Goodison Park will always remain the home of Everton and has a special place in English football history
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Khaleej Times
8 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
Ronaldo gets hero's welcome in Hong Kong, avoids Messi pitfall
Cristiano Ronaldo was given a hero's welcome on Tuesday as he played a pivotal role for Saudi side Al Nassr in Hong Kong — where great rival Lionel Messi became public enemy number one last year for failing to play. The 40-year-old former Manchester United and Real Madrid ace Ronaldo got an assist in a 2-1 Saudi Super Cup win over Al Ittihad, who had French veteran Karim Benzema up front. "Ronaldo, Ronaldo," rang out from the moment that he came out to warm up on a sweltering and damp evening in southern China, where several pitch invaders unsuccessfully tried to get to the superstar at the end. Cheers went up every time that the Portuguese captain, wearing his trademark number seven shirt, touched the ball. It was all a far cry from the rabid reaction Messi sparked when he remained on the bench for an Inter Miami friendly at the same Hong Kong Stadium in February last year. The Argentine wizard's no-show drew boos and calls for refunds from thousands of fans who had paid large sums to see the World Cup-winning captain play. The 38-year-old said he was injured but that failed to quell a spectacular fallout that saw China cancel two friendly matches featuring Argentina. Some nationalist politicians and outlets in China interpreted Messi's absence -- and his subsequent appearance at a similar match in Japan -- as a snub. Messi and Ronaldo have duelled it out for more than 15 years for the unofficial title of best player in the world, although the Argentine is generally regarded to have got the upper hand in recent years. Both remain massively popular and marketable even in the twilight of their careers, with fans camping outside Ronaldo's hotel in Hong Kong to catch a glimpse of him. Some even booked rooms in his hotel and a museum dedicated to him opened in the city last month. Local media said that Ronaldo was "emotional" when told during a brief appearance there this week about the local interest, especially from younger fans. "This means more to me than any trophy," he was quoted as saying. Pitch invaders Former Liverpool attacker Sadio Mane put Al Nassr ahead before Al Ittihad struck back soon after. Mane was sent off after 25 minutes following a VAR review. Ronaldo had a couple of sniffs at goal six minutes before the break but was denied on both occasions, then he fizzed a free-kick narrowly over the bar. He set up the winner, pulling clear of the Al Ittihad defence and squaring it for fellow Portuguese Joao Felix, the new signing from Chelsea, to slot in. A young fan with a "7 Ronaldo" shirt invaded the pitch as the veteran was subbed off in the last minute but security foiled the youngster's attempt to get a selfie with him. Two more young fans were wrestled to the ground after the final whistle when they invaded the pitch and made a beeline for Ronaldo.
The National
9 hours ago
- The National
Cristiano Ronaldo given hero's welcome in Hong Kong as Al Nassr beat Al Ittihad in Saudi Super Cup
Cristiano Ronaldo was given a hero's welcome on Tuesday as he played a pivotal role for Al Nassr in the Saudi Super Cup semi-final in Hong Kong – where his great rival Lionel Messi became public enemy number one last year for failing to play. The 40-year-old former Manchester United and Real Madrid forward Ronaldo claimed an assist in his side's 2-1 win over Al Ittihad, who boasted French veteran striker Karim Benzema up front. They will play the winner of Wednesday's game between Al Ahli and Al Qadisiyah in Saturday's final. 'Ronaldo, Ronaldo,' rang out from the stands from the moment that he emerged to warm up on a hot and damp evening at the Hong Kong Stadium. Loud cheers went up every time the Portuguese captain, wearing his trademark number seven shirt, touched the ball. It was all a far cry from the outrage Messi sparked when he remained on the bench for the duration of an Inter Miami friendly at the same venue in February last year. The Argentine legend's no-show drew boos and calls for refunds from thousands of fans who had paid large sums to see the World Cup-winning captain play. The 38-year-old said he was injured but that failed to quell a spectacular fallout that saw China subsequently cancel two friendly matches featuring Argentina. Some politicians and outlets in China portrayed Messi's absence – and his later appearance at a similar match in Japan – as a snub. Both Messi and Ronaldo remain hugely popular and marketable even in the twilight of their careers, with fans camping outside Ronaldo's hotel in Hong Kong in recent days hoping to catch a glimpse of him. Some even booked rooms in the hotel and a museum dedicated to him opened in the city last month. Local media said that Ronaldo was 'emotional' when told during a brief appearance there this week about the local interest, especially from younger fans. 'This means more to me than any trophy,' he was quoted as saying. On the pitch, former Liverpool attacker Sadio Mane put Al Nassr ahead before Al Ittihad struck back soon after through former PSV, Ajax and Tottenham player Steven Bergwijn. Mane was sent off after 25 minutes following a VAR review. Ronaldo had a couple of sniffs of goal before the break but was denied on both occasions, then he fizzed a free-kick narrowly over the bar. He set up the winner, pulling clear of the Al Ittihad defence and squaring it for fellow Portuguese Joao Felix, a new signing from Chelsea, to slot home. A young fan with a 'Ronaldo 7" shirt invaded the pitch as the veteran was subbed off in the last minute but security foiled the his attempt to grab a selfie. Two more fans were wrestled to the ground after the final whistle when they invaded the pitch and made a beeline for Ronaldo.
Zawya
12 hours ago
- Zawya
UAE Committee for Talent and National Sports Support includes drift driver Khalifa Al Falasi in its dedicated programs
The UAE Committee for Talent and National Sports Support (UAETSS), a key entity under the UAE Ministry of Sports, has onboarded young Emirati car racer Khalifa Al Falasi into its dedicated programs aimed at supporting and nurturing sports talent across the country. Khalifa Al Falasi is the first and youngest professional Emirati drift racing driver to qualify for the FIA Intercontinental Drift Cup, which is scheduled to take place from October 2 to 5, 2025, in Latvia. The inclusion of Khalifa Al Falasi into UAETSS' programs marks a pivotal step in its efforts to identify high-potential athletes, nurture their skills and empower them to achieve exceptional sport milestones at both regional and global levels. His Excellency Sheikh Suhail bin Butti Al Maktoum, Assistant Under-Secretary for the Sports Development and Competitiveness Sector and Chairman of the UAETSS, met with Al Falasi at the Ministry's headquarters in Dubai. H. E. reaffirmed that talent discovery and development are fundamental priorities for the Ministry, forming key pillars for building an outstanding generation of athletes who can represent the country in regional and international events. This aligns with the goal to reinforce the UAE's position as a nurturing and supporting destination for talents and sustainable sporting excellence. H.E. Sheikh Suhail bin Butti Al Maktoum further emphasised that UAETSS makes constant efforts to recognise and cultivate sport talents across various sports disciplines in the UAE. It offers comprehensive technical and administrative support, along with funding and training programs for honing their skills and empowering them. These efforts aim to establish an integrated ecosystem that promotes constant athlete development, enabling them to reach the professional elite level and compete internationally within a sustainable and professional environment. He added, 'The onboarding of the young Emirati drift driver Khalifa Al Falasi is a testament to the Ministry's commitment to nurture young sports talents and invest in human capital, in line with the directives of our wise leadership to boost the competitiveness of Emirati sports and reinforce its international presence.' Khalifa Al Falasi, who is 17 years old, is the first professional Emirati driver to compete in FIA's global championship and he is also the youngest driver in the competition's history. He is supported and nominated by the Emirates Motorsports Organization (EMSO), the official governing body for motorsports in the UAE. He has an exceptional regional record of achievements, which includes securing first place nationally in the 2024 Emirates Drift Championship during his professional debut season and winning third place in both the Red Bull Car Park Drift UAE and Red Bull Car Park Drift Oman qualifiers (Middle East category). In 2025, he achieved second place nationally in the Emirates Drift Championship (Professional category) and was recognised as the youngest professional drift driver in the Middle East. The UAE Committee for Talent and National Sports Support continues to advance objectives through the Talent Committee Platform, which was launched by the Ministry of Sports in June 2025. This platform tracks the progress of exceptional talents and athletes, closely monitoring their achievements through latest digital tools for data analysis, technical assessment and growth indicators. This approach helps constantly optimise training and support plans. -Ends-
