Camila Cabello Embraces Latin Roots in Champions League Final Opening Performance

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.

Camila CabelloPrior 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.

Soldado Traded to England’s Tottenham Hotspur F.C.

Roberto Soldado will be kickin’ it in Jolly Olde England in the near future…

Valencia Club de Fútbol officially announced on Thursday that the time has reached a deal to send the 28-year-old Spanish soccer player to England’s Tottenham Hotspur F.C. for 30 million euros ($40 million), or the full amount of his buyout clause.

Roberto Soldado

The Spurs also issued a statement confirming that they’d signed Soldado, who still must undergo a physical, to a four-year deal.

Valencia said it wished Soldado “the best of luck in this new stage of his career” and praised “the player’s professionalism and outstanding performance in the matches in which he wore the Valencia jersey.”

Soldado played for three seasons with Valencia and also recently returned to Spain’s national team and scored a goal in this summer’s Confederations Cup competition in Brazil.

Valencia advanced to the knockout phase of last season’s UEFA Champions League, but failed to qualify for the 2013-2014 edition of that prestigious tournament after finishing fifth in La Liga last season.

The club, which won the Spanish league in 2001-2002 and 2003-2004 but has struggled to compete with powerhouses Real Madrid and Barcelona in recent seasons, promised its fans in the statement to “maintain and improve the squad’s potential” while acting “responsibly” within its economic circumstances.

Messi Named Best International Athlete at ESPY Awards

The people have spoken… And, they’ve named Lionel Messi the best of the best…

The 25-year-old Argentine fútbol star—who claimed his third straight Ballon d’Or in January—was named Best International Athlete during Wednesday night’s ESPY Awards, which celebrate the year’s best athletes and moments in sports.

lionel-messi-barca

Messi, who plays for Futbol Club Barcelona in Spain’s La Liga, beat out some of the world’s biggest sports stars for the title, including tennis superstar Novak Djokovic, LPGA Championship winner Yani Tseng and his Real Madrid rival Cristiano Ronaldo.

During his record-breaking season, Messi scored 50 goals in La Liga and an unmatched 73 goals in all competitions. He also finished as the UEFA Champions League‘s top scorer for a fourth consecutive season with 14 goals.

But Messi wasn’t the only Latino athlete recognized…

Mario Gutierrez, who rode I’ll Have Another to victories in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, won as best jockey.

The 25-year-old Mexican jockey beat out Javier Castellano, Ramon Dominguez
 and John Velazquez for the trophy.

Award winners are selected exclusively through online fan voting from the list of candidates selected by the ESPY Select Nominating Committee.