LONDON: Cristiano Ronaldo is better than Lionel Messi. That is the view of none other than fellow all-time great Zinedine Zidane.
It is the one question to which everyone seems to have an answer, the peerless pair having dominated the past decade scoring goals and winning trophies by the bucketload.
But Zidane, who is also Ronaldo’s boss at Real Madrid, added his opinion to the thousands already out there, saying the Portuguese is the best player of his generation.
“He is the best by a long way,” the Frenchman told AFP.
Ronaldo had a stunning end to last season, scoring 10 times from the quarterfinals of the Champions League as Real won a first La Liga and European Cup double in 59 years.
However, Messi has already scored 15 times in all competitions for Barcelona this season and netted a stunning hat-trick against Ecuador earlier this month to ensure Argentina did not miss out on next year’s World Cup.
Ronaldo has failed to shine so far this campaign. He missed Real’s first four La Liga games through suspension, has managed just one goal in his past five matches and was wasteful once again in front of goal as Madrid eased past Eibar 3-0 on Sunday.
That does not bother his boss, however. “He has shown it many times. He is always there in the big games,” Zidane added.
Meanwhile Zidane also defended compatriot Karim Benzema after former England striker and TV presenter Gary Lineker described the Frenchman as “overrated.”
Lineker’s comments came as Benzema missed two huge chances as Real were held 1-1 at home by Tottenham Hotspur last week.
“He can have his opinion because he is on television a lot, but if you say to me Karim is overrated I don’t agree,” Zidane said.
“I enjoy watching him on the field.”
After Paulo Oliveira’s own goal and Marco Asensio’s strike put Madrid in command on Sunday, Benzema came off the bench to tee up Real’s third for Marcelo.
“Karim won’t score 60 goals a season, but he will score 25 or 30 and make 30-40,” Zidane said.
And that point was perfectly evidenced by Benzema’s defense splitting pass for Marcelo to fire into the far corner.
“I like players who know how to associate with their teammates,” continued Zidane.
“He didn’t score, but the move starts with him in midfield.
“It was a lovely move to see for anyone who likes football.”
Zidane: Ronaldo is simply the best
Zidane: Ronaldo is simply the best
Filipina fairytale continues as Eala sets up quarterfinal date with Gauff
- Cheered on by thousands of noisy Pinoy fans, Dubai debutant Eala beats Romanian veteran Sorana Cirstea in straight sets to reach Friday’s last 8
- 2-time Grand Slam winner Gauff progresses despite hitting 16 double-faults and needing to save 3 match points against Belgian Elize Mertens
DUBAI: The Filipina fairytale continues after Alexandra Eala, 20, defeated Sorana Cirstea 7-5, 6-4 on Wednesday night to book a last-eight date with world No. 4 Coco Gauff at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
“I take it all in with a spoonful of gratitude,” Eala said, after being cheered on like the hero she is quickly becoming among her compatriots.
The world No. 47 — the highest-ranked Filipina in WTA Tour history — showed a quiet confidence to slowly grind down her veteran opponent and reach the quarterfinals of a 1000 tournament for the second time.
Cirstea is 15 places higher in the world rankings and reached the semifinals here two years ago but such was the energy inside a thronged stadium, the Romanian never looked likely to quieten the Kabayan crowd.
That is not to suggest the passionate fans got their new hero over the line. Eala has after all been preparing for moments like these since she was 4 years old and being coached by her grandad in Manila.
“Obviously their support means a lot to me,” she said.
“It definitely motivated me in the tight moments and makes the emotions more intense when I win, but I wouldn’t attribute all of it to them. Whether they’re there or not, I’m going to fight until the end and do what I can to win.
“I’ve not always been a competitor who’s been put in night sessions on center court. I’ve been playing tennis for many years and I’m also used to playing in front of no crowds.
“I’m still in the earlier phase of my career, so I’m doing my best to enjoy and I hope the feeling is reciprocated by the crowd. It just creates an amazing atmosphere.”
With the first set going with serve through 10 games, Eala finally grabbed the break she needed to win it. In the second set, such was Eala’s early dominance and the noise it generated among the partisan crowd that it almost felt cruel on Cirstea.
Every winner from Eala, every unforced error from the Romanian, and every break in play, was filled with ear-splitting cheers, catchy chants, and the waving of flags, posters, and hand-made signs, including one that read “Alex, please marry my son.”
Cirstea had complained only a few weeks ago at the Australian Open when she deemed Naomi Osaka to have been excessively vocal while pumping herself up between points.
How she must have felt then during this 98-minute match as the crowd screamed like Beatlemania reborn and the only thing that could quieten it — her A-game — never quite got going. The umpire had his work cut out, repeatedly reminding the fans that silence was required during play.
When Eala closed out the win, smiling widely before eventually letting out a guttural roar in the middle of the court, she turned her focus to Thursday. “Win or lose, it’s a great opportunity for me to learn.
“Obviously facing a player like Coco is something that people would kill to do, and in a quarterfinal here in Dubai as well, so I’m super excited.”
Earlier in the evening on the same court, Gauff hit 16 double-faults and had to save three second-set match points as she fought back against Elise Mertens to confirm her place.
The American, ranked No. 4 in the world, progressed 2-6, 7-6(9), 6-3, but it was painful viewing, even for her. “I’m trying to be positive,” she said.
“I’m critical. I feel like ... I don’t know. It’s weird. I feel like the last tournament I took some steps forward, and today I took some steps backwards, but still got the win.
“It’s a weird feeling. I feel conflicted. It wasn’t the prettiest, but I’m also happy. I could have easily lost.”
Despite Mertens beating a top 10 player only once in the past 12 attempts on hard courts, Gauff started erratically, losing two of her first three service games and looking well-beaten as she slumped to a first-set loss within 33 minutes.
The stats card made for even more unpleasant reading. Three double-faults and 14 unforced errors off her forehand epitomized a first-set performance far from the standard expected of a world No. 4.
But then came a glimmer of hope as she broke back. In doing so, she regained a little control and it was then the turn of Mertens, 21, to fire off a series of unforced errors.
She found herself 5-3 up and serving to tie the set, but once more faltered, double-faulting and failing to hold to allow her opponent a route back into the set and push it toward a tie-break.
What followed was a showcase of ugly tennis and erratic, wild serving. Gauff saved three match points before getting lucky when she clipped the cord with a backhand. Apologizing with a raised hand, she took the lead and closed out the tiebreak 11-9 to force a deciding set.
“I feel like it’s almost easier to play when you’re down than when you have the match in your hands,” Gauff said. “I just wanted to give myself the chance today.
“I feel like my last two matches, in Doha and the Australian Open, I didn’t feel like I fought enough for the second sets. This match, when I lost the first set, I really wanted to fight for that second and give myself the opportunity to compete in the third.”
With the third set confirmed, she grabbed the opportunity, securing the vital break at 4-3. “I don’t even remember the last time I saved match points, probably when I was 15, so I’m really happy to get through today, it was a long one,” she said,
Addressing the majority-Pinoy crowd with a giggle, she said: “I know you guys are probably here for Alex, so I’m sorry I made you wait.”
