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Yorkshire face battle on final day as hosts set up imposing lead in third innings

ECB Reporters Network21-Jul-2022George Bartlett’s first LV= Insurance County Championship half-century of the season cemented a strong Somerset position on the third day of the match with Yorkshire at Taunton.Having seen hopes of a big summer hit by an early shoulder injury, the 24-year-old top-scored with 88 not out as his side ran up 225 for six in their second innings to lead by 373. Tom Lammonby made 46.Tom Kohler-Cadmore had earlier been dismissed for 100 in a Yorkshire first-innings total of 276, replying to Somerset’s 424. Jonathan Tattersall contributed 43, while Kasey Aldridge claimed three for 23 and Jack Brooks three for 73.Much depended on Kohler-Cadmore, unbeaten on 68 against the county he will join next season, when Yorkshire began the day on 167 for four in their first innings, 257 runs behind.Matthew Waite again offered solid support as the pair extended their fifth-wicket stand to 65.It was broken with the total on 194 when Waite, on 21, was caught at short mid-wicket by the shrewdly-placed Bartlett off Aldridge.Kohler-Cadmore was becalmed in the nineties, partly by Jack Leach’s miserly spell from the River End, but reached a largely untroubled hundred off 199 balls, guiding a Lewis Gregory delivery to third man for two.The 27-year-old, who had struck four sixes and nine fours, received warm applause from Somerset fans, as well as those from Yorkshire, their appetites whetted for next summer.It took the introduction of part-time off-spinner Matt Renshaw shortly before lunch to undo Kohler-Cadmore, beaten by a ball that turned and trapped lbw on the back foot.At the interval, the scoreboard read 228 for six. With six runs added, the second new ball became available.Tattersall’s important 108-ball innings ended when he edged Marchant de Lange to 18-year-old wicketkeeper James Rew, who claimed his maiden first class catch for Somerset.Dom Bess drove a catch to cover off Aldridge and when Jordan Thompson was bowled be de Lange, Yorkshire still required one run to avoid the possibility of following on.A Shannon Gabriel single averted that danger, although Somerset may well have batted again anyway, and the deficit was 148 when he was last man out, skying a catch off de Lange.Openers Renshaw and Lammonby wasted no time building on Somerset’s advantage, taking their second innings score to 57 by tea, Lammonby lofting sixes off Thompson and Waite.Their stand had extended to 65 when Renshaw made a hash of an attempted reverse sweep off Jack Shutt and Kohler-Cadmore held a simple chance at slip.Undeterred, Lammonby soon cleared the ropes again, dispatching Bess over long-on. Another six followed off Shutt, but the next ball saw the left-hander get a leading edge to cover where Harry Brook pouched the catch.Lammonby had made his runs from just 47 balls and Somerset led by 236. Bartlett joined the sixes spree, lifting Shutt over wide long-on.First innings centurion Tom Abell made only ten before falling to another Kohler-Cadmore slip catch, attempting to cut a ball from Bess.But Lewis Goldsworthy helped Bartlett add 48 in sensible fashion before a lapse in concentration on 18 saw him slog-sweep a catch to square leg off Bess. At 162 for four, Somerset led by 310.Bartlett went to fifty off 86 balls, with 2 sixes and 4 fours, a timely reminder of the form that saw him first establish a regular place in Somerset’s red ball side in 2019.Rew and Gregory fell cheaply, but two more Bartlett sixes off Matthew Revis left the hosts reached well placed for a final day declaration.

Manchester United have added a “special” £30 million player to their transfer wishlist, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

Man Utd transfer news

The Red Devils are yet to bring in a new player this month, and the chances of them doing so do remain slim, as the club need to adhere to the PSR and need to move players on before any can be brought in.

He's like Salah: Man Utd can forget Kolo Muani by signing £145m sensation

Manchester United desperately need reinforcements in attack to help Ruben Amorim’s task at Old Trafford.

ByEthan Lamb Jan 8, 2025

However, that is not stopping the Premier League side from looking and identifying potential transfer targets for either later this month or for the summer. Signing a new striker appears to be high on the agenda for Ruben Amorim, as it was reported last week that United had sent scouts to watch striker Samu Omorodion in action for Porto the previous weekend.

As well as looking at Omorodion, there is also a possibility that United will look to sign Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic this month. Journalist Enrico Camelio has explained that a deal is possible, but only if Joshua Zirkzee leaves Old Trafford and goes in the opposite direction. In a further update, it has been stated that the Italian side have made an official cash-plus-player offer, and both Vlahovic and Zirkzee are open to moves this month.

Adding a new striker to his team is not the only priority for Amorim, as he also wants to land a new left-back, with Nuno Mendes high on the list. Mendes and Amorim worked together at Sporting, and the pair are keen to reunite with each other, with Mendes refusing to sign a new contract at PSG.

Man Utd add "special" £30m player to transfer wishlist

Mendes is on United’s list of potential new left wingbacks, but he is not their only target, as according to Fabrizio Romano, Man United have added Patrick Dorgu to their transfer wishlist.

Dorgu, who is said to be valued at £30 million, currently plays for Italian side Lecce and has done so since July 2022 but only joined the club on a permanent basis in 2023. The defender is predominantly a left-back, but he can also play at right-back as well as further up the field if needed.

Romano has reported that the Red Devils are continuing to look at their options for a new left wingback, and they have now added Dorgu to their list. The Italian reports that Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez and PSG’s Mendes are higher up the list than Dorgu, but the pair are also considered more expensive. United scouts have been monitoring Dorgu in recent months, but they will face stiff competition from Napoli, who are also keen.

Apps

18

Goals

3

Big chances created

1

Key passes

0.7

Clean sheets

3

Interceptions per game

0.8

Tackles per game

1.9

Clearances per game

1.7

Dorgu has won four caps for his national team, Denmark, but before moving into the first team, the left-back impressed his under-21 manager, Steffen Hojer, who called him special:“What’s special about him (Dorgu) is that he’s a quiet and calm guy, but things just come incredibly naturally to him on a football pitch.

“When he is put on the field, and it doesn’t matter which team, he just fits in, and he just makes an incredible number of good choices for such a young player.”

Infantino said Orlando could be potential host for Women's World Cup matches, using the upcoming Club World Cup as a litmus test

Infantino views 2025 Club World Cup as trial run for OrlandoCity's growing soccer community and infrastructure praised$400M Camping World Stadium renovation key to future bidsGetty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED

During a visit to Orlando, FIFA President Gianni Infantino suggested that the city's performance as a host for the 2025 Club World Cup could pave the way for hosting future major matches.

Orlando's has been picked as a host city for the 2025 Club World Cup, with matches split between Camping World Stadium and Inter&Co Stadium. Infantino indicated that the city’s performance during the CWC could be an audition to host matches in the 2031 Women’s World Cup.

“If the results of this test, the Club World Cup, is positive … then I think the conditions for being a host for the 2031 Women’s World Cup would be met,” Infantino said, according to the Orlando Business Journal.

AdvertisementWHAT GIANNI INFANTINO SAID

The FIFA president also added that Orlando’s growing soccer community as well as an investment into a football specific stadium helps build it’s case.

"Orlando's growing soccer community, investment in a soccer-specific stadium and its status as an international hub were all reasons it stood out," Infantino added.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Orlando's potential involvement in the 2031 Women's World Cup aligns with the city's broader ambitions to become a premier destination for international sporting events. The city is also in contention to host matches for the 2031 Rugby World Cup and 2033 Women's Rugby World Cup.

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Getty Images SportWHAT’S NEXT?

The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup takes place from June 14 to July 13 with it set to be held across the United States in twelve venues across eleven cities including New York and California.

Only Orlando has two stadiums hosting the 2025 edition of the tournament, while the other 11 states each have one stadium playing the host to a catalogue of European giants amongst others.

West Bromwich Albion have reportedly made contact with an attacking manager who shares the same agent as Tom Fellows.

West Brom still searching for new manager after Wicky deal falls through

The Baggies are still looking for Carlos Corberan’s long-term successor at The Hawthorns, as we approach a month after the Spaniard’s move to Valencia.

It looked as if West Brom had their man over the weekend in former Basel and Young Boys coach Raphael Wicky. The 47-year-old was the leading contender and was in advanced talks over the managerial vacancy, however, talks broke down over coaching staff and a move fell through.

That has left the club back at square one, with former Everton boss Sean Dyche a new name that has emerged on the radar in the Midlands.

However, Dyche isn’t the only candidate on West Brom’s radar, with an update shared on another out-of-work boss alongside the ex-Toffees manager.

West Brom in contact with Steven Schumacher

According to club insider DOOD, West Brom have been in contact with former Stoke City and Plymouth Argyle boss Steven Schumacher.

In what is described as a “huge turnaround”, Schumacher and Dyche’s agents have been contacted over a potential move to The Hawthorns.

Schumacher, who likes to play an attacking 4-3-3 formation, as per Transfermarkt, caught the eye after taking Plymouth to the Championship in 2023 by winning the League One title. Things didn’t go as well at Stoke City, though, being sacked in September after just nine months and 32 games in charge.

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Titles

1

The 40-year-old, who shares the same Wasserman agency as a number of West Brom players including Tom Fellows and Semi Ajayi, could now be one to keep an eye in the race for the Baggies job.

Talking to Football League World, West Brom fan pundit Callum Burgess described the links as “interesting” and that there are “worse candidates out there”.

“Steven Schumacher is an interesting one for me because his time at Stoke would probably be enough to put a lot of fans off him, where they would be wondering why he wasn’t able to turn the tide around at Stoke.

“But I think you could take into consideration that not a lot of managers have had success there and if we were appointing him directly off the back of his time with Plymouth Argyle, a lot of the fanbase would be more receptive to it.

“While it’s fair to take into consideration his time at Stoke as a negative about potentially appointing him, I think there are definitely worse candidates out there.”

Burgess added: “I think he’s a manager that would have the fanbase split from the start, where there are more negative feelings to him due to his time at the Bet 365 Stadium. But personally, I wouldn’t be totally against it.”

Mujeeb ur Rahman,who has been named among the reserves, will be added to the main squad once he gets his visa sorted

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Aug-2022Ibrahim Zadran, Hashmatullah Shahidi and Naveen-ul-Haq have been named in Afghanistan’s 16-member squad for the five-match T20I series in Ireland. Spinners Qais Ahmad and Mujeeb ur Rahman, who were not part of Afghanistan’s series against Zimbabwe in June due to T20 Blast commitments, have been added as reserves. ESPNcricinfo understands that Mujeeb will be added to the main squad once he gets his visa sorted. Ihsanullah Janat, who made his T20I debut against Zimbabwe, has been left out.Opening batter Ibrahim was part of the ODI side for the Zimbabwe tour, but his last T20I was in November 2019 against West Indies. He has been in good form in the ongoing Shpageeza Cricket League, where he is currently the third highest run-getter with 283 runs in seven innings at an average of 56.60. Top-order batter Shahidi was also part of the ODI series against Zimbabwe and last played a T20I in March 2021. Fast bowler Naveen, who has not represented Afghanistan in any format since November last year, was the second highest wicket-taker in the T20 Blast this season, taking 24 wickets in 14 matches for Leicestershire.Top-order batter Usman Ghani and seam bowler Nijat Masood, who were part of the side that played against Zimbabwe, will also travel to Ireland as reserves along with Qais and Mujeeb.Mohammad Nabi continues to lead the side, which also includes 17-year-old left-arm spinner Noor Ahmad, who took 4 for 10 on his T20I debut against Zimbabwe in June.Former Afghanistan captain Gulbadin Naib was left out of the squad once again, after being dropped following the ODI series against Bangladesh in February. He was omitted from the T20I series of that tour and has not represented Afghanistan since.The series against Ireland comprises five T20Is in Belfast and starts on August 9. To avoid visa issues that have plagued Afghanistan of late, the Afghanistan Cricket Board had obtained UAE residency visas for nearly dozen players and officials.Afghanistan squad: Mohammad Nabi (capt), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Hazratullah Zazai, Ibrahim Zadran, Darwish Rasooli, Najibullah Zadran, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Afsar Zazai, Karim Janat, Azmatullah Omarzai, Sharfuddin Ashraf, Rashid Khan, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Farid Ahmed Malik, Naveen ul Haq, Noor Ahmed

January is always a notoriously difficult time for clubs to conduct any form of transfer business given the lack of time available to make signings and to find suitable replacements.

Such a theory has come to fruition in recent weeks for Leeds United, with Daniel Farke unable to strengthen his side with less than a week left in the window.

However, their previous business in the winter months could play heavily on their minds, especially after completing a loan move for Jean-Kevin Augustin back in January 2020 with a deal to purchase him after promotion.

He would only make three appearances, but after their success and promotion, £24.5m had to be forked out for his services despite never actually moving to Elland Road on a permanent basis.

Despite such a mistake, the club are on the hunt for another new attacker this month, leading them to a player who’s featured in the Champions League this campaign.

Leeds targeting move for CL sensation

According to the Daily Mail, Leeds are one of a number of sides in the race to land RB Salzburg winger Adam Daghim before Monday’s transfer deadline.

However, they face stiff competition from the likes of Leicester City and Brentford, with the Premier League sides potentially holding the edge, but the Whites could offer him increased game time.

The report claims that the 19-year-old has caught the eye of the club’s hierarchy, potentially putting their connections to another Red Bull outfit to good use, following in the footsteps of Brenden Aaronson.

Daghim has registered four goals across all competitions in 2024/25, but has featured in the Champions League six times for the Austrian outfit this campaign.

It’s unclear how much a deal for the young winger would cost the Whites this month, but any move for his services could spell the end of one player’s time in Yorkshire.

Why Daghim could end Gnonto’s Leeds United career

Italian winger Wilfried Gnonto has been a key player under Farke so far this season, making 27 appearances in the Championship throughout 2024/25 – registering nine goal contributions in the process.

However, he hasn’t started a league game for the Whites since the 1-0 victory over Derby County on the 29th of December, since only featuring for a total of 58 minutes in the league.

Such a lack of game time has seen links emerge, touting the 21-year-old with a big-money move to Saudi Arabia, potentially banking the club a huge profit in the process.

Given his age, it would be a risk to offload him but the funds generated could allow for a move to sign Daghim, with the 19-year-old Salzburg ace providing an upgrade on the Italian should he leave in the coming days.

The Dane, who’s previously been dubbed a “huge talent” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, may have registered fewer combined goals and assists, but has outperformed Gnonto in dribbles completed whilst dominating in terms of touches in the opposition’s box.

He’s also completed more of his attempted crosses whilst also creating more chances per 90, offering an added threat in attacking areas for Farke’s side.

Games played

28

29

Goals & assists

4

9

Chances created

1.3

1.2

Crosses completed

23%

6%

Successful dribbles

3.2

1.8

Touches in opposition box

6.4

5.5

Tackles won

57%

46%

Whilst the competition appears to be tough for his signature, it’s clear that Daghim possesses a lot of qualities that could improve the Leeds attack, substantially boosting their chances of securing promotion.

As for Gnonto, given his lack of game time of late, it could be the perfect time to cash in on the youngster, pocketing a competitive fee for his services, allowing for the potential investment of Daghim before Monday’s deadline.

Better move than Buendia: Leeds could make late move for "incredible" ace

Leeds United still haven’t made any new additions with less than a week remaining in the transfer window.

ByEthan Lamb Jan 29, 2025

Gianluca Busio scored a late goal, but Venezia were unable to hold on as they dropped points in a clash with fellow relegation-threatened side Empoli.

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Busio scores late goal Empoli fire back moments laterVenezia remain in relegation fightFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED?

With the score level at 1-1 in the 85th minute, U.S. international Gianluca Busio stepped up with what seemed to be a crucial goal in the Serie A relegation race. The American midfielder provided cleanup duty, running onto the ball and firing home from close range to give Venezia a 2-1 lead.

That lead lasted just two minutes, though, before Tino Anjorin scored to make it 2-2, ensuring the two teams would split the points at the Stadio Carlo Castellani in a match that was crucial in Serie A's relegation fight.

AdvertisementWATCH THE GOALGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

With the draw, Venezia remain in 18th, the third and final relegation spot in Serie A. They're level on points with Empoli, who sit 19th due to their goal differential. Lecce, meanwhile, sit one point ahead, which means Venezia would have leapfrogged them into safety had they held on to all three points. Fellow recently-promoted side Parma aren't safe from danger, either, as they sit on 28 points, three more than Venezia, but do have a game in hand.

Back in the fall, Busio spoke to GOAL about his pride of playing in Serie A, and the midfielder and his team will now have a fight to stay there heading into the final weeks of the season.

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With the goal, Busio now has the fourth-most Serie A goal of any American with three. His goal on Sunday brought him level with legendary USMNT midfielder Michael Bradley.

Half-centuries from Ben Charlesworth and Oliver Price as Somerset made to toil

ECB Reporters Network05-Sep-2022Gloucestershire 320 for 6 (Harris 159, Charlesworth 56) vs SomersetMarcus Harris hit his third LV= Insurance County Championship century of the season as Gloucestershire controlled the first day of their Division One relegation battle with arch-rivals Somerset at Taunton.Invited to bat first on a benign Cooper Associates County Ground pitch, the visitors ran up 320 for 6, Harris leading the way with 159, off 263 balls, including 17 fours and a six. Ben Charlesworth contributed 56 to an opening stand of 126 with the Australian left-hander, while Ollie Price weighed in with 52 against a Somerset attack featuring Pakistan offspinner Sajid Khan, making his debut.Sajid found little assistance from the first-day wicket, while the seamers struggled for movement off the pitch or through the air.Somerset skipper Tom Abell must soon have been questioning his decision to field as Harris and Charlesworth coped comfortably with the new ball and scored at will on both sides of the pitch. Charlesworth was the more aggressive of the pair, striking eight fours in moving to a 79-ball half-century, while Harris was content to be patient in support of his younger partner.Sajid was introduced from the River End with the total on 58 and gave Harris his one moment of anxiety, on 33, when he survived a sharp chance to George Bartlett at short-leg.Gloucestershire’s opening pair brought up the hundred stand in the 29th over and by lunch had taken the score to 115 without loss. Harris was unbeaten on 47 and quickly moved to his fifty, off 99 deliveries, at the start of the afternoon session. Eleven runs had been added when Charlesworth mistimed a pull shot off Kasey Aldridge and directed a catch to Josh Davey at fine leg.The briefest of interruptions for rain followed. On the resumption, Harris hit the first six of the game, straight back over Sajid’s head.Price brought up the 200 with a sweet back-foot shot to the cover boundary off Sajid, who was finding his first experience of a Taunton pitch a testing one. A late cut for four off him took Harris to his 22nd first class hundred, off 174 balls, with 13 fours and a six. It had been a patient, no-frills effort.Marcus Harris anchored the innings with a big hundred•Getty ImagesAt tea, the scoreboard read 217 for one. With 20 added, there was another brief rain-break before Price brought up a 127-ball half-century, like Harris appearing untroubled.The 21-year-old looked bereft when aiming an extravagant drive at a full, wide ball from Tom Lammonby and edging through to wicketkeeper James Rew. Price had helped the unflappable Harris add 125 in 41 overs and at 251 for 2, Gloucestershire had the foundation for a big score.The second new ball was taken at 272 for 2 and accounted for Miles Hammond with nine runs added, the left-hander edging Davey to Abell at second slip, having made 7. Two balls later in the same over, James Bracey nicked a defensive shot to Rew and departed for a duck. And Somerset’s fightback continued when Gloucestershire skipper Graeme van Buuren was bowled shouldering arms to Lewis Gregory.Harris remained rock-like, reaching 150 off 246 balls. He was within eight deliveries of batting out the day when edging a back-foot shot off Jack Brooks to Gregory at slip. Still, Gloucestershire could feel satisfied with their efforts under mainly overcast skies.

We’ve finally made it to transfer deadline-day, and while a number of their rivals have made additions to their squads, Arsenal have not.

Mikel Arteta came into the window knowing that his side desperately needed attacking reinforcements, and even though the injury to Gabriel Jesus made that need even more acute, that attacking signing has still not materialised.

However, while the clock is well and truly ticking, the Gunners have made more than a fair share of deadline-day signings in the past, from Thomas Partey in 2020 to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in 2018, but the most notable of all is undoubtedly Mesut Özil, who secured his move to Arsenal back in the summer of 2013.

While it might take a long time for the North Londoners to complete a better deadline-day signing than the world-class German, recent reports have linked the club with a sensational striker who could be a close second.

Arsenal target international striker

According to a recent report from Football Transfers, Arsenal have maintained their strong interest in Juventus’ striker Dušan Vlahović.

In fact, the report goes a step further, claiming that due to the Gunners’ need for another number nine, fans should be on the lookout for a potential ‘late bid’ for the Serbian international.

How much the former Fiorentina man might cost the North Londoners is not revealed in the story, but other reports from earlier this month claimed that an offer in the region of £54m could be enough to tempt the Old Lady into selling.

It could be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given Vlahović’s immense ability and Arsenal’s need, it’s one worth fighting for, especially as he could end up being their best deadline day deal since Ozil.

Why Vlahović could be Arsenal's best deadline day deal since Ozil

So, we probably don’t need to explain to you why Ozil, who won four FA Cups and produced 118 goal involvements during his time in North London, is arguably Arsenal’s greatest deadline-day deal, but you might be a little less sure about why Vlahović could become a close second should he put pen to paper later on today.

Well, there are a few reasons, but they all ultimately stem from one thing: his output.

For example, during his time playing for Fiorentina, the Belgrade-born “monster,” as dubbed by Italian journalist Carlo Garganese, racked up a sensational haul of 49 goals and eight assists in just 108 appearances and, since joining Juventus, he’s scored 54 goals and provided 11 assists in 129 appearances.

Appearances

108

129

Goals

49

54

Assists

8

11

Goal Involvements per Match

0.52

0.50

That means he maintained an average of a goal involvement every 1.89 games for La Viola and currently has an average of a goal involvement every 1.98 games for the Old Lady, which proves that he can operate at a world-class level of output for two different teams in a top five league.

Therefore, there is no reason to suspect that he wouldn’t remain at least as effective with players like Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard around him, which in turn means he could be the number nine the club so desperately need to fire them to glory either this season or the next.

That is the primary reason he could go down as the club’s best deadline-day deal since Ozil, as while Aubameyang was incredibly prolific, he was only responsible for one FA Cup, whereas, with the team Arteta currently has at his disposal, a ready-made marksman like Vlahović, could be the final component of a title-winning machine.

Ultimately, it could be a challenging transfer to get done before the clock strikes 11pm, but Arsenal must do what they can to bring the Serbian superstar to N5.

Better signing than Tel: Arsenal chasing D-Day deal for £60m "nightmare"

The incredible forward would be a game-changer for Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Feb 3, 2025

Julio Baptista wants Brazilian Ronaldo to earn more respect for his achievements, insisting he had more "quality" than Cristiano Ronaldo.

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Baptista picks R9 over Cristiano RonaldoConvinced Brazilian striker had more quality than CR7Urged football fans to respect O FenomenoFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Julio Baptista has reignited the debate over football’s greatest talents by declaring that Brazilian legend Ronaldo Nazario had more “quality” than Cristiano Ronaldo. The former Real Madrid star described R9's on-field impact as “really insane” and urged fans to show greater respect for the iconic striker’s extraordinary achievements.

AdvertisementAFPWHAT JULIO BAPTISTA SAID

In an interview conducted by footitalia.com, Baptista was asked: "Is Cristiano Ronaldo or Brazilian Ronaldo the better striker?"

Baptista replied: "Both players have been special at different times of their careers. Of course, in terms of longevity, you can’t argue with Cristiano, but in terms of quality, and from what I saw from the Brazilian Ronaldo before his injury – I never saw a player who did what Ronaldo did in the past. What he was doing deserves incredible respect, it was really insane. I must give it to my countryman."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Both played have enjoyed illustrious careers. While the Brazilian Ronaldo was part of two World Cup-winning squads and won two Ballon d'Or awards, the Portuguese won five Champions Leagues, a European Championship with his country, as well as five Ballons d'Or. Both legendary forwards represented Real Madrid and lit up Serie A, although Cristiano is still going strong at the age of 40 as he dreams of breaching the 1000-goal landmark.

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DID YOU KNOW?

Back in February, O Fenomeno was not impressed with Ronaldo's GOAT claims, stating that better players than the Portuguese icon have graced the pitch.

He told ESPN: "I don't really like to get into this, I think people have too much self-esteem. I prefer people to talk about what I did and who I was rather than talking about myself. Cristiano Ronaldo has a fantastic story, he won everything, scored goals in every possible way. He is definitely among the best in history. Now, I don't agree with the best. But I respect his opinion… I would say he is easily in the top 10.

"Pele number 1 without a doubt, [Lionel] Messi and [Diego] Maradona tied together, Zico, Romario, Cristiano Ronaldo, [Marco] Van Basten, [Zinedine] Zidane, [Luis] Figo, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho, a series of players, there are many great players on this list, and I'm sure I'm forgetting some. Every time someone asks me about this ranking, I make a different list. Only these first three are definitive."