CELEBRITY
Antony reveals what Cristiano Ronaldo is like behind the scenes
Cristiano Ronaldo has not regularly played this season but that has not negatively affected his dressing-room behaviour.
It is advised that you should judge a person by how they treat others around them and that rule extends to football.
In an era that rewards professionals with immense wealth and lucrative contracts that ensure financial freedom, footballers can sometimes develop insufferable egos and the Premier League is home to hundreds of those with high self-assessments.
Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo perhaps has the biggest ego in the Premier League but he has delivered on the pitch to match his words away from it, at least. Ronaldo has 700 club career goals and five Ballon d’Ors, which is without mentioning his vast, remarkable trophy collection, which includes five Champions League titles and countless other domestic major honours.
Although Ronaldo is now in the winter of his career, he still delivered last season when his teammates didn’t. He scored 24 goals, which made him the top goalscorer in the squad, and he single-handedly kept United in the Champions League.
Ronaldo wanted to leave in the summer, which did not endear him to supporters, but the only concrete offer he received was from Saudi Arabia and that has meant he’s been ‘stuck’ at Old Trafford. Ronaldo missed the majority of pre-season after expressing it was his desire to leave the club and Erik ten Hag recently explained that lack of fitness has contributed to his limited role.
“I want to get the best out of him [Ronaldo], he’s in better shape now and I’m happy with that,” Ten Hag said at his press conference on Wednesday. “At the start, it was the case [lack of fitness], it’s proven once again, no one can miss a pre-season.”
Although Ronaldo has started every match in the Europa League, he has made just one start in the Premier League and it will always be a talking point when he’s named on the bench, simply because of his achievements and standing in the game.
How would Ronaldo deal with his reduced role? That was the question at the start of the season and, although Ten Hag said Ronaldo is ‘p***** off’ when he doesn’t play last week, it has been claimed that he remains a positive influence at Carrington.
There have been negative reports about Ronaldo’s effect on the mood around the club but he has received glowing praise from his teammates, who have insisted that he is a pleasure to have in the dressing room.
Those who disagree would obviously not speak in public but Brandon Williams and Martin Dubravka endorsed the forward last month and Antony is the latest to do so.
Antony was asked about working with Ronaldo and he told A Bola: “Since I arrived, Cristiano Ronaldo has helped me a lot to feel at ease. He talks to me a lot, even on game days. He always tells me to be calm and confident.
“He has achieved a lot in football, and I learn from him every day. I am very grateful to have such an experienced person by my side helping young people every day. His mentality is so very strong. It’s very smart. That mentality of his, of always looking to the next day, with everything still to play, is what I’m trying to absorb and keep for the rest of my life.”
Ronaldo might be unhappy when he’s not playing, but he can still provide value on the training ground and Antony’s comments suggest he has taken on that role at Carrington, which wasn’t guaranteed, considering the size of his ego.
Ten Hag has promoted multiple academy players to first-team training and it’s understood that the youngsters have marvelled at the forward, with the chance to play alongside one of the greatest players of all-time not wasted on them.
If Ronaldo is not playing, at least he is helping set an example, giving advice and being a positive influence in the dressing room. Although he is the club’s highest earner and that should be a given, that’s unfortunately not the case in football.
This season is expected to be his last at Old Trafford and it would have been a shame for Ronaldo to mar his time at the club with disappointing off-field behaviour, but it seems he’s helping others, which critics might not expect from him
-MEN
Diego Maradona’s death “would have been avoided” if the medical team around him had done their job, his daughter Dalma accused on Tuesday at the trial of health professionals of the circumstances of the death of the Argentine football idol
Dalma, 38, the elder of Maradona’s two daughters with his ex-wife Claudia Villafañe, was a star witness on the 11th day of the trial in San Isidro (north of Buenos Aires). And like others since the start of the trial, she blamed the caregivers of her father’s final weeks and the framework of his convalescence.
” If they had done their job, (his death) would have been avoided,” Dalma said, referring to the medical team and in particular to three of the accused: attending physician and neurosurgeon Leopoldo Luque, psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov and psychologist Carlos Diaz.
” They deceived us (the family) in the most cruel way (…) They made us believe that the only possible option was to convalesce at home after his operation, in a house that was rented for the occasion in Tigre (north of Buenos Aires),” Dalma said.
According to them, ” it would be a serious home hospitalisation,” Diego would have everything like in a clinic, but in a house,” with 24/7 medical attention, medical equipment, an ambulance at the door permanently, she continued.
” It never happened,” she said in a statement often interrupted by tears. In this “disgusting, piss-smelling ” house, a doctor only came to see him from time to time.”
Maradona died at the age of 60 on November 25, 2020, from a cardiorespiratory crisis complicated by pulmonary oedema, in this private residence, where he had been convalescing for two weeks after neurosurgery for a head hematoma.
Seven practitioners – doctors, psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses – are accused of “homicide with possible intent”, characterised when a person commits negligence while knowing that it can lead to death.
Mr. Luque, who was close to Maradona, ” was his primary care physician, and I didn’t think he was recommending something that wouldn’t be best for my father,” Dalma continued.
With his sister Gianinna ” we didn’t have much influence, we could say what we thought but didn’t decide anything .” Sometimes someone from the care team or from the entourage would say “that Dad was sleeping, sometimes that he didn’t want to see anyone,” that the best thing was not to disturb him. “
” In hindsight, we should have decided.”
Last Tuesday, Veronica Ojeda, ex-partner and mother of Maradona’s son born in 2013, testified that the star’s close entourage “kept him as if he were sequestered” in the last months of his life.
The practitioners on trial, who deny any responsibility for the death, are seeking sentences of 8 to 25 years in prison. The trial is expected to last until July, with one or two hearings per week.
–Le360 (with AFP)
Mexican referee Marco Antonio Ortiz Nava found out the hard way that there are consequences for seeking an autograph from eight-time Ballon d’Or winner and World Cup winner Lionel Messi — he was hit with a CONCACAF disciplinary sanction.
As the final whistle blew on Inter Miami’s 1-0 Champions Cup win over Sporting Kansas City, secured by a brilliant second-half goal from Messi, the referee known as ‘El Gato’ approached the Argentina international.
He appeared to be asking for the striker’s shirt to join the Messi-mania, but it turned out he was actually requesting an autograph for a relative with special needs.
Despite the heartfelt request, Ortiz’s actions did not comply with CONCACAF’s code of conduct for officials.
“Upon investigation, CONCACAF has learned that the referee approached the player to request an autograph for a family member with special needs,” the North American football governing body said in a statement to ESPN.
Although the exact nature of the disciplinary action was not disclosed, CONCACAF added that Ortiz accepted full responsibility for his actions and apologised for his breach of protocol.
The first leg of the premier continental tournament for clubs from North America, Central America and the Caribbean was initially postponed due to a winter storm warning in the area.
Inter Miami will host Sporting in the return leg at Chase Stadium on Tuesday.
“The referee’s actions were not in accordance with the confederation’s code of conduct for match officials and the procedures in place for these types of requests.”
Reuters
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The world’s top athletes don’t just dominate on the field—they lead the way financially, too.
From football icons to basketball superstars, these elite performers are earning staggering sums through salaries, endorsements, and off-field ventures.
Using data from Sportico, sportsunlimitednews breaks down the top 10 highest-paid athletes globally.
10. Jon Rahm
On December 2023, Jon Rahm announced he was joining LIV Golf after a very successful stint at the PGA, earning 11 PGA Tour wins since joining in 2016. Now signed under LIV Golf, the Spaniard is considered one of the best-paid athletes in the world, accumulating $85.6 (€82.3/£68.55) million in winnings and $20 (€19.2/£16) million on endorsement deals
9. Kylian Mbappe
Following his massive transfer to Real Madrid in 2024, Kylian Mbappe is now ranked the 9th highest-paid athlete in the world. The French forward earns $85 (€81.6/£68.9) million in salary and $25 (€24/£20) million in endorsements, totalling $110 (€105/£88) million—a ‘galactico’ price tag for one of the best players in the world.
8. Karim Benzema
Another former Real Madrid star, Karim Benzema is ranked amongst the top ten best-paid athletes in the world following his move to Al-Ittihad (Saudi Arabia). The French striker earns $108 (€103/£86.4) million alongside $8 (€7.6/£6.4) million in endorsements.
7. Oleksandr Usyk
Up next, we have an undisputed heavyweight champion, who took down Tyson Fury for a second time in 2024. Oleksandr Usyk is arguably one of the best fighters in the world right now, and his earnings reflect that. The Ukrainian makes an average of $120 (€115/£96) million in winnings alongside $2 (€1.9/£1.6) million on endorsements, standing on $122 (€117/£97.7) million.
6. Neymar Jr.
Neymar Jr. is in the final stages of his professional football career. The former Barcelona and PSG man has enjoyed a successful stint across multiple teams around the world. Now in Santos FC, the Brazilian star is still considered one of the highest-paid players in the world, earning a $108 (€103/£82) million salary and $25 (€24/£20) million in endorsements.
5. LeBron James
The Los Angeles Lakers veteran and NBA star is ranked fifth in the world following his jaw-dropping $85 (€81.6/£68.3) million endorsement deals with Coca-Cola and PepsiCo. Alongside his endorsements, he cashes in a salary of $48.2 (€46.3/£38.6) million a year.
4. Lionel Messi
The Inter Miami star has one of the most lucrative contracts in world football. The Argentinian forward earns $60 (€57.6/£48) million a year, alongside $75 (€72/£60) million on endorsement deals. He is linked to Louis Vuitton, Mastercard and Pepsi.
3. Tyson Fury
The ‘Gypsie King’ is ranked third in the world, despite his recent losses and retirement announcement in late 2024. Fury cashed in $140 (€134.4/£112) million in winnings alongside $7 (€6.7/£5.6) million in endorsement deals, a very fruitful 2024 for the former British heavyweight champ.
2. Stephen Curry
Stephen Curry can still boast of having the highest-paying salary in the NBA for the eighth straight year. According to ESPN, his Golden State deal is worth around $55 (€52/£41.2) million this season. On top of that, the American point guard earns $100 (€95/£79.9) million in endorsements.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo still ranks at the top as the best-paid athlete in the world. The Al-Nassr star earns a jaw-dropping $215 (€206/£171.9) million salary, alongside $45 (€43.1/£35.9) in endorsements from Armani, Herbalife, TAG Heuer, and Clear Shampoo.
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