ROSTOV-ON-DON, Russia: It is a decade since neither Cristiano Ronaldo nor Lionel Messi won the Ballon d’Or, so it is no surprise that naming the world’s best two players is as easy as both make the beautiful game appear.
Yet naming the third-best is not so simple. While there are solid arguments for players such as Andres Iniesta, Kevin de Bruyne or Manuel Neuer, most people would likely agree that the two most prominent contenders for accolade are Neymar and Mohamed Salah.
The World Cup provides the pair a chance to cement their position in the footballing hierarchy and possibly even threaten to dismantle the duopoly. A stand-out tournament — especially one in which their team surpasses expectations — and a Golden Ball battle would not be out of the question. After all, you have to go back to 1994 to find a Ballon d’Or trio that does not include a member of that year’s World Cup-winning side.
“Salah doesn’t play for a big national team, but he can have a good World Cup,” Neymar said recently when asked who he thought could shine aside from Ronaldo and Messi.
The two wide-men could hardly appear more contrasting. One is a Muslim with no tattoos and has sported the same hairstyle for almost his entire career; the other has passages from the Bible inked on his body and is being roundly mocked this week for his new “spaghetti-head” haircut.
It is a similar story on the pitch: While Neymar’s game is all about the aesthetics — filled with flicks and tricks and typical Brazilian swagger — Salah is more subtle and direct, using pace and intelligence to pop up in dangerous positions and hurt the opposition. However, although both are key figures for their team’s fortunes and clinical in front of goal, both are also returning from injury. Salah missed the Pharoahs’ defeat to Uruguay and Neymar looked far from 100 percent in Brazil’s clash with Switzerland on Sunday night.
Ronaldo had on Friday made clear his intentions for the month with a splendid, headline-grabbing hat-trick for Portugal against Spain. Messi had missed a penalty for Argentina and slammed a free-kick into an Icelandic wall from a similar position to where Ronaldo had curled his past David De Gea 24 hours earlier. Against the Swiss it was supposed to be the turn of Neymar, but, metaphorically and literally, his free-kick also hit the wall.
The Brazilian’s initial quest to elevate himself above the Egyptian and make a trinity of that exclusive two-player bracket did not go to plan. Despite Brazil starting the match in Rostov strongly and making penetrative, incisive passes, Neymar was too often a peripheral figure. After 30 minutes and with his side leading through a magnificent Philippe Coutinho striker, Neymar had completed only nine passes. By the end, he had made fewer successful passes than any other outfield teammate who played 90 minutes.
At 26 years old, Neymar is only now reaching his peak, but has already scored 55 goals in 85 appearances for his country, a record bettered only by Ronaldo (62) and Pelé (77). Yet while he may well go on and eclipse the two legends, both were two-time World Cup winners by their 26th birthdays. He will never be their equal without at least a winners’ medal.
In the 1-1 draw against the Swiss, Neymar too often sapped the pace out of his side’s attack, holding the ball and trying to invite a challenge rather than releasing a teammate. In doing so, not only did Brazil fail to create much of note — from their 20 shots at goal, only four hit the target — but Neymar also ended up spending much of the match lying on the ground.
At the 1966 World Cup, Pele was cruelly kicked off the field and resultantly out of the tournament. There were echoes of that as Neymar time and again was shoved or scythed, yet no protection was provided by the referee. When the final whistle sounded, the former Barcelona forward was the most-fouled player in a World Cup game for 20 years. Having only recently returned from a broken metatarsal, the site of his ripped socks suggest this was not play-acting either, even if his limping gait did become more pronounced only after the match.
“I was hit and it was aching, but (it’s) nothing to worry about,” he said. “After your body is cold, it aches a little more, but that’s OK. I have nothing to say (about the number of fouls). All I have to do is to play football, or try to do it. It’s for the referee to see it. I guess that will be normal (to be fouled regularly). We have to pay attention to it, but that’s something normal in football.”
Next up for Neymar and Co. will be Costa Rica on Friday, a match that now represents a must-win for the five-time champions. Before that though, the World Cup may get a glimpse of his contender to the throne — Egypt meet hosts Russia tomorrow. Mohamed Salah is expected to start.
Neymar misses the chance to steal a march on Mohamed Salah
Neymar misses the chance to steal a march on Mohamed Salah
- The pair are jostling for the spot behind Ronaldo and Messi
- But Neymar was underwhelming against Switzerland as he bids to find top form following injury
Las Palmas stun Barca on 125th anniversary, Atletico rout Valladolid
- Barca have now gone three league games without a victory, after a run of 11 wins in 12 prior in the top flight
BARCELONA: Las Palmas claimed a surprise 2-1 victory at La Liga leaders Barcelona on Saturday, spoiling the hosts’ 125th anniversary celebrations.
Atletico Madrid climbed provisionally second, within two points of Hansi Flick’s side with a 5-0 rout of Real Valladolid later on.
Sandro Ramirez sent Las Palmas ahead early in the second half and although Raphinha hammered home an equalizer, Fabio Silva struck to claim three points and take his team up to 14th.
Barcelona still lead champions Real Madrid by four points but third-place Los Blancos, who host Getafe on Sunday, have played two fewer games than the Catalans and Atletico.
Barca have now gone three league games without a victory, after a run of 11 wins in 12 prior in the top flight.
“We had a bad game, we have to look at what we’re doing badly to try and improve and win games,” Raphinha told Movistar.
“I don’t care about my goal, I care about winning, we didn’t win and I’m not satisfied with the game.”
Barcelona wore white shorts as part of their anniversary celebrations, as they used to back at the start of their history.
They held a gala in the city on Friday night to mark the occasion, having been founded on November 29, 1899, but came undone on Saturday afternoon.
“We have to (play) like we did at the beginning of the season... it’s a big disappointment today,” Flick told reporters.
“Today we have more than 70 percent ball possession but we’re not able to score the goals — maybe we have to change one or two things.
“We made some mistakes, but it was not the back four, it starts (with the players) in front, we have to speak about that.”
The Catalans were able to name teenage starlet Lamine Yamal on the bench after recovering from an ankle problem.
Raphinha came closest to breaking the deadlock in the first half, scoring from an offside position and hitting the crossbar after being played through by Gavi.
Flick threw on Yamal at the break, hoping the winger would give Barca the advantage after an even first half.
Las Palmas took a surprise lead early in the second half when Kirian Rodriguez played in Ramirez, who drilled home from the edge of the box.
Raphinha hit back quickly for Barcelona with a thumping long-range effort, but Las Palmas were soon ahead again.
Silva ran onto Munoz’s probing long ball and fired past Inaki Pena to restore the Canary Islanders’ advantage with his fifth goal in eight league matches.
Former Barca goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen made several good saves and Las Palmas survived eight minutes of stoppage time.
“It was a very important win, we worked hard for it, Barca put you under a lot of pressure,” midfielder Moleiro told Movistar after Las Palmas sealed their first away win at Barcelona since 1971.
Atletico Madrid romped to a five-star victory at bottom side Real Valladolid, with Antoine Griezmann scoring one of the goals of the season.
Diego Simeone’s team have won seven consecutive games across all competitions and moved two points clear of champions Real Madrid.
Clement Lenglet opened the scoring after 25 minutes and Julian Alvarez added the second.
Rodrigo de Paul swept home the third before half-time and Griezmann produced a wonderful turn and finish soon after the break to add the fourth on a memorable night for the Rojiblancos, which even some home fans applauded.
Alexander Sorloth wrapped up Atletico’s thumping victory in stoppage time.
Griezmann’s goal saw the French forward exchange passes with Alvarez before executing a sensational turn and beating goalkeeper Karl Hein with a delicate touch.
“I have to thank (the Valladolid fans), in the end it’s what all players want, we want people to enjoy it with us, whether it’s opposition fans or our own,” Griezmann told DAZN.
“In the end I have to be grateful for this love, I’m doing really well and I hope to give more.”
Atletico beat Sparta Prague 6-0 in the Champions League on Tuesday, meaning Simeone’s side scored 11 goals this week without reply.
“There are always things to improve, the team is always looking to do better,” Simeone told DAZN.
“We have to keep our humility, the nobility of keeping on looking for more... in the second half we could have done more... but I’ll stick with what the team’s giving me, with humility you can do anything.”
Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov re-elected president of fencing’s governing body
LAUSANNE, Switzerland: Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov has been elected to a new term as president of the International Fencing Federation while he faces ongoing sanctions.
The federation, known as the FIE, said in an emailed statement that Usmanov won 120 votes for a majority at the congress on Saturday in Uzbekistan, where he was born.
Usmanov was first elected FIE president in 2008 and his funding was key to fencing’s growth.
Usmanov said in March 2022 he would step aside from his duties as FIE president “until justice is restored” after he was placed under sanctions by the European Union following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Greek official Emmanuel Katsiadakis served as interim president since then.
Usmanov thanked his supporters on Saturday and said he would work for a “bright future” for fencing.
“As is well known, I am still subject to unjustified restrictions, which I am currently challenging in court,” Usmanov said in a statement. “In this regard, I declare that I have always acted in the best interests of the FIE and will continue to take all necessary measures to prevent the legally unfounded restrictions imposed on me being extended to the FIE and its activities.”
F1 champion Max Verstappen takes pole for Qatar Grand Prix
- McLaren driver Norris admitted his disappointment at missing out on a front row start
DOHA: Newly-crowned four-time world champion Max Verstappen claimed his first pole position for five months on Saturday when he beat George Russell in a tense and tight qualifying at the Qatar Grand Prix.
The Red Bull driver had forecast he would continue to struggle for pace after a disappointing showing in the earlier sprint race, but late set-up changes enabled him to clock a fastest lap in one minute and 20.520 seconds.
Russell was second for Mercedes just 0.055 seconds adrift of pole ahead of Norris, who needed a late lap to grab third for McLaren, 0.252 off the pace, ahead of team-mate Oscar Piastri and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.
Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton was sixth in the second Mercedes ahead of Carlos Sainz, in the second Ferrari, two-time champion Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin and Sergio Perez, in the second Red Bull.
Kevin Magnussen was 10th for Haas.
It was Verstappen’s career 41st pole and his ninth of the season.
“I didn’t expect that,” said Verstappen. “Honestly! But well done to the team to give me a car that feels a bit more connected — and once the car is a bit more together you feel you can push harder.”
The final seconds of the session saw Verstappen criticized by Russell for running too slowly in front of him.
“Super-dangerous by Verstappen,” said the Mercedes driver, whose thoughts prompted the stewards to investigate.
“I ended up going through the gravel and all over the floor it felt like it was scraping,” said Russell.
Norris admitted his disappointment at missing out on a front row start.
“It’s not what we hoped for, but it was the maximum we could do. My lap was pretty good, but not quick enough.”
Hamilton, set for Ferrari next year, finished sixth, admitting: “I don’t really care. I just want to get through these races, do my job, turn up and look forward to the winter break.”
After the early laps, Verstappen led before Russell went top in 1:21.519, a time that was seven-tenths quicker than Hamilton’s best as he struggled to extract matching pace on his way to ninth.
With four minutes to go, Russell offered Hamilton a tow which lifted him to sixth, 0.118 off the pace in a tight field before Russell trimmed two-tenths off his best lap in 1:21.241, beating Leclerc by 0.037 with Sainz third ahead of Norris.
Out went Alex Albon and his Williams team-mate Franco Colapinto along with Liam Lawson of RB, Haas’s Nico Hulkenberg and Alpine’s Esteban Ocon.
Russell began Q3 in the same style, clocking 1:21.161, but his top spot was quickly taken by Verstappen in 1:21.085, Red Bull’s set-up changes, following the sprint, paying dividends.
On his second run, Russell improved to go top again by 0.001 seconds, but it was not enough in improving conditions to resist a revitalized Verstappen, or Norris, who clocked 1:20.983.
It looked solid for McLaren, but in a final flurry of laps Verstappen went top in 1:20.687 with Hamilton rising to fifth, within 0.026 of Russell in fourth, and Alonso and Magnussen claiming top ten spots.
The ‘top 10 shootout’ began with Russell topping the pile in 1:20.575 ahead of Leclerc on their opening runs when Norris ran off at Turn Five and failed to clock a time before Verstappen slotted into second.
This left McLaren in need of a strong late lap in the final seconds as they all ran again and Verstappen, against his own forecasts, secured pole ahead of Russell and Norris — his first pole since the Austrian Grand Prix in June.
Milinkovic-Savic gets Al-Hilal back to winning ways
- Milinkovic-Savic lined up a free-kick just next to the ‘D’ and then curled the ball over the wall perfectly and into the top corner
RIYADH: Sergej Milinkovic-Savic was the hero as Al-Hilal came from behind to win 2-1 at Al-Shabab on Saturday and move back to within two points of Saudi Pro League leaders Al-Ittihad.
It was a dramatic Riyadh Derby with both teams reduced to ten men but thanks to the intervention of the Serbian midfielder, who scored both goals, a poor week for the champions ended on a winning note.
They feared the worst in the sixth minute when Abderrazak Hamdallah struck to put Al-Shabab ahead. Daniel Podence broke down the right and his looping cross eluded three defenders but the Moroccan forward found his space and stopped to find his spot past the diving Yassine Bounou for his fifth goal of the season.
Just eight minutes later however, Hilal were level. This time it was Joao Cancelo who supplied the –more delicate – cross from the right and there was Milinkovic-Savic to nod home from close range.
Hamdallah looked to have restored Shabab’s lead just after the half hour but the goal was ruled out for offside. A minute before the break however, Al-Hilal were reduced to ten men as former Chelsea defender Kalidou Koulibaly was shown a straight red for bringing down Hamdallah as he was bearing down on goal.
The one-man advantage did not last long as two yellow cards in the first 15 minutes of the second half saw Nader Al-Sharari dismissed and Al-Shabab reduced to ten.
Two minutes after the hour, Al-Hilal were ahead. Milinkovic-Savic lined up a free-kick just next to the ‘D’ and then curled the ball over the wall perfectly and into the top corner.
After throwing away a 2-0 lead a week earlier to lose 3-2 to Al-Khaleej, Al-Hilal held on to this one to move on to 31 points from 12 games, two behind Al-Ittihad who, earlier in the day, won 4-0 at Ettifaq.
Musiala saves Bayern from Klassiker defeat in draw at Dortmund in Bundesliga
- Leroy Sané fired the ball into the Dortmund wall of defenders and Michael Olize sent the loose ball back in for the unmarked Musiala
- It was the first goal Bayern conceded in eight games across all competitions
BERLIN: Jamal Musiala scored late to save Bayern Munich from their first Bundesliga loss of the season with a 1-1 draw at Borussia Dortmund in “der Klassiker” on Saturday.
Musiala – Bayern’s best attacking threat after Harry Kane went off with a first-half injury – headed the equalizer in the 85th minute after a Bayern free kick.
Leroy Sané fired the ball into the Dortmund wall of defenders and Michael Olize sent the loose ball back in for the unmarked Musiala.
Jamie Gittens provided the highlight of the first half when he left Konrad Laimer in his wake and raced clear before blasting the ball past Manuel Neuer in the Bayern goal in the 27th.
It was the first goal Bayern conceded in eight games across all competitions.
Kane went off with an apparent right hamstring injury shortly afterward.
Bayern mounted unrelenting pressure after the break with the Dortmund defenders increasingly content just to kick the ball away. The visitors kept pushing until Musiala duly scored.
Wirtz to the rescue
Florian Wirtz again made the difference for Bayer Leverkusen in a 2-1 win at Union Berlin in the Bundesliga on Saturday.
Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso initially rested his star player, but sent Wirtz on for the last half-hour with the score 1-1. Wirtz duly whipped in a brilliant cross for Patrik Schick to score the winner with his chest in the 71st minute.
It was the third straight game that Wirtz has set up a goal in the Bundesliga.
Leipzig humiliated
Leipzig, already five games without a win across all competitions, were humiliated 5-1 at home by Wolfsburg, a defeat that left coach Marco Rose in a tenuous position at the energy drink-backed club.
Wolfsburg piled on the pressure with two goals in two minutes by the fifth minute, before Algerian forward Mohammed Amoura got his second in the 16th.
There were whistles from the home fans after the goals, and again at the break after their team failed to muster a response.
It got worse after the break with Joakim Maehle heading Wolfsburg’s fourth.
Leipzig captain Willi Orban urged his teammates to fight when he pulled one back in the 82nd, but Wolfsburg substitute Kevin Behrens had the final say in stoppage time.
Demirović double
Ermedin Demirović equalized twice for Stuttgart to draw at Werder Bremen 2-2, Freiburg won against visiting Borussia Mönchengladbach 3-1, and Augsburg defeated last-placed Bochum 1-0 at home.
