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Tag: Ronaldo

  • Cristiano Ronaldo Makes Secret Call to Lionel Messi Over Ballon D’or

    Cristiano Ronaldo Makes Secret Call to Lionel Messi Over Ballon D’or

    Cristiano Ronaldo has reportedly called Lionel Messi to claim he knows he will win this year’s Ballon D’Or.

    According to reports in Spain, the front cover of what appears to be an edition of France Football magazine – which runs the awards – was published on Twitter, which seems to celebrate Messi as 2017’s winner.

    However Spanish newspaper Don Balon report the Real Madrid striker has told Messi that he has been informed he, rather than his Barcelona rival, will be the winner.

    Ronaldo, who will draw level with Messi on five wins apiece in the Ballon D’Or if he triumphs this year, was reportedly congratulated on his achievement by the Argentinian.

    The winner will be officially announced on December 7, the day before Ronaldo and Real Madrid begin their Club World Cup campaign as champions of Europe, having won a second successive Champions League.

    The Ballon D’Or has been at the centre of the long-standing rivalry between Messi and Ronaldo, with the pair dominating the award for a decade.

    The last year a player other than Ronaldo or Messi won the award was 2007, when Brazilian attacking midfielder Kaka was named as the world’s best player.

    While Ronaldo is confident he will be 2017’s champion, Messi has made a head start in his attempt to claim Ballon D’Or No 6.

    Messi has scored 16 times in 17 games already this season, compared to Ronaldo’s eight in 13, with just one in La Liga.

  • Ronaldo is FIFA Best Player

    Ronaldo is FIFA Best Player

    Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo last night retained the 2017 Best FIFA Men’s Player Award.

    He edged out arch rival Lionel Messi and PSG striker Neymar for the top award.

    The Portuguese international was a clear favourite after playing a massive part in Madrid’s win of the UEFA Champions League back to back.

    He was also instrumental to Madrid winning the La Liga title last season.

    The 32-year-old, who scored 44 goals for club and country in 2017, is the only player to have won this award given that it was introduced in January when the attacker won it for 2016.

    The player who was accompanied to the London Palladium venue of the ceremony by his son and partner Georgina Rodriguez, thanked his club and fans for the support over the years.

    “This is a great moment for me. Thank you to all my fans all over the world. I appreciate that. I’m so happy, thank you very much and have a good night,” he said after receiving the award.

    He also acknowledged the presence of Messi and Neymar. I want to mention Leo (Messi) and Neymar to be here. Ronaldo’s boss Zinedine Zidane beat Chelsea manager Antonio Conte and Masimilano Alegri of Juventus to the FIFA Best Coach of the Year.

    Real Madrid stars dominated the FIFPro World X1 which had Ronaldo as well. They included Marcelo, Sergio

    Ramos, Luka Modric and Toni Kroos Messi and Neymar were also named in the FIFPro World XI with Gianluigi Buffon, who won the FIFA Best Goalkeeper joined by Dani Alves, Andres Iniesta and Leonardo Bonucci.

    In the women’s category, USA international Carli Lloyd lost her crown to Dutch and Barcelona midfielder Lieke Martens.  Martens, months back was voted the Women’s Player in Europe after guiding her country to win the

     

  • Cristiano Ronaldo is FIFA’s Best Player

    Cristiano Ronaldo is FIFA’s Best Player

    Cristiano Ronaldo is the Best FIFA Men’s Player. Fifa named Ronaldo on Monday for the award in London.

    Elated Ronaldo received the award from ‘Original’ Ronaldo and Diego Maradona who jointly presented the Best Men’s Award.

    He edged out arch-rival Lionel Messi and PSG striker Neymar for the top award.

    In his acceptance speech Ronaldo said;

    “I want to mention Leo and Neymar to be here. Real Madrid supporters, my teammates, my coach, they support all the year so I have to say thank you to them

    “I’m really glad. This is a great moment for me. I know I have fans all over the world so thank you for the supprt. I appreciate that.

    “And I think I say everything. It’s great to be here around these great players, this amazing player and I’m so happy guys. Thank you everybody and good night.”

    The Portuguese international was a clear favourite after playing a massive part in Madrid’s win of the UEFA Champions League back to back.

    He was also instrumental in Madrid winning the La Liga title last season.

    The 32-year-old, who scored 44 goals for club and country in 2017, is the only player to have won this award given that it was introduced in January when the attacker won it for 2016.

    The player who was accompanied to the London Palladium venue of the ceremony by his son and partner Georgina Rodriguez, thanked his club and fans for the support over the years.

    He also acknowledged the presence of Messi and Neymar. I want to mention Leo (Messi) and Neymar to be here. Ronaldo’s boss Zinedine Zidane beat Chelsea manager Antonio Conte and Masimilano Alegri of Juventus to the FIFA Best Coach of the Year.

    Real Madrid stars dominated the FIFPro World X1 which had Ronaldo as well. They included Marcelo, Sergio

    Ramos, Luka Modric and Toni Kroos Messi and Neymar were also named in the FIFPro World XI with Gianluigi Buffon, who won the FIFA Best Goalkeeper joined by Dani Alves, Andres Iniesta and Leonardo Bonucci.

    In the women’s category, USA international Carli Lloyd lost her crown to Dutch and Barcelona midfielder Lieke Martens.  Martens, months back was voted the Women’s Player in Europe after guiding her country to win.

     

  • La Liga: Ronaldo Returns, Saves Madrid against Getafe

    La Liga: Ronaldo Returns, Saves Madrid against Getafe

    Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first goal of the season on Saturday at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez in Getafe. He scored the winner that made the difference in a narrow 2-1 win for Real Madrid.

    Karim Benzema gave the visitors a first-half lead, only to see Getafe equalise thanks to a Marco Llorente own goal. Just when it looked like Real would drop points for the fourth time this season, Ronaldo came to the rescue and scored in the 85th minute for the win.

     

    With the Champions League clash against Tottenham coming up on Tuesday Zinedine Zidane chose to start with Isco and Luka Modric on the bench and Casemiro was left out entirely, while regular starters Gareth Bale and Dani Carvajal were out injured.

    The Portuguese superstar took advantage of a Getafe defender playing him onside, and the pass from Isco was perfect for Ronaldo to run onto and fire in past Guaita for the 2-1 lead and the three points.

    Real Madrid will return to action on Tuesday at home in the Champions League versus Tottenham.

    Match Statistics:

    1.- Getafe: Guaita; Damian, Djene, Cala, Antunes; Markel Bergara, Arambarri (Bruno, min. 84); Alvaro Jimenez (Portillo, min. 14), Fajr, Amath (Lacen, min. 68); Jorge Molina.

    2.- Real Madrid: Casilla; Achraf, Nacho, Ramos, Marcelo (Theo, min. 72); Lucas Vazquez (Isco, min. 72), Kroos, Llorente, Asensio; Benzema (Borja Mayoral, min. 81), Cristiano Ronaldo.

    Goals: 0-1, min. 39: Benzema; 1-1, min. 56: Llorente (og); 1-2, min. 85: Cristiano Ronaldo.

    Referee: Martinez Munuera (Valencia).

    Yellow cards: Arambarri (Min. 33) for Getafe, Kroos (Min. 49) for Getafe, Nacho (Min. 58) for Real Madrid, Lacen (Min. 85) for Getafe, Theo (Min. 94) for Real Madrid.

    Red cards: None.

    Stadium: Coliseum Alfonso Perez.

    Attendance: 17.000

     

  • Lewandowski Defeats Ronaldo on FIFA Top Scorer’s Table

    Lewandowski Defeats Ronaldo on FIFA Top Scorer’s Table

    Robert Lewandowski scored 16 goals to lead the top scorer’s table for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifying Matches. Two strikers who also have 16 goals to their credit aside Lewandowski are; Mohammad Al-Sahlawi and  Ahmed Khalil.

    The three players are leading Ballon D’or favourite and Portugal Striker Christiano Ronaldo on the table with a goal difference.

    The Real Madrid ace has 15 goals to his credit from the 10 qualifying matches Portugal played to book their ticket for the Russia 2018 tournament.

    Ronaldo leads Tim Cahill, Romelu Lukaku and Sardar Azmoun with four goals difference as the trio occupy the fourth, fifth and sixth spot of top goal scorer table with 11 goals each to their credit.

    Sardar Azmoun also has 11 goals in his purfew to occupy spot number seven on the World Cup Qualifiers Top Scorers Table.

    Running a count-down to ten on the top scorers table, Omar Kharbin and Edinson Cavani have scored 10 goals each and they occupy spot number eight and nine respectively.

    The last but not the least on the World Cup Qualifiers Top Scorers Table, Carlos Ruiz,   scored nine goals so far as the qualifiers move closer to climax.

    Worthy to note that Lionel Messi who scired scored three goals in Argentina last qualifying match has a total of  seven goals during the qualifiers, Alex Sanchez is also on the same gial Margin also with Felipe Calcireo.

    See below the table of the top 10 scorers and other FIFA’s statistics from the qualifying matches so far.

    WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS TOP 10 SCORERS

    PLAYER                                          GOALS SCORED

    1. Robert Lewandowski –                               16
    2. Mohammad Al-Sahlawi –                          16
    3. Ahmed Khalil –                                            16
    4. Cristiano Ronaldo –                                    15
    5. Tim Cahill –                                                   11
    6. Romelu Lukaku –                                        11
    7. Sardar Azmoun –                                         11
    8. Omar Kharbin –                                          10
    9. Edinson Cavani –                                        10
    10. Carlos Ruiz –                                              9

    TEAMS THROUGH TO RUSSIA 2018 WORLD CUP

    ??Russia
    ??Brazil
    ??Iran
    ??Japan
    ??Mexico
    ??Belgium
    ??Korea Republic
    ??Saudi Arabia
    ??Germany
    ??England
    ??Spain
    ??Nigeria
    ??Costa Rica
    ??Poland
    ??Egypt
    ??Iceland
    ??Serbia
    ??France
    ??Portugal
    ??Uruguay
    ??Colombia
    ??Argentina
    ??Panama

    TOTAL = 23

    *EUROPEAN PLAY OFF*

    TEAMS:

    Sweden??
    Switzerland??
    Denmark??
    Italy??
    Croatia??
    Greece??
    Republic of Ireland
    Northern Ireland

    NB: ONLY 4 OUT OF THE 8 ABOVE TO QUALIFY.

    EUROPEAN PLAY OFFS DRAW DATE: 17th October 2017*

    EUROPEAN PLAY OFFS FIXTURE DATE: 9th and 14th November 2017*

    TEAMS MISSING OUT OF RUSSIA WORLD CUP

    Chile
    Netherlands
    Ghana
    Algeria
    USA
    Wales
    Gabon
    Mali
    Cameroon

  • C. Ronaldo suspended for five games

    C. Ronaldo suspended for five games

    Real Madrid’s forward Cristiano Ronaldo has been suspended for five games after being sent off the football pitch in Real Madrid’s 3-1 win against Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup first leg on Sunday.

    The football icon was initially given a one-match ban for being shown two yellow cards and further attracted four for pushing the referee in the back after he had been sent off.

    The bookings at the Nou Camp were for taking off his shirt to celebrate his goal to make it 2-1 and for a dive.

    Consequentially, Ronaldo will miss Wednesday’s second leg of Spanish Super Cup and La Liga on the 20 of August. Other games are Valencia (h) – La Liga on August 27, Levante (h) – La Liga on September 9 and Real Sociedad (a) La Liga on September 17.

    The 32year old player has only 10 days to appeal the decision against him.

    However, the Portugal international will be able to play in the Champions League but will not return to domestic action until 20 September against Real Betis.

    Reacting to Ronaldo’s second yellow card shown for diving eight minutes from time when he went down inside the area under pressure from Samuel Umtiti, Madrid boss, Zinedine Zidane after the game said: “Ronaldo’s sending-off annoys me because even if it is not a penalty, the card is harsh,” adding that the club would see what it could do so that he is available on Wednesday.

    It would be recalled that this marks Ronaldo’s 10th red card of his career and the two yellow cards on Sunday came within two minutes.

    In his post-match report, the referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea wrote: “Once shown the red card, Ronaldo pushed me lightly as a sign of his disapproval.”

  • Ronaldo Fit for Super Cup -Zidane

    Ronaldo Fit for Super Cup -Zidane

    Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane has insisted Cristiano Ronaldo is fit to start the UEFA Super Cup against Manchester United.

    Ronaldo only returned to training two days ago after he was given an extended break following his Confederations Cup exertions with Portugal.

    The 32-year-old, who has been linked with a move away from the Bernabeu as he battles allegations of tax fraud in Spain, has travelled to Macedonia with the rest of the squad and Zidane admitted he could start against his former club at the Philip II Arena in Skopje on Tuesday.

    He said: “He’s relaxed and what impresses me the most is that he’s as fit as the day of the final two months ago.

    “What interests me in the long run is that he’s fit.

    “As to the rest, there’s not much we can do about it. The fact he’s with us means a lot. If he’s with us it’s because he’s ready to play.

    “We’ll see whether he plays or not but the important thing is he’s with us.”

    Real Madrid have only just returned from their tour of the United States after playing the MLS All-Stars in Chicago on Aug. 2.

    Zidane, though, insists his team is ready to face Jose Mourinho’s United.

    He added: “I think the team is feeling well. We’re eager to start the season. This is the first official match and we’re hoping to start as soon as possible.

    “We’ve been working and resting very well. Now is when everything starts.

    “We are going to prepare the same way, our way, as always. We know a lot about our rivals. What concerns us is what we are going to do.”

    Had things been different, Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos could have been lining up for United against the Champions League winners in Skopje.

    The Spaniard was heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford in 2015 as Real Madrid chased goalkeeper David De Gea.

    However, United’s interest was ended when Ramos signed a new long-term contract at the Bernabeu which is set to keep him at the club until at least 2020.

    He said: “There was an opportunity in the past. It resolved itself in a different way. I’m grateful to United for the interest. It’s a great club and I wish them all the best.”

  • Ronaldo: Being better than Messi is my motivation

    Ronaldo: Being better than Messi is my motivation

    Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo says he is driven to be the best player in the world by the fear of being surpassed by the likes of Lionel Messi and Neymar.

    The 32-year-old Portugal international, who won the Ballon d’Or in January, is a firm favourite to be crowned the world’s finest footballer for the fifth time following Madrid’s triumphs in LaLiga and the Champions League in 2016-17.

    Ronaldo and long-time rival Messi have shared the Ballon d’Or and FIFA Ballon d’Or every year since 2008 and another triumph for the former Manchester United man would see him draw level with the Barcelona great on the all-time list.

    And Ronaldo admits that the “healthy” competition between the world’s finest forwards, among whom he includes Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski and Juventus’ Gonzalo Higuain, is what inspires him to strive for success.

    “To mention one [player] is hard, but the level that I am is like in other sports: Formula One, NBA…The best players always follow the best players,” he told ESPN.

    “They want to be in the top of the game because the other ones are there. You cannot rest, because the other ones will pass you.

    “Of course we fight with everyone, with Neymar, with Messi, Lewandowski, Higuain, with the best players in the world. This is not ‘fighting’ but it’s healthy. We fight to be the best.

    “It’s my motivation: to be better than them, year after year.”

    View image on TwitterView image on TwitterView image on TwitterView image on Twitter

    ✔@Cristiano

    First stop. Seems a few people got here before me. ?

    Ronaldo has won 19 major trophies in a glittering career and was named by Forbes as the world’s highest-paid athlete in June this year, ahead of Messi and NBA star LeBron James.

    However, the Madeira-born forward says the welfare of his family remains the most important thing in his life.

    He explained: “I was with Peter Lim, the owner of Valencia, and he said to me: ‘Cristiano, we have money, fame, everything. I have millions and billions. But the most important thing is family. Keep your family healthy, good. Take care of them’.

    “You have your private life, your girlfriend, your cars, your houses, your fame, but in the beginning, your family is always with you, in good moments or bad moments.”

  • Ronaldo hails son over Brazil U18 call up

    Ronaldo hails son over Brazil U18 call up

     

    Ronaldo, of the Brazilian variety, appears to have passed on his exquisite footballing genes as his son prepares to follow in his footsteps.

    Ronald Nazario de Lima, who is the former Real Madrid star’s first son, has been selected to represent Brazil in this year’s Maccabiah games.

    The Maccabiah games is the third-largest sporting event in the world, with 10,000 athletes set to take part from 85 nations, and is often referred to as the Jewish Olympics.

    And this could well be the launchpad for the next generation of Ronaldo’s, with the Brazilians looking to catch up with the recent standards set by the Portuguese Cristiano.

    Ronald was born in Milan while his father was making his name for Inter in 1999. And if the 17-year-old needed any more footballing pedigree in his genes, his mum, Milene Domingues, was a Brazil international herself.

    His parents boast a combined 118 caps for Brazil and 775 club appearances — so a fairly well stocked footballing background.

    And Ronaldo was bursting with pride as his son set off for Jerusalem as he posted a photo of the team. He captioned the photo: ‘This is the Brazilian team representing the people in the World Macabbiah 2017.

    ‘A special hug for my son Ronald Lima, who is in the Under-18 soccer team. Good luck, guys! Go for it, Brazil!’

    Ronald himself is not Jewish but has often frequented Hebraica in Sao Paulo, a club that functions as a cross between a Jewish community centre and country club.

    His mother plays for Sao Paulo Hebraica women’s football and at 17 years old, the age her son is now, she broke the world record for the most keepy-ups with an incredible 55,187 touches.

  • Ronaldo, Nani on Target as Portugal Ease to Semi-Final

    Ronaldo, Nani on Target as Portugal Ease to Semi-Final

    Portugal coasted to a 4-0 win over New Zealand in St Petersburg to secure their place in the Confederations Cup semifinals.

    The win, however, came at a cost as Manchester City-bound midfielder Bernardo Silva was substituted because of an ankle injury.

    With hosts Russia losing against Mexico in Kazan, Portugal progressed as Group A winners, while the All Whites finished bottom following a third straight defeat.

    Captain Cristiano Ronaldo put Portugal ahead from the penalty spot on 33 minutes.

    Bernardo Silva swiftly doubled the lead with a close-range finish, but landed awkwardly on his ankle and was taken off at half-time.

    Andre Silva wrapped up a comfortable victory with a fierce angled finish on 80 minutes, and Nani added a fourth in stoppage time.

    New Zealand had made a positive opening, with Leeds forward Chris Wood seeing his shot saved.

    But Ronaldo soon rattled the crossbar before Ipswich defender Tommy Smith bundled over Danilo Pereira following a corner and the Real Madrid forward scored the penalty.

    It was his 75th goal for Portugal, bringing him level with Sandor Kocsis in second place on the list of Europe’s highest international goal scorers.

    Bernardo Silva struck three minutes later, but New Zealand almost pulled a goal back on the hour when Tom Doyle’s ball across the face of goal saw Portugal goalkeeper Rui Patricio block from Wood.

    Portugal put the outcome beyond doubt when Andre Silva darted into the right of the penalty area and crashed the ball into the top corner, with Nani adding the fourth in the final seconds.