Football

KIEV: Cristiano Ronaldo responded to his worst run of domestic form at Real Madrid with a record-smashing scoring streak in the Champions League and in Saturday´s final he can join the club´s iconic forward Alfredo di Stefano on five European Cup triumphs. Ronaldo, 33, leads the competition´s scoring charts for a remarkable fifth year in a row and a goal ...

TOKYO: Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta joined Japan’s Vissel Kobe on Thursday, the club’s owner Hiroshi Mikitani said, describing him as a “world-class” player. “I am pleased to announce today that Andres Iniesta will be signing up to play with Vissel Kobe after his historic career at FC Barcelona,” Mikitani told reporters in Tokyo. The 34-year-old Spanish World Cup winner, who ...

KIEV: Istanbul’s Ataturk Olympic Stadium will host the 2020 Champions League final, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin confirmed in Kiev on Thursday. The 76,000-capacity ground played host to Liverpool’s famous comeback from 3-0 down to win the Champions League on penalties over AC Milan in 2005. UEFA have been under pressure to ensure future final host cities have the hotel and ...

BUENOS AIRES: Goalkeeper Nahuel Guzman was called into Argentina’s World Cup squad on Tuesday as a replacement for Sergio Romero after the Manchester United player was cut from the team with a knee injury, the country’s football federation (AFA) said. Guzman, who plays for Mexican side Tigres, joins Chelsea’s Willy Caballero and uncapped River Plate stopper Franco Armani in Argentina’s ...

MADRID: Zinedine Zidane has told Liverpool his Real Madrid team are hungrier than ever to win the Champions League, despite clinching the title in three of the last four years. Real are gunning for an unprecedented third consecutive success in the competition on Saturday while Liverpool have reached the final for the first time since 2007. “No one can tell ...

LONDON: Chelsea manager Antonio Conte insisted he is a “serial winner” after ending a difficult season on a high by beating Manchester United 1-0 to lift the FA Cup thanks to Eden Hazard’s penalty at Wembley on Saturday. In what is still widely expected to be Conte’s final game in charge, the Blues withstood a second-half onslaught from United after ...

PARIS: Marseille star Dimitri Payet was left out of France’s World Cup squad announced by coach Didier Deschamps on Thursday, completing a miserable 24 hours for the playmaker. The former West Ham United player was forced off with a hamstring injury in the first half of Marseille’s Europa League final defeat against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday, and that fitness doubt ...

Antoine Griezmann was the hero for Atletico Madrid as the French striker scored twice in their 3-0 win over Marseille in Wednesday’s Europa League final in Lyon, allowing his club to win the trophy for the third time in nine seasons. It is Griezmann’s first major title with Atletico, and a fitting way to bow out if he leaves at ...

As Atletico Madrid and Marseille prepare to meet in the Europa League final in Lyon on Wednesday, here are five men who will have a crucial role to play for their respective sides: Antoine Griezmann There is constant speculation about the French striker’s future and a possible move to Barcelona at the end of the season, but Griezmann is hoping ...

Pakistani players in action against Uzbekistan during the final of the Street Child World Cup. Photo: Screegrab Pakistan put up a tough fight but were unable to beat Uzbekistan in the final of the Street Child Football World Cup. The match was tied 1-1 at the end of full time and headed to a penalty shootout. In the shootout, Uzbekistan pulled ...