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‘Idol’ Ronaldinho was better than Messi and Ronaldo, says Willian Willian pointed out
Messi is better than Maradona: Rooney
that the period from 2003 to 2005, when Ronaldinho won the Champions League, Spanish League and Spanish Super Cup
SAN MARINO: England football team captain Wayne Rooney believes that current Argentina skipper Lionel Messi is a better player than the legendary Diego Maradona. “Up to a couple of years ago, people were saying Messi wasn’t Maradona because he hadn’t won the World Cup.
In my mind, Messi is a better player than Maradona. But that’s how football is,” Rooney was quoted as saying by goal. com on Friday. Rooney said he can become an England legend like Sir Bobby Charlton, but knows it will take a World Cup win for that to happen.
The Manchester United star has not given up hope of leading England to glory at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. “It’s about trophies you win. As a team, that’s how you’re judged. Sir Bobby did that. Hopefully there’s still time for me to be successful like that,” Rooney said. - IANS
with FC Barcelona, were his peak years when he displayed better skills than Messi and Ronaldo
LONDON: Who is a better player, Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo? That is an unending debate within the football world. But Chelsea midfielder Willian feels that former Brazilian forward Ronaldinho was a better player. Willian, who idolises Ronaldinho, pointed out that the period from 2003 to 2005, when Ronaldinho won the Champions League,
Spanish League and Spanish Super Cup with FC Barcelona, were his peak years when he displayed better skills than Messi and Ronaldo. “Ronaldinho is the biggest idol in football for me. I like him a lot. I’ve met him, but I never got to say that he is my idol. “In my opinion, I think that Ronaldinho, at that time (between 2003 and 2005), was bigger than Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo,” the winger was quoted as saying by goal.com. “Of course, Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi make a lot of goals, but what Ronaldinho used to do was unbelievable. He used to be amazing on the field, and also scored a lot of goals. As his fan, I think he
stopped (playing at the top level) a little early,” he added. “If he continued to play he would certainly be three, four, five times in a row the best player in the world. He was two times (the best player in the world), and then I don’t know what happened, but if he wanted to continue that way, he would certainly be five times in a row the best in the world.” Willian went on to state that Messi — the superstar in the current Barcelona squad — is a better player than Ronaldo. The 27-year-old also heaped praise on Chelsea teammate Eden Hazard and asserted that the Belgian has the ability to be the best player in the world in the future.
He also felt that fellow Brazilian Neymar will also be in contention for the Ballon d’Or award. “They are players of great quality. Although they have different styles, in my opinion. Both are very skilled and have a lot of quality, but I think their styles are a little different. But I would choose both of them in a game to play in my team, for sure,” Willian said. “I think so (Hazard and Neymar can win the Ballon d’Or). They are two great players. I think it depends on them, but they have great potential to reach that level. So I think if they continue to develop, continue to grow, certainly they will have everything to achieve this award.” - IANS
A BETTER PLAYER! Lionel Messi
CRICKET
Pakistan pacer Asif targeting return during England tour LAHORE: Free to represent his country in international cricket post his five-year ban for fixing in 2010, Pakistan fast bowler Mohammed Asif said he is targeting a return to the national side in his country’s tour of England next year. The bowler was considered his country’s premier pacer but deliberately no-balled and was involved in fixing against England in a Test match at Lord’s in 2010. Asif was later found guilty of working with his then captain Salman Butt and young bowler Mohammad Amir to fix certain parts of the match. “The door has been opened for
me and it’s down to me to perform. Realistically, though, my target for a return to international cricket is the series in England next year and that is a target I have set myself,” Asif was quoted as saying by telegraph.co.uk on Friday. The 32-year-old bowler said he is totally fit presently and has started training at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore. “My fitness is fine and I weigh exactly what I did five years ago before I was banned. Mentally I am ready for a return to cricket but I have to be realistic and take things one step at a time. I’ve now started training at the National Cricket
The 32-year-old bowler said he is totally fit presently and has started training at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore
Academy in Lahore which will be a great help,” he said. Over the past five years Asif vanished from Pakistani public life, opting to stay in Norway and play among the expat community their
so as not to violate his five-year ban imposed by the International Cricket Council (ICC). “During the last two years I’ve spent a lot of time in Norway with friends, playing a lot of cricket
there. I have some good friends out in Norway and they invited me there to play some club cricket and to train with them,” he said. The bowler said he and then captain Butt shared the same cell in prison at the start. “Salman shared a cell with me for the first couple of months of our sentence before we moved cells and yes that was a help.” “It was a daunting time and I had no idea what to expect, so yes having a familiar face with me was probably a help. We supported each other in prison especially during the time we shared a cell,” he said.
Asif has promised to act as a counsellor for young cricketers warning the next generation not to repeat his errors. “That was a huge mistake and yes it’s a huge regret. It’s a mistake that I want to warn the next generation of cricketers about and to ensure they learn from me and to make sure they don’t make the same mistakes that I made,” he said. “I will speak with those young players face to face if the ICC and Pakistan Cricket Board want me to and lecture them about what I have faced in these last five years and warn them of the consequences,” Asif concluded. - IANS
R O TA X E U R O C H A L L E N G E
Oman karting racers hope to do well despite technical snags in Belgium MUSCAT: The Oman karting racers were hit by technical problems both during free practice as well as the official qualifying sessions of the fourth round of the Rotax Euro Challenge in Genk, Belgium on Saturday. Around 100 top talents of the world taking part in the races, where Oman are represented by Al Rawahi brohers Sanad and Abdullah, and Khalid Al Wahaibi, the latter featuring in the junior category. Despite the technical problems, which badly hit their performances, the trio are hoping to do well on the final day of the races at Genk track on Sunday. After the heats, Sanad Al Rawahi is in 17th position in the DD2 category and that ranking is enough for the Omani racer to find a place in Sunday’s prefinal. Sanad Al Rawahi and Khalid Al Wahaibi, on the otherhand, will be competing in the Second Chance Heat on Sunday. Sanad, taking part in the Senior
Abdullah Al Rawahi
Sanad Al Rawahi
Khalid Al Wahaibi
category, was ranked 39th after the heats, far below the 1 to 28 ranks required to make it directly to the prefinal. And it was the same case with Khalid Al Wahabi in the the Junior category where he finished in the 31st place after the heats.
Both Sanad and Abdullah expressed their disappointment in not doing well in the practice and qualifying rounds. Describing the track as a difficult one, Abdullah said: “It was a good outing but we are disapointed with the end result. But we
have benefited from the practice sessions and qualifying races.” “Participation in this champinships in itself is an achievement for the team and myself. We have gained a lot of experience competing with the best from across the world,” his sibling added.