It has been a debate that has split football fans the world over for years and the arguments will resurface when Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo feature in La Liga s opening weekend.
Players, pundits, supporters and team-mates have all waded in to have their say on who is the world s best player, Barcelona star Messi or Real Madrid hero Ronaldo.
While a definitive answer is unlikely to ever be given on that front, one certainty is that both phenomenal talents will be the driving forces behind Barca and Real s quest for domestic and European glory again this season.
On an individual basis, the pair have won the last seven FIFA Ballons d Or with Messi s four to Ronaldo s three, although the latter has collected the last two.
Most would consider Messi the…
Lyon striker Bafetimbi Gomis has rejected the idea of a move away from Stade Gerland, re-affirming his commitment to the Ligue 1 side.
The French international joined Lyon from rivals Saint-Etienne in 2009 and still has two years remaining on the five-year contract he signed on his arrival.
The 26-year-old was reportedly being courted by Rubin Kazan, but insists he remains faithful to Lyon and wants to continue at the club.
I have always protested loudly about wanting to stay in Lyon, I am for this club, Gomis told reporters after the club s 2-1 friendly defeat to Athletic Bilbao on Friday.
I want to take part in the project. The coach is counting on me so I intend to defend my colours. I want to make a good preparation and keep myself ready for the Tr…
Cristiano Ronaldo will be hoping to build upon his formidable away form in the Champions League at Legia Warsaw, while Leicester City amid exalted historical company are on the brink of progression.
Expect plenty of goals when Sporting CP visit Borussia Dortmund, with Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang certain to be a threat.
And defender Dani Alves will be looking to continue his exceptional attacking contribution when Juventus face Lyon.
With the help of Opta, we bring you the best stats for Wednesday s Champions League group stage fixtures.
Legia Warsaw v Real Madrid
47 Real Madrid have failed to score only once in their last 47 Champions League group games.
28 Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 28 times in his 23 Champions League appe…
The war of words between Gerard Houllier and David Ginola over France s failure to qualify for the 1994 World Cup has been reopened.
Houllier was coach of the France side that missed out on the finals in the United States, with their qualification hopes shattered in a now infamous final Group 6 clash with Bulgaria.
France needed a draw with Bulgaria in November 1993 to progress and were level at 1-1 until the visitors netted a late winner after launching a counter from a failed Ginola cross, leaving Houllier to blame the winger for the elimination.
Ginola sued Houllier for alleged defamatory remarks about him in the former Liverpool manager s 2011 book Coaches Secrets , although the lawsuit was thrown out by a French court.
Houllier reignited the row …
Arsene Wenger has struggled to sleep and received support from old rival Alex Ferguson during Arsenal s recent form slump.
The Gunners halted a four-game losing streak with an impressive 2-0 Europa League last-16 win at AC Milan on Thursday, but that result might do little to improve an atmosphere verging on toxic around the Emirates Stadium.
Back-to-back 3-0 defeats against Manchester City – the first of which came in the EFL Cup final – and a sapping reverse at Brighton and Hove Albion arguably left Wenger s tenure at its lowest ebb.
In an Arsenal Supporters Trust poll, 88 per cent voted for the 67-year-old to leave at the end of this season, despite his terms running until the end of 2018-19.
Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of Sunday s match against W…
Olivier Giroud has a never-say-never attitude when it comes to moving to the big-spending Chinese Super League, but for now his main priority is winning the Premier League with Arsenal.
The Frenchman has won the FA Cup twice with the Gunners since making the switch from Montpellier in June 2012, but glory in the league has thus far evaded him.
There has been a big influx of talent making the move to China with the likes of Oscar, Axel Witsel, Carlos Tevez and John Obi Mikel among those to have transferred in January.
However, Giroud who recently extended his contract at Emirates Stadium is keen to prioritise winning further honours with Arsenal, regardless of how tempting an offer may arrive from China.
Honestly, from my point of view I will tell you tha…
Paul Pogba is determined not to sign a new contract at Manchester United, according to reports in Italy.
The Frenchman has been linked most heavily with Real Madrid over the summer after publicly admitting that playing for the Spanish giants would be a dream come true for any player, and reports all through the summer consistently claiming that Real head coach Zinedine Zidane wouldn t have any other alternative to signing his compatriot.
Meanwhile, a return to Juventus, the club he left to join United in 2016 for a world-record fee at the time, has never been ruled out either. The Serie A champions have been working hard on gathering every top player they can put their hands on, and having added Aaron Ramsey from Arsenal, Adrien Rabiot from Paris Saint-Germain and defen…
Neymar for Paul Pogba?
That was the proposal by Paris Saint-Germain to Manchester United, who are both set for busy off-seasons due to their wantaway stars.
But a swap between the two clubs does not appear to be on the agenda.
TOP STORY – WOODWARD SAYS NO TO NEYMAR
A swap deal involving Neymar and Paul Pogba was rejected by Manchester United vice-chairman Ed Woodward.
That is according to the Independent as Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar and United midfielder Pogba both seek exits.
Manchester United rejected Neymar swap deal for Paul Pogba for two key reasons
By
— Indy Football (@IndyFootball)
Woodward reportedly said no to the idea due to costs and his determination to keep Pogba, who has been l…
Tata Martino accepted responsibility for Mexico s huge failure at the World Cup and confirmed his contract had now expired with little prospect of him returning to the role.
Martino has been a largely unpopular El Tri coach, and his standing was not helped by Wednesday s elimination in the group stage at Qatar 2022.
Mexico came agonisingly close to making the last 16 at an eighth straight World Cup before they were instead knocked out on goal difference behind Poland in Group C.
After second-half goals from Henry Martin and Luis Chavez against Saudi Arabia at Lusail Stadium, Mexico were tied with Poland on points, goal difference and goals scored, having drawn their head-to-head encounter.
With the full-time whistle having blown in Poland s match against …
Udinese s Serie A clash with Salernitana did not take place on Tuesday after the visitors failed to turn up at the Dacia Arena.
It was already known that bottom side Salernitana would not make the trip after they were ordered not to travel by the local health authority due to a number of positive coronavirus cases in the squad.
Udinese, however, undertook their normal matchday routine and even named their starting XI.
Udinese director Pierpaolo Marino told DAZN: The league is right not to postpone the game. They have a duty to protect the regularity of the league season and a game must not be postponed because a player tests positive.
We went to Rome to play Lazio with seven players and our coach out with COVID-19 last season, and we won 3-1.
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