London, England | THE INDEPENDENT | Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski won the best FIFA men’s player award on Thursday, beating the other two finalists Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s Best FIFA Football Awards ceremony was held as a virtual event at the …
Read More »Messi grateful for Ballon d’Or Dream Team spot
Buenos Aires, Argentina | THE INDEPENDENT | Lionel Messi, Ronaldo and Cristiano Ronaldo said Monday they felt honored to be named in the greatest team of all time by France Football. Having cancelled its annual Ballon d’Or award for the world’s best footballer because of the coronavirus pandemic, the weekly …
Read More »Lewandowski on FIFA Best Player shortlist alongside Messi, C. Ronaldo
Berlin, Germany | THE INDEPENDENT | Bayern Munich forward Robert Lewandowski is included in a three-man shortlist on Friday for FIFA’s Best Men’s Player award alongside Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. This year’s winner will be announced next Thursday in a virtual ceremony. Lewandowski is considered the favorite to win …
Read More »Juventus win ninth consecutive Serie A title
Kampala, Uganda | XINHUA | Juventus continued their dominance in the Serie A as they claimed their ninth consecutive Scudetto, an unprecedented record in the top five European football leagues as they enjoyed a 2-0 home triumph over Sampdoria on Sunday. It’s Maurizio Sarri’s first Scudetto in his coaching career, …
Read More »No Ballon D’Or in 2020 due to coronavirus pandemic
Kampala, Uganda | XINHUA | The prestigious world football prize, the Ballon d’Or, will not be handed out in 2020 due to “lack of sufficient fair conditions,” organizers France Football announced on Monday. “In exceptional circumstances, we must make exceptional provisions. For the first time in its history, which began in …
Read More »Italian football emerges from virus crisis with cup semis in balance
Rome, Italy | AFP | This week’s Italian Cup semi-final, second leg matches were set to bring football back to a nation emerging from the coronavirus crisis, but with two days until the scheduled kick-off the two matches are still awaiting government approval. Juventus’ home clash with AC Milan on Friday …
Read More »Ramsey first back at Juve training, Ronaldo in quarantine
Milan, Italy | AFP | Welsh international Aaron Ramsey was the first Juventus player to return to individual training at the team’s sports centre in Turin on Tuesday as Cristiano Ronaldo began two weeks’ quarantine after returning to Italy. Ronaldo flew back to northern Italy by private jet on Monday night …
Read More »Ronaldo awaited as Serie A gets back training amid doubts
Milan, Italy | AFP | Cristiano Ronaldo has been recalled from Portugal as Serie A clubs get back to individual training on Monday after a two-month coronavirus lockdown, but doubts remain over whether the championship can return. The interior ministry’s go-ahead for players to return to club training facilities two weeks …
Read More »Lyon face up to Ronaldo and Juventus as Juninho era struggles for lift-off
Lyon, France | AFP | Anthony Lopes describes Cristiano Ronaldo as “extraordinary”, and the Lyon goalkeeper knows how big a job he faces keeping his Portuguese international colleague quiet when the French side face Juventus in the Champions League this week. “I have been lucky enough to play alongside him. He …
Read More »Ronaldo’s scores 700th goal despite Ukraine win to qualify for Euro 2020
Kiev, Ukraine | AFP | Ukraine beat Portugal 2-1 on Monday to clinch a place at Euro 2020 despite Cristiano Ronaldo scoring his 700th career goal. Roman Yaremchuk and Andriy Yarmolenko put Ukraine two goals up after 27 minutes. Although Ronaldo scored his landmark goal from the penalty spot in the …
Read More »