Manchester United conceded two late own goals to allow Sevilla to snatch a 2-2 draw in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final at Old Trafford on Thursday.
The cases made on both sides came with a host of subtexts: the Argentine versus the Brazilian, the man of the people versus the establishment figure, the party animal versus the quiet man, and the rebel versus the conformist.
Brazil soccer great Pele paid tribute to Lionel Messi for equalling his goal-scoring record for a single club after the Argentine forward netted his 643rd goal for Barcelona in Saturday's 2-2 home draw with Valencia.
One could argue that his relationship with the World Cup over the last 12 years reflects his entire career -- a tale of hope, disappointment, controversy, pain and underachievement.
Brazilian soccer great Pele said on Saturday he was "strong" and grateful for the widespread support he has been receiving after being hospitalized in Sao Paulo earlier this week as he battles colon cancer.
Portugal could qualify early for the next phase of the World Cup with a game remaining if they beat Uruguay on Monday, a task probably much easier said than done.
Images from the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, on Tuesday, Day 5.
Titled the King, Pele made football and Brazil a household name and Brazilian football, a benchmark.
Vinicius Jr showed why he is one of world's top rising stars,
Regragui's tactical masterclass sends Portugal packing
A summary of the concluding day's action in the Bundesliga, Serie A, Ligue 1 and Saudi Pro League.
Glimpses from the Chanel Spring-Summer 2022 Haute Couture pre-collection in Paris.
They have one of the most exciting squads around, full of proven matchwinners to take the burden off Ronaldo.
Cristiano Ronaldo tucked away a penalty and slammed home a free kick as he set a new record for the most international caps
Nuno's coaching staff have also been relieved of their duties. The club have not yet announced a replacement but British media reported former Chelsea and Inter Milan boss Antonio Conte is linked.
Booted out by his beloved Manchester United, suspended by the Football Association and deemed over the hill by many, Cristiano Ronaldo answered everything in the best possible fashion with another record-breaking display on Thursday.
"It is a story that I wanted to tell in my own words, about what happened. I feel it is the biggest story of my career and I thought that I held it for too long by myself and that I needed to share it with other people. The moment was now and (being in) Madrid, on the eve of El Clasico on Sunday, was the perfect occasion to make it happen," the former striker said.
Mason Greenwood's late winner earned Manchester United a 1-0 win at wasteful Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League on Sunday, breaking the record for the longest unbeaten away run in English Football League history in the process.
Here are some shots of top-class action from the Winter Games...
Europa League kings Sevilla breezed past Manchester United into the semi-finals of their favourite competition as Youssef En Nesyri scored twice
After the game ended 1-1 in normal time, Malcom raced onto a diagonal ball from Antony and got the better of Jesus Vallejo before driving the winner into the far corner in the 108th minute to ensure Brazil repeated their Rio 2016 triumph.
200,000 hours were spent to create the splendid tapestries which adorned the walls of the Dior show venue.
Eight soccer players at Mexico's Santos Laguna club have tested positive for coronavirus but none of them are displaying any symptoms, the Mexican governing body, Liga MX, said on Wednesday. The Mexican league was suspended on March 15 due to the coronavirus outbreak and officials have not indicated when it would restart.
Cristiano Ronaldo has no symptoms of the coronavirus but will miss Portugal's UEFA Nations League game against Sweden on Wednesday
Images from the FIFA World Cup Quarter-final match between Portugal and Morocco on Saturday.
The Santos, Brazil and New York Cosmos player will turn 81 on October 23. Pele is the only man to win three World Cups as a player.
Thorgan Hazard's first-half goal enabled Belgium score a 1-0 victory over defending champions Portugal in Euro 2020 last 16 match at Estadio La Cartuja in Seville, Spain, on Sunday. The victory set up a quarter-final against Italy.
Pele said he is ready for "90 minutes, plus extra time" after leaving the intensive care unit (ICU) of a Sao Paulo hospital following surgery to remove a tumour from the Brazilian soccer great's colon.
The Portugal captain, who lined up in a front three alongside Diogo Jota and Bernardo Silva, moved ahead of Bastian Schweinsteiger as the player with the most Euros appearances in his 22nd game in a finals.
Rohit Shama was, on Tuesday, presented a customised jersey by Spanish football giants Real Madrid. Sharma, who was ruled out for the ODI and Test series against New Zealand following a calf injury, is currently enjoying a vacation with his family in Spain.
Coach refuses to discuss Ronaldo's international future
A world record had been predicted but Norway's Karsten Warholm had to utterly destroy it to hold off American Rai Benjamin and take gold on Tuesday in the men's 400 metres hurdles, in what will go down as one of the all-time great Olympic races.
Brazilian police locked Santos fans inside their home stadium for 20 minutes on Wednesday after violence erupted outside the Vila Belmiro ground following the team's elimination from the Copa Libertadores.
The game incidentally was an old Sicilian where Shirov tried an unconventional ninth move.
A round-up off all transpired on and off the football pitch
Discus thrower Yogesh Kathuniya clinched a silver medal in the men's F56 event in the Tokyo Paralympics on Monday as athletics remained India's happy hunting ground at the Games.
Barcelona were shaken up by Eintracht Frankfurt but took a first step in their bid to reach the Europa League last four as a second-half goal by Ferran Torres salvaged a 1-1 comeback away draw in their quarter-final first leg on Thursday.
'These matches are all like finals now and if you don't play well, you don't win.'
Spain's decision to sack coach Julen Lopetegui on the eve of the World Cup will have little impact on the quality of the 2010 world champions' game, Germany midfielder Toni Kroos said on Thursday.
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