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Ronaldo Makes Saudi League Debut for Al-Nassr

Al-Nassr's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo (C) attempts a shot during the Saudi Pro League football match between Al-Nassr and Al-Ettifaq at the King Fahd Stadium in the Saudi capital Riyadh on January 22, 2023. (AFP)
Al-Nassr's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo (C) attempts a shot during the Saudi Pro League football match between Al-Nassr and Al-Ettifaq at the King Fahd Stadium in the Saudi capital Riyadh on January 22, 2023. (AFP)
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Ronaldo Makes Saudi League Debut for Al-Nassr

Al-Nassr's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo (C) attempts a shot during the Saudi Pro League football match between Al-Nassr and Al-Ettifaq at the King Fahd Stadium in the Saudi capital Riyadh on January 22, 2023. (AFP)
Al-Nassr's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo (C) attempts a shot during the Saudi Pro League football match between Al-Nassr and Al-Ettifaq at the King Fahd Stadium in the Saudi capital Riyadh on January 22, 2023. (AFP)

Cristiano Ronaldo failed to score in his Saudi Pro League debut for Al-Nassr, but his presence electrified fans at King Saud University Stadium as the team beat Ettifaq 1-0 to retake first place on Sunday.

Talisca headed the winner in the 31st minute when Abdulmajeed Al-Sulaiheem’s cross was too high for Ronaldo, who didn’t seem to mind as he wheeled around to celebrate with the Brazilian midfielder and the rest of his new teammates.

Al-Nassr, which has played 14 games, moved a point ahead of defending champion Al-Hilal, which has played a game more.

On Thursday, Ronaldo played for a combined XI from Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal in an exhibition game against a Paris Saint-Germain team featuring old foe Lionel Messi.

Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d’Or winner who starred for Real Madrid, Juventus and Manchester United, signed a deal to June 2025 with Al-Nassr, after rejecting offers from Europe, North America and beyond.

Ronaldo had been a free agent after his contract was terminated by Manchester United following an explosive TV interview in which he criticized manager Erik ten Hag and the club’s owners after having been repeatedly benched and even temporarily suspended by the club.

He also came off a disappointing World Cup where he was benched in the knockout rounds and left the field in tears after Portugal lost in the quarterfinals to Morocco.

Saudi Arabia earned its biggest international football win ever at the World Cup in neighboring Qatar when it beat eventual champion Argentina in its first group-stage game.

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Emery Has Arsenal Score to Settle with Surging Aston Villa

Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery reacts to his team's equalizer during the English Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Aston Villa, in London, Britain, 27 December 2025. (EPA)
Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery reacts to his team's equalizer during the English Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Aston Villa, in London, Britain, 27 December 2025. (EPA)
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Emery Has Arsenal Score to Settle with Surging Aston Villa

Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery reacts to his team's equalizer during the English Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Aston Villa, in London, Britain, 27 December 2025. (EPA)
Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery reacts to his team's equalizer during the English Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Aston Villa, in London, Britain, 27 December 2025. (EPA)

Unai Emery returns to the scene of one of his few managerial failures on Tuesday, aiming to land a huge blow to former club Arsenal's ambitions of a first Premier League title for 22 years.

Dismissed by the Gunners in 2019 just over a year after succeeding Arsene Wenger, Emery's second spell in English football has been a very different story.

The Spaniard has awoken a sleeping giant in Villa, transforming the Birmingham-based club from battling relegation to contending for their first league title since 1981.

An impressive 2-1 win at Chelsea on Saturday extended Villa's winning run in all competitions to 11 -- their longest streak of victories since 1914.

That form has taken Emery's men to within three points of Arsenal at the top of the table despite failing to win any of their opening six matches of the season.

"We are competing very well. We are third in the league behind Arsenal and Manchester City. Wow," said Emery after he masterminded a second half turnaround at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

Villa were outclassed by the Blues and trailing 1-0 until a triple substitution on the hour mark changed the game.

Ollie Watkins came off the bench to score twice and hailed his manager's change of system as "tactical genius" afterwards.

Few believe Villa will still be able to last the course against the far greater riches and squad depth of Arsenal and City over the course of 20 more games.

But a title challenge is just the next step on an upward trajectory since Emery took charge just over three years ago.

After a 13-year absence from Europe, including a three-year spell in the second-tier Championship, the Villains have qualified for continental competition for the past three seasons.

Paris Saint-Germain were on the ropes at Villa Park in April but escaped to win a thrilling Champions League quarter-final 5-4 on aggregate before going on to win the competition for the first time.

Arsenal also left Birmingham beaten earlier this month, their only defeat in their last 24 games in all competitions.

However, Emery getting the upper hand over his former employers is a common occurrence.

The 54-year-old has lost just twice in 10 meetings against Arsenal during spells at Paris Saint-Germain, Villarreal and Villa, including a 2-0 win at the Emirates in April 2024 that ultimately cost Mikel Arteta's men the title.

Even Emery's ill-fated 18 months in north London were far from disastrous with the benefit of hindsight.

He inherited a club in decline during Wenger's final years but only narrowly missed out on Champions League qualification in his sole full season in charge and reached the Europa League final.

Arsenal's loss has been to Villa's advantage.

For now Arsenal remain the outsiders in a three-horse race but inflicting another bloody nose to the title favorites will silence any doubters that Emery's men are serious contenders.

Sports

Ronaldo Confident of Reaching 1,000 Goals, Keen to Keep Playing

Football - Saudi Pro League - Al-Nassr v Al-Okhdood - Al-Awwal Park, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - December 27, 2025 Al-Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring their third goal before it is disallowed after a VAR review. (Reuters)
Football - Saudi Pro League - Al-Nassr v Al-Okhdood - Al-Awwal Park, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - December 27, 2025 Al-Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring their third goal before it is disallowed after a VAR review. (Reuters)
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Ronaldo Confident of Reaching 1,000 Goals, Keen to Keep Playing

Football - Saudi Pro League - Al-Nassr v Al-Okhdood - Al-Awwal Park, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - December 27, 2025 Al-Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring their third goal before it is disallowed after a VAR review. (Reuters)
Football - Saudi Pro League - Al-Nassr v Al-Okhdood - Al-Awwal Park, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - December 27, 2025 Al-Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring their third goal before it is disallowed after a VAR review. (Reuters)

Cristiano Ronaldo said his passion for the game remains undimmed and that he ​is still motivated to reach his target of 1,000 career goals after the Portuguese forward was named Best Middle East Player at the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai ‌on Sunday.

Ronaldo's double for ‌Saudi ⁠side ​Al-Nassr ‌on Saturday took his tally to 956 goals for club and country, and with the 40-year-old set to play on for "one or two more years" his ⁠target looks achievable.

"It’s hard to continue ‌playing, but I am ‍motivated,” he ‍said after receiving the award ‍for the second consecutive year.

"My passion is high and I want to continue. It doesn't matter where ​I play, whether in the Middle East or Europe. ⁠I always enjoy playing football and I want to keep going.

"You know what my goal is. I want to win trophies and I want to reach that number (1,000 goals) that you all know. I will reach the number for sure, ‌if no injuries."

Sports

Wawrinka ‘at Peace’ with Retirement but No Plans to Go Quietly

Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka serves to Great Britain's Jacob Fearnley during their men's singles match on day 2 of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland-Garros Complex in Paris on May 26, 2025. (AFP)
Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka serves to Great Britain's Jacob Fearnley during their men's singles match on day 2 of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland-Garros Complex in Paris on May 26, 2025. (AFP)
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Wawrinka ‘at Peace’ with Retirement but No Plans to Go Quietly

Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka serves to Great Britain's Jacob Fearnley during their men's singles match on day 2 of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland-Garros Complex in Paris on May 26, 2025. (AFP)
Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka serves to Great Britain's Jacob Fearnley during their men's singles match on day 2 of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland-Garros Complex in Paris on May 26, 2025. (AFP)

Three-time Grand Slam winner Stan Wawrinka said Monday he was "at peace" with his decision to make 2026 his last year on tour but insisted there were still goals to meet.

The 40-year-old announced this month that he plans to call it quits, with the United Cup in Perth starting Friday the beginning of the end for the popular Swiss star.

"Of course, I'm still passionate about the game, about the sport I love," he said.

"What I received from it, the emotion playing in a different country, coming back here with a lot of fans, a lot of support, so I'm going to miss that part, that's for sure," he said.

"The last few months, I've had time to decide whether it will be my last year or not, and for me, it's quite clear. I'm happy with the decision, I'm at peace with that."

Wawrinka won the Australian Open in 2014, the French Open a year later and the US Open in 2016, at a time when Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic were dominating men's tennis.

A former world number three, he is now ranked 157 after struggling with injuries but said he would work as hard as ever this season.

"I still want to play some good tennis, I still have goals. Hopefully I can come back in the top 100, finish on a good ranking," he said.

"I want to play the full year, the big tournaments, the main ones, and let's see my ranking in the next few months."

Wawrinka has 16 career ATP titles although the last came in Geneva in 2017.

He won Olympic gold in doubles alongside Federer at Beijing in 2008 and helped deliver a first Davis Cup triumph for Switzerland in 2014.

Wawrinka leads a Swiss team also boasting world number 11 Belinda Bencic at the mixed-teams United Cup where they are grouped with France and Italy.