Declan Rice has showered praise on Ghanaian midfielder Thomas Partey, insisting that the Black Stars deputy captain is vastly underrated.
Speaking ahead of Arsenal’s high-stakes UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg against Paris Saint-Germain, Rice highlighted Partey’s importance to the team.
Arsenal head into the match in France trailing 1-0 on aggregate, having missed Partey’s presence in the first leg due to suspension.
The Gunners struggled early in that match, with PSG taking control and scoring the decisive goal in the fourth minute through Ousmane Dembele.
Reflecting on the upcoming clash set for Wednesday, May 7, Rice expressed his admiration for Partey, noting that the former Atletico Madrid star brings immense quality and composure to the midfield.
“The best thing about playing with Thomas [Partey] is the calmness he brings to play with the team. Before I came to Arsenal there was so much talk about how good he is.
He doesn’t always get the recognition he deserves. I am quite lucky Thomas is there and he lets me roam up and down.”
Partey is in the final months of his contract with Arsenal and negotiations between his camp and the Gunners on a new deal have been reported.
Jude Bellingham has admitted that Real Madrid were fortunate to lose by only three goals in their 3-0 defeat to Arsenal in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal on Tuesday.
Arsenal took control of the game in the second half at the Emirates Stadium, with Declan Rice scoring two brilliant free kicks — the first direct free kicks of his entire career — and Mikel Merino adding a third goal late in the match.
The result puts the Gunners in a strong position going into the return leg at the Santiago Bernabéu next week.
Although Real Madrid are known for their dramatic Champions League comebacks, they have never managed to overturn a 3-0 first leg loss in the competition’s history.
“We were nowhere near [our level], and Arsenal were really good,” Bellingham told CBS. “They could have had way more. We were lucky to get away with three. There is a second leg, that’s the thing we’re holding onto. We’re going to need something unbelievably special, something crazy.”
Real Madrid, the 15-time Champions League winners, were shocked by Arsenal’s three quick goals in just 17 minutes during the second half of their quarterfinal first-leg match.
The first half had ended 0-0, with Mbappé missing a clear chance against Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya, and Thibaut Courtois making a good double save before halftime.
Speaking after the match, Jude Bellingham said, “You never know,” when asked if a comeback was possible. He admitted the team’s performance was far from good but added, “I can’t come out and say we’re gonna give up, that’s not in the nature of the club, the mentality they instill at this club. [It’s] 90 minutes at home to pull something out of the bag.”
The Spanish media had strong reactions the next day. Marca’s front page described the loss as a “humiliation” but also said, “nothing is impossible for Madrid.”
Another paper, Diario AS, stated that the team would be “obliged to perform another miracle” in the second leg.
Real Madrid has a history of pulling off dramatic comebacks, like during their 2022 run to the final when they came from behind to beat PSG, Chelsea, and Manchester City.
Although the team is currently second in La Liga and has made it to the Copa del Rey final, they have struggled in key games this season, including losing both El Clásico matches to Barcelona.
“It’s similar kind of themes that have happened to us all season when we’ve dropped points,” Bellingham told TNT. “It’s happened again tonight on a larger scale.
We’re going to need something special to turn it around, but special things can happen in football. And if there’s one place where it can, it’s at our house.
“They had a good game plan. They did a really good job at analysing how we would try and press them, they made a little change which helped them progress the ball forward more and that gave them more chance to have more waves of attacks and take more risks especially when the ball went wide. Credit to them, they were brilliant.
Even besides the free kicks, which are rare to score, they had a load more chances they could have punished us with.”
Madrid next play Alavés in LaLiga on Sunday, before hosting Arsenal at the Bernabéu next Wednesday.
Renowned Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti has reportedly decided to leave Real Madrid at the end of the 2024/25 season, despite having a contract that runs until June 2026.
According to Spanish radio station Onda Cero, which shared the news on Monday, January 20, 2025, Ancelotti’s decision appears to be final and is not influenced by the team’s performance or potential trophies this season.
Despite his planned departure, Ancelotti continues to have the full support of the club’s management, who have stood by him through recent challenges.
With his exit on the horizon, Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso has emerged as the frontrunner to replace him.
Alonso, currently under contract with Leverkusen until June 2026, is seen as the top candidate for the Real Madrid job.
Ancelotti will depart as the most successful coach in the club’s history, having secured an impressive 15 trophies over his two tenures.
Between his first stint from 2013 to 2015 and his return in 2021, Ancelotti has guided Real Madrid to remarkable achievements, including three UEFA Champions League titles,two La Liga championships, two Copa del Rey titles, two Spanish Supercopas, three UEFA Super Cups, two FIFA Club World Cups, and an Intercontinental Cup.
Real Madrid has announced that they are the highest-revenue-generating football club globally, surpassing €1 billion ($1.08 billion) in revenue according to their 2023-24 financial report.
Their revenue for the 2023-24 season, excluding player transfers, hit €1.073 billion. This marks an increase of €230 million, or 27%, compared to the previous year.
Winners of LaLiga, the UEFA Champions League, and the Spanish Super Cup, Real Madrid concluded the 2023-24 financial year with after-tax profits of €16 million, reflecting a 32% rise from the previous season.
Last season, Forbes valued Real Madrid at $6.07 billion, ranking it as the 11th most valuable sports team in the world and the most valuable football club. In comparison, Manchester United was placed 13th by Forbes with a valuation of $3 billion.
The Dallas Cowboys and the New York Yankees led Forbes’ most recent list with valuations of $9 billion and $7.1 billion, respectively.
“This is an unprecedented figure for any football club,” a Real Madrid statement said. “The club maintains its sound financial status with a net equity of €574m.
“The club has continued its profitable trajectory year after year since the turn of the century.
“Every line of business has seen growth, with the exception of broadcasting rights, where revenues received from LaLiga in 2023-24 were lower than in the 2022-23 season.”
Madrid, who recently secured France star Kylian Mbappé on a free transfer following the expiration of his contract with Paris Saint-Germain, is also predicting record-breaking figures for the 2024-25 financial year.
The statement added: “The club expectsthis commercial boost to continue and grow even stronger in the 2024-25 financial year, supported by the image-related benefits derived from both the composition of the playing squad and sporting success, as well as the renovated stadium.”
Manchester City and Manchester Unitedhave received the green light to participate in European competitions next season, as confirmed by UEFA’s Club Financial Control Body (CFCB).
Concerns had surfaced regarding Manchester City’s qualification for the UEFA Champions League, alongside LaLiga’s Girona, both of which are owned by the City Football Group.
Concurrently, Manchester United secured a spot in the Europa League by winning the FA Cup, while Nice, a Ligue 1 team owned by Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS group, also qualified.
The involvement of two clubs under the same ownership in one European competition posed a potential conflict with UEFA’s multi-club ownership regulations. Consequently, adjustments had to be implemented at the board level of all four clubs to ensure their eligibility.
UEFA confirmed on Friday that there had been “significant changes made to the ownership, governance, and financial support of the concerned clubs” which would “substantially restrict the investors’ influence and decision-making power.”
The shares held in Girona and Nice have been transferred to independent trustees “through a blind trust structure established under the supervision of the CFCB.”
The arrangement is limited to the current 2024-25 season, after which ownership shares will revert to City Football Group and INEOS.
Ratcliffe obtained a 27.7% stake in United in February, while INEOS, the chemical company he established and currently leads as CEO, acquired Nice in 2019.
According to a source familiar with the matter, UEFA has already intervened to prevent United from pursuing the signing of Nice defender Jean-Clair Todibo.
“They’ve said we can sell him to another Premiership club,” Ratcliffe said in an interview last month.
“But we can’t sell to Manchester United. But that’s not fair on the player and I don’t see what that achieves.”
UEFA announced on Friday that Manchester United and Manchester City have mutually agreed to a transfer embargo with their affiliated clubs, Nice and Girona, respectively, until September 2025.
This agreement effectively prevents any player transfers between these clubs during the upcoming summer transfer window in 2025.
Despite this restriction, sources informed ESPN that Manchester City are likely to finalize the signing of Sávio during this summer. The winger, previously on loan at Girona, will join City from Troyes, his parent club, which did not qualify for the Champions League.
French forward, Kylian Mbappe,has revealed that “things and people” contributed to his dissatisfaction during his last year at Paris St-Germain.
At 25 years old, Mbappe is set to embark on a new chapter with Real Madrid, signing a five-year contract once his tenure with Paris St-Germain concludes on June 30th.
The decision not to extend his Paris St-Germain contract for an additional year, made clear last August, sparked a standoff between Mbappe and the club.
This impasse led to Mbappe training separately from the first team as negotiations reached an impasse.
“At PSG I wasn’t unhappy, that would be biting the hand that feeds you and spitting in the face of all the people who defended me, but things and people made me unhappy,” said Mbappe on Tuesday.
“But there are things that you can’t show because I was a leader and you don’t follow someone who drags their sadness around.”
Mbappe said PSG boss Luis Enrique and adviser Luis Campos “saved me.”
“Without them, I would never have set foot on the field again,” he added on the eve of France’s friendly with Luxembourg in Metz.
“I’m more proud of that season when I know everything I had to go through to play.
“It was lower by my standards, but just playing, repeating matches and winning trophies was my greatest pride. But next year, I won’t be satisfied with a season like that.”
While Kylian Mbappe played a pivotal role in securing six Ligue 1 titles for PSG, he is now eagerly anticipating a new beginning with Real Madrid, the reigning champions of the UEFA Champions League.
“It’s a huge pleasure and a dream come true,” he added.
His choice, while not unexpected, is mainly attributed to his extensive injury setbacks and extended periods of inactivity during his tenure at Real Madrid.
In an interview with L’Avenir news outlet, Hazard disclosed additional factors that influenced his decision to step away from the game.
“I always said that I would stop playing as soon as I no longer had fun on the field,” he is quoted to have said.
Insinuating that he could have swapped Europe for the Gulf, where a number of his contemporaries are currently plying their trade, he said: “I didn’t want to go play somewhere for the money. I didn’t enjoy training, and I didn’t play anymore. The decision was simple,” told L’Avenir.
The Chelsea legend announced his retirement on October 10 in an emotional statement on his Instagram page.
“You must listen to yourself and say stop at the right time. After 16 years and more than 700 matches played, I have decided to end my career as a professional footballer,” he wrote in part, thanking his clubs and national side.
Eden Hazard, arguably one of the greatest Belgian players ever, played 749 games, scored 200 goals, provided 193 assists, and won 15 trophies, including theUEFA Champions League, Premier League, UEFA Europa League, La Liga and others.
Ghana international Thomas Partey will be part of the Arsenal squad that takes on RC Lens in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, October 3.
The Black Stars midfield enforcer, after weeks of layoffs, has finally resumed full training with his teammates.
On Monday, when he trained with his teammates, he was given a heartwarming welcome and showed massive love.
According to Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, “Thomas [Partey] has progressed really well in the last two weeks. He’s training with us now”.
With Thomas Partey now back in good shape and displaying sharp form, there’s a likelihood that he might see some playing time in the UEFA Champions League match against RC Lens on Tuesday night.
Arsenal enters the Group B fixture as the group leaders, following their convincing victory over PSV in the initial game.
While it’s not the ideal expectation for Thomas Partey to start the match, as he’s gradually reintegrated into the squad, there is a possibility that he could be substituted into the game at some point.
Reports indicate that bothArsenal and Tottenham are closely monitoring the situation surrounding Ousmane Dembele, the PSG winger.
Dembele, formerly of Barcelona, made a £50 million ($61 million) move to PSG earlier this year, transitioning from La Liga to Ligue 1.
According to information from The Mirror, the two north London clubs, as well as West Ham, are keeping a close watch on his evolving circumstances.
The report suggests that a potential loan move might be a feasible option for the 26-year-old player.
Dembele has struggled to find his form with the current French champions and has yet to score a goal for Luis Enrique’s team.
Consequently, there is substantial speculation about a temporary transfer to the Premier League in January.
Meanwhile, PSG is set to return to domestic action later on Sunday following their successful 2-0 victory against Borussia Dortmund in their opening UEFA Champions League match of the season.
They will be hosting Marseille at theParc des Princes and have the opportunity to climb as high as third place in the league standings with a victory.
Following a series of disappointing results in the English Premier League,Manchester United’s goalkeeper, Andre Onana, found himself in a state of deep despair after his team’s defeat to Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday, September 21, 2023.
Under the management of Erik Ten Haag, Manchester United had been struggling in domestic competitions, and their trip to the Allianz Arena didn’t provide the redemption they had hoped for.
Despite putting up a valiant fight, they ultimately succumbed to a 4-3 loss against the formidable hosts.
During the match, Onana received criticism for his performance, with several of Bayern Munich’s goals being attributed to his errors.
Nevertheless, his teammates rallied around him on the pitch, offering words of consolation after the final whistle.
In the post-match press conference, the Cameroonian international demonstrated a commendable sense of responsibility by openly acknowledging his role in the game’s outcome.
“It’s my responsibility; because of me, we didn’t win—and I have to learn from it. I have a lot to prove, because to be honest, my start inMan United is not so good,” he is quoted to have said.
During the draw for the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League on August 31, English club Arsenal was placed in group B alongside French team RC Lens, Spanish outfit Sevilla, and PSV Eindhoven from the Netherlands, which will however, see the group stage clash between Arsenal and RC Lens feature two notable Ghanaian players, Thomas Partey from Arsenal and Abdul Salis Ahmed from RC Lens, making it a matchup to watch in the UEFA Champions League.
Partey, with previous Champions League experience during his time with Atletico Madrid, will bring his seasoned skills to the competition.
In contrast, it will be the inaugural Champions League campaign for Salis and RC Lens, who finished as runners-up in the 2022/23 French Ligue 1.
Partey, aged 30, made 33 appearances for Arsenal last season, scoring three goals, and has already participated in all three games for Mikel Arteta’s side in the current season.
Meanwhile, Salis, aged 23, appeared in 33 games for Lens last season and netted a goal.
Despite currently nursing an injury after featuring in three matches for Lens, Salis is expected to make a return ahead of theirChampions League clash, which is scheduled to commence on Tuesday, September 19, 2023.
Popular Ghanaian comic actor and founder of the Dabo Soccer Academy, Samuel Yaw Dabo, has unveiled his plans to send his team on a tour in Europe.
In May 2023, the actor embarked on his own European tour to establish connections between his academy and clubs on the continent.
During his tour, he visited Germany, France, and the Netherlands, where he met with Ajax star Mohammed Kudus.
Subsequently, he headed to Spain and had the opportunity to witness Real Madrid’s UEFA Champions League semi-final first-leg game against Manchester City at the Santiago Bernabeu in May 2023.
While on his European journey, Dabo emphasized his desire to give back to society, frequently visiting orphanages and villages to recruit young players for his soccer academy.
His commitment to nurturing talent and contributing positively to the community remains a prominent aspect of his endeavors.
“I have the Dabo Soccer Academy, because we have to support others. That’s my dream because, when you get money, you have to give it to somebody because everybody needs help,” he told Marca.
Speaking to Plus One TV, Dabo said “We are putting up plans to go on a tour in Europe soon. We will make sure no player runs away from the team. One of the countries we will visit is Spain due to my link with Marca. We will engage in competitive friendlies and tournaments”, he said.
Dabo has also disclosed that plans have begun for the construction of a training pitch and a multi-purpose sports complex at Nyinahin a town in the Ashanti Region of Ghana.
Frank Lampard has hinted that he may be keeping an eye on social media, acknowledging the discussions surrounding his coaching career, particularly his second tenure at Chelsea.
Following Graham Potter’s dismissal, Lampard returned to Chelsea in April as the interim manager until the season’s end. Fans expressed concerns about his reappointment, and it turns out their reservations were justified.
Unfortunately, the team’s performance declined, resulting in a disappointing 12th place finish in the league. Additionally, they were knocked out of theUEFA Champions League quarter-finals by Real Madrid.
The season concluded with just one victory in 11 matches, which was a 3-1 win over Bournemouth.
Lampard explains second spell failure
Chelsea fans are some of the funniest in the world. Their initial thoughts about Lampard’s first spell made them put all blame on their legend, but if a team has remained the same under four managers, questions should be asked of the players.
“When I got there, I could just see the spirit and togetherness wasn’t there. It was nothing bad, it wasn’t bad to go through the week, but you have to train elite to be elite. You have to,” he said on Diary of a CEO Podcast.
”The biggest thing about it was the size of the squad. The motivation of players who you’re not going to not play… it’s like asking someone to do all the prep and then have someone else actually do the job.”
However, it is no longer Frank’s problem; it isMauricio Pochettino‘s, and the Argentine already began downsizing the squad with a clear plan, as detailed by The Athletic.
Lampard’s message to Mount
Sports Brief reported that Lampard sent a message to Mason Mount after the midfielder left Chelsea and joined rivals Manchester United, a decision which still angers the fans.
The 44-year-old gave the academy star his debut and admits he would have loved to see him continue at Chelsea, but has no doubt he will add something to the Red Devils.
Fellow countryman of Didier Drogba, Yaya Toure, has bestowed high praise upon him, recognizing him as one of the greatest players to emerge from Africa.
Drogba’s illustrious career, predominantly with Chelsea, was marked by numerous achievements, particularly his ability to deliver in crucial moments, scoring vital goals in multiple finals, including Chelsea’s memorable UEFA Champions League victory in 2012.
In 2015, Drogba returned to Chelsea for a six-month loan spell under former manager Jose Mourinho, contributing to the team’s success by adding another Premier League title to his collection, making it a total of four during his initial eight-year tenure at Stamford Bridge.
Despite his eventual rise to prominence, Drogba faced challenges early on in his career.
Interestingly, he initially started as a right-back, and in case his football aspirations did not materialize, he had a backup plan as a registered accountant, as reported by Sports Brief.
Toure names Drogba scariest opponent
The Ivorian striker was a nightmare for defenders with his strength, quick feet, and powerful shots, with even midfielders scared of his ability to turn games around.
His compatriot, Toure, has named Drogba the player he feared playing against the most during his career and for a reason he called the 44-year-old’s greatest strength.
“The guy who I always feared to play against the most was [Drogba]. For me, his header was stronger than his shot,” Toure said on BBC MOTD, via ESPN UK.
The two faced off a few times during Champions League games between Chelsea and Barcelona, as well as during their time in the Premier League.
Both share a combined six African Footballer of the Year awards between them, with the former Manchester City midfielder picking up four consecutively between 2011-2014, per Sky Sports.
The former Barcelona star also helped his country win anAfrica Cup of Nations title in 2015, a feat Drogba and co. fell just short of in 2012.
Bonucci names Drogba strongest opponent
Sports Brief also reported on Leonardo Bonucci naming Drogba his strongest opponent and one of the strikers that made him lose sleep ahead of games.
The pair faced each other a couple of times in the EPL, but the Italian mentioned a specific game between Juventus and Galatasaray he still thinks about.
Jack Grealish has recently constructed a bar in his lavish multimillion-dollar residence, following his wild celebrations to mark Manchester City’s historic season, according to reports.
City achieved the remarkable feat of winning the treble by securing the UEFA Champions League title against Inter Milan, in addition to clinching the Premier League trophy and the FA Cup by defeating Arsenal and Manchester United, respectively.
Several online videos showcased Grealish leading the exuberant celebrations, reaching a climax after City’s triumph in Istanbul.
Despite the festivities, Grealish was seen the next morning still wearing his football kit before jetting off to Ibiza.
He also made headlines for assisting the police in controlling the crowds during an open-air trophy parade.
Contrary to expectations, the new bar in Grealish’s home is said to offer only healthy beverage options such as wheatgrass shots and spirulina smoothies, as reported by The Sun.
This choice of drinks may cater more to the preferences of Grealish’s fiancée, Sasha Atwood, who reportedly follows a rigorous early morning gym routine.
The ‘healthy bar’ is among the new leisure items the former Aston Villa captain has introduced, in addition to a plunge room, a sauna, a spa, and a changing room.
Grealish involved in gruelling drills
This was much-needed for the winger, who would want to get himself into peak condition after watching from the sub’s bench without playing a single minute.
After the game, Grealish was also mobbed by a group of eager stewards, who were eager to take photos withthe Man City superstar and acquire his autograph.
Barcelona has officially announced the appointment of former midfielder Deco as the club’s new Sporting Director.
Prior to this role, Deco had previously worked with Barcelona as a scout and agent, helping to sign players such as Raphinha.
According to Football Espana, Barcelona president Joan Laporta has confirmed that Deco will commence his new position with the reigning La Liga champions in mid-July.
Deco, who played a vital role for Barcelona in the mid-2000s after joining from Porto in 2004, was instrumental in the team’s UEFA Champions League triumph in 2006. He is also one of the few players to have won the prestigious tournament with two different clubs.
In his new role as Sporting Director, Deco is reportedly focused on bolstering the team’s right-back position.
With Jules Kounde no longer willing to fulfill those duties, Deco is actively working on bringing in a new player for the position.
Ivan Fresneda is mentioned as one potential option for Barcelona. The club is attracted to Fresneda’s qualities, and they believe they can negotiate a reduced transfer fee, possibly around €15 million.
In other news, Deco recently shared his insights on why Portugal fell short at the 2022 World Cup, highlighting the factors contributing to their disappointing campaign.
Having represented Portugal in 75 matches, Deco believes that if Lionel Messi had been a part of the team, the Selecao could have emerged as champions in the tournament.
Messi, the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, played a pivotal role in leading Argentina to their third World Cup triumph in Qatar.
Agent Dario Canovi has recently addressed the future of Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen, stating that Napoli officials are willing to sell the talented Nigerian star for a substantial fee during this summer transfer window.
Osimhen, who previously played for Lille, has attracted significant transfer speculation since April due to his impressive goal-scoring displays at Napoli, where he finished the previous season as the top scorer with 26 goals.
Currently enjoying his holiday in Nigeria, Osimhen has made a memorable impact at Napoli, earning the admiration and support of the club’s fans who hope he will remain with the team.
Osimhen who is currently spending his holiday in Nigeria has recorded his name in the history books at Napoli and the club’s fans want him to stay after winning their hearts.
The 24-year-old who recently scored a brace for the Super Eagles against Sierra Leone has refused to make any valid statement regarding his future at Napoli.
According to the reports on Complete Sports and Daily Post, Canovi made it clear that it will be difficult for Napoli eggheads to keep Osimhen for another season.
Dario Canovi speaks about Osimhen
“Osimhen makes you greedy, football is now business,Osimhen is also worth more than 150 million (euros), so it would be very difficult to resist I think Italian football will lose another great champion to an offer like this.
”Team like Newcastle, but certainly not Liverpool, one of the two from Manchester, or Chelsea, we realize that England is from another football planet.”
The 24-year-old had a remarkable 2023-24 season helping Napoli to the Scudetto for the first time in over three decades, scoring 26 league goals.
He also helped the club reach the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League for the first time in their history.
Osimhen also netted a brace as Nigeria defeated Sierra Leone 3-2 in Monrovia to qualify for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations starting in Ivory Coast in January.
Haaland joined the national team following days of exuberant celebrations after Manchester City’s triumph in the UEFA Champions League, where they completed the treble.
His contribution to City’s successful season was significant, with 54 goals in all competitions. He even secured the golden boots in both the UCL and Premier League.
However, towards the end of the season, Haaland experienced a dip in form, failing to find the net in the last six games. This included crucial matches like the FA Cup and Champions League finals against Manchester United and Inter Milan.
Haaland struggled for Norway
The 22-year-old returned to his home country and was selected to start the qualifying game against Scotland but was below par throughout his 84 minutes on the pitch.
Squawka noted his abysmal first half, where he recorded just eight touches of the ball and made three passes. Fans think he was still battling with the hangover from the celebrations, but his head coach Stale Solbakken has revealed why.
“He asked to be changed. We kept him on the pitch 10-12 minutes longer. In the last few minutes he was on the field, we played with one less man,” he told reporters as translated by Goal.
“He was completely empty. He has only played 60 minutes several times before. We’re talking about it being 30 degrees; it is applied. He ran out of steam.”
Sports Brief reported that Haaland aimed a dig at Arsenal with a Champions League song during City’s treble celebrations.
City has been mocked with the song ‘Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that’ by Nottingham Forest fans all season, and the 22-year-old asked that the Citizens fans sing the same.
To celebrate a historic season where Manchester City secured the treble, Pep Guardiola has presented gifts to the members of the club’s backroom staff.
Manchester City joined an elite group of English clubs by achieving the treble, following their victory over Inter Milan in the UEFA Champions League final on June 10, which marked their first-ever European title.
Prior to this remarkable feat, Guardiola’s team had successfully defended their Premier League title, surpassing long-standing frontrunners Arsenal, and also emerged victorious against their cross-city rivals, Manchester United, in the FA Cup final.
The Telegraph now reports the City manager has decided to give his share of the bonuses to the unseen members of his backroom staff.
The exact figure is not known, but players often get around €750,000 for winning silverware and the head coach is believed to be getting a more or less similar amount.
Who did Guardiola gift?
Among those gifted include the security personnel and receptionists at the club. Daily Mail adds that the staff who work on the administration side are often gifted bonuses for each trophy won.
City players have been on a four-day party since theChampions League win, before those who were called up left to join their respective national sides on the global state.
Guardiola will be aiming to win his fourth consecutive title next season.
Meanwhile, Man City will be looking to bolster their ranks in the transfer window with the futures of Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva in doubt. They have already been linked with moves for Chelsea’s Matteo Kovacic and RB Leipzig’s Josko Gvardiol.
Managers who have won treble
Manchester City are still in a celebratory mood after winning their first-ever UEFA Champions League, beating Inter Milan 1-0 to complete the treble.
City joined other European clubs completing the treble, while Guardiola became the only manager to win it twice after doing so with Barcelona.
Sports Brief has looked at the six managers to have won the UEFA Champions League, domestic league and domestic cup in one season.
Real Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger has expressed his desire to reunite with Chelsea star Kai Havertz, who has been linked with a potential permanent transfer to Arsenal in the upcoming summer transfer window.
Since his arrival from Bayer Leverkusen in 2020 for a fee of approximately £72 million, Havertz, 24, has been a regular starter for Chelsea. He has played a significant role in the team’s success, including their UEFA Champions League triumph and other trophies.
According to The Telegraph, both Real Madrid and Arsenal have shown interest in signing the 35-time capped German international. Chelsea, on the other hand, reportedly aim to sell Havertz for a fee of £70 million.
During an interview with AS, Rudiger was asked for his opinion on Havertz joining the La Liga giants. He replied:
“It would make me happy to play with Kai Havertz again at club level after our time together at Chelsea. Unfortunately,
I can’t say a lot about it right now because in terms of transfers, my opinion is secondary. They are all club decisions.”
Should the German secure a summer move to Real Madrid, he would emerge as a first-team face for them.
He could provide a versatile solution to their striking crisis in the aftermath of Karim Benzema’s permanent switch to Al-Ittihad.
Havertz’s elite addition to Arsenal
On the other hand, Havertz could prove to be a shrewd signing for Arsenal.
While he could provide solid competition to starting striker Gabriel Jesus, he could also serve as an elite rotational option for Martin Odegaard as a number 10.
Overall, Havertz has scored 32 goals and laid out 15 assists in 139 games across all competitions for Chelsea.
Obstacle impeding Havertz’s Madrid move
Earlier Sports Brief reported that Madrid have no intention to pay Chelsea’s €60m plus add-ons asking price and are willing to look elsewhere if it doesn’t come down, reports Fabrizio Romano.
Chelsea is expected to discuss the future of Havertz in the coming days as they expect more clubs to approach them over the 23-year-old.
Michael Essien, the former Ghanaian international and Chelsea star, has chosen his former teammate Frank Lampard as the best player he has ever played alongside.
Essien and Lampard shared the pitch during their time at Chelsea, where they achieved notable success, including winningthe UEFA Champions League, the Premier League title, the FA Cup, the Community Shield, and the Football League Cup.
Essien joined Chelsea in 2005 after transferring from Olympique Marseille, while Lampard had joined the club from West Ham in 2001. Both players departed Chelsea at the conclusion of the 2013/2014 season.
Throughout their time together, they formed a formidable partnership on the field, leading Essien to regard Lampard as the finest player he has had the privilege of playing alongside.
According to Essien, he played with a lot and loved all his teammates, but his midfield partner Lampard is the best of them all.
“Everybody is my teammate. I love all my teammates; I mean it’s hard to choose. But I would go for Frank Lampard. I mean, being a midfielder that scores a lot of goals every season is quite amazing”, he told Goal Africa.
Essien. 40, had a successful playing career which saw him play for top European teams such as Bastia, Lyon, Chelsea, Real Madrid, AC Milan, Panathinaikos, Persib Bandung and Sabail where he ended his playing career
Currently, he is attached to Danish club Nordsjaelland, where he works as an assistant coach.
Manchester City has received a warning not to become complacent following their historic achievement of winning the UEFA Champions League and completing the elusive treble.
The team reached their second-ever final and went one step further this time, defeating Inter Milan 1-0 at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, having previously lost to Chelsea in their first final two years ago.
The decisive goal came from Spanish midfielder Rodri in the second half, as he skillfully found the net while evading two Inter defenders and goalkeeper Andre Onana.
This victory marks Pep Guardiola’s second treble, with his first coming during his inaugural season as the manager of Barcelona in 2008/09. This achievement formed part of an extraordinary sextuple-winning season for the Catalan club.
Despite this remarkable success, it is cautioned that Manchester City must not become complacent and should continue to strive for further accomplishments in the future.
Wenger issues warning to Guardiola
Legendary former Arsenal boss, Arsene Wenger is critical even in celebrations of City’s achievements and has sent a warning to Guardiola on what to do next to keep the team afloat.
“What do you do now at City? Do you go for a new challenge? Motivate yourself for a new challenge? Or do you stay, take advantage of the credit and continue to develop this team?” he said, via Mirror UK.
The Gunners legend believes it is certain the club will also lose important players in short order.
“This team is not an old team but there are no young players. Apart from Haaland, who is 22 now, all the others are between 24 and 32 years old. So two or three new players will need to change. They have to find the same quality again.”
Wenger’s advice is something the former Barcelona boss is already a master at. He has the ability to move players on before they degenerate totally in the team.
According to The Sun, City are planning a summer overhaul which includes Ilkay Gundogan, Kyle Walker, Aymeric Laporte, Joao Cancelo, Kalvin Philips, Bernardo Silva, and Riyad Mahrez.
Ferguson sends message to Guardiola
It was also reported on Sir Alex Ferguson sending a message to Guardiola ahead of the final, which saw City become the second English club to win the treble after the Scot’s 1998/99 squad.
The Citizens also won their third consecutive Premier League title this season, matching another of Fergie’s records, which he achieved twice during his 27 years at the helm of Manchester United.
The final of the 2022/2023 European football season was marked by the UEFA Champions League final held in Istanbul.
This season proved to be physically demanding for all involved, as it featured a packed schedule, including a significant break for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
In a tightly contested match at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium, a decisive goal came from Rodri of Manchester City.
His superb curling shot from inside the penalty area secured victory against Inter Milan, allowing Manchester City to achieve a historic treble.
Considering the significance of both the World Cup and the Champions League, it is evident that these tournaments will play a vital role in determining the recipient of the highly coveted individual accolade in football, the Ballon d’Or.
It is set to be a two-horse race for the 2023 award. Sports Brief takes a look at how the vote would possibly go later this year in October.
6. Ilkay Gundogan
Should we call him Mr. Clutch instead? Gundogan’s late bloom to win the Premier League and the FA Cup for Manchester City in his first season as captain has seen his odds rise immensely.
He is definitely bettered by De Bruyne and Haaland in his own team, but his 13 goals and seven goals – especially towards the end of the season – cannot go unmentioned.
Ilkay Gundogan
He joins only a few captains to have captained their sides to winning a treble.
5. Vinicius Junior
It is a good thing the Ballon d’Or award does not account for only the kind of trophies won, but also individual performances as well.
The Real Madrid goal machine finished the season with the Copa Del Rey, the Club World Club, and the UEFA Super Cup.
Barcelona fans were heard chanting ‘Vinicius Die’ during the recent El Clasico fixture at Camp Nou. Image: Alex Caparros Source: Getty Images Read more: https://sportsbrief.com/football/barcelona/36867-barcelona-supporters-verbally-abuse-real-madrid-superstar-chants-vinicius-die/
He is the only player in Europe’s top 5 leagues to have scored at least 20 goals (24) and provided at least 20 assists (25) in all competitions, bar Lionel Messi.
4. Kylian Mbappe
If Messi will dominate this debate because of the World Cup, then his soon-to-be former teammate at Paris Saint-Germain, Kylian Mbappe deserves a shout as well – and with good reason.
The Frenchman was unlucky not to win the December 18 final at the Qatar World Cup despite a historic performance that saw him grab a hat-trick. He missed out on the trophy but won the Golden Boot.
Kylian Mbappe
He has also scored 53 goals and provided 14 assists this season in all competitions, on top of winning the Ligue 1.
3. Kevin De Bruyne
The Belgian heartbreakingly limped off in the UCL final – the second such time he has been forced off injured in the last game of a tournament.
Pep Guardiola and Kevin De Bruyne are dreaming of Champions League success with City (Martin Rickett/PA)
The 31-year-old remains the most elite playmaker in Europe, having provided 32 assists in all competitions.
2. Lionel Messi
Captaining his country and starring at the World Cup at 35 years, finally winning the trophy that eluded him in his illustrious career, saw Messi complete a romantic football moment.
After the Qatar triumph, it looked like he was a stroll for his record eighth Ballon d’Or title, only for Haaland’s heroics in that Manchester City super team to turn a solid argument into a debate.
Messi back in training with PSG after Saudi trip suspension and fine
Apart from the World Cup, the Argentine has also scored 38 times and provided 25 assists in all competitions.
1. Erling Haaland
Between the Champions League and the World Cup, the latter understandably carries more weight. However, the Man City striker has closed the gap on the serial winner, Messi in recent months after the Qatar event.
The 22-year-old might have been silent in the UCL final, but his 53 goals across all competitions helped the Citizens complete the historic treble, with the crowning moment coming in Turkey on June 10.
Erling Haaland has starred in his first season at Manchester City
The last time a player from the Premier League won the Ballon d’Or was Cristiano Ronaldo in 2008, after success in the UCL with Manchester United – an occurence Haaland has now replicated with Manchester City.
Could the Norwegian land his first Ballon d’Or at just 22 years of age – it seems so.
Other 2023 Ballon d’Or candidates
Meanwhile, Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s respective roles in Napoli’s title-winning season will surely hand them a place in the final top 10 places.
Lautaro Martinez did not play a big role in Argentina’s World Cup triumph but delivered in Inter Milan’s run to the Istanbul final and winning a domestic double.
His international teammate, Julian Alvarez, having won the treble with Man City plus the 2022 World Cup, will also feature among the top-ranked players.
Robert Lewandowski suffered an unfamiliar early exit from the Champions League this term but still won another Golden Boot award, this time in a different league.
Reigning holder, Karim Benzema failed to inspire another European success for Real Madrid, but his 31 goals before joining Al-Ittihad will put him in good standing.
The list of the nominees for this year’s Ballon d’Or awards will be announced on September 6, with the winners being announced at a gala in Paris on October 30.
Biggest Ballon d’Or robberies in history
It was also reported on the decision to hold the 2022 World Cup in the ‘weird’ month of December brought about unprecedented debate ahead of the 2023 Ballon d’Or race.
Nigerian afrobeat singer, Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, popularly called Burna Boy, on Saturday performed at the UEFA Champions League final.
The 2023 UEFA Champions League final football match between Manchester City and Inter Milan took place at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, Turkey.
Burna Boy performed alongside Brazilian singer, Anitta.
It can be recalled that Burna Boy on Friday received four nominations in the 2023 edition of the Black Entertainment Television, BET, Awards.
This is coming a week after the singer became the first African artiste to sell out the 80,000-capacity London Stadium in the UK.
On Saturday Nigerian afrobeat singer, Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, known as Burna Boyperformed at the UEFA Champions League final.
The 2023 UEFA Champions League final football match between Manchester City and Inter Milan took place at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, Turkey.
Burna Boy performed alongside Brazilian singer, Anitta.
It can be recalled that Burna Boy on Friday received four nominations in the 2023 edition of the Black Entertainment Television,BET, Awards.
This is coming a week after the singer became the first African artiste to sell out the 80,000-capacity London Stadium in the UK.
Lothar Matthaus, the former German international, has expressed his belief that Sadio Mane’s tenure at Bayern Munich appears to be reaching its conclusion.
This assumption stems from the fact that the Senegalese player once again started the recent defeat against RB Leipzig from the bench.
Sadio Mane
Mane’s relationship with the club took a downturn following a confrontation with teammate Leroy Sane in the dressing room, which occurred after Bayern’s loss to Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League back in March.
Additionally, since returning from injury in February, the Senegalese forward has encountered struggles in terms of form, often being brought on as a substitute in most of the matches.
According to Matthaus, who was in Ghana early this week for the launch of his co-ownership of Accra Lions, stated Mane could leave at the end of the season.
“Bayern will let him go, yes. I think the relationship between Bayern Munich and Mane is over,” he told Super Sport TV.
“After the last game on Saturday, he was in in the last ten minutes and a young player came before him. I think the relationship was maybe a mistake. There were so many mistakes Bayern were making in the last 12 months.”
Matthaus also mentioned Mane having returned from an injury following the 2022 World Cup.
“This didn’t make him happy, didn’t make Bayern happy and he never performed like he did at Liverpool two years ago.”
Mane joined Bayern last summer after six successful seasons with Liverpool, where he won the Premier League, the UEFA Champions League, the FA Cup, and the League Cup.
However, he might end the season without a trophy after the Bavarians let their league crown slip away from them by losing to RB Leipzig last week, as reported by the BBC.
Matthaus slams Bayern over Nagelsmann
Earlier, Sports Brief reported that World Cup winner and former Player of the Year, Matthaus blamed Bayern for recent woes and said it came down to poor decisions.
Julian Nagelsmann
Earlier this year, the German giants fired manager, Julian Nagelsmann and replaced him with former Chelsea coach, Thomas Tuchel – a choice which has backfired.
Bayern Munich could end the season without a sniff of silverware, having been eliminated from the UEFA Champions League and the DFB-Pokal.
The renowned Argentine superstar is poised to make his acting debut, indicating his interest in the world of entertainment.
Having achieved immense success in football, including four UEFA Champions League titles and seven Ballon d’Or awards, the 35-year-old has left an indelible mark on the sport.
Reports from Sportskeeda suggest that Messi will be appearing in the second season of the popular Argentine TV series ‘Los Protectores.’
The show revolves around the struggles of three football agents who have faced financial ruin and are in desperate need of money.
This acting opportunity allows Messi to explore his talents beyond the realm of football.
The second season of ‘Los Protectores’ will premiere on June 25 and features Adrian Suar, Andres Parra, Gustavo Bermudez and Lionel Messi as the star actors in the TV series.
Messi, who guided Argentina to the2022 FIFA World Cup trophy, is yet to disclose his next football club with his current deal with Paris Saint-Germain set to expire this summer.
Messi to Chelsea transfer gains momentum
Meanwhile, Chelsea owner Todd Boehly has been given a last-gasp chance to sign Lionel Messi for the struggling Premier League club this summer.
Despite offers from all over the world, Messi wants to stay in Europe and win the Champions League again and the Blues will try to convince the 35-year-old to make the switch to Stamford Bridge.
While Chelsea will not be in the Champions League next season, owner Boehly will not be shy about splashing the cash, and a goal scorer is at the top of his wish list.
Messi meets with Barcelona captains
Earlier, Sports Brief reported Barcelona players got a break from training last week following their La Liga Santander title triumph against RCD Espanyol and the subsequent bus parade.
Though two are set to depart, the three club captains,Sergio Busquets, Sergi Roberto, and Jordi Alba travelled to Paris, where they met with former teammate Lionel Messi.
The three Barcelona veterans met with their former teammate over dinner in Paris last week and many things, including their club futures, were discussed.
AZ Alkmaar has issued an apology for the violent incident that marred West Ham’sEuropa Conference League semi-final victory, describing it as a “pitch-black evening.”
Following Pablo Fornals’ stoppage-time goal, securing a 3-1 aggregate win for West Ham and securing their place in the final in Prague, a group of black-shirted, hooded AZ ultras attempted to breach the area reserved for friends and family behind the dugout.
In response to the disturbance, players such as Michail Antonio, Said Benrahma, Aaron Cresswell, and Flynn Downes climbed over the advertising hoardings to intervene and prevent further trouble.
Recognizing the gravity of the situation, AZ Alkmaar has expressed regret for the violence that took place and acknowledges the need to address and rectify the incident.
West Ham players clash with AZ Alkmaar
An AZ statement read: “While everyone hoped for a historic European match, it turned into a pitch-black evening due to the events occurring at the referee’s final whistle. It turned into a night to reflect on with shame.
“Not because of the football game played, but because of the behaviour of some attending. Unfortunately, we cannot use the word ‘supporters’ for these people.
“What happened is beyond all bounds. The club again sincerely apologises to West Ham and the thousands of well-minded AZ supporters who have also been inconvenienced by the misconduct.
“In the coming period AZ will – together with the police, Public Prosecution Service, and Alkmaar’s municipality – evaluate exactly what happened, how it could have happened and what needs to be improved from now on.
It is clear that things need to be improved.
“Part of the evaluation is a thorough review of all available footage so that appropriate consequences may follow for those responsible for this outrageous behaviour.
“AZ is a civilised club where sportsmanship and norms and values are paramount. The club will do everything possible, together with the authorities involved, to identify these persons and to take appropriate measures.”
UEFA is expected to launch an investigation into the trouble.
The governing body’s disciplinary panel will wait for the relevant reports before deciding on any action, but the PA news agency understands that given the severity of the disorder, it could follow previous cases and an inspector may be appointed to investigate more thoroughly.
Hammers boss David Moyes, whose 87-year-old father David Snr was at the match, said: “I can’t explain what happened and why it happened.
“I can only say the players were involved because it was the family section and most of their family and friends were in there. That was probably the reason for the reaction.
“Was I worried? Yeah, my family were there and I had friends in that section. You’re hoping they would try and get themselves away from it.
“I didn’t recognise it because I’d gone onto the pitch. Security wanted to take me inside, but I had to make sure my players weren’t involved.”
The two city rivals faced off in the semi-final of the UEFA Champions League, where Inter emerged victorious with a convincing 3-0 aggregate scoreline, securing their place in the final against Manchester City.
In the first leg, Inter won 2-0 as the away team, taking advantage of AC Milan’s absence of the injured Rafael Leao.
Although Leao returned for the second leg, he couldn’t prevent Inter’s progression as Lautaro Martinez scored the only goal of the day.
However, Dimarco’s celebrations after the match were deemed to have gone too far, leading to his subsequent apology to AC Milan fans.
Federico
There were wild celebrations in the San Siro after the game, and Italian defender Dimarco taunted and mocked the rival fans after the final whistle, as reported by Sempre Milan.
Milan fans threaten Dimarco
According to Goal, he made offensive words on the microphone after the game and no longer acceptable chants due to an agreement between the two fanbases.
The Rossoneri fans took exception to the defender’s celebration and issued a message to him via an unsigned banner in the city.
“Dimarco focus on playing, or we’ll make you swallow your tongue,” the banner reads.
Dimarco apologies to Milan fans
The player quickly recognised the gravity of his actions and took to his Instagram story to apologise for the offensive behaviour.
“Tuesday evening after the game, I let myself go for a moment of elation. I wanted to apologise to all theMilan supporters who felt offended,” he wrote.
The investigation was carried out to ensure no threats were issued. Stefano Pioli confirmed the details of the meeting, and it was to encourage the players for the remaining games of the season.
Milan face an uphill task to qualify for the Champions League next season. They are fifth on the table with 61 points, four behind fourth-placed Lazio.
Inter Milan have received a lucrative shirt sponsorship proposal from an adult site as they prepare for the UEFA Champions League match againstManchester City next month in Istanbul.
After triumphing over their city rivals and stadium neighbors, AC Milan, with an impressive 3-0 aggregate scoreline, Inter Milan has reached the final for the first time since their victorious campaign in 2010.
Their formidable opponents, Manchester City, have displayed remarkable dominance, having defeated the 14-time champions Real Madrid with a convincing 5-1 aggregate scoreline in the other semi-final.
According to Goal, Nerazzurri have removed their main shirt sponsor DigitalBits after the cryptocurrency company failed to make any payment for this season.
Inter receive sponsorship offer
The black-and-blue side of Milan have played with blank shirts since the game against Lazio, which they won 3-1. They won both legs of the Champions League semi-final against Milan in the same way.
Inter Milan players and club vice president Javier Zanetti celebrating after reaching the Champions League final. Photo by Piero Cruciatti.
Source: Getty Images
Simone Inzaghi’s men battled through an inconsistent season to reach the final of Europe’s most prestigious competition.
They are set to play at the Ataturk Stadium in Istanbul with a blank shirt again, but an offer has arrived from an adult subscription company, as reported by Daily Star.
Their previous sponsorship was worth £75m, while the new offer is worth £80m, with an offer to be their sponsor until 2029. It remains to be seen whether the deal will be sanctioned.
AS Roma, who were also sponsored by the digital assets company, removed the brand and replaced it with SPQR, an old Roman abbreviation that means ‘Senatus Populusque Romanus’ or ”the Senate and People of Rome”.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan in the Inter shirt without any sponsorship inscriptions
Since Mario Mandzukic with Bayern Munich in 2013, a Croatian player has been on the winning side of the Champions League. Luka Modric won in 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2022. Mateo Kovacic won 3 with Real Madrid and with Chelsea in 2021.
Ivan Rakitic won with Barcelona in 2015, while Dejan Lovren won with Liverpool in 2019. Inter have midfielder Marcelo Brozovic in their team.
Real Madrid players are reportedly hoping that Carlo Ancelotti will not be sacked by the club despite their humiliating elimination from the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday, May 17. Following their crushing 4-0 defeat against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, there have been doubts about the future of the Italian manager.
And it’s a goal from Bernado Silva
However, Vinicius Junior has shown his support for Ancelotti, and it is believed that the players share a similar sentiment, hoping that the club will retain him despite the disappointing result.
According to Football Espana, Luka Modric also has backed Ancelotti to continue as Real Madrid’s manager, despite the club’s failure to reach a consecutive Champions League final.
“It’s football, but I think that in the Cup and in the Champions League we have done very well. For this reason, for me, there is no doubt about his continuity. He deserves it for everything he does and has done.”
Luka Modric also has backed Ancelotti to continue as Real Madrid’s manager, despite the club’s failure to reach a consecutive Champions League final.
Ancelotti’s current deal with Real Madrid runs until the summer of 2024, although the Brazil national team is said to be courting the Italian manager for their vacant managerial post.
Ancelotti admits City were better
Meanwhile,Carlo Ancelotti has admitted that his Real Madrid team deserved to lose against Manchester City, as they were second-best to the English champions, Caught Offside reports.
Carlo Ancelotti looks on during Real Madrid’s 4-0 Champions League semi-final defeat to Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium. Photo by James Gill
The Italian manager said that there was no psychological decline, despite being blown away 4-0 by the Cityzens in the second leg of their semi-final clash at the Etihad Stadium.
Real Madrid have failed to defend the Champions League and La Liga titles they won last season, marking a disappointing end to their 2022/23 campaign.
Madrid’s Ancelotti hopes to stay
Earlier, Sports Brief reported Real Madrid manager, Carlo Ancelotti has reiterated his desire to continue as the club’s coach, despite Wednesday night’s rout at the hands of Manchester City.
The Cityzens mauled Real Madrid 4-0 to book their place in the Champions League final.
When asked about his future, Ancelotti was upbeat, and he fully anticipates being at the helm for Real Madrid in the upcoming campaign.
The Argentine superstar is poised to secure his second Ligue 1 title before departing.
Following financial complications that led to his departure from Barcelona, Messi joined PSG in the summer of 2021 on a two-year contract.
His arrival in Paris was met with high expectations from the fans, as the club hoped his presence would propel them to their maiden UEFA Champions League victory.
Since joining PSG, Messi has amassed 31 goals and 34 assists in 72 appearances across all competitions.
Messi has 495 goals just like Ronaldo
Additionally, he recently clinched the FIFA World Cup with Argentina in December.
Here, Sports Brief analyses how PSG has fared since signing the veteran as a free agent in 2021.
PSG and Messi in 2021/22
PSG have not necessarily been betterwith Messi in the team. The club’s supporters are turning on the Argentine superstar and calling for him to leave after protesting at PSG’s headquarters.
The superstar’s first season was hampered by a niggling knee injury and a bout of COVID-19. The Parisians averaged 2.12 points in Ligue 1 with the Argentine in the team.
In all competitions in the 2021/22 season, PSG played 34 matches with Messi and won 20 matches, lost 7 and drew 11, Ligue 1 reports.
They managed an average point tally of 2.03, despite scoring a total of 74 goals and conceding 36 while the Barcelona legend was present in the first team.
Without Messi, PSG had a better average point tally, amassing 2.53 points in the 15 games played without the Argentine. They scored 38 times and conceded just 12 goals.
PSG and Messi in 2022/23
This season, the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner has only missed six games in Ligue 1 and nine in all competitions- and PSG have missed him when he hasn’t been around.
The Parisians have an average of 2.45 points per game with Messi, and 1.67 without him in the first team. They also average one more goal per game.
Messi has also scored 15 goals, created 15 assists in Ligue 1 alone, and was the club’s top scorer in the Champions League group stages. He scored six goals before they were knocked out in the round of 16 by Bayern Munich.
As can be seen above, PSG remains marginally better without Messi over the last two seasons, even if there has been a significant uptick in his performances. They average marginally more points and score slightly more.
What’s next for Lionel Messi?
Messi remains a world-class player – perhaps the greatest ever – and he will continue to make good on the above numbers, but his time at PSG appears to be over.
According to Sky Sports, Messi will leave Parc des Princes at the end of the season, with the Ligue 1 club reportedly not planning to offer him a new contract.
Messi remains confident in his ability to play at the highest level in Europe, and Barcelona have made no secret of their desire to re-sign him this summer.
It remains to be seen whether they can afford to offer him a new contract, but at this point in his career, he is far more likely to stay in Europe than move to Inter Miami (or any other MLS club) or Saudi Arabia.
Prior to playing Man City on May 17 in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League semifinal, Real Madrid experienced a little setback in their preparations.
The Los Blancos players arrived at Manchester Airport on Tuesday, May 16, but they were stuck there for more than 30 minutes because their coach was late.
The players were reportedly seen waiting for their bus at terminal 2, and head coach Carlo Ancelotti did not appear happy about the situation, according to The Sun.
Luka Modric’s facial expressions also looked like someone who would have preferred to be anywhere else than in the airport.
Real Madrid players were forced to wait at the Manchester Airport on Tuesday, May 16. Credit; @CityXtra
Source: Twitter
However, Vinicius Junior and Eder Militao appeared to be in high spirits as they chatted with their teammates.
The latter will be available after missing the first leg through suspension, where the former starred with a beauty of a goal.
Real Madrid fans will be hoping that the minor delay didn’t affect the team’s plans and morale ahead of the crunch tie at the Etihad.
The duel is evenly balanced at one-all after Kevin De Bruyne cancelled out Vinicius’ goal.
The winner of the tie will face Inter Milan in the June 10 final in Istanbul.
Kyle Walker vs Vinicius Junior
Sports Brief has also reported that Kyle Walker has explained the reason behind his warm embrace with Vinicius Junior after the first leg of Manchester City’s UEFA Champions League tie with Real Madrid.
The English right-back had an eventful battle with Vinicius on the right flank, and the two are set to rekindle their rivalry when Man City host the Spanish giants at the Etihad Stadium in the return leg.
Kyle Walker and Vinicius enjoyed a heartwarming moment after Man City’s draw with Real Madrid.
With the tie finely poised at one-all, both Walker and Vinicius will be expected to put up splendid performances to push their respective clubs over the line in their pursuit of European glory.
Antonio Rudiger, a defender for Real Madrid, is not intimidated by the challenge of reaching the final of the UEFA Champions League at the cost of Manchester City.
Rudiger displayed a masterful performance, helping Real Madrid secure a 1-1 draw against the Premier League giants on Tuesday evening at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
The hard-tackling centre-back had a flawless performance throughout the first leg, effectively neutralizing Norwegian goal-scoring sensation Erling Haaland, who had a surprisingly uneventful match.
Ahead of the reverse fixture in Manchester next Wednesday, Rudiger – who knows the Etihad Stadium very well after five successful seasons with Chelsea – is confident of helping Madrid oust the Citizens, Metro reports.
The German international was asked about the level of confidence his team had heading into the make-or-break second leg and in typical fashion, he offered a defiant response.
“We are Real Madrid, we are always confident,” Rudiger said, as quoted by Madrid Zone.
Rudiger is aiming for his first Champions League title with Los Blancos and his personal second UCL crown after helping Chelsea beat Man City in the 2021 final.
Grealish warns Rudiger and Madrid
Meanwhile, Jack Grealish said Man City are confident of finishing the job against Real Madrid at home to reach the Champions League final, after a 1-1 draw in their semi-final first leg on Tuesday.
The Citizens have won all 14 games at the Etihad Stadium this year by a score of 49 to seven, as Pep Guardiola’s men close in on a potential treble of the Premier League, UCL, and the FA Cup.
“At the Etihad [Stadium], at the moment, we feel unstoppable,” Grealish told BT Sport, as reported by Sports Brief.
The current holders of Europe’s premier club competition, Los Blancos are bidding to win a record-extending 15th UCL crown but will first have to overcome Man City.
Pep Guardiola’s charges are unbeaten since February in all competitions and for this reason, Man City are the favourites to claim the ultimate win against Real Madrid.
Eddie Howe, the head coach of Newcastle United, has responded to rumours that Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar would sign with the team for the upcoming season if they make the UEFA Champions League.
Since the Saudi PIF takeover in late 2021, the club’s fortunes have improved both on and off the pitch, with the English manager at the forefront of the transformation on the pitch that is propelling the team into the elite stage in his first full season.
As they presently rank third in the Premier League standings, their potential European membership for the following season would aid them in luring top talents, and several names have been mentioned in connection with them should they succeed.
Cristiano Ronaldo is considering quitting Al-Nassr just five months after joining, while Neymar is also set for an exit at PSG after seven seasons in Paris.
Howe speaks on transfer rumours
According to talkSPORT, Ronaldo is growing frustrated with life in Saudi Arabia and has already witnessed a managerial change with Dinko Jelicic replacing Rudi Garcia.
Neymar had PSG fans protest at his house and chant at him to leave the club in a spate of demonstrations also targeted at Lionel Messi and Marco Veratti, according to The Athletic.
Both have been linked with a sensational move to the Premier League with Newcastle United, but Eddie Howe has other ideas opposed to bringing in 30+ stars.
“A lot of the names aren’t accurate. We need to recruit wisely,” he said, as quoted by Sportskeeda. “We want to discover them before they explode onto the world stage. We need to go underneath, find them young and develop them. I know the direction.”
Ronaldo has previous Premier League experience with Manchester United while Neymar does not, but both men have won six Champions League trophies between them.
Messi apologises for Saudi trip
PSG lost 3-1 at home to FC Lorient at the weekend before Lionel Messi embarked on an unauthorised trip to Saudi Arabia the following day, which sparked the anger of the ultras.
As Sports Brief reported, Messi apologised in an Instagram video after reports the club had suspended him for two weeks without pay for the unprofessional conduct.
Following President Florentino Perez’s alleged emergency meeting withCarlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid’s most recent defeat is starting to cause the club’s management some concern.
After being well outplayed by Real Sociedad in Tuesday night’s 2-0 setback at the Reale Seguros Stadium, Los Blancos dropped their seventh La Liga match of the year.
Before Real Madrid’s critical games in the Copa del Rey and the UEFA Champions League, Ancelotti has been told to halt the unsightly trend of losses, according to Football Espana.
The La Liga giants are facing a season-defining few days including the Spanish cup culmination against Osasuna on Saturday, May 6.
Ancelotti will lead his squad against Manchester City in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final a few days later, as Los Blancos continue the defence of the title they won last season.
Madrid: No Ancelotti replacement plan
Meanwhile, Real Madrid has yet to make plans to replace veteran Italian manager, Ancelotti at the end of the season, Madrid Universal reports.
The 2022/23 season has been up and down, with the La Liga champions failing to defend their title despite reaching the Copa del Rey final and the Champions League semi-finals.
As of now, everything for the upcoming season is being planned with Ancelotti in charge of Real Madrid, despite reports linking the veteran manager to the vacant Brazil national position.
Brazil gives Ancelotti deadline
Meanwhile, Sports Brief reported on Brazil losing patience with Ancelotti, giving the Real Madrid manager an ultimatum to either accept or reject their offer to become their national team coach.
The five-time world champions have identified the Italian as their preferred option to take over from Tite, who resigned from his position following the Selecao’s ousting from the 2022 World Cup.
Ancelotti has publicly stated the Brazilian FA has contacted him about the national job but remains coy about committing his future to theSouth American giants when the 2022/23 season ends.
Jose Mourinho, one of the most successful managers in modern football, is reported to have cried only once in his managerial career, according to reports.
Despite the highs and lows of his lengthy career, the Portuguese tactician has earned the nickname “The Special One” due to his impressive managerial achievements.
Over two decades, he has won a staggering 27 trophies, according to Sportbible.
Mourinho’s most recent triumph came in Rome in 2022, when he helped Roma win the inaugural Europa League Conference trophy.
The Serie A giants defeated Feyenoord 1-0 in the final of the competition, marking Mourinho’s fifth European title success. At the time, the 60-year-old was spotted shedding tears of joy.
Jose Mourinho in tears after breaking win record
Although Mourinho has had many moments of success, he has also experienced disappointment throughout his career. In 2012, he watched his Real Madrid side crash out of the UEFA Champions League in the semi-final stage, causing him to cry for the first and only time after a defeat in his managerial career. Speaking to Marca in 2020, Mourinho revealed that he wept after the defeat but acknowledged that it was a part of football.
“Cristiano, Kaka, Sergio Ramos… three complete monsters of football; there’s no doubt about that, but they’re also human,” he said. “That night was the only time in my career as a coach that I’ve cried after a defeat. I remember it well… Aitor [Karanka] and I pulled up in front of my house in the car, crying… It was very hard because we were the best that season.”
Kaka and Sergio Ramos
In addition to his achievements on the pitch, Mourinho has a reputation for making sly comments and criticisms towards other managers. Recently, he took a dig at Maurizio Sarri, the manager of Lazio, Roma’s cross-city rivals. The two teams are currently competing for a top-four finish in Serie A, and with only a handful of games left to play, the race is intense.
Jose Mourinho and Sarri Maurizio
Mourinho’s team was initially part of the top four, but that changed after Juventus’ 15-point reduction was reversed by the league.
Despite his reputation for controversy, Mourinho’s impressive managerial record cannot be denied. His ability to win trophies and guide his teams to success has earned him a place among the greats of modern football.
Although he may have shed tears of joy or disappointment only once in his career, Mourinho’s passion for the sport and his determination to succeed remain a constant.
Mourinho began his managerial career in 2000 with Benfica, but he only spent a short time at the club before moving to Uniao de Leiria, where he spent two seasons. In 2002, he moved to Porto, where he enjoyed his first major success, winning the UEFA Cup in his first season.
After winning the Portuguese league title two years in a row, Mourinho moved to Chelsea in 2004, where he made an immediate impact. He won the Premier League title in his first season, setting a record for the most points in a season and the fewest goals conceded.
He also won the League Cup in his first season, and the following year, he won the Premier League title again, as well as the FA Cup.
In 2007, Mourinho left Chelsea and moved to Inter Milan, where he won the Serie A title in his first season. The following year, he won the treble, which included the Serie A title, the Coppa Italia, and the UEFA Champions League.
Mourinho then moved to Real Madrid in 2010, where he won the La Liga title in his second season.
The first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal between the current Italian champions and the league’s current leaders took place at San Siro, and the home team emerged victorious.
Near the end of the first half, Ismael Bennacer gave the home team the lead, and they kept it going going into the second leg at the Stadium Diego Armando Maradona the following week.
Napoli started Eljif Elmas in place of injured star striker Victor Osimhen, but head coach Luciano Spalletti assured fans the Nigerian would be available next week, as reported by Soccernet.
Leao smashes the corner flag
Last season’s Serie A MVP has had an on-and-off season this year and has gone most of this year
The Serie A league leaders in Italy received a harsh reality check yesterday when AC Milan, the defending champions, defeated them in a 4-0 game at the Estadio Diego Armando Maradona.
High-flying Napoli, who were without their star striker Victor Osimhen, were defeated by two goals from last season’s MVP Rafael Leao and one each from Brahim Diaz and Alexis Saelemaekers.
With the defeat, Luciano Spaletti’s team’s lead over Lazio in second place was cut to 16 points.
At the same time, it moved Milan up to third place, one point ahead of Inter Milan, which suffered a defeat to Fiorentina on Saturday.
According to Italy 24, Napoli ultras protested ahead of the game. Those inside the stadium were ordered to stay silent in protest against club president Aurelio de Laurentiis for rising ticket prices and increased security measures.
Napoli fans brawl inside stadium The fans stuck to their agreement in the earlier stages of the game, but they proved they didn’t deserve one of their demands after a brawl broke out in Curva B during the first half, as reported by Football Italia.
They further pushed against their demands when another fight broke out at half-time. The fans turned their backs and only made insulting chants towards De Laurentiis, but got triggered when some cheered the team.
Their demands were not helped when the situation got worse in the closing stages of the game, with fireworks lighting inside the stadium causing pandemonium and fans running for safety.
It was not the first time Neapolitans caused violence this season. They were barred from attending the away game to Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League after causing disruption in the first leg of the encounter.
Spalletti started young striker Giovanni Simeone, the son of Atletico Madrid head coach Diego Simeone, in place of Osimhen but the Nigerian striker’s impact could not be matched.
The former Lille striker is expected to miss the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final tie against Milan.
Dele Alli, a former Tottenham midfielder, dominated the Premier League after moving to Spurs from MK Dons in 2015. He won back-to-back PFA Young Player of the Year awards in his first two seasons in the top flight. His final significant international performance for his nation came with the Three Lions at the FIFA World Cup in Russia in 2018. He has played for England 37 times overall.
Alli’s career has fallen apart since he assisted the North London club in their run to the 2019 UEFA Champions League final, which they lost to Liverpool, another English club, in what many consider to be the most dull UCL final ever.
Alli banished from Besiktas squad
As reported by Sky Sports, Alli joined Everton in the winter window of 2022 and after failing to make an impact, he was shipped out on loan to Besiktas in July that year, with certain conditions to make the deal permanent.
He has also failed to make an impact in Turkey and will likely return to the Toffees in the summer. With the English club battling relegation, they now also need to find a solution for their investment gone wrong – a player they spent £40 million on. As reported by Turkish publication, Takvim, the 26-year-old has been banished from the club’s matchday squad and will be in the stands until the end of the season, at which point he will return to England.
This news brings to mind the advice given to the versatile midfielder by Jose Mourinho, who said in an interview that Alli would regret not demanding more of himself, reported by Marca. ”I don’t expect [Alli] to be the man of the match every game or to score in every game.
I just want to tell you that you will regret it. You should demand more of yourself, not me [demanding] more of you, not me. Not anyone. You. You have to demand more from yourself,” the Special One said at the time.
Manager disappointed with Alli
The banishment of Alli was a long time coming. In January, Sports Brief reported on Besiktas boss, Senol Gunes giving a worrying update on the player. At the time, the Turkish club boss admitted the England midfielder was no longer deserving of playing for the team due to his concerning lack of form.
Gunes was the seventh manager to have issues with Alli after coaches including Mauricio Pochettino, Ryan Mason, Antonio Conte, and Frank Lampard.
Grammy Award-winning and multi-platinum selling singer, songwriter and producer Burna Boy will co-headline the 2023 UEFA Champions League Final Kick-Off Show by Pepsi®, at the Atatürk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul on Saturday 10 June.
Known for his global chart-topping hits Last Last and It’s Plenty, the Nigerian star will bring his energy and signature soulful vibes of afrobeats to millions of fans before the biggest club fixture in football gets underway.
Burna Boy
“As a huge football fan myself, I know it doesn’t get any bigger than the UEFA Champions League! That’s why I’m so excited to be performing on the Pepsi stage at this year’s final. Music and football are the ultimate combination, so you already know I’ll be bringing the vibes and making magic in Istanbul. The world isn’t ready for what we have in store!”
Now in its seventh year, the UEFA Champions League Final Kick Off Show by Pepsi® – formerly known as the UEFA Champions League Opening Ceremony – unites music, sport and culture through a show-stopping performance. This year’s other co-headliner will be announced soon.
Guy-Laurent Epstein, UEFA marketing director, said: “The UEFA Champions League Final Kick-Off Show is a significant part of our joint efforts with Pepsi, providing an incredible opportunity to reach new and younger audiences with some of the biggest names and rising stars in music. We’re excited to showcase a line-up of talented artists at this season’s final in Istanbul in what is sure to be an energetic and memorable performance.”
Burna Boy to perform at 2023 UEFA Champions League Final Kick Off Show by Pepsi®
For the first time ever, fans have the opportunity of a lifetime to be a part of the performance and can visit the @PepsiGlobal TikTok channel for more information.
Gustavo Reyna, Pepsi senior director of global marketing, said: “The UEFA Champions League final is the stand-out date of the club football calendar, and Pepsi prides itself on marking the occasion with the very best entertainment spectacles. The newly named ‘Kick Off Show by Pepsi’ is going to be huge this year; we’re so excited to welcome Burna Boy, one of the world’s most exciting artists, to the final stage and we can’t wait to see which fans are selected to feature as part of this truly unmissable performance.”
On Wednesday night, Real Madridand Napoli easily advanced to the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League, completing the field of eight teams.
Real defeated Liverpool 1-0 on the night to finish with a 6-3 overall triumph over the Reds, while Napoli defeated Eintracht Frankfurt 3-0 to win with a 5-0 overall victory.
Real Madrid and Napoli join Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, AC Milan, Manchester City and Benfica for Friday’s draw.
The Reds, who lost the first leg 5-2, lined up with four forwards at the Bernabeu as they looked to add another famous comeback to their fabled European history.
But that rarely looked on the cards and legendary Real striker Karim Benzemaput the tie beyond doubt when he tucked in from Vinicius Jr’s cutback late on.
In Naples, Victor Osimhen scored twice as Napoli cruised into the last 8 for the first time with a comfortable win over Eintracht Frankfurt.
With Luciano Spalletti’s side two goals up from the first leg, the Nigeria striker’s thumping header in first-half stoppage time dispelled any lingering nerves at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
Osimhen doubled the Italians’ lead on the night with a close-range finish from Giovanni di Lorenzo’s cross eight minutes after the break and, having been brought down in the box, Piotr Zielinski converted the penalty himself to make it 3-0.
The draw for the quarter finals and semi finals of the Champions League will be held at UEFA’s headquarters in Nyon.
While Olivier Giroud might not be as flashy as Karim Benzema, Robert Lewandowski, Sergio Aguero, or Luis Suarez, he is unquestionably one of the best and most productive strikers of his generation.
The French international has won significant trophies, but he has never won the Premier League. He won Ligue 1 with Montpellier, Serie A with AC Milan, the UEFA Champions League, and the Europa League with Chelsea.
His career has been remarkable; he was a key member of Didier Deschamps’ France team that won the 2018 World Cup, advanced to the finals of the Euro 2016 and 2022 World Cups, and won a Puskas award.
Giroud named the world’s best
The former Arsenal striker is France’s all-time top scorer, surpassing Thierry Henry during the World Cup in Qatar, as reported by ESPN.
He is also one of the few players to have won the World Cup and the Champions League.
His elder brother, Romaine has hailed the former Chelsea striker as the best player in the world in an emotional TV segment on Telefoot. ”For me, you are the best player in the world. I never told you, but through you, I made the career that I never managed to make,” the 45-year-old said.
As reported by Sun UK, Romaine now works as a nutritionist and claims his younger brother inspired him to take up the career.
Sadio Mane was a member of Liverpool’s fearsome attacking trio, which also included Brazilian striker Roberto Firmino and Egyptian winger Mohamed Salah, which won every trophy under Jurgen Klopp. At the conclusion of the previous season, the Senegalese international announced his departure from Anfield and asked to be transferred; his request was granted. He joined Bayern Munich, the winning German team.
Due to a leg injury he sustained a few days prior to the tournament, the former Southampton forward missed the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. He made his comeback from the bench against Union Berlin at the weekend.
Mane confident in Klopp’s abilities
Liverpool are having a shaky season riddled with injuries and inconsistencies in performance and results, but the former Reds is confident in Jurgen Klopp to turn it around.
”Liverpool will be back. I’m convinced they will overcome this situation. They had many injuries and tough tests, but Jurgen Klopp is definitely the right man. He will lead Liverpool back up, from this season – the players love him,” he told German newspaper Bild.
The AFCON winner’s confidence is showing early signs of being right. After the 2-0 win over Wolves last night, Liverpool are six points behind Tottenham, who have played a game more in fourth.
As reported by Mirror UK, Mane scored 120 goals in 269 appearances for Klopp before he left for Germany. He won all possible trophies, including the UEFA Champions League and Liverpool’s first Premier League title in 30 years.
Klopp admits Liverpool miss Mane
It was earlier reported that Jurgen Klopp admitted Liverpool misses Mane, as the Senegalese’s departure has opened a void in the team’s front three. Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino formed a devastating front three, but with Mane’s departure and Firmino’s inconsistencies due to injury, the Egyptian is the only regular left among the three.
On Sunday, February 26, 2023, at the Allianz Arena, Sadio Mane, a Senegalese international, made his first appearance since mid-November in Bayern Munich’s 3-0 victory over Union Berlin.
On Tuesday, November 8, 2022, during Bayern Munich’s victory over Werder Bremen in the Germain Bundesliga, Sadio Mane sustained an injury that prevented him from competing in the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
The 30-year-old forward missed three months of play due to what the French newspaper L’Equipe believed to be a tendon injury.
Following the replacement of Kingsley Coman in the 65th minute against Union Berlin, Sadio Mane, who was sorely missed by Senegal during the World Cup, suffered an injury setback.
The Senegalese enjoyed 25 minutes of football as coach Julian Nagelsmann tried to introduce him gradually after being on the sidelines for a long time.
Sadio Mane’s return has been well received by Bayern Munich supporters as they prepare for the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 return leg game against Paris Saint-Germain.
On 26th May 1993, Olympique de Marseille defeated AC Milan by a lone goal at the Olympiastadion in Munich to be crowned champions of Europe.
Ex-Black Stars player, Abedi Pele, was instrumental in the victory over the Italian giants as he provided the assist through a corner kick for Basile Boli to nod home the only goal of the game.
The quality of Abedi Ayew, who was 29 at the time, was notable and created the corner kick which subsequently resulted in the goal.
Abedi Pele, on the right side of the attack, came up against the Paolo Maldini and Franco Baresi who were dominant defenders for AC Milan.
In a match dominated by the Italian side, Olympique Marseille utilised their attacking options through the trickery and pace of Abedi Pele, the assurance of Didier Deschamps in midfield and strength of Marcel Desailly in the heart of the defence for the French outfit.
In an interview with UEFA, Basile Boli described the second half of that final as agonizing.
“Those 45 minutes felt like 45 years, and by the time the final whistle blew, it felt like 100 years”.
Frenchman, Boli won Olympique Marseille’s only UEFA Champions trophy but it was the performance of Ghana’s Abedi ‘Pele’ Ayew that resonates among fans.
The 2021 UEFA Champions League group stages fixture continue on Tuesday.
House-hold names like Michael Essien, Abedi Ayew Pele, all feature in the five-man list, as Ghana remain the African country with the most winners ever.
The full list is provided below.
1. Michael Essien – Chelsea (England)
“The Bison”, after narrowly losing out to English rivals Manchester United on penalties, and getting his hopes of trying again broken by the 2009 semi-final by Barcelona, lifted the trophy in 2012.
2. Sulley Muntari – Internazionale Milan (Italy)
Under the tutelage of manager, Jose Mourinho, Sulley Muntari and his Inter Milan team-mates like Etoo and Diego Milito, and Sneijder, were too much to handle for Bayern Munich in the 2010 final at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The fact that this Jose Mourinho Inter side won the treble, (Italian league, Italian cup, and the UCL) probably means no team in the world stood a chance against them, not even Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona as was proved in their semi-final lost to Inter, in whcih Muntari played a key role.
Abedi Ayew, father of current Black Stars players, Dede Ayew and Jordan Ayew, was the first Ghanaian player to win the elite club football competition.
He contributed heavily to Olympique Marseille’s only UEFA Champions League triumph in 1993 season when the competition’s name and format was changed from European Cup to UEFA Champions League.
Former Ghana International, Abedi Ayew Pele. Source: Twitter/@KobbyKyeiSports Source: Twitter
4. Samuel Osei Kuffour – Bayern Munich (Germany)
Osei Kuffuor is notably remembered for his agony after Bayern Munich dramatically lost out to Manchester United in the final of the 1999 UEFA Champions League at the Camp Nou.
He probably would not have made a fuss about that defeat if he knew that he would taste victory in two years time, as Bayern Munich edged Valencia in a shootout thanks to some remarkable defense of Kuffour and Oliva Khan combined.
5. Ibrahim Tanko – Borussia Dortmund (Germany)
Many young Ghanaian football fans memory of the last Dortmund UEFA Champions League might be of the ‘black and yellow’s 2:1 lose to Bayern Munich in 2013.
However before that recent defeat, Borrusia Dortmund beat Italian giants Juventus to win their only UEFA Champions League triumph in 1997.
Ghana’s Ibrahim Tanko was a part of Dortmund’s squad that year but could not make the match-day squad due to injuries.
The striker made just three appearances in Dortmund’s quest, which earned him a winner’s medal.
17-year-old Dreams FC lad scoring stunner only in GPL
Issahaku Fatawu is bidding his time till he is 18 years old and can make his move to Primeira Liga side, Sporting Lisbon in Portugal.
While he waits though, the 17-year-old is raising his stock market with headlining performances week in week out for Dreams FC.
The Qatar 2022 edition of football’s flagship tournament is the last to feature its current 32-team format, with 48 nations set to take part at the 2026 event.
Infantino has pushed for expansion since he replaced Blatter as the head of FIFA and has explored moving the World Cup to either a biennial or triennial cycle.
But his predecessor suggests he is not acting in the best interests of the sport.
“What is happening at the moment is an over-commercialisation of the game,” he told German newspaper Die Ziet. “[It is] trying to squeeze more and more out of the lemon.
“[Look at] the World Cup with 48 teams, or a Club World Cup that must be viewed as competition to the UEFA Champions League. FIFA is meddling in something that doesn’t really concern them.
“I have no relationship with Infantino. He behaved disrespectfully because he has refused any contact with me since his election. He only communicates with me through lawyers.”
Infantino revealed plans for a 32-team Club World Cup earlier this month, returning to a planned expansion originally waylaid by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The proposal is still subject to confederation approval, and is expected to generate pushback from several leading clubs, particularly in the wake of the failed European Super League breakaway.
When it comes to the man known around the world as “CR7”, the numbers speak for themselves. He has played more than 1,000 professional football matches and scored more than 800 goals. He guided Portugal to their first major international trophy, lifted the UEFA Champions League trophy five times and is a five-time winner of the Ballon d’Or.
He has scored 115 international goals, more than any other male player.
Which begs the question: is Cristiano Ronaldo the greatest footballer of all time?
The beginning of the legend…
Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro was born on 5 February 1985 in Madeira, a Portuguese archipelago in the North Atlantic Ocean.
He was the youngest of four children, the son of a cook and a gardener.
His father was kitman at local side Andorinha; when Ronaldo started training with the youth team, his speed and diminutive stature earned him the nickname Abelhinha (“Little Bee”).
He moved to Nacional and was soon scouted by Sporting Lisbon.
At the age of 12, Ronaldo had to leave Madeira for the Portuguese mainland.
At Sporting, Ronaldo impressed his coaches not only with his natural talent, but also his work-ethic and determination to succeed.
He made his professional debut in 2002, at the age of 17, and word of his ability began to spread around European clubs.
In August 2003, Ronaldo put on a dazzling display in a pre-season friendly against Manchester United, and the English club immediately signed the young winger with the lightning-fast feet for £12.24 million.
During the 2009 close season, Ronaldo joined Real Madrid for a then-world-record fee of £80 m ($130 m).
In Spain, he showed that he had become the complete centre-forward: fast and strong, superb in the air, and a deadly finisher with either foot.
He developed a fierce rivalry with Barcelona’s Argentinian maestro Lionel Messi, with both players striving to outdo the other in a quest to be recognized as the world’s best player.
Between 2008 and 2021, between them the pair were awarded the Ballon d’Or a staggering 12 times in 13 years.
Ronaldo’s presentation as a new Real Madrid C.F. player in 2009
Ronaldo’s remorselessness in front of goal saw him become Real Madrid’s highest-ever scorer, racking up an incredible 450 goals in just 438 appearances.
He won two La Liga titles, two Copas del Rey and three Club World Cups.
In the UEFA Champions League, Ronaldo continued to set the standard, adding four more titles to his collection and scoring the most goals in a Champions League season in 2013/14, when he hit the net 17 times in just 11 matches.
To date, he remains the only player to have scored in three finals in the competition.
Following his departure from Madrid in 2018, Ronaldo spent three years in Italy playing for Turin giants Juventus, where he reached a century of goals and claimed the Serie A league title two seasons in a row.
In 2021, Ronaldo made an emotional return to Old Trafford, where he finished the season as top scorer and extended his Champions League records for most goals (140) and most appearances (183).
Type of Goal
Number
Left foot
26
Right foot
61
Head
28
Open play
89
Direct free kicks
10
Penalties
16
International Icon
Ronaldo made his debut for Portugal in a friendly against Kazakhstan on 20 August 2003, and the following year he scored his first international goal, against Greece during a group-stage match at UEFA EURO 2004.
Despite making an impact on the competition, Ronaldo’s tournament ended in tears as Portugal lost out in the final – once more to Greece, the hosts and surprise winners.
Few could have predicted at that moment that Ronaldo would go on to become to the first player to play in five EURO finals, and grab the tournament records for both appearances (25) and goals (14).
At EURO 2016, Ronaldo led his team on a battling run through the tournament to the final.
In the showpiece match against France, Ronaldo was left in tears once again, as an early injury forced him from the field – but Portugal held on to win 1–0, allowing their talisman to lift the trophy.
It was his country’s first major international title.
Success in the FIFA World Cup was harder to come by, although in 2018 Ronaldo equalled the record for most World Cup tournaments to score in – four, previously achieved by West Germany’s Uwe Seller, the Brazilian legend Pelé and Seller’s compatriot Miroslav Klose.
As Ronaldo continued to find the net, one further landmark record came steadily closer in view: the most goals in men’s internationals.
It had previously been held by Iran’s Ali Daei, who struck 109 times between 1993 and 2006.
Ronaldo equalled Daei’s mark at the delayed UEFA EURO 2020 tournament, where he scored five times.
On 1 Sep 2021, during a World Cup qualifying game against the Republic of Ireland at the Estádio Algarve, Ronaldo scored two late headers to claim the record for his own. By the end of the qualification process, he had increased his tally to 115.
As of the same date, he had made 186 international appearances, placing him third on the all-time list, just nine behind Malaysia’s Soh Chin Ann.
Ronaldo may now be in his late ‘30s, but few would bet against him going to break even more records.
It is clear that, whenever he does decide to hang up his boots, CR7 will leave a legacy behind that will take some matching.
“When you play with Ronaldo on your team, you are already 1-0 up.”
– Zinedine Zidane
Favorite opponents
Number of goals
Luxemburg
9
Lithuania, Sweden
7
Andorra, Hungary
6
Armenia, Latvia
5
Estonia, Faroe Islands, Netherlands
4
Ronaldo is also breaking records outside of the football field, and especially on social media.
He holds the record for most followers for an athlete on Twitter, as well as most followers on Instagram for an athlete.
His Instagram account has been the overall most followed account on Instagram since 2017. His official account currently counts 478M followers, but the remarkable number keeps increasing.
As of April 2021, he received the most likes for an athlete on Facebook, racking up a record-breaking 124,726,150 thumbs up.
As a legend of international football, Ronaldo’s Wikipedia page is also the most viewed Wikipedia page for an athlete (male).
In 2003, Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said of Ronaldo: “He is one of the most exciting young players I’d ever seen”.
Today, he’s the top-scorer player in the world, a pluri-record holder and one of the most famous names ever in the football industry.
The crowds chant his name and his kick strikes true to score goal after goal, but that may not be enough for Cristiano Ronaldo, who has an ambitious heart and the skills and tenacity to reach unimaginable heights.
“Let’s keep trying to set the numbers even higher!” the football champion writes on his social media, and we certainly can’t wait to see.
The English Premier League team, owned by Fenway Sports Group (FSG), is available for sale.
The FSG are currently open to offers after first debating the sale of the club, according to a report by The Athletic.
According to a statement from FSG to the Athletic, “There have been a number of recent changes of ownership and rumors of changes in ownership at EPL teams and naturally we are questioned constantly about Fenway Sports Group’s ownership in Liverpool.”
The FSG stated that although they are willing to sell the club, they will only consider a good offer.
“FSG has frequently received expressions of interest from third parties seeking to become shareholders in Liverpool. FSG has said before that under the right terms and conditions we would consider new shareholders if it was in the best interests of Liverpool as a club.”
“FSG remains fully committed to the success of Liverpool, both on and off the pitch,” the statement concluded.
FSG has been in charge of Liverpool for 12 years running since they bought the club from George Gillett Jr. and Tom Hicks in October 2010.
Liverpool has not been the best version of themselves as they sit 8th on the English Premier League table with 19 points after 13 games.
However, in the UEFA Champions League, they managed to progress from the group and will face Real Madrid in the round of 16.
