Latest news with #BallondOr
Telegraph
3 hours ago
- Health
- Telegraph
Spain's star player Aitana Bonmati in hospital with meningitis on eve of Euro 2025
Spain's star player Aitana Bonmati is being treated in hospital for viral meningitis with less than a week to go before the start of Euro 2025. Bonmati, who has won the Ballon d'Or two years running, missed Spain's warm-up game with Japan on Friday night and manager Montse Tomé said there is no timeframe on her return. 'The doctors say that it is controlled, talking about meningitis can be scary but it is controlled,' Tomé said. 'Aitana will be admitted and there are no deadlines yet to know for how long [she will be absent for].' The Spanish Football Federation said Bonmati underwent testing after suffering from a fever, which failed to subside. She was then diagnosed with viral meningitis, which is an inflammation of the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Viral meningitis is contagious but there has been no suggestion that any other of the Spanish players are also suffering from the illness. It is generally spread through contact with infected bodily fluids or respiratory droplets from someone who is infected, but the virus itself is not always likely to cause meningitis in those exposed. Common symptoms include fever, headache, stiff neck, sensitivity to light (photophobia), and sometimes nausea, vomiting and fatigue, and it is typically less severe than bacterial meningitis. Bonmati shared a photo of herself watching Spain's game from a hospital bed on social media and Tome indicated they will give the midfielder as long as possible to recover in time to play some part in the Euros. 'Aitana, for us, is a very important player, we will wait for her, yes, as long as we can,' Tomé said. '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.' Analysis: Bonmati absence would be a huge blow This news will have sent shock-waves through the Spanish squad. Bonmati is arguably the most important player in their squad and if she is unable to return to fitness in time it will be a huge blow. There is a sense of deja vu in that Spain lost Alexia Putellas to an anterior cruciate ligament injury on the eve of the Euros. At the time, Putellas was the reigning Ballon d'Or winner and their best player. It is hard to replace Bonmati although Spain are at least lucky in that they have a wealth of talent. If Bonmati's absence is prolonged, it could allow Putellas to step back into the limelight. She had a fantastic season with Barcelona and now looks back to her best after initially struggling to regain her form following her ACL injury. During the 2023 World Cup there was a suggestion that Putellas and Bonmati were less effective when they played together and that Bonmati shone more when the former was not in the starting XI. By the end of the tournament, Putellas was starting on the bench and Bonmati was running the show as Spain were crowned champions. It is not just Spain who will be concerned about Bonmati. She is a player that people will have travelled to Switzerland to watch and tournament organisers will naturally want the biggest stars on show.
Associated Press
2 days ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
Ronaldo declares 'Al Nassr forever' after signing a two-year deal to stay in Saudi Arabia
Updated [hour]:[minute] [AMPM] [timezone], [monthFull] [day], [year] With the words 'Al Nassr forever' Cristiano Ronaldo ended uncertainty about his future and signed a two-year contract extension with the Saudi Arabian club on Thursday. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner's latest deal means he will play on until at least the age of 42 and gives him the chance to add to his record-breaking career. 'A new chapter begins. Same passion, same dream. Let's make history together,' Ronaldo said in a social media post along with a picture of him holding up a shirt that said 'Ronaldo 2027.' The contract sees Ronaldo extend his time in Saudi Arabia, having joined Al Nassr at the end of 2022 in one of the most shocking transfers in soccer history after leaving Manchester United. The deal was reportedly worth up to $200 million a year and led to a slew of top players, including Neymar and Karim Benzema , leaving Europe for the oil-rich kingdom. With his contract due to expire, the 40-year-old Ronaldo sparked uncertainty at the end of the Saudi season last month when he said the 'chapter is over.' But he ended speculation Thursday, saying 'Al Nassr forever' in the club's announcement. The deal is evidence the former Real Madrid forward wants to achieve more. The move to a less-challenging league has also not hindered his standing with his national team. The five-time Champions League winner has won 28 major trophies with club and country and just helped Portugal win the UEFA Nations League title. He is the all-time leading scorer in the Champions League with 141 goals. The World Cup is the only major honor missing from his resume and he may get one last chance to lift soccer's grandest prize at next year's tournament. Despite helping to raise the profile of Saudi Arabian soccer and scoring 77 goals in 74 league appearances, Ronaldo has found trophies hard to come by at Al Nassr. His one so far was the Arab Club Champions Cup in 2023. He is yet to win the Saudi Pro League in three attempts. 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. Ronaldo is considered by many to be soccer's greatest of all time, a term often abbreviated as 'GOAT.' 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. 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. ___ James Robson is at ___ AP soccer:
Washington Post
2 days ago
- Sport
- Washington Post
Ronaldo declares 'Al Nassr forever' after signing a two-year deal to stay in Saudi Arabia
With the words 'Al Nassr forever' Cristiano Ronaldo ended uncertainty about his future and signed a two-year contract extension with the Saudi Arabian club on Thursday. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner's latest deal means he will play on until at least the age of 42 and gives him the chance to add to his record-breaking career.
CTV News
2 days ago
- Sport
- CTV News
Ronaldo declares ‘Al Nassr forever' after signing a two-year deal to stay in Saudi Arabia
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after winning the Nations League soccer championship at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, Sunday, June 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Probst) With the words 'Al Nassr forever' Cristiano Ronaldo ended uncertainty about his future and signed a two-year contract extension with the Saudi Arabian club on Thursday. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner's latest deal means he will play on until at least the age of 42 and gives him the chance to add to his record-breaking career. 'A new chapter begins. Same passion, same dream. Let's make history together,' Ronaldo said in a social media post along with a picture of him holding up a shirt that said 'Ronaldo 2027.' The contract sees Ronaldo extend his time in Saudi Arabia, having joined Al Nassr at the end of 2022 in one of the most shocking transfers in soccer history after leaving Manchester United. The deal was reportedly worth up to $200 million a year and led to a slew of top players, including Neymar and Karim Benzema, leaving Europe for the oil-rich kingdom. With his contract due to expire, the 40-year-old Ronaldo sparked uncertainty at the end of the Saudi season last month when he said the 'chapter is over.' But he ended speculation Thursday, saying 'Al Nassr forever' in the club's announcement. The deal is evidence the former Real Madrid forward wants to achieve more. The move to a less-challenging league has also not hindered his standing with his national team. The five-time Champions League winner has won 28 major trophies with club and country and just helped Portugal win the UEFA Nations League title. He is the all-time leading scorer in the Champions League with 141 goals. The World Cup is the only major honor missing from his resume and he may get one last chance to lift soccer's grandest prize at next year's tournament. Despite helping to raise the profile of Saudi Arabian soccer and scoring 77 goals in 74 league appearances, Ronaldo has found trophies hard to come by at Al Nassr. His one so far was the Arab Club Champions Cup in 2023. He is yet to win the Saudi Pro League in three attempts. 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. Ronaldo is considered by many to be soccer's greatest of all time, a term often abbreviated as 'GOAT.' 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. 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. ___ James Robson is at ___ AP soccer: James Robson, The Associated Press
Arabian Business
2 days ago
- Sport
- Arabian Business
Ronaldo reportedly close to extending his stay in Saudi Arabia by two years
Cristiano Ronaldo and Al Nassr are said to be close to agreeing on a new contract that will see the Portugal superstar extend his stay in Saudi Arabia for another two years. Various news outlets in the UK reported that a deal could be announced soon. However, both Ronaldo and Al Nassr are yet to confirm the development. The 40-year-old Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d'Or winner, joined Al Nassr in January 2023 and is out of contract at the end of this month. Ronaldo to reportedly extend stay in Saudi Arabia Sky Sports said the ex-Manchester United forward believes his recent performances and goals for Portugal when they won the Nations League prove that another season will keep him in good condition for the World Cup next summer. Reporting from the Club World Cup, the channel's chief reporter Kaveh Solhekol said: 'I'm here at the Club World Cup, and there was lots of talk over the past few months about the possibility of Cristiano Ronaldo playing in this tournament because his great rival Lionel Messi is playing here for Inter Miami. 'Al Nassr have not qualified for the Club World Cup, but there was that early transfer window when Ronaldo could have moved to another club. He had offers, but he decided not to accept any of them. I think he wanted to stay loyal to Al Nassr and he will be extending his contract. 'One other thing he's very focused on is ending his career having scored 1,000 goals. He's currently on 938 and who would bet against him scoring another 62 for club and country before he retires?' Ronaldo has scored 99 times in 111 games for Al Nassr in the last two seasons, but his individual contributions have not led to team success. Despite splashing millions of dollars on Ronaldo, the Riyadh club finished third in the Saudi Professional League at the end of the recently completed season.
