‘I’ve Seen More of Ronaldo’s six-pack than my wife’s breast lately’ – Kahn

Real Madrid caused a stir recently after they uploaded a photo from their dressing room immediately after their victory over Barcelona in El Clasico – and it was basically because it featured Cristiano Ronaldo in just his pants.

While the Spanish public and indeed much of Europe have berated Los Blancos for that photo, Germany and Bayern Munich legend Oliver Kahn was particularly incensed about it.

Kahn, noted for his no-nonsense, uncompromising stand in his playing days, told German broadcaster ZDF: “Lately, I’ve been seeing more of Cristiano Ronaldo’s six-pack than my own wife’s breasts.”

And it’s not particularly hard to figure out where he’s coming from, given the entire Ronaldo show off episodes.

The 31-year-old Real megastar, recognised by the Guinness World records for his fit body, tends to take it too far at times as the next couple of pictures reveal…

Somebody should tell the Portuguese to put a bloody shirt on!

Credit: Mirror

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Diego Costa bags additional one-match ban, £20,000 fine

Chelsea striker Diego Costa has been slammed an additional one-match ban and has been fined £20,000 after pleading guilty to a charge of improper conduct.

The fiery Spanish international has been punished for his unruly behaviour during his sending-off against Everton in an FA Cup tie on 12 March, with interim manager Guus Hiddink suggesting afterwards he’ll have to watch the movie “Anger Management” with the striker.

Costa clashed with Toffees midfielder Gareth Barry and moved in on him as if to bite, although the England international later said no contact had been made.

Everton won the FA Cup quarter-final clash 2-0 at Goodison Park with former Chelsea boy Romelu Lukaku netting a brace, and Costa was sent off in the 84th minute for two bookable offences – the first on-pitch red card of his Chelsea career.

Costa was originally handed a two-match ban, but will now miss three games, the first of those was the 2-2 draw with West Ham on 19 March and he is suspended for Saturday’s trip to Villa Park to take on relegation-bound Aston Villa.

Costa, who has also been warned as to his future conduct, will now be absent for his side’s trip to Swansea on 9 April.
However, he originally received a two-game automatic ban as it was considered to be his second dismissal of the season after he was given a retrospective three-match ban for altercations with Arsenal’s Laurent Koscielny and Gabriel in September.

The former Atletico Madrid striker helped Chelsea win the Premier League title last season and has scored 11 goals in his last 16 games under Hiddink.


Credit: BBC

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Another Success for Kanu Heart Foundation as Legend Visits Uganda

Nigerian legend Kanu Nwankwo extended his humanitarian drive to Uganda as his charity organization, Kanu Heart Foundation (KHF) recently undertook a successful heart surgery on a Ugandan girl.

Kanu, on a three-day visit to the East African nation, was on hand to boost the morale of staff and patients as the Ugandan child in the village of Katanga was operated on under the auspices of KHF.

The two-time African footballer of the year took to Twitter to share his joy at helping to save lives and providing inspiration to millions of kids who want to become successful footballers later in life.

Kanu, who famously overcame a life-threatening heart defect to record tremendous accomplishments on the football field, admonished the teenagers to work very hard as “what you put in is what you get”.

The former Arsenal, Inter Milan and Ajax striker also took the time to show the eager kids some tricks of the game, claiming the feeling of camaraderie is “unbeatable”.

This will be the third successful heart surgery to be carried out by KHF and former Super Eagles captain has called for more support to facilitate their laudable efforts.

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Messi and father to go on trial for tax fraud on May 31

The tax fraud trial of Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi and his father Jorge has been set for May 31 in Barcelona, a court in Catalonia announced Wednesday.

Messi faces 22months in jail

Messi, who recently won a fifth ballon d’Or after guiding Barca to the treble last term and his father Jorge have been slammed with the charges for allegedly failing to declare $4.69 million in taxes related to his image rights between 2007 and 2009.


The pair are accused of ceding the player’s image rights through front companies in Belize and Uruguay in order to avoid declaring money made from image rights in Spain.

There have been calls for Messi to be dropped as a respondent in the case, considering the alleged fraud was carried out by his father who managed the player’s affairs at the time. This request was however turned down by the judge, who wrote in a court filing that “there are rational signs that the criminality was committed by both accused parties.”

Father and son have since denied the allegations, but face prison sentences of 22 and a half months if found guilty. The trial will run until June 3, at the end of the European season, but it could complicate Messi’s participation in the Copa America Centenary which gets underway on the same date.

Source: AFP

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Neymar to pay €45m Fine for Being Guilty of Tax Evasion

Brazil international Neymar Jr has been found guilty of tax evasion by an administrative court of the Federal Revenue in Rio de Janeiro, according to La Folha de Sao Paulo.

As a result of the development, the Barcelona superstar must now pay a total of $188.8 million reales (€45m) in back taxes, interest and penalties.

The 24-year-old Brazil captain was accused of operating a company Neymar and Neymar with the aid of his father Neymar Sr to siphon funds and defraud the Brazil taxman.

According to the court, the decision was taken after Neymar failed to pay at least $63.6m through the mentioned Neymar and Neymar and various subsidiary management companies between 2012 and 2014. The Brazilian is also alleged to owe $125.2m reales in fines and interest.

The Brazil international will have the opportunity to appeal the decision.

In a similar case, the flambuoyant forward is also facing allegations of corruption and fraud in Spain in relation to his mega transfer from Santos to Barcelona in 2013. Hearing has been postponed till May.

Credit: Goal

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‘I was scared meeting Terry, Drogba, Shevchenko’ – Mikel narrates Chelsea experience

Nigerian midfielder John Mikel Obi has revealed he was overcome with inferiority complex on his first day at Chelsea’s dressing room that had players such as John Terry, Michael Ballack, Didier Drogba, Michael Essien and Andriy Shevchenko among others.

Mikel made the disclosure in an exclusive interview on the club’s official magazine, ‘Chelsea’, as he reaches the 10-year mark at the London club.

Recalling his first day at the club’s Cobham training round when he joined as a talented 19-year-old from Norwegian side Lyn Oslo, the elegant enforcer describes the experience as ‘crazy’.

‘I came into the dressing room that day literally shaking,’ he recalls. ‘I saw the players that were in there – the likes of John Terry, Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, Claude Makelele, Geremi, Michael Essien, Michael Ballack, Andriy Shevchenko – it was crazy. And I was just 19 ‘I was shaking the whole day because I couldn’t talk to any of them. I didn’t know what to say to guys like that. They were really nice guys, but it was scary. It can be tough coming into a dressing room like that as a younger player. You had to earn the right to be among them.’

He has certainly done that over the years, and this season he has played a key role in the Blues’ improved form in the latter half of the season.

Interim manager Guus Hiddink has spoken about him in glowing terms and Mikel is pleased with his new role in the team.

‘I love doing my defensive duties, but at the same time I love having the ball and always trying to be available so we can play out from the back,’ he said. ‘This is something we’ve talked about, something the manager has stressed – trying to play out from the back so we can always be in control of the game. I think doing this we have much more possession of the ball.

 ‘I like having the ball and making the team play. When I was young, my natural position wasn’t as a defensive midfielder so maybe that gives me a bit of an edge.’

Nigerians will be hoping he gives the Eagles the edge in their do-or-bust Afcon 2017 qualifier against Egypt later this month.

Credit: Vanguard

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Spurs and Arsenal share spoils in thrilling London derby

Tottenham Hotspurs and Arsenal had to settle for a share of the spoils in a thrilling North London derby that ended 2-2 at White Hart Lane.

Having suffered three consecutive defeats coming into this one, Arsene Wenger’s side had it all to do as their dream season seemed to be taking a nightmarish turn.

After a frenetic opening period that saw the hosts dominate territorially, the Gunners took the lead when Aaron Ramsey flicked in Hector Bellerin’s cutback after good work from Danny Welbeck.

However, the game turned around when Francis Coquelin saw red for a second bookable offence after lounging into Harry Kane, with Belgian defender Toby Alderweireld blasting in from five yards following a rebound to draw Spurs level.

Harry Kane then capitalized on some slack defending from Per Metersacker to shoot Spurs ahead with a delightful strike, his 17th league goal of the season and 14th in London derbies.

But Wenger’s men stepped up when it mattered and deservedly found an equalizer when Alexis Sanchez latched on to another Bellerin pass to shoot beyond Hugo Lloris in Spurs goal.

The result leaves Spurs second, two points behind leaders Leicester City and three ahead of Arsenal.

Credit: BBC

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Messi scores hat-trick as Barcelona make La Liga history

Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick as Barcelona inched closer to the La Liga title and wrote themselves into Spanish football history after going 35 games unbeaten with a 5-1 win against nine-man Rayo Vallecano on Thursday.

Luis Enrique’s side matched Real Madrid’s 34-game unbeaten record set in 1989 when they came from behind to beat Sevilla on Sunday and surpassed it with the drubbing of Rayo last night.

Two goals in as many minutes midway through the first-half killed the game as a contest as Ivan Rakitic and Messi netted before Diego Llorente saw a straight red card for a high challenge on Rakitic.

Messi completed his hat-trick either side of Manucho’s consolation strike for Rayo.

Luis Suarez missed a penalty after Manuel Iturra was also sent-off for the hosts before Arda Turan rounded off the scoring with his first goal for the Blaugrana.

“We played very well and when we are at this level in terms of attitude and intensity, it is very hard for the opponents,” said Barca boss Luis Enrique.

Barca now lead closest rivals Atletico Madrid by eight points with Real Madrid a further four points adrift in third place, with 11 games to go.

Rayo are now just above the drop zone on goal difference as Granada struck twice in the final 20 minutes through Youssef El Arabi and Isaac Success to beat Sporting Gijon 2-0.

Credit: AFP

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Oscar Pistorius denied leave to appeal for Steenkamp murder

Yesterday, Oscar Pistorious was denied leave to appeal his conviction for murdering his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp in February 2013, and this has been described as the ‘end of the road’ for the athlete.

News24 reports that the Constitutional Court made the ruling yesterday, and now the case will return to Judge Thokozile Masipa who had cleared the sportsman of murder.

“We can confirm we have received an order from the registrar of the ConCourt to the effect that his application for leave to appeal has been denied,” the spokesperson of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Luvuyo Mfaku told News24.

Pistorius, whose manslaugter verdict was overturned in December 2015, will be sentenced on April 18 for murder, and he is expected to spend at least 15 years in jail.

Source: News24

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“I’d rather Messi’s left foot to Ronaldo’s right” – Neymar

Barcelona superstar Neymar says he would rather have team-mate Lionel Messi’s left leg than Real Madrid rival Cristiano Ronaldo’s right.

Speaking with UOL’s Mauro Beting, Neymar touched on several subjects including, of course, football’s greatest debate surrounding Messi and Ronaldo.

But the Brazil captain cheekily suggested he would rather Messi’s left leg than Ronaldo’s right.

“I’d take Messi’s left foot, with all due respect to Cristiano, because my right foot is pretty handy too,” Neymar said, via Marca.

Furthermore, when asked who he would rather beat between Real Madrid and Manchester City, he said: “I prefer beating Real Madrid to Manchester City.”

Neymar tortures Madrid in the El Clasico. Image: Yahoo Sports

However, the 24-year-old fell short of deciding who is the better player between five-time ballon d’Or winner Messi and Brazilian great Pele – a player the 24-year-old himself has been compared to countless times.

“Unfortunately I never saw Pele play,” he said,

“What I know of him is through my grandfather, my dad’s dad, who used to talk to me and tell me about how he played. It’s a difficult question for me, because I’ve seen Messi play and have had the chance to play alongside him. They’re both geniuses, though.”

The Brazil international also said he preferred the Champions League to South America’s Copa Libertadores.

“The Libertadores is sensational but the Champions League… The first time I heard the anthem was a really special feeling.

“It’s like being in a video game; it’s living the dream of every child. That’s why I’m picking the Champions League.”

Credit: Yahoo Sports

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Footballer loses teeth after bloody clash with teammate in Chelsea match (Photos)

A Norwich player Robbie Brady lost two teeth in last night's loss to Chelsea after his teeth collided with the forehead of his teammate, Gary O'Neil. The players were both going for an aerial ball and weren't unaware of each others jump for the ball leaving them injured and needing stitches. More photos after the cut.

source: LIB

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Platini drags Fifa to Court of Arbitration for Sports

Michel Platini has launched an appeal against his six-year football ban by Fifa with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Platini, 60, along with former Fifa boss Sepp Blatter, was slammed an eight-year ban in December over a “disloyal payment” he received from Fifa in 2011 for services supposedly rendered nine years prior.

Michel Platini has vowed to fight on. Image: Sky Sports

However, the Fifa Appeals Committee last week reduced the ban to six years after both men sought to have it completely annulled.

Describing the decision as “insulting” and “shameful” – the former France captain insisted he would continue his fight for justice by taking his case to the Zurich-based Cas, who confirmed his appeal Wednesday.

“Michel Platini has filed an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) against the decision issued by the Fifa Appeal Committee on 24 February 2016,” a Cas statement read.

“In appealing to the Cas, Michel Platini seeks to annul the decisions taken by the Adjudicatory Chamber of the Fifa Ethics Committee and by the Fifa Appeal Committee which lead to him being declared ineligible to take part in football-related activity at national and international level for six years.

“A Cas arbitration procedure is in progress. First, the parties will exchange written submissions and a panel of three arbitrators will be constituted. The Panel will then issue directions with respect to the holding of a hearing. 

“Following the hearing, the Panel will deliberate and on a later date, it will issue a decision in the form of an Arbitral Award.”

Deposed Fifa boss, Sepp Blatter is also expected to pursue his appeal with Cas.

Credit: Goal

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England star Adam Johnson faces 10 years in jail over child sex

England footballer Adam Johnson faces up to 10 years in jail after being found guilty of one count of sexual activity with a child.

The former Sunderland star was found guilty by majority verdict of sexual activity involving digital penetration with a 15-year-old girl in his Range Rover on January 30, but was cleared of a second charge of sexual activity involving oral sex on the same date.

Judge Jonathan Rose of the Bradford Crown Court said Johnson would be sentenced later this month and that he was granting him bail so he can ‘say goodbye to your daughter,’ as he faces up to 10 years behind bars.

The England international had previously pleaded guilty to one count of sexual activity with a child – namely, kissing the girl – and one count of child grooming.

Johnson groomed the teenage girl in a series of text messages after she added him on Facebook on December 31, 2014, before the pair met in Johnson’s Range Rover on January 17 behind a Chinese takeaway in County Durham.

Johnson’s ex Stacey Flounders hides her face. Image: Mirror

During a second meeting in the vehicle on January 30, Johnson kissed the teenager before he performed a sex act on the girl.

The victim said she became ‘uncomfortable and awkward about where it may end’ and asked they bring the meeting to an end.

Within hours, Johnson sent the following text to the girl: “Wasn’t bad was it? Lol.

Johnson, 28, was arrested at his £1.8m mansion in Castle Eden, Co Durham in March and denied all charges until the start of the trial two weeks ago.

His girlfriend and mother of his child, Stacey flounders, has left him as a result and the 15-year-old victim says his actions ‘turned her life upside down’.

Sunderland said in light of his guilty pleas they had torn up his £60,000-a-week contract “with immediate effect”.

Source: Mirror

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“I respect Cristiano Ronaldo, nothing more” – Messi

Barcelona talisman Lionel Messi has opened up about his relationship with his Real Madrid rival Cristiano Ronaldo, claiming their relationship does not go beyond mutual respect.

The famously quiet Argentine prodigy is speaking for the first time about his eternal rival, with both men generally considered the greatest players of their generation, having scooped the ballon d’Or on the last eight occasions.

Messi and Ronaldo. Image Credit: French Football

Their battle for the top spot has been the most intriguing in modern sports and their allegiance to the Spanish football archrivals has left many with the impression they can’t stand each other.

While Messi, 28, insists that they show respect towards one another, he didn’t go as far as saying they enjoy a pleasant relationship.

Speaking to Argentine daily El Grafico, the five-time ballon d’Or winner said: “We are professionals that defend our teams, and rivals in this game, nothing more than that.

“Sometimes it happens that we win or that we lose. There has always been respect and nothing more.”

Messi, who recently became the first footballer with 300 La Liga goals, also boasts seven Liga titles, three Copa del Reys and four Champions League winners’ medals on his incredible list of achievements with the Blaugrana.

However, the diminutive genius has yet to taste international success, having been a losing finalist in the 2014 World Cup and 2007 and 2015 Copa Americas.

With 49 international goals, he is also closing in on Gabriel Batistuta’s all-time record of 57 for Argentina, but has stressed that it is major honours that mater to him, and not individual accolades.

“I prefer to win something with the national team,” he said. “I am not interested in records. They are there, but that does not make you win titles.

Credit: Goal

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C-Ronaldo Apologizes To Teammates

The Portuguese star claimed the club would be top of La Liga if every player was on his level after the defeat to Atletico, but explained himself to the dressing room on Monday

Cristiano Ronaldo apologised to his Real Madrid team-mates ahead of a training session on Monday and attempted to clarify comments he made following the derby defeat to Atletico Madrid, Goal understands. 

Some 40 hours after losing 1-0 to rivals Atletico, Real's player were reunited on Monday in the Valdebebas training complex. Zinedine Zidane had scheduled training for 11am following a day off, and in the meantime plenty had been said since match official Clos Gomez blew for full time at the Bernabeu. 

Almost all was negative, and much had to do with Ronaldo's outburst in the mixed zone. 

"If all my team-mates were at my level, we might be first," he said. There was also criticism for the club's medics, their preparations in pre-season and the team's current performance, as well as a rousing defence of his own talent and statistics. The consensus was that Ronaldo had shown arrogance and disrespect to his team-mates in his attempt to highlight his own performances.

Ronaldo himself tried to explain on Saturday night that he had been taken out of context, despite the strong words he used. But Monday was the day when he would see those faces he apparently disrespected just 36 hours prior. 

And Goal understands that, before training, Ronaldo sought to 'justify himself' to the dressing room, claiming that he "expressed himself poorly" and did not "wish to annoy any team-mates."

Ronaldo's Madrid team-mates, meanwhile, are understood to have played down the significance of the Portugal international's outburst.

Without a doubt, bridges will need to be mended amongst the players in the Madrid dressing room, and this was a good start to a tough week. Wednesday brings a visit to Levante minus Marcelo, Sergio Ramos, Dani Carvajal, Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and perhaps Pepe as well. On Saturday Celta Vigo come to the capital, as a forerunner to the massive Champions League clash against Roma on Tuesday.It is a moment in which the team's unity will be tested - and to see if Ronaldo's apology has as much of an effect as the outburst that preceded it.

source: Goal

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REVEALED: How Kanu avoided training every week!

Harry Redknapp was advised by most against signing the Nigerian, who went on to score 28 goals over six seasons, but was not a fan of Monday mornings

Monday mornings are always hard but no one hates them more than Nwankwo Kanu apparently.

Harry Redknapp has been reminiscing about signing the former Nigerian star at Portsmouth, where he spent six seasons and scored 20 goals, including the winner in the 2008 FA Cup final.

But the striker made a habit of skipping out on a Monday training session, as Redknapp told KingFut: "The most common thing I'd get from Kanu was a message every Monday morning that at some points it felt pre-recorded.

"'Boss, the King cannot come into training. I have an upset stomach.'"

Redknapp was warned against signing Kanu, who was 30 years old when he joined Portsmouth, but immediately proved his worth during a 31-minute cameo on his debut as a substitute against Blackburn.

"I called him up and asked him what he was up to, I always wondered what he had done ever since he left West Brom," Redknapp said.

"I asked him if he was fit to play and to this he replied saying: 'Yes, I just had a run around the park two weeks ago,' so I gave him the address and asked him to come down to training.

"I didn't play him until the second half when we were 1-0 up. My assistants were against me playing him and were worried but I trusted the lad, he went on to score twice and missed a penalty for his hat-trick."

source: Goal

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Neymar hooks up with Hollywood star in Paris

The Barcelona winger shared a video of himself and actress Chloe Grace Moretz in the French capital, hinting at a potential romance after months of social media messages

Barcelona’s players were given the afternoon off by Luis Enrique, so Neymar enjoyed himself as only a football superstar can – by jetting off to Paris to party with a Hollywood star.

The Brazilian, who has been in sensational form this season, took the short flight to the French capital to meet up with actress Chloe Grace Moretz.

The pair appeared to be having a good time as Neymar took to Snapchat to share his latest gallivant, adding fuel to the speculation that they may be an item.

The video has sent some fans into meltdown on social media, not least because their rendezvous took place in Paris, home of a PSG side that have been heavily linked with a summer move for Neymar.

Moretz and Neymar’s fondness for one another first became apparent at the World Cup, when the Kick-Ass and Hugo star began tweeting about the footballer.

More recently than that, the two bonded over Moretz’s latest film, the 5th Wave, in January – though Neymar clearly enjoyed the movie a lot more than it’s Rotten Tomatoes rating suggests he should have!

Neymar wouldn’t be the first footballer Moretz has had a thing for, with the actress also linked to David Beckham’s son Brooklyn not so long ago, while she'd give Gerard Pique's better half Shakira a run for her money in the superstar WAGs department.

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Zidane: Real Madrid's players are behind Ronaldo

The Portugal international has apologised for his outburst against his team-mates and the Madrid boss insists the issue has been resolved

Zinedine Zidane has confirmed that Cristiano Ronaldo has spoken to his team-mates following his outburst after Real Madrid’s defeat to Atletico on Saturday.

Goal understands that Ronaldo issued an apology to his fellow players on Monday after an extraordinary rant in which he claimed that "if all my team-mates were at my level, we might be first.” The 31-year-old also fiercely defended his own form amid claims that he fails to step up in key matches.

 The Portugal international attempted to explain that his comments were in relation to Madrid’s lengthy injury list, and Zidane insists the team are behind their leading scorer.

“Cristiano has spoken to everyone, me and everyone. We know the importance of Cris and we all are with him,” said the Madrid boss.

“The issue with Cristiano has been sorted. We are going to fix this all together. From the inside, not outside.”

source: Goal

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Gianni Infantino replaces Blatter as Fifa president

Swiss lawyer Gianni Infantino has been elected president of world football governing body, Fifa.

The Uefa secretary general had a total of 115 votes after a second round of voting, 27 more than closest rival, AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa.

Jordanian Prince Ali bin al-Hussein was third with four, while Jerome Champagne failed to get any. South African businessman Tokyo Sexwale withdrew before voting began in Zurich.

“Dear friends, I cannot express my feelings in this moment,” a delighted Infantino said afterwards. “I went through an exceptional journey, met many fantastic people who love football, who breathe football.

“I want to be the president of all of you, of all 209 nations. I want to work with all of you to work together and build a new era where we can put football at the centre of the stage.”

After a close first round of voting, a simple majority of more than 50 per cent – 104 votes – was sufficient for victory in the second round.

Infantino is a 45-year-old multilingual lawyer from Brig in the Valais region of Switzerland, less than six miles from the outgoing Blatter’s hometown of Visp.

He is expected to lead the scandal-tainted organization into a new era of transparency and probity as promised in his campaign.

Credit: BBC

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I'll like to be a Hollywood actor when I retire from football - Cristiano Ronaldo

Number one sports brand in the world Cristiano Ronaldo says he will like to go to Hollywood when he retires from football. In a recent interview, Cristiano, who turned 31 this month, said that he would be happy to begin with small roles and work to acquire acting skills, learning from professional actors

“I would not be a lead (actor), no,” he said. “I would do small roles. I like to learn, to be surrounded by good actors, but that is the only way you learn. It is an area we do not know much about, it has nothing to do with football, but I believe with some training I could make it there,” he said.

“I am sure that sooner or later I will be in a cast for a film, no doubt. But to play a small role to start, to pick up experience. Then to shine more in the future. I have the chance, thanks to God, to choose only what I like. I love the world of fashion, so it’s not strange I have my own line of shirts, boxer-shorts, perfume, headphones, and more things will come out soon.

The Real Madrid superstar expressed delight at the growth of his CR7 brand and many other projects. I am happy as these projects are growing more and more. After football, I now have an idea what will do. Maybe my brand will keep growing in different areas shoes, trousers, films etcetera.”

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