The debate for the greatest of all time in football largely revolves around Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo based on their statistics and contributions. [ more ]
Change is a constant in Istanbul but can Inter upset Man City in Champions League final?
Gab Marcotti, Senior Writer, ESPN FCJun 9, 2023, 09:00 AM ET
ISTANBUL, Turkey -- This city straddling Europe and Asia (you can literally drive across the bridge from one continent to the other) is a fitting venue for a UEFA Champions League final.It's the European Cup, yes, but the finalists are two Asian-owned teams ( Manchester City majority owned by Abu Dhabi; Internazionale by Chinese investors) with a global appeal and this city, founded nearly three millennia ago, is used to being both a nexus and melting pot.
Al Ittifaq vs. Al Nassr - Football Match Report - May 27, 2023 - ESPN
Cristiano Ronaldo failed to win the Saudi Pro League title in his first season with Al Nassr after a victory by Al Ittihad in the penultimate week of the season saw them clinch the championship.With Al Ittihad carrying a three-point lead and the tiebreaker advantage at the top going into the 29th round of the season, Al Nassr knew they needed a win to have a realistic chance of taking the title battle to the final day.
Strasbourg vs. Paris Saint-Germain - Football Match Report - May 27, 2023 - ESPN
Paris Saint-Germain clinched a record-breaking 11th Ligue 1 title with one game to spare when they drew 1-1 at Strasbourg on Saturday.The result put them on 85 points, four ahead of Lens, who secured second place with a 3-0 home victory against AC Ajaccio.- Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) Lionel Messi scored the crucial goal for PSG, taking him to 496 league goals for his career to become the all-time leading scorer in the top five European leagues.
Cristiano Ronaldo won his 199th Portugal cap as his side cruised past Bosnia-Herzegovina to maintain their winning streak in their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign.Bruno Fernandes set up Bernardo Silva who opened the scoring with a chipped effort in the 44th minute.Fernandes added a second through a 77th minute header and a third in the closing stages with a sweet strike.
Cristiano Ronaldo Turns 39: 10 Top Achievements Of CR7's Career
Cristiano Ronaldo has had a significant impact on the soccer world, both on and off the field.
He has achieved numerous accolades, including being the highest-paid player and winning the IFFHS World's Best Top Goal Scorer award multiple times. [ more ]
Al Nassr 8-0 Abha (Apr 2, 2024) Game Analysis - ESPN
Cristiano Ronaldo scored a first-half hat trick in Al Nassr's dominating 8-0 win in the Saudi Pro League.
Ronaldo now has 65 career first-half hat tricks, including 44 from his time at Real Madrid, and has scored five hat tricks since joining Al Nassr. [ more ]
Cristiano Ronaldo's move to Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia and Lionel Messi's transfer to Inter Miami in MLS were among the top 10 men's football transfers of 2023.
Ronaldo's move to Al Nassr opened the door for other big names to follow, while Messi's move to Inter Miami was a masterstroke for football in the US. [ more ]
Republic boss Stephen Kenny hopes to exorcise ghost of Cristiano Ronaldo
Republic of Ireland boss Stephen Kenny will hope to finally exorcise the ghost of Cristiano Ronaldo as he targets a priceless Euro 2024 qualifier victory in Greece.Kenny will send his troops into Group B battle at the OPAP Arena on Friday evening desperate to open their account at the second time of asking after they lost 1-0 to France in Dublin in their opener.
1. Saudi Arabian football club Al-Riyadh are reportedly considering a potential 100 million euro transfer for Algerian international player Riyad Mahrez.
2. The move would break the current record for the most expensive transfer of an African player, which is currently held by former Everton forward Romelu Lukaku, who moved to Manchester United for 75 million euros.
3. Mahrez, who currently plays for Manchester City, is a two-time African Footballer [ more ]
Harry Kane to Real Madrid: How Tottenham striker can move abroad and still break Premier League goal record
J ust as Tottenham feared, this summer already has the makings of another Harry Kane transfer saga.Manchester United have a long-standing interest in Kane, who has entered the final year of his contract, while Spurs could soon face an approach from Real Madrid, who are searching for a replacement for Karim Benzema.
European clubs should not be afraid of a player exodus to Saudi Arabia, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said on Sunday, suggesting the country was making a mistake investing in stars at the end of their careers.Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema have been paid record-high contracts to join Saudi Arabian clubs this year, with similar offers were made to Lionel Messi and Luka Modric.
Portugal coach Roberto Martinez believes that Cristiano Ronaldo playing in a non-European club has benefitted the national team.Amid reports that he could return to play in the Premier League, five-time Ballon d'Or winner Ronaldo recently confirmed he will stay in Saudi Arabia with Al Nassr next season.
Transfer Talk: Man City's Gundogan gets Saudi offer amid Barcelona, PSG links
The summer transfer window isn't open yet in Europe, but teams are getting ready for it, and there's plenty of gossip swirling around.Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings, goings and, of course, done deals!TOP STORY: Gundogan to consider Saudi offer?Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan has received an offer from Saudi Arabia's league in an effort to bring him to a club in their country, according to Foot Mercato.
Al-Ittihad confirm Karim Benzema deal after striker's Real Madrid farewell
Karim Benzema has completed his move to Al-Ittihad, the Saudi Arabian club have confirmed.The striker is leaving Real Madrid in the summer and has signed a three-year deal with the Saudi champions.Benzema was allowed to leave the Bernabeu after 14 years after voiding the 12-month extension he had signed.
Why Cristiano Ronaldo is being sued in $1bn lawsuit by people who bought his NFTs
Cristiano Ronaldo is facing a $1 billion class action lawsuit in the U.S. over his promotion of a non-fungible token collaboration with Binance.
The lawsuit alleges that investors suffered losses after making investments based on Ronaldo's social media advertisements for Binance products. [ more ]
Cristiano Ronaldo faces US$1bn lawsuit for promoting Binance NFTs
Cristiano Ronaldo is facing a class-action lawsuit seeking at least $1 billion in damages for promoting cryptocurrency-related non-fungible tokens (NFTs) issued by Binance.
The lawsuit alleges that Ronaldo's promotion of Binance was deceptive and unlawful, leading investors into costly and unsafe investments. [ more ]
Cristiano Ronaldo is facing a $1 billion class-action lawsuit for promoting cryptocurrency-related NFTs on Binance.
The lawsuit alleges that Ronaldo's promotion of Binance was deceptive and unlawful, leading to costly investments.
The suit claims that Ronaldo's partnership with Binance was incredibly successful, resulting in a 500% increase in online searches for 'Binance'. [ more ]
Napoli has appointed former AS Roma coach Rudi Garcia as their new manager.
Garcia has extensive experience with top Italian clubs, having won the Serie A in 2013 and the French Ligue 1 in 2011.
Garcia is tasked with bringing immediate success to Napoli, as the club is looking to challenge for a championship and revive their fortunes in the Serie A. [ more ]
1. Cristiano Ronaldo has officially confirmed his move to Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr, ending his nine-year stay at Juventus. 2. Ronaldo believes that the Saudi Arabian League has great potential to grow and will help him to make a difference in the lives of people.
1. Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema is reportedly considering his future at the club amid a potential bid from a Saudi Arabian consortium. 2. The Saudi bid is reportedly worth â¬1.5 billion, and could lead to a major shakeup of the Madrid squad. 3. Benz
Armpit confidential: why men are now shaving and women are doing whatever they like
It's an image that will go down in sporting history or at least linger in many memories.Manchester City midfielder John Stones, crouched down on the pitch, in a torn shirt revealing his bare chest and a freshly shaved armpit?The ripped shirt was not intentional.It tore during the 80th minute of the Champions League final in Istanbul last Saturday, following an altercation with Inter Milan's Robin Gosens.
Next season will be the first in more than 20 years without either Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo playing their club football in Europe.Argentina's Messi has signed for American side Inter Miami, after Portugual's Ronaldo moved to Saudi Arabia earlier this year, bringing the curtain down on their dominant stay in European football.
Steven Gerrard is considering an offer to become coach of Saudi club Al Ettifaq, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters."Al-Ettifaq made an offer to Gerrard.He welcomed the idea, but asked for time to study the offer," the source said.- Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) The former Liverpool captain, 43, left his role as coach of Aston Villa last October after a run of bad results.
Cristiano Ronaldo has said he is open to the idea of owning a football club after retiring from the game in "two to three years maximum."The Portugal international is under contract with Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr until June 2025 but is already making plans about his future.- Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) "I don't rule out becoming a club owner," Ronaldo, 38, told reporters during an event in Madrid to sponsor URSU 9 bottled water, his new business venture.
LIV Golf Joins a Club That Will Have It as a Member
They said it was about principles, but it was always about money.Despite vows from the leaders of the PGA Tour that they would not permit their game to be sullied, men's professional golf is now in thrall to Saudi Arabia, a nation engaged in a full-tilt attempt to distract the public from the abuse of its citizens through the glitz, gloss and worldwide appeal of sports.
Villa want Tielemans & Laporte - Wednesday's gossip
Chelsea have joined Barcelona and Liverpool in the race to sign Celta Vigo's Spanish midfielder Gabri Veiga.The 21-year-old has a £34.4mrelease clause.United will look to sell eight players this summer - captain Maguire, striker Anthony Martial 27, midfielders Fred, 30, and 26-year-old Scott McTominay, goalkeeper Dean Henderson, 26, and defenders Alex Telles, 30, Eric Bailly, 29, and Brandon Williams, 22. Out-of-contract Crystal Palace and Ivory Coast forward Wilfried Zaha, 30, has received a £15m-per-year offer to join Cristiano Ronaldo at Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr.
Man United ready to 'ramp up' interest in Rasmus Hojlund - Old Trafford Faithful
Man United are ready to step up their pursuit of Atalanta striker, Rasmus Hojlund.Manchester United Football Club need a new striker.Maybe two.Erik ten Hag lost Cristiano Ronaldo, while Wout Weghorst will not be staying on a permanent deal.The Old Trafford side need a 20+ goal-a-season man.That search has so far led United far and wide.
Weghorst's inept Cup cameo shows chasm Manchester United must cross | Jonathan Liew
With 14 minutes remaining, Pep Guardiola made his first substitution of the afternoon.Off came Kevin De Bruyne, the best player on the pitch, perhaps with a view to giving him a rest before next Saturday's Champions League final.On came a fresh Phil Foden, one of the best young players in Europe.Right.
FA Cup final: Lessons for Chelsea as Manchester United and Man City profit from putting faith in managers
T he word Manchester' has already been engraved on the FA Cup trophy, but a shared city is not the only thing tomorrow's finalists at Wembley have in common.Manchester City and Manchester United are two clubs whose managers rule the roost.And they are stronger for it.In Erik ten Hag, United finally seem to have not only an excellent tactician, but a superb communicator and decision-maker to take them out of the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era and into one defined by a new period of success.
Man United learn Rasmus Hojlund transfer fee ahead of possible move
Man United have learned how much the Rasmus Hojlund transfer fee would be this summer.Manchester United have been linked with every striker under the sun already, with the summer transfer window not even officially open for a little while, yet.Harry Kane is undoubtedly the top target, though prising him away from Tottenham Hotspur this summer may be pretty tough.
Kane, Mbappe and Osimhen A look at Real Madrid's possible striking targets
Real Madrid are in the market for a new centre-forward after announcing Karim Benzema's departure.The France international scored 354 goals in 648 appearances to become Real's second all-time top scorer, behind Cristiano Ronaldo, during a 14-year stay in the Spanish capital.Here, the PA news agency runs the rule over the main contenders to succeed Benzema at the Bernabeu.
Sutton's FA Cup final prediction v Noel Gallagher and Tom Grennan
The 142nd FA Cup final is the first to be an all-Manchester affair, but will it be City or United who will be celebrating at Wembley this weekend?We asked BBC Sport's football expert Chris Sutton for his prediction, as well as a famous fan of both teams - Manchester City supporter Noel Gallagher and Tom Grennan, who follows Manchester United.
Newcastle have offered Bruno Guimaraes a £200,000-a-week deal to ward off interest from Liverpool, Real Madrid and Barcelona and make the Brazil midfielder, 25, their highest-paid player.Liverpool are in talks with Argentina midfielder Alexis Mac Allister, 24, over personal terms and hope to complete his signing from Brighton next week.
A giant statue unveiled in Argentina of River Plate legend Marcelo Gallardo has sparked mockery among fans due to one exaggerated feature - an oversized crotch area.The eight-metre tall bronze statue of Gallardo, 47, which stands outside the club's Monumental Stadium, has inspired a host of internet memes.
High school chess player starts online tutoring to help diversify the game
In the midst of an ongoing national chess boom, a Whitney Young Magnet High School student started tutoring other students on how to play the game in his apartment courtyard.Then struck by the traditionally limited diversity in the chess world, Chetan Cherukuri began his own website, CourtyardChess.club, to help attract underrepresented players.