It’s the season of goodwill and it’s better to give than receive, as the saying goes.
Sport stars are a generous bunch and that comes to the fore over Christmas.
Here, The Sportsman takes a look at some of the best presents they have dished out in recent times...
Cristiano Ronaldo
The multi-million pound Portugal superstar doesn’t do things by halves and bought his agent an island. Yep, an entire island.
Having earned moves to Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus, Ronaldo is clearly appreciative of Jorge Mendes’ help throughout his career and rewarded his Mr 10% with an unnamed Greek isle.
According to reports in Spain, Ronaldo knows the area well from holidaying and gave Mendes the ultimate wedding gift when acting as his best man in 2015.
Luke Shaw and Marcus Rashford
Red Devils left-back Shaw spread some festive cheer by buying a Harrods hamper for every member of staff at United’s Cartington training ground this year.
Worth more than £250 each, Shaw ordered around fifty of the luxury items. According to MailOnline, he spent £12,500 treating workers this December.
Rashford has also been doing his bit, launching the Christmas appeal ‘In The Box’ this winter to help Manchester homeless shelters.
Chris Wilder
The Sheffield United manager has given fans permanent smiles all season with the Blades fifth in the table going into Christmas after an extraordinary first half of the season.
On Monday, he went the extra mile, dishing out gifts to the media at his press conference, even doing the Father Christmas bit by handing them over individually with a handshake and greeting to boot. What a gent!
The gaffer handed out gifts to the media at the last press conference before Christmas 🎁
#SUFC 🔴
Trent Alexander-Arnold
Just like the lads up the road at Old Trafford, Liverpool full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold is another to look after his local community.
Last Christmas, the Reds defender, an ambassador for the An Hour for Others charity, paid for the Christmas dinner of 60 families from underprivileged backgrounds and bought presents for all the children.
Alexander-Arnold said he’d “never forget" the looks on the children's faces. Boss.
Duncan Ferguson
The Everton icon lifted the doom and gloom at Goodison Park at the perfect time, going unbeaten during his four games in charge as caretaker manager following the sacking of Marco Silva.
Passionate and emotional on the touchline as his beloved Toffees swept Chelsea aside a couple of weeks back, he was delighting the Blues faithful again after the goalless draw with Arsenal, heading to the crowd and gifting his Everton sweatband to one supporter.
Such was the clamour for ‘Big Dunc’ he even gave his tie to another young fan. Lovely touch.
Kevin O’Connor
The Preston defender was actually the lucky recipient of a wonderful Christmas surprise.
Back in 2017, the Irishman scooped a cool €1million on the Irish Lotto after his kind (and very good thinking) uncle bought him a ticket for December 25.
The luck of the Irish as they say.
Michael Jordan
The basketball star dropped down to the minor leagues of baseball after his retirement from the NBA in 1994 but, having been used to living it up in luxury, he bought his new teammates a bus!
Decking it out with six televisions, VCRs and even a lounge in the back, the new wheels set Jordan back a cool $350,000. Just imagine the look on the home side’s faces when they pulled up.
Adrian Peterson
Such was his delight at winning NFL’s MVP for 2012, Minnesota Vikings star Peterson was keen to reward his offensive line.
He went big, buying them all Arctic Cat snowmobiles - better still, they were all personalised with the linemen’s uniform number and featured the Viking logo.
Carson Wentz
The Philadelphia Eagles quarter-back is a keen hunter.
So, during his rookie year, he purchased shotguns for all of his new offensive line.
Personalising all of the weapons, he later took his teammates hunting to test them out.
“This is an awesome gun. I’m excited about it,” Eagles guard Allen Barbre told ESPN. “I don’t know if I’ll shoot it though, it’s pretty nice.”
