Portugal is already qualified for the European Championship knockout stages and can sign off from Group F in style with a third win when it plays newcomer Georgia on Wednesday. A draw might give Georgia a chance at qualifying, depending on results elsewhere, but it's likely to need a shock win. The kick-off in Gelsenkirchen at the same time as group rivals the Czech Republic and Turkey meet in Hamburg is 9 pm local time (1900 GMT, 12.30 am [Thursday]). Here's what to know about the match: Match facts There will be scrutiny of Euro 2024 security after no fewer than six different fans invaded the field or tried to seek selfies with Cristiano Ronaldo at Portugal's 3-0 win over Turkey. Four of them reached Ronaldo. UEFA said on Sunday it increased security, but there was another fan on the field on Monday as Spain beat Albania 1-0. On its major tournament debut, Georgia has won praise for its battling style and nearly beat the Czech Republic in its second game if not for a last-secon
There were no goals, one assist and no less than four selfie-pursuing field invaders for Cristiano Ronaldo in Portugal's 3-0 win over Turkey that secured a spot in the European Championship round of 16 on Saturday. Ronaldo was the center of attention as always at Westfalenstadion but not how he might have expected. The five-time world player of the year set up the third goal by Bruno Fernandes with an unselfish pass when he could easily have attempted a shot after being played clean through. Then there was chaos as three fans got on the field at different times in the second half and attempted selfies with Ronaldo. He accepted the first but looked unhappy at the other two. Another phone-waving supporter, wearing a Portugal jersey, got to Ronaldo moments after the final whistle and security had to hold back another person attempting to confront one of the most famous sports stars in the world as he walked off the field with his teammates. Ronaldo might be more unhappy at failing to
Portugal substitute Francisco Conceio scored in stoppage time for a 2-1 win over the Czech Republic in their European Championship opening game on Tuesday. Conceio, who only made his entrance in the 90th minute, fired the ball home in the 92nd after Robin Hranac's attempted block of fellow substitute Pedro Neto's shot fell kindly for the Porto winger to shoot inside the left post. "The players that came off the bench showed that the team has a lot of options," Portugal coach Roberto Martnez said. Conceio wheeled away in delight and was booked for taking off his jersey. It comes almost 24 years to the day since Conceio's father, Srgio Conceio, scored a hat trick to knock defending champion Germany out of Euro 2000. Czech Republic goalkeeper Jindrich Stanek had thwarted Cristiano Ronaldo as the Portugal star became the first to play at six European Championship tournaments. The 39-year-old Ronaldo was unable to add to his record 14 goals in his record-extending 26th appearance at th
Sony Sports Network will live telecast the Portugal vs Czech Republic (Czechia) match in India on Sony Ten 2 HD/SD with English commentary from 12:30 AM IST
Over the past couple of years, Kohli's influence in the world of cricket as well as on social media has increased tremendously
Cristiano Ronaldo is facing a two-game suspension after receiving his first red card in Saudi Arabia for elbowing an opponent as Al-Nassr lost 2-1 to Al-Hilal in the Saudi Super Cup semifinals. The five-time Ballon D'Or winner, who signed for Al-Nassr in December 2022, was dismissed in the 86th minute for striking Al-Hilal defender Ali Al-Bulaihi. According to media reports in Saudi Arabia, the 39-year-old soccer great may receive further punishment after seeming to mock the referee as he left the field in Abu Dhabi on Monday. I'm not going to take credit away from Ronaldo, Al-Hilal coach Jorge Jesus said about his Portuguese compatriot. He's still very strong, he always has been and will continue to be the most important player in the world, he's an example and a model. But he's not used to losing in his career, so it is natural for him to lose his head when he loses, as well as for him to lose emotional and mental focus in defeats. At the time of Ronaldo's dismissal, Al-Nassr wa
From Saudi clubs poaching Europe's biggest stars to English clubs running after freak strikers, here's how the football transfer market operated in 2023
Portuguese footballing superstar Cristiano Ronaldo continued his remarkable goal-scoring record and reached the milestone of 50 goals in 2023 during Al Nassr's King's Cup match against Al Shabab
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will meet in Saudi Arabia after all. Inter Miami confirmed Monday that it will take part in the Riyadh Season Cup something that was announced by Saudi officials on Nov. 21. Inter Miami said the reports at that time were inaccurate. Inter Miami will play Al-Hilal on Jan. 29 and Al Nassr Ronaldo's team on Feb. 1. Those two clubs lead the Saudi Pro League and Ronaldo is that league's leading scorer. These matches will offer important tests for our team, which will benefit us as we approach the new season," Inter Miami sporting director Chris Henderson said. We're excited for our group to get the chance to go up against teams with as much quality as Al-Hilal and Al Nassr. Messi and Ronaldo have faced off 35 times between matches for club and country, Inter Miami said, with Messi's teams winning 16, Ronaldo's teams winning 10 and the sides settling for a draw on the other nine occasions. Messi has 21 goals and 12 assists in those matches; Ronaldo h
Cristiano Ronaldo walked off the field with the gleeful chants of Messi, Messi, Messi! ringing in his ears from delighted Al-Hilal fans who had just watched their Saudi Pro League team beat the Portugal superstar's Al-Nassr 3-0 in the Riyadh Derby on Friday. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner may have finished on the losing team Aleksandar Mitrovic scored twice after fellow Serbian Sergej Milinkovic-Savic opened Al-Hilal but Ronaldo still remains the focus of attention in Saudi Arabian soccer despite the taunts of opposition fans referencing his great rival of nearly two decades. As thousands of cars headed east out of downtown Riyadh to watch the top two league teams and bitter local rivals face off at the King Fahd International Stadium the last to be played at the arena for three years as it is to be renovated to host games at the 2027 Asian Cup and anticipated 2034 World Cup one Al-Nassr fan leaned out and shouted: Are you here to see Cristiano? When Ronaldo warmed up, there .
Portuguese soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo has been hit with class-action lawsuit seeking at least USD 1 billion in damages for his role in promoting cryptocurrency-related "non-fungible tokens," or NFTs, issued by the beleaguered cryptocurrency exchange Binance. The lawsuit filed in federal court in the Southern District of Florida Monday alleges that Ronaldo's promotion of Binance was "deceptive and unlawful." Binance's partnership with high-profile figures like Ronaldo, the plaintiffs claim, led them into costly and unsafe investments. "Evidence now reveals that Binance's fraud was only able to reach such heights through the offer and sale of unregistered securities, with the willing help and assistance of some of the wealthiest, powerful and recognised organisations and celebrities across the globejust like Defendant Ronaldo," the suit reads. Representatives for Ronaldo declined to comment Thursday. Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange, did not immediately return
Ronaldo is considered one of the best footballers in the world, and he has set a few records which are hard to be broken.
A US appeals court sided Tuesday with Cristiano Ronaldo, rejecting an appeal by the lawyer for a woman trying to force the international soccer star to pay millions more than the USD 375,000 in hush money he paid her after she accused him of raping her in 2009. Kathryn Mayorga's lawyer had asked the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn a federal judge's dismissal of the case in Las Vegas in June 2022 and reopen the civil lawsuit she filed in 2018. They argued US District Judge Jennifer Dorsey should not have rejected Mayorga's attempts to unseal and make public the confidentiality agreement she signed in 2010 in accepting payments from Ronaldo. A three-judge panel of the San Francisco-based appellate court disagreed. It also rejected their argument that the judge abused her discretion by dismissing the case with prejudice, which prevented Mayorga from refiling the case, and took the unusual step of levying a $335,000 fine against her lawyer, Leslie Mark Stovall. "The district .
Aitana Bonmati, the Spanish footballer representing Barcelona and the winner of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup got the Women's Ballon d'Or award, which was presented by Serbian tennis legend Djokovic
Instead of perpetually competing for a higher status in the social hierarchy, taking decisions that align with personal values and life situations can be more beneficial
Ronaldo was once again on the scoresheet following a brace in Portugal's 3-2 victory over Slovakia in the UEFA Euro Qualifiers on Friday
Hundreds of soccer fans stormed into a hotel in Tehran on Monday, hoping for a glimpse of star player Cristiano Ronaldo after he arrived with his Saudi teammates ahead of a game. Chanting Ronaldo, Ronaldo, the fans pushed past police, filling the corridors and public spaces of the Espians Palace Hotel. Ronaldo arrived on his first visit to Iran with the Saudi football club Al Nassr, which is set to play Iran's Persepolis in Tehran on Sept. 19. The return game will be played in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, on Nov. 27. Ronaldo was the first of several big-name players to accept lavish contracts to play for Saudi teams. The oil-rich kingdom is spending billions of dollars to try to transform itself into a sports and entertainment powerhouse. The Asian Champions League games are made possible by the restoration of diplomatic relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia following an agreement brokered by China earlier this year. The longtime rivals had severed ties in 2016 after an angry crowd
Portugal didn't need Cristiano Ronaldo to rack up its biggest-ever win in a competitive game. A 9-0 rout of Luxembourg in European Championship qualifying on Monday was achieved without Ronaldo, who was suspended because of an accumulation of yellow cards in earlier Group J games. In the absence of the five-time world player of the year and record scorer in men's internationals, Goncalo Ramos, Goncalo Inacio and Diogo Jota all scored twice along with goals for Ricardo Horta, Bruno Fernandes and Joao Felix in the Algarve. It was a satisfactory aspect that, being 4-0 or 5-0 up, the team kept playing the same way as if it was 0-0, Portugal coach Roberto Martinez said. "When you get that, it shows you the values of the players and that the respect toward the team is essential that was really good to see. The 38-year-old Ronaldo missed a great chance to add to his haul of 123 international goals but there'll be four more opportunities in a group that Portugal is dominating with six ...
A look at what's happening in UEFA European Championship qualifying on Friday: GROUP J Cristiano Ronaldo has been in reflective mood as he brings up 20 years in Portugal's national team, saying he and great rival Lionel Messi changed the history of soccer and that he still wants to raise the bar at the age of 38. Ronaldo's debut for Portugal was in August 2003 and two decades later the most prolific scorer in men's internationals with 123 goals in a record 200 games will be playing for the team in a European Championship qualifier at Slovakia. I am proud of the numbers I reached. But, I want more, Ronaldo said. When I play, the bar has to be up here, I want to think big. On his rivalry with Messi, Ronaldo added: If you like Cristiano Ronaldo, you don't have to hate Messi. We are both very good. We changed the history of soccer. We are respected all over the world. That is the most important thing. He has marked his path, I have marked mine. Portugal has won all four of its grou
Rumours circulating that Saudi Pro League teams could participate in the Champions League were quashed by Uefa chief Aleksander Ceferin