Cristiano Ronaldo Set for Record 6th World Cup as Portugal Routs Armenia to Qualify

Al-Nassr's Portuguese forward #07 Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the AFC Champions League group E football match between Saudi Al-Nassr SC and Tajikistan's FC Istiklol at King Saud University Stadium in Riyadh on October 2, 2023. (AFP)

Asharq Al Awsat

16:10-16 November 2025 AD ـ 25 Jumada Al-Ula 1447 AH

Asharq Al Awsat

16:10-16 November 2025 AD ـ 25 Jumada Al-Ula 1447 AH

Cristiano Ronaldo Set for Record 6th World Cup as Portugal Routs Armenia to Qualify

Cristiano Ronaldo is heading to another World Cup.
Portugal sealed its place at next year's tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico with a 9-1 rout of Armenia on Sunday.
Ronaldo missed the match in Porto but in his absence, Portugal ensured he would have the chance to appear at a record sixth World Cup, The AP news reported.
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner will be 41 by the time the tournament kicks off next June and Ronaldo recently it would be his last shot at winning the one major title to elude him. Assuming he retains his fitness, he is expected to be part of coach Roberto Martinez's squad.
That surprise defeat meant Portugal had to beat Armenia to be certain of top place in Group F and hat tricks from Bruno Fernandes and Joao Neves ensured there would be no slipup.

Osimhen Leads Nigeria Past Algeria into AFCON Semi-finals

Soccer Football - CAF Africa Cup of Nations - Morocco 2025 - Quarter Final - Algeria v Nigeria - Grand Stadium of Marrakech, Marrakech, Morocco - January 10, 2026 Nigeria's Victor Osimhen celebrates scoring their first goal with Ademola Lookman. (Reuters)

18:17-10 January 2026 AD ـ 21 Rajab 1447 AH

Osimhen Leads Nigeria Past Algeria into AFCON Semi-finals

Victor Osimhen scored one goal and set up another as Nigeria beat Algeria 2-0 in their Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final on Saturday to set up a last-four showdown with hosts Morocco.

Nigeria dominated the first half in Marrakech without scoring before getting the breakthrough within two minutes of the restart as Osimhen headed in.

The 2023 African player of the year then turned provider for the second goal just before the hour mark, setting up Akor Adams to put the Super Eagles out of sight.

Runners-up at the last AFCON two years ago in Ivory Coast, Nigeria came to Morocco still smarting from their failure to qualify for the upcoming World Cup but are dreaming of winning a fourth continental title here.

They were not intimidated by a Marrakech crowd of 32,452 which was almost entirely given over to the Algerian cause, but the atmosphere is likely to be far more hostile for Wednesday's semi-final in Rabat.

Algeria had beaten Nigeria en route to winning their last Cup of Nations title in Egypt in 2019 and this has been by far their best campaign at the tournament since then.

Their large support which descended on a stadium set against the backdrop of the Atlas Mountains was full of optimism after Vladimir Petkovic's side had impressed in the group stage and edged out the Democratic Republic of Congo in the last 16.

Yet a team featuring a formidable front three of Riyad Mahrez, Ibrahim Maza and Mohamed Amoura failed to muster a single shot in the first half and were lucky to be level at half-time.

Nigeria almost scored just before the half-hour mark, when 'keeper Luca Zidane got nowhere near an Ademola Lookman free-kick delivery and Calvin Bassey turned the ball towards goal.

However, Ramy Bensebaini got there just in time to hook it away from the line.

- Four in four -

They then should certainly have scored in the 37th minute as Adams found himself clean through but blazed his shot over the bar.

However, Eric Chelle's half-time team-talk clearly worked as his Nigeria side wasted no time getting their noses in front at the start of the second half.

Alex Iwobi found Bruno Onyemaechi on the left and his deep cross to the back post was headed low into the net by Osimhen for the opener.

The masked Galatasaray striker had gone seven Cup of Nations matches without finding the net before scoring against Tunisia in the group stage. He now has four in his last four matches.

Nigeria are also the tournament's top scorers overall with 14 goals in total after Adams made it 2-0 -- Osimhen was released in behind and unselfishly squared for the Sevilla striker to round Zidane and finish for his second goal in as many games.

Adams could have had another as he headed off the post when Osimhen held the ball up for him from the line, while Algeria never really looked coming back.

Tensions spilled over between the teams on the pitch at full-time, but it is next stop Rabat for the Super Eagles.

Sports

Real Madrid Not ‘Kamikaze’ with Mbappe Health, Says Alonso

Football - Spanish Super Cup - Final - Real Madrid Press Conference - King Abdullah Sport City Stadium, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - January 10, 2026 Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso during the press conference. (Reuters)

11:00-10 January 2026 AD ـ 21 Rajab 1447 AH

Real Madrid Not ‘Kamikaze’ with Mbappe Health, Says Alonso

Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso said he could take a controlled risk with Kylian Mbappe's fitness ahead of the Spanish Super Cup final on Sunday against Barcelona, but would not be "kamikaze".

French superstar Mbappe missed the semi-final victory over Atletico Madrid on Thursday but flew out to Saudi Arabia on Friday to join the squad before the Clasico in Jeddah.

Mbappe is recovering from a knee sprain he suffered at the end of December, which was expected to take three weeks to heal.

Asked if the forward, Madrid's top goalscorer this season with 29 strikes across all competitions, could play with pain-killing injections, Alonso said Madrid would be careful.

"It's a decision that we have to take between the staff, the players and the doctors," Alonso told a news conference.

"We have to measure the risk, to know the moment we're in, what we're playing for, and then take the decisions we take. But we are not kamikaze when we take decisions. It's a controlled risk."

Alonso explained that Mbappe was feeling a lot better after missing last weekend's win over Real Betis in La Liga and the derby clash against Atletico.

"He's doing a lot better, he wouldn't have been quite ready to face Atletico and we decided not to accelerate (his return)," said the coach.

"We had in mind that if we got to the final, according to how he felt, we could see about him coming here.

"When he trains today we'll have all the information we need and see if he's ready to start or to play a bit less."

Winning the Super Cup would be Alonso's first piece of silverware since joining Madrid last June and would ease the pressure on his shoulders.

The Spaniard appeared close to the sack towards the end of 2025 after a poor run of form, but Madrid have won their last five matches.

"Projects take time... we're evolving in terms of football, emotionally, the team's spirit," said Alonso.

"We feel connected with the players. These types of matches could have a big impact on the rest of the season."

- Mbappe the 'best' -

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said Mbappe is the man of the moment but backed his team to succeed despite his arrival in Saudi Arabia.

"At the moment Mbappe is the best striker... he's scored many, many goals, and he's a world-class player, that's what I can say," admitted Flick.

However, the German coach was keen to point out that last season his side beat Mbappe's Madrid on all four occasions they met.

Barca thrashed them 5-2 in last season's Spanish Super Cup final, as well as winning both La Liga Clasicos and the Copa del Rey final.

In their one meeting with Alonso's side this season, Madrid secured a 2-1 league win.

"How many Clasicos have we played in the last year and a half? And how many did we win? We lost one," said Flick.

"I know he's a fantastic player and for him with space behind the (defense) he's really great...

"We will adapt something, like we always do, but it's not especially about Mbappe, it's about Real Madrid, it's about how we want to play and how we expect they want to."

Sports

Bayern Still without Musiala and Kimmich but Neuer Back for Bundesliga Restart

Football - DFB Cup - Round of 16 - Bayern Munich v Bayer Leverkusen - Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany - December 3, 2024 Bayern Munich's Manuel Neuer walks off the pitch after receiving a red card by referee Harm Osmers. (Reuters)

09:58-10 January 2026 AD ـ 21 Rajab 1447 AH

Bayern Still without Musiala and Kimmich but Neuer Back for Bundesliga Restart

Bayern Munich will be missing several players including Joshua Kimmich and Jamal Musiala but will have keeper Manuel Neuer back for their Bundesliga restart against visitors VfL Wolfsburg following the winter break, coach Vincent Kompany said on Saturday.

The Bavarians, undefeated this season in the league, will also be without Sacha Boey and Alphonso Davies on Sunday as they ‌look to ‌extend their eight-point lead ‌at ⁠the top ‌of the table.

Kompany said Germany international Musiala, who sustained a fibula fracture and a broken ankle in the Club World Cup in July last year, was on the verge of a comeback but Sunday's match was ⁠still too soon.

"He will not be available yet for ‌this game," Kompany told a ‍press conference on ‍Saturday. "We are close but we don't want ‍to take the last step too quickly. This week was good for him. He did the full training sessions."

Bayern are in top spot on 41 points, eight ahead of second-placed Borussia Dortmund, who needed a ⁠stoppage-time goal to rescue a 3-3 draw at Eintracht Frankfurt on Friday. They will increase their lead with a win.

"I want to see our strengths, no matter the opponent," Kompany said. "I want to see us at home being Bayern Munich and even against tough opponents play our game."

Bayern have never lost in Munich against Wolfsburg in 28 ‌league matches, having won 26 of them and drawn two.

Cristiano Ronaldo Set for Record 6th World Cup as Portugal Routs Armenia to Qualify

Cristiano Ronaldo Set for Record 6th World Cup as Portugal Routs Armenia to Qualify

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Osimhen Leads Nigeria Past Algeria into AFCON Semi-finals

Osimhen Leads Nigeria Past Algeria into AFCON Semi-finals

Real Madrid Not ‘Kamikaze’ with Mbappe Health, Says Alonso

Real Madrid Not ‘Kamikaze’ with Mbappe Health, Says Alonso

Bayern Still without Musiala and Kimmich but Neuer Back for Bundesliga Restart

Bayern Still without Musiala and Kimmich but Neuer Back for Bundesliga Restart

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