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Five Magic Cristiano Ronaldo Moments at Manchester United

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo during the Euro 2020 group B qualifying soccer match between Portugal and Lithuania Nov. 14, 2019. - Copyright AP Photo/Armando Franca
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo during the Euro 2020 group B qualifying soccer match between Portugal and Lithuania Nov. 14, 2019. - Copyright AP Photo/Armando Franca
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Five Magic Cristiano Ronaldo Moments at Manchester United

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo during the Euro 2020 group B qualifying soccer match between Portugal and Lithuania Nov. 14, 2019. - Copyright AP Photo/Armando Franca
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo during the Euro 2020 group B qualifying soccer match between Portugal and Lithuania Nov. 14, 2019. - Copyright AP Photo/Armando Franca

Dazzling debut - August 2003-- Ronaldo joined United after players urged coach Alex Ferguson to sign him following a pre-season friendly against Sporting Lisbon where the winger had dazzled. After a £12 million investment, Ronaldo made his debut in the red shirt coming off the bench with United a goal up against Bolton. Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs (twice) and Ruud Van Nistelrooy got the goals, but all the talk was about the new teenage winger.

That winking feeling - post 2006 World Cup-- Ronaldo was caught winking on camera as his United teammate Wayne Rooney was sent off for England at the World Cup, making the winger a hate figure across England. Instead of wilting under pressure he took the ascendency from Rooney at the heart of United, ending the season as player of the year and scoring the winning goal at Manchester City as United won the 2007 Premier League.

First Champions League goals - April 2007-- Ronaldo produced one of his first true world class performances at Old Trafford in a 7-1 Champions League quarter-final win over Roma. His snapshot opener and far-post tap in were in fact less impressive than his overall performance dominated the game, reported AFP.

Towering header - May 2008-- With Ronaldo's repertoire expanding, he added a new string to his bow with gravity defying high leaps to head goals home. One of the early examples was his opener for United in their Champions League final against Chelsea when he soared above the defense to bang home a Paul Scholes cross. The match eventually went to penalties and Ronaldo failed to convert from the spot when stepping up first. He threw himself to the ground sobbing in relief when Nicolas Anelka's spot kick was also saved as United emerged narrow winners in Moscow, despite his miss.

Puskas award - April 2009-- In December, Ronaldo became the first United player to win the Ballon d'Or as best player in Europe since George Best a full 40 years earlier. His final season, however, was over-shadowed by a lurking Real Madrid and ankle injuries. But in Porto, Ronaldo scored a 35-metre wonder-strike in a Champions League quarter-final that won United the match and him the Puskas award for best European goal of the season. Ronaldo himself said it was the best goal he had ever scored.

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Sports

Man City Eye Premier League Title Twist as Pressure Mounts on Frank and Howe

Manchester City's Norwegian striker #09 Erling Haaland (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's second goal during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on February 8, 2026. (AFP)
Manchester City's Norwegian striker #09 Erling Haaland (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's second goal during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on February 8, 2026. (AFP)
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Man City Eye Premier League Title Twist as Pressure Mounts on Frank and Howe

Manchester City's Norwegian striker #09 Erling Haaland (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's second goal during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on February 8, 2026. (AFP)
Manchester City's Norwegian striker #09 Erling Haaland (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's second goal during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on February 8, 2026. (AFP)

Manchester City can ramp up the pressure on Premier League leaders Arsenal by cutting the gap at the top to just three points when they face Fulham on Wednesday, a day before the Gunners travel to in-form Brentford.

Arsenal remain in pole position for a first title in 22 years, but City's dramatic late rally to beat Liverpool on Sunday could prove a turning point for Pep Guardiola's men.

Another defeat damaged Liverpool's chances of Champions League qualification and Arne Slot's threadbare squad face another tough task in midweek away to Sunderland.

Tottenham and Newcastle are in even deeper trouble in the bottom half of the table, raising doubts over the future of respective managers Thomas Frank and Eddie Howe.

AFP Sports looks at three talking points from the midweek round of fixtures:

Can City provide title twist?

Bernardo Silva conceded even the City players thought the title race would have been all but over with had they not turned around a 1-0 deficit with six minutes remaining at Anfield.

The question now is whether a seismic win for Guardiola's side can be the launching pad towards another league title.

City have made a habit of finishing strongly in Guardiola's six title-winning seasons in England, but have won just two of their seven league games in 2026.

"We need to believe and to start winning games. This is what matters in the end," said Erling Haaland, who is demanding more of himself in the title run-in.

The Norwegian is the runaway leader for the Golden Boot but has scored just once from open play in his last 13 appearances.

"I haven't scored enough goals since the start of this year and I know that I need to improve," added Haaland.

With a favorable run of fixtures before Arsenal visit the Etihad in mid-April, City have the chance to really test the Gunners mettle in the run-in.

Mikel Arteta's men have bounced back from their own January wobble with four straight wins in all competitions.

But a buoyant Brentford that have lost just twice at home all season will provide a stiff test of Arsenal's title challenge.

Liverpool face tough trek to Sunderland

Last season's title winners look increasingly likely to miss out on the Champions League next season with Liverpool now four points adrift of the top five.

Worse could be still to come for Arne Slot as they travel to a Sunderland side boasting the only undefeated home record in the Premier League.

Already short of options due to a mounting injury list, the Reds will be without their star performer in a difficult season, Dominik Szoboszlai, after his controversial late red card against City.

With Manchester United and Chelsea having on paper easier tasks this week, Liverpool could find themselves cut further adrift to ramp up speculation on Slot's future.

Spurs 'desperate' to avoid relegation battle

It says much for the domination of the Champions League by English sides this season that both Tottenham and Newcastle cruised into the knockout stages but find themselves mired in the bottom half of the Premier League.

The sides meet in north London on Tuesday with Frank and Howe under the spotlight.

Frank admitted Spurs are the more "desperate", sitting just six points above the relegation zone in 15th.

The Dane has so far been handed a stay of execution despite repeated calls for his head by the Tottenham support.

Howe, by contrast, remains a much-loved figure on Tyneside having ended the club's 70-year wait for a domestic trophy by lifting the League Cup last season and twice delivering Champions League football to St. James' Park.

He insisted on Monday he remains the right man for the job for now.

But with England and Manchester United reportedly interested in the 48-year-old, Howe may feel he has taken Newcastle as far as he can come the end of the season.

Sports

Grealish’s Season Over After Undergoing Foot Surgery

Football - Premier League - Aston Villa v Everton - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - January 18, 2026 Everton's Jack Grealish shoots at goal as Aston Villa's Lamare Bogarde and Ezri Konsa react. (Action Images via Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Aston Villa v Everton - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - January 18, 2026 Everton's Jack Grealish shoots at goal as Aston Villa's Lamare Bogarde and Ezri Konsa react. (Action Images via Reuters)
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Grealish’s Season Over After Undergoing Foot Surgery

Football - Premier League - Aston Villa v Everton - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - January 18, 2026 Everton's Jack Grealish shoots at goal as Aston Villa's Lamare Bogarde and Ezri Konsa react. (Action Images via Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Aston Villa v Everton - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - January 18, 2026 Everton's Jack Grealish shoots at goal as Aston Villa's Lamare Bogarde and Ezri Konsa react. (Action Images via Reuters)

Everton midfielder Jack Grealish has confirmed his season is over after undergoing surgery on ​a stress fracture in his foot, dealing a major blow to his hopes of making England's squad for the World Cup.

The 30-year-old, who is on loan from Manchester City, suffered the ‌injury during ‌Everton's 1-0 Premier ‌League ⁠win ​against ‌Aston Villa last month.

Grealish made 22 appearances in all competitions for Everton this season, scoring twice and providing six assists, and his form had prompted suggestions he could ⁠earn a recall to the national ‌side.

"Didn't want the season ‍to end like ‍this but that's football, gutted," ‍he posted on social media.

"Surgery done and now all focus on getting back fit. I know for sure ​I will come back fitter, stronger and better than before."

Grealish, ⁠who won three Premier League titles, the Champions League and the FA Cup with City, made his last appearance for England in October 2024 under caretaker manager Lee Carsley.

The World Cup will take place from June 11 to July 19 in Canada, Mexico, ‌and the United States.

Sports

Robot Dogs to Help Mexican Police at 2026 World Cup

This handout picture released by Municipality of Guadalupe shows robot dogs designed to help Mexican police tackle crime during the World Cup, unveiled by the city council of Guadalupe, Nuevo Leon state, Mexico on February 9, 2026.  (Handout / Municipality of Guadalupe / AFP) 
This handout picture released by Municipality of Guadalupe shows robot dogs designed to help Mexican police tackle crime during the World Cup, unveiled by the city council of Guadalupe, Nuevo Leon state, Mexico on February 9, 2026.  (Handout / Municipality of Guadalupe / AFP) 
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Robot Dogs to Help Mexican Police at 2026 World Cup

This handout picture released by Municipality of Guadalupe shows robot dogs designed to help Mexican police tackle crime during the World Cup, unveiled by the city council of Guadalupe, Nuevo Leon state, Mexico on February 9, 2026.  (Handout / Municipality of Guadalupe / AFP) 
This handout picture released by Municipality of Guadalupe shows robot dogs designed to help Mexican police tackle crime during the World Cup, unveiled by the city council of Guadalupe, Nuevo Leon state, Mexico on February 9, 2026.  (Handout / Municipality of Guadalupe / AFP) 

A pack of robot dogs will help Mexican police tackle crime during the 2026 World Cup this summer, authorities said Monday.

The four-legged robots are designed to enter dangerous areas and broadcast live video back to security forces, who can watch before taking action during the football tournament.

The global spectacle, which will take place from June 11 to July 19, is being hosted by Mexico alongside the United States and Canada.

The animaloid robots were acquired for 2.5 million pesos ($145,000) by the city council of Guadalupe, part of the Monterrey metro area, which will host one of the World Cup venues.

A video released by the local government shows one of the robots walking on four legs through an abandoned building and climbing stairs, though with some difficulty.

The robo-hound can be seen transmitting live images to a group of police officers walking stealthily behind it.

In the demonstration the canine robot encounters an armed man and orders him to drop his gun using a loudspeaker.

The purpose of the robot dogs is "to support police officers with initial intervention... to protect the physical safety of officers," said Guadalupe mayor Hector Garcia.

They will be deployed "in case of any altercation," he added.

BBVA Stadium, which will be known as Estadio Monterrey during the tournament, will host four matches.