CELEBRITY
Romario to Pele: The whole world is praying for you
Former Brazilian footballer Romario sent his best wishes and thoughts to fellow icon Pele, stating that the whole world is praying for the health of the three-time world champion, who has been hospitalized for the past month and whose delicate condition is causing concern around the world.
The 1994 World Cup winner put aside his old differences with Pele and joined the voices hoping for the health of the player considered by many as the best soccer player of all time.
“King, get better. Much faith. Everyone is attentive and praying for you. Get better. A kiss to your heart,” Romario told SporTV.
The wishes came from a footballer who has had his differences with Pele when he was still active due to some of the latter’s criticism of some of his questionable off-field behaviors.
“Pele is a poet when he’s quiet, but when he opens his mouth he only speaks sh*t,” Romario, now 56, once said.
The health condition of the 82-year-old former soccer player has been hogging the limelight in Brazil since last Wednesday, when the Albert Eintein Hospital in Sao Paulo reported a worsening of the colon cancer he was diagnosed with in 2021 and said Pele is receiving care related to “renal and cardiac dysfunctions.”
Pele was hospitalized to evaluate a change in the chemotherapy treatment he has been receiving since his colon tumor was detected last September.
Days later, the hospital reported that he was also being treated for a respiratory infection that, according to his daughters, he suffered as a result of a COVID-19 infection.
Most of Pele’s children and grandchildren, as well as his wife, spent Christmas Eve at the Albert Einstein Hospital, where the former soccer player has been hospitalized since November 29.
Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo crossed one billion followers across his social media accounts, aided by his newly-launched YouTube channel that has attracted more than 60 million subscribers in just over three weeks.
Ronaldo, who scored his 900th career goal last week to help Portugal beat Croatia 2-1 in the Nations League, is the first human being to reach a billion followers on social media, global media reports said.
“We’ve made history, one billion followers! This is more than just a number, it’s a testament to our shared passion, drive, and love for the game and beyond,” Ronaldo posted on X.
“You’ve been with me every step of the way, through all the highs and the lows. This journey is our journey… thank you for believing in me, for your support, and for being part of my life.”
The former Manchester United and Real Madrid player reached the milestone with over 639 million followers on Instagram, 170 million on Facebook and 113 million on X.
The 39-year-old topped Forbes’ list of highest-paid athletes this year, with off-field earnings of $60 million, boosted by his large social media following.
Ronaldo’s club Al-Nassr will host Al-Ahli in the Saudi Pro League on Friday.
-Reuters
Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo launched his YouTube channel on Wednesday and hundreds of thousands of subscribers signed up within a couple of hours.
The 39-year-old five-times Ballon D’Or winner plays for Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr.
“The wait is over. My @YouTube channel is finally here! SIUUUbscribe and join me on this new journey,” Ronaldo posted on his social media accounts.
A couple of hours after posting his first video, 1.69M subscribers had joined he channel.
Ronaldo has 112.5 million followers on the X platform, 170 million on Facebook and 636 million on Instagram.
The former Real Madrid and Manchester United player is preparing for his team’s Saudi Pro League opener against Al-Raed on Thursday.
-Reuters
Inter Miami will be the last club Argentina captain Lionel Messi plays for, the 36-year-old forward said on Wednesday, adding he feels “a little bit scared” at the thought of the day he decides to retire.
Messi, a World Cup winner with Argentina in 2022, has a contract with the Major League Soccer side until 2025 following his arrival last summer after a spell with French champions Paris St Germain.
“Inter Miami will be my last club. I love playing football. I enjoy everything even more because I am aware that there is less and less left,” Messi told ESPN.
“I’m not ready to leave football. I’ve done this all my life, I love playing football, I enjoy training, the day-to-day, the matches… And yes, there’s always a little bit of fear that it’s all over.”
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi is preparing with his national team to defend their Copa America title, with the tournament kicking off on June 20 in the United States.
Argentina will take on Canada in the opening match before facing Group A rivals Chile on June 25 and Peru four days later.
-Reuters
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