Brazilian forward, Neymar Jr has officially joined Cristiano Ronaldo in the Saudi Pro League after signing a two-year contract with Al-Hilal on Tuesday.
Brazilian forward, Neymar Jr has officially joined Cristiano Ronaldo in the Saudi Pro League after signing a two-year contract with Al-Hilal on Tuesday.
DOHA, Nov 28: Brazil must do without injured star forward Neymar against Switzerland at the World Cup on Monday as Cristiano Ronaldo looks to lead Portugal into the last 16 in Qatar.
DOHA, Nov. 28: The Group H clash between Portugal and Uruguay promises to be the headline act on Day 9 of the 2022 FIFA World Cup on Monday. Here are four things to look out for:
1. Serbia changes against Cameroon
Serbia manager Dragan Stojkovic hinted at major changes to his starting lineup after a 2-0 loss to Brazil in their tournament opener on Thursday.
Dusan Vlahovic, who has been recovering from a groin problem, could start after making a 30-minute cameo against the South American giants while Filip Kostic is also expected to be available after having missed the first game with a thigh injury.
Cameroon, who are seeking their first victory at the World Cup since 2002, are hoping to rebound from a 1-0 loss to Switzerland in their opening encounter. Manager Rigobert Song will be wanting more from Bayern Munich forward Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, who struggled against the Swiss.
2. Ghana to attack against South Korea
Ghana manager Otto Addo utilized a five-man defense in the team's 3-2 loss to Portugal in their opening match. He is likely to opt for a more attacking formation against South Korea as he seeks to keep alive his side's hopes of a place in the knockout stage.
South Korea began their campaign with a goalless draw against Uruguay and will hope Son Heung-min can recapture his best form, having lacked sharpness in his first match back from an eye-socket fracture.
The Asian outfit could be without Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Hwang Hee-chan due to a hamstring injury.
3. Rodrygo eyes start for Brazil against Switzerland
Brazil will be without talismanic forward Neymar and defender Danilo for their Group G clash against Switzerland after both picked up ankle injuries in a 2-0 win over Serbia.
Brazil manager Tite could choose to replace Neymar with Real Madrid's Rodrygo, while Arsenal forward Gabriel Jesus and Manchester United's Antony are other options.
Switzerland will be high on confidence after their 1-0 win over Cameroon, and a victory against Brazil would guarantee them a place in the last 16.
4. Ronaldo, Cavani, Suarez on show in Portugal-Uruguay duel
Portugal showed their attacking qualities as Cristiano Ronaldo, Joao Felix and Rafael Leao fired the European side to a 3-2 win over Ghana in their opener.
Fernando Santos' men are likely to find scoring more difficult against a Uruguay defense that is anchored by experienced pair Diego Godin and Jose Maria Gimenez.
Even so, fans should be salivating at the prospect of seeing Ronaldo, Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani - three of the great forwards of the past decade - lining up in the same match.
Kylian Mbappe netted a sublime Champions League hat-trick for Paris St-Germain to upstage Barcelona's Lionel Messi on his own turf and draw comparisons with Brazilian Ronaldo.
At the age of 22, Mbappe has already won the World Cup with France and his latest showing signalled his capabilities of being the heir to Messi's throne.
A display of ice-cold finishing allowed PSG to take a commanding 4-1 lead into the last-16 second leg at Parc des Princes on 10 March.
"It is clear that he is a great footballer, today he has shown it with this hat-trick," said PSG boss Mauricio Pochettino. "The great players are creating a path and these three goals put him in the media spotlight.
"We had no doubts and we are happy for him, it's normal, there are going to be rumours [about him leaving]. What is clear is that he is happy in Paris and we all want to find the best way."
'The alpha dog in football'
Mbappe had netted just one goal in nine previous knockout games in the competition with PSG but turned that statistic on its head in ruthless fashion.
The night started with Messi opening the scoring from the penalty spot but he was left watching as his superiority slipped away.
Mbappe, whose contract with PSG ends in 2022, danced past fellow Frenchman Clement Lenglet to smash in the equaliser, stroked home from 10 yards for the second and curled in a delightful third.
"You say he's the future, but he is now," former England midfielder Owen Hargreaves said on BT Sport. "PSG have to lock him down real quick. Everyone will find enough money for Mbappe.
"It was a performance like the old Brazilian Ronaldo. You're not signing anyone other than Mbappe at the moment. He ripped the life out of every Barca player. In that form at 22 with a year left on his contract, he is an absolute diamond."
And the numbers make pleasant reading too.
Mbappe became the first player in Champions League history to score a hat-trick against Barcelona in the knockout stages.
He is only the third player to score a Champions League hat-trick against Barcelona, after Faustino Asprilla for Newcastle and Andriy Shevchenko for Dynamo Kiev (both in 1997).
He has now scored 24 Champions League goals. Only Messi, with 25, has scored more before his 23rd birthday.
Of players with 20 or more Champions League goals, Mbappe has netted the highest proportion in away matches (71% - 17/24).
Ex-England midfielder Joe Cole added: "Mbappe is the best player in the world at the moment. His link-up play, his work-rate off the ball - he is the alpha dog in football.
"If you want to build a team you go and get Mbappe. He is the most influential player on the planet. How good can he become? At 22 you compare his stats to the other greats and he has got 10 or 15 years ahead of him.
"Any of the big clubs, he is my number one target."
Antoine Griezmann was left disappointed at full-time but gave his French compatriot the biggest compliment by saying: "Kylian Mbappe had a great night. PSG has a great star for the future, who will be at the level of Leo Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo."
Barcelona 'a shadow of its former self'
The future looks bright for Mbappe and PSG, but Messi and Barcelona are in a dark period.
The Argentine is 33 and his future at the club is far from certain having requested a transfer last summer and coming to the end of his current deal this season.
Manager Ronald Koeman has tried to mend an ageing squad but they look far from their imperious best with the league title looking lost too, eight points adrift of leaders Atletico Madrid who have a game in hand.
The defeat against PSG meant they lost back-to-back home games in the European Cup for the first time in their illustrious history, while they were also defeated by a margin of three or more goals for only the sixth time in the competition.
"We have to admit that they have been superior," said Koeman. "They have shown that they have a more complete team than us. We have to accept it, improve things."
Hargreaves said: "Barca had no power, no togetherness. Messi looks disinterested, it's hard to criticise him but tonight he didn't look emotionally invested in the game.
"You'd have to do your due diligence before signing Messi, whether he is carrying an injury or not feeling well. The 34-year-old Messi, if he plays like that, it will be a gamble."
Barca can look to 2016-17 when they turned around a 4-0 first-leg deficit to stun PSG 6-1 in the second leg, but another turnaround looks almost impossible with no Neymar or Luis Suarez at their disposal any more.
Cole added: "It is not his [Koeman's] fault, I don't think it's his fault at all. It's a thankless task. That was the best team in the world for a long time and it is now a shadow of its former self."
BBC
RIO DE JANEIRO, June 18: With Neymar in fine form and scoring a goal that took him past Ronaldo on the country's all-time goals list, Brazil scored early in the game and then got three more in a commanding second half to defeat Peru 4-0 in their Copa America clash on Thursday.
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