International Football
NEYMAR SENDS MESSAGE TO RONALDO WITH CELEBRATION AFTER SCORING HAT-TRICK FOR BRAZIL
Neymar, the Paris Saint-Germain star overtook Ronaldo, the legendary Brazil forward on the all-time Selecao goalscorers list on Tuesday evening, with only Pele now above him
Neymar paid tribute to Ronaldo after surpassing the goalscoring icon in Brazil’s all-time top scorer charts with a hat-trick against Peru.
The Paris Saint-Germain star netted three times, including twice in the last seven minutes, to seal a thrilling 4-2 World Cup qualifying victory in Lima, with his final goal – the only one of the hat-trick which wasn’t a penalty – taking his international tally to 64 in 103 appearances.
Only Pele now sits above him in the all-time list with 77, with Ronaldo – whose 62 goals came from 98 appearances – now relegated to third in the list.
Following his first penalty in the first half Neymar held up his hands to signal the number nine, paying tribute to the legendary ‘R9’ who he had just drawn level with for international goals.
Neymar also tweeted an image of himself along with Ronaldo at full-time, writing the words: “All my respect for you PHENOMENON.”
Brazil coach Tite praised Neymar after the match, but was reluctant to place his achievement above any other greats of Brazil’s past.
“What I can say is Neymar has this unpredictability. He is the bow and the arrow, he’s a player who both makes and takes chances. And he gets better and better, and more mature.
“Each generation has its own merits. Ronaldo was extraordinary, Rivaldo was extraordinary, Romario and Bebeto as well, each one in his own time.
“He has the ability to get the ball in the most relevant areas of the pitch and he uses his creativity from there. He doesn’t juggle with the ball. He dribbles to create danger, to unbalance his defender. That is his top characteristic as a player.”
Well-travelled Portuguese coach Paulo Duarte has been named as Guinea’s new coach, less than a month before their next round of World Cup qualifiers.
Duarte, 56, has twice previously coached Burkina Faso and taken charge of Gabon and Togo, while also coaching at clubs in Portugal, France, Tunisia, Angola and Saudi Arabia.
Guinea’s football federation gave no contract details when they made the announcement on Monday, but said they would be looking for Duarte to “restructure their national team”.
Guinea trail leaders Algeria by eight points in their World Cup qualifying group with four games remaining, leaving them with only a slim chance of qualification.
They play Somalia away on September 5 and then Algeria at home on September 8 in their next two qualifiers although a stadium ban means Guinea have moved their home game to Casablanca, Morocco.
-Reuters
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Veteran coach Louis van Gaal says he has been cured of cancer and is keen for a return to the higher levels of the game.
The 73-year-old announced three years ago that he was suffering from prostate cancer, but told a Dutch television talk show, “I’m no longer bothered by cancer.”
When he announced his illness, Van Gaal was the coach of the Dutch national team, but he has not worked since the last World Cup in Qatar in 2022.
“Two years ago, I had a few operations. It was all bad then. But it all worked out in the end. I have check-ups every few months, and that’s going well. I’m getting fitter and fitter,” he said.
Van Gaal, whose career has included stints at Ajax Amsterdam, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester United, reiterated a lack of interest in returning to club management but said becoming the national coach of a top-tier country could tempt him back.
He now serves as a special advisor to Ajax.
-Reuters
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In a compelling twist of football destiny, Davide Ancelotti is stepping into his own spotlight as he begins his first head coaching role at Brazilian club Botafogo—just months after parting ways with his legendary father, Carlo Ancelotti, at Real Madrid.
The 35-year-old has been appointed as Botafogo’s new manager, the club announced on Tuesday, following the sacking of Renato Paiva. Davide, who has spent the last decade working alongside his father at some of Europe’s top clubs—including Bayern Munich, Napoli, Everton, and Real Madrid—has signed a one-year deal with the Rio-based team.
This marks a significant milestone for the younger Ancelotti, whose career has long been shaped by his father’s influence, but who now faces the challenge of carving his own identity on the touchline.
The move comes shortly after both father and son departed Real Madrid at the end of last season, with Carlo taking over the Brazilian national team. Now, in a poetic alignment, father and son find themselves on different paths within Brazilian football—one leading the Seleção, the other steering the fortunes of a storied domestic club.
Botafogo’s decision to appoint Davide follows a controversial parting with Paiva, who was dismissed just days after their exit from the Club World Cup. Though he oversaw a stunning win over Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain, a 1-0 extra-time loss to Palmeiras in the round of 16 proved to be his final act after just four months in charge.
As Davide Ancelotti begins this new chapter, all eyes will be on whether the son of one of football’s most decorated managers can step out from his father’s shadow—and perhaps, in time, build a legacy of his own.
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