Real Madrid beat their arch-rival, FC Barcelona, for the 2nd time in five games, this afternoon 2-1, on an herculean header by Sergio Ramos. Ramos scored his game winning goal in the 82nd minute by out-leaping and out-jumping Barca player, Gerard Pique, to put a goal past the keeper, Victor Valdes, for the deciding goal. The El Classico starting in fine fashion as Karim Benzema scored the first goal for Madrid in the 6th minute of the match. Barcelona’s Lionel Messi tied the game in the 18th minute with his 50th goal of the season and his third consecutive season of 50 or more goals. Defending Spanish League Champion Real Madrid’s(17-5-4) win over Barcelona pulled them within 13 points of La Liga-leading Barcelona(22-2-2). Bernabeu favorite, Cristiano Ronaldo, did not start the match against Barca, but his manager, Jose Mourinho, inserted him in the 57th minute and as always, he exhibited his quintesential football excellence for his club. The next El Clasico will be on March 12th, hosted by Barca.
Lionel Messi, of FC Barcelona, won the Ballon D’Or for the fourth consecutive year in a row, as the European Footballer of the Year. He also has won the award, which is translated as “the golden ball”, a record four times! No other player has won the award four times. The closest being three times. Messi, who also plays for his native national team, Argetina, scored 12 goals for his nation, and 91 total goals in the calendar year of 2012. No other footballer has scored that many goals in a year. The 25 year old Messi is not only characterized by his superb football skills, but his modesty and humbleness have endeared him not only to his club and country, but to average fans of soccer as well. Cristiano Ronaldo, of Real Madrid fame, who walso on the award in 2008, came in second in voting.
Cristiano Ronaldo will return to the old stadium that propelled him to international stardom next year, as his current team, Real Madrid, will meet his former team, Manchester United, in the Round of 16 of the Champions League. The first match will be at the home of the Madristas’, The Bernebeu, on February 13th. On March 5th, Ronaldo will play at Old Trafford, in England. Ronaldo, while playing for the Red Devils, helped United to win 3 Premier League titles, one FA Cup, two League Cups, and two appearances in the Champions League Final, winning one and losing the other. Ronaldo also won a Ballon D’or and World Player of the Year while playing for Manchester United.
Lionel Messi, of Football Club Barcelona, scored his 300th and 301st goal of his career, as he helped his club defeat, Rayo Villacano, 5-0, to take a commanding 3-point lead in La Liga standings. Msr. Messi continues to dominate Spanish football with his soccer wizardry on the pitch. He deftly defies conventional wisdom as his prowess is only matched by one other footballer. His humble spirit and deadly stike make him a fan-favorite and his keen eye and cat-like reflexes make him a nightmare for keepers who’s careers are made if they are able to stop him…which rarely happens.
Cristiano Ronaldo, the Captain of the Portugal National Soccer Team, has literally placed the team on his back and lead them into the semi-finals of the European Soccer Championship Series. On Thursday, Ronaldo’s header in the 79th minute was all the goals that were needed to allow his team to beat the Czech Republic. His team played solid defense in the waning minutes to secure the win. On Sunday, Ronaldo scored two goals, the first in the 28th minute and the game winner in the 74th minute to lead his team to a victory over the Netherlands’ National Team, which propelled Portugal into the quarterfinals. Ronaldo has silenced his harshest critics who have deemed him petulant and ineffective when he plays for his country’s National Team. He has displayed a positive enthusiasm and his football skills are undeniable as he moves effortlessly across the pitch. Portugal will face the winner of the France vs Spain match next week.
Cristiano Ronaldo and his team, Real Madrid, celebrate the team’s 32nd league championship, as they closed out the last three fixtures of their season with wins. Real Madrid beat the best of La Liga, including the 2011 UEFA Champions and rival, FC Barcelona to firmly claim the title as the best Spanish League Football team. Real Madrid scored a record 121 goals in the season and Ronaldo scored 46 goals to lead his team to 100 points in the season. Although the team lost its bid to reach the 2012 UEFA Championship, they are poised to make another dynamic run next season.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored the winning goal, on Saturday, April 21, 2012, to lead his team, Real Madrid to a 2-1 victory over their hated Spanish League rival, FC Barcelona, to earn a 7-point lead and hopefully secure themselves the Spanish League Soccer Title. All year, Real Madrid has played second fiddle to Barcelona as they have continued to play awesome soccer against all other clubs but have suffered epic fails against the European League Champions. But on Saturday, Real Madrid played excellent football and despite giving up an equalizing goal to Barcelona’s Alexis Sanchez, Cristiano Ronaldo showed why is truly is the best footballer in the world, as he put his team ahead for good with a masterful goal. Real Madrid have four games left in La Liga and if they continue their lead over Barca, then they will win their first La Liga title in four long years.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored a header goal yesterday for his team, Real Madrid, to break a 1-1 tie with Sporting Gijon, in which his team eventually won, 3-1, to increase their points atop the La Liga standings to 85; 4 more points then their closest rival and arch enemy, FC Barcelona. Real Madrid allowed Sporting Gijon to dictate the match until Ronaldo scored his 5th header of the season. This will be a very busy week for the Madristas because they will face FC Bayern Munchen in the 1st leg of the UEFA semi-finals on Tuesday 4/17 and then they will face FC Barcelona in El Clasico on Saturday/Sunday 4/21-4/22. This will be an exciting week of futbol!!!
Lionel Messi, a 24 year old Forward for Football Club Barcelona of the Spanish Soccer League, scored 5 goals in a Champions League game against Bayer Leverkusen, to propel his team to an eventual 7-1 win and a spot in the quarterfinals. Messi became the first footballer to score 5 goals in a Champions League game. He scored two goals in the first half and then scored a hat trick in the second half. Messi, who has previously won Player of the Year honors three times, has helped his club, the defending European Champions, to build some much needed steam going into the last stages of the tournament.
Members of FC Barcelona celebrate as they defeated their hated Spanish League rival, Real Madrid, 3-1 this past Saturday in the first El Clasico of this soccer season. Real Madrid has played great football during the season, and all signs pointed to them beating Barca to extend their division lead, but the reigning European Champions overcame an early Madrid goal by Karim Benzema and scored the last three in classic fashion to take its first division lead of the season. Alexis Sanchez, Xavi and Cesc Fagregas all scored for Barcelona. Barcelona great, Lionel Messi, assisted in helping his team, while Madrid great, Cristiano Ronaldo was a non-factor in the match.
