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Ronaldo Prefers Rest to Playing in Club World Cup After Renewing Al-Nassr Contract

Football - Saudi Pro League - Cristiano Ronaldo renews Al-Nassr Contract - Red Sea, Saudi Arabia - June 26, 2025 Cristiano Ronaldo poses with Al-Nassr Chairman, Abdullah Almajeed after signing a two-year contract extension with Al-Nassr. (Al-Nassr Football Club Media Office/Handout via Reuters)
Football - Saudi Pro League - Cristiano Ronaldo renews Al-Nassr Contract - Red Sea, Saudi Arabia - June 26, 2025 Cristiano Ronaldo poses with Al-Nassr Chairman, Abdullah Almajeed after signing a two-year contract extension with Al-Nassr. (Al-Nassr Football Club Media Office/Handout via Reuters)
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Ronaldo Prefers Rest to Playing in Club World Cup After Renewing Al-Nassr Contract

Football - Saudi Pro League - Cristiano Ronaldo renews Al-Nassr Contract - Red Sea, Saudi Arabia - June 26, 2025 Cristiano Ronaldo poses with Al-Nassr Chairman, Abdullah Almajeed after signing a two-year contract extension with Al-Nassr. (Al-Nassr Football Club Media Office/Handout via Reuters)
Football - Saudi Pro League - Cristiano Ronaldo renews Al-Nassr Contract - Red Sea, Saudi Arabia - June 26, 2025 Cristiano Ronaldo poses with Al-Nassr Chairman, Abdullah Almajeed after signing a two-year contract extension with Al-Nassr. (Al-Nassr Football Club Media Office/Handout via Reuters)

Cristiano Ronaldo preferred to take a rest rather than play in the revamped Club World Cup, the Portuguese international said on Saturday after renewing his contract with Al-Nassr.

The Saudi Pro League club announced on Thursday that Ronaldo had signed a two-year contract which would keep him at the club past his 42nd birthday.

Speculation over the 40-year-old's plans intensified last month when FIFA President Gianni Infantino said discussions were underway about Ronaldo playing in the Club World Cup, despite Al-Nassr failing to qualify.

"I had some offers to play in the World Cup but I think it didn't make sense because I prefer to have a good rest, a good preparation, because this season will be very long as it is the World Cup season at the end of the year," Ronaldo said in a video posted by Al-Nassr on X.

"I want to be ready not only for Al-Nassr but also for the national team. So, this is why I decided to play the last game for the Nations League and not listen to anything," he added.

"And of course, to be in this club, which I love".

Ronaldo scored for Portugal in the Nations League final against Spain earlier this month which ended 2-2 before his side went on to beat the European champions on penalties.

The Portugal captain said his aim in staying at Al-Nassr was to win a major trophy with the Riyadh-based side.

"My goal, it's always to win something important for Al-Nassr. And of course I still believe in that" Ronaldo added.

"This is why I renewed the two years more because I believe that I will be a champion in Saudi Arabia".

Ronaldo, who joined Al-Nassr in 2022 after leaving Manchester United as a free agent, has scored 93 goals in 105 appearances for them in all competitions.

Ronaldo is also eyeing the 1,000-goal milestone in his career. He has scored 794 goals in club football and 138 for Portugal to take his tally to 932.

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Benzema Scores Hat-trick on his Debut for Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal

Soccer Football - Saudi Pro League - Al Okhdood v Al Hilal - Prince Hathloul Bin Absulaziz Sport City Stadium, Najran, Saudi Arabia - February 5, 2026 Al Hilal's Karim Benzema celebrates scoring their first goal with Nasser Al Dawsari REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed
Soccer Football - Saudi Pro League - Al Okhdood v Al Hilal - Prince Hathloul Bin Absulaziz Sport City Stadium, Najran, Saudi Arabia - February 5, 2026 Al Hilal's Karim Benzema celebrates scoring their first goal with Nasser Al Dawsari REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed
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Benzema Scores Hat-trick on his Debut for Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal

Soccer Football - Saudi Pro League - Al Okhdood v Al Hilal - Prince Hathloul Bin Absulaziz Sport City Stadium, Najran, Saudi Arabia - February 5, 2026 Al Hilal's Karim Benzema celebrates scoring their first goal with Nasser Al Dawsari REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed
Soccer Football - Saudi Pro League - Al Okhdood v Al Hilal - Prince Hathloul Bin Absulaziz Sport City Stadium, Najran, Saudi Arabia - February 5, 2026 Al Hilal's Karim Benzema celebrates scoring their first goal with Nasser Al Dawsari REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed

Karim Benzema scored a hat-trick and grabbed an assist on his debut for Saudi Pro League leaders Al-Hilal as they thrashed lowly Al-Akhdoud 6-0 on Thursday.

The 38-year-old joined Al-Hilal on Monday.

The former France striker made an immediate impact for his new side as he broke the deadlock in style with a back-heel touch after seizing on a loose ball inside ⁠the area shortly after the half-hour mark.

Benzema doubled ‌the score with a ‍low, close-range drive ‍in the 60th minute and four ‍minutes later completed his hat-trick with another close-range effort.

The Frenchman set up Malcom for Al-Hilal's fourth, shortly before being substituted in the 71st minute.

"It was an important game today. So we ⁠are happy, we play well, we do a clean sheet and we score so we are happy," Reuters quoted Benzema as saying.

"Everybody is good with me they give me everything so when I am on the pitch I give everything for them," he added.

Salem Al-Dawsari, the AFC Player of the Year ‌for 2025, completed the rout with a brace.

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Strasbourg Beats Monaco 3-1 to Reach French Cup Quarterfinals

Strasbourg's Paraguayan midfielder #10 Julio Enciso (2nd R) celebrates after scoring a goal during the French Cup round of 16 football match between RC Strasbourg Alsace and AS Monaco at the Stade de la Meinau in Strasbourg, eastern France, on February 5, 2026. (Photo by Frederick FLORIN / AFP)
Strasbourg's Paraguayan midfielder #10 Julio Enciso (2nd R) celebrates after scoring a goal during the French Cup round of 16 football match between RC Strasbourg Alsace and AS Monaco at the Stade de la Meinau in Strasbourg, eastern France, on February 5, 2026. (Photo by Frederick FLORIN / AFP)
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Strasbourg Beats Monaco 3-1 to Reach French Cup Quarterfinals

Strasbourg's Paraguayan midfielder #10 Julio Enciso (2nd R) celebrates after scoring a goal during the French Cup round of 16 football match between RC Strasbourg Alsace and AS Monaco at the Stade de la Meinau in Strasbourg, eastern France, on February 5, 2026. (Photo by Frederick FLORIN / AFP)
Strasbourg's Paraguayan midfielder #10 Julio Enciso (2nd R) celebrates after scoring a goal during the French Cup round of 16 football match between RC Strasbourg Alsace and AS Monaco at the Stade de la Meinau in Strasbourg, eastern France, on February 5, 2026. (Photo by Frederick FLORIN / AFP)

Paraguay midfielder Julio Enciso scored twice as Strasbourg beat Monaco 3-1 at home to reach the French Cup quarterfinals on Thursday.

Winger Martial Godo put Strasbourg ahead in the seventh minute to quickly end Monaco's bid for a fourth straight clean sheet.

Enciso struck twice in quick succession in the second half before striker Mika Biereth replied for Monaco in the 58th, The Associated Press reported.

Strasbourg's reward is a home game against second-tier Reims, last year's runner-up. Reims is the only team left not playing in Ligue 1.

Brazil forward Endrick's fifth goal in five games on loan from Real Madrid helped Lyon win on Wednesday.

Lyon will host Lens, while Marseille faces Toulouse and Nice is at Lorient in the other quarterfinals held next month.

Sports

Lookman Shines as Atletico Madrid Cruises Past Real Betis to Reach Copa Semis

Atletico Madrid's Ademola Lookman (R) celebrates scoring the 0-3 goal during the Copa del Rey quarter-final soccer match between Real Betis and Atletico Madrid, in Seville, Spain, 05 February 2026. EPA/Jose Manuel Vidal
Atletico Madrid's Ademola Lookman (R) celebrates scoring the 0-3 goal during the Copa del Rey quarter-final soccer match between Real Betis and Atletico Madrid, in Seville, Spain, 05 February 2026. EPA/Jose Manuel Vidal
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Lookman Shines as Atletico Madrid Cruises Past Real Betis to Reach Copa Semis

Atletico Madrid's Ademola Lookman (R) celebrates scoring the 0-3 goal during the Copa del Rey quarter-final soccer match between Real Betis and Atletico Madrid, in Seville, Spain, 05 February 2026. EPA/Jose Manuel Vidal
Atletico Madrid's Ademola Lookman (R) celebrates scoring the 0-3 goal during the Copa del Rey quarter-final soccer match between Real Betis and Atletico Madrid, in Seville, Spain, 05 February 2026. EPA/Jose Manuel Vidal

Ademola Lookman scored on his Atletico Madrid debut in a 5-0 rout of Real Betis on Thursday that sent Diego Simeone's team to the semifinals of the Copa del Rey.

David Hancko, Giuliano Simeone, Antoine Griezmann and Thiago Almada also scored for Atletico as it advanced to the last four for the third straight season.

Atletico will try to reach its first Copa final since winning the competition for the last time in 2012-13.

The draw for the semifinals — which also includes Barcelona, Athletic Bilbao and Real Sociedad — will be on Friday.

Hancko opened the scoring for the visitors in the 12th minute and Giuliano Simeone added to the lead in the 30th before Lookman got his first goal for Atletico on a fast breakaway in the 37th.

“I'm very, very happy, very proud to make my debut tonight, especial performance from the team,” said Lookman, who had only a couple of training sessions before being added to the starting lineup.

“Obviously the team and the staff and everybody has welcomed me very nicely. It has made it easy for me to settle in,” The Associated Press quoted him as saying.

Griezmann scored the fourth goal in the 62nd — with an assist by Lookman — and Almada closed the scoring in the 83rd.

“He came to help us and hopefully we can help him so he can continue to improve,” coach Simeone said of Lookman. "He has different qualities than the players we have and that will make us better.”

Lookman was signed from Atalanta near the end of the winter transfer window. The 28-year-old Nigeria forward had requested to leave Atalanta citing broken promises and poor treatment.

“We always open the doors to everyone who arrives here from the very beginning,” Griezmann said. “We have to enjoy these new player and hope that they help us like they did tonight.”

Mexico midfielder Obed Vargas also made his Atletico debut after being signed from the Seattle Sounders. He came off the bench in the 79th to replace Lookman. Another winter signing by Atletico, midfielder Rodri Mendoza, came on in the 66th.

Atletico and Betis will meet again on Sunday in the Spanish league, with Atletico as the host. Atletico is third in the league, with Betis in fifth place but 10 points behind Atletico.

On Wednesday, Iñaki Williams scored six minutes into stoppage time as Athletic Bilbao won 2-1 at Valencia to reach its sixth Copa semifinal in seven seasons, while Basque Country rival Real Sociedad made it to the last-four for the third straight season by winning 3-2 at Alaves.

On Tuesday, Barcelona beat second-division Albacete 2-1. Albacete had eliminated Real Madrid in the round of 16.