Sports

Cristiano Ronaldo Ends 2023 As World’s Top Goalscorer

Published

1 year ago

December 31, 2023

Al Nassr striker, Cristiano Ronaldo has assured he will “try and do it again” after he sealed his place as the top scorer of 2023 with another goal on Saturday.

Ronaldo nicked his 54th goal of this year as they defeated Al Taawoun 4-1 in the Saudi Pro League on Saturday.

The former Manchester United forward scored all his 54 goals for club and country in 59 fixtures.

Ronaldo now has more goals in this calendar year than Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane and Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappé (52) as well as Manchester City star Erling Haaland (50).

None of the leading contenders will play again in 2023.

This is the fifth time Ronaldo will end the year as the world’s top scorer.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner achieved similar feat in 2011, 2013, 2014 and 2015 when at Real Madrid.

“It was a good year for me,” he said on EuroFoot.

Cristiano Ronaldo added, “I scored many goals and helped the team a lot (at Al Nassr and the national team), so I’m really proud. Next year, I’ll try to do it again.”

Early on this month, the Portuguese hit a significant milestone after playing his 1,200th professional match of his career, He scored one goal and assisted another during the game in the colours of Al-Nassr.

The 38-year-old tapped in Sadio Mane’s cross and later set up team-mate Otavio in a 4-1 win over Al-Riyadh.

Ronaldo thanked all those who have helped him reach the landmark – but added that he was “not done yet”.

Ronaldo also marked his 1,000th senior appearance with a goal in February 2020, scoring for Juventus in Serie A.

In June, he became the first men’s player to make 200 international appearances when he featured for Portugal against Iceland, and he is also the top international goal scorer with 128 goals.

Among his club career appearance records, Ronaldo tops the list for all-time appearances in the Champions League (183), in which he represented Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus.

He also became the first player in history to score 800 top-level career goals when he surpassed that total playing for Manchester United in December 2021 and has since breached the 850-goal mark.

Sports

Vinicius, Mbappe Have To Defend: Real Madrid’s Alonso

Published

5 hours ago

June 26, 2025

Editor

New Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso warned his team’s stars including Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe on Wednesday that they must all pitch in defensively.

Last season under Carlo Ancelotti Los Blancos failed to win a major trophy and the Italian was at times exasperated with his forward line’s unwillingness to work hard enough for the sake of the team as a whole.

“What I am certain of is that we need and want everyone to defend — the 11 players on the pitch have to be involved defensively,” Alonso told a news conference ahead of Madrid’s Club World Cup clash against RB Salzburg.

“They have to get close together, they have to know how we want to press, and without that, things will be very complicated.

“Vini, Jude (Bellingham), Fede (Valverde), Kylian, those up front, the defence has to push forward too.”

Ancelotti said last season that he was not concerned if Mbappe pressed or not and wanted the striker to focus on goalscoring.

The 26-year-old netted 43 goals across all competitions in his first season at the Santiago Bernabeu after his move from Paris Saint-Germain.

Real Madrid face Austrian side Salzburg in Philadelphia on Thursday, looking to seal top spot in their final Group H match, but will be without Mbappe.

The French superstar was not named as part of the squad to take on Salzburg as he continues his recovery from a stomach bug.

Mbappe missed the team’s first two matches but returned to training on Wednesday.

“I was happy to see him on the (training) pitch, it was the first day he’s got his boots back on and has been running, he’s doing well, but not enough to play tomorrow with the level that we need,” said Alonso.

“He said it himself when we spoke after training, he prefers to be ready for the last 16, he’s in the recovery process, he wasn’t perfect for tomorrow.”

In Madrid’s second match, a 3-1 win over Mexican side Pachuca, Brazilian forward Rodrygo was left on the bench, amid speculation he could depart the club this summer.

However Alonso said the Brazilian was still a valuable member of the team.

“He’s doing well, he’s enthusiastic, it was a technical decision (to bench him) the other day, but Rodrygo is still an important player, we will need him in this Club World Cup,” said Alonso.

“He’s a special player and he will have a big role at this tournament.”

Sports

2025 Ballon d’Or: Pedro Names Player To Win Award, Snubs Yamal, Dembele

Published

2 days ago

June 24, 2025

Editor

Lazio winger Pedro has thrown his full support behind Barcelona’s Pedri in the race for the 2025 Ballon d’Or, overlooking high-profile contenders like Lamine Yamal and Ousmane Dembele.

The former Chelsea and Barcelona star made his preference clear during an interview with El Día de Tenerife (via Barca Blaugranes), stating that Pedri deserves the prestigious award following his outstanding 2024/25 season with Barcelona.

“Of course I’d give Pedri the maximum score,” Pedro said.

“Then Lamine Yamal. And perhaps other candidates who are there are Dembélé or Raphinha, but I’d love for Pedri to win. For me there is no doubt: he’s the best in his position in the entire world.”

Pedri Will Be up against strong competition for the Ballon d’Or, including teammates Raphinha and Yamal, as well as other top players like Mohamed Salah and Dembele.

Despite this, Pedro’s endorsement highlights the midfielder’s growing stature in world football.

Sports

Club World Cup 2025: 8 Teams Qualify For Round Of 16

Published

2 days ago

June 24, 2025

Editor

Paris Saint-Germain and Botafogo have secured their spots in the Round of 16 of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, after a dramatic final round of group-stage matches played simultaneously on Monday.

In a high-stakes encounter, PSG recorded a 2-0 victory over Major League Soccer champions Seattle Sounders to finish with six points.

Atletico Madrid, despite defeating Botafogo 1-0 in their final group match, were eliminated due to inferior goal difference.

All three sides: PSG, Botafogo, and Atletico: ended the group stage with six points apiece, but Atletico’s earlier 4-0 defeat to PSG proved costly, leaving them with a goal difference of -1 compared to PSG’s +4 and Botafogo’s +1.

The results mean PSG top the group, while Botafogo join them in the knockout stage. Atletico Madrid, meanwhile, exit the tournament at the group stage: a harsh ending after winning two of their three matches.

The revamped FIFA Club World Cup sees the top two teams from each of the eight groups progress to the Round of 16, which will be held from 28 June to 1 July.

The winners will proceed to the quarter-finals on 4 and 5 July, followed by the semi-finals on 8 and 9 July, and the grand finale on 13 July at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

With eight teams already confirmed, fans can look forward to heavyweight matchups as club football’s finest prepare to battle for global supremacy.

Qualified Teams for Round of 16 (so far):

Bayern Munich (Germany)
CR Flamengo (Brazil)
Juventus (Italy)
Manchester City (England)
Botafogo (Brazil)
Paris Saint-Germain (France)
Palmeiras (Brazil)
Inter Miami (USA)
Eight more teams will join them in the coming days as the group stage wraps up.