Cristiano still second to Messi Cristiano Ronaldo would be considered the best player in the world if not for Lionel Messi, according to Brazil icon Ronaldo.
The now-retired striker is a big fan of the Portugal international, who has scored a staggering 196 goals in 193 appearances for Real Madrid since arriving at the Santiago Bernabeu from Manchester United in 2009.
But Messi has won the Ballon d'Or at the end of every year his great rival has been in Spain and former Real forward Ronaldo can understand why.
"I would say Messi (is the world's best player) because he is a little bit better than Cristiano," the 36-year-old told Tuttosport.
"But I would also add that Cristiano has had unbel
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Category: News Views: 855 Added: SkyDate: 21.04.2013 - 21:40
Fabregas inspired by Abidal Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas has labelled team-mate Eric Abidal as 'an example for the whole world'.
Abidal played 90 minutes in Barca's 1-0 win over Levante on Saturday, the first match he has started since undergoing a liver transplant last April.
The former France international was one of the best players on the pitch at Camp Nou, much to the astonishment of Fabregas.
Fabregas told Barca TV: "I went and told him after the game, 'You're the greatest.' He was spectacular.
"He played as if he had never stopped playing. He's an example for the whole world and we hope he carries on like this because he'll help us a lot for the rest of the season."<
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Category: News Views: 799 Added: SkyDate: 21.04.2013 - 21:39
Martinez worried by Barcelona Bayern Munich midfielder Javi Martinez is worried about Barcelona's star-studded line-up ahead of the Champions League semi-final.
Jupp Heynckes' men are widely regarded as the form side in the world, having wrapped up the Bundesliga title with a record six rounds to spare and stormed into the last four of the Champions League with a resounding 4-0 aggregate win over Serie A champions Juventus.
Martinez, speaking ahead of Tuesday's first-leg clash with Barca at Allianz Arena, is extremely wary of the threat posed by Tito Vilanova's men.
"Unfortunately, everything about them worries me," the Spain international told AS. "They're a very balanced outfit and they have the best player in the world.
Category: News Views: 701 Added: SkyDate: 21.04.2013 - 21:35
Premier League: Tottenham 3:1 Manchester City Samir Nasri opened the scoring with a mere four minutes gone at White Hart Lane, tapping home James Milner's cross to give the visitors the lead.
Despite appearing to be in control, City allowed Clint Dempsey to tap home Gareth Bale's cross with 15 minutes remaining, before Jermain Defoe and Bale scored in quick succession to give Spurs a vital win.
In a frantic opening, it did not take long for City to open their account as brilliant build-up play from Carlos Tevez allowed Milner to cut the ball back to Nasri, the Frenchman turning the ball home
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Category: News Views: 729 Added: SkyDate: 21.04.2013 - 21:33
Premier League: Liverpool Vs Chelsea - Betting Tip The English Premier League football match between Liverpool (7th) and Chelsea (3rd) kicks off on 21 April 2013.
Liverpool has played 16 English Premier League matches this season on Anfield. On home ground Liverpool has won 8, drawn 4 and lost 4 matches. This ranks the Reds 8th in home team performance in the English Premier League.
Chelsea has played 15 English Premier League matches this season away from home. On away ground Chelsea has won 7, drawn 3 and lost 5 matches. This ranks the Blues 5th in away team performance in the English Premier League.
When looking at Liverpool home performance in league points, Liverpool’s performance
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Category: Betting Tips Views: 1206 Added: BetterDate: 21.04.2013 - 01:10
Hughton: Norwich not safe yet Norwich City manager Chris Hughton believes his team need to do more to guarantee themselves a spot in the English Premier League.
Goals from Ryan Bennett and Elliott Bennett helped Norwich to a 2-1 win at home to Reading on Saturday, lifting them seven points clear of the bottom three.
While Hughton said the result felt like a 'big win', he believes his side are not yet out of the relegation fight.
"We needed it. There are teams around us that are all capable of winning games," Hughton said.
"How it will end up in the end, numbers wise, I don't know, but at the moment this feels like a big win for us.
Category: News Views: 913 Added: SkyDate: 21.04.2013 - 01:01
Heldt denies Schalke want Santana Schalke general manager Horst Heldt says no contact has been made with rivals Borussia Dortmund to sign Felipe Santana.
Reports in Bild have speculated the centre-back was in advanced negotiations for a switch to Veltins Arena, but Heldt has rubbished the rumours.
"I want to have lots of players as I can well imagine, like Mario Gomez, but there has been no enquiry for Felipe Santana," the former Germany international told Liga Total!.
"There is no contact between Schalke and Borussia Dortmund."
Santana, whose contract with the former Bundesliga champions expires in 2014, also denied the suggestions on his Facebook profile.
Category: News Views: 898 Added: SkyDate: 21.04.2013 - 00:58
Usmanov named Britain´s richest man Arsenal co-owner Alisher Usmanov has been named as the wealthiest man in Britain by The Sunday Times' annual Rich List.
The Russian business magnate, who owns nearly 30 percent of the north London club, replaces Queens Park Rangers stakeholder Lakshmi Mittal at the top of the list, now in its 25th year.
Usmanov has had a stake in Arsenal since 2007 and has repeatedly criticised the team's ambition, particularly under majority shareholder Stan Kroenke.
His total wealth is measured at 13.3 billion pounds, with his business interests ranging from iron ore to internet and mobile phone companies.
Mittal, who was part of the group who took control of QPR in 2007,
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Category: News Views: 928 Added: SkyDate: 21.04.2013 - 00:56
Conte is a genius, says Pirlo Juventus midfielder Andrea Pirlo believes Antonio Conte is one of the finest managers in the world.
Conte's Juventus have developed into one of Europe's strongest sides and are continuing to improve – something that Pirlo believes to be largely down to the talents of the coach.
"I am extremely lucky – I met Antonio Conte" Pirlo said. "I had so many coaches to compare him to, and he is the one that surprised me the most."
The Italian suggests his coach is a genius, comparing him to two-time European Cup winner Arrigo Sacchi.
"If Arrigo Sacchi was a genius, then what is he?" Pirlo said.
Category: News Views: 816 Added: SkyDate: 21.04.2013 - 00:51
Bayern equal points record Bayern Munich equalled the Bundesliga record for most points in a single season after thumping Hannover 6-1 on Saturday.
The newly crowned champions took an early lead following an own goal by Lars Stindl in the 16th minute.
Franck Ribery and Claudio Pizarro then scored either side of Mario Gomez's double before Andre Hoffman bagged a late consolation for Hannover.
The visitors were not to be outdone though, and restored their five-goal cushion through Pizarro in the closing stages.
Bayern have 81 points with four games left to play and need only one more point to break the record set by Borussia Dortmund last season.
Category: News Views: 866 Added: SkyDate: 21.04.2013 - 00:47
Martinez targets three wins Wigan manager Roberto Martinez believes his side need three wins from their five remaining games to keep their place in the top flight.
Martinez's men fell to a 2-0 defeat at West Ham on Saturday after dominating for large periods, with the hosts bagging two goals against the run of play to earn the points.
The result leaves Wigan three points from safety and Martinez has set a target of three wins for his side to stay in the English Premier League.
"We know what to expect. There is no margin for error," he told reporters. "We've got five games and we need to get, I would say, probably three wins and that's something we can achieve.
Category: News Views: 923 Added: SkyDate: 21.04.2013 - 00:19
El Shaarawy to start against Juve Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri has confirmed that Stephan El Shaarawy will start in their crucial Serie A clash with Juventus on Sunday.
The 20-year-old was dropped for last weekend's equally important meeting with second-placed Napoli, with Allegri explaining after the game that the Rossoneri's top scorer was emotionally and physically drained.
However, the former Cagliari boss has now revealed that the 20-year-old striker will be restored to the starting line-up for the trip to Turin.
"He will play tomorrow," Allegri told reporters.
"I repeat that it was a tactical decision (to leave him on the bench against Napoli). Stephan is having a year of great int
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Category: News Views: 750 Added: SkyDate: 21.04.2013 - 00:18
Wenger accepts Giroud red card decision Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says he has no complaints about Olivier Giroud's red card in their 1-0 victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage.
The former Montpellier striker ruined his own chances of a late season flourish as he saw red in the final minutes of the win after stretching to control a ball that had gotten away from him.
His studs connected with the ankle of Fulham right-back Stanislav Manolev, and the 26-year-old will now face a three-game ban with just four games remaining in the English Premier League.
"It looked like it (deserved a red card), yes," Wenger told Sky Sports.
"I spoke with Giroud just now and he said he slipped when he went fo
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Category: News Views: 742 Added: SkyDate: 21.04.2013 - 00:17
Ligue 1: Marseille 1:0 Brest Marseille kept their slim Ligue 1 title hopes alive with a 1-0 victory at home to Brest on Saturday.
Marseille, who trail leaders Paris Saint-Germain by six points, needed to win to hold on to second place after Lyon accounted for Montpellier 2-1 on Friday.
Benoit Cheyrou scored the winner in first-half stoppage time with a superb free-kick that curled into the net off the near post.
"We have improved in our weak moments," Marseille coach Elie Baup said.
"At the start of the season, we had less control in those weak moments. Now, we stay calm. We manage to keep the ball a bit better when we feel that we can't trouble our opponent."
Category: News Views: 788 Added: SkyDate: 21.04.2013 - 00:15
Laudrup rues lack of cutting edge Swansea City manager Michael Laudrup lamented his side's poor execution after their 0-0 draw at home to Southampton.
In a low-quality affair at Liberty Stadium, both sides created chances but were unable to find a breakthrough as they stayed mid-table in the English Premier League.
Laudrup was pleased his team kept a clean sheet but felt they could have collected all three points with better execution in the attacking third.
"We did so well on occasions until the last pass. The last pass is so important and it is an area we could have done better in," he said.
"I think we should have won but when you don't you have to accept a draw and look on the positive s
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Category: News Views: 707 Added: SkyDate: 21.04.2013 - 00:13
Mazzarri urges Cagliari caution Napoli coach Walter Mazzarri has warned his players not to underestimate Cagliari ahead of their Serie A meeting on Sunday.
Napoli are second on the table, four points clear of third-placed AC Milan, who they held to a 1-1 draw last week.
Mazzarri stressed that his men must avoid complacency after a 2-2 draw with Catania last season saw them miss out on a Champions League berth.
"I'm more tense and nervous today than last week before Milan," Mazzarri said.
"I see a big danger tomorrow and I hope I can be clear enough to my players: the game against Catania cost us the Champions League last season.
Category: News Views: 674 Added: SkyDate: 21.04.2013 - 00:11
Dundee stay alive Dundee kept their slim hopes of Scottish Premier League survival alive with a 2-1 win against 10-man St Mirren on Saturday.
James McAlister opened the scoring for Dundee in the 40th minute, before Steven Thompson levelled proceedings seven minutes into the second half.
Dundee received a welcome boost when St Mirren midfielder Jim Goodwin was dismissed for a second bookable offence on 65 minutes, and capitalised on the advantage when Carl Finnigan scored a controversial header soon after.
Finnigan's header was judged to have crossed the line by the match officials, despite St Mirren's protests, ensuring Dundee live to fight another day in the top flight.
Category: News Views: 753 Added: SkyDate: 21.04.2013 - 00:08
Di Canio hails amazing Sunderland Sunderland manager Paolo Di Canio has labelled his side's 1-0 win over Everton on Saturday as one of the best moments of his life.
Stephane Sessegnon scored the only goal of the game to hand Di Canio – in charge at the Stadium of Light for the first time – his second win in a row following their 3-0 demolition of Newcastle.
Di Canio praised his side for changing the atmosphere at the ground, and for the amount of effort they are putting in as they look to avoid relegation.
"It was another important step forward to try and keep the team and club in the Premier League," Di Canio told Sky Sports.
"We did a good job. The lads have done an amazing job, but the ma
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Category: News Views: 695 Added: SkyDate: 21.04.2013 - 00:06
Watford bounce back Watford recovered from two consecutive losses with an emphatic 4-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers in the Championship on Saturday.
Troy Deeney broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute, before doubling the home side's advantage nine minutes later.
Almen Abdi added a third goal soon after, with Matthew Briggs putting the result beyond doubt as Watford atoned for losses to Millwall and Peterborough United in their previous two outings.
Watford, third on the table, secured at least a berth in the playoffs, while Blackburn fell further into danger, with only two points separating them from the relegation zone with two games left to play.
Category: News Views: 733 Added: SkyDate: 21.04.2013 - 00:05
Adriano ready for aerial challenge Barcelona defender Adriano doubts he can compete in the air against Bayern Munich's forwards in the Champions League semi-final first leg.
Should he feature in the heart of defence against the German side on Tuesday, the Brazilian could face the likes of Mario Mandzukic, Mario Gomez and Claudio Pizarro, all of whom are powerful target men that the full-back said he might struggle to contain.
"If I have to play (at centre-back) against tall players, I'll need to put springs in my boots," Adriano joked to Mundo Deportivo.
"But playing is the most important thing for me. There is a lot of competition (for places) and we all want to play, but I would be equally happy to play anywhere in a Champions League final."
Category: News Views: 755 Added: SkyDate: 21.04.2013 - 00:03
