Eto'o: Messi Is Better Than Ronaldo

As the best player in the world debate rages, Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o has thrown his weight behind Lionel Messi's claim to the mantle. The Cameroonian believes that Messi is 'above everybody' in terms of ability, including Cristiano Ronaldo...

As the race for the Ballon d’Or heats up, influential players as well as coaches are starting to sway worldwide journalists’ decision on who to vote for come December.

It appears to be a two-horse race at present between Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo and each player have received either glowing endorsements or rave reviews over the past few months.

And Barça striker Samuel Eto’o has now thrown in his two cents’ worth by backing his Argentine goalscoring accomplice at the Camp Nou.

“Cristiano (Ronaldo) is a great player, but Messi is above everybody at the moment,” he told French television channel, TF1.

“He does things not just in training but during matches that no one has ever done before.

“He is the new Maradona. He is a player who makes other people dream of playing like him,” he added.

Eto’o then analyzed Barcelona’s current playing system under coach, Pep Guardiola, which seems to be brining enormous success.

“Our present system isn’t all that different from the one last season. It’s still a 4-3-3 formation but in reality, it looks more like the system developed by (Johan) Cryuff’s Dream Team,” the 27 year old explained.

Barcelona currently sit atop the La Liga standings on 28 points after 11 rounds, with a massive 36 goals scored, 21 of which are shared between Eto’o and Messi.

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Zidane To Florentino: You Go Back, I Go Back

Real Madrid legends Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo were in Morocco last night where they held a charity match against poverty. The pair crossed lines with their former president, Florentino Perez...

Former Real Madrid president Florentino Perez was in Morocco yesterday where he met up with Ronaldo and Zidane, who were holding the traditional Ronaldo & Friends vs Zidane & Friends match against poverty.

Prior to the game, the famous trio took pictures for the press and held a friendly conversation. "With the way you look, you should still be playing," said Perez to Zidane.

The French legend was quick to respond. "If you return, Florentino, I'll come back too!" he joked, with that popular smile on his face.

Injury plagued Ronaldo was sentimental when recalling his days at the Bernabeu. "What good times we spent together, President, back in the day," he mused.

The talk was then moved on to more serious subjects, most notably Real Madrid's current crisis. "Schuster is not to blame for what is happening, the problem lies elsewhere," declared Ronaldo.

After being asked by journalists twice, supremo Florentino Perez refused to talk about making a return as Real Madrid's president in the near future. "I'm here to visit my family and friends, on vacation," said Perez bluntly.

Ronaldo's friends edged Zidane's in the encounter, winning by a score line of 6-5. Ronaldo was taken off early in the first half, in order to avoid aggravating his knee again.

However, Zidane scored a fantastic double, as well showing off those incredible touches that made him one of the most brilliant players in the history of the game.

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Juventus top Serie A

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Nike: Albert Morgan Cristiano Ronaldo Ad

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Messi Caught Spitting At Rival

Lionel Messi could be in danger of losing his innocent, squeaky clean image after he was caught spitting at Málaga’s Duda during Barcelona’s stunning 4-1 win on Saturday...

Nicknamed ‘The Messiah’, Lionel Messi has won endless praise ever since he burst into the scenes four years ago. The gawky-looking, media-shy 21 year old has always shown exemplary behaviour on the pitch to complement his breathtaking skills with a football.

However, during Saturday’s rain-soaked game against Málaga, Messi’s true colours may have finally been exposed after television cameras caught him spitting at his opponent, Duda.

The pair had been going at each other all evening long and, when they collided and stumbled to the ground at one point, Messi got up and spat towards the Portuguese, who had his back to the Argentine ace.

It is unclear whether the Barça forward was provoked in any way prior to the incident, but the Spanish sports journals, namely Madrid-based Marca, are already having a field day with this episode.

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Ronaldo Set For Mega United Deal

Newspaper reports indicate that Manchester United will offer Cristiano Ronaldo a sizeable pay-rise during the summer in an attempt to keep him at the club...

According to the News of the World, United will tear up Ronaldo's current £120,000-per-week contract - which has more than three years remaining - in favour of a new £150,000-per-week deal.

That would make the Portuguese superstar the best-paid player in the history of the Premier League. It would also severely dent Real Madrid's hopes of landing their top target.

"Next summer will be a key element of his contract situation — he will have three years left then," said Sir Alex Ferguson.

The prospect of stopping Madrid president Ramon Calderon from delivering on his promise of bringing Ronaldo to the Bernabeu would doubly delight Sir Alex Ferguson, as the pair have been involved in a word-war through the press over the last week or so.

"There is no question of Ronaldo leaving," the United manager continued.

"Calderon promised everyone they would get the lad in the summer. There was a complete arrogance about it. So I was delighted Ronaldo stayed."

However, there remains a remote possibility that Ronaldo could turn down the new deal and exploit FIFA Article 17, which allows him to buy out his current contract at the end of next season.

But Ferguson added: "Nobody (at Manchester United) has ever bought himself out of his contract. I don’t think it will be an issue."

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Africans In Europe

SPAIN

Mohammed Tchite from Burundi continued his fine form in front of goal for the second week running. He turned on the style when netting a hat-trick for Racing Santander in a 4-2 victory at Valencia. He was on target in the 23rd, 49th and 80th minutes.

ENGLAND

Nigeria international midfielder Seyi Olofinjana scored his second goal in the Premier League as his club Stoke City created a huge upset by beating Arsenal 2-1.

A week after South Africa striker Benni McCarthy emerged as the hero for Blackburn Rovers with a late equaliser against Middlesbrough, he was back in the news for the wrong reasons after he was red carded for a second booking against West Bromwich Albion - though he had put Rovers in front from the penalty spot before collecting his second yellow in the 36th minute of the 2-2 draw.

Egypt striker Ahmed Hossam ‘Mido’ recovered from a muscle injury from the previous weekend to score for Middlesbrough in a 1-1 draw with West Ham.

Compatriot Amr Zaki was again on target for Wigan as they clinched full points at Portsmouth. It was his eighth goal of the season.

Gabon international Daniel Cousin was on target in Hull City’s 4-3 loss at champions Manchester United.

GERMANY

Chinedu Ogbuke-Obasi from Nigeria grabbed his second brace of the season to take his club Hoffenheim to the top of the Bundesliga. He followed up on the double he scored against Hamburg last week. He has thus far scored five goals and made two assists in his debut season in the German top flight.

FRANCE

Gabonese striker Eric Moloungui underlined his consistency with the match winner for Nice against Paris Saint-Germaine. His goal last week ensured Nice shared the points with Bordeaux.

Moroccan star Youssouf Hadji scored the match-winning goal in the 69th minute for Nancy versus Bordeaux.

Nigeria international defender Taye Taiwo powered home a header as Olympique Marseille romped to a 3-1 win at home.

Adil Rami of Moroccan descent opened the scoring as Lille beat Nantes 2-0 while Mauritanian Amoudou Alassane was also on target for Le Havre, although his team lost at home 3-2 to Monaco.

NETHERLANDS

Morocco’s Mounir El-Hamdaoui cracked his 12th goal of the season in a 3-3 draw at SC Heerenveen.

Fellow countryman Youssef El Akchaoui scored from the penalty spot and Burundi star Saidi Ntibazonkiza also scored as NEC Nijimegen beat Sparta Rotterdam 2-0.

Dutch-Moroccan Ali Boussaboun netted for FC Utrecht in a 2-0 home win over Heracles Almelo.

BELGIUM

Recently capped Nigeria international Joseph Akpala struck twice against visiting Kortrijk to bring to six the total number of his goals thus far for Club Brugge.

African goals all the way in the clash between champions Standard Liege and Charleroi. Benjamin Nicaise scored for Standard only for Charleroi to record an upset with goals from the Moroccan Mouchine Iajour and Mahamadou Habibou, who is from Central Africa.

Bertin Tomou of Cameroon found the back of the net twice as his club Westerlo held home team FCV Dender to a 2-2 draw.

Little known Nigerian Marvin Ogunjimi hit a brace as KRC Genk won 3-1 at Tubize while Togo’s Adekammi Olufade scored for KAA Gent in their 2-0 victory over Zulte-Waregem.

TURKEY

Guinea’s Ibrahim Yattara scored one of the four goals Trabzonspor recorded away at Istanbul

PORTUGAL

Cameroon’s Albert Meyong Ze drew his team Sporting Braga level in the 62nd minute away at Academica de Coimbra. The match finished 1-1.

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