The Portugal international, 32, curled home a free-kick as Real became the first team to win back-to-back titles.

Ronaldo won a fifth Ballon d’Or earlier this month and crowned himself “the best player in history”.

“The numbers speak for themselves,” he said.

“I am very happy, I remain very motivated to keep winning things at a collective and individual level.

“I still feel strong enough to continue my trajectory as a player and to win trophies, which is what I like most.”

Saturday’s victory in Abu Dhabi was a record-equalling third Club World Cup win for Real, who also triumphed in 2014, matching Barcelona’s achievement.

Real have now won five trophies in 2017 – the Champions League, La Liga, Uefa Super Cup, Spanish Super Cup and now the Club World Cup.

It takes their overall total under Zinedine Zidane to eight since the former France international’s appointment as manager in January 2016.

Ronaldo rises to the occasion again

Cristiano Ronaldo scored his seventh Club World Cup goal

For long periods of this game in Abu Dhabi, it looked like Brazilian side Gremio would frustrate Real Madrid and perhaps even pinch a victory as the Spanish giants became increasingly frustrated in their attempts to break down a disciplined defence.

Real dominated possession in the first half but only one of their 10 chances before the break was on target.

They switched to attempting to find joy from long distance but efforts by Luka Modric, Ronaldo and Karim Benzema were all wayward.

However, eight minutes into the second half Real were awarded a free-kick 25 yards from goal when Ronaldo was tripped and the Portugal international picked himself up to curl the ball through a gap in the wall and into the net.

It was Ronaldo’s fourth goal in three Club World Cup finals and extended his record of scoring in significant finals for Real Madrid, having also hit three goals in three Champions League finals and two goals in two Copa del Rey finals.

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Source: BBC Sport

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Real – only above fifth-placed Sevilla on goal difference before kick-off – led through Nacho’s close-range effort.

Ronaldo had only scored two La Liga goals all season before converting Marco Asensio’s through ball and then scoring a penalty.

Toni Kroos finished off a great move and set up Achraf Hakimi for the fifth.

With all the goals coming in the first half, Real eased up after the break and Sevilla never threatened any kind of comeback.

Ronaldo caps off sensational week

On Wednesday, Ronaldo scored in a 3-2 win against Borussia Dortmund to become the first player to score in all six Champions League group games in a season, netting nine in those six.

The next day, he won his fifth Ballon d’Or – the award for the best player in the world, taking him level with Barcelona and Argentina forward Lionel Messi’s all-time record.

And on Friday, his manager Zinedine Zidane – himself the 1998 Ballon d’Or winner – said Ronaldo was the “best player in the history of football”.

But in La Liga this season, he has struggled – scoring only twice in 10 league games – despite his free-scoring European exploits.

But those problems were forgotten on Saturday as he finished Asensio’s brilliant pass and then scored a penalty – which squeezed under keeper Sergio Rico – after Jesus Navas’ handball.

He even won the ball in his own half to set up the move for Kroos’ fourth goal and had a hand in Hakimi’s fifth.

Real look back to their best

Real – who head off to the Fifa Club World Cup for their semi-final against Al Jazira on Wednesday – have struggled to live up to last season’s double-winning exploits.

They came into this game eight points behind leaders Barcelona, knowing a defeat by Sevilla would see them drop into fifth behind their opponents.

But they dominated right from kick-off.

Real were without their two first-choice centre-backs – the banned Sergio Ramos and suspended Raphael Varane – but stand-in Nacho put them ahead in the third minute, converting Kroos’ corner.

Ronaldo then scored twice – before two brilliant team goals. The Portuguese won the ball and played it to Kroos, who ran from halfway before passing to Lucas Vazquez, who crossed for the Germany midfielder to guide the ball home.

And Ronaldo then passed to Kroos, who in turn found young right-back Hakimi in a position to score his first goal for the club.

They eased up after the break, but nearly had a sixth when Karim Benzema header from Marcelo’s came back off the post.

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Source: BBC Sport

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The 32-year-old, who moved level with Messi at the top of the all-time Champions League group stage goalscorers leaderboard on Wednesday after helping Madrid to beat Borussia Dortmund, was presented with his award in Paris on Thursday having just pipped his perennial rival.

“This is something I look forward to every year,” Ronaldo said.

“Thanks to my Real Madrid team-mates. And I want to thank the rest of the people who helped me reach this level.”

Ronaldo and Messi have won the Ballon d’Or between them every year since 2008.

Tottenham’s Harry Kane was the highest-ranked Englishman in 10th spot, while Chelsea’s N’Golo Kanté finished eighth. Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne was 14th, Chelsea’s Eden Hazard 19th and the Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea 20th.

Liverpool pair Sadio Mané and Philippe Coutinho were 23rd and 29th respectively.

2017 Ballon d’Or final standings

1. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)

2. Lionel Messi (Barcelona)

3. Neymar (Paris Saint-Germain)

4. Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus)

5. Luka Modric (Real Madrid)

6. Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid)

7. Kylian Mbappé (Paris Saint-Germain)

8. N’Golo Kanté (Chelsea)

9. Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)

10. Harry Kane (Tottenham)

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Source: Guardian UK

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The Real Madrid and Portugal forward beat Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Paris St-Germain’s Neymar to the honour.

Ronaldo, 32, helped Real to a Champions League-La Liga double in 2016-17.

Lieke Martens of Barcelona and the Netherlands won best female player, Real Madrid’s Zinedine Zidane was named best men’s coach and Netherlands’ Sarina Wiegman the best female coach.

Arsenal’s Olivier Giroud received the Puskas award for the best goal of 2017 for his ‘scorpion kick’ against Crystal Palace in January.

Celtic won the fan award after they honoured the club’s 1967 ‘Lisbon Lions’ with a stunning 360-degree card display on the 50th anniversary of their historic European Cup win.

Best Fifa men’s player – Cristiano Ronaldo

This was the second edition of the Best Fifa Football Awards, with Ronaldo the first recipient of its main prize in January, at the start of what was another hugely impressive year for the forward.

As well as scoring two goals in Real’s 4-1 win over Juventus in the Champions League final, the Portuguese also found the net 25 times in 29 appearances as his club won La Liga for the first time in five years.

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Source: BBC Sport

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The Dubliner’s inexorable rise reached stratospheric heights in the cross-over clash which is expected to earn him in the region of £77m — and that’s before endorsement deals are considered.

Ronaldo topped the list this year with earnings of £71m and has been eclipsed in 10 rounds of boxing, in which Mayweather forced a stoppage in Las Vegas.

The ‘Notorious’ is renowned for his predictions and remarkably foresaw overtaking the Real Madrid star when the two athletes met last year.

Ronaldo visited the UFC lightweight champion in training and the Irishman quipped: ‘You were number one on the Forbes list, I was like number 35 or something. I’ll get up. Maybe next year I’ll get you.’ Ronaldo replied: ‘I don’t think so.’

McGregor will still not be on top of the athlete rankings, with Mayweather’s purse superseding his earnings. Some reports claim that ‘Money’ is in line for £233m from the lucrative Las Vegas clash.

But both men can expect to overtake some huge names in the world of sport such as LeBron James, Roger Federer and Lewis Hamilton.

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Credit:DailyMail

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Madrid hold a 3-1 lead going into Wednesday’s decider against their fierce rivals but are set to be without Ronaldo at the Bernabeu.

The Portugal star, having been booked for a goal celebration, was controversially shown a second yellow for diving and given an extra four-game ban for nudging referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea after being shown the 10th red card of his career.

After scoring a stunning goal for Real Madrid at the Nou Camp, Cristiano Ronaldo received a second yellow card for diving – and pushed the referee!

Real have appealed the decision and a disciplinary commitee for the Spanish Football Federation will meet on Wednesday morning to discuss the sanction.

But Zidane spoke of the club and player’s anger at the punishment and urged the officials to maintain their “integrity”.

“I am annoyed. We are all annoyed and upset,” the French coach told reporters. “I’m not going to get involved with the referees but, after what happened, to think that he’ll not play for five games, makes you think that something isn’t right. It’s too long for him.

Cristiano Ronaldo picked up a yellow card for this shirt celebration

“I hope that when the (committee) meet, they look at it thoroughly. Everyone can have their opinion but Cristiano Ronaldo is upset because he wants to play and when he doesn’t play he’s not happy.

“I hope they’ve not got something against Cristiano Ronaldo and people do their job with integrity. We’re upset that we are not going to have him with us for a long time. We’ll wait to see what happens.”

Real defender Dani Carvajal echoed his manager’s sentiments about the severity of the suspension, declaring it “excessive” and “unfair”.

Watch Cristiano Ronaldo’s Super Cup rocket against Barcelona

“Cristiano’s ban is excessive,” Carvajal said. “I don’t think (he) wants to undermine the referee and it’s a frustrating situation in which he was unfairly sent off.

“Hopefully they will withdraw the suspension. I don’t know what goes off in the referees’ head, but I reiterate that it’s excessive and even more so putting it in the report so that he got more games. We’re all affected by the suspension, he’s a key player for us”.

Should Ronaldo’s appeal not be upheld, he will further miss Madrid’s first four La Liga games of the season against Deportivo la Coruna, Valencia, Levante and Real Sociedad.

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Source: Sky Sports

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Ronaldo was heavily linked with a move away from the Bernabeu earlier this summer, with former club Manchester United among a number of potential suitors for the four-time Ballon d’Or winner.

The 32-year-old was reportedly unhappy with Madrid over a perceived lack of support in relation to his ongoing dispute with the Spanish tax authorities but Zidane predicts the Portugal international will remain with the current Spanish and European champions, contrary to reports.

Cristiano Ronaldo has been linked with a move away from the Bernabeu

“There has been a lot of talk surrounding Cristiano, that he wanted to go,” Zidane said. “I only believe in one thing – whenever I’ve spoken to him, he has been very relaxed.

“He’s on holiday and he will be back with us on the fifth (of August). I listen, just like everyone else, but the only thing I’m concerned with is what he wants to do with Real Madrid.

“He’ll be here with us on the fifth and I think he’ll stay for the next two or three years he’s got left with us.”

Madrid face Manchester United in a pre-season friendly in Santa Clara on Sunday before taking on their near-neighbours Manchester City in another warm-up game on Wednesday.

The 32-year-old has spent the last eight seasons at Madrid

Zidane’s side will end their tour of the United States with another game against bitter rivals Barcelona before Ronaldo finally returns to the squad next month ahead of the new La Liga season.

“He’s on a very well-deserved holiday after the year we’ve had,” Zidane said. “He has to come back in and we’ll look at when he’ll get some playing time. I’m sure he’ll be ready in no time.”

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Source: Sky Sports

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Manchester United will reportedly offer Spain goalkeeper David de Gea, 26, and £183m in exchange for Portugal forward Ronaldo, 32, and his Real Madrid team-mate Alvaro Morata, the 24-year-old Spain striker.

According to Daily Mirror, United will offer De Gea and £175m for Ronaldo and will pursue Morata in a separate deal.

If De Gea goes to Madrid, then United could move for AC Milan’s Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, 18, as a replacement.

Meanwhile, Chelsea are to increase their efforts to sign Juventus’ Brazil left-back Alex Sandro, 26, and Monaco’s France midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko, 22, according to the Guardian.

Italy midfielder Marco Verratti, 24, wants to leave Paris St-Germain for Barcelona.

Liverpool on the other hand remain in talks with Roma over winger Mohamed Salah, 25, but will not pay more than £35m for the Egypt international, which falls short of the Serie A club’s valuation.

Everton will take their summer spending past £60m this week by signing Malaga’s Spain striker Sandro Ramirez, 21.

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Source: BBC

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Emanuel Santos said the bust, unveiled on the Portuguese island of Madeira, was “not as simple as it seems” to create.

The unveiling of the Ronaldo statue led many on social media to question the work’s resemblance to the player.

It was revealed at a ceremony to name the island’s airport after him.

“It is impossible to please the Greeks and Trojans. Neither did Jesus please everyone,” Mr Santos said.

He said that his creation was “not as simple as it seems” to produce, adding that it took him 15 days to complete and that the finished item “was a matter of taste”, the Guardian newspaper reports.

“Cristiano saw the photos that his brother sent him,” Mr Santos told broadcaster Globo.

“I was with his brother at Cristiano’s museum in Madeira and from the messages he sent, I could tell that he liked what he saw,” he said.

Mr Santos said that Ronaldo had asked him to make minor changes in order to make the player look younger.

“He only asked for some wrinkles that gave him a certain expression in his face when he’s about to laugh to be changed,” he said.

On Wednesday, Mr Santos told Portuguese TV channel RTP that he had not yet had the opportunity to talk to Ronaldo personally since the unveiling, but said that he would “reach out to him to know his feedback”.

“It’s always a great honour to work on project like that,” he said.

However, shortly after the sculpture was revealed on Wednesday, it was mocked on the social media site Twitter.

“They got the Adams Apple [sic] and the hair right. That’s something,” wrote Ryan Post‏. “Creepy!” added Mel Bishop‏.
Some even suggested that the sculpture looks more like the former Republic of Ireland captain Niall Quinn.

Portuguese President Rebelo de Sousa said Ronaldo “projects Madeira and Portugal across the world far more than anybody else”.

The 32-year-old forward is a local hero in Madeira, where he is seen as a rags-to-riches success. He already has a museum about him in his hometown of Funchal.

The player later said on Twitter: “Happy and honoured to have my name given to the Madeira airport!”

Ronaldo is not the first footballer to have an airport named after him. Belfast airport was named after former Manchester United player George Best in 2006, a year after he died.

Portugal’s president and the prime minister flew to Madeira to unveil the tribute.

The sculpture will remain on permanent display outside the terminal entrance.

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Source: BBC

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 The Minority in Parliament at a press conference on Thursday accused the Authority of spending three million dollars on a Golf Park and other recreational facilities.

Addressing the press, Mr. Akoto Osei said “how can the Bui Authority be allowed to spend money on golf courses when it cannot even produce at capacity. Who is going to play golf there? “.

But a press statement signed by the assistant External and Community Relations Officer, Mawuli Fui Kwadzovia noted that “It must be put on record first and foremost that, there are no such golf courses at Bui and there has not been any form of expenditure made for the construction of any such facility.”

The statement also said that ”it is erroneous for anyone to say that, the Bui Power Authority has been allowed to spend money on golf courses and we entreat the press to visit Bui to ascertain the veracity of the claim made by the Honorable Member.”

The Authority further noted that the inability to generate consistent power is due to low water level in the Bui reservoir.

It however stated that the Authority is monitoring the reservoir level and will revise the production plan as and when its reservoir builds up substantially.

 Below is the full statement issued by the Authority

RE: AFTER SENCHI-WHERE IS THE ECONOMY OF GHANA HEADING?

 Our attention has been drawn to a Press Statement issued and addressed by Hon. Osei Akoto of the Minority Caucus in Parliament on Thursday June 19, 2014 under the caption “After Senchi-Where is the economy of Ghana Heading?”.

On page 4, paragraph 1 of the said document, the Hon Member stated that “How can the BUI Authority be allowed to spend money on golf courses when it cannot even produce at capacity. Who is going to play golf there? “.

It must be put on record first and foremost that, there are no such golf courses at Bui and there has not been any form of expenditure made for the construction of any such facility.

The Bui City Concept includes the idea of putting a resort facility which will have a golf course and other facilities to serve as a rest place for tourists who visit to see the Power Plant, the Reservoir and the Bui National Park which is the home of hippopotamus and other endangered species. The realization of the Bui City concept depends upon the attraction of public private participation to attract and establish businesses in the area and also develop the different components of the city according to the needs of the businesses and residents.

It is therefore erroneous for anyone to say that, the Bui Power Authority has been allowed to spend money on golf courses and we entreat the press to visit Bui to ascertain the veracity of the claim made by the Honourable Member.

The diminished ability to generate power (below full capacity) is due to low water level in the reservoir. The exceedingly high level of generation support that the Bui Power Authority has been providing to the national electricity grid since the commissioning of the Bui Plant has caused the Bui reservoir level to fall to the minimum operating level of 168 masl.

BPA however is monitoring the reservoir level and will revise the production plan as and when our reservoir builds up substantially.

—-Signed—-

 MAWULI FUI KWADZOVIA

ASSISTANT EXTERNAL & COMMUNITY RELATIONS OFFICER

 June 21, 2014.

By: Marian Efe Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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