UEFA Champions league group stage draws

first time ever, the Premier League will be represented by five clubs, by virtue of Manchester United's Europa League victory, last season, which automatically qualified Jose Mourinho's men for this season's competition, while Liverpool secured their place in the group stage after a comprehensive qualification victory over Bundesliga outfit Hoffenheim. Celtic also secured a berth in the groups following victory over Kazakhstan's Astana, although being champions of Scotland wasn't enough to earn the Bhoys a place in pot one, which is reserved for league champions of Europe's top eight ranked nations and the defending European champions, only.

Usain Bolt is Leo. ...friends pop champagne as he celebrates his birthday today

Retired Jamaican sprinter who is the first person to hold both the 100 metres and 200 metres world records had another reason to celebrate on Monday, 21st August as he rang in his 31st birthday by celebrating with friends in Mykonos. Taking to Instagram, the Olympic champion revealed he had been given the royal treatment on the day, as he uploaded a video of himself being sprayed down with champagne. He captioned the clip: 'What time to be alive #BirthdayVibe #blessed ##GiveThanks'.

Obafemi Martins acquires an all new Bentley Bentayga 2017

Any real car lover is definitely envious of Obafemi Martins' garage, which now includes a 2017 Bentley Bentayga, dubbed the World's fastest SUV. The Chinese Super League side player owns a black Mercedes Benz SLR McLaren, Lamborghini Aventador and most recently, a 2017 Bentley Bentayga. Obafemi Martins' cool ride (instagram) Unlike his previous cars, which are both black, this new ride is both white and black. Showcasing the new whip on Instagram, he wrote, "Coming thru otalenu Yeri Yeri." Obafemi Martins' 2017 Bentley Bentayga (instagram) The former Seattle Sounders FC star's latest car is estimated at $300,000 (N95M.) Features include all-wheel drive, eight-speed automatic transmission and 6.0L twin-turbo 600-horsepower W12 engine. Bentley Bentayga (freep) 21-inch black painted multispoke wheels, 1,800-watt 18-speaker Naim audio, two rear entertainment tablets, air suspension, voice recognition, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and more are reported other features of this luxurious ride. Bentley Bentayga (freep) This car is powered by a W12 silent, but powerful engine. Martins' new ride, which is Bentley's first ultra-luxury SUV, goes from 0 to 60 m.p.h. in 4.0 seconds and reaches 187 m.p.h, making it the World's fastest SUV of ALL time!

Fans go crazy as Messi follows Man city on instagram

It seems somewhat unlikely however Messi has reportedly been interested in signing for the Premier League club before, they are one of the few clubs on earth who could afford him and he could be interested in a reunion with Pep Guardiola. The fact he hasn't signed a new deal yet and Sheikh Mansour claimed the club were going to make a huge signing just adds to the intrigue. Has Messi given the game away on Instagram? Surely not?

Dortmund accept €100 million dembele bid

Negotiations between FC Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund over the transfer of Ousmane Dembélé are progressing quickly and an agreement is moving ever closer. SPORT has been told by sources close to the negotiation, Dortmund appear to have accepted the offer €100 million up-front from Barça.
Sport EN Barça and Dortmund are now negotiating the add-ons. Dortmund want an additional €30 million based on the player’s performance and Barça’s success (games, goals, titles). Barça think this figure is too high and want to reduce it or reduce the up-front fee. Either way, the signing of Dembélé is moving ever closer.

Messi is Spanish league history best player of all time.

According to a study by the Research Centre of History and Statistics of Spanish Football (CIHEFE), Barcelona striker, Lionel Messi has been declared as the best player in Spanish history ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo.
The study which was statistically analyzed from the 86 seasons of the Spanish league championship put former Real Madrid icon Raul in second place, ahead of Cesar Rodriguez, Telmo Zarra and Enrique Castro 'Quini'.
The study analysed a number of factors, including minutes played in each season, goals scored from open play, penalty kicks, own goals and red cards, researcher Jose Antonio Ortega revealed.
"All of the evaluation criteria are marked with a simple and homogeneous scoring system that manages to evaluate all of the players with the same analysis in each season," he said.
Since the start of LaLiga in 1929, a total of 9,280 players have plied their trade in the Spanish top flight, with 854 of those being goalkeepers.
Messi rose to the top of the study for several reasons, including being the only player to vastly exceed 300 goals, currently sitting on 349.
According to Ortega, his final points tally of 545 comfortably put him ahead of Raul (528), Cesar (524), Zarra (493) and Quini (488), with the top 10 being rounded out by Juan Arza (481), Alfredo Di Stefano (481), Paco Gento (467), Carlos Alonso 'Santillana' (464) and Guillermo Gorostiza (454).
In his report, Ortega also pointed out that Messi possesses the "technique, ambition, talent and ability that have made him one of the most valuable players of all time".
During the final standings, Cristiano Ronaldo was ranked in the second spot in terms of players who are still active, while he is 17th in the overall rankings with a total of 415 points.
Rounding out the top three of players who are still in action is Athletic forward Aritz Aduriz, who sits 67th in the total list with 314 points and 146 LaLiga goals to his name.
All of the players who make up the upper echelons of the rankings mostly have 10 or more seasons in Spain's top tier to their name, with much of that longevity being with one club for a long period, on many occasions.
Basque goalkeeper Jose Ramon Esnaola, who is 42nd on the list, is the first man to feature who was never capped at international level.

Despite missing first PSG match, Neymar's shirt makes 1million euros in 24hrs

World record signing, Neymar Jr. will miss Paris Saint Germain opening match of the season today as a result of incomplete paperwork by the club. He will watch the from the stands after his unveiling to the crowd before the kick-off, the AFP reported. His hopes to play today were dashed when his international transfer certificate failed to be lodged with the French league by the midnight deadline on Friday. “I am ready to start on Saturday if I can,” he said before falling victim to the constraints of paperwork. For PSG however, the first day hiccup is not a total disappointment as the French club have already clawed back around a million euros on their world record investment, after selling a staggering 10,000 shirts bearing the Brazilian’s name in just one day. Each shirt was sold for 100 euro. The 25-year-old superstar, signed from Barcelona for a mind-boggling 222 million euros ($264 million), will be presented to the PSG support prior to his new team’s first game of the Ligue 1 campaign against promoted Amiens. The ceremony will begin at 3:45pm (1345 GMT) with the kick-off put back quarter of an hour to 5:15pm to allow extra time for the player’s unveiling before an expected sell-out crowd of more than 45,000 at the Parc des Princes. Money was the subject of most of the questions fired at the Brazilian when he was unveiled to the media on Friday after arriving in the French capital on a private jet. However, Neymar, who is poised to earn around 30 million euros a year, insisted financial gain was not a factor. “I want something bigger, a greater challenge. I am here to give my best and help the club win titles,” said Neymar, who signed a five-year contract with the Qatar-owned club. He insisted he had come to France “for the ambition of the club, which is very similar to mine.” Neymar admitted that leaving Barcelona, where he formed part of a lethal attacking trio with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, was not a decision he took lightly. “It was one of my most difficult decisions. In Barcelona I had adapted well to the city and the team. I had friends there and it has not been easy,” he said. “It was a tense time, thinking about what I should do in my life. I have left behind a lot of friends, but things go very fast in football

Neymar now PSG no 10

Neymar completed his record-shattering transfer from Barcelona to Paris St Germain on Thursday night , signing a five-year deal with the French club after they triggered his 222 million euros (263 million dollars) release clause. He will be wearing Jersey Number 10. The 25-year-old Brazil forward, who will be presented to fans on Saturday, is committed to PSG until June 2022, the club said in a statement. Media reports have said he could earn around 550,000 euros per week. “I am extremely happy to join Paris Saint-Germain, said Neymar Jr after signing his contract. Since I arrived in Europe, the club has always been one of the most competitive and most ambitious. “And the biggest challenge, what most motivated me to join my new teammates is to help the club to conquer the titles that their fans want. Paris Saint-Germain’s ambition attracted me to the club, along with the passion and the energy this brings. I played 4 seasons in Europe and I feel ready to take the challenge. From today, I will do everything I can to help my new teamates, to open up new horizons for my club and to bring happiness to its millions of supporters around the world.” “It is with immense joy and pride that we welcome Neymar Jr to Paris Saint-Germain, said Nasser Al-Khelaifi, President of Paris Saint-Germain. “Neymar Jr is today one of the very best players in world football. His winning mentality, strength of character and sense of leadership have made him into a great player. He will bring a very positive energy to this club. In six years, we have built a very ambitious project that has already taken us to the highest level of national and European football. “Today, with the arrival of Neymar Jr, I am convinced that we will come even closer, with the support of our faithful fans, to realizing our greatest dreams.” “Today, with the arrival of Neymar Jr, I am convinced that we will come even closer, with the support of our faithful fans, to realizing our greatest dreams,” said PSG President Nasser Al-Khelaifi.

Neymar's farewell message to Barcelona

Neymar said "an athlete needs challenges" in his farewell address to Barcelona on Thursday, after completing a world-record move to Paris Saint-Germain. In a video posted on his social media accounts, Neymar read off a statement in Portuguese in which he expressed his love for Barcelona -- both the club and the city -- but said he was ready for a new chapter in his career. The statement had a special message for his teammate Lionel Messi, and also appeared to suggest that his father was against the move to PSG. But Neymar, who moved from Santos in his native Brazil in 2013, looked back at his time at the Camp Nou with fondness. "The life of an athlete is made by challenges. Some are given to us. Others are fruits of our own decisions to keep the light that illuminates our career, which is intense, but short," Neymar said. "Barcelona was much more than a challenge, it was the dream of a child who play with those stars through the video game. "I arrived at Catalonia when I was 21 years old, filled with challenges. I can still remember my first days in the club, sharing the changing room with idols like Messi, [Victor] Valdes, Xavi [Hernadez], [Andres] Iniesta, [Carles] Puyol, [Gerard] Pique, [Sergio] Busquets and many others. "Waiting my turn to play in a club that's 'more than a club.' Barcelona is a nation that represents Catalonia." Neymar also singled out Messi, saying he was honoured to play alongside a footballer of his stature. "I had the honour of playing with the best athlete I've ever seen in my life and I'm sure that I will never see another one like him while I'm alive. Leo Messi became my friend in and out of the pitch. It was an honour to play with you," Neymar said. "I made a trio with Messi and Suarez that made history. Conquered everything an athlete can conquer. Lived unforgettable moments! Lived in a city that's more than a city, it's a homeland. "I love Barcelona and I love Catalonia. But an athlete (me) needs challenges." Neymar's statement then took a curious turn as he implied that his move to Barcelona against the opinion of his father -- a man who, while acting as his son's agent, largely executed the move to PSG. He continued: "And for the second time in my life, I'll contradict my father. Father, I understand and respect your opinion, but my decision is made and I ask you to support me as you always do. 'So, go with God and be happy, OK son. But run! Kiss, I'm running up here with you.'" The 25-year-old concluded by saying the decision was not easy, but that PSG conviced him to move with a "daring career plan." "Barcelona and Catalonia will always be in my heart, but I need new challenges," he said. "I accepted PSG's proposition to try new achievements and help the club to win the titles that their crowd wants. They showed me a daring career plan and I feel ready to take on this challenge. "I thank the wonderful Blaugrana crowd and everything learned with the great athletes that I had the chance to share the dressing room. "Now I feel in my heart that it's time to leave. PSG will be my home for the next years and I will work hard to honor all of the trust placed in my football. "I'm counting on the support of all of you who's been with me since 2009. Fans, friends, professionals who are with me and my family, who suffered a lot with some problems that took place during that period in my career. Today you deserve peace. "It's a very hard decision, but I made it with the maturity I accumulated throughout those 25 years. Barcelona, thank you for everything. Paris, I'm here! May God bless and protect

10 types of people you will meet on a Nigerian football field

If you have been to a local Nigerian football field, you will know that there are different kinds of characters that you will come across. Here are the 10 types of people you will meet at a Nigerian football field.

The Emperors
These are the people who act like they're the sponsors of the football match and make it their duty to determine how the team will be shared and what the rules will be.

The Super Stars
These are the people that are known to be very good football players and they don't look as desperate when it's time for people to be picked because they know they'll probably be picked first.

The Left Overs
These ones are perpetually unlucky as no team picks them. It may be because everyone knows that they're bad footballers or they look like they're bad due to their physique. If there's going to be what Nigerians call SET, they'll decide to join a new set but may never even be chosen.

The Pretenders
These ones actually came to the field hoping to play football but in order not to be embarrassed, they'll act like they're not interested but hoping that a miracle will happen in their favour.

The Goal Keepers
Nobody likes been a goal keeper on a Nigerian football field as goal keeping is usually left for the left overs. These people make it a duty right from the start to tell everyone that cares to listen that they want to be goal keepers because they know they will not be chosen for any other position.

The Complainers
The complainers act like they've played for Barcelona, Chelsea and Real Madrid at one point in their career and make it their duty to frustrate their fellow team mates who make the slightest mistake.

The Scared ones
This group start getting scared from the moment they get to the field, to the moment they're chosen by a team till the moment a ball is passed to them. They are also scared of the complainers who are out to make their lives a living hell.

The Rough Riders
They're not there to play football but to send someone to the hospital. if you notice them, better avoid them or you'll never play football in your life again.

The Fighters
These people fight for sports. They come to football fields when they have run out of fights in their neighborhoods. If you dare mark them wrong or the referee blows again them, the match is officially over because they will fight till everybody decides to go home.

Neymar breaks silence. ..says "am feeling good"

Barcelona forward, Neymar has broken the silence on speculations of his move to Paris Saint Germain. The forward didn’t however say much about the purported move but only told reported he’s “feeling good.” He also avoided talking about his clash with teammate Nelson Semedo during training on Friday. The Brazil international, was speaking at a Nike event before presenting a new pair of football boots, in which he said he is hoping to “score a lot of goals.” PSG are reportedly set to trigger his €222 million release clause and sign the former Santos star to a massive contract that.

With recent bust up with team mate, I fear Neymar is about to leave

Barcelona star, Neymar has fought a team-mate during training after a misunderstanding fueling speculations over his exit. Brazilian player and Barcelona star, Neymar Barcelona star, Neymar stormed out of Barcelona training after fighting with his team-mate Nelson Semedo who was recently signed by the club. It was revealed that Neymar was not happy over the manner Semedo tackled the ball from him in training. In an exclusive video obtained by Sportsmail, the Brazilian international could be seeing physically tussling it out with Semedo before they were separated. Neymar after that tried to go after the player to continue the fight before he was held back by Sergio Busquets. Dailymail reported that Neymar has been linked with a world-record move to Paris Saint Germain, and his walkout now looks to make that move even more likely. Neymar then angrily fires a ball off the crossbar of a nearby training goal, and then boots another one away as he exits the field. Accompanied by a member of the Barcelona staff, he leaves as training resumes without him, with the player going out into the car park and leaving the training area entirely. The session took place in Miami, with Barca in the USA as part of their prestigious pre-season tour of friendlies.

Usain both makes signature pose as he celebrates Monaco victory with cheerleaders

Usain Bolt is ready for London! The 30 year old Jamaican sprinter proved he is still capable of breaking records despite recent back and hamstring injuries as he surpassed his rivals to win the Monaco Diamond League in just 9.95 secs, the perfect preparation ahead of World Championships in London next month- his very last, before he retires. The Jamaican legendary sprinter posed with his Gold medal and showed off his signature pose with cheerleaders on the track after the race.

Tammy Abraham celebrates Chelsea deal by buying Parent cars

19 year old Chelsea striker, Kevin Oghenetega Tamaraebi Bakumo-Abraham popularly known as Tammy Abraham, last week decided to celebrate his recent Chelsea deal by surprising his parents with a brand new car. After impressing on loan last season in the Championship, where he scored 26 goals in 48 appearances for Bristol City, Antonio Conte was keen to nail down the striker’s services. Shortly after extending his contract at Stamford Bridge, Abraham agreed a season-long loan with fellow Premier League side Swansea City.

The king of world football, Messi agrees to another 3 year extension worth £500,000 per week.

superstar, Lionel Messi has agreed and is expected to sign a new 3- year contract with his lifetime club, Barcelona worth £500,000 per week upon his return to Spain next week. The 5-time World best footballer of the year is presently enjoying his honeymoon with his newly wedded wife and according to the Independent report, the club will keep the Argentinean international for another four years (2021), with his current contract due to expire in 2018. Leo has also confirmed his zeal to continue his soccer career at the Nou Camp. The £500,000/week deal is his 8th contract renewal with the Catalan giants which automatically ties him to the club until he is 34. The 30-year old Messi has been with his childhood club for ages and made his debut in 2004 as a teenager. At just 22 he became the world’s best player and remain the only player to have ever won five Ballon d’Or awards, four of which he won consecutively. Lionel Messi allegedly received an offer from Manchester City last year but President Josep Bartomeu was said to have convinced him to remain with Barcelona before returning to Argentina to play for the club of his dreams, Newell’s Old Boys. Although, the formal contract is yet to be signed as Leo is still on his honeymoon after getting married in his hometown, Rosaria last week. However, he will soon fly to Barcelona for pre-season next week and to sign the new deal. Lionel Messi and Wife at a FIFA Gala An official statement from Barcelona is awash in the praise of Messi and his achievements since joining the club. Here’s an excerpt as released by the football club: “FC Barcelona and Leo Messi have agreed on a contract renewal that will keep the Argentinian at the Club until June 30th, 2021. “The deal will be signed in the coming weeks when Messi returns “The Club is very happy with both the renewal and the commitment of Messi, the best player in history, who has played his full professional career at Barça and has led the team to an era of extraordinary success, the likes of which has never been seen in world football. “The Argentinian star joined Barça back in 2000 as a 13-year-old, arriving from Newell’s Old Boys. “After impressing throughout the various youth categories, he made his first team debut at just 16 years of age in a friendly against FC Porto, before making his debut the following season against Espanyol at 17. Shortly after, he scored his first senior goal with a clever lob against Albacete at the Camp Nou. “The rest is history. Leo Messi has since gone on to break just about every record and has become the greatest player in the world. Now, at 30 years of age, Messi has completed 13 seasons with the first team and, with his new deal, will remain for a further four. “Messi has racked up eight La Liga titles, four Champions Leagues, five Copa del Rey, seven Spanish Super Cups, three European Super Cups and three Club World Cups. Individually, he has won the Ballon d’Or prize five times, more than any other Player in the history of the game, four Pichichi and four Golden Shoes. “With Barça, the no.10 has scored 507 goals in 583 matches and is the club’s record goalscorer, as well as La Liga’s record goalscorer. But Leo Messi will not stop there – the Argentinian is in one of the best moments of his career and still has a lot more left to give, which is music to the ears of all Barça fans who will get to continue marvelling at his greatness for at least another four years.” Yes indeed!

Ronaldo gives Real Madrid conditions for staying in Spain

Ronaldo has given Real Madrid an ultimatum, under which he will remain at the club beyond this summer. According to the Daily Mirror, the Portugal captain has demanded they pay the €14.7 million tax bill he’s being accused of owing, if they want him to stay. Ronaldo sent shockwaves across the football world on Friday, when it emerged he was unhappy in Spain and could seek to leave. The 32-year-old has a €1bn release clause, but clubs willing to buy him are expected to have to pay over €200m to land the player this summer. The former Manchester United star, is believed to fancy a return to Old Trafford, if he eventually leaves Spain.

Check out the trolls that kept on pouring in after Nigeria lost to South Africa

Nigeria today recorded their first defeat in the hands of the South Africans and trust Nigerians, they didn't find it funny as reactions kept pouring in on all fronts especially on twitter check out pictures below

Messi acknowledges Ronaldo

Messi has praised his great rival Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo has led Real Madrid to a famous LaLiga and Champions League Double this season. "No, I have always said it -- and [Ronaldo] has, too -- that it's something more to do with the press than us," Messi said of his rivalry with the Portugal star. "We try to achieve the best every year for our team, and what is said outside of that I don't think is very important. He is a phenomenal player with a lot of quality. All the world knows [that] and that is why he is one of the best of the world."

Ronaldo is forbes highest earning athlete in 2017

onaldo is the world’s highest-paid athlete, with earnings of $88 million over the past 12 months from salary, bonuses and endorsements. Ronaldo is only the second team athlete after Michael Jordan to rank as the top-paid since Forbes began tracking athlete earnings in 1990. It is a good time to be a world-class athlete in a popular team sport. TV money is fueling massive increases in player salaries across baseball, basketball, football and soccer. The cutoff for the top 100 athletes is $20.8 million, up $2 million over last year. Ronaldo’s Real Madrid contract is worth more than $50 million a year in salary and bonus and runs through 2018. He triggered one of those seven-figure bonuses by leading Real to the Champions League title when he found the back of the net on the clinching penalty kick. The three-time FIFA player of the year is a marketing juggernaut earning $32 million off the pitch by our count. He kicked off a contract extension with Nike NKE -0.57% last year worth $13 million a year (Nike is partnered with 50 members of the top 100). Other Ronaldo endorsement partners include Tag Heuer, Herbalife , Pokerstars, Clear Shampoo and more. He has his own line of suits, cologne, shirts, shoes, underwear and hotels under construction. Ronaldo’s massive social media presence is a boon to marketers, encompassing 215 million followers across Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. He posted 255 times on social media promoting a brand over the last year. Those posts generated $176 million in media value, according to Hookit, which tracks sponsorship value in social and digital media. Messi ranks No. 2 with earnings of $81.4 million. Messi earned bonuses from Barcelona and chief sponsor Adidas when he racked up his fifth FIFA player of the year award in January. Messi’s total earnings from sponsors were $28 million. His Adidas pact is worth more than $10 million annually, and he also has endorsement relationships with Huawei, Tata Motors , PepsiCo PEP -0.03% (Gatorade and Lay’s brands), Gillette and Electronic Arts EA +0.44%. Our earnings figures include salaries, prize money and bonuses paid out between June 1, 2015, and June 1, 2016. Endorsement incomes are an estimate of sponsorships, appearance fees and licensing incomes for the same 12 month period based on conversations with dozens of industry insiders. We do not deduct for taxes or agents’ fees and we don’t include investment income (click here for a more detailed methodology and the numbers behind the top 100). The 100 top-earning athletes hail from 23 countries and compete in 10 sports, with Americans (65) and baseball players (26) the most numerous. Over the last 12 months, they banked a cumulative $3.15 billion, 29% of which came from endorsements and appearances. The NBA’s LeBron James ranks third with total earnings of $77.2 million and leads 18 basketball players on the list. Nike signed James to the first lifetime contract in the company’s 44-year history at the end of 2015 (Michael Jordan is presumed to have a lifetime deal in all but name). Sales of James’ signature shoes are down over the past 12 months, but if sales rebound and the four-time MVP can move product after his NBA days are over, the contract will likely pay out more than $1 billion. King James has gone Hollywood with his SpringHill Entertainment production company and multi-platform media company Uninterrupted, which got a $15.8 investment in December from Time Warner TWX +0.04%. James made his big-screen debut in the summer of 2015 in the movie Trainwreck. James is also set to star in the sequel to the 1996 Jordan movie-vehicle Space Jam. The new Nike pact and TV vehicles pushed James’ off-court earnings up $10 million to $54 million. His NBA salary is headed for a bump next year, too, with the league’s salary cap about to explode thanks to the start of the NBA’s new $24 billion TV contract next year, triple the prior deal annually. James can opt out of his existing Cleveland Cavaliers deal and secure a pact starting around $31 million. Roger Federer is the top-earning athlete in an individual sport with $67.8 million over the past 12 months. He leads a group of seven tennis players, including Serb Novak Djokovic, who lands in the top 10 for the first time at No. 6 with $55.8 million. It has been four years since Federer captured his 17th Grand Slam title at Wimbledon in 2012, but he remains the top player off the court with $60 million from endorsements and appearance fees. Federer generated millions from playing four matches in the Indian Premier Tennis League in December. His endorsement portfolio is filled with long-term deals with global brands like Nike, Rolex , Mercedes-Benz and Credit Suisse. The top two earners on Forbes’ 2015 athletes list both took big cuts after their record paydays. Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao earned $300 million and $160 million, respectively, for the 12 months ending in June 2015 after their bout in May 2015 produced the first $600 million night in the history of sports. Both fought once over the last 12 months and claim they are now retired. Mayweather ranks No. 16 with earnings of $44 million, while Pacquiao lands at No. 63 with $24 million. Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova are the only two women to make the cut for the second straight year, but the tennis stars flip-flopped spots thanks to new endorsements for Williams and bonuses from her historic three Grand Slam 2015, while Sharapova has been sidelined most the year after a failed drug test. Williams earned $28.9 million (No. 40) and Sharapova ranks No. 88 with earnings of $21.9 million, off nearly $8 million.

Check out Reekardo Banks full name and music career story

Reekardo Banks real name is Ayoleyi Hanniel Solomon. He was born on the 6th of December, 1993. He is from Ondo State, Nigeria. Almost every member of his family is into music. His older sister is a gospel singer while his older brother is a music producer. Ayoleyi Hanniel Solomon was brought up in a very disciplined environment. Both his parents are pastors. At the age of 14, he graduated secondary school. Reekado Banks is a graduate of the University of Lagos. He has a B.Sc. degree in History and Strategic Study.

Music career

Reekado Banks started his music career in 2008. He recorded his first set of songs. They were produced by his elder brother who also taught him the basics of writing songs, singing, and producing. But most of his works at that time were relatively unpopular. He came into the spotlight in 2014 after he was signed by Don Jazzy to Mavin Records. He got the deal after his songs were selected from over five thousand songs submitted to Mavins Record in an online search for the latest talent.

He will always be grateful to his brother because he was the one who submitted some of his songs into the quest. Speaking in an interview, Reekado Banks said his brother sent the songs and was in contact with them on his (Reekado) behalf without Reekado Banks knowing about this. Reekado Banks also mentioned that he is a multi-talented artist who loves making different types of music because he believes people are different. And we all have different preferences when it comes to music.

Reekado Banks and family
Reekado Banks' journey to the top was not a bed of roses. While speaking about his music career in an interview, he confessed that his journey to the top was not an easy one. He said after informing his parents about his plan to pursue a career in music, he had to work to earn some money for his first record. He sold blenders in traffic and also worked as a manual laborer at a construction site. During his days in the university, he was told by one of his lecturers that he will never achieve his dreams and was prevented from retaking a test he missed.

Reekado Banks credited his eventual success to God. He said no amount of hard work and sacrifices would have helped him achieve something this big without the grace of God.

Mavin Records Crew
Reekado Banks released his first official single under Mavin Records, titled “Turn It Up” on the 21st of February, 2014. This was the same day he was signed by Don Jazzy to Mavin Records.