Sport

Lionel Messi

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Personal information
Full name	Lionel Andrés Messi Cuccittini
Birthdate	June 24, 1987
Age	36 years old
Occupation	Soccer player
By-name	Lio
Nationality	Argentine
Spouse	Antonella Roccuzzo
Height	1.70 m
Parents	Jorge Horacio Messi Celia María Cuccittini
Awards	World Champion (2022), Golden Ball Award (7)
Actual team	París Saint Germain (PSG)
Zodiac sign	Cancer

Lionel Messi (Leo Messi)Biography

Lionel Andrés Messi Cuccittini, known as Lionel Messi or simply “Lio”, is an Argentinian footballer who was born in Rosario, Argentina, on June 24, 1987, and plays as a forward or right winger. He comes from a family with fewer economic resources, made up of his father, Jorge Horacio Messi, a factory worker and his mother, Celia María Cuccittini. His maternal grandmother, Celia Olivera, was the one who motivated him to play football as a professional. For that reason, in 1992, when he was 5 years old he began his training as a soccer player in the club.

Abanderado Grandoli, which was one of Rosario’s formative teams. In 1994, Lionel Messi took his step through the lower divisions of Newell’s Old Boys where he began to show his skill with the ball and won several national titles. At the age of 11, Lionel would be diagnosed with a deficiency in growth hormone, which made him look less attractive for the soccer clubs despite the great talent he had. However, this was not an impediment for Messi to continue with his aspirations to be a professional footballer.

FC BARCELONA

His aspirations to achieve his goals took him to Buenos Aires in August of 2000 to try out in the Club Atlético River Plate’s Academy, requested by coach Federico Vairo who saw his great talent. Nevertheless, Messi was never called back to the club because River Plate did not reach an economic agreement with his parents to treat his growth problem. On September, Messi and his father would travel to Barcelona, Spain to look out for a better future and try out in some soccer clubs, including FC Barcelona. The day after his arrival in Barcelona, he was scheduled to attend a practice with one of the FC Barcelona’s Youth Academy teams. However, this practice was canceled because of the absence of Rexach who was in charge of the team’s youth academy.

Weeks later, Lionel Messi had the opportunity to make his first practices with the category Infantile A of FC Barcelona. This was a successful start in which he could score

6 goals and take the lead in his team. Messi’s performance was so good that he was asked to play for the other team in the second half.

On December 14, 2000, Horacio Gaggioli (Manager of Messi at that time) and Carles Rexach signed Messi for the FC Barcelona Youth Academy. In his beginnings in the Masía, Messi teamed with Gerard Piqué and Cesc Fábregas and was directed by Tito Vilanova. His debut in an official game with Infantile B category was on March 7, 2001, against Amposta. That game was a dreamed debut because Messi would score the winning goal for the victory of his team. In the next game, Lionel will fracture his fibula after a player from the other team kicked him and Messi missed the rest of that season.

At the end of 2001, at the beginning of a new season, Lionel Messi was promoted to the Infantile A category, where he was famous for scoring 21 goals in 14 games. The excellent performance showed by “Lio” allowed him to be promoted in 2002 to the Cadet A category, with which he would win all the tournaments that the team played. In the 2003-2004 season, he had a small step through the Juvenil B category where his skills with the ball got him a spot in the Barcelona C team, where he debuted on November 29, 2003, in the third division tournament of Spain.

Messi’s footballing growth was accelerating, so he did not last long in the youth categories. His move to Barcelona B took place on March 6, 2004, and sometimes was called by the professional team to practice with them or play some exhibition games.

Lionel Messi was still part of the Barcelona B when he debuted with the professional team on November 16, 2003, in a friendly game against Porto from Portugal. In the 2004-2005 season, Lionel did the preseason with the professional team, where he participated in 3 games played at the Camp Nou and scored a goal.

His debut in an official game occurred on October 16, 2004, when he was 17 years old. Barcelona’s coach, Frank Rijkaard was the one who gave him the opportunity against Espanyol, a game for the Spanish league.

His first official goal with Barcelona came on May 1, 2005, in the game corresponding to the 34th fixture against Albacete. That season, Barcelona would become champion again after five seasons without any titles. The 2005-2006 season started full of successes for the player since the team managed to be champion of the super cup of Spain on August 13, 2005. In that year, the Catalan Club renewed Messi’s contract until 2014 and improved his salary as a reward for the excellent performance that the player had shown in the main squad. Due to this, Lionel saw great possibilities in the club, so on September 26 of that year, he received the Spanish nationality.

In the middle of November, the first “Clasico” came for Lionel Messi against Real Madrid, the match was won by Barcelona 3-0 and the player gave an assist. Next month, he would win the Golden Boy Award, leaving Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney in with the second and third position respectively. Through the 2005-2006 season, Messi suffered an injury that kept him away from the team until his total recovery. At that time, Messi had scored 7 goals in 18 games including league and Champions League. At the end of the season, Lio had won two more titles with the Barcelona FC as the team won the Spanish league and the Champions League.

In the 2006-2007 season, the Argentinian star was already a key player in Barcelona’s starting lineup. On March 10, 2007, Messi played another game against Real Madrid in which he scored his first hat-trick in a game that would end up 3-3 and became the youngest player to score in “El Clasico”. Due to all the records, Messi was achieving and the way he played, made the people start comparing him with Diego Armando Maradona.

One of the most famous goals of the player and for which they compared him more with Maradona, was the one he scored on April 18, 2007, in which he escaped from 6 players and defined very coldly. That goal was practically identical to the one Maradona scored in the 1986 World Cup against England. The player finished that season with 14 goals scored in 38 matches.

The 2007-2008 season, Messi scored 16 goals and was included in FIFA’s ideal team and ranked third in the Golden Ball Award. Despite these recognitions, that season, the player did not get any title with the club. On February 27, 2008, he would play his 100th game with the Blaugrana shirt against Valencia.

The season 2008-2009 would start with the Argentinian star wearing the number 10 and becoming a symbol for Barcelona. This season was full of important titles and goals. He became an important icon in the history of the club, after scoring the goal number 5000 in the league for Barcelona on February 1, 2009. In addition, the two goals scored in the historic Barcelona win against Real Madrid were highlighted by 6- 2 at the Santiago Bernabéu on May 2 of that same year. On May 27, 2009, Barcelona played the final of the Champions League against Manchester United, a match in which Messi scored the second goal in the 2-0 that meant the European title for his club. At the end of the season, the player scored 38 goals in 51 games, including Copa del Rey, the Champions League, and the Spanish League, and became the champion of the three mentioned competitions.

The 2009 season came with excellent news for Lionel Messi since on September 18, 2009, Barcelona decided to renew the player’s contract until 2016 ensuring the player for a good time because whoever wanted him had to pay 250 million euros. By that time the player was already recognized by several journalists and coaches around the world, as the best player in the world never seen before. To the talent, the goals and abilities of the player began to add the great recognition and references; this made that on December 1 of that same year Lionel won his first FIFA Golden Ball (currently called Golden Ball and delivered by the magazine France Football) after obtaining 480 points and being the first player that came out from the Barcelona youth academy in obtaining this award.

At the age of 22, Messi would become the youngest player to score 100 goals with the Blaugrana shirt and the first player in scoring two consecutive hat-tricks. Messi continued to break records, and on April 6, 2010, he scored his first goal-scoring poker game in the quarter-final match of the Champions League, where Barcelona won 4-1. The player became the club’s all-time leading scorer in that competition, after reaching 25 goals. At the end of the season, Lionel added a few more titles with Barcelona as he won the Spanish league, the Spanish Super Cup, the European Super Cup and the Club World Cup; he managed to score 34 goals in the league, 1 goal in Copa del Rey, 2 in the Spanish Super Cup and 8 in the Champions League and was named the best player of the year on June 3, 2010.

Lionel Messi became the third leading scorer in the history of Barcelona FC after reaching 131 goals on August 29, 2010, which was an excellent start to the season for the player. Between October 20 to November 24, Messi managed to score in 10 consecutive games, a personal record achieved by the Argentinian. In December, Messi would be nominated for the fourth time to the Golden Ball Award, this time contesting against teammates Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta. Messi would end up winning this award for the second time in a row, which identified him as the best player in the world. After the end of the 2010-2011 season, the player scored 12 goals in the Champions League, 31 in the league, 7 in Copa del Rey and 3 in the Spanish Super Cup. In addition, he was champion of the Spanish league and the Champions League adding the title number 15 in his football career.

On August 25, 2011, Messi won the award for the best player in Europe in its first edition, beating Xavi Hernández and Cristiano Ronaldo. The 2011-2012 season started with Messi winning the aforementioned prize, also he was chosen as the sports heritage of humanity in Argentina. He played the Spanish Super Cup against Real Madrid, where he scored 3 goals that contributed to Barcelona winning its tenth Super Cup and the player became the top scorer of that competition with 8 goals, beating the historic Raúl Gonzales.

On August 26, 2011, Barcelona played the European Super Cup against Porto, in which Messi scored a goal that contributed to the 2-0 victory and to get the fourth title of this competition for Barcelona FC. On December 8, 2011, the player was recognized as the second-best player in the history of the UEFA Champions League surpassed only by the historic Zinedine Zidane. A few days later, Messi would play his 293rd match with the Barcelona jersey and became the foreign player with most matches played in the Spanish club. On December 18, 2011, Lionel Messi and Barcelona were crowned champions of the Club World Cup, after defeating Santos (Brazil) 4-0 where he contributed 2 goals to the score, also received the Golden Ball as the best player of the competition.

At the beginning of 2012, Lionel would be given his third consecutive Golden Ball equaling the record of Michel Platini. Messi culminated the 2011-2012 season with a total of 67 goals in all competitions and managed to win the Spanish Super Cup, the European Super Cup, and the FIFA Club World Cup. On October 27, 2012, Lionel Messi scored two goals in the 5-0 against Rayo Vallecano, which reached a historical figure of 300 goals as a professional and was making history. On January 7, 2013, the player would win the Golden Ball for the fourth time in a row and was part of FIFA’s 11th ideal for the sixth consecutive year. For the 6 of 2013, Messi signed the renewal of his contract, which linked him until 2018 with the Blaugrana team. In the match against Granada of the current season, Lionel Messi scored two goals reaching the global figure of 301 goals in 365 games with Barcelona FC. In addition, he became the first player in the world to score in 17 consecutive fixtures in a professional football league.

On March 30, 2013, the Argentinian crack took the captain’s band for the first time in an official match with Barcelona. On May 11, 2013, Barcelona won the Spanish league with four games in advance and Messi added his twentieth title with Barcelona. He also managed to be the league’s top scorer and got for the third time the top scorer and the league’s golden boot. At the end of the 2012-2013 season, the Argentinian player ended up scoring 46 goals in the Spanish league, 4 in Copa del Rey, 2 in the Spanish Supercup and 8 in the Champions League.

On August 28, 2013, at the start of the 2013-2014 season, Barcelona managed to win the Super Cup of Spain and Messi added his title number 23 with the Blaugrana shirt. On January 22, 2014, reached 400 games with Barcelona FC in the 4-1 victory against Valencia for the knockout stages of the Copa del Rey, the Argentine stood out for giving 3 assists to Cristian Tello. In that season, the Argentinian continued breaking records and in this case reached the figure of 337 goals reaching the third place in the Spanish league’s top scorers along with Raul, surpassing what Alfredo Di Stéfano did. The Argentine managed to finish that season with 41 goals.

In the 2014-2015 season, Lionel Messi reached 71 goals in the Champions League and managed to equal Raul as the top scorer of that competition. On November 22, 2014, he became the top scorer of the Spanish league reaching the figure of 253 goals, after scoring 3 goals in the 5-1 victory against Sevilla. Three days later, he would score a hat-trick in her team’s 4-0 victory against Apoel for Champions League. That hat-trick helped him to reach 74 goals in that competition and became the leading top scorer. On April 18, 2015, the Argentinian reached 400 goals with Barcelona and became the player with the most goals scored for the same Spanish team. On May 17, 2015, Barcelona defeated Atlético de Madrid 1-0 with a Messi goal that allowed them to reach the Spanish league championship. Messi was also the protagonist 3 days later (May 30, 2015) when he scored two goals in the Copa del Rey final against Athletic Bilbao, that match was won by Barcelona 3-1 and gave Barcelona the title. On June 6, 2015, the “10” would achieve another treble to Barcelona, after becoming champion of the European champions league, beating Juventus of Italy. At the end of that season, Lionel Messi scored 43 goals for the Spanish league, 5 goals for Copa del Rey and 10 goals for the Champions League. On August 28, 2015, the Argentine star managed to win the best player-in-Europe award for the second time.

The 2015-2016 season did not start very well for Messi and Barcelona, as they lost the final of the Spanish Super Cup against Sevilla. Days later, on September 16, Lio would become the youngest player to play 100 games in the Champions League, in the draw against Roma 1-1. On December 17, 2015, the participation of Barcelona in the club world championship began, defeating the Guangzhou Evergrande by 3-0 in semifinals and winning the title after beating River Plate of Argentina 3-0, with a goal of Messi. The beginning of 2016 was very good for Lionel Messi, since on January 11 he won again the Golden Ball as the best player in the world, adding 5 Golden Balls in his soccer career, the player was also part of the ideal team of the FIFA in that year. The course of the league was good for his team, and on March 13, 2016, Lionel managed to equal the world record of assists of Juan Román Riquelme at the club and national level, with 247 goal passes. In that season, the Argentine star achieved 4 titles (Club World Cup, Spanish League, Copa del Rey and European Super Cup) and scored 41 goals.

On August 17, 2016, Lionel Messi managed to win his first championship as captain of Barcelona, winning the Super Cup of Spain to Sevilla by a global score of 6-1. On May 27, 2017, Barcelona was champion of the Copa del Rey 2016-2017, after defeating Deportivo Alaves 3-1 in the final with a Goal and assistance from the Argentinian. On July 5 of the same year, Messi renewed his contract with Barcelona until 2021. On August 7, he was chosen by CIHEFE as the best player in the history of the Spanish league. On October 23, 2017, Messi was part of FIFA / FIFPro World XI chosen by FIFA, which refers to the ideal eleven of the season. On November 24, 2017, Lionel Messi received the Golden Boot for having been the scorer of the European competitions of the 2016-2017 season, where he managed to score 37 goals.

ARGENTINA NATIONAL TEAM

Lio Messi has been part of the Argentina National Team for a long time. In 2014, he played his first game with the U-20 team, in a friendly against Paraguay in which he scored a goal and gave two assists. In July, he would play another game against Uruguay’s U-20 team in which he contributed with two goals for the 4-1 victory of his team. This was enough for him to be taken into account in the squad that faced the South America tournament U-20 in 2005.

The South America tournament was held in Colombia, and Messi scored 6 goals and finally managed to qualify for the Under 20 World Championship to be held in the Netherlands after finishing in the third position of the final hexagonal. In the World Youth Championship in June 2005, Argentina won the final against Nigeria, and the Argentinian crack managed to provide 6 goals to his team and was the top scorer of the competition, lifting the Golden Boot and the Golden Ball to the best player of the tournament.

In 2008, Messi played the Olympic Games held in Beijing. Argentina debuted on August 7 with a 2-1 victory against the Ivory Coast, scoring the first goal of the game. In the second match of the group stage, Argentina won 1-0 to Australia, securing their qualification to the next round. However, in the last match of this phase, Argentina won 3-0 to Serbia, consolidating as leader of their group. In the final rounds, Argentina built its way to the final for the Olympic gold beating the Netherlands and Brazil by 2-1 and 3-0 respectively, where Lio contributed a goal. The Olympic title was won after beating Nigeria 1-0 in the final. This was the second title with National Youth Teams for the player.

After good performances in youth teams, Lionel Messi began to be called to the senior team, where he made his debut on August 17, 2005, in a friendly match against Hungary. In that game, he was sent off after a fight with a defender of the opposing team. His debut in an official match took place on September 3, 2005, when Argentina faced Paraguay for the World Cup qualifiers to Germany 2006.

Messi’s first goal with the senior team was scored in a friendly against Croatia on March 1. 2006. In World Cup in Germany 2006, Lionel Messi was among the list of players called by coach José Pekerman, becoming the youngest Argentinian player to contest the world cup. He debuted on the first game against Serbia in the 6-0 win in favor of Argentina. In this game, Messi would enter the minute 73 and managed to score a goal. In the last group game against the Netherlands, Messi was in the starting lineup. However, in the final stages, he only played 30 minutes until his team was eliminated before Germany.

After the participation in the 2006 World Cup, Messi would keep being called to the national team and on June 5, 2007, he scored his first double with the national team in a friendly match against Algeria prior to the Copa America 2007. His participation in the Copa America 2007 was highlighted, as he scored two goals in the quarterfinals and semifinal, but despite his good performance, his team would not reach the title, because it was defeated in the final by Brazil with a score of 3-0.

Messi continued being called up for the games with his national team, among them those that were competing for the classification of the World Cup in South Africa 2010. In the qualifiers, Messi would end up score 4 goals. By May 19, 2010, Lionel Messi would be called by Diego Maradona, to dispute the World Cup that year. Messi had a good performance in the World Cup, despite not scoring any goal and being eliminated in the quarterfinals against the German national team.

In 2011, he played the Copa America hosted in Argentina, and the pressure Messi had was gigantic since Argentina was the host and the fans demanded that the player show the level he had at Barcelona. Argentina managed to pass the group stage on a regular basis with 5 points. However, in the quarterfinals, Uruguay finished with Argentina’s dream. The qualifiers for the World Cup in Brazil 2014 were fruitful for the player as he scored 10 goals and gave 5 assists that contributed to Argentina finishing first in the South American classification and achieving a place at the World Cup.

In the 2014 World Cup, the name of Messi was indisputable on the squad list. In his debut on June 15, the player scored 1 goal in Argentina’s 2-0 victory against Bosnia-Herzegovina. In the second match, Messi would score the goal with which Argentina beat the Iranian national team on June 21. In the last match of the group stage played on June 25 against Nigeria, the player scored two goals in the victory of his team 3-2, qualifying the next round as first of the group. In the round of 16, Argentina beat Switzerland 1-0, and Lionel gave assistance for that goal. The quarter-final phase would be victorious for Messi and his team, as they beat Belgium 1-0 on July 5. The passage to the final of the competition took place, after beating the Dutch national team in penalties by a score of 4-2, where the player scored the first penalty kick. On July 13 Argentina played the final against Germany, where there was a draw in the first 90 minutes. However, Germany won the world title after scoring a goal at minute 114.

After the failure of Messi and his team, Messi would be awarded the Golden Ball that identified him as the best player in the world, a prize that did not overshadow the sadness of the player for having lost the final. On May 25, 2015, Lionel Messi topped the list of 23 summoned to face the Copa America in Chile. In that competition, Messi reached 100 matches played with Argentina, scored a goal, gave 3 assists and reached the final of the tournament being runner-up, after falling 4-2 in definition from the penalty spot against Chile.

On June 18 of 2016, while playing the 100th version of the Copa America, the player equaled Batistuta as top scorer of the Argentina team with 54 goals. Nevertheless, on June 21st in the semifinal match of that competition, Messi scored a goal that allowed him to beat the Batistuta record. The Argentina team played the final against Chile, where another misfortune for Lio Messi came, as Argentina lost the final again. Despite having contributed a lot and having scored 5 goals, the frustration of the player was such that at the end of the game he decided to retire from the national team, highlighting that he had tried a lot to achieve a title and this had been impossible. Fortunately, thanks to talks with friends and Argentina’s coach, on August 12, Messi would announce that he would return to the national team to play all his competitions.

Lionel Messi played the qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup with the Argentine national team, where he remained the maximum symbol for the team and scored 7 goals. In addition, on October 10, 2017, he scored the 3 goals with which Argentina defeated Ecuador 3-1 as a visitor and achieved the qualification for the World Cup in Russia.

MESSI OFF THE FIELD

Apart of his football characteristics, Lionel Messi has been recognized for the willingness to help people who need it, so in 2007 he created the Leo Messi Foundation, whose role is to help children and adolescents with educational and health problems.

Through this foundation, parks, sports centers, and social areas have been built. The player also collaborates in charity events independently by participating in exhibition matches and conducting campaigns to raise funds. This type of social work made Unicef named him the ambassador of good will. From 2008 up to date, the player has a relationship with Antonella Roccuzzo, with whom he has two children: Thiago and Mateo.

In 2013, Messi’s financial movements were investigated and it was found that there were illegal movements to evade taxes related to sponsorship and advertising profits in the period between 2007 and 2009. The player and his father were found guilty of tax fraud and sentenced to 21 months in prison with a fine of more than 3 million euros. However, after reaching an agreement he was granted only the payment of the fine and not pay the sentence in prison.

TITLES SUMMARY

Spanish League: 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016. • Super Cup of Spain: 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016.
Copa del Rey: 2009, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017.
UEFA Champion League: 2006. 2009, 2011, 2015.
Europe Super Cup: 2009, 2011, 2015.
FIFA Club World Cup: 2009, 2011, 2015.
World Cup U-20: 2005.
2008 Olympic Games.

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS

FIFA Golden Ball: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015.
FIFA World Player, The Best: 2009.
FIFA Youth Player: 2006.
Best player in Europe: 2009, 2011, 2015.
UEFA Forward of the year: 2009.
UEFA’s best goal of the year: 2007, 2015, 2016.
UEFA team of the year: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016.
Top scorer in the Spanish league: 2015, 2016.
Golden Ball in the FIFA World Cup: 2014.
Golden Ball FIFA U-20 World Cup: 2005.
Golden Ball FIFA Club World Cup: 2009, 2011
Spanish league Top Scorer: 2016-2017
FIFA / FIFPro World XI: 207, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017.
Named the best player in the history of the Spanish league in 2017.
Golden Boot: 2009-2010, 2011-2012, 2012-2013, 2016-2017.

American Football

Travis Kelce

Travis Kelce, vía Instagram

Travis Kelce Biography

Travis Michael Kelce (October 5, 1989) is an American football player born in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, United States. He is known for being the tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs and is regarded as one of the NFL’s best.

Early years

Travis Kelce is an American football player born in Ohio, United States. He comes from a family where his father, Ed Kelce, worked as a sales representative, while his mother, Donna Kelce, had a previous career in banking as an executive. Additionally, he is the younger brother of Jason Kelce, who is also a prominent American football player.

He attended Cleveland Heights High School, where Travis Kelce actively participated in a variety of sports during his school years, including baseball, American football and basketball.

Beginnings

During his school years, Travis Kelce showcased his excellence in American football. As the quarterback for The Tigers, he excelled for three consecutive years and earned recognition with All-Lake Erie League honors. In his senior year, he achieved an impressive total of 2,539 offensive yards. Additionally, he ran for 1,016 rushing yards and scored 10 rushing touchdowns, while passing for 1,523 passing yards, tallying 21 passing touchdowns, despite facing eight interceptions in the 2007 season.

Upon commencing his college life, Travis Kelce enrolled at the University of Cincinnati, where he joined the football team, the Cincinnati Bearcats. One of the key reasons that led him to choose this institution was the presence of his older brother, who was already studying there and playing as the left guard for the Bearcats.

University Incident

In his first season in 2008, Kelce saw action in 11 games, playing various roles, including tight end and quarterback in the Wildcat formation. That year, he managed eight carries for a total of 47 yards and scored two touchdowns, in addition to one reception for three yards. However, the following season was overshadowed by a suspension due to a team rules violation. This suspension stemmed from Kelce failing a drug test, testing positive for marijuana.

At this critical moment, the presence of his older brother, Jason, assumed an essential role. Jason intervened with the coach on Travis’s behalf, pledging to look after his younger brother and keep him away from trouble, keeping him focused on the game. It is rumored that even during that time, Jason improvised a bed next to his own to be able to watch over and support his brother closely.

This strategic approach bore fruit when, following a one-year suspension, Travis Kelce experienced two consecutive truly outstanding seasons. However, it was his final college season that shone the brightest. During this culminating period, he managed to establish impressive personal records: catching 45 passes, amassing 722 receiving yards, maintaining an outstanding average of 16.0 yards per reception, and scoring 8 touchdowns. Not only that, but he also earned well-deserved first-team honors in all conferences, solidifying his remarkable career in college football.

Career

Travis Kelce joined the Kansas City Chiefs as a third-round selection, picked 63rd overall during the 2013 draft. His commitment to the team was officially sealed on June 6, 2013, when he signed a 4-year contract valued at over 3 million dollars, including a generous signing bonus of 700 thousand dollars.

Travis Kelce has spent ten years in the NFL, and during this time, he has amassed a series of notable achievements. Starting with his career with the Kansas City Chiefs, the team secured two Wild Card playoff berths in the 2013-2014 and 2015-2016 seasons. In 2014, they had an exhilarating game against the Colts that ended in a 45-44 defeat. In 2016, they swept past the Texans with a score of 30-0 but then fell to the Patriotsby 27-20.

Kelce’s consistent growth as a standout player led to a contract renewal in late January 2016. On this occasion, he agreed to a 5-year extension worth an impressive total of 46 million dollars, further solidifying his pivotal role in the team and his contribution to the Chiefs’ success.

As for his personal statistics, Kelce has accumulated an impressive total of 10,344 receiving yards through the air and has scored an astonishing 69 touchdowns. His NFL success currently places him fourth on the list of receiving yards by tight ends in the league.

Two-Time Super Bowl Champion: LIV and LVII

In terms of more recent achievements, in the 2019-2020 season, Travis Kelce became the champion of Super Bowl LIV when the Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers with a score of 31-20. Then, in the 2022-2023 season, he secured the title of Super Bowl LVII champion by defeating the Philadelphia Eagles, the team where his brother Jason Kelce plays. His NFL career continues to soar, and his legacy in professional American football promises to keep growing in the years to come.

Personal life

Alongside his brother, Travis Kelce co-hosts a podcast titled “New Heights Show”.

The love life of the American football player has always been a subject of interest. It is known that he has been linked to one of the iconic pop figures, Taylor Swift. The singer was seen in Travis Kelce’s family suite, accompanied by Donna, the player’s mother.

Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift

The beginning of this story and the connection between these two celebrities trace back to early July 2023 when Taylor Swift performed at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. At the end of that same month, Travis shared on his podcast with Jason that he attended Taylor Swift’s concert and wrote his personal number on a friendship bracelet, one of those typically shared among fans and the singer at her concerts. However, unfortunately, this action did not lead to any concrete relationship.

Rumors of a possible relationship between both celebrities began circulating on the internet on September 12th. Despite having been seen together on several occasions, neither Travis Kelce nor Taylor Swift have officially confirmed their relationship at present.

F1 Drivers

Oscar Piastri

Oscar Piastri, vía Instagram

Oscar Piastri Biography

Oscar Jack Piastri (April 6, 2001) is a Formula 1 driver born in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. He has garnered recognition as one of the youngest drivers on the Formula 1 grid, and he is affectionately nicknamed “The Prodigy Kid”.

Early years

Oscar Piastri is an Australian Formula 1 driver. He is the son of Chris Piastri and Nicole Piastri, of Italian origin.

From a young age, the little Piastri showed his interest in cars. In fact, his favorite bedtime stories were about “Cars”. His parents began to notice his fascination with engines and decided to support him in this.

At the age of six, he started becoming a remote-controlled car enthusiast. So much so that he participated in national remote-controlled car competitions.

Photo: @oscarpiastri (vía Instagram)

Beginnings: Karting, Formula 4, Formula 3, and Formula 2

Oscar Piastri started in karting, standing out from a young age. He won several national championships in Australia. Later, his family moved to England to support his career. In 2016, he transitioned to single-seater Formula 4 racing in the United Arab Emirates, achieving multiple podium finishes. In 2017, in the British Formula 4 championship, he secured six victories and finished as the runner-up behind Jamie Caroline and ahead of Logan Sargeant.

In 2018, Oscar Piastri entered Formula Renault 2.0, earning three podiums in his debut season. The following year, he competed again in the same category and clinched the championship title.

However, it was in the 2020 season when his talent truly shone. Taking part in the thrilling FIA Formula 3 Championship, he showcased exceptional performance that led him to clinch the title. His ability to maintain consistency, speed, and tackle challenges on the track stood out and captured the attention of the motorsport world. In an exciting season finale, he secured the championship with just two victories.

In early 2021, Alpine made the decision to include Piastri in their academy, providing him with a significant opportunity to benefit from the extensive testing program designed for Fernando Alonso’s return to Formula 1. In the same season, Oscar Piastri moved up to Formula 2, where he joined the Prema Racing team.

His performance in Formula 2 was outstanding, securing six victories and showcasing even greater mastery than in Formula 3. With a remarkable display, Piastri clinched the championship in this category.

His Move to Formula 1

Following his triumph in Formula 2, regulations do not allow him to continue in the same category after his victory, and with no available seat in Formula 1, Oscar accepts the role of a reserve driver at the Alpine team. However, a promising opportunity arises as McLaren and Alpine reach an agreement for Piastri to take on the role of a reserve driver within the British racing team.

Alpine had plans for an agreement with Williams for Piastri to make his debut as a full-time Formula 1 driver in 2023. However, the unexpected move of Fernando Alonso to Aston Martin altered the situation, and Alpine confirmed him as a regular driver for that season. Surprisingly, Oscar Piastri turned down this offer in a critical message towards Alpine that no one anticipated.

“I understand that, without my agreement, Alpine F1 have put out a press release late this afternoon that I am driving for them next year. This is wrong and I have not signed a contract with Alpine for 2023. I will not be driving for Alpine next year”.

Formula 1

McLaren: 2023-Present

Piastri successfully reached a direct agreement with the McLaren team, with whom he had already carried out prior simulation tasks. In this way, Oscar would join Lando Norris at the McLaren team for the 2023 season. However, unfortunate legal complications arose due to the dispute between McLaren and Alpine.

Ultimately, a court validated Piastri’s contract with McLaren over Alpine’s. While the French team did not achieve the outcome they were hoping for, they sought financial compensation for the investment they had made in the development of the young Australian driver.

Oscar Piastri made his debut at the Bahrain Grand Prix, where he started strongly in the eighth position. Unfortunately, he retired on the fourteenth lap due to a steering wheel issue that prevented his car from restarting.

So far this season, Piastri has had a notable performance by finishing fifth in the Hungarian Grand Prix. He began from the fourth position and even reached second place before the first pit stops.

At the Belgian Grand Prix, his performance continued to impress as he secured the second position in qualifying for the sprint race, trailing just 0.011 seconds behind polesitter Max Verstappen. This marked his best starting position up to that point. During the sprint, he showcased his prowess by overtaking Max Verstappen in the pits and leading a Formula 1 race for the first time in his career. Despite his brilliant start in Belgium, his luck took a drastic turn in the fourth lap when a spin by Fernando Alonso triggered a safety car, allowing Verstappen to pass him on the Kemmel Straight. Despite this setback, Piastri demonstrated his potential and skill in Formula 1.

During the Belgian GP, Piastri was involved in a collision with Spanish driver Carlos Sainz, leading to both of them being knocked out of the race. In post-race interviews and statements, Sainz attributed the mistake to the Australian, labeling it as optimistic and inexperienced.

McLaren: Piastri’s Teammates

Teammates that Oscar Piastri had at McLaren during his Formula 1 career with the team:

Lando Norris (2023-Present): Oscar joined to replace Daniel Ricciardo at McLaren due to his underperformance. Since his arrival, the driver has established a strong working chemistry with Lando.

Oscar Piastri: 2023 season

In the thrilling ongoing 2023 Formula 1 season, the talented Australian driver Oscar Piastri currently holds the eleventh position with 34 points, having secured 0 wins and achieved 0 podiums. The leaders of this season so far are Max Verstappen, Sergio Pérez, and Fernando Alonso, who have showcased their skills on the track and occupy the top positions in the championship.

Photo: @oscarpiastri (vía Instagram)

Personal life

The driver is very private about his personal and intimate life. Since 2022, he has been romantically linked with Lily Zneimer. They have been seen together at various events, enjoying their relationship and appearing happy. Oscar Piastri seems to enjoy keeping his love life private.

Facts about Oscar Piastri

His racing number is 81.
His parents are of Italian descent.
He stands at 5 feet 10 inches tall.
He has sisters, but more information about them is unknown.
He started in Karting at the age of 9.

F1 Drivers

Charles Leclerc

Charles Leclerc, vía Instagram

Charles Leclerc Biography

Charles Marc Hervé Perceval Leclerc (October 16, 1997), better known as Charles Leclerc, is a Formula 1 driver hailing from Monte Carlo, Monaco. He is an automotive prodigy who dominates the track with his dazzling talent. With an innate skill, Leclerc has left an indelible mark on Formula 1.

Early years

Charles Marc Hervé Perceval Leclerc, known as Charles Leclerc, was born in Monaco. He is the second child of Hervé and Pascale Leclerc. His father was a racing driver in his youth and the founder of the French automotive parts manufacturer Mecaplast, while his mother is a hairdresser and owner of a beauty salon located in the Principality of Monaco. He has two brothers: Lorenzo, the eldest, holds a degree in administration and business, and Arthur, the youngest, is currently a Formula 2 driver.

He studied at Lycée Albert 1er in Monaco, where he completed his secondary education.

Leclerc’s father, who had experience up to Formula 3, played a fundamental role in his motivation and in instilling his passion for motorsport. As a result, Charles’s first steps in the world of racing took place at Philippe Bianchi’s track, a French friend of his father, located in Brignoles, a town between Nice and Marseille. Philippe is the father of Jules Bianchi, a driver who was eight years older than the young Leclerc, and they established a strong friendship.

Photo: @charles_leclerc (vía Instagram)

Beginnings: Karting, Formula Renault 2.0, Formula 3 and Formula 2

Charles Leclerc started his career in karting at the age of 8 and quickly excelled in the sport. He won multiple championships in Monaco and abroad, establishing his reputation as a young promise in motorsport.

By mid-2010, Hervé realized that he didn’t have enough money for his son to finish the karting season. At that moment, Charles received support from his close friend, Jules Bianchi, who reached out to his manager, Nicolas Todt, the director of All Road Management, a company that represents drivers. Nicolas Todt provided assistance to help Charles Leclerc move forward in his racing career.

In 2011, he became the karting world champion in the KF3 category. Leclerc has also competed in other categories, such as KF2, where he achieved significant victories. His talent in karting caught the attention of the motorsport industry, and he became a member of the ARM company.

Charles Leclerc began his single-seater career in the Formula Renault 2.0 Alps Championship with the Fortec Motorsports team in 2014. In that season, he secured seven podium finishes, including a double victory in Monza, which allowed him to finish second in the championship. Additionally, he won the Best Rookie award in the last race of the season in Jerez. Charles also participated in some races of the Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup as a guest driver with Fortec Motorsports, obtaining three second-place podiums at Nürburgring and two second places at Hungaroring.

In 2015, Charles Leclerc took his first steps in Formula 3, competing in the European Formula 3 Championship. He had an excellent start to the season, securing a victory and two podiums in the opening round at Silverstone, followed by another win at Hockenheimring. Although the results were not as remarkable in the following races, Leclerc won the Rookie Championship title in that championship.

In the last month of 2015, Charles Leclerc had the opportunity to participate in evaluation tests with the ART Grand Prix and Arden International teams. The following year, in February 2016, his entry as a driver for the season was confirmed. ART Grand Prix placed their bet on him, and at the end of the competition, Leclerc was crowned champion after securing three victories and surpassing the second-placed driver, Alexander Albon, with a comfortable 25-point lead.

In March 2016, it was announced that Charles Leclerc would join the prestigious Ferrari Driver Academy as one of their two drivers. His skill and determination caught the attention of Ferrari, one of the most iconic Formula 1 teams, signing him for their young driver program. Additionally, he was given the role of development driver for both Haas F1 Team and Scuderia Ferrari. As part of his position as a third driver, Leclerc had the opportunity to participate in practice sessions for four Grand Prix races throughout the season.

For 2017, Charles Leclerc competed in the Formula 2 Championship with the Prema team. He won two of the first four races but faced difficulties at the Monaco round. However, he secured victories in Baku, Spielberg, and Silverstone. In October, he clinched the championship by winning the 19th race of the season, adding up to a total of six wins, with three races still to go.

Formula 1

Sauber: 2018

Leclerc was promoted to Formula 1 in 2018 as a driver for Sauber, currently known as Alfa Romeo. During his rookie season, he impressed everyone with his speed and driving skills, achieving notable results and outperforming his teammate on several occasions.

Charles Leclerc had an impressive start to the season, matching his teammate Marcus Ericsson’s points tally in just 8 races, despite Ericsson having competed in 83 races previously. His standout performances, such as reaching Q3 and qualifying in eighth place in France, as well as his sixth-place finish in Azerbaijan, sparked rumors of a potential move to Scuderia Ferrari. Furthermore, at the Red Bull Ring, Leclerc contributed to Sauber securing a notable result with both drivers in the points, something that had not happened since early 2015.

Sauber: Leclerc’s Teammates

The teammates that Charles Leclerc had at Sauber during his Formula 1 career with this team were as follows:

Marcus Ericsson (2018): Leclerc made his Formula 1 debut in the 2018 season alongside Marcus Ericsson as his teammate at Sauber.

Scuderia Ferrari: 2019-Present

In 2019, Charles Leclerc fulfilled his dream by joining the main team of Ferrari in Formula 1. Although he had an adaptation period in his first year, he proved his worth with impressive performances, including his first victory at the Belgian Grand Prix. His aggressive driving style and ability to handle pressure made him one of the most exciting and promising drivers on the grid.

Since his arrival at Ferrari, Leclerc has made a mark. In 2020, despite the challenges of the less competitive Ferrari, he secured a second place in Austria and continued to add podium finishes throughout the season. In 2021, he started a new chapter with Carlos Sainz as his teammate, achieving pole positions in Monaco and Baku, and securing his first Grand Chelem at the 2022 Australian GP.

Leclerc’s talent and determination were once again evident in 2023 when he secured pole position at the Azerbaijan GP in the thrilling new race format. His trajectory at Ferrari has been a constant ascent, establishing himself as one of the brightest stars in Formula 1.

In 2023, Ferrari’s drivers have faced setbacks with the team and technicians, which has negatively impacted the performance of Leclerc and Sainz Jr. Recently, the team has shown deficiencies in managing various situations. An example of this occurred during the qualifying session for the Canadian Grand Prix when Charles requested a tire change during his pit stop. However, the Ferrari team denied his request, citing that Max Verstappen, a driver from Red Bull Racing, had not done so yet. As a result, Leclerc missed out on the starting grid. However, due to a penalty imposed on his teammate Carlos Sainz, Charles Leclerc managed to advance to the tenth position, securing a place within the top ten.

Ferrari: Leclerc’s Teammates

The teammates that Charles Leclerc had at Ferrari during his Formula 1 career with this team were as follows:

Sebastian Vettel (2019-2020): Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel were teammates at Ferrari for two seasons. During this time, there were moments of close competition and rivalry between the two drivers.
Carlos Sainz Jr. (2021-Present): Leclerc shared the team with Spanish driver Carlos Sainz Jr. at Ferrari. Both drivers have formed a young and talented duo during this period, becoming fan favorites both on and off the circuits.

Charles Leclerc: 2023 season

In the thrilling ongoing 2023 Formula 1 season, the talented Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc currently holds the seventh position with 80 points, having achieved 0 wins and secured 2 podiums. The leaders of this season so far are Max Verstappen, Sergio Pérez, and Fernando Alonso, who have showcased their skill on the track and are occupying the top positions in the championship.

Photo: @charles_leclerc (vía Instagram)

Personal life

Charles Leclerc, the talented Formula 1 driver, has had romantic relationships that have captured the attention of the media and followers. For three years, he was in a relationship with the Monegasque model and influencer, Charlotte Siné. However, in December 2022, both celebrities publicly announced the end of their romance through a statement shared on social media.

Before his relationship with Charlotte, Leclerc had a girlfriend named Giana Gianni, affectionately known as Gigi. Their relationship lasted for about four years but came to an end in September 2019. According to what Gigi shared on her social media, the breakup was due to Charles wanting to focus on his professional career. Interestingly, just a month later, the driver was already in a new relationship and publicly displaying it on social media.

The surprising part is that Leclerc’s new girlfriend turned out to be none other than Charlotte Siné, who shockingly happened to be one of Gigi’s best friends.

2023: New Relationship

Charles Leclerc is currently in a relationship with Alexandra Saint-Mleux. The official confirmation of their romance took place in May 2023, although there had been speculation about their bond for several months before, as they had been seen together on various occasions, including during Paris Fashion Week.

Alexandra Saint-Mleux is nearly five years younger than Leclerc. She is a student of Art History in Paris, France.

Father of Charles Leclerc

Charles Leclerc has faced challenges both on and off the circuits. Unfortunately, in June 2017, his father lost his life after bravely battling cancer. This tragic loss has left a deep impact on Leclerc’s life.

During his stay in Monaco for the Grand Prix, as an emotional tribute to his father, Charles and his family took a photo alongside the helmet his father used to wear. It’s important to note that his father was his biggest supporter and a crucial pillar in his racing career. Despite his absence, Hervé couldn’t witness his son’s debut or see him become a part of Formula 1.

Photo: @charles_leclerc (vía Instagram)

Tragedies: Deaths of Loved Ones.

The Passing of Jules Bianchi: One of the most impactful tragedies in Leclerc’s career was the death of his friend and mentor, Jules Bianchi. Bianchi, also a Formula 1 driver, suffered a serious accident during the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix and remained in a coma for nine months before passing away in July 2015. Bianchi’s loss was a devastating blow to Leclerc, who saw Jules as an older brother and a source of inspiration in his career.
The Passing of His Father: In June 2017, Charles Leclerc experienced another tragic loss with the passing of his father, Hervé Leclerc. Hervé had been a pivotal figure in supporting and nurturing Charles’ racing career, and his sudden death deeply affected the Monegasque driver.
Fatal Accident of Anthoine Hubert: During the Formula 2 race at Spa-Francorchamps in August 2019, a serious accident occurred involving several drivers, including Anthoine Hubert. Sadly, Hubert lost his life in the incident. Leclerc, who had been a teammate of Hubert in the lower categories, was deeply affected by the loss of his friend and rival.

Filmography

Charles Leclerc has appeared in several visual works, including:

“Lightyear” (2022): Charles Leclerc provided his voice for the Italian dubbing, for a cameo in the “Toy Story” spin-off, “Lightyear”. He portrays one of the two guards sent to take away Sox the cat. In the Spanish (Spain) dubbing, the same character was covered by Carlos Sainz.
“Formula 1: Drive to Survive” (2023): This series covers various aspects of Formula 1, both on and off the track. It follows Charles Leclerc’s journey from his time at Sauber (now Alfa Romeo) to his current involvement with Scuderia Ferrari. In addition to Leclerc, the series delves into all the drivers, their teams, and the racing stables in depth.

Discography

Musical works in which Charles Leclerc has participated:

Singles

“AUS23 (1:1)” (2023).
“MIA23 (1:2)” (2023).

Facts about Charles Leclerc

His racing number is 16.
He is the second-youngest driver to debut with Scuderia Ferrari.
His favorite food is tortellini pasta.
He enjoys playing paddle tennis.
His nickname Lord Perceval was given to him by his Ferrari teammate, Carlos Sainz Jr., who considered the name suited him well.
He is a music enthusiast.
He plays the piano and has released his own songs.
One of his inspirations in F1 was Ayrton Senna.
One of his favorite TV series is “La Casa de Papel”.
During the pandemic, he streamed on Twitch with several other drivers, including Max Verstappen, Lando Norris, Alex Albon, and George Russell.
He speaks Italian, French, English, and some Spanish.
There is an iconic video of an interview from his youth where Charles pronounces the phrase “Nothing, just an incident on the race” in a peculiar way. This famous moment occurred after an incident on the track with Max Verstappen. Leclerc’s unique gestures and pronunciation caught everyone’s attention, leading to its viral spread.
In Italy, his Richard Mille watch, valued at $325,000, was stolen. Charles Leclerc chased the thieves across Italy in his Ferrari.

F1 Drivers

Carlos Sainz Jr

Carlos Sainz, vía Instagram

Carlos Sainz Jr Biography

Carlos Sainz Vázquez de Castro (September 1, 1994), better known as Carlos Sainz or Carlos Sainz Jr., is a Formula 1 driver, born in Madrid, Spain. Recognized worldwide for his success on the most demanding circuits, this Spanish driver has managed to forge his own path in motorsport, defying the expectations imposed by his surname, his father’s fame, and career. Sainz Jr. has carved an impressive career on his own merit.

Early years

Carlos Sainz Vázquez de Castro, also known as Carlos Sainz or Carlos Sainz Jr., was born in Madrid, Spain. He is the son of the famous rally driver and two-time champion, Carlos Sainz, and Reyes Vázquez de Castro. He has two sisters, Blanca, who is the eldest, and Ana, who is his younger sister by four years.

His full name is Carlos Sainz Vázquez de Castro Cenamor Rincón Rebollo Birto Moreno de Aranda de Anteruriaga Tiapera Deltún.

During his childhood, Carlos Jr. grew up surrounded by the world of motorsport, as his father and uncle are car racers. When Carlos was two years old, his father discovered him performing Scandinavian flicks in his electric cart. From a very young age, he showed great interest in motorsports. At the age of 8, he began competing in karting, a discipline that would help him develop his skills as a driver.

Carlos Sainz Jr. studied at the British Council School, where he learned English. His family wanted him to pursue a university degree, even though his true passion was to become an F1 driver. He opted to study art history, but his primary focus was always on motorsport.

Karting

In his early years in karting, Carlos Sainz Jr. showed exceptional talent and managed to stand out in several national and international competitions. His performance caught the attention of experts in motorsport, who saw in him a promising future in single-seater racing.

Carlos Sainz Jr. took his first steps in the world of karting in 2006, under the guidance of his father. Quickly, he began to achieve outstanding results, securing the third position in the Minikarts Industrie Tournament. In 2008, at the age of 14, Carlos reached a significant milestone by winning the Asia-Pacific KF3 title and obtaining the runner-up position in the Spanish KF3 Championship. His talent continued to shine in 2009, as he became the champion in the renowned Monaco Kart Cup Junior. Additionally, he once again secured the runner-up position in both the European KF3 Championship and the Spanish KF3 Championship. These impressive achievements opened the doors for him to join the Red Bull Junior Team, a crucial milestone in his career.

Photo: @carlossainz55 (vía Instagram)

Formula BMW Europe, Formula Renault 2.0, and Formula 3 Euroseries.

In 2010, when Carlos Sainz Jr. was 15 years old, he made the leap to single-seaters by joining the EuroInternational team in the Formula BMW Europe. During his first season in the category, he showed impressive performance and managed to win the award for the best rookie driver of the year, finishing in fourth place in the championship. This opened the doors for him to continue advancing in his career. Additionally, he simultaneously participated in the Formula BMW Asia-Pacific, where he wasn’t eligible for points, but secured three notable victories. One of them took place in November at the legendary Macau circuit, where he achieved the pole position and led the entire race.

In the following years, Sainz Jr. continued his progression in the lower categories of motorsport. He competed in Formula Renault 2.0 and in the Formula 3 Euroseries, where he achieved good results and earned the respect of his rivals and fans.

Formula 1

Toro Rosso: 2015-2017

Carlos Sainz Jr. joined the Toro Rosso team in the 2015 Formula 1 season. He was selected as a full-time driver alongside his teammate, Max Verstappen, forming one of the youngest pairings in Formula 1 history.

During his first season with Toro Rosso, Sainz Jr. showcased great talent and skill behind the wheel. He quickly adapted to the pace of Formula 1 and achieved notable results in several races. His most outstanding performance came at the Spanish Grand Prix, where he finished in an impressive fifth position on the grid, earning valuable points for the team.

In the third free practice session of the Russian GP, Carlos Sainz suffered a shocking accident that unfortunately forced him to miss the qualifying session. Fortunately, Sainz did not sustain serious injuries and was able to participate in the race. However, due to a brake issue, he was once again forced to retire.

During his second season in 2016, Sainz Jr. continued to accumulate points and showcase his speed and skill on the track. Once again, he achieved notable results, including a sixth-place finish at the Spanish Grand Prix and a seventh-place finish at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

In the 2017 season, Carlos Sainz Jr. remained with Toro Rosso until the United States Grand Prix, at which point he was loaned to the Renault team to complete the season. Despite this team change, Sainz Jr. left a significant mark at Toro Rosso, and his performance was recognized by the motorsport community.

Toro Rosso: Sainz’s Teammates

Carlos Sainz Jr.’s teammates at Toro Rosso during his Formula 1 career with this team were:

Max Verstappen (2015-2016): Carlos Sainz Jr. shared the team with Max Verstappen at Toro Rosso. Both made their Formula 1 debut that year and formed a young and talented pairing. After a season and a half, Max moved from Toro Rosso to Red Bull Racing.
Daniil Kvyat (2016-2017): Sainz was teammates with Russian driver Daniil Kvyat at Toro Rosso. Kvyat returned to Toro Rosso after being demoted from Red Bull Racing. That year, Sainz was transferred to Renault.

Renault: 2017-2018

In 2017, Carlos Sainz was transferred to Renault as a replacement for British driver Jolyon Palmer, starting from the United States Grand Prix. In his debut with the French team, he achieved an impressive seventh-place finish. Throughout the season, Sainz stood out, securing the ninth position in the championship, surpassing all of his teammates.

In the 2018 season, Carlos Sainz finished in the tenth position in the championship, trailing behind his teammate Nico Hulkenberg, who secured the seventh place. His best race result was a fifth-place finish in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Sainz managed to complete 19 out of the 21 Grand Prix races in the 2018 season but was forced to retire in the British GP due to a collision with the driver Romain Grosjean and in the Mexican GP due to suspension issues. That was his final season with Renault.

Renault: Sainz’s Teammates

Carlos Sainz Jr.’s teammate at Renault during his Formula 1 career with this team was:

Nico Hülkenberg (2017-2018): Carlos Sainz Jr. shared the team with German driver Nico Hülkenberg at Renault. Both drivers were part of the Renault team during that season.

McLaren: 2019-2020

Carlos Sainz joined McLaren after leaving the Renault team, becoming teammates with Lando Norris. In his first season, he had a challenging start with retirements and a collision, but he later managed to qualify in the points in almost every race, surpassing Pierre Gasly’s Red Bull. He stood out by achieving his first podium at the Brazilian GP, starting from the last position. Sainz became the second driver to accomplish this feat and did so in 101 Grand Prix races, surpassing Martin Brundle’s record. He finished the season in sixth place, being the best driver after Mercedes, Ferrari, and Red Bull.

For the 2020 Formula 1 season, Carlos experienced ups and downs in the early races, notably achieving a fifth-place finish in Austria and a ninth-place finish in the second race. He faced challenges with slow pit stops and punctures but managed a remarkable second-place finish at the Italian Grand Prix. He also had tough moments, like accidents in the first lap during the races in Tuscany and Russia. However, he bounced back and finished in the top seven in the final races, helping McLaren secure third place in the constructors’ championship.

Sainz concluded the season in sixth position in the drivers’ championship, trailing behind the leading teams. By mid-year, Sainz had already been signed by Scuderia Ferrari, making this his final season with McLaren.

McLaren: Sainz’s Teammates

Carlos Sainz Jr.’s teammate at McLaren during his Formula 1 career with this team was:

Lando Norris (2019-2020): Carlos Sainz Jr. shared the team with British driver Lando Norris at McLaren. Both drivers formed a young and talented pairing during that period.

Scuderia Ferrari: 2021-Present

In May 2020, Carlos Sainz Jr. was confirmed as a full-time driver for Scuderia Ferrari alongside Charles Leclerc for the 2021 and 2022 seasons. In his debut with Ferrari, he had ups and downs in the early races, securing an impressive second-place finish at the Monaco GP. Throughout the season, Sainz showed consistency and achieved two more podiums in Hungary and Russia. In the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi, he finished in third place, surpassing his teammate and Lando Norris in the drivers’ championship, concluding in the fifth position.

The 2022 season was a significant breakthrough for Ferrari, as they returned to the fight for victories and the championship. Carlos Sainz achieved remarkable results, securing podium finishes in several races, including his first-ever victory at the British Grand Prix, where he also clinched the pole position. This triumph made him the second Spanish driver to achieve such a feat, following in the footsteps of Fernando Alonso. In this season, Sainz finished in fifth place in the Drivers’ Championship, while Ferrari secured the second position in the Constructors’ Championship.

In 2023, Carlos Sainz has faced challenges alongside his teammate Leclerc at Ferrari, due to setbacks with the team and technicians that have affected their performance. Recently, the team has shown deficiencies in managing several situations. An example of this occurred during qualifying for the Canadian Grand Prix when Sainz’s teammate requested a tire change during his pit stop. Unfortunately, the Ferrari team denied this request, arguing that Max Verstappen, a driver from Red Bull Racing, had not yet done so. As a result, Leclerc was excluded from the starting grid. However, due to a penalty imposed on Carlos Sainz, his teammate Charles Leclerc managed to advance to the tenth position, securing a spot among the top ten.

Ferrari: Sainz’s Teammates

Carlos Sainz Jr.’s teammate at Ferrari during his Formula 1 career with this team was:

Charles Leclerc (2021-Present): Carlos Sainz Jr. shared the team with the Monegasque driver, Charles Leclerc, at Ferrari. Both drivers have formed a young and talented pairing during this period, becoming a favorite duo among spectators, both on and off the circuits.

Carlos Sainz: 2023 season

In the thrilling ongoing 2023 Formula 1 season, the talented Spanish driver Carlos Sainz Jr. currently holds the sixth position with 87 points, having achieved 0 wins and 0 podiums. The leaders of this season so far are Max Verstappen, Sergio Pérez, and Fernando Alonso, who have showcased their prowess on the track and are at the top positions in the championship.

Photo: @carlossainz55 (vía Instagram)

Personal life

Carlos Sainz Jr. had his first girlfriend at the age of 13, maintaining a relationship with her for four years and sharing their first experiences together. The driver has mentioned that he has been emotionally involved with someone for most of his life. However, he considers himself not particularly affectionate and loving in general, reserving those expressions for private moments with his partner and close ones.

Carlos Sainz was in a relationship with Isabel Hernáez, also known as Isa Hernáez. They met through mutual friends, and it was Carlos who was attracted to Isa from the beginning. The relationship was the subject of many rumors, with some considering them the perfect couple, while others claimed it was marked by deceit and infidelity. Although the exact circumstances that led to the end of their relationship are not publicly known, unfortunately, after six years together, their love came to an end. As of now, neither of them has made any statements about the reasons behind this decision.

There were opinions among Carlos Sainz’s fans and followers that pointed to Isa Hernáez as responsible for leaking information about her then-boyfriend’s family. It was rumored that from an Isa Hernáez fan page, all the details of Carlos’s younger sister Ana Sainz’s wedding were leaked. From the date and location to the details of the bridesmaids’ dresses, it all seemed to have been leaked. Additionally, there were rumors that Isa was the one contacting magazines and paparazzi to take photographs and publish articles about Carlos and her, as well as exposing pictures of the Sainz family that no one else had or captured. However, it is important to highlight that these claims are merely speculations, and there is no official confirmation of their accuracy.

Filmography

Carlos Sainz has appeared in several visual works, including:

“Sainz: Living to Compete” (2021): This series explores the life and career of Carlos Sainz Jr.’s father during that time. It offers glimpses of the F1 driver alongside his father and family.
“Lightyear” (2022): Carlos Sainz provided his voice for the Spanish dub of a cameo in the “Toy Story” spin-off, “Lightyear”. He portrays one of the two guards sent to take away Sox the cat. The same character in the Italian dub was covered by Charles Leclerc.
“Formula 1: Drive to Survive” (2023): This series covers various aspects of Formula 1, both on and off the track. It follows Carlos Sainz’s journey from his time at Renault to his current involvement with Scuderia Ferrari. In addition to Sainz, the series delves deep into all the drivers, their teams, and their respective scuderias.

Facts about Carlos Sainz Jr.

He loves to eat, and some of his favorite foods are hamburgers and pizza.
He is fluent in Spanish, Italian, and English.
He enjoys playing golf.
He doesn’t think of any other profession beyond being an F1 driver.
During his childhood and youth, he greatly admired Rafael Nadal, Michael Jordan, and Fernando Alonso.
He studied art history.
One of his favorite movies is “The Wolf of Wall Street”.
In an interview, he said he doesn’t have a specific type of woman he likes; he prefers them to be normal. In the same interview, he admitted to being bottom team.
He is a fan of Real Madrid.
His favorite character in Mario Kart is Yoshi.
He is known as Smooth Operator after a video of him singing this song during a competition was leaked.
He is a big fan of the American director, Quentin Tarantino.
His racing helmet always features the flag of Spain and the Virgin of Pilar.
His favorite number is 5.
He somewhat identifies with meerkats.
He’s not a big fan of spicy food.
His favorite burger preparation includes bacon, cheese, caramelized onions, and lettuce.
He has a dog named Piñón.

Sport

Linda Caicedo

Linda Caicedo, vía Instagram

Linda Caicedo Biography

Linda Lizeth Caicedo Alegría (February 22, 2005), internationally recognized as Linda Caicedo, is a professional footballer hailing from Candelaria, Valle del Cauca, Colombia. She is renowned for being the forward of Real Madrid C.F.

Early years

Linda Caicedo, the distinguished Colombian professional footballer, has always carried the love for football in her heart since she was a little girl. Accompanied by the encouragement of her parents, Mauricio Caicedo and Herlinda Alegría, Linda pursued her dream with passion and determination. Despite Real Juanchito FC, the school she attended, being primarily oriented towards boys, her skills and dedication led her to become a role model for young female footballers.

It was during this crucial time that Linda perfected her dribbling and shooting skills. This formative period became of utmost importance for the player, who confidently asserts that many of the abilities she possesses today were acquired at that school.

Beginnings

At the age of 10, Linda took her first steps in women’s football by joining the prestigious club Generaciones Palmiranas, known for nurturing prominent figures in Colombian football. During that time, the coach of the senior women’s national team, Felipe Taborda, had the opportunity to witness Linda Caicedo’s talent firsthand. Just a year later, Linda was transferred to Club Deportivo Atlas C.P. a football team founded in Cali by the player Carolina Pineda.

Linda shone in national tournaments, becoming the top scorer on multiple occasions. Additionally, two years later, she stood out in the Selección Valle, earning championships and goals. All of this propelled her towards a professional football career.

Career

Linda Caicedo made her debut in professional football with the team América de Cali, thanks to the recommendation of Carolina Pineda to Marcela Gómez, president of the women’s team. Despite her young age, Linda demonstrated impressive skills that prepared her for the professional game. On July 15, 2019, at just 14 years old and wearing the number 15 jersey, she made her professional debut against Cortuluá. She entered the match in the 74th minute and quickly showcased her charm on the field. Linda Caicedo finished that league as the top scorer. However, she couldn’t participate in the Copa Libertadores Femenina that year due to the regulation stipulating that players must be at least 16 years old, and at that time, the forward was only 14 years old.

In the first quarter of 2020, the young footballer changed teams and joined the azucareras of Deportivo Cali for three seasons. Her first year with the green and white team was not particularly outstanding, scoring only three goals. However, in 2021, she achieved her second national title and made her debut in the Copa Libertadores Femenina, scoring four goals, although the Cali team was eliminated in the quarter-finals.

2023: Real Madrid C.F.

In February 2023, just two days after reaching the age of majority, Linda Caicedo confirmed her incorporation into Real Madrid, becoming the first Colombian to join the women’s team of this prestigious Spanish club. She made her debut with the merengue team a week after the news, in a match against Alhama CF. She entered the game in the 74th minute and had scoring opportunities but couldn’t find the back of the net. On March 9, 2023, Caicedo scored her first goal with the Spanish team in the victory against Villarreal.

Women’s National Team career

Linda Caicedo made her debut with the national team in November 2019. In the 2022 Copa América Femenina, she scored three goals and was named the tournament’s best player. She also stood out in the U-20 and U-17 FIFA World Cups, leading Colombia to the final and receiving awards for her outstanding performances. Her talent has made a lasting impact on Colombian football. In the latter, Linda was awarded the Silver Ball and the Bronze Boot in that tournament.

In 2023, Linda received a call-up to participate in the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023. At just 18 years old, this talented footballer from Valle del Cauca achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first Colombian, including male players, to score in all categories of the World Cups.

Her first World Cup was the U-20 in 2022, where she scored a brace against New Zealand on August 16th. Later, she participated in the U-17 World Cup, scoring another brace against China on October 15th, 2022, one against Mexico on October 18th, and another against Tanzania on October 22nd. Her exceptional performance has turned her into a shining star of Colombian women’s football.

Personal life

Linda Caicedo’s love life has piqued the curiosity of many of her followers. As of the current date, it is known that the footballer has been in two public relationships. In early 2023, videos surfaced showing her in the company of a young woman from Cali, but weeks later, Linda was seen with another person. This woman, named Valentina Herrera, appears to be her current partner, and both reside together in Madrid.

Photo: @linda__caicedo11 (vía Instagram)

Battle Against Cancer

At the age of 15, Linda Caicedo received a diagnosis of ovarian cancer.

“What I remember was that I had to undergo surgery one day, and I felt really bad (…) I thought I wouldn’t return to top-level football”.

In the year 2020, when Linda was part of Deportivo Cali’s squad, she faced a difficult situation due to her diagnosis of ovarian cancer. During that season, she couldn’t showcase her best performance due to this illness. In April of the same year, Linda began her treatment to combat cancer. As a result, she experienced hair loss, leading her to wear a wig during a match against Junior, an experience that showcased her bravery and determination to push forward amid adverse circumstances.

Linda Caicedo Biography