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As Cristiano Ronaldo was quick to point out, he has spent his storied career playing for the "most important" clubs in Europe. That also meant playing in the most popular leagues in the world in England, Spain and Italy for Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus. His move to Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr, however, signals a step into the unknown. The Saudi Pro League is unlikely to have been on the radar of the majority of his loyal following, but it is where the next and likely last chapter of his career will be played out after signing a two-and-a-half-year contract with Al Nassr. He will also hope to compete in the Asian Champions League next season if his new club qualifies for the biggest competition in Asian soccer. "In Europe my work is done," Ronaldo said when presented by Al Nassr in Riyadh on Tuesday. But what can the 37-year-old five-time Champions League winner expect from Saudi soccer? "I know the league is very competitive. People don't know that, but I know bec
Forty-five years after Pel played his last game, it's hard to imagine modern soccer, or Brazil, without him. Geovana Sarmento, 17, waited in the three-hour line to view his body as it lay in repose at the stadium where he played for most his career. She came with her father, who was wearing a Brazil shirt with Pel's name. I am not a Santos fan, neither is my father. But this guy invented Brazil's national team. He made Santos stronger, he made it big, how could you not respect him? He is one of the greatest people ever, we needed to honor him, she said. Pel will be buried Tuesday in the city where he grew up, became famous, and helped make into a global capital of soccer. A Catholic Mass will be celebrated at the Vila Belmiro stadium before his casket is ushered through the streets of Santos to a nearby cemetery. Brazil's newly inaugurated President Luiz Incio Lula da Silva, who was sworn in for a third term Sunday after a comeback victory, is expected to come to Vila Belmiro short
Reactions poured in from around the world to the death of Brazilian soccer legend Pele. He died of cancer in Brazil at age 82. His grace, athleticism and mesmerising moves transfixed players and fans. A simple goodbye to the eternal King Pel will never be enough to express the pain that hits the entire world of football at this moment. An inspiration for so many millions, a reference of yesterday, today, always. The affection he has always shown for me was reciprocal in every moment we shared, even at distance. He will never be forgotten and his memory will last for ever in each and everyone of us football lovers. Rest in peace, King Pel. Cristiano Ronaldo, Portuguese soccer star. ___ Your place is on God's side. My eternal king. Rest in peace. 1970 World Cup winner Roberto Rivellino and teammate of Pele on the Brazilian national team. ___ Before Pel, '10' was just a number. I read that somewhere at some point in my life. But that line, beautiful, is incomplete. I would say that
President Joe Biden telephoned the American World Cup team ahead of their opener against Wales, urging them to "let's go shock 'em all." Biden called the team at about 11.30 pm Friday, the US Soccer Federation said Sunday "It says POTUS. That's where it's coming from," United States coach Gregg Berhalter said, reading the phone's caller ID, according to excerpts of a video of players listening to the call. "Coach, put me in. I'm ready to play," Biden began, echoing John Fogerty's 1985 song "Centerfield." "You guys, I know you're the underdog, but I'll tell you what, man, you got some of the best players in the world on your team, and you're representing this country, and I know you're going to play your hearts out, so let's go shock 'em all, Biden said. You keep trusting in one another, play as hard as you can, and for you and your families, your teammates and the whole country's rooting for you," Biden went on. Berhalter and the players thanked Biden for his call, made two days
Gaining the right to host next year's Under-20 World Cup was a major milestone in Indonesia's soccer development, raising hopes that a successful tournament would turn around long-standing problems that have blighted the sport in this country of 277 million people. The death of at least 125 people at a league game between host Arema FC of East Java's Malang city and Persebaya Surabaya on Saturday is a tragic reminder, however, that Indonesia is one of the most dangerous countries in which to attend a game. Do remember that the FIFA U-20 World Cup will be the worldwide spotlight since the event will be joined by 24 countries from five continents, Indonesia's President Joko Widodo said last month as he pushed for thorough preparations for the tournament. Since Saturday, the domestic league has been suspended. Widodo has ordered the sports minister, the national police chief and the soccer federation to conduct a thorough investigation into the deadly stadium crush. Indonesia was the
Violence and a deadly stampede that erupted following a domestic league soccer match Saturday night marked another tragedy in Indonesian football. Here's a look at how the chaos occurred and what is being done to prevent future incidents. ___ HOW DID THE CHAOS OCCUR? Chaos broke out after Persebaya Surabaya defeated rival Arema Malang 3-2 in Saturday night's match in East Java's province Malang city. Police said there were some 42,000 spectators in the stadium, all of whom were Arema's supporters because the organiser had banned Persebaya fans in an effort to avoid brawls. But a disappointing loss by Arema - the first match lost to rival Persebaya at its home stadium - prompted angry spectators to pour into the field after the match to demand answers. Fans threw bottles and other objects at players and soccer officials and rioting spread outside the stadium, where at least five police cars were toppled and set ablaze and others damaged. Riot police responded with tear gas, which is
Erling Haaland is taking English soccer by storm. Back-to-back hat tricks. Nine goals in five games. No player has ever made as good a start to the Premier League as the towering Norway striker. Haaland's latest three-goal haul came in the first half of City's 6-0 thrashing of Nottingham Forest on Tuesday, three days after achieving the same feat in the second half against Crystal Palace. City was banking on Haaland being the heir to long-time striker Sergio Aguero and it's already looking as if that is the case. Aguero previously held the record for most goals in a player's first five Premier League appearances, with eight along with former Coventry striker Mick Quinn (from the early 1990s). Haaland has bettered that, and surely more scoring records will fall if he continues like this. For example, can he become the first player to score 40 goals in a single top-flight campaign in England since Tottenham's Jimmy Greaves in 1960-61? What Haaland wants is to win titles," Guardiola
Soccer clubs helping refugees from the war in Ukraine have been given 680,000 euros ($686,000) toward their humanitarian projects, the European Club Association said. Athletic Bilbao, Celtic, Dinamo Zagreb, Legia Warsaw and Maccabi Haifa are among 15 clubs awarded grants of between 25,000 euros and 50,000 euros. Their work is to assist displaced children and families during the ongoing Ukrainian humanitarian crisis, the ECA said. The ECA, which has about 250 member clubs, set aside 1 million euros ($1 million) in March in a fund for Ukrainian relief working alongside the UEFA Foundation for Children charity.
Real Madrid star forward Karim Benzema has been named as the 2021/22 UEFA Champions League Player of the Season.The Real Madrid striker took the award after topping the scoring charts with 15 goals and driving his team to glory during their run of breath-taking comebacks.The French striker was a talismanic figure for Madrid as he drove them on to a record 14th European title, and his fifth since he joined from Lyon in 2009.Not only did Benzema hit double figures for Champions League goals in a single season for the first time in his career, but his final tally of 15 also earned him the top spot in the competition scoring charts.Remarkably, a joint-record ten of those goals came in the knockout stage, beginning with a decisive late hat-trick against Paris Saint-Germain in the round of 16.He followed up with another treble away to Chelsea and then buried the extra-time winner to oust the holders in Spain, before a trio of goals against Manchester City in the semi-finals - including the .