Share this: Lionel Messi is setting the record straight about Cristiano Ronaldo. The FC Barcelona and Argentina superstar hailed his Real Madrid and Portugal counterpart Thursday, describing Ronaldo to China’s Tencent as an enduring soccer sensation, according to The Telegraph. “He is a phenomenal player who has many qualities that year after year he improves and that is why he is one of the best in the world,” Messi said. He also clarified the nature of their storied rivalry. Rather than representing bitter enemies, Messi and Ronaldo drive each other to higher peaks. “That thing about our rivalry is something more invented by the press than by us,” he said. “What we want is to do our best every year, to do the best for
Tag: Real Madrid
Real Madrid continue to dominate UEFA club rankings
Real Madrid ended top of the UEFA club coefficient rankings for the fourth straight season while Spain remains the dominant national association after the 2016/17 campaign. The associations' positions in the 2018/19 UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League access lists are determined on the basis of the associations' coefficients established at the finish of the 2016/17 campaign, on the basis of the associations' coefficients from seasons 2012/13 to 2016/17.
Stats breakdown: Real Madrid v Juventus
• Real Madrid need one more goal to become the first team to score 500 in the UEFA Champions League, group stage to final.• Dani Alves made his 99th UEFA Champions League appearance against Monaco. In Cardiff, he could become the 31st player to bring up his century in the competition. Dani Alves could make his 100th UEFA Champions League appearance
Madrid, Monaco, Atleti win; Higuaín rescues Juve
ATLÉTICO v REAL MADRIDAtlético 1-0 Eibar (Saúl 69)Atleti all but sealed a return to the UEFA Champions League group stage next season as Saúl Ñíguez's third goal in six outings earned a narrow home win that leaves Diego Simeone's team five points clear of fourth-place Sevilla with two to play. Atleti ended with ten men as Diego Godín received a second yellow card in added time. Granada 0-4 Real Madrid (James Rodríguez 3 11; Morata 30 35)Madrid were too hot to handle in Granada, two goals apiece from James Rodríguez and Álvaro Morata setting a much-changed side up for ... UEFA.com -
UEFA.com’s weekly wonderkid: Theo Hernández
Younger brother of Atlético Madrid club-mate Lucas, Theo Hernández has been catching the eye with his fleet-footed performances while on loan at Alavés. Both Barcelona and Real Madrid are said to be keeping tabs on the 19-year-old Rojiblancos left-back. Here's why.Name: Theo HernándezClub: Alavés (on loan from Atlético Madrid)Debut: 28 August 2016 v Sporting Gijón (Liga)Position: defenderNationality: FrenchBorn: 6 October 1997Preferred foot: leftHeight: 184cm
Quarter-finalists go head to head
Ahead of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final draw, UEFA.com dips into the history books to see how each of the remaining teams have fared against their potential last-eight opponents – and finds that Barcelona might want to avoid Atlético and Bayern, Borussia Dortmund probably won't relish another meeting with Juventus, and there is virtually nothing between Real Madrid and Bayern.Atléticov Barcelona P4 W2 D1 L1 F5 A3v Bayern P6 W2 D1 L3 F4 A8v Dortmund P4 W1 D1 L2 F3 A4v Juventus P2 W1 D1 L0 F1 A0v Leicester P4 W3 D1 L0 F7 A2v Monaco N/Av Real Madrid P7 W1 D2 L4 F5 A10
Madrid, Juventus prosper, Monaco thwart Paris
SUNDAY It finished all square between Paris and Monaco©AFP/Getty ImagesReal Madrid 3-0 Real Sociedad (Kovačić 38, Ronaldo 51, Morata 82)Madrid capped a fine weekend with a comfortable win to move four points clear of their pursuers with a game in hand. Cristiano Ronaldo set up Mateo Kovačić for his maiden Liga goal and then hit the second himself –... UEFA.com - News