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Wrexham took on Cardiff City in an all-Welsh showdown in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night, marking their first encounter in 21 years, which they ultimately lost 1-2 at the Racecourse. The Red Dragons, currently positioned 16th in the Championship, have experienced a remarkable ascent in recent years, leaping from non-league to the second tier of English football in just three seasons. This impressive feat has been achieved under the stewardship of Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac, who have helped put Wrexham on the global map. Deadpool actor Reynolds has become particularly associated with the city, leveraging his film star status, international appeal and substantial wealth to enhance Wrexham's global brand. As his team prepares for a clash against the Bluebirds, here's everything you need to know about the Canadian actor's life off the pitch, from his enormous net worth to high-profile relationships. Reynolds, one of four brothers, was born in Canada in October 1976 into an Irish Catholic family. He began acting as a young teenager and had his breakthrough moment in 2002 at the age of 25, reports Wales Online . He played the main character in National Lampoon's Van Wilder, a film about a popular college student who has a fear of graduating, while he went on to play roles in Just Friends, Definitely, Maybe, and The Proposal, solidifying his status as a romcom actor. Reynolds went on to have a leading role in the superhero film Green Lantern in 2011, but achieved a new level of success upon the release of Deadpool in 2016, becoming a fully-fledged Hollywood superstar in the 'action-comedy blockbuster' category. The X-rated Marvel character film had a budget of just £47million but raked in a stunning £633.9million with its epic action scenes and laugh-out-loud comedy wowing viewers on debut. There have been two further Deadpool films which have also enjoyed huge success and Reynolds is set to reprise his role as Wade Wilson in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday film, set to release in 2026. Reynolds' lucrative film deals and numerous business ventures off screen have contribute to a stunning net worth of over £300million. For Deadpool and Wolverine alone, Reynolds was paid £68million to produce, co-write and star in the spin-off film, while there is set to be further instalments in the franchise, meaning more cash up for grabs for the Canadian star. Away from acting, Reynolds has been working hard to build his wealth, acquiring a 20% stake in Aviation Gin and helping to turn it into a globally-recognised brand. Five years ago, Diageo, one of the world's leading alcoholic beverage companies, acquired the company in a deal worth £486 million. Reynolds also sold his stake in Mint Mobile to T-Mobile and it reportedly bagged him £243million with the deal itself being valued at £1.09billion. Meanwhile, McElhenney and Reynolds have pumped £20million into Wrexham but their investment has been more than worth it, generating an extra £8million in TV revenue alone thanks to their series 'Welcome To Wrexham' on Disney+. Around the time he got his big break with Van Wilder, Reynolds was dating singer Alanis Morissette, having first met at Drew Barrymore's birthday party in 2002. They got engaged in 2004, but then broke up three years later. He then began dating Scarlett Johansson, one of Hollywood's biggest stars. They got married in September 2008 but divorced in 2010 due to career pressures and a lack of time spent together. There was also a sizeable age gap between the film stars, with Reynolds in his early thirties and Johansson in her early twenties. Reynolds was also rumoured to be romantically involved with other stars such as Sandra Bullock, Melissa Joan Hart, and Charlize Theron, before meeting his future wife, Blake Lively, on the set of Green Lantern. They married in 2012, the year after the film was released, with Reynolds sharing four children with the actress, who played Serena van der Woodsen in hit series Gossip Girl. The pair share a humorous approach to their relationship, often mocking each other on social media. Lively is also very much involved with Reynolds' endeavours at Wrexham and was in attendance as the club achieved promotion to the Championship earlier this year. "Back to back to back," she wrote in a tribute to Reynolds, Mac and the team. "History was made. Congratulations to @wrexham_afc. I will never forget the love and elation in that town today. Thank you for sharing it with us always. "And to these two men, @robmcelhenney and @vancityreynolds ... the love and respect that pours out of you each and together exponentially grows and creates more joy, more possibilities, more magic, more history," the actress added. "This picture feels to me like a painting of all you do for so many, while being so present and appreciative of every moment." Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox Find out what's happening near you
