James Rodríguez Joins Rayo Vallecano in Return to the Spanish League 

Football - International Friendly - South Korea v Colombia - Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium, Ulsan, South Korea - March 24, 2023 Colombia's James Rodriguez celebrates after scoring their first goal. (Reuters)
Football - International Friendly - South Korea v Colombia - Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium, Ulsan, South Korea - March 24, 2023 Colombia's James Rodriguez celebrates after scoring their first goal. (Reuters)
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James Rodríguez Joins Rayo Vallecano in Return to the Spanish League 

Football - International Friendly - South Korea v Colombia - Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium, Ulsan, South Korea - March 24, 2023 Colombia's James Rodriguez celebrates after scoring their first goal. (Reuters)
Football - International Friendly - South Korea v Colombia - Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium, Ulsan, South Korea - March 24, 2023 Colombia's James Rodriguez celebrates after scoring their first goal. (Reuters)

James Rodríguez is back in the Spanish league.

Madrid club Rayo Vallecano said Monday it signed the Colombia playmaker in a deal that brings him back to Spain four years after he left Real Madrid to join Everton in the Premier League.

The 33-year-old Rodríguez had his contract with Brazilian club Sao Paulo rescinded after he led Colombia to a runner-up finish in the Copa America, where he had six assists and was named the tournament’s most valuable player.

Rayo is celebrating its centennial season and opened the league with a 2-1 win at Real Sociedad and a 0-0 draw at Getafe.

“I feel great joy to join a historic club like Rayo,” Rodríguez said. “I really want to do things well. I feel that responsibility wherever I go. I like to win. Especially in such an important year for the club.”



Saudi Crown Prince Awards the Esports World Cup Champions

The Crown Prince crowns the Saudi club "Team Falcons" as champions of the Esports World Cup 2024 - SPA
The Crown Prince crowns the Saudi club "Team Falcons" as champions of the Esports World Cup 2024 - SPA
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Saudi Crown Prince Awards the Esports World Cup Champions

The Crown Prince crowns the Saudi club "Team Falcons" as champions of the Esports World Cup 2024 - SPA
The Crown Prince crowns the Saudi club "Team Falcons" as champions of the Esports World Cup 2024 - SPA

Under the patronage of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the inaugural Esports World Cup successfully concluded on Sunday in Riyadh, SPA reported.
Over the past 8 weeks, clubs and players from across the globe came together in Riyadh to compete in the first-ever Esports World Cup. With a total prize pool of over $60 million, the event attracted around 500 teams and 1,500 professional players, marking it as the largest event in Esports history.
The Crown Prince crowned the Saudi club "Team Falcons" as champions of the Esports World Cup 2024. The Falcons secured a total of $7 million in prize money, emerging as the top club in this historic competition.
Team Falcons led the rankings with 5,665 points earned across 12 tournaments, achieving first place in both the "Call of Duty: Warzone" and "Free Fire" championships. This victory showcases the Kingdom’s exceptional national talent in the esports sector.
This event, uniting the gaming and esports community, brought together players, fans, game developers, and publishers from around the world, marking a significant milestone for the esports industry.
With its unique multi-game and multi-genre format, the competition not only featured tournaments among the world’s top clubs, but also strengthened efforts by various entities within the Kingdom and globally to advance the esports landscape. It highlighted the positive impact of esports on communities, enhanced cultural exchange, and encouraged brands to recognize esports as a promising and vital investment opportunity.
The Esports World Cup set record-breaking milestones. It attracted over two million visitors, contributing to over 29% increase in visitors to Riyadh during the event period compared to the same timeframe the previous year. The event also featured more than 32 side entertainment and cultural activities. Across its eight-week run, the Esports World Cup recorded more than 500 million viewers, totaling more than 250 million hours watched—setting a new global record for this year.