Paris Saint-Germain and the Riyadh All-Stars put on a magnificent show on Thursday as Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Sergio Ramos and Kylian Mbappé all found the back of the net in PSG's 5-4 victory. The stars showed out and one Ronaldo nutmeg vs PSG received enormous applause from the fans inside King Fahad International Stadium.
A new chapter in the celebrated rivalry between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi will unfurl on Thursday when they meet in an exhibition match as the Portugal forward gears up for his first game in Saudi Arabia since joining Al Nassr.
After a glittering career in Europe that saw him win four Champions League titles with Real Madrid and two Scudettos at Juventus, Ronaldo signed for Al Nassr, describing it as the "right moment" to share his experience in Asia.
MADRID — Spain included Barcelona's Ansu Fati but left out Liverpool midfielder Thiago Alcantara, Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea and PSG defender Sergio Ramos from their 26-man World Cup squad on Friday.
Fati, now 20, made his international debut in 2020 at 17 and in his second game became the youngest player to score for Spain, breaking a record held since 1925 by Juan Errazquien.
But the forward is fighting his way back from four surgeries to repair an injury to his left knee, suffered in November 2020.
TEL AVIV - Paris St Germain's Neymar scored twice with Lionel Messi and Sergio Ramos contributing the other two goals as they romped to a 4-0 victory over Nantes in the French Super Cup (Trophée des Champions) at the Bloomfield Stadium on Sunday.
It was the ninth time in 10 years that the Parisians had won the traditional season-opening clash between the Ligue 1 champions and the French Cup (Coupe de France) winners, which has been regularly played outside of the country over the last decade.
The first match of PSG's preseason tour of Japan ended in victory for Christophe Galtier's side with Lionel Messi and 20-year-old Arnaud Kalimuendo (a Leeds and Everton transfer target) on the scoresheet in a 2-1 victory over Kawasaki Frontale at the National Stadium in Tokyo.
The coaching carousel at Paris Saint Germain spins on. Though nothing has been finalized at the moment, Mauricio Pochettino is reportedly out at PSG after just one full season at the club, having failed to bring the Parisians the Champions League glory ownership so desperately craves. Pochettino’s replacement is reportedly the man who beat him to the Ligue 1 title in 2021, though relatively little is known about him internationally. Who is Christophe Galtier? Will he fare any better than his predecessors?
Four years ago, Gareth Bale scored a sensational bicycle kick to win his team a Champions League title under the lights of the NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium in Kyiv, Ukraine. That sentence is as impossible as ever in 2022. Perhaps it’s worth looking back at the players who took part in the 2018 UEFA Champions League final and see where they are now.
GK — Loris Karius
When it comes to international soccer, appearances, goals scored and trophies won are usually the biggest indicators of a successful career, and rightly so. But perhaps the most elusive achievement for an international footballer is appearing at five World Cups.
First, it requires an international career of at least 16 years. Around 30 or so active international players made their debut for their country before the 2006 World Cup. A player must also be on a team that qualifies for five successive World Cups — something only 13 countries have achieved.
PARIS — Paris St Germain are on the verge of a record-equalling 10th French title after goals by Kylian Mbappe, Sergio Ramos and Marquinhos earned them a 3-0 victory at Angers in Ligue 1 on Wednesday.
The result put the capital side on 77 points, leading second-placed Olympique de Marseille, who beat Nantes 3-2, by 15 points with five games left.
Should PSG avoid defeat at the Parc des Princes against RC Lens on Saturday, they will clinch the title that puts them level on 10 with St Etienne, who won their titles between 1957 and 1981.
Welcome The18's Halftime Countdown of the Best Goals Ever Scored!
9. Kurt Zouma
Breaking into this list for the first time ever, Kurt Zouma. Man, you drop kicked your cat, that’s not cool.
8. Sexual Assaulters
Okay for number 8 on our list (honestly should be number one) are Adam Johnson, Benjamin Mendy, Mason Greenwood, Robinho, and everyone else who fits this category.