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CNN —Portuguese and Al-Nassr star Cristiano Ronaldo has been banned for one match and fined for “provoking” fans in a Saudi Pro League match on Sunday. In footage from the game, Ronaldo can be seen cupping his hand to his ear, taking in the chanting from the opposing Al-Shabab fans. Ronaldo gestures towards the Al-Shabab fans. As a result, Ronaldo has been suspended for one match, ordered to pay around $2,666 (10,000 riyals) to the SAFF and an additional $5,333 (20,000 riyals) to Al-Shabab for complaint filing fees. Ronaldo, a five-time Balon d’Or winner, joined Al-Nassr following an acrimonious exit from English Premier League side Manchester United in late 2022.

Persons: Cristiano Ronaldo, Al Nassr’s, Ronaldo, Al, Lionel Messi’s, Yasser Bakhsh, Waleed Al, Farraj, ” Ronaldo, Yannick Carrasco’s, Nassr, Anderson Talisca, Shabab, Carlos Júnior’s, Talisca, Hazm Organizations: CNN, Saudi Pro League, Riyadh, Al, Saudi Arabian Football Federation, English Premier League, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, Reuters Al Locations: Shabab, Al, Saudi

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Inter Miami played six preseason matches last season. It's basically an around-the-world, big-crowd, big-money, bright-spotlight batch of preseason games for Inter Miami, which instantly became a global brand when Messi announced last summer that he was joining the Major League Soccer club. Political Cartoons View All 253 Images“It’s incredible,” said DeAndre Yedlin, the Inter Miami defender who was captain until Messi arrived. But Inter Miami not only understands the value of having Messi, it welcomed this massive preseason stretch in advance of an MLS season that starts Feb. 21. “You have to see how many times these people are going to have this possibility.”The financial benefit of Inter Miami and Messi playing in Saudi Arabia hasn't been revealed.

Persons: Lionel Messi's, Al Nassr, Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, ”, DeAndre Yedlin, it’s, Leo, he’s, what's, Ballon, Messi —, Germain, Gerardo “ Tata ” Martino, Saudi Arabia hasn't, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, Luis Suarez, LIV Golf, hasn't, ” Messi, Drake Callender, “ Organizations: — Inter Miami, Inter Miami, Al, Dallas, Cotton, Major League Soccer, ” Inter Miami, Argentina, MLS, Inter Miami —, Paris Saint, “, Messi, Saudi, Florida International University, it's, Ronaldo Locations: FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla, Florida, Saudi Arabia, Hilal, Portugal, El Salvador, Hong Kong, Japan, Saudi, Spanish, Riyadh, “

☆ Vinícius Jr. scores first-half hat-trick as Real Madrid dominates Barcelona to win Spanish Super Cup
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Samuel Joseph | Sam Joseph | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Real Madrid claimed its 13th Spanish Super Cup with a comprehensive 4-1 demolition of arch-rival Barcelona in El Clásico on Sunday. The result was sweet revenge for Madrid, which was defeated 3-1 by Barcelona in the 2023 edition of the tournament. “We wanted to win the final,” said Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti after the game. Real doubled its advantage three minutes later when Vinícius scored his second, sliding in to meet a low Rodrygo cross to leave Barcelona reeling. Yasser Bakhsh/Getty ImagesHowever, the moment of hope turned out to be fleeting as Vinícius completed his hat-trick only minutes later.

Persons: Vinícius Jr, Rodrygo, “, ”, Carlo Ancelotti, “ Vinícius, Atlético, Robert Lewandowski, Barça’s, Ronald Araújo, Xavi, We’ll, ” Madrid, Vinícius, phenom Jude Bellingham, Iñaki Peña, Yasser Bakhsh, Cristiano Ronaldo’s, siu, Nassr –, Cristiano, ” Vinícius, Ferran Torres, Andriy Lunin, Torres, Lunin, Lewandowski, Jules Koundé, Araújo, Giuseppe Cacace, João Félix Organizations: CNN — Real Madrid, Spanish, Los, Atlético Madrid, ”, Vinícius, King Saud University, Madrid, Lewandowski, Real, Barcelona, La Liga, Getty Locations: Barcelona, El Clásico, Madrid, ” Barcelona, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Pedri, AFP, Bellingham, Girona

NEW YORK (AP) — Portuguese soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo has been hit with class-action lawsuit seeking at least $1 billion in damages for his role in promoting cryptocurrency-related “non-fungible tokens,” or NFTs, issued by the beleaguered cryptocurrency exchange Binance. Representatives for Ronaldo and Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange, did not immediately return The Associated Press' requests for comment. Ronaldo launched his inaugural NFT “CR7” collection with Binance back in November of last year, ahead of the 2022 World Cup. Most recently, on X (the platform formerly known as Twitter) Ronaldo reposted a Binance video and wrote that he was “Cooking something up" with the crypto exchange on Tuesday. Over the summer, Binance was accused of operating as an unregistered securities exchange and violating a slew of U.S. securities laws in a lawsuit from regulators.

Persons: Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldo, ”, Binance, “, Ronaldo's, NFTs, Changpeng Zhao, Larry David, Tom Brady —, FTX’s, Al Nassr Organizations: Southern District of, Associated Press, Twitter, FTX, Spanish, Real Madrid, Juventus, Manchester United, Saudi Arabian Locations: Portuguese, cryptocurrency, Southern District, Southern District of Florida, Portugal, Hollywood, England

☆ Cristiano Ronaldo scores impressive long-range lob on a night where he dazzled in front of goal
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-25 | by ( Aimee Lewis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Cristiano Ronaldo has another spectacular strike to add to his collection of memorable goals after the soccer great scored a stunning 40-yard lob in the Saudi Pro League. Indeed, Ronaldo scored twice in three minutes to ease Al Nassr to a 3-0 victory over Al Okhdood on Friday. ages,” Al Nassr said on X, formerly known as Twitter, of the goal. It was Ronaldo’s 15th goal in 13 league appearances this season and the win moved Al Nassr to second in the league. The 38-year-old signed a two-and-a-half year contract estimated by media to be worth more than 200 million euros ($220.16 million) with Al Nassr and made his debut in January.

Persons: CNN — Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldo, Al Nassr, Al Okhdood, Paulo Vitor, ” Al Nassr Organizations: CNN, Saudi Pro League, Twitter, Al

“The district court clearly recognized the gravity of dismissing the case and accordingly provided a thorough analysis, amply supported by factual findings,” Judge Johnnie Rawlinson wrote in Tuesday's 6-page opinion. In dismissing the case in Nevada, Dorsey sanctioned Stovall for “bad faith,” saying he had improperly attempted to use documents that were leaked or stolen in a cyberattack to pursue Mayorga’s case. Mayorga's lawsuit claimed conspiracy, defamation, breach of contract, coercion and fraud. By the time Dorsey threw out the case, Stovall claimed Mayorga should receive for more than $25 million in damages. “The district court did not abuse its discretion when it found that a case-terminating sanction was appropriate,” the ruling said.

Persons: Cristiano Ronaldo, Kathryn Mayorga's, Jennifer Dorsey, Ronaldo, Mayorga, Leslie Mark Stovall, ”, Johnnie Rawlinson, Stovall, Al Nassr, Dorsey, Mayorga wasn’t, Der Spiegel, Cristiano, Steve Wolfson, Judge Dorsey “, Mayorga's counsel's Organizations: —, Associated Press, Spanish, Real Madrid, Juventus, Manchester United, Saudi Arabian, Circuit, Ronaldo, Football Locations: RENO, Nev, Las Vegas, San Francisco, refiling, England, Nevada, Clark

Messi's Inter Miami will travel to Saudi Arabia in February to take part in the Riyadh Season Cup, which also includes Ronaldo's Al Nassr. Saudi Arabia has made a major push to be a big player in world soccer by signing some of the game's biggest players. Political Cartoons View All 1260 ImagesMessi took part in last season's Riyadh Season Cup with PSG and also came up against Ronaldo after the Portugal great's surprise move to Al Nassr. In May, Messi was fined and suspended by the French club for taking an unauthorized trip to Saudi Arabia. The Riyadh Season Cup is scheduled to be held in the first week of February at Kingdom Arena.

Persons: Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Al Nassr, Neymar's Al, ”, Turki Alalshikh, Messi, Germain, Ballon, David Beckham, Ronaldo, Sadio Mane, Sergej Milinkovic, Savic, Chris Henderson, Henderson, “, ” Henderson, Tim Reynolds, ___ James Robson Organizations: Messi's Inter Miami, Brazil, Saudi General Entertainment Authority, Paris Saint, MLS, PSG, Ronaldo, Miami, Leagues, Real, Copa America, Inter Miami, U.S, Inter Miami didn’t Locations: MANCHESTER, England, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Hilal, Paris, Portugal, Argentina, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Saudi, Al, China, Miami

☆ Saudi Arabia is pouring billions into soccer, golf, and Formula 1. Its crown prince doesn't care if anyone calls it 'sportswashing.'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( George Glover | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Saudi Arabia is pouring billions into sports in a bid to transform its economy. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has made the sector a key part of his Vision 2030 plan. But the reality is that the crown prince has a grander ambition: to level up Saudi Arabia's economic growth. "But Saudi Arabia is piling into other sports too, because they want to achieve a lot in a short period of time." AdvertisementAdvertisementAs Crown Prince Mohammed made clear last week, all this forms part of a broader strategy to supercharge Saudi Arabia's economy through investment.

Persons: Prince Mohammed bin Salman, bankrolled, —, Cristiano Ronaldo, Phil Mickelson, Anthony Joshua, –, Jamal Khashoggi, they've, Steve Luciano, AP Ronaldo, Al Nassr, Ballon, Karim Benzema, Neymar, Sadio, PIF, LIV Golf, Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, LIV, Joshua, that's, Tyson Fury, Oleksandr Usyk, Frank Warren, Prince Mohammed, Mohammed bin Salman, Leon Neal, Simon Chadwick, Chadwick, megastars, Ronaldo –, Salman, bin Salman, Saudi Arabia –, St Andrews, Nick Kyrgios, who've, Elsa, he'd, they'll Organizations: Newcastle United, Service, Washington Post, Saudi, Investment Fund, Premier League, UEFA Champions League, Saudi Public Investment Fund, Newcastle, AP, Saudi Pro League, Georgetown University Qatar, PGA, WWE, Fox News, SKEMA Business School, Indian Premier League, FIFA Locations: Saudi Arabia, Saudi, England, Riyadh, Brazil, Liverpool, Kingdom, Jeddah, Lille, France, Reiche, Iran, Miami, Augusta, bankroll

Meanwhile, failed uprisings in Bahrain and eastern Saudi Arabia were followed by years-long crackdowns and a continuing civil war in Syria. “What we’re beginning to see in Saudi Arabia right now is the emergence of a new social contract. Saudi Arabia is the world’s biggest exporter of crude oil, and nearly two-thirds of its income still comes from selling fossil fuels. If Saudi Arabia can become a hub for major sporting events, then that’s a way of attracting interest to the country,” said Maguire. In response to previous criticism about Saudi Arabia’s purported “sportswashing,” the kingdom’s sports minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal said: “People that don’t know Saudi Arabia, have never been to Saudi Arabia, go out and talk about it as if they’ve lived there for 30 years, 40 years.

Persons: Hilal, Kylian Mbappé, Germain, Neymar Jr, Ballon d’Or, Cristiano Ronaldo, Nassr, Patricia de Melo Moreira, it’s, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman –, Leon Neal, Ballon, Karim Benzema, Al Hilal, spender, –, Carlo Nohra, Jordan Henderson, Henderson, “, ’ ” Simon Chadwick, “ We’ve, ” Chadwick, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Al Nassr, Stringer, you’re, Kieran Maguire, they’re, Everybody’s, ” Maguire, Chadwick, Ronaldo, Maguire, … Mohammed bin Salman, ” James Dorsey, ”, Chadwick –, Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al, Faisal, don’t, they’ve, LIV Golf, Jimmy Dunne, LIV, Dunne, Aleksander Ceferin, Erling, Haaland, Jurgen Klopp, Michael Emenalo, Steven Gerrard, Nohra, ” “ They’ve Organizations: CNN, Saudi, Al, Paris Saint, PSG, Saudi Pro League, Ligue, Liga, Serie, Bundesliga, English Premier League, Deloitte, Investment Fund, AFP, Getty, SPL, Saudi Crown, Spanish, Arsenal, CNN Sport, English, Newcastle United, Liverpool, The Athletic, SKEMA Business School, Argentina, Zamalek, King Fahd Sports City, Anadolu Agency, Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City, Football, AFC Asian, FIFA, Greece, Royal Spanish Football Federation, Spanish Super, ”, Amnesty International, Amnesty, Middle East Soccer, Saudi Ministry, Sport, PGA Tour, European, UEFA, Premier League, Ettifaq Media, Reuters New Saudi Pro League, Major League Soccer, La Liga, Peterson Institute for International Economics, Russian Direct Investment Fund, Investigations, PGA Locations: Saudi Arabian, Brazil, Saudi, Ittihad, Al, Ahli, Real Madrid, England, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Liverpool, China, Qatar, Taif, Egypt, Spanish, East, North Africa, Libya, Yemen, Tunisia, Bahrain, Syria, “, ”, Europe, ” Liverpool

☆ Why Saudi Arabia is pumping billions of dollars into pro soccer
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Anuz Thapa | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWhy Saudi Arabia is pumping billions of dollars into pro soccerCristiano Ronaldo received a thunderous welcome at his new club, Al Nassr, in Saudi Arabia on January 3rd. That day was not just an ordinary day for the Arab nation; the five-time Ballon d'Or winner's entry to the Saudi Pro League also marked the start of a new era in their domestic league—the era of bringing global superstars to play their league by spending billions of dollars. Watch the video above to find out why Saudi Arabia is doubling down their investment in professional soccer and more.

Persons: Cristiano Ronaldo, Al Nassr Organizations: Saudi Pro League Locations: Saudi Arabia

☆ Neymar praises Cristiano Ronaldo for helping the Saudi Pro League grow
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Thomas Schlachter | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Today, you see the league grow more and more,” the former PSG forward told Al Hilal’s social channels. Since then, Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kanté, Kalidou Koulibaly, Edouard Mendy, Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mané and Marcelo Brozović have been among the star names to move to the Saudi Pro League. Yes, surely the league will be very competitive especially after the signings made in this summer transfer window.”Neymar joined Al Hilal from French giant PSG. Saudi Pro League/Handout/ReutersThe Brazilian forward spent six years with PSG, winning 13 major trophies along the way. Neymar will now star for Al Hilal alongside the likes of Sergej Milinković-Savić, Rúben Neves and Malcom who have also made summer moves to the club.

Persons: CNN — Neymar, Germain, Cristiano Ronaldo, Al, Ronaldo, Nassr, Karim Benzema, N’Golo, Kalidou Koulibaly, Edouard Mendy, Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mané, Marcelo Brozović, Al Nassr, Yasser Bakhsh, Neymar, “, ”, ” Neymar, Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi, Al Hilal, Sergej, Rúben Neves, Malcom Organizations: CNN, Saudi Pro League, Al Hilal, Paris Saint, PSG, Al, Manchester United, Reuters, League Locations: French, Paris, Al Hilal, City of, Paris –

☆ Neymar set for Saudi's Al Hilal after PSG agree deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Fernando Kallas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Summary Saudi state media report deal is doneTwo year deal would net Neymar $175 millionBrazilian joined PSG in 2017 for record 222 million eurosAug 14 (Reuters) - Brazil forward Neymar is headed for Saudi Arabia after Pro League side Al Hilal agreed a two-year deal with Paris St Germain, Saudi state media reported on Monday. Al Hilal, managed by Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus, play Al Fayha on Saturday with Neymar expected to wear the number 10 shirt. Al Hilal had tried to sign PSG's France international Kylian Mbappe, who was reinstated into the Paris club's first team on Sunday. Strengthening the squad is a priority for the Riyadh-based club, as the Saudi Public Investment Fund announced in June an investment and privatisation project for sports clubs involving league champions Al Ittihad, Al Ahli, Al Nassr and Al Hilal. Cristiano Ronaldo joined Al Nassr last season soon after the World Cup in a deal which made him the highest-paid athlete on the planet, while Al Ittihad signed Karim Benzema from Real Madrid.

Persons: Al Hilal, Neymar, Jorge Jesus, Al Fayha, Luis Enrique's, Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, Al Nassr, Cristiano Ronaldo, Al Ittihad, Karim Benzema, Riyad Mahrez, Edouard Mendy, Roberto Firmino, Alan Baldwin, Shrivathsa Sridhar, Angelica Medina, Toby Chopra, Pritha Sarkar, Hugh Lawson Organizations: PSG, Saudi Arabia, Pro League, Al, Paris St, Ligue, Qatar Sports Investments, French, L'Equipe, Reuters, King Fahd, Barcelona, Lorient, Spanish, France, Kylian, Paris club's, Saudi, Major League Soccer's Inter Miami, Asian Champions League, Saudi Public Investment Fund, Al Ittihad, Saudi Pro League, Real Madrid, Champions, Thomson Locations: Saudi, Brazil, Paris St Germain, Paris, Riyadh, Portuguese, Spanish, Barcelona, Al, Saudi Arabia, Asia, Al Ahli, Real, London, Bengaluru, Mexico City

☆ Saudi soccer league lures Brazilian star Neymar as it seeks to attract 'exceptional players only'
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Saudi Arabia also recruited soccer legends Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema with contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars, and it's expected to bid to host the 2030 World Cup. Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo poses for a photo with the jersey after signing with Saudi Arabia's Al-Nassr Football Club in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on December 30, 2022. Sports analysts are doubtful that Saudi Arabia will see its ambitions to have a top soccer league realized, even with all the money it can offer to top-tier players. Charles Laberge | LIV Golf | Getty ImagesOther criticism comes from an attitude among many that a Saudi league could never be a serious arena for athletes. Emenalo, himself a former defender for Nigeria's national soccer team and former technical director at English club team Chelsea, called the criticisms "outrageous."

Persons: Kylian Mbappe, Neymar Jr, Jean Catuffe, Neymar, Germain, Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Kalidou, Lyon's Moussa Dembele, Michael Emenalo, Saudi Arabia's, Al, Hilal, Kylian Mbappé, LIV, shockwaves, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Captain Brooks Koepka, Ricky Elliott, Charles Laberge, LIV Golf, Emenalo, it's, Khalid Al, Falih, that's Organizations: PSG, UEFA Champions League, Celtic Glasgow, Paris Saint Germain, Celtic Park, Getty, Getty Images, Saudi, Al, Paris Saint, Brazil national, L'Equipe, Manchester, Saudi Pro League, Nassr Football Club, Al Nassr Football, Anadolu Agency, France national, Sports, American PGA Tour, Saudi Crown, CNBC, Royal Greens, & Country Club, King Abdullah Economic, Nigeria's, soccer team, Chelsea, Saudi League, Guardian, Saudi Investment, Public Investment Fund Locations: Getty Images Saudi Arabia, Hilal, Barcelona, Saudi, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Europe, Jeddah, King Abdullah, King Abdullah Economic City

☆ Cristiano Ronaldo scores two goals to lead Al-Nassr to first Arab Club Champions Cup title
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice to help Al-Nassr secure the first Arab Club Champions Cup title in the club’s history. Al-Nassr had to come from a goal behind against fellow Saudi club Al-Hilal to lift the trophy, eventually winning 2-1 after a tense period of extra time. The Arab Club Champions Cup features the biggest clubs from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria and Iraq, and Ronaldo finished as the tournament’s top scorer with six goals in six games. Al-Nassr won the Arab Club Champions Cup for the first time. The 38-year-old said in June that any new signings for Saudi clubs would be “very welcome” to join him in the league.

Persons: CNN — Cristiano Ronaldo, Nassr, Michael, Ronaldo’s, Nawaf Boushal, Ronaldo, Ettifaq, Yasser Bakhsh, Al Nassr, Karim Benzema, N’Golo, Kalidou Koulibaly, Edouard Mendy, Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mané, Marcelo Brozović Organizations: CNN, Arab, Saudi, Al, United Arab, Saudi Pro League, Manchester United Locations: Hilal, Al, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Iraq, Portuguese

☆ Senegal's Mane joins Saudi side Al-Nassr from Bayern
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Aug 1 (Reuters) - Bayern Munich's Senegal forward Sadio Mane has joined Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr after one season with the Bundesliga champions, both clubs said on Tuesday. Mane has signed a four-year contract, Al-Nassr added on messaging platform X, formerly known as Twitter. Mane moved to Bayern last year with high hopes after netting 120 goals in 269 games for Liverpool where he won the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup and Club World Cup. "We want to thank Sadio Mane for the past season," Bayern CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen told the club website. Mane joins an Al Nassr outfit who have strengthened their squad since the marquee signing of Cristiano Ronaldo last term.

Persons: Sadio Mane, Mane, Nassr, Leroy Sane, Jan, Christian Dreesen, Al Nassr, Cristiano Ronaldo, Marcelo Brozovic, Seko, Alex Telles, Ahmed Musa, Rohith Nair, Anita Kobylinska, Osama Khairy, Ken Ferris Organizations: Bayern Munich's, Saudi Pro League, Al, Bundesliga, Twitter, Bayern, Liverpool, Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, Africa, Nations, FC Bayern, Inter Milan, Manchester United, FIFA, Leicester City, Thomson Locations: Bayern Munich's Senegal, Merseyside, Senegal, Lens, Leicester, Bengaluru, Gdansk, Cairo

☆ Kim Kardashian and ‘soccer obsessed’ son Saint are having time of their lives watching beautiful game on globetrotting tour
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( Thomas Schlachter | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

On that occasion, Kardashian and West witnessed Arsenal crash out of the Europa League on penalties, but they were able to meet Gunners striker Eddie Nketiah, as well as enjoying a video call with Arsenal and England star Bukayo Saka. Next stop was France to watch Paris Saint-Germain lose 2-0 to Rennes, though Saint was pictured alongside French soccer icon Kylian Mbappé. Kardashian was spotted at the Emirates Stadium in March to watch Arsenal. He is obsessed with soccer, and I will do anything for my babies, so I travel the world. Kardashian’s soccer trip looks set to continue, so don’t be surprised if you see the star at another match this summer.

Persons: you’re Kim Kardashian, Saint, –, Kardashian, Eddie Nketiah, Germain, Mbappé, Charlotte Wilson, Lionel Messi’s, Cruz Azul, “, Messi, He’s, ” Kardashian, Lionel Messi, Mike Ehrmann, Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr, Ronaldo, Neymar, don’t Organizations: CNN, Arsenal’s Europa League, Sporting Clube de Portugal, West, Arsenal, Europa League, Gunners, England, Paris Saint, Emirates, Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami, Apple, Inter Miami, PSG, Saint Locations: Saint West, London, France, Rennes, Florida, Osaka, Japan

☆ Opinion: Messi mania meets USWNT three-peat fever
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-22 | by ( Opinion Amy Bass | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

On the other side of the world in Auckland, the USWNT took down World Cup newcomer Vietnam 3-0. It was nonsense to worry about what to watch or whether Messi would upstage the women. MLS chief Don Garber, for one, says he’s not worried about the impact Saudi money could have on the ability of the MLS to expand into markets outside the US, especially as it failed to win Messi. Friday may have been the first time in his life that Messi was someone else’s opening act. The USWNT did what was expected, beating a lesser team in Vietnam, but they also have a lot of work in front of them.

Persons: Amy Bass, Read, Lionel Messi, Amy Bass Rodney Bedsole, Cruz Azul, Messi, Pelé, David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo’s, Al Nassr, LIV, Don Garber, he’s, Messi subbed, ” Garber, “, ”, Inter Miami’s, King ” LeBron James, Sophia Smith, —, Trinity Rodman, Rodman, Tran Thi, Alex Morgan, Tran Thị Kim Thanh, Captain Lindsey Horan, Megan Rapinoe, David, anyone’s, Brenda Elsey, England, Sam Kerr Organizations: Manhattanville College, CNN, Major League Soccer’s Inter Miami, US, National, Cruz, Leagues, Vietnam, National American Soccer League’s New York Cosmos, Inter Miami, Messi, LA Galaxy, MLS, Saudi Pro, Major League Soccer, Inter, Trinity, Colombian, Twitter, Facebook, Canada, Haiti Locations: Florida, New Zealand, Fort Lauderdale, Auckland, American, Miami, Inter Miami, Vietnam, Haiti, Philippines, Zambia, Germany, Morocco, Qatar, Nigeria

☆ Mbappe excluded from PSG's Asian tour squad
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

July 21 (Reuters) - Kylian Mbappe has not been included in Paris St Germain's squad for their Asian pre-season tour amid reports that he has been put up for sale by the Ligue 1 side. PSG President Nasser Al-Khelaifi has said they will not let him go for free after the club spent 180 million euros ($200 million) to sign him. Mbappe was injured for the first leg and said they were "helpless" in the second. PSG will also face Japan league's Cerezo Osaka and Serie A side Inter Milan before travelling to South Korea to take on Jeonbuk Motors. ($1 = 0.8990 euros)Reporting by Janina Nuno Rios in Mexico CityOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Mbappe, Nasser Al, Khelaifi, Luis Enrique's, Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr, Japan league's, Janina Nuno Rios Organizations: Paris St, Ligue, Mbappe, PSG, Real Madrid, Reuters, Champions League, Bayern Munich, Japan, Osaka, Serie A, Inter Milan, Jeonbuk Motors, Thomson Locations: Paris, Japan, South Korea, Mexico City

☆ Cristiano Ronaldo says Saudi league is better than MLS following Lionel Messi’s move to Inter Miami
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Cristiano Ronaldo has claimed the Saudi Arabian soccer league is better than Major League Soccer (MLS) just a day after long-time rival Lionel Messi completed his move to the US to play for Inter Miami. “The Saudi league is better than MLS,” Ronaldo said following Al Nassr’s 5-0 pre-season friendly defeat to Celta Vigo, Reuters reported. The 38-year-old said last month that any new signings for Saudi clubs would be “very welcome” to join him in the league. Since then, Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante, Kalidou Koulibaly, Edouard Mendy and Roberto Firmino have been among the star names to move to the Saudi Pro League (SPL). Ronaldo also said he would never return to Europe to play soccer as the strength of the leagues are diminishing.

Persons: CNN — Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Messi, Germain, “, ” Ronaldo, Al Nassr’s, Al Nassr, Karim Benzema, N’Golo, Kalidou Koulibaly, Edouard Mendy, Roberto Firmino, Ronaldo, ”, Mike Ehrmann Organizations: CNN, Saudi Arabian, Major League Soccer, Inter Miami, Paris Saint, Saudi, MLS, Celta Vigo, Reuters, Manchester United, Saudi Pro League, ESPN, Premier League, SPL, Al Locations: Saudi, Saudi Arabia, Europe, Al Ittihad

☆ No going back, Ronaldo closes door on return to Europe
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

"I'm 100% sure I won't return to any European club. Ronaldo's long-time rival Messi was also linked with a move to Saudi Arabia before the Argentine World Cup winner completed a transfer to MLS side Inter Miami, signing a deal until 2025. "The Saudi league is better than MLS," Ronaldo said. Several high-profile players have followed Ronaldo to the Saudi league, including Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema from Real Madrid and N'Golo Kante from Chelsea, who both joined champions Al-Ittihad. ($1 = 0.8892 euros)Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru; Peter RutherfordOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Ronaldo, Al Nassr, Al Nassr's, Messi, Ballon, Karim Benzema, N'Golo Kante, Rohith Nair, Peter Rutherford Organizations: Saudi, Major League Soccer, Manchester United, Celta Vigo, ESPN, Premier League, Argentine, MLS, Inter Miami, Real Madrid, Al, Thomson Locations: Europe, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Real, Chelsea, Ittihad, Bengaluru

☆ Messi expects 'great things' at Inter Miami after glitzy unveiling
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Messi, seven months removed from leading Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar, was presented to fans during a glitzy event called 'The Unveil' at Miami's home stadium. "We are going to have a good time and great things are going to happen. The event was being held a day after Inter Miami announced that Messi signed a contract that will keep him with the club through 2025. Messi had also been linked with a return to Barcelona, the Spanish club he helped claim 10 league titles, four Champions League crowns and three Club World Cups. But in early June Messi announced his decision to join Inter Miami in an interview with Mundo Deportivo and Sport newspaper even though a contract had not yet been signed.

Persons: Lionel Messi, Jorge Mas, Jose R, Mas, David Beckham, Marco Bello, Lionel Messi's, Messi, Ballon, I've, Tom Brady, Stephen Curry, Mexico's Cruz, Leo, Beckham, Paris St Germain, Cristiano, Ronaldo, Al Nassr, Frank Pingue, Peter Rutherford Organizations: Soccer Football, Inter Miami CF, New Inter Miami, Lionel Messi's Inter Miami, Major League Soccer, NFL, NBA, Inter Miami, Leagues, Mexico's, Miami, MLS, Eastern Conference, Paris St, Reuters, Al, PSG, Cristiano Ronaldo, League, Mundo Deportivo, Sport, Thomson Locations: Fort Lauderdale , Florida, United States, Argentina, Qatar, Miami, Mexico's Cruz Azul, Mexico, Canada, Saudi Arabian, Hilal, Saudi Arabia, Portugal, Barcelona, Spanish, Toronto

☆ Soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo pumps money into luxury watch resale marketplace Chrono24
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Dominick Reuter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Cristiano Ronaldo has become an investor in Chrono24, the global luxury watch resale marketplace. International soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has become an investor in Chrono24, CEO Tim Stracke told Insider in an exclusive interview. Luxury watch resale prices have declined for more than a year. The investment comes at a rocky time for the luxury watch resale market, which has seen more than a year of price declines following the tightening of interest rates and the implosion of crypto. Stracke says he and Ronaldo both believe in the long-term prospects of the watch resale market.

Persons: Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldo, Tim Stracke, Forbes, Stracke, Chrono24, Bernard Arnault, Al Nassr, – Stracke, Jacob &, Franck Muller Cintree Curvex, Georgina Rodríguez Organizations: Aglae Ventures, Service, International, Manchester United, Portuguese national team, Nike, Rolex, Excel, Rodríguez's Rolex Locations: Chrono24, Wall, Silicon, Saudi, Dubai

☆ Summer transfer window: The biggest moves so far as Saudi Arabia becomes major factor
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —European soccer’s summer transfer window is in full swing, with several household names already moving to pastures new. Karim Benzema – Real Madrid to Al-IttihadIn the first major coup of the summer for the Saudi Pro League, Karim Benzema has agreed to join Al-Ittihad once his contract expires with Real Madrid. After a disappointing season, Real Madrid will be hopeful that Bellingham will be a star midfielder for years to come once the ageing Luka Modric and Toni Kroos depart. The 32-year-old midfielder has signed a contract worth around £86 million ($109.8 million) a year, according to UK media. Rice, who was in the youth ranks at Chelsea and then West Ham, was voted Conference League player of the season.

Persons: Cristiano Ronaldo’s, Al Nassr, Karim Benzema –, Karim Benzema, Ittihad, Benzema, Frenchman, Jude Bellingham, Real Madrid Jude Bellingham, Florencia Tan Jun, Bellingham, Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, N’Golo Kanté, Ittihad N'Golo Kanté, Justin Tallis, Kanté, Christopher Nkunku –, Chelsea Christopher Nkunku, Annegret Hilse, Germain, Chrisopher Nkunku, Nkunku, Todd Boehly, Kai Havertz, Germany's, Maja Hitij, Kai Kavertz, Mikel Arteta, Havertz, Boehly, Declan Rice –, Declan Rice, Richard Heathcote, Rice, West Ham’s, Mateo Kovačić –, Mateo Kovačić, Pep Guardiola’s, İlkay Gündoğan, Bernardo Silva, Alexis Mac Allister, Alex Pantling, Lionel Messi, Mac Allister, Jurgen Klopp, Mac, Roberto Firmino’s, Rúben Neves, Al Hilal Rúben Neves, Naomi Baker, Al Hilal, Neves Organizations: CNN, Super League, CNN Sport, Saudi Pro League, Al, Real Madrid, League, La Liga, Real, Champions League, Borussia Dortmund, Birmingham City, English, Ittihad N'Golo, France, Getty, Benzema, Chelsea, Premier League, FA, Europa League, UEFA Super, Leicester, Leipzig, RB Leipzig, Bundesliga, Reuters, Paris Saint, Arsenal, Ukraine, Gunners, Manchester City, football’s, Europa Conference League, Gent, Manchester United, Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, Manchester, Argentina, Brighton, Liverpool, Anfield, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Wolves, Everton, Molineux, Portugal Locations: England, Saudi Arabia, Europe, Portuguese, Saudi Arabian, Karim Benzema – Real Madrid, Al, Ittihad, Bellingham, Dortmund, Real Madrid, Chelsea, Leicester, Paris, Leipzig, Bremen, Germany, Declan Rice – West Ham, West Ham, Mateo Kovačić – Chelsea, Madrid, Spain, Croatian, Brighton, Argentina, Qatar, Barcelona

☆ Cristiano Ronaldo scores last-minute winner on record-breaking 200th appearance for Portugal
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo scored a last-gasp winner against Iceland on the night he became the first men’s player in history to reach 200 international appearances. The 38-year-old, who made his debut for Portugal in 2003, received a Guinness World Record certificate to mark the occasion prior to kick off. “Also to the Portugal national team, the federation. Cristiano Ronaldo moved to Al Nassr after the World Cup. It was the first time Brazil had conceded four or more goals in a match since that fateful 7-1 defeat to Germany in the semifinals of the 2014 World Cup.

Persons: Cristiano Ronaldo, ” Ronaldo, “, ”, Willumsson, Ronaldo, Gonçalo Inácio, Al Nassr, Yasser Bakhsh, Luis Diaz’s, Juan Cuadrado’s, Hansi Flick, ‘ Flick, Sadio Mané, Habib Diallo’s, Marquinhos, Lucas Paquetá, Germain Organizations: CNN, Portugal, Iceland, Records, Portugal national team, Manchester United, Brazil, Colombia, Germany, Bayern, Senegal, Paris Saint Locations: Iceland, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Colombia, Senegal, Poland, Bayern Munich, Senegal’s, Brazil, Lisbon, Paris

☆ The MLS could be giving Lionel Messi a cut of its mega $2.5 billion broadcast deal with Apple to lure him to America
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Lionel Messi confirmed on Wednesday he would sign for Inter Miami in the MLS. Apple and the MLS signed a 10-year, $2.5 billion deal based on a new soccer streaming package. The day before Messi confirmed his decision to sign with Inter Miami, Apple announced it would air a four-part docuseries about the Argentinian superstar. Inter Miami has only been playing in the MLS since 2020, and was co-founded by David Beckham in 2018. Apple, Inter Miami, and the MLS did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

Persons: Lionel Messi, Messi, Ballon, Cristiano Ronaldo, Al Nassr, Karim Benzema, Messi wasn't, –, Al Hilal's, David Beckham, they've Organizations: Inter Miami, MLS, Athletic, Apple, world's, The Athletic, Inter Miami aren't, Saudi, Mundo Deportivo, Guardian Locations: Florida, Saudi Arabia, Arabia

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