Baník Lehota p.Vtáčnikom · 3. liga - East · Defender · #0 · Brazil · 24 yrs
Portland Timbers head coach Phil Neville spoke about Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of Sunday’s matchup against Inter Miami. Inter Miami will play their second-to-last match before the Major League Soccer season pauses for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Sunday, when they host the Portland Timbers at Nu Stadium. Head coach Phil Neville spoke about Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of the game. “I was lucky enough to play with one of the greatest in Cristiano, and on Sunday I’ll be out to coach against one of the greatest, which is an honor,” Neville said during Friday’s press conference in Miami, shared by reporter Jose Armando on X. The former English defender played alongside Ronaldo between 2003 and 2005 during his final seasons at Manchester United, when the Portuguese forward had just arrived from Sporting CP as a teenager. Together, they won the 2003-04 FA Cup under Sir Alex Ferguson. Neville later praised Messi’s commitment since arriving at Inter Miami and explained how it has positively impacted MLS. “I love, and I loved it with the other stars here like Sergio Busquets and Alba, that when they score, they celebrate. They’re not here for a holiday. They’re not here just to pick up whatever money they’re earning. They’re here to win,” the Portland coach said. Phil Neville sobre Lionel Messi y las figuras de Inter Miami:"Están aquí para ganar y no vienen por dinero; hemos tenido jugadores que vienen a esta liga por una pensión"#InterMiamiCF #Messi pic.twitter.com/RQXiaBFewm— José Armando (@Jarm21) May 15, 2026 “There was a game, I think it was in Orlando, they were maybe 2-0 down, and the greatest player in the world is arguing with maybe the goalkeeping coach from Orlando on the bench,” Neville recalled. “That, for me, inspires the whole league. What them guys are doing shows their hunger, their desire to be the absolute greatest every single day.” Phil Neville reflects on his time at Inter Miami When Lionel Messi agreed to join Inter Miami in the summer of 2023, the club had decided to hire Gerardo Martino just one week earlier. The Argentine coach arrived as the replacement for Phil Neville, who had held the position since January 2021. Asked whether he regrets not having the opportunity to coach Messi at Inter Miami, Neville was completely honest: “I had incredible relationships with the owners, so it didn’t just happen in seven days. At the start of the season, I was under no illusions that probably, if he came in, I wouldn’t be here. And that’s totally fine.” Phil Neville estaba al tanto de que podía salir del club si Lionel Messi llegaba a fichar con Inter Miami:"Uno de los dueños del equipo es mi mejor amigo y no nos guardamos secretos"#InterMiamiCF #Messi pic.twitter.com/T4eTmzQ94m— José Armando (@Jarm21) May 15, 2026 The coach then discussed his relationship with David Beckham, his former Manchester United teammate and an Inter Miami executive: “One of the best friends of my life is the owner of the football club, so it’s not as if we kept secrets from each other during that period.” Inter Miami searching for first home victory Despite enjoying a strong 2026 MLS season and currently sitting second in the Eastern Conference standings, Inter Miami still have unfinished business: earning their first win at their new home. Since the official opening of Nu Stadium in early April, the Herons have played four matches there, recording three draws and one loss. On Sunday, they will look to end that streak against the Portland Timbers. If they fail to do so, they will have another opportunity seven days later when they host the Philadelphia Union in their final match before the break.
With Karim Benzema's Al-Hilal hosting NEOM at the Kingdom Arena, the outcome of that match could dramatically shape what happens on the final weekend of the campaign. Cristiano Ronaldo and Al-Nassr are now just one step away from lifting the 2025-26 Saudi Pro League title, but the championship race still carries a final twist before the season reaches its conclusion. With Karim Benzema‘s Al-Hilal hosting NEOM at the Kingdom Arena, the outcome of that match could dramatically shape what happens on the final weekend of the campaign. The title race looked almost over after Al-Nassr’s dramatic Riyadh derby against Al-Hilal earlier in the week. However, a late equalizer kept the defending challenger alive in the race and ensured the championship battle would continue into Matchday 33. Al-Nassr currently sits at the top of the table with 83 points from 33 matches, while Al-Hilal remains second with 78 points from 32 games. Simone Inzaghi’s side still has two matches left to play, beginning with Saturday’s home encounter against NEOM before a final-day trip to Al-Fayha. Meanwhile, Al-Nassr has only one remaining league fixture, a home meeting with Damac on Matchday 34. The Blue Waves’ campaign has been extraordinary despite trailing in the title race. The club remains unbeaten in the Saudi Pro League, recording 23 wins and nine draws through 32 matches while scoring 82 goals and conceding just 27. The dramatic 1-1 draw against Ronaldo’s side extended the club’s unbeaten league streak and kept faint hopes alive. Saudi Pro League 2025/26*Latest Table Standing#SaudiProLeague pic.twitter.com/1g6cvlRk8k— roslisyed (@roslisyed1) May 14, 2026 Had Al-Nassr held on for victory in that derby, the title would already have been mathematically secured. Instead, Al-Hilal now enters Matchday 33 knowing that only a victory against NEOM can keep pressure on the leader. What happens if Al-Hilal wins? A victory is the only result that keeps the championship race alive. If Al-Hilal defeats NEOM, it would climb to 81 points, cutting Al-Nassr’s lead to just two points ahead of the final weekend. That would send the title race into Matchday 34 and place huge pressure on Ronaldo’s side before facing Damac. Ruben Neves looks on following the Saudi Pro League match between Al Nassr and Al Hilal. In that scenario, Al-Hilal would still need help. The club would have to beat Al-Fayha in its final game while also hoping Al-Nassr fails to win against Damac. The pressure would become enormous because one slip from its city rival could completely change the destination of the trophy at the last possible moment. What happens if the match ends in a draw? A draw would be enough to hand the title to Al-Nassr. Should Al-Hilal collect only one point, it would move to 79 points with one game remaining. Even a victory against Al-Fayha on the final day would only take the team to 82 points, still below Al-Nassr’s current tally of 83 points. That means a draw at Kingdom Arena would mathematically eliminate Al-Hilal from the title race. Ronaldo and Al-Nassr would then celebrate the championship before kicking a ball against Damac. Jorge Jesus, Head Coach of Al Nassr reacts For Al-Hilal, such a result would be especially painful considering the club’s unbeaten season. Going through an entire league campaign without defeat and still failing to win the title would be a cruel ending. What happens if Al-Hilal loses? This is the simplest scenario in the title race. If Al-Hilal loses at home to NEOM, the club would remain on 78 points with only one match left to play. That would leave Simone Inzaghi and his players unable to catch Al-Nassr’s current total of 83 points. Cristiano Ronaldo of team Al Nassr In that case, Al-Nassr would officially be crowned Saudi Pro League champions before even facing Damac on the final matchday. Ronaldo’s side would secure the trophy without needing another result. Such an outcome would complete a remarkable campaign for Al-Nassr, which has spent much
Al-Nassr were made to wait to clinch the Saudi Pro League title as Bento’s own goal eight minutes into second-half stoppage time saw Al-Hilal escape Al-Awwal Park with a 1-1 draw. Al-Nassr knew a victory against their closest rivals would give them an unassailable eight-point lead and secure their first title in the Cristiano Ronaldo […] The post Al-Nassr 1-1 Al-Hilal: Calamitous Bento error keeps Saudi Pro League title race alive appeared first on Soccer News.
Casemiro weighed in on the comparison between Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Neymar. There is no doubt that Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have been the biggest stars in soccer over the past two decades. In that same group, however, there could have been a third member: Neymar. Still, Brazil teammate Casemiro spoke about the reason why that never fully happened. “For me, from my generation, the best were Cristiano, Messi, and Neymar,” Casemiro began during a conversation on the YouTube channel of former Manchester United player Rio Ferdinand. “Neymar is maybe a little below them because he didn’t win many titles.” That argument has some merit. At the collective level, the Brazilian forward has enjoyed an extremely successful career, winning 31 trophies with Santos, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Al Hilal, and the Brazil national team. That puts him reasonably close to Messi’s 47 titles — the most by any player in soccer history — and Ronaldo’s 35. However, it is in the individual honors where the comparison becomes difficult to sustain. While Messi has won eight Ballon d’Or awards and three FIFA The Best honors, Cristiano has claimed two FIFA awards and five Ballon d’Or trophies. Neymar, meanwhile, has never won a world player of the year award, with his best finish being third place. Beyond those numbers, Casemiro made it clear that his admiration for Neymar remains enormous, rooted in the talent the forward displayed on the field. “He was… In training sessions, in games… every touch of the ball was ‘wow,’” said the Brazil player. “But Cristiano and Messi were from another planet.” Casemiro proposes a new role for Neymar with Brazil The conversation with Rio Ferdinand came amid ongoing debate over whether Neymar should be included in the 26-man roster that will represent Brazil at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Casemiro shared his opinion on the matter, suggesting the forward should have a reduced role. “If it were my decision, I would take Neymar to the World Cup, but I would tell him he wouldn’t play every game,” the midfielder explained. “Bring him on when the match is under control and he can give us an assist that changes the game. We don’t have players like that right now, but the decision belongs to Ancelotti.” Neymar reportedly on Brazil’s preliminary squad Speculation surrounding Neymar is expected to continue for several more weeks, as reports from Globo Esporte and Lance! indicate that Carlo Ancelotti included Neymar among the 55 players on Brazil’s preliminary roster. Still, that does not guarantee his place at the 2026 World Cup in North America. In the near future — no later than June 1 — the coach will have to make the final cut and determine the 26-man roster. There, Ney will compete for a place in a race where he does not have the advantage, having not been part of any previous call-up under Ancelotti. In addition to Neymar’s inclusion, the preliminary list features another major storyline: the absence of Estevao. The young Chelsea winger was left out of the World Cup because of a serious muscle injury suffered in England weeks ago, joining a growing list of Brazilian stars ruled out, including Rodrygo Goes and Eder Militao.
It's crazy that Ronaldo only won two La Liga titles in nine years. The post Lamine Yamal & 5 more players we can’t believe have won more La Liga titles than Cristiano Ronaldo appeared first on Planet Football.
