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Cristiano Ronaldo's quest to play in a record sixth World Cup began in spectacular fashion with two goals as Portugal made a winning start to its qualifying campaign by routing Armenia 5-0. Ronaldo's goals extended his record as the highest scorer in men's international football to 140 and underlined his enduring motivation to keep setting benchmarks before his storied career comes to an end. The 40-year-old soccer great has recently signed a new contract with Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr and led Portugal to victory at the UEFA Nations League last summer. The World Cup is the one major trophy that eludes him leaving him behind his great rival Lionel Messi, who lifted soccer's biggest prize with Argentina in 2022. Next year would likely be Ronaldo's last chance to win it when the tournament is staged in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Like him, Messi would also be playing at a sixth World Cup setting the pair apart from any other player, with a host of names having appeared in
Kingsley Coman is leaving Bayern Munich after a trophy-filled decade to join up with Cristiano Ronaldo at Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr. Bayern announced the transfer late Friday. Kicker magazine reported a fee of up to 35 million euros (USD 41 million) for the French winger. Coman, who scored Bayern's winning goal against Paris Saint-Germain in the 2020 Champions League final, will be part of a star-studded forward lineup with Ronaldo, fellow new signing Joo Flix and Coman's former Bayern teammate Sadio Man. Al-Nassr is looking to improve after finishing third in the Saudi Pro League last season and signed Ronaldo to a two-year contract extension in June. Former Barcelona defender Iigo Martnez joined on a free transfer last week. Coman's departure from Bayern comes two weeks after the German champion signed Luis Daz from Liverpool, intensifying Coman's competition for places. He got a fond farewell from Bayern coach Vincent Kompany after they won the Bundesliga together last ...
Joao Felix took his total transfer cost to around $260 million Tuesday when completing his latest move this time to Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr. The Portugal forward has teamed up with compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo, joining from Chelsea for a reported initial fee of 30 million euros ($34.6 million) and signing a two-year contract. I'm here to spread joy. Let's win together, Felix said in a video announcing his arrival, shared on Al Nassr's social media channels. He is the latest star player from Europe to move to Saudi Arabia as part of the kingdom's bid to become a major force in soccer. But his transfer from Club World Cup winner Chelsea is the latest in a long line of moves for a player who holds the record for the fourth most expensive signing in history, but has failed to live up to the expectations placed on him so early in his career. Still only 25, Felix has time to hit the heights he seemed destined for when joining Spanish giant Atletico Madrid from Benfica for $140 milli