4 h. ago Ronaldo and Real Valladolid: with the magic gone, all that’s left is a crisis | Sid Lowe

After his takeover in 2018, the early enthusiasm has long gone, and so mostly has he. Now he wants to get on his bikeAt the end of training on Friday, as Real Valladolid’s players left the annex next to the José Zorrilla stadium and headed off under grey skies, rain preparing to roll in, a surprise waited for them. It was the final session before the weekend their coach said would show what hopes they had, an opportunity not so much to save their season as still have one, and there was he was: the Original Ronaldo, in the flesh. He came to encourage them, he said, going round the dressing room reminding them what it means to be committed, always. “Thank you for accompanying the team before the Valencia game!” the club tweeted, exclamation included. The Brazilian, after all, is one of the greatest footballers ever.He is also their owner and president. But still this was unexpected: they hadn’t seen him for months and didn’t think they would see him now either. He had been in the dire...

Events

5 d. ago Cristiano Ronaldo joining made me want to leave – we grabbed each other's necks in fights

Cristiano Ronaldo and Marcelo had a heated confrontation while on international duty in 2008, with the Brazilian admitting he considered leaving Real Madrid as a result

Politics

9 d. ago Cristiano Ronaldo's controversial claim rubs Ronaldo Nazario up the wrong way

Cristiano Ronaldo has no doubt that he's the greatest footballer of all time, but former Real Madrid and Brazil striker Ronaldo Nazario doesn't agree with the Portugal captain

Politics

9 d. ago Pope Francis now 'resting well' after breathing crisis left him 'inhaling vomit'

The Holy Father took a turn for the worse in hospital yesterday when his airways suddenly tightened causing him to breathe in vomit during a worrying ‘bronchial spasm’

Events

1 week ago Cristiano Ronaldo's 'best ever player' claim shot down as Ronaldo Nazario shares who he considers to be the real G.O.A.T

The Al Nassr frontman recently claimed that he is the most complete player that the game has ever seen

Sport

1 week ago Todd Boehly explains Chelsea decision not to sign striker after Victor Osimhen interest

Blues have been left short in attack amid injury crisis

Events

1 week ago Cristiano Ronaldo showed his true colours with Gareth Bale comments

Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale were both Real Madrid players for five years and won plenty of trophies together, but there were always rumours of a rift between the two

Politics

1 week ago Gareth Bale made 'no regrets' admission after Cristiano Ronaldo showed his true colours

Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale enjoyed incredible success together at Real Madrid, yet their relationship on and off the pitch was always the source of much speculation

Events

1 week ago Cristiano Ronaldo's comments on Gareth Bale summed him up before 'no regrets' admission

Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale enjoyed astonishing levels of success together at Real Madrid, yet their relationship was always the source of much speculation

Events

2 w. ago Another ceasefire is under threat from Trump – the precarious deal between Lebanon and Israel | Mohamad Bazzi

Israel, seemingly with the US president’s blessing, has kept troops inside Lebanon. Renewed conflict with Hezbollah is loomingAs global attention remains focused on the hostage-prisoner swaps between Hamas and Israel, another ceasefire in the region hangs in the balance.The 14-month war between Israel and Hezbollah, a Shia Muslim militia which has been the most dominant political faction in Lebanon for the past two decades, was paused by a US-brokered ceasefire in late November. The agreement also paved the way to end years of political deadlock in Beirut. Lebanon has formed a new government, and finally has leaders chosen for their promises to carry out reforms, rather than their sectarian affiliations – but the future of the ceasefire deal has left them facing an immediate crisis.Mohamad Bazzi is director of the Hagop Kevorkian Center for Near Eastern Studies, and a journalism professor at New York University Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago ITV viewers fight tears as This Morning airs 'distressing' care home footage

This Morning viewers were left emotional during Thursday's care home crisis segment.

Society

2 w. ago Casemiro picks between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi with honest eight

Casemiro has played alongside Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid and Manchester United and has now given his verdict on the debate between him and Lionel Messi

Politics

2 w. ago Europe at war over Starmer's Ukraine peace plan: Germany's Scholz storms out of crisis summit and slams UK's 'completely premature' troops pledge

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz left a crisis summit in Paris between European leaders early and a 'little irritated' labelling the premier's calls as 'highly inappropriate'.

Events

3 w. ago While all attention was on Bellingham, Osasuna’s greatest striker made history | Sid Lowe

Ante Budimir’s career has taken him on a long and winding road. But now he is in the record books at OsasunaMari Carmen was 78 and late. It was a January morning in Pamplona, cold and wet, and the taxi that was supposed to take her to hospital hadn’t turned up. Standing in the street watching time and traffic pass but no cabs, she was getting a bit worried when she saw a young man she thought she recognised. She, after all, is an Osasuna supporter and he is their striker. Although, like her, he wasn’t having the best of times back then; he was halfway through the season, well into the winter, and had scored just once, when she approached. “Excuse me,” Mari Carmen said. “Are you Ante Budimir? Could you do me a favour? Could you take me to the hospital?”So he did, and there was the selfie to prove it. Mari Carmen knew her family would never believe her but, originally from tiny Carcastillo 50 miles south, recently widowed and having moved to the capital for health reasons, a tumour re...

Events