement depends on Endrick signing the contract and other details thought to be formalities, given both sides have reached an agreement on the terms of the transfer.

Endrick’s release clause was set at €60m, and sources said Real Madrid added €12m to that figure to ward off competition from other clubs and account for taxes.

Sources had told ESPN the forward was being pursued by Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain, but the 14-time Champions League winners now appear to have won the race for his signature.

ESPN previously reported that Real Madrid were using a similar strategy to the one which helped them sign Vinicius Junior in 2017 to incorporate another young Brazilian into their squad.

Endrick only made his senior Palmeiras debut on October 6 but helped the Sao Paulo team win this year’s Brasileirao title and became the youngest goal scorer in the club’s history when he scored twice against Athletico Paranaense on October 25.

Ashley Sanchez & Niña Dioz Featured in Taco Bell’s New “Donde We All Play” Spot

Posted on December 4, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Ashley Sanchez is feelin’ it…

The 23-year-old Mexican America soccer player, a member of the U.S. women’s national soccer team, has teamed up with Mexican rapper Niña Dioz for the new ‘Donde We All Play’ spot for Taco Bell.

The spot is airing now during the FIFA World Cup.

It features Diaz’s recently debuted track “Siéntelo,” which is about moving forward and pushing the boundaries.

“I’m so excited they gave me a platform to elevate my voice through one of the biggest stages in the world because I’m able to represent the Latinx community, being Mexico’s first openly queer rapper and showing the young Latin community that anything is possible,” Dioz said in a statement.

Sanchez added: “I’ve been playing soccer since I was young and to become one of the few Latinas to ever play for the U.S. women’s national team is a huge accomplishment, especially growing up and not seeing much Latin representation in sports. Working with Taco Bell on the campaign allowed me to fuse my cultural heritage and passion for soccer as well as love for the brand to reach a wider audience in hopes that it’ll inspire the younger Latin generation to do what they love.”

Camila Cabello Embraces Latin Roots in Champions League Final Opening Performance

Posted on May 30, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Camila Cabello has embraced her Latin roots at the Champions League final…

The 25-year-old Mexican & Cuban singer gave futbol fans something to remember at the opening of the 2022 UEFA Champions League final on Saturday, May 28.

Prior to the face-off between Liverpool and Real Madrid, Cabello delivered a colorful spectacle for thousands of fans at Stade de France in Paris.

The carnival-themed celebration, which Cabello paid homage to Cabello’s Latin heritage, featured a medley of “Senorita,” “Havana,” “Bam Bam” and “Don’t Go Yet.”

In a recent interview with Billboard, Cabello discussed weaving elements of her Latin culture into her new music and into every aspect of her life.

“My music, I always feel celebrates my heritage and my Cuban-Mexican heritage, so there’s going to be songs from Familia on there,” the singer said of the performance.

The performance was a natural fit for Cabello, who grew up watching the World Cup with her family every four years. “Out of every sport, it’s the only one I really understand and the one that gets me the most hyped,” she said. “I’ve always wanted to see a soccer game in person.”

Cabello has always been openly proud of her Latin culture, and on her recent studio album, Familia, that connection is deeply celebrated through vibrant instrumentals and a number of Spanish-language songs including “Celia,” “Hasta Los Dientes” featuring Maria Becerra and verses in “Lola” featuring Yotuel.

The UEFA Champions League final opening ceremony, presented by Pepsi, aired in more 200 countries and territories worldwide.

Ronaldo’s Dolphin Quest…

Posted on December 28, 2011 by Tom Castaneda

Cristiano Ronaldo is swimming with the fishes… But don’t worry, it’s not what you think!

The 26-year-old Portuguese soccer sensation went swimming with dolphins on Tuesday while in the United Arab Emirates. Ronaldo even posted a picture on his blog of him with one of the animals, holding its fins as it rose out of the water.

“Today I had a great experience swimming with dolphins,” said Ronaldo. “It’s amazing how they engage with us.”

Later, the Real Madrid striker—in Dubai for the sixth annual International Sports Conference—visited fans at an autistic center, where he signed soccer balls and t-shirts for the children.

During a press conference, Ronaldo, who had played for Manchester United for six years before joining Real Madrid, revealed that he prefers Spain’s La Liga over the Premier League because he claims it allows individual players to shine. He said he ‘learned the elementary and basic rules of football, especially discipline’ while in England. But he said he
believes La Liga is the best league in the world because it ‘relies on players’ skills and techniques.’

Ronaldo is currently the top scorer in Spain and doesn’t have any plans to switch leagues anytime sign. While he says he could adapt to any league, Ronaldo says he wants to remain at Real Madrid because ‘frankly I’m just enjoying the moment.’

Herrera’s Got Game in His Next Big Project…

Posted on November 4, 2011 by Tom Castaneda

Mexican singer and actor Alfonso “Poncho” Herrera is preparing to bend it like Beckham on TV…

The 28-year-old former member of the Mexican pop group RBD will portray a professional soccer player seeking glory in the first original scripted series on Spanish-language sports cable network ESPN Deportes.

Entitled El Diez, the 10-episode series centers on Chava Espinoza, a young Mexican soccer player whose performance in the Under-20 World Cup makes him a star sought after by all of the world’s most important clubs.

“I played soccer since I was a little kid. I love soccer, and having to play this role is awesome,” says Herrera. “It’s a very realistic script and I truly believe nobody else has ever showed what’s behind the soccer industry the way El Diez does.”

The sports-themed novela will delve into Espinoza’s rise to fame—the highs and lows of being a superstar—and how he deals with the enormous burden of his fans’ expectations.

“In the story, Chava plays for a fictitious Mexican soccer team called Los Lobos del Atlético Nacional, but other than that all the stories showed in the episodes are completely real,” says series creator and producer Mauricio Quintana. “They show what happens inside the locker rooms and outside the field with the people that manage this incredibly profitable industry.”

The series—based on the real life experiences of former players, soccer team executives and sports journalists from Mexico, Spain and Argentina—will highlight issues like corruption, under-the-table negotiations and the invasion of privacy a soccer star faces.

“We show the audience all they want to see from the perspective of Latinos’ passion for soccer. There have been other movies that show the life of a soccer player in the British league or the league from Spain,” says Herrera. “But El Diez is completely made to give our audience what they want to see: Las Chivas, América teams and much more related to our Latino culture.”

The Spanish-language El Diez will be transmitted with English subtitles on Sundays at 9:00 pm ET on ESPN Deportes.

Hernandez Staying Put at Manchester United

Posted on October 26, 2011 by Tom Castaneda

Javier Hernandez isn’t making plans to leave England anytime soon… The Mexican soccer star has signed a new five-year deal with Manchester United.

Chicharito, as he’s known, was signed to the English professional football club from his hometown club of Chivas de Guadalajara last summer and made an instant impression, scoring in his debut game against Chelsea. At the end of his first season, The 23-year-old striker had scored 23 goals for United.

“Playing for Manchester United has been a dream come true,” says Hernandez. “I never expected my first year to go so well and I’m delighted to commit my future to United. To win a title and appear in a Champions League final was fantastic. I’m looking forward to helping my teammates as we bid to win more trophies for this great club.”

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson couldn’t be happier with the news.

“His talent for creating space in the box and his finishing ability mark him out as a natural goalscorer,” says Ferguson. “Off the pitch, he is a pleasure to manage. He works very hard and is a popular member of the squad.”

Hernandez’s new deal will see him stay at Old Trafford until the end of the 2015/16 season.

Hernandez, who joined Chivas de Guadalajara at the age of nine, signed his first professional contract when he was only 15.

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