Latest news with #BallonDor
The Guardian
10 hours ago
- Health
- The Guardian
Spain's Aitana Bonmatí admitted to hospital with viral meningitis
Spain face a nervy wait over the availability of two-time Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmatí before the Euros after manager Montse Tomé confirmed the midfielder has viral meningitis. Speaking to the Spanish media after Spain's 3-1 defeat of Japan in a pre-tournament friendly, Tomé said 'we can't talk about deadlines' for the influential Barcelona player's return, after Bonmatí posted a photo of her watching the match from a hospital bed with a cannula in her arm. 'The doctors say that it is controlled, talking about meningitis can be scary but it is controlled,' said Tomé. 'Aitana will be admitted and there are no deadlines yet to know for how long [she will be absent for].' The Spanish Football Federation had said that Bonmatí had been undergoing medical tests after suffering from a fever. According to reports in Spain, the fever failed to subside and so more extensive tests were carried out which confirmed she has viral meningitis, an inflammation of the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Viral meningitis is caused by an infection and is the more common version of the disease, as opposed to bacterial meningitis. According to the NHS, viral meningitis tends to get better on its own within seven to 10 days. Spain begin their Euro 2025 campaign in six days' time, when they play Portugal on 3 July. They then play Belgium on 7 July and Italy on 11 July. Bonmatí was named the winner of the Ballon d'Or for a second consecutive time in October, receiving almost double the votes of closest rival for the award Caroline Graham Hansen. The technically gifted midfielder was critical to Spain's Women's World Cup triumph in 2023 and secured a sixth league title and fifth Supacopa de España this season, but was denied a fourth Champions League title by Arsenal's 1-0 defeat of Barcelona in this year's final. Sign up to Moving the Goalposts No topic is too small or too big for us to cover as we deliver a twice-weekly roundup of the wonderful world of women's football after newsletter promotion 'Aitana, for us, is a very important player, we will wait for her yes as long as we can,' said Tomé. 'The information I have told you is what I have and I am not going to explain more, if I said something more I would be wrong.'
National Post
2 days ago
- Sport
- National Post
Cristiano Ronaldo extends contract with Al-Nassr for 2 more years
Cristiano Ronaldo signed a two-year contract extension with Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr on Thursday. Article content The Portugal great's deal lets him continue playing until at least the age of 42 and will give him the chance to add to his record-breaking career. Article content Article content 'A new chapter begins. Same passion, same dream. Let's make history together,' Ronaldo said in a social media post. Article content The five-time Ballon d'Or winner moved to Saudi Arabia at the end of 2022 in one of the most shocking transfers in soccer history after leaving Manchester United. The spectacular deal was reportedly worth up to $200 million a year and led to a slew of top players leaving Europe for the oil-rich kingdom, including Neymar and Karim Benzema. Article content Ronaldo sparked uncertainty about his future at the end of the Saudi season last month when announcing the 'chapter is over.' But the announcement on Thursday put an end to speculation about his next move. Article content 'Al-Nassr forever,' he said in a video accompanying the announcement. Article content The deal is evidence the 40-year-old former Real Madrid forward wants to achieve more in what has been one of the finest soccer careers of all time. Article content The five-time Champions League winner has just added another trophy to his collection after helping Portugal lift the UEFA Nations League — and it is likely he will still be representing his country at next year's World Cup. Article content In all, Ronaldo has won 28 major trophies with club and country. He is the all-time leading scorer in the Champions League with 141 goals. Article content But trophies have been harder to come by in Saudi Arabia where he has had only limited success. Article content His one trophy so far was the Arab Club Champions Cup in 2023 and Al-Nassr is still to win the Saudi Pro League in three attempts with Ronaldo in the team. Article content Still, his latest deal was hailed by the club, which posted a video of him walking on a beach with the caption 'The Story continues..' along with emojis of a goat and a gold heart. Article content Ronaldo is considered by many to be soccer's greatest of all time, a term often abbreviated as GOAT. Article content He and Lionel Messi have had a years-long rivalry as the two finest players of their generation, with the duel reaching its peak when they played for Madrid and Barcelona respectively. Article content The intensity of the rivalry has diminished in recent years as both players have entered the latter stages of their careers and are playing in less heralded leagues, with Messi joining MLS team Inter Miami in 2023.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cristiano Ronaldo signs new 2-year contract to stay with Al-Nassr
One of the best soccer players of the current era is staying put. Cristiano Ronaldo signed a new two-year contract that will keep him with Al-Nassr through 2027. Ronaldo broke the news with a post on social media in which he's holding up an Al-Nassr jersey with "2027" on the back. Advertisement The team also teased the signing moments before announcing the move. Just ahead of making the news official, Al-Nassr posted a video titled "The Story continues,"which featured Ronaldo walking on a beach before saying, "Al-Nassr forever." Ronaldo, 40, originally joined the club in 2022 after leaving Manchester United. His initial contract with Al-Nassr paid Ronaldo a record salary of €200 million per year. That deal was set to expire in June, and there was some speculation Ronaldo could leave the club. That won't be the case following his new two-year contract. Terms of his new deal were not made available. Advertisement Ronaldo joined the Saudi Arabian club after a lengthy career in Europe, which saw him play for Manchester United in two separate stints, Real Madrid and Juventus. He's a five-time Ballon d'Or winner and is regarded as one of the best soccer players of all time. Despite his age, Ronaldo continues to put up strong numbers with Al-Nassr. Since joining the club, Ronaldo has racked up 74 goals and 16 assists in 77 matches played. Despite Ronaldo leading the league in goals, Al-Nassr finished third in the Saudi Professional League last season.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cristiano Ronaldo extends stay in Saudi Arabia with Al-Nassr
Cristiano Ronaldo has signed a new two-year deal at Al-Nassr, ending the saga surrounding his future. The deal ties Ronaldo, whose contract was due to expire at the end of June, to the Saudi Pro League team beyond his 42nd birthday. Advertisement Ronaldo wrote on X: "A new chapter begins. Same passion, same dream. Let's make history together." A club post announcing the deal said: "Al-Nassr Club Company officially signed a contract extension with Cristiano Ronaldo. "Al-Nassr captain contract will be valid until 2027." Ronaldo had posted on social media "the chapter is over" following Al-Nassr's final league game of the season last month. The post fuelled speculation that the five-time Ballon d'Or winner was to leave the Riyadh club. Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr in December 2022 as a free agent after leaving Manchester United following a controversial interview in which he criticised the Premier League club. He has scored 99 goals in 111 appearances for Al-Nassr and netted 35 last season to win the SPL's golden boot award for top scorer. Advertisement Ronaldo has scored 938 goals for club and country in his career, needing 62 to reach the four-figure mark. Al-Nassr are currently without a manager after parting company with Stefano Pioli on Wednesday. Former AC Milan and Inter boss Pioli, who was appointed in September, led Al-Nassr to a third-placed finish in the SPL last season, 13 points behind champions Al-Ittihad.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Cristiano Ronaldo extends stay in Saudi Arabia with Al-Nassr
Cristiano Ronaldo has signed a new two-year deal at Al-Nassr, ending the saga surrounding his future. The deal ties Ronaldo, whose contract was due to expire at the end of June, to the Saudi Pro League team beyond his 42nd birthday. Ronaldo wrote on X: "A new chapter begins. Same passion, same dream. Let's make history together." A club post announcing the deal said: "Al-Nassr Club Company officially signed a contract extension with Cristiano Ronaldo. "Al-Nassr captain contract will be valid until 2027." Ronaldo had posted on social media "the chapter is over" following Al-Nassr's final league game of the season last month. The post fuelled speculation that the five-time Ballon d'Or winner was to leave the Riyadh club. Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr in December 2022 as a free agent after leaving Manchester United following a controversial interview in which he criticised the Premier League club. He has scored 99 goals in 111 appearances for Al-Nassr and netted 35 last season to win the SPL's golden boot award for top scorer. Ronaldo has scored 938 goals for club and country in his career, needing 62 to reach the four-figure mark. Al-Nassr are currently without a manager after parting company with Stefano Pioli on Wednesday. Former AC Milan and Inter boss Pioli, who was appointed in September, led Al-Nassr to a third-placed finish in the SPL last season, 13 points behind champions Al-Ittihad.
