Digest

SOCCER

Neymar in Puma talks after Nike deal ends

Nike has parted ways with Neymar, ending one of its highest-profile sponsorship deals a decade and a half after signing the star striker as a 13-year-old prodigy.

"I can confirm Neymar is no longer a Nike athlete," a spokesman for the US sportswear giant said in an email to AFP on Saturday, without giving details.

Media reports said the 28-year-old Paris Saint-Germain and Brazil talisman was in talks with Nike's German rival Puma.

Brazilian newspaper Folha de Sao Paulo said Neymar's last deal with Nike was an 11-year contract that was set to expire in 2022, worth a total $105 million.

Neymar, who is fresh off the heartbreak of losing the Champions League final to Bayern Munich, holds the record for the most expensive soccer transfer in history. PSG paid Barcelona 222 million euros ($264 million) to sign him in 2017.

Forbes magazine, which ranks him the world's seventh highest-paid celebrity, estimates the 27-year-old's earnings for this year at $95.5 million.

Messi skips virus tests as Barca war simmers

In another sign that Lionel Messi's time with Barcelona is coming to an end, the player did not report for required coronavirus testing scheduled for the whole squad on Sunday.

Barcelona said Messi was the only player who did not undergo the tests at the club's training center. The team is set to resume training this week ahead of the upcoming start of the season.

The club also reiterated its stance not to negotiate Messi's early release, saying president Josep Bartomeu will only sit down with the player if it is to extend his contract beyond next season.

Messi last week expressed his desire to leave the club, but Barcelona wants him to play out the contract that ends in June 2021. The club also said it is not negotiating a possible transfer with any other team.

Messi announced his decision to leave Barcelona last Tuesday by sending the club a burofax, a certified document similar to a telegram. Manchester City is the favorite to sign the Argentine.

Lewandowski scoops top German award

Polish forward Robert Lewandowski has been voted Germany's "footballer of the year" for helping Bayern Munich to a Champions League, Bundesliga and German Cup treble.

Kicker magazine announced on Sunday that Lewandowski received 276 votes in a poll among sports journalists for the prize, significantly more than his next-placed teammates Thomas Mueller (54 votes) and Joshua Kimmich (49).

The 32-year-old Lewandowski finished the past season as top scorer in the Bundesliga (34 goals), German Cup (six) and Champions League (15).

"I worked hard on my performances and for the whole team, which played brilliantly, nationally and internationally," said Lewandowski, who scored 55 goals in 47 competitive games last season.

Bayern coach Hansi Flick was voted "coach of the year" for his part in helping the Bavarian powerhouse to the treble.

E-SPORTS

LeBron's son signs for pro gaming group

Bronny James is going pro－in video games.

The son of NBA star LeBron James has joined professional e-sports organization FaZe Clan, where he's expected to stream Fortnite and Call of Duty: Warzone under the handle "FaZe Bronny".

The 15-year-old James is a promising basketball player who could follow his dad into the pros, but he's already reached celebrity status online. He has 4.3 million followers on TikTok and over 300,000 followers on streaming platform Twitch.

James has streamed Fortnite, Warzone and NBA 2K and could create content for FaZe Clan on those titles and others. FaZe Clan has seven teams, but James is unlikely to serve as a competitive player.

FaZe Clan's roster of influencers includes the NFL's JuJu Smith-Schuster and the NBA's Ben Simmons, who was announced as a FaZe Clan investor on Monday.

MOTOR SPORTS

Hamilton within two wins of Schumi mark

Lewis Hamilton led from start to finish at the Belgian Grand Prix to clinch his 89th career win and move two behind Michael Schumacher's Formula 1 record on Sunday.

The world champion was untroubled from pole position, beating his Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas by eight seconds and finishing 15 seconds ahead of Red Bull's Max Verstappen. It's great for Hamilton, but he understands F1 fans might be getting a little bored.

"You generally know I don't make too many mistakes. I can imagine it's definitely not the most exciting (race)," Hamilton said. "Of course I would love a wheel-to-wheel race. I hope we have more of a race moving forward."

Hamilton is favorite to win a seventh title to tie Schumacher's record.

TRACK AND FIELD

Crouser cruises, vows world record 'will come'

Olympic champion Ryan Crouser produced the 12th-best shot put throw in history－22.72 metersto win at the Drake Blue Oval Showcase in Des Moines, Iowa, on Saturday.

All of the American's throws landed well beyond the 22-meter mark at the World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze meet. His shortest heave was 22.27m, while his top four marks were beyond 22.60.

He started with 22.27 and then broke the stadium record with 22.72 in the next round. The Rio Olympic winner continued with 22.70, 22.63 and 22.68, before finishing with 22.44.

"I tried to set myself up for the world record today as best I could, but the big one will come," said Crouser, who set a personal-best 22.91 last month, just 21 centimeters shy of the world record.

"I'm just happy to be here competing again," added the 27-year-old.

BASKETBALL

Clippers advance after Leonard masterclass

Kawhi Leonard had 33 points and 14 rebounds and the Los Angeles Clippers eliminated Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks from the playoffs with a 111-97 win in Game 6 of the first-round series.

Doncic capped a superb first postseason with 38 points, nine rebounds and nine assists, keeping it interesting into the fourth quarter even while playing without injured teammate Kristaps Porzingis.

But with Leonard reaching the 30-point mark for his career-best fifth straight playoff game and a strong defensive effort, the Clippers simply had too many answers.

The No 2 seed in the Western Conference advanced to a second-round meeting with either Denver or Utah. The Nuggets extended that series to a Game 7 with a 119-107 victory on Sunday.

Xinhua - Agencies