Cristiano Ronaldo Tops Messi, Neymar as Highest-Paid Soccer Player of 2024
Forbes dropped this year’s list of the highest-paid soccer players, and Cristiano Ronaldo reigns supreme. Between $220 million in on-field earnings and $65 million away from the pitch, the Al Nassr star’s 2024 salary adds up to a total of $285 million. The mark sits well ahead of Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi and his combined earnings of $135 million ($60 million on-field, $75 off-field), while Al Hilal forward Neymar finds himself ranked third with $110 million ($80 million on-field, $30 million off-field). Karim Benzema is the fourth highest-paid footballer with $104 million ($100 million on-field, $4 million off-field), and rounding out the top five is Kylian Mbappé at $90 million ($70 million on-field, $20 million off-field).
Kamala Harris Capitalizes on Taylor Swift Effect with New Snapchat Campaign
Capitalizing off nominee Kamala Harris’s endorsement from Taylor Swift last month, the Democratic National Committee unveiled a new youth campaign on Friday set to coincide with the pop star’s three-night performance in Miami for the Eras Tour this weekend. Called “I Will Vote,” the push features “an exclusive new Snapchat filter urging young voters to be ‘fearless’ on the issues that will decide this election,” the announcement reads. Available exclusively to those in battleground states, additionally, billboards will also appear in Miami, encouraging attendees to enter their “Kamala Era” and educate themselves about key topics surrounding the election and voting.
Breanna Stewart, Tyrese Haliburton Headline Star-Studded Puma Hoops Campaign
As the NBA prepares to tip off and the WNBA gets ready to crown a new champion by the week’s end, Puma debuted a new global hoops campaign titled “Forever. Faster. – See The Game Like We Do” on Friday. Fronting the campaign includes recent signee Tyrese Haliburton, Breanna Stewart, LaMelo Ball, Flau’jae Johnson, and Scoot Henderson. “The campaign showcases the tenacious spirit we have for the game and the investment we are willing to make to show up as a powerhouse and continue carving our legacy,” Puma VP of Brand and Marketing Richard Teyssier said.
Artists Can Convert Concert Sets into Playlists with New Apple Music Tool
For those who long to listen to an artist’s perfectly curated set list long after their tour wraps, Apple recently unveiled a new tool that allows musicians to do just that. Once both Shazam and Bandsintown accounts are connected, they can select the type of show in Apple Music for Artists (concert, tour, or residency) and use Bandsintown to link it to upcoming dates. From there, performers can set a publish date and use search to build out the playlist. While the concept of making playlists from set lists isn’t exactly new, this feature makes it easier for artists to dispel any rumors of added or omitted songs, instead providing fans with the most up-to-date lineup.
Andy Reid is NFL’s Highest-Paid Coach; Payton, Tomlin, Harbaugh, McVay Follow
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid is not only a reigning Super Bowl champion, but the veteran game manager also lands the top spot in Sportico’s highest-paid NFL coaches list. The three-time Lombardi Trophy winner’s average salary equals out to $20 million a year, followed by Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton taking home an annual pay of $18 million. Tied for third are Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin and new LA Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh at $16 million per year, while LA Rams coach Sean McVay rounds out the top five with an annual salary of $15 million.
Polo Ralph Lauren, New York Yankees Team Up For Another Apparel Collection
While the New York Yankees are still in contention for a World Series appearance this season, fans can show their support by picking up pieces from the just-released capsule with Polo Ralph Lauren. The collection is highlighted by a chunky sweater with the iconic Polo Bear reimagined as a pinstripe-uniformed pitcher, jackets, hoodies, crewnecks, and polo shirts. Casual “fan gear” options include a quarter-zip with a Yankees logo on the neck and footwear that comes in the form of a pair of loafers.
‘Smile 2’ Outpaces First Film with $2.5M in Thursday Previews
Ahead of its weekend debut at the box office, Variety reported that Smile 2 has already earned $2.5 million across 3,000 theaters in Thursday previews, $500,000 more than the 2022 original film brought during the same window. Produced by Paramount and starring Naomi Scott, Rosemarie DeWitt, Kyle Gallner, and Lukas Gage, the flick is estimated to make anywhere from $20-$25 million over the next few days, nearly catching up to the $28 million budget for the psychological horror project. For context, the first Smile earned $22.6 million from its debut weekend.
Cleveland Browns Ditching Downtown Stadium for Dome in Suburbs
The Cleveland Browns plan to leave their lakefront field downtown for a domed stadium in suburban Brook Park, city mayor Justin Bibb confirmed Thursday. The team’s lease at the current venue expires after the 2028 season, and in a statement sharing the news, Mayor Bibb expressed frustration with the decision made by owners Jimmy and Dee Haslem. “They had the opportunity to reinvest in Cleveland, transform the current stadium into a world-class facility, enhance the fan experience, and remain highly profitable,” Bibb said. “We put those options on the table in good faith. Unfortunately, that was not enough.” The Browns have played alongside Lake Erie since their inception in 1946, with their current home, Huntington Bank Field, being built in 1999.