Ronaldo becomes first player to win Europe’s top 3 leagues

Cristiano Ronaldo makes history. (AFP)
Updated 22 April 2019
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Ronaldo becomes first player to win Europe’s top 3 leagues

  • Ronaldo became the first player in history to win league titles in the English Premier League (with United), the Spanish league (Madrid) and Serie A (Juventus)

ROME :The breakthrough under Alex Ferguson at Manchester United. Then the coronation at Real Madrid. And now another title at Juventus.

If ever there was a need to emphasize Cristiano Ronaldo’s impact as a footballer, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner did it again this weekend by helping Juventus to the Serie A title in his first season in Italy.

In doing so, the 34-year-old Ronaldo became the first player in history to win league titles in the English Premier League (with United), the Spanish league (Madrid) and Serie A (Juventus).

“I’m very happy to have won in England, Spain and now the league title in Italy as well,” Ronaldo said. “It meant a lot to me and it means a lot to us as a team.”

Other players have won titles in three of the five major European leagues (England, Spain, Italy, Germany and France) but nobody had previously put together the combination of England, Spain and Italy.

David Beckham played in four of the top leagues but only won titles at United (six), Madrid (one) and Paris Saint-Germain (one), having failed to lift the Serie A trophy during his two loan spells at AC Milan.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic won four Serie A titles (three with Inter Milan and one with AC Milan), the Spanish league with Barcelona and four French championships with PSG.

Brazil fullback Maxwell was on many of those same teams as Ibrahimovic and also won in Italy, Spain and France.

Then there was Arjen Robben, who won the Premier League twice with Chelsea before adding a Spanish title at Real Madrid and seven Bundesliga trophies at Bayern Munich.

Another Dutchman who achieved the feat was Mark van Bommel, with titles with Barcelona, Bayern Munich (two) and AC Milan.

While Juventus also won the league in the seven seasons before Ronaldo’s arrival, there was no doubting his impact in Turin. With 19 goals and six assists in 27 Italian league matches this season, Ronaldo played a part in nearly 40 percent of Juventus’ goals.

So it came as no surprise when his dangerous cross from a sharp angle was redirected in by a defender as an own-goal for the winner in Juve’s 2-1 win over Fiorentina on Saturday — giving the Bianconeri more than the single point they needed to secure a record-extending eighth straight title with five rounds remaining.

It’s the sixth league title of Ronaldo’s career.

The first came as a 22-year-old at United, ending a four-year drought for Ferguson’s squad as Ronaldo scored 17 goals — three fewer than Didier Drogba’s league-best 20.

That was just a warmup for what came next.

In 2007-08, Ronaldo led the Premier League with 31 goals and helped United to the league title and the Champions League trophy.

Another Premier League title came the following season as Ronaldo finished second in the scoring charts with 18 goals, behind only Nicolas Anelka, who had 19 for Chelsea.

While Ronaldo won only two Spanish league championships in his nine seasons at Madrid, he also helped the team to four Champions League trophies — including three consecutive European titles over the last three seasons.

When Juventus acquired Ronaldo in a €100 million ($112 million) transfer last year, the expectation was that he would help end the club’s long chase for a Champions League trophy.

Ronaldo did his part by scoring a hat trick to overturn a first-leg deficit against Atletico Madrid in the opening knockout round and goals in both legs of the quarterfinals against Ajax but the Bianconeri were still eliminated by the Dutch club.

“Next year is a new page, the fans all want it and so do we,” Ronaldo said. “It is an important trophy, but it’s difficult to (win).”

A Champions League title with Juventus would enable Ronaldo to match another multiple nation and multiple team record — joining Clarence Seedorf as the only players to win the trophy with three different clubs.


Al-Nassr strike late to beat resilient Al-Ittihad as Ronaldo misses second straight match

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Al-Nassr strike late to beat resilient Al-Ittihad as Ronaldo misses second straight match

  • Hosts sealed victory late on with goals in the 84th minute and stoppage time
  • Victory keeps Al-Nassr one point behind leaders Al-Hilal, who won earlier this weekend as Benzema netted debut hat-trick

RIYADH: Al-Nassr kept their Saudi Pro League title hopes alive with a dramatic 2-0 victory over Al-Ittihad on Matchday 21, sealing the win with goals in the final minutes at Al-Awwal Park.

Playing against the backdrop of transfer-window controversy and without Cristiano Ronaldo for a second straight match, Al-Nassr dominated long spells before finally breaking their opponents’ resistance late on.

The hosts began brightly, creating an early three-on-two counter-attack, though Sadio Mane was unable to pick out Angelo as Al-Ittihad recovered defensively.

Al-Nassr’s back three allowed Mohamed Simakan license to push forward, and in the sixth minute he won possession high up the pitch before setting up Mane, whose effort deflected harmlessly into Predrag Rajkovic’s hands.

Ronaldo chants echoed around the stadium as fans showed support for their captain, who was absent amid reports of discontent following Al-Nassr’s subdued transfer window.

Al-Ittihad threatened briefly when Moussa Diaby crossed for debutant Youssef En-Nesyri, only for Simakan to intervene. A lengthy VAR review followed after the ball appeared to brush Simakan’s hand, but appeals for a penalty were waved away.

Al-Nassr controlled much of the first half, using quick combinations out wide to bypass Al-Ittihad’s defense, though clear chances were limited. The visitors’ best opening fell to Houssem Aouar, who headed wide, while Bento denied Diaby with a smart save from distance.

Marcelo Brozovic came close at the other end with a deflected strike that forced Rajkovic into an impressive reaction save, before the teams went into the break level.

The tempo remained high after the restart, with Joao Felix and Mane continuing to threaten on the counter.

Al-Nassr’s clearest chance arrived in the 68th minute when Brozovic delivered a dipping cross to the far post, but Felix could not apply a decisive touch.

The breakthrough finally came in the 84th minute. Substitute Aiman Yahya’s shot was blocked by Mohammad Ali Barnawi’s elbow, and after a brief pause the referee pointed to the spot. Mane converted the penalty, sending Rajkovic the wrong way.

Al-Nassr sealed the result deep into stoppage time with a swift counter-attack, Angelo finishing coolly by slipping the ball through Rajkovic’s legs.

The win keeps Al-Nassr second in the standings, just one point behind leaders Al-Hilal, who won earlier in the weekend as Karim Benzema netted his debut hat-trick.

Elsewhere, NEOM edged Al-Riyadh 1-0 thanks to Alexandre Lacazette, while Al-Ettifaq beat Damac 2-0 with goals from Georginio Wijnaldum and Mukhtar Ali. The results saw Al-Ettifaq leapfrog Al-Ittihad into sixth, with NEOM remaining eighth, six points behind Al-Ittihad.

Matchday 21 continues on Saturday, with Al-Kholood hosting Al-Shabab, Al-Taawoun facing Al-Khaleej, and Al-Qadsiah traveling to Al-Hasa to take on Al-Fateh.