CELEBRITY
Rivalry turns one sided: Ronaldo 4; Messi 0
Both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have been rivals for over a decade now and both made blockbuster summer transfers. For well over a decade people have been making comparisons between the two super stars of the current generation.
Some even see them as the best players of all time, drowning the now latent Pele -Maradona rivalry.
When Messi signed for PSG, it looked like the summer transfer window could not be topped, until Ronaldo made a stunning return to Manchester United.
But for the two greatest players on the planet, their starts at their respective clubs could not have gone any differently so far.
Here are their current performances gathered from UK newspaper, Daily Mail.
Ronaldo quick off the mark
When a player returns to a club at the age of 36 you would wonder whether they can make the same kind of impact as they did in their younger days.
But Ronaldo is no ordinary player and it has looked like he has never left Old Trafford with a stunning start to his comeback by scoring in all three games so far.
This is a player who scored 36 goals in 44 appearances for Juventus last season, so there was never any concern that Ronaldo would struggle to get off the marks and he’s already making a profound impact on the team.
The Portuguese ace has been the difference maker in his first three games back at the club, in games where United in previous seasons, might have struggled to pick up a win.
Against Newcastle he scored the opener and when the opponents got back into the game it was Ronaldo who got them out of a jail with a second before they ran away with the game late on.
It took just 13 minutes for Ronaldo to score against Young Boys in the Champions League though he was substituted in the second half as United’s ten-men fell to a shocking defeat in Switzerland.
Then against West Ham it was Ronaldo who scored his fourth goal in three games to level the score before Jesse Lingard scored a late winner.
Ronaldo is a different player to the tricky winger which left United in 2009 and is now more of a deadly centre-forward but he’s arguably even more clutch in the big moments as he was 12 years ago.
And if he continues in this way he could be the difference maker as United face tough competition in Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City for the title this year.
But it’s not just his work on the pitch that will benefit those around him this season.
His mere presence will have a big impact on the player for how he handles himself on and off the pitch, which has contributed to him continuing to perform at the highest standard at 36.
Reserve keeper Lee Grant admitted that before the game against Newcastle that not one player ate dessert at dinner after they spotted Ronaldo having quinoa, avocado and a couple of boiled eggs.
The example Ronaldo sets is already clearly paying off on his new team-mates at Old Trafford.
Messi looks lost
While his great rival has made a scorching start off the blocks at his new club, Messi has looked sluggish and does not look at home yet in the colours of Paris Saint-Germain.
It was clear Messi did not want to leave Barcelona who could not sign him to a new contract due to their financial issues.
But the 34-year-old is now lining up alongside Kylian Mbappe and Neymar at the French giants as part of a ‘dream team’ which is widely expected to dominate both domestically and in Europe this season.
It hasn’t started well though for the legendary Argentine forward. While Ronaldo was thrown straight into the starting line-up Messi came on a substitute in his first game against Reims, getting 24 minutes in a 2-0 victory.
Messi started alongside Mbappe and Neymar for the first time against Club Brugges, but he struggled to make an impact as they were shockingly held to a 1-1 draw in Belgium despite all of their fire power.
Then amazingly against Lyon, Mauricio Pochettino hauled Messi off after 76 minutes with the game still 1-1.
As he came off, the summer arrival from Barcelona stared sharply at the PSG manager, made a gesture with his hands apart as if to say he didn’t understand.
He cut a frustrated figure and as other members on the bench jumped up and celebrated Mauro Icardi’s winner, it took Messi several seconds to rise from his seat and start politely clapping.
It was a telling reaction from a player who is usually so passionate.
Messi did look more lively against Lyon than his low-key performance against Club Brugge as he forced goalkeeper Anthony Lopes to a great save after a clever backheel from Neymar and also had a free-kick crash off the crossbar.
But there was much expectancy on Messi to immediately tear up Ligue 1 which is widely regarded as a much weaker division than the likes of the Premier League, La Liga and Serie A.
Ronaldo has got off to a flying start in the Premier League though unlike Messi it is at a club and division he knows well.
Perhaps a more direct comparison can be made between Messi at PSG and when Ronaldo joined Juventus back in 2018.
In a new league, the Portuguese star failed to score in his first three Serie A games and was controversially sent off in his first Champions League game for the Bianconeri against Valencia. He went on to net 21 times in the league that season – his lowest since leaving United in 2009.
His brilliance eventually shone through and he went on to score 31 and 29 goals over the following two league seasons.
With Messi’s quality it will be a surprise if he doesn’t get off the mark quickly and make a big impact in Paris, but so far Ronaldo has the clear advantage of the two world superstars since their respective blockbuster moves.
Diego Maradona’s death “would have been avoided” if the medical team around him had done their job, his daughter Dalma accused on Tuesday at the trial of health professionals of the circumstances of the death of the Argentine football idol
Dalma, 38, the elder of Maradona’s two daughters with his ex-wife Claudia Villafañe, was a star witness on the 11th day of the trial in San Isidro (north of Buenos Aires). And like others since the start of the trial, she blamed the caregivers of her father’s final weeks and the framework of his convalescence.
” If they had done their job, (his death) would have been avoided,” Dalma said, referring to the medical team and in particular to three of the accused: attending physician and neurosurgeon Leopoldo Luque, psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov and psychologist Carlos Diaz.
” They deceived us (the family) in the most cruel way (…) They made us believe that the only possible option was to convalesce at home after his operation, in a house that was rented for the occasion in Tigre (north of Buenos Aires),” Dalma said.
According to them, ” it would be a serious home hospitalisation,” Diego would have everything like in a clinic, but in a house,” with 24/7 medical attention, medical equipment, an ambulance at the door permanently, she continued.
” It never happened,” she said in a statement often interrupted by tears. In this “disgusting, piss-smelling ” house, a doctor only came to see him from time to time.”
Maradona died at the age of 60 on November 25, 2020, from a cardiorespiratory crisis complicated by pulmonary oedema, in this private residence, where he had been convalescing for two weeks after neurosurgery for a head hematoma.
Seven practitioners – doctors, psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses – are accused of “homicide with possible intent”, characterised when a person commits negligence while knowing that it can lead to death.
Mr. Luque, who was close to Maradona, ” was his primary care physician, and I didn’t think he was recommending something that wouldn’t be best for my father,” Dalma continued.
With his sister Gianinna ” we didn’t have much influence, we could say what we thought but didn’t decide anything .” Sometimes someone from the care team or from the entourage would say “that Dad was sleeping, sometimes that he didn’t want to see anyone,” that the best thing was not to disturb him. “
” In hindsight, we should have decided.”
Last Tuesday, Veronica Ojeda, ex-partner and mother of Maradona’s son born in 2013, testified that the star’s close entourage “kept him as if he were sequestered” in the last months of his life.
The practitioners on trial, who deny any responsibility for the death, are seeking sentences of 8 to 25 years in prison. The trial is expected to last until July, with one or two hearings per week.
–Le360 (with AFP)
Mexican referee Marco Antonio Ortiz Nava found out the hard way that there are consequences for seeking an autograph from eight-time Ballon d’Or winner and World Cup winner Lionel Messi — he was hit with a CONCACAF disciplinary sanction.
As the final whistle blew on Inter Miami’s 1-0 Champions Cup win over Sporting Kansas City, secured by a brilliant second-half goal from Messi, the referee known as ‘El Gato’ approached the Argentina international.
He appeared to be asking for the striker’s shirt to join the Messi-mania, but it turned out he was actually requesting an autograph for a relative with special needs.
Despite the heartfelt request, Ortiz’s actions did not comply with CONCACAF’s code of conduct for officials.
“Upon investigation, CONCACAF has learned that the referee approached the player to request an autograph for a family member with special needs,” the North American football governing body said in a statement to ESPN.
Although the exact nature of the disciplinary action was not disclosed, CONCACAF added that Ortiz accepted full responsibility for his actions and apologised for his breach of protocol.
The first leg of the premier continental tournament for clubs from North America, Central America and the Caribbean was initially postponed due to a winter storm warning in the area.
Inter Miami will host Sporting in the return leg at Chase Stadium on Tuesday.
“The referee’s actions were not in accordance with the confederation’s code of conduct for match officials and the procedures in place for these types of requests.”
Reuters
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The world’s top athletes don’t just dominate on the field—they lead the way financially, too.
From football icons to basketball superstars, these elite performers are earning staggering sums through salaries, endorsements, and off-field ventures.
Using data from Sportico, sportsunlimitednews breaks down the top 10 highest-paid athletes globally.
10. Jon Rahm
On December 2023, Jon Rahm announced he was joining LIV Golf after a very successful stint at the PGA, earning 11 PGA Tour wins since joining in 2016. Now signed under LIV Golf, the Spaniard is considered one of the best-paid athletes in the world, accumulating $85.6 (€82.3/£68.55) million in winnings and $20 (€19.2/£16) million on endorsement deals
9. Kylian Mbappe
Following his massive transfer to Real Madrid in 2024, Kylian Mbappe is now ranked the 9th highest-paid athlete in the world. The French forward earns $85 (€81.6/£68.9) million in salary and $25 (€24/£20) million in endorsements, totalling $110 (€105/£88) million—a ‘galactico’ price tag for one of the best players in the world.
8. Karim Benzema
Another former Real Madrid star, Karim Benzema is ranked amongst the top ten best-paid athletes in the world following his move to Al-Ittihad (Saudi Arabia). The French striker earns $108 (€103/£86.4) million alongside $8 (€7.6/£6.4) million in endorsements.
7. Oleksandr Usyk
Up next, we have an undisputed heavyweight champion, who took down Tyson Fury for a second time in 2024. Oleksandr Usyk is arguably one of the best fighters in the world right now, and his earnings reflect that. The Ukrainian makes an average of $120 (€115/£96) million in winnings alongside $2 (€1.9/£1.6) million on endorsements, standing on $122 (€117/£97.7) million.
6. Neymar Jr.
Neymar Jr. is in the final stages of his professional football career. The former Barcelona and PSG man has enjoyed a successful stint across multiple teams around the world. Now in Santos FC, the Brazilian star is still considered one of the highest-paid players in the world, earning a $108 (€103/£82) million salary and $25 (€24/£20) million in endorsements.
5. LeBron James
The Los Angeles Lakers veteran and NBA star is ranked fifth in the world following his jaw-dropping $85 (€81.6/£68.3) million endorsement deals with Coca-Cola and PepsiCo. Alongside his endorsements, he cashes in a salary of $48.2 (€46.3/£38.6) million a year.
4. Lionel Messi
The Inter Miami star has one of the most lucrative contracts in world football. The Argentinian forward earns $60 (€57.6/£48) million a year, alongside $75 (€72/£60) million on endorsement deals. He is linked to Louis Vuitton, Mastercard and Pepsi.
3. Tyson Fury
The ‘Gypsie King’ is ranked third in the world, despite his recent losses and retirement announcement in late 2024. Fury cashed in $140 (€134.4/£112) million in winnings alongside $7 (€6.7/£5.6) million in endorsement deals, a very fruitful 2024 for the former British heavyweight champ.
2. Stephen Curry
Stephen Curry can still boast of having the highest-paying salary in the NBA for the eighth straight year. According to ESPN, his Golden State deal is worth around $55 (€52/£41.2) million this season. On top of that, the American point guard earns $100 (€95/£79.9) million in endorsements.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo still ranks at the top as the best-paid athlete in the world. The Al-Nassr star earns a jaw-dropping $215 (€206/£171.9) million salary, alongside $45 (€43.1/£35.9) in endorsements from Armani, Herbalife, TAG Heuer, and Clear Shampoo.
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