Ronaldo tells Balotelli to focus on his game not his jibes

Cristiano Ronaldo yesterday told outspoken Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli to focus on his game, not cheap jibes.

Balotelli had claimed Wayne Rooney was 'not the best striker in Manchester' and said City had a better forward line than Barcelona or Real Madrid.

'Mario is a good player, but he has to talk less and play more,' said Real's Ronaldo.

Shut up! Cristiano Ronaldo warned Mario Balotelli his off-field chatter will not help him fulfil his potential, after the Italian's latest blast about Wayne Rooney

'He puts too many other things in front of his profession.'

I'll head back to Milan in two years! Balotelli stuns City with fresh pleaJohnson confident Manchester United will slip up to hand Citizens a trophyThoughts of Super Mario: Rooney's not even the best in Manchester!Man City 4 Leicester 2: Mancini's revolution on target for FA Cup glory

Cristiano Ronaldo on Changing Diapers: It's Not the Best

Some sides of parenting aren't so sweet.

So says soccer stud Cristiano Ronaldo, 25, who opened up to Spanish sports daily Marca for the first time about six-month-old son Cristiano Jr.

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"Of course I change the nappies," he says of the tot, whose mother has never been identified. "It's not the thing I like best in the world, but I do it."

The athlete -- who also says that he may wed his girlfriend, Russian underwear model Irina Shayk, 24, "one day" -- adds that he's already looking ahead to his boy's future.

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"I would love him to like football for him to be my successor, but we'll see what happens," says the Real Madrid star, who signed a $132 million contract with the team in 2009. "My son will be whatever he wants."

But Ronaldo, who's raising the tot with the help of his mom and two sisters, says he's already shown a love for the sport.

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"My son goes to sleep early, but my mother told me the other day, while we were playing, he was crying without stopping and didn't want to sleep until I scored a goal," he tells the mag. "I scored and five minutes later he was asleep."

Barcelona defender Pique can read Real Madrid ace Ronaldo like a book

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique says he knows how to read Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo.

The pair are former Manchester United teammates.

Pique said: “Now that he is at Real Madrid, I know all of his tricks, because he was my rival every day in practice. However, this does not guarantee anything, because I know that he is a very complete player.

“They say that he is arrogant, but I remember him being friendly and fun. Yes, it is difficult for him to resist the mirror, but he is a good guy.”

Cristiano Ronaldo ready to rule the world

THE GAME IN SPAIN Having duped us into playing the 2022 World Cup in the middle of the desert in the middle of the football season, FIFA believe nothing is beyond them now.

Maybe that's why one of their bright sparks suggested that Cristiano Ronaldo present Leo Messi with his world player of the year award this week.

France Football wanted Johan Cruyff to make the presentation but having hijacked the prize, FIFA run the show and they wanted glamour.

In the shadows: Cristiano Ronaldo arrives on the red carpet for the Ballon d'Or gala.

Game in Spain: Mourinho reveals new striker is not on the menu at Madrid06/01/11 Pete Jenson's XI for 2011: From Jose to Cesc, La Liga's headline acts...30/12/10 Pete Jenson: Christmas with Mourinho and Valdano... Madrid's odd couple23/12/10 Game in Spain: Qatar sticks in the throat - but Barca have stolen a march16/12/10 Pete Jenson: Barca's golden generation leave Real men in the shade09/12/10 Pete Jenson: Jose can hardly wait to see Pep leave Barcelona02/12/10 Pete Jenson: Ronaldo savours his net gains but Barca is the ultimate goal25/11/10 Pete Jenson: Villarreal are back to stop La Liga looking like the SPL11/11/10 VIEW FULL ARCHIVEDavid Beckham was considered and finally overlooked, and then it was proposed that there would be no better way to celebrate the first 'FIFA Ballon d'Or than having the two most famous players on the planet together on the stage at the moment of the presentation.

Ronaldo arrived late on Monday in the delayed Madrid convey that also conveniently got Jose Mourinho out of what would have been an uncomfortable press conference with three Barcelona players and their coach.

When Ronaldo did finally make it to Zurich headquarters, fearing he would tell them where to put the 7.4kg of solid gold, FIFA had decided not to ask him and instead allowed Pep Guardiola to present his own player with the accolade.

Ronaldo does not want to give Messi the Golden Ball, he wants to take it from him.

Out-mesmerising the Golden Flea might be difficult but obliterating La Liga's goalscoring records is well within his reach.

If he continues scoring at his current rate he will finish this season with 47 goals. That will smash the existing record of 38 for one season in Spain jointly held by Real Madrid's Hugo Sanchez and Athletic Bilbao's Telmo Zarra.

It would probably see him take the Golden Boot for Europe's top domestic scorer, where on 22 goals he currently has a four goal advantage over Messi. And most importantly it would also put him back on the shortlist for the Golden Ball.

Receiving it, not opening the envelope and handing it over to someone else.

Arsenal fans would question a couple of the names on the list but, according to Jose Mourinho, the Gunners have five centre forwards and Real Madrid only have one.

'I was watching Arsenal the other day,' said Mourinho. 'They have Van Persie, Chamakh, Bendtner, Arshavin and one more I can't remember (presumably Theo Walcott) and we only have Karim Benzema.'

Having told him that he could not have a new striker last week, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has since changed his mind and it could even be a former Arsenal man Emmanuel Adebayor who is brought in.

Having operated on Gonzalo Higuain's slipped disc on Tuesday,doctor Richard Fessler confirmed that the player would be out for four months.

That was just as Mourinho (a veteran of John Terry's slow recovery from the same problem) had told the club's medical staff weeks ago.

Consolation: Lionel Messi tries to joke with Jose Mourinho at the awards in Zurich

Adebayor scores points because he can play in the Champions League and he would come on loan allowing Real to send him back in the summer and sign somebody else.

There is only one problem for City keen to offload those £160,000-a-week wages. Real have also sounded out Bayern Munich's Miroslav Klose.

The 32-year-old's contract runs out at the end of the season and although he is Champions-League cup-tied his signing represents less of a risk to dressing room harmony.

The veteran of 55 goals in 103 games for Germany is being seen, at least by Madrid president Perez, as a less volatile option off the pitch and a more dependable one on it.

The Togo striker's one goal so far this season is not helping his case, although he did score perhaps his best goal on Spanish soil two years ago...

Peace broke out in Zurich on Monday when Pep Guardiola sat next to Jose Mourinho at the Ballon d'Or gala and congratulated him - not just on being voted top coach, but on receiving the heartfelt and very public praise from former player Wesley Sneijder.

The Inter midfield was asked about his year as he lined-up on stage in FIFA's team of 2010 and paid tribute to Mourinho who he described as the 'best coach in the world'.

Mourinho choked, Guardiola told him the public display of gratitude was 'worth more than any award', and the two went for canap?together afterwards.

Awesome trio: Andres Iniesta, Messi and Xavi pose ahead of their romp against Betis

Disturbing the peace were the Madrid-based Spanish press, who were outraged that an Argentine had 'stolen' the prize from their World Cup-winning pair Xavi and Andres Iniesta.

There was a thinly-disguised hope that the midfielders might now stop talking to, or even better, passing to, their team-mate.

Cue disappointment when Iniesta flipped a delightful ball over the top of the Betis defence 44 minutes into Wednesday's Cup Quarter-final which landed straight at the feet of Messi, who scored the first goal of his hat-trick in Barca's eighth victory by five goals or more this season.

Messi scoops world player of the year award after heroics with BarcelonaUnited to take on Messi and co in USA as Barca reveal 2011 pre-season plans

Explore more:People: John Terry, David Beckham, Wesley Sneijder, Theo Walcott, Jose Mourinho, Florentino Perez, Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Andres Iniesta, Leo Messi, Johan Cruyff, Emmanuel Adebayor, Pep Guardiola Places: Barcelona, Madrid, Germany, Spain, Europe

Agent Jorge Mendes: Cristiano Ronaldo Is The Best Player In The History Of Football

Football agent Jorge Mendes brands client Cristiano Ronaldo the best player of all time.

Football agent Jorge Mendes has claimed that Cristiano Ronaldo is “the greatest player in the history of football”.

In an interview with publication Expresso, Mendes looked back across his career brokering transfer deals, including the switch that took the Portuguese international from Manchester United to Real Madrid in 2009.

The representative, who also has coach Jose Mourinho among his list of clients, believes that Ronaldo’s attributes make him better than the likes of Pele, Diego Maradona, and current rival Lionel Messi.

He remarked: “I think that it is thanks to his speed, his great technique and his power in the air. People will agree with me over time.

“Messi is a great player, I have no doubt. But the strength of will, character and quality distinguish him. He has now been joined by the best coach of all time, too.”

Mendes also offered further praise for Mourinho in the interview, adding: “He is a genius who has everything. In 500 years, we will see no one like him."

Real Madrid star Ronaldo unimpressed by Ballon d’Or snub for Casillas

Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo was left bewildered by the nomination process of this year's FIFA Ballon d'Or.

Ronaldo can't believe Real teammate and Spain captain Iker Casillas was not among the final nominees.

"Casillas is a field player and has the same value as the others," said the former Manchester United star. "I am of the opinion that Iker should be among the three nominees this year.

"He won the World Cup, has done great things ..."

The controversial gong went to Barcelona star Lionel Messi on Monday night.

Messi award ‘an injustice’

Spanish media show unanimity in recognising that Messi is the best player in the world, but suggest that this is not necessarily what prevails the voting criteria for the Ballon D’Or and that Spain have been denied the recognition they deserve.

One newspaper suggested a discrepancy in the way voters elected Messi the 2010 winner and says that votes for Player of the Year appeared based on goal tally while manager was on achievement:

“Messi has been rewarded for a season in which he helped Barca win the league but was mediocre at the World Cup — a tournament that has been pivotal in raising the profile and rewarding the all-round achievements of Ronaldo or Cannavaro. This trend then suggests maybe Iniesta should have won — he did well in South Africa after an average season.

“Xavi, however, warrants merit in both season and World Cup not to mention the fact he has won every title possible and is Barca’s most capped player. This holds little premium against the power of the goal. Take goals away from Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo and their balance of titles is weak compared to Xavi, Iniesta, Casillas or Sneijder.

“If Mourinho is rewarded but Sneijder is not — something is not right.”

Another paper said Xavi and Iniesta’s snub represents yet another slap in the face for Spanish football from Fifa: “Fifa awarding Lionel Messi the Ballon D’Or award — a player absent in the two biggest events of the year — is a slap in the face for Spanish football. Inter won the Champions League and Spain the World Cup.

“One cannot doubt the talents of the Argentina forward, but 2010 was Spain's year. What did Messi achieve in South Africa? Nothing. What did Xavi and Iniesta achieve? They took Spain to their first World Cup final. If Fabio Cannavaro won it in 2006 why leave us without the award now?

“In a decade that has seen Real and Barca win the Champions League and Spain win the European Championships and World Cup we are still without the Player of the Year award. What an injustice.”

The paper also point out — somewhat uselessly — that had Fifa not abandoned the old voting system — Wesley Sneijder would have been named Player of the Year — which dampens their claims that Spain have been unfairly overlooked.

“Under the old system, that prevailed until last year, Sneijder would have won, Iniesta would have stayed second by just two points, third place would have gone to Xavi while Messi was fourth. “The Dutchman has been the first casualty of the merger of the Golden Ball trophy and Fifa World Player.

“(Blatter) had the chance to once again show his ill-will toward everything Spanish. Only a few days ago he left us without the chance to organise the World Cup by instead opting for Russia and yesterday he left us without a prize that Spanish football deserved.”

Poll Results: Real Madrid Ace Cristiano Ronaldo Voted 2010-11 La Liga Player Of The Season So Far

Messi was only a few votes behind...




Real Madrid attacker Cristiano Ronaldo has been voted as 2010-11 La Liga Player of the Season so far.

The vote that ran for the best part of three days was predictably dominated by CR7 and his close rival, Barcelona's Lionel Messi.

It was the Argentine's Blaugrana team-mate Andres Iniesta who came in third with a total of 263 votes. With Ronaldo taking the cake, Messi finished second with a staggering 5427 votes, but it wasn't enough to overtake the Portuguese, who amassed 5501 out of a total of 11,687 votes. Espanyol defender Juan Forlin finished bottom of the poll, picking up just 10 votes.

The full results and the breakdown in percentages can be viewed below.

Congratulations to Cristiano Ronaldo!

Barcelona legend Cruyff: Real Madrid attacker Ronaldo so much slower than Messi

Barcelona legend Johan Cruyff says Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo is not in the same class as Lionel Messi.

Cruyff believes Ronaldo is much slower in his play than the Argentine.

"The first one (Ronaldo) takes two touches in a second. But, Messi, at the same time, has touched the ball three times. His play, his change of pace, position, are naturally faster.

"For the other (Ronaldo) this is impossible.

"It's not a question of better or worse, it is a matter of size.

"Cristiano Ronaldo is capable of doing many interesting things with his power, but lacks the variety of Messi, who can weigh in at anytime."

Lionel Messi - Cristiano Ronaldo Head To Head: CR7 Races Ahead In Scoring Charts As Leo Is Rested

In a new weekly series, Goal.com will be compiling the statistical data, expert analysis, and progressive season records on the two best players in the world, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Goal.com unveils the poll results to determine the most memorable moments of 2010 for Messi and Ronaldo.

How They Played This Week

Who came out on top in the recent round of La Liga action?

Lionel Messi - Rested


Messi was given a rest by coach Pep Guardiola in Barcelona's 2-1 win over Levante. The Argentine, who watched the match from the Camp Nou stands, was granted extra days off following his return from his homeland during the Christmas break.

Cristiano Ronaldo (Getafe 2-3 Real Madrid)

Ronaldo took advantage of Messi's match absence to race ahead in the Pichichi race after bagging two more goals.

He opened the scoring from the spot, converting his 11th minute penalty to given Madrid the lead with a powerful shot. He netted his second just before the hour mark with the scores finely balanced at 2-1 in favour of Los Blancos when he got to the end of a Karim Benzema through ball to toe-poke his shot past Jordi Codina.

In the closing stages of the game, Ronaldo created several goalscoring chances for his team-mates, namely Benzema, Kaka and Mesut Oezil.

Goal.com Player Ratings Comment: Smashed home the opening penalty. Scored an easy second. Won his battle with Miguel Torres, though he went missing during the latter part of the first half.



Individual Match Stats

Lionel Messi
(Rested)
Cristiano Ronaldo
(vs Getafe)
Goals N/A 2
Shots (On Target) N/A 8 (3)
Assists N/A 0
Passes (Completed)N/A 36 (26)
Balls Lost N/A 10
Balls Recovered N/A 2
Fouls Suffered N/A 3
Goal.com Rating N/A 7.5

Real Madrid ace Ronaldo hits double in victory over Getafe

Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo kicked off 2011 with a brace in victory over Getafe last night.

Ronaldo, who took his tally to 25 goals for the season with his hat-trick in Madrid's 8-0 Copa del Rey win over Levante just before Christmas, opened the scoring from the penalty spot early on before Mesut Ozil doubled the advantage soon after.

Dani Parejo pulled a goal back for Getafe with a brilliant strike in the 29th minute but Ronaldo restored Madrid's two-goal lead just before the hour-mark.

Madrid faced a nervy end to the match after first being reduced to 10 men when Alvaro Arbeloa picked up a second booking before then seeing Juan Albin pull another goal back for Getafe.

But Jose Mourinho's men held on to make it 11 wins in their last 12 competitive matches, with the only setback being their 5-0 mauling at the hands of Barcelona.

Kaka entered the fray late on in his first appearance for Real this season.

Mother of Ronaldo's baby 'wants to see son'

The mother of Cristiano ­Ronaldo's son apparently wants to go back on a deal that gave him full custody of the child.

The anonymous woman is a British student who now wants to return her reported £10m payoff in exchange for contact with the boy, reports the Sunday Mirror.

A source said: "She's often calling him late at night. She cried down the phone to him and pleads with him. He shouldn't even be in contact with her, but they have got into a twisted sort of routine.

"She even calls him after matches to congratulate him on how he played, hoping that one day she can appeal to his better nature, but he simply leads her on and teases her about Cristiano Jr."

The woman has apparently signed a watertight contract which forbids her from telling anyone, including family members, that she is the child's mother.

"She feels like she has sold her soul," the source added. "She has this millionaire lifestyle, but can never tell her friends and family the truth about what has happened - and that makes her incredibly lonely."