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Tag: cristiano ronaldo

  • Portugal 1-0 Armenia: Ronaldo claims another record breaking feat

    Portugal 1-0 Armenia: Ronaldo claims another record breaking feat

    Cristiano Ronaldo became the  record goalscorer in European Championship football as Portugal beat Armenia 1-0 in Faro.

    The Real Madrid forward took his tally in qualifying and tournament matches to 23, passing Dane Dahl Tomasson’s total with a close-range finish on 71 minutes.

    The victory sees Fernando Santos’s side get their Group I campaign back on track to move a point behind Denmark, who won 3-1 in Serbia, but have played one match more.

    Portugal suffered a shock defeat against Albania in Aveiro in their opening qualifier but recovered to beat Denmark 1-0 away and as expected made a positive start on Friday night at the Estadio Algarve, with Ronaldo the main focal point.

    Armenia, though, remained dangerous on the break and were away quickly after the Real Madrid forward had gone down in the box, but the referee waved away half-hearted penalty appeals.

    Metalurh Donetsk midfielder Karlen Mkrtchyan scampered away down the left, before he was upended by Ricardo Carvalho, which earned the Portugal defender a yellow card.

    The resulting free-kick was well struck by Mkrtchyan, and as the end of the wall parted, goalkeeper Rui Patricio scrambled across the claw the ball away.

    Portugal had plenty of the ball, but were unable to really open up a well-drilled Armenia defence.g

  • RONALDO EYES MORE GLORY

    RONALDO EYES MORE GLORY

    CRISTIANO Ronaldo and Real Madrid are out to maintain their exhilarating form at Levante ahead of big clashes with Liverpool and Barcelona.

    Real have won four successive league matches – scoring a staggering 20 goals in the process – to climb fourth, four points behind leaders Barcelona.

    Eleven of those have come from Ronaldo, who has more milestones in sight on Saturday against a team has scored against 10 times in nine contests.

    The 29-year-old Portuguese requires one goal to become the third player – and first since 1948 – to score 14 times in the opening eight rounds of a Spanish top-flight campaign, while three goals in Valencia would see him eclipse Alfredo Di Stefano and Telmo Zarra and become the competition’s outright record scorer of hat-tricks.

    Real have won their last five games against Levante, with Ronaldo on target every time.

    Levante have beaten Real at home only once in nine La Liga attempts. Sami Khedira was sent off in that 1-0 defeat in 2011, and the Germany midfielder’s return to training following injury on Wednesday means Sergio Ramos and Jese Rodriguez are the only players not at Carlo Ancelotti’s disposal.

    Keylor Navas appears unlikely to feature against the side he left in the summer after Ancelotti again backed Iker Casillas, who has come under increasing criticism following some poor performances for Real and Spain of late.

  • Players to watch

    Players to watch

    With less than a week until the start of the World Cup and with 32 teams and around 736 players heading to Brazil it’s going to be tough to keep track of everything once the tournament kicks off on June 12. Below is a handy guide on which headline acts to focus on and some of the key battlegrounds to keep an eye on during the opening-group phase. We compile a list of players to watch. The list exhibits both talent fulfilled and potential untapped.

    Cristiano Ronaldo

    (Portugal)

    Ronaldo quelled a great deal of burning ambition this season, finally beating Messi to claim another Ballon d’Or, helping Real Madrid clinch that long-elusive Decima of European Cups and finally convincing many that he, not the Argentine at Barcelona, is the best player in the world today. Why is he third here? Well, will he be fully fit at the World Cup? That could be the deciding factor as to whether CR7 can eradicate Portugal’s status as perennial also-rans and clinch them the major international trophy they’ve come close to in the past. “With a goal a game, when Ronaldo starts it feels like we start 1-0 up” said Real boss Carlo Ancelotti. Every Portuguese football fan will be praying that he remains fit enough to give them seven ‘head-starts’ in Brazil.

     

    Lionel Messi (Argentina)

    That Messi has endured his most disappointing season in recent years for Barcelona in the immediate run-up to this tournament hasn’t fooled many – especially when his national form has, to the contrary, picked up in the face of questions over whether Lionel applied himself as much for his country as he always did at Camp Nou. Messi remains THE man to be wary of, with his Argentine team-mates supplying superior service and back-up than Ronaldo’s Portugal or Suarez’s Uruguay, and his long run as the sport’s premier name offering far more experience of the ‘big dance’ than Brazil’s Neymar or Belgium’s Hazard. Do not be surprised in the least bit if Brazil 2014 is the setting for where Lionel Messi finally completes his trophy collection.

     

    Neymar (Brazil)

    Neymar has been Brazil’s top sporting celebrity for some time now – barely a week would pass without another amazing highlight reel of his skills at Santos – and now he has moved onto a bigger club platform with Barcelona, he returns home for what could be the crowning moment of a career which may yet have over another decade to run. Neymar stands a very strong chance of being the man who fires the host nation to an unprecedented sixth World Cup. Between his explosive attacking, mesmerising ball skills, versatile goal threat and much-maligned gamesmanship (face it: even a player going down easily from a light challenge could be enough to decide the final), the 22-year-old has the world – and this World Cup – at his feet.

     

    Diego Costa (Spain)

    Injury soured a great season for the Brazilian-born forward, as after Atletico’s Liga title win he was handed a start in the Champions League final in Lisbon despite not being fully ready to participate and was withdrawn before the 10 minute mark. However, signs are encouraging during Spanish pre-tournament training for a man who could provide the cutting edge up top which revives the ‘tiki-taka’ concept in time for a staggering fourth straight major international tournament win for the reigning world champions.

     

    Eden Hazard (Belgium)

    Many Chelsea fans and Belgian fanatics felt Hazard’s contributions to the 2013/14 season were largely overlooked, with names such as Ronaldo and Suarez on an absolute tear. As the creative star of the tournament dark horses, Hazard could do some serious damage to sides who expect to have too much experience or name value for Belgium. Hazard has constantly wowed over the last four years for Lille, Chelsea and his country, and the World Cup in Brazil will be his biggest platform yet.

     

    Luis Suarez (Uruguay)

    Suarez proved in the past season what he can do when he isn’t bringing football into disrepute with his reprehensible antics. Tempered by Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers, Suarez was deservedly crowned England’s best player in 13/14 as he broke goalscoring records and almost inspired the Reds to an unthinkable league title. Some feel Uruguay do not have enough as a team to go all the way in Brazil but Suarez’s talent, form and undeniable desire to win (like it or not, that 2010 handball against Ghana paid off) makes it impossible to jump to conclusions.

     

    Mario Balotelli (Italy)

    Controversial, unpredictable but also lethal in front of goal, Balotelli showed what he can do on the big stage at Euro 2012 and could be key to whether Italy are amongst the trophy contenders in Brazil. If he’s firing on all cylinders throughout the month, the nation’s team spirit laced with Balotelli’s goals and Pirlo’s threat at set pieces will be extremely difficult to beat. Of course, the key reason ‘Super Mario’ doesn’t make it any higher than 10 was highlighted by his hot-and-cold first full season at AC Milan. Which Balo will show up?

     

    Thiago Silva (Brazil)

    Silva is one of the world’s top centre-backs, and though the eyes of a nation will focus on the likes of Neymar as Brazil strive for a sixth World Cup in front of their own, the PSG man will be just as crucial at the other end of the pitch if the tournament’s greatest-ever participants are to extend their trophy record. The next month serves as the perfect opportunity for Silva to underscore his leadership qualities and enter the history books with a potential seven inspirational performances from the back.

     

    Yaya Toure (Ivory Coast)

    In 2010, Ghana came agonisingly close to finally realising the potential most experts have claimed African nations possess at World Cups for yonks. And if you were to pick out one African talent in 2014 who could spark an even better campaign than the Black Stars’ run to the last eight four years ago, it’s box-to-box beast Yaya Toure. Though a magnificent, title-winning season with Man City was soured at the end by an unbelievable story casting doubt over his Etihad future because of how the club celebrated his birthday, such manoeuvring for a transfer/pay rise will be firmly on hold when he looks to help his nation (and continent) to new frontiers in Brazil.

     

    John Obi Mikel (Nigeria)

    In  a Chelsea shirt Mikel might be the sideways pass made flesh, but for his country he plays in the more adventurous role he was once earmarked for before he had the joy squeezed out of him at Stamford Bridge. In what could be a tough group against Argentina, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Iran, Mikel needs to make the difference for his country – and we don’t mean keeping his pass completion rate above 85%.

     

     

    Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon)

    Jokes about his age aside, Eto’o showed in flashes during the Premier League season that he can still find the back of the net against quality opposition. He has scored 55 goals in 116 games for Cameroon and the Indomitable Lions will need his sharp shooting if they are to get out of a tough group. Eto’o is a free agent this summer and will look to show clubs that he’s still worth a big pay packet.

     

     

    Tim Cahill (Australia)

    Premier League fans know all about Tim Cahill, who could always pop up with a goal from midfield. Australia have a brutal draw with Spain, Netherlands and Chile, so will likely play a disciplined style and look to score from set-pieces where Cahill is particularly dangerous attacking crosses. He scored a trademark header against South Africa in a recent pre-tournament friendly and also scored for the New York Red Bulls in his last MLS game before joining up with the squad. An in-form Tim Cahill is a dangerous beast.

     

     

    Alexis Sanchez (Chile)

    If Chile are going to emerge from a group featuring 2010 finalists Spain and Netherlands, then they are going to need their talismanic forward on-song. Sanchez scored a rocket from a near-impossible angle against Atletico on the final day of the Liga season  a strike which would have secured Barcelona the title had their opponents not found a leveller. A skilful player on his home continent, Alexis could be the man to carry Chile into the latter stages of the tournament.

     

     

    Karim Benzema (France)

    Two international tournaments; no goals. A dire Euro 2008 campaign led to the national media labelling Benzema ‘impotent’ and he was dropped altogether for the World Cup in South Africa. He fared a little better at Euro 2012, setting up two goals as France reached the last eight, but it’s in the last two years that Benzema has belatedly sparkled for club and country. He spearheaded Real Madrid’s attack as they claimed La Decima and is now finally ready for his name to flash on the vidiprinter after firing home in Brazil.

     

    Andres Iniesta (Spain)

    The perennial nearly man of football’s major awards, Iniesta has been consistently overshadowed by Barcelona team-mate Lionel Messi. Time, then, for the Spaniard to forget a dismal club campaign and add another bit of World Cup history to his tournament-winning strike in South Africa. Iniesta is closing in on 100 international caps, so what better time to remind the world that tiki-taka is very much alive?

     

    Wayne Rooney (England)

    Cast your mind back to Euro 2004. Wayne Rooney, 18, burst onto the international scene with four goals and was named in UEFA’s Team of the Tournament. The future looked extremely bright. But flash forward to the present day, and the once energetic striker has seemingly stagnated as a player  adding just one goal to his international tournament haul. Arguably Manchester United and England’s finest player last season, Rooney now has the opportunity to prove the doubters wrong and show that he truly is among the world’s greatest.

     

    Paul Pogba (France)

    Pogba has flourished since switching to Juventus from United and is now one of the best young footballers in the world. Serie A might have diminished over the last decade, but Pogba’s panache and power have not gone unnoticed by the big clubs who will be desperate to pry him away from Italy should he enjoy a fine World Cup. Given France are alongside Switzerland, Ecuador and Honduras in Brazil, the midfielder seems destined to sparkle.

     

    Luka Modric (Croatia)

    Croatia have assembled an imposing side for the World Cup, with Modric situated at the heart of it. The diminutive midfielder thrived during Real Madrid’s European run and his Group A opponents will be acutely aware of his ability to pick an inch-perfect pass while swarmed with opponents. If he can orchestrate keep-ball with team-mate Ivan Rakitic, then the Croatians might have enough to not only worry Mexico and Cameroon, but also hosts Brazil.

     

    Arturo Vidal (Chile)

    Vidal has the tenacity to disrupt the flow of the Spaniards, survive the relentless pace against the Dutch and spark ominous forays versus the Aussies. Quite simply, he is one of the finest box-to-box midfielders operating in the game. The World Cup is the perfect platform for Vidal to showcase his versatility and fiery attributes as Chile seek to dislodge a 2010 finalist. A summer switch from Juve beckons.

     

     

    Daniel Sturridge (England)

    Sturridge comes to Brazil on the back of his finest club season to date, having endured hit-and-miss tenures at Man City and Chelsea before finally settling in at Liverpool. His strike partnership with Luis Suarez was the Premier League’s finest in 2013/14 – though of course he will stand opposite his buddy when England meet Uruguay in the group stages. A versatile and confident finisher, Sturridge is capable of finding the goals which could counter-balance any complacency or climate-related struggles the Three Lions may endure.

     

     

    Robin van Persie (Netherlands)

    Though RVP did not enjoy the best season of his career as Manchester United sank under David Moyes, his efforts in almost single-handedly winning a just-as-weak Red Devils the 2012-13 Premier League in Sir Alex Ferguson’s final season will be fresh in the minds of any defence who has to deal with the talismanic striker in Brazil. The classy van Persie will also be keen to offer outgoing Dutch boss (and next United manager) Louis van Gaal a glimpse of the next 12 months they spend working together, and the Netherlands being somewhat forgotten by some experts after a dismal Euro 2012 could play perfectly into the forward’s hands.

     

     

    Thibaut Courtois (Belgium)

    The towering shot stopper, contracted to Chelsea, is arguably the best goalkeeper in the world today after helping Atletico Madrid to the most unlikely of La Liga title wins and being seconds away from adding a Champions League medal to his haul. The Belgians head to South America in a similar position to Atleti’s 2013/14 campaign, as very popular (and very formidable) dark horses. If the relatively goal-shy 2010 tourney in South Africa is anything to go by, teams’ reluctance to go all-out in attack for fear of making a fatal error could leave the door open for a back-five player to steal the show.

  • Football awards: Objectivity on trial

    Football awards: Objectivity on trial

    Christiano Ronaldo and Edison Arantes do Nascimento, aka Pelé, supplied about the most poignant moments of the 2013 FIFA Ballon d’Or gala held January 13, 2013 at the Kongresshaus of the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) in Zurich, Switzerland. Their emotional acceptance of the Player of the Year and Player of the 20th Century awards highlighted the relationship between player recognition and the establishment’s inclination.

    More known for dominant displays on the football pitch, the pair’s quivering monologues in Zurich struck a wistful chord. Did the tears come from joy or relief? And were the individuals not the ones that harassed defenders, confused goalkeepers and mesmerised fans across the world?

    Both typify the football prodigy, the kind that influences team tactics and the exit of neutral coaches. Despite official retirement from football in 1977 after a stint with New York Cosmos in a nascent North American Soccer League, Pele is as revered today as Ronaldo is feted.

    In his pomp, Pelé or ‘O Rei’, meaning ‘The King’, was untouchable. A World Cup winner with the Selecao in 1958, he earned two more winners medals, the last at Mexico 1970. Declared a national treasure by a Brazil president, he notched 77 goals in 92 outings for Brazil and over 1, 000 goals throughout his career.

    Ronaldo is unplayable. Last year’s feat of 69 goals in 60 matches for club and country recommends the winger’s supreme athleticism and mental fortitude. Despite resistance from defenders sharpened by improved diet and scientific grooming, the Portugal skipper continues to strike with cutting edge precision. His goals, of recent, sent Portugal through to the Brazil 2014 World Cup finals from a difficult play-off with a Sweden team parading the gifted Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

    Still, the idea that Ronaldo and Pelé sobbed out of relief seems plausible, considering their records and consuming rivalries with exceptional players. Largely at Ronaldo’s expense, Lionel Messi of Barcelona claimed FIFA’s top honour from 2009 to 2012. And some, particularly the 80s and 90s generation of football followers, hold that the exploits of Argentina legend Diego Maradona supersede Pelé’s.

    An internet vote in 2000 for FIFA’s Footballer of the Century supports their position. The difference in playing era may account for the discrepancy, but Franz Beckenbauer and other icons of the game tip the scales in the Brazilian’s favour on account of greater discipline.

    Maradona struck gold in Mexico too. His extraordinary efforts landed Argentina the 1986 World Cup trophy, the second major silverware after his coming out ball at the Under-20 World Youth Championship in Japan, 1979.

    Ronaldo, on the other hand, suffers the fate of playing in the same period as Messi, thus allowing better comparison. And none but the superficial would argue that the Portuguese is the more talented player. On his day, ‘Messidona’ compares to none, as his sublime body feints and exquisite finishing validate. His performances draw comparison with Maradona, but he looks set to surpass his hero after his record 91 goals for club and country in 2012.

    Following his annex of the now-defunct 2008 FIFA World Player of the Year award, Ronaldo reined in a series of awards for club and country – enough to start a museum in his native Madeira to which the latest accolade heads for display, by his admission. But his second place finish in voting for the 2009 award – the last of the World Player of the Year prize before FIFA and France Football merged their awards – as well as the 2011 and 2012 prizes apparently haunted him.

    For footballers in the business of ego-fuelled performance, the need to be elevated by peers and managers is often a life-long pursuit. Ronaldo’s demeanour in Zurich vindicated the view as much as his words underlined the notion. “I am very happy; it is very difficult to win this award.”

    Franck Ribery, who finished third in the voting with 1, 127 votes behind Messi’s 1,205 and Ronaldo’s 1,365 couldn’t resist a dig at his triumphant adversary. “I’m not a selfish player and the FIFA Ballon d’Or was not an objective of mine. I would rather win it all again with Bayern Munich and win the world title. That is what really matters,” he said to German paper Bild afterwards.

    That is not exactly the truth. In the run-up to the ceremony, Ribery thought that winning the accolade was “now or never”.

    Messi, whose injury-blighted 2013 campaign obviously splintered his chances, conceded defeat with grace. In justifying Ronaldo’s accomplishment, he discounted his own form. “I started the season injured. I was a long time out but that has nothing to do with it. Cristiano had a great year and he won on merit.”

    Pele’s words at the occasion betrayed the anticipation of possessing the one award that eluded him partly because he never played in Europe; a feeling apparently bested by the privilege of accepting the award in person as opposed to, perhaps, posthumous honour. He said: “I got so many trophies and prizes but I was jealous because all of those guys who got the Ballon d’Or, which I couldn’t get because I didn’t play in Europe. Now I thank God that I can complete my trophies at home.”

    Watching Ronaldo and Pele mingle with others on the stage, it was hard to tell who the night belonged to more: the brash, talented youngster not exactly enamoured of the establishment or the old magician who held it spell-bound. FIFA President Joseph Blatter said the first ever FIFA Ballon d’Or Prix d’Honneur went to “the greatest footballer to grace the pitch”.

    Maradona will have a thing or two to say about that. The Argentine has lost none of his old spark as constant run-ins with authorities from his homeland to Italy and Qatar indicate. And Messi will be back. Never shy of braces and hat-tricks, he terrorises opponents across Spain and beyond once the bandages come off.

    Beside the superiority debate, which remains ever subjective, FIFA President Joseph Blatter’s pre-award put-down of Ronaldo and FIFA’s extension of voting for the Ballon d’Or following a backlash from fans were significant. Official influence apparently counts as much as the voting process. That undercuts Messi’s unprecedented quadruple, and to some extent, Ribery’s third place finish.

    If the award goes out to the player ‘considered to have performed best in the previous season by national team coaches and captains as well as journalists’, midfield dynamos Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta may have been as worthy of the 2009 and 2010 prizes. They pulled the strings as Spain conquered Europe and the world between 2008 and 2010. And for registering greater effect with his national team and Real Madrid, Ronaldo may as well claim the 2011 and 2012 rewards.

    With the exception of Yaya Toure whose dominant and consistent displays for Manchester City and Ivory Coast fetched a

  • Eight-year old ‘wizkid’ poised to rule soccer world

    Eight-year old ‘wizkid’ poised to rule soccer world

    Soccer fans in Benin City were recently thrilled by the soccer skills exhibited by eight-year old, Prince Ogbebor, who has in this season alone, made a record of over 50 goals.

    The child whose father is a broadcaster and musician, Senior Kings Ogbebor (SKO), has been christened ‘Little C. Ronaldo’ following his stylish midfield attack.

    When asked what motivated him to play football, he said: “I became more interested after my father made me watch a documentary of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

    “I love football and I know that I will rule the world of soccer someday,” said the kid who uses both legs effortlessly.

    Prince, who currently plys his trade at Dynamo Football Academy, according to SKO, is being sought after by football scouts in the state.

    However, the lad’s father, who said he has turned down some offers to pouch him from his current club, did not give reasons for his refusal.

    Marvelled by his performance, Prince’s coach, Austine Ogieriakhi said: “I played football at professional level but all that is nothing compared to the skills Prince exhibits. He is indeed the little Ronaldo.”

  • Ronaldo can have the Ballon d’Or, I already know that I am the best – Zlatan Ibrahimovic

    Ronaldo can have the Ballon d’Or, I already know that I am the best – Zlatan Ibrahimovic

    Zlatan Ibrahimovic has told Cristiano Ronaldo and Franck Ribery they can have the Ballon d’Or because “I know I am the best”.

    The Swedish striker has been in superb form this year for Paris St Germain, scoring eight goals in this season’s Champions League – as many as Ronaldo.

    However, the Portuguese has emerged as favourite for Fifa’s Ballon d’Or award after netting a hat-trick for his country in last week’s 3-2 World Cup play-off victory over Sweden – with Portugal qualifying for the 2014 finals in Brazil.

    Meanwhile, France winger Ribery helped Bayern Munich secure the treble last season and was an early favourite for the award, won three times in a row by Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, until Ronaldo garnered late support for his performances with Portugal.

    “I don’t need the Ballon d’Or to know I’m the best,” said Ibrahimovic, who played a key role in PSG’s Ligue 1 title triumph last season. “It matters more to some players.

    Source: Telegraph UK

  • Bale wins PFA award

    Bale wins PFA award

    Tottenham goal machine Gareth Bale has won PFA Player of the Year award.

    He joins Alan Shearer, Thierry Henry and Cristiano Ronaldo as two-time winners of the award.

    Bale, who has been absolutely explosive in front of goal thanks to a freer role under Andre Villas-Boas, has netted 22 times this season in all competitions for the London club.

    He picked the award ahead of Manchester United’s striker Robin Van Persie, Liverpool’s Luiz Suarez, Chelsea duo, Eden Hazard and Juan Mata and United’s Carrick.

  • ‘I’m focused on winning, not contracts’

    ‘I’m focused on winning, not contracts’

    Cristiano Ronaldo is concentrating on playing well for Real Madrid and is not agitating to improve the terms of his contract with the Spanish champions, the Portugal forward said.

    Arriving back in Madrid after helping his country to World Cup qualifying wins against Luxembourg and Azerbaijan, Ronaldo wrote on his Facebook page it is “now time to return to the club and think only about my club”.

    He added: “I would like to reaffirm, without being concerned about contracts, that my focus is solely on winning every game and every available trophy with the essential company of my teammates and all madridistas.”

    Ronaldo dropped a bombshell after Real’s match at home to Granada this month when he told reporters he was “sad” for professional reasons, prompting speculation he might be seeking an exit.

    The world’s most expensive player, who reportedly earns around 11 million euros a season, had earlier refused to celebrate his two goals in the 3-0 La Liga victory and would not elaborate on the reasons for his sadness.

    He said only that “those who worked in the club” knew why.

    Local media have reported he doesn’t feel appreciated and wants more cash and fiercely pro-Real sports daily Marca said on Tuesday he had asked the club to bump his salary up to a post-tax 15 million euros and extend his contract.

    The 27-year-old former Manchester United player denied last week he is down in the dumps because he is not earning enough but has yet to provide any other explanation.