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While Manchester United celebrated getting to a Europa League final on Thursday evening, it was back to the dread of their domestic campaign on Sunday.

Ruben Amorim has engineered triumph on the continental stage, but it’s safe to say things have been a disaster in the Premier League, now losing 17 times after their 2-0 defeat to West Ham.

In truth, it was a loss that rather summed up their season. Leny Yoro went off injured, errors led to the goals and they ultimately failed to score.

As soon as the Red Devils look to have taken one step forward, they take two back.

The league table paints a remarkable picture of just how bad Amorim’s side have been in 2024/25, with the two Europa League finalists, United and Spurs, sat in 16th and 17th place respectively.

So, where did it all go wrong on this occasion? Well, Manuel Ugarte’s performance certainly didn’t help matters.

Manuel Ugarte's performance in numbers vs West Ham

West Ham haven’t exactly been flying themselves this term, so this match represented a rare opportunity where the Old Trafford outfit could have won a game in the league.

Well, that hope was extinguished 26 minutes into the game when Tomas Soucek found the net. Mohammed Kudus did well on the left to fire the ball across the area and the big Czech midfielder bullied Harry Amass out of the way to find the net from close range.

The way in which they conceded in the second was shocking. Ugarte was robbed dismally of possession in the middle of the pitch by former United defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

Kudus then strode forward and when his pass deflected back into the path of Wan-Bissaka, his low cross found Jarrod Bowen at the back stick who had a tap-in.

It was a horrible moment for Ugarte whose role in second was described as “shocking” by the Express’ Alex Turk while Manchester Evening News’ Samuel Luckhurst dished out a 4/10 match rating and suggested that it ‘symbolised this United side: can cope in Europe but not in domestic competition.’

The numbers didn’t make for great reading either as far Ugarte was concerned either. Indeed, the Uruguayan completed 86% of his passes, a respectable tally, but only made one tackle, one interception and committed a single foul. He didn’t do a good job of protecting the backline at all.

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Still, he wasn’t given much help by Kobbie Mainoo ahead of him.

Kobbie Mainoo's performance in numbers

A year ago, Mainoo was enjoying a remarkable breakout year at Old Trafford. He was one of the first names on the teamsheet and would go onto score in the FA Cup final, before being named in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the European Championships.

Fast forward a year and it’s not been as plain sailing for the 20-year-old who has been in and out of the side towards the back end of the season, playing 90 minutes on Sunday but only featuring for nine minutes of the second leg win last Thursday night.

His performance this weekend demonstrated why he’s struggled to get going. Fielded as a no.10, as opposed to a deeper lying midfielder, the young England international hasn’t particularly enjoyed his best football under Amorim, failing to really fit the system he’s been deployed in.

While he didn’t make a notable error like Ugarte did, it’s safe to say that Mainoo was pretty anonymous during the game. Handed a 4/10 player rating by the aforementioned Luckhurst, he noted that ‘apart from one inviting cross that Hojlund was on his heels for, he never got in the game.’

During the encounter, Mainoo lost six of his nine contested duels and also lost possession of the ball on ten occasions from his 52 touches of the ball.

Mainoo vs West Ham

Minutes played

90

Touches

52

Accurate passes

34/39 (87%)

Shots on target

0

Shots off target

1

Successful dribbles

0/1

Accurate crosses

0/1

Ground duels won

3/6

Aerial duels won

0/3

Possession lost

10x

Interceptions

0

Tackles

2

Stats via Sofascore.

Considering he was playing in an advanced role, you’d expect to see the academy graduate engineering a spark but that was non-existent, failing to have an on-target effort at goal and also not producing a key pass.

While nothing is now riding on United’s league season, these are crucial matches for players in the United squad trying to stake their claim for a place in the starting XI in the Europa League final.

Mainoo certainly failed his audition on Sunday and should be dropped as a result. Amad and Alejandro Garnacho suit these roles a lot more.

Related He'd be unplayable with Amad: Man Utd make £42m talisman their top target

Manchester United have wasted no time in targeting reinforcements for Ruben Amorim’s side.

Posts ByEthan Lamb May 10, 2025

Over the last day or so, Liverpool fans received the news they’ve been waiting for all season long, with Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk both edging closer to extending their contracts at Anfield.

Both players were set to leave Arne Slot’s side at the end of the campaign with their deals set to expire, but the latest news has shed positive light on their futures on Merseyside.

It was reported that both stars are set to extend their stints with the Reds until the summer of 2027, with tying the pair down arguably the best business they could do this summer.

However, there’s no denying that Slot will still want to delve into the transfer market to further bolster his first-team squad, looking to build on the success achieved in the Premier League during his debut year at the helm.

One player has already emerged on their shortlist ahead of the summer, but they will face huge competition from another English side for his signature.

Liverpool plotting summer move for £40m sensation

According to journalist Graeme Bailey, Liverpool are firmly in the race to land Ajax’s 19-year-old sensation Jorrel Hato this summer, offering more depth at centre-back and left-back. Bailey states that ‘Liverpool like him’, but they won’t be alone in their pursuit.

Indeed, Arsenal are also said to be hugely interested in landing the teenager, with his versatility key to the interest from both of the English outfits.

He’s made 44 appearances across all competitions, registering nine combined goals and assists despite his defensive role, building on his progress in the Eredivisie after making his debut at just 16.

The report claims that Hato could be available for around the £40m mark this summer, with Slot keen on securing a move for his compatriot given his showings in recent months.

Despite his tender age, he would be a superb addition to the Reds first team squad, potentially becoming even better than one other star should he complete a move to Anfield in the coming months.

Why Hato could become a bigger talent than Van Dijk

Centre-back Van Dijk has been one of the leading factors to the success endured at Liverpool this season, being a key figure in Slot’s starting eleven, starting every single Premier League outing.

The same can be said for his entire spell on Merseyside, making over 300 appearances in his seven years at the club, cementing himself as one of the best defenders in the world – as seen by his Ballon d’Or standing a few years ago.

He may be 33, but remains as a pivotal member of the side, with his contract extension a boost to Slot, the squad and the supporters in their ambitions of building on their success in 2024/25.

Such a decision won’t scupper a move for Hato this summer, with the Ajax youngster able to learn off his compatriot and potentially become even better than the former Southampton star.

Hato, who’s been labelled “immense” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, was named in the top ten of the NXGN 2025 wonderkid list, having the potential to explode in Europe’s top five leagues should he move to the Reds.

Despite his tender age, the teenager has thrived in the Eredivisie, producing countless impressive stats that could allow him to catapult him to a level above that of Van Dijk.

When comparing his stats to the Reds’ captain, he’s managed to win more duels per 90, whilst also being dribbled past on fewer occasions – highlighting his defensive qualities.

He’s also won more tackles and registered more goals and assists, showcasing the threat he possesses at both ends of the pitch – having the opportunity to improve further as he continues his development.

With Van Dijk entering the final years of his professional career, it’s crucial that the hierarchy plot for his eventual departure despite his new contract, with Hato certainly the perfect player to learn off the elite talent.

Whilst £40m may seem a huge investment in such a young star, it could be a bargain if lives up to his potential, setting the side up for further success in the years to come.

Slot must axe struggling Liverpool star who's becoming the new Sturridge

Arne Slot has some calls to make at Liverpool this summer, potentially offloading multiple first-team members.

By
Ethan Lamb

Apr 10, 2025

All the stats highlights from Australia’s innings in Perth where they were bowled out for 104

Sampath Bandarupalli23-Nov-20240:47

What made Bumrah stand out?

104 Australia’s first-innings total in Perth is their second lowest in home Tests against India, after the 83 all-out in Melbourne in 1981.It is also Australia’s third-lowest total in home Tests since 1985 and their fourth-lowest total in the format against India.46 Lead in the first innings for India in Perth, the fifth highest by any team making 150 or less while batting first. The highest is a lead of 71 runs for England, who were bowled out for 113 while batting first against Australia in 1888 in Sydney.Related

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• Captain Bumrah makes his own rules to spark India to life

• Smith and Labuschagne's struggles part of an alarming trend for Australia

• How Bumrah left Australia reeling with his five-for

2 Previous instances of India claiming a first-innings lead in men’s Tests, despite scoring 150 or less while batting first. They took a five-run lead in the 2002 Hamilton Test against New Zealand, despite getting bowled out for only 99 while batting first and claimed a first-innings lead of 13 runs against England in the 1936 Lord’s Test, despite making only 147.37 Total runs by Australia’s top six batters in the first innings, the lowest for them in a men’s Test innings at home since the 22 runs they scored against West Indies in the 1978 Brisbane Test.97 Runs aggregated by India (59) and Australia (38) before the fall of the fifth wicket in their first innings in Perth. This is the lowest in a men’s Test match since the 67 runs by India and West Indies in the 1987 Delhi Test.Australia’s top-order batters made a total of 37 runs•AFP/Getty Images2 Number of partnerships across the first two innings in the Perth Test to survive ten or more overs. Rishabh Pant and Nitish Kumar Reddy added 48 runs in 14.1 overs for the seventh wicket for India, while Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood put on 26 in 18 overs for the tenth wicket for Australia.Each of the other 18 partnerships added less than 20 runs, the joint most in the first two innings of a men’s Test match.254 Total runs scored by India (150) and Australia (104) in their first innings at Perth. It is the lowest first-innings aggregate in a Test match in Australia since the 242 runs in the 1981 Test between the hosts and Pakistan at the WACA Stadium.9 Five-wicket hauls for Jasprit Bumrah in Tests outside Asia, the joint most by an Indian, alongside Kapil Dev. It was Bumrah’s second five-for in Australia. He has two each in England and West Indies, and three five-wicket hauls in South Africa.5 for 30 Bumrah’s bowling figures in Perth are the best by an Indian captain in men’s Tests since Kapil Dev’s 8 for 106 against Australia in the 1985 Adelaide Test. Bumrah is also the first Indian captain with a five-wicket haul in Test cricket since Anil Kumble in the 2007 Melbourne Test.

Pakistan captain backs team – and selection – after being swept aside in first Test

Danyal Rasool05-Dec-2022Babar Azam added his name to the growing number of people to express disillusionment with the Rawalpindi surface in the moments after England’s famous win in the fading light. As the fallout from the preparation of the pitch intensifies, the Pakistan captain, speaking at the post-match press conference, said he didn’t get the pitch he wanted, and that it inhibited the way Pakistan went about their game.”We have a lot of input in the pitch, but we didn’t get the pitch we wanted,” Babar said. “We couldn’t execute our plans. We wanted a turning pitch, but perhaps because of the weather and preparation, that sort of wicket couldn’t be created.”We are feeling very disappointed as a team. We had an opportunity to win the match. We were in the match the way we started. The way the batters built partnerships after lunch, we were quite confident. But then back-to-back wickets fell and when the new batters came in they struggled. That put pressure on us, but we need to give credit to England the way they fought and put in a real effort.”Related

• Rawalpindi pitch earns second 'below average' rating of 2022

• Why does Ramiz Raja think Pakistan have a problem with their pitches?

• Pakistan's craven conservatism no match for England team on a mission

• 'We don't do draws'

• England share the burden and the glory in Ben Stokes' crowning victory

Pakistan found themselves in comfortable, if not commanding, positions on a number of occasions across their final innings. When the fourth day drew to a close, Imam-ul-Haq and Saud Shakeel had put on 54 for the third wicket partnership and went in unbeaten overnight, looking in complete control against both seam and spin. On the final day, Pakistan went from the relative luxury of 176 for 3 and 259 to 5 to the poverty of losing their final five wickets for nine runs.”We’re not able to finish well when the opportunity presents itself,” Babar said. “When we get close to winning, we make some mistakes and end up failing to finish a game off.”After tea, when Agha [Salman] and Azhar Ali got out, it became evident things were slipping away. Naseem [Shah] and Mohammad Ali dragged it to the very end, but we shouldn’t have left it to the tailenders; our specialist batters should have won it.”Aside from the pitch, Pakistan’s team selection was the most contentious issue, with the home side handing out four debut caps and deciding against playing an allrounder. That backfired when Haris Rauf was unavailable to bowl in the second innings, leaving Pakistan a pace bowler light, without the option of a seam-bowling allrounder like Faheem Ashraf to bridge the gap. In addition, Pakistan opted to go for Zahid Mahmood over fellow legspinner Abrar Ahmed, despite the latter enjoying significantly more domestic success this season, a decision made to reward Zahid’s greater experience travelling with the team.Babar, however, was unwavering in his support for the team Pakistan put out, and unwilling to accept criticism of the implications it had for either balance or experience.”In our view we played the best XI. I’m happy with the XI we selected. We planned for this match and played the best XI we had. I don’t have any regrets with selection. Every side has its own way and ours is different. You can’t change your style suddenly and start playing the way the other side is playing. You have to play according to the situation, when to attack and when to defend. Everyone has their own plans and we try according to our plans. We planned to win. This wasn’t a match to draw, but a match to win. It was in our hands, after all.”Even England’s teatime declaration on day four, which seemed to have taken everyone by surprise, appears not to have caught Babar off-guard. “We expected them to play such cricket,” he said. “They played a similar style during their home series so we knew what to expect. We planned to play a similar brand in some ways but it can get difficult to stop a team scoring at 6.50. We didn’t bowl in the right areas at times, and got punished. They took the game away from us in the first innings. In the second innings we bowled on one side of the wicket and got wickets early. But credit goes to the way Joe Root and Harry Brook played in the second innings, because that was outstanding.”He also had warm words for the crowd at the Rawalpindi stadium, which heaved with fans across the weekend, and even on Monday, right until the final moments. That despite the dreary nature of the surface, with little realistic hope of a result until England forced the issue on the penultimate evening. The atmosphere had the air of an intimate gathering rather than a hostile cauldron, with plenty of support for Pakistan and about as much gratitude for England’s visit.”They’ve given support to both teams,” Babar said. “It was packed all five days. When you have a home crowd behind you and show the world that Pakistan cricket is alive and well, and they want other teams to come here too, that feels quite special.”The Pindi crowd has never disappointed us.”On the merits of Pakistan’s performance, though, it would be incredibly generous if the crowd felt the same way about the cricket side they had come to see.

If India can score another 80 runs, Bumrah and Shami may have just enough to bowl with

Karthik Krishnaswamy in Christchurch01-Mar-20201:31

In our team culture, we don’t look at blaming anyone – Bumrah

It isn’t often that Ravindra Jadeja prowls the fine-leg boundary, but that’s where he was when BJ Watling came to the crease. Was he there to ensure that the fleetest pair of feet on the ground was in position to get under the swirling, top-edged hook?There was a fielder at leg gully too, as Watling took strike to Jasprit Bumrah.The field was set for the bouncer, but Bumrah wasn’t bowling any. Instead, he kept bowling good-length balls angling into the stumps.Watling isn’t the sort of player who takes a big front-foot stride towards the ball. He can get stuck on the crease, sometimes, and he was getting stuck on the crease now, with Bumrah’s field possibly putting the thought of the bouncer in his head.There were two lbw appeals in successive overs, just before lunch, off big, booming induckers. Then, after lunch, came the sucker ball. The field was the same, but Jadeja had by now moved to point. It probably wasn’t designed to work out as perfectly as it did, but Watling failed to get his front foot moving quickly enough, or far enough, to drive the full tempter outside off stump, and he ended up slicing the ball squarer than intended, in the air, and Jadeja flew to his left to complete the catch.It’s no surprise to anyone that Bumrah can set up a dismissal, but if he was trying to bowl to these sorts of plans last week in Wellington, he hadn’t quite been able to execute them, failing to achieve the requisite level of precision with his lines and lengths.Bumrah was a different bowler on Sunday at the Hagley Oval. This was more like the Bumrah we had gotten used to, and almost taken for granted, in the months before his stress fracture.Getty Images

****

You know Mohammed Shami is bowling well when his follow-through extends almost all the way to the batsman, curves outwards right at the end, towards the slips, and finishes with a hands-on-head skip.The Hagley Oval saw this sight all morning and all afternoon on Sunday, particularly either side of lunch, when Shami bowled an unbroken 12-over spell, during which he never seemed to drop in pace or intensity. The last ball of the spell clocked 144.7kph.Shami had probably bowled with as much intensity in Wellington too, but the pitch there was on the sluggish side, offering bounce but not too much pace. Taller, hit-the-deck bowlers and swing bowlers could still prosper on that surface, but it wasn’t quite the pitch for his seam and skid. Rather than retreat to a holding strategy, Shami kept looking for ways to beat batsmen with attacking lines, and compromised on his control.This pitch was significantly quicker, and Shami’s natural length and line were made for it. As he usually does, he kept landing the seam perfectly, and the ball jagged this way and that, and occasionally swerved prodigiously after passing the batsman, causing Rishabh Pant all kinds of problems behind the stumps.Not needing to search too hard to find his ideal length, Shami was on the money right from the start, more or less. Like Bumrah, he was able to vary his lengths with precision. When Tom Latham began leaving him on length, for instance, he almost lulled him into a false sense of security by grouping a series of deliveries around a spot just short of a good length, outside off stump, before producing the fatal, fuller indipper that Latham failed to pick up.

****

When the day began, India needed Bumrah and Shami to be at their very best. They had been bowled out for 242, and New Zealand were 63 for no loss. They were missing Ishant Sharma, their banker, and his replacement, Umesh Yadav, was a bit of an unknown quantity in overseas conditions, having played just two away Tests before this since the start of 2018. They had no fourth seamer, and their spinner, Jadeja, wasn’t expected to bowl too many overs. They were 1-0 down in the series.Finding an ally in a quick, seaming pitch that quickened up even more on day two, Bumrah and Shami gave India exactly what they needed. With a little more luck against the lower order, they could have secured a bigger lead too. Instead, from 153 for 7, New Zealand recovered to 235 all out. By stumps, India’s position had eroded even further, with the loss of six second-innings wickets with just 90 on the board.But India are still in the game, with two recognised batsmen at the crease and another still to follow. Apart from the grass, which is still mostly green and alive, there are also indentations on the surface, caused by the ball’s impact on day one, when the pitch was softer and moister; these have since hardened, and could cause uneven bounce to come into play as well. If India can cobble together another 80 runs on Monday, Bumrah and Shami may have just enough to bowl with.

Oliver Rathbone stole the limelight after coming on as a late substitute as Wrexham held Watford to an exciting 2-2 draw at the Racecourse Ground on Saturday. The Red Dragons scored but they soon gave up on the lead as Watford went ahead just before the break. Phil Parkinson's decision to put Rathbone on the pitch late in the game, however, proved to be a masterclass as his team walked away with a point.

Wrexham show grit in Watford draw

Wrexham started the match on a positive note and looked motivated to get back to winning ways after their seven-match unbeaten streak ended against Hull City earlier this week. The hosts also drew motivation from the presence of their Hollywood owners, Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac, as the actor duo were present at the Racecourse Stadium to cheer for their team.

The Welsh outfit broke the deadlock in the 21st minute as Josh Windass followed a long ball down the middle from Matty James. The forward fired past goalkeeper Egil Selvik with a clinical finish to hand his side the all-important opening goal. 

The Red Dragons looked positive in their intent following the opener but suffered a setback around the half-hour mark when, against the run of play, Mamadou Doumbia equalised for Watford. The 19-year-old Mali international's shot from the edge of the box got deflected off Max Cleworth before lobbing over Arthur Okonkwo.

Three minutes before half-time, Watford went ahead and took the lead as Othmane Maamma stepped up and converted his effort. Phil Parkinson's side had the opportunity to restore parity towards the end of the first half, but one of their chances came off the post, while Lewis O'Brien's strike from close range went wide.

The Red Dragons looked underwhelming in their approach to equalise throughout the second half as Parkinson made a few changes after the break to inject fresh legs. Making the substitutions, however, proved to be a masterstroke, particularly Oliver Rathbone's introduction. The English midfielder was brought on the pitch in injury time, and within a minute, Rathbone scored the equaliser from outside the box to seal a point for his side. 

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Rathbone was the star of the show for the hosts as his cameo appearance earned Wrexham a crucial point against Watford. The Englishman was introduced in the 90th minute but he made the most of the opportunity he got by scoring a brilliant late equaliser. 

The big loser

Watford defenders did well throughout the second half to keep a firm check on the Wrexham attack and hardly allowed the opponent to threaten them inside their box. However, the backline failed to keep up the level of concentration as Rathbone scored the late equaliser and robbed them of an opportunity to pick up all three points.

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MatériaMais Notícias

O Flamengo venceu o São Paulo por 2 a 1, nesta quarta-feira (17), no Maracanã, pela 2ª rodada do Brasileirão. Luiz Araújo e De La Cruz foram os responsáveis pelos gols do triunfo, enquanto Ferreira descontou para os visitantes.

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➡️A boa do Lance! Betting: vamos dobrar seu primeiro depósito, até R$200! Basta abrir sua conta e tá na mão!

Com o resultado, o Rubro-Negro ocupa a liderança do Campeonato Brasileiro pela primeira vez desde a última rodada da edição de 2020. A equipe de Tite soma seis pontos e tem dois gols favoráveis no saldo.

✅ FICHA TÉCNICA
FLAMENGO 2 X 1 SÃO PAULO
BRASILEIRÃO – SEGUNDA RODADA

🗓️ Data e horário: quarta-feira, 17 de abril de 2024, às 21h30 (de Brasília);
📍 Local: Maracanã, em Rio de Janeiro, no Brasil
🟨 Árbitro: Anderson Daronco (Fifa/RS)
⚽ Gols: Luiz Araújo e De La Cruz (Flamengo); Ferreira (São Paulo)

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SÃO PAULO (Técnico: Tiago Carpini)
Rafael; Ferraresi, Arboleda e Diego Costa; Igor Vinícius, Alisson, Pablo Maia e Wellington; Luciano e Michel Araújo; Calleri.

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Middlesbrough’s search for their new manager looks set to be over, with a significant update emerging regarding the club’s process to replace Rob Edwards.

The exit of Edwards to Wolves has hurt Boro at a key point in the season where they are sitting second in the Championship table and pushing for promotion. He sent a message to the supporters upon leaving for Molineux, wishing the club well.

“This has been one of the toughest decisions of my career. In truth, I wouldn’t have considered leaving Middlesbrough for any other club. Wolves is a special club for me. It’s where I grew as both a player and a coach, it’s still where my family calls home. It has always been my dream to come back and these opportunities do not come around too often.

“Middlesbrough is an incredible club, with a fantastic owner, staff and passionate supporters. I want to thank everyone at the club for the opportunity to lead this squad, it is a great group of players that I genuinely hope and believe will deliver success this season. I could not be prouder of the environment we built together and how it all gelled together so quickly – the players, the staff, and the fans, who drive it all. I sincerely wish everyone at Middlesbrough all the very best for the rest of the season and beyond. Rob.”

It’s now a case of Boro nailing Edwards’ successor at the Riverside Stadium, and it looks as though their new boss may have been found, following a big new claim.

Middlesbrough reach verbal agreement with Kim Hellberg

According to Fotboll Skanalen, Middlesbrough have now reached a verbal agreement with Kim Hellberg over a move to the club, seeing him as the right man to come in for Edwards.

Boro look set to swoop in from under the noses of Championship rivals Swansea City, with the club having a meeting with Hellberg’s representatives in London.

Hellberg may be something of an unknown to some Boro supporters, considering he is only 37 and hasn’t managed in Europe’s top leagues yet, but he looks like an exciting young choice.

IFK Varnamo sporting director Enes Ahmetovic, who worked with the Swede in the past, has said of him: “An incredibly skilled football coach. He spends a huge amount of time on every detail. I’m completely convinced that Hellberg will coach much bigger clubs than IFK Varnamo.”

"Impressive" manager now interested in taking Middlesbrough job after talks

Would he be the right man to replace Rob Edwards?

ByHenry Jackson Nov 16, 2025

The 4-2-3-1-playing Hellberg is something of a gamble, at a time when promotion has to be the aim for Boro, but assuming he is the choice to come in, it will be fascinating to see how he fares.

How Middlesbrough feel about Raphael Wicky as Swiss manager holds Riverside talks

كشفت اللجنة المنظمة لبطولة كأس العرب 2025، عن تميمة البطولة المقرر اقامتها في قطر خلال الشهر المقبل.

وتستضيف قطر منافسات بطولة كأس العرب، خلال الفترة 1 حتى 18 ديسمبر 2025 وذلك بمشاركة 16 منتخبًا.

وأشارت اللجنة المنظمة لبطولة كأس العرب في بيان رسمي، اليوم الخميس، إلى أن “جحا” هو التميمة الرسمية لبطولة كأس العرب المقبلة.

طالع.. القناة الناقلة لـ مباريات كأس العرب 2025 بمشاركة منتخب مصر الثاني

وأوضحت أن التميمة تجسد شخصية جحا الشهيرة في التراث العربي، والذي يعتبر من الرموز الأدبية والفلكلورية في المنطقة بروحه الفكاهية وحكمته الظريفة التي كان يستخدمها لإظهار مفارقات الحياة اليومية. 

وتحظى شخصية جحا بشعبية كبيرة بين الأجيال في الوطن العربي، كونها تقدم رسائل أخلاقية واجتماعية لمواجهة تحديات الحياة بابتسامة.

وضمنت 9 منتخبات تأهلها تلقائيًا إلى بطولة كأس العرب، فيما يتنافس 14 منتخبًا على المقاعد السبعة المتبقية في مباريات التصفيات، التي ستقام قبل انطلاق البطولة خلال يومي 25 و26 نوفمبر في قطر.

وتنطلق بطولة كأس العرب يوم الإثنين 1 ديسمبر المقبل بمواجهتي تونس أمام الفائز من المباراة التأهيلية سوريا وجنوب السودان، فيما ستجمع المباراة الثانية بين أصحاب الأرض منتخب قطر مع المتأهل من فلسطين وليبيا.

🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨 رسمياً :

جحا ™ هو التميمة الرسمية لكأس العرب قطر 2025 ™ !

مستوحى من الشخصية الأكثر شعبية في تاريخ الأدب العربي، يجسد جحا ™ التقاليد الشعبية الغنية في المنطقة : ❤️🤩 pic.twitter.com/YFU4rF3fMe

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Liverpool star Federico Chiesa, who was once a teammate of Cristiano Ronaldo at Juventus, settled the GOAT debate as he picked Lionel Messi over the Al-Nassr star. It’s the question that has divided football fans for nearly two decades, and still, when both legends are at the twilight of their respective careers, the debate rages on. There have been contrasting opinions, but Chiesa has no doubt that the crown belongs to one man, and he is Messi.

The debate that will never die

For more than 20 years, Messi and Ronaldo have defined modern football. Messi is the elegant playmaker turned finisher, who has now won a record eight Ballon d’Or awards and every major honour possible. Whereas Ronaldo has emerged as the indomitable force of will, who carved his path through sheer discipline. He is still on a record-breaking spree and aims to become the first man to score 1,000 goals for club and country before he hangs up his boots. At Juventus, Ronaldo may not have reached the astronomical heights of his Real Madrid days, where he won four Champions League titles, but he left an indelible mark in Italy. His professionalism set a new benchmark in Serie A, but that was not enough for Chiesa to hail him as the best player in history. 

AdvertisementGetty/GOALWhat did Chiesa say on the GOAT debate

Speaking to Sky Sports, Chiesa didn’t hesitate when asked to pick between the two icons.

"I was lucky enough to spend a year with one of the greatest champions in football history: Cristiano Ronaldo," he began. "Seeing him live, his dedication, his mental strength, being decisive and being present in every situation was a constant inspiration for me. Cristiano is on a different planet. It was exciting to work with him and see what he does to be so strong." 

And yet, when the conversation turned to Messi, Chiesa’s tone shifted from admiration to awe.

"I have played with Ronaldo, and playing with him was incredible," he said. "They (Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo) are truly the best players in history. And to be completely honest, I have to say that Leo Messi is the best footballer in history."

However, back in 2019, when the two superstars were still at the peak of their powers, and Messi had not yet won the World Cup, Chiesa had a different opinion.

"For two or three years, I really struggled to get any playing time, as my physique wasn’t as well-developed as others my age," Chiesa told Undici magazine.

"When you are 14 or 15 years old, it feels like this desperate disappointment. I thought many times about giving up, but my family always believed and ultimately so did I. When I wasn’t playing, I’d try to think: I’ll play the next one. Working hard in training really paid off, it’s the push that got me to Serie A and now has me trying to improve week by week.

"It’s the same attitude as Cristiano Ronaldo. He doesn’t have the talent of Messi, but has won the same number of Ballon d’Or trophies. An exemplary professional like him proves if you want to reach the top and stay there, focusing on every tiny detail is crucial."

Ronaldo: 'The World Cup doesn’t define me'

Ronaldo has dismissed the idea that his career needs a World Cup triumph to be complete. Speaking to , the Portugal captain insisted his legacy stands without it, which is a complete U-turn from his earlier stance, when he admitted that it was indeed a "dream" to lay his hands on the World Cup trophy. 

"If you ask me, ‘Cristiano, is it a dream to win the World Cup?’ No, it’s not a dream," Ronaldo said. "To win the World Cup, nothing will change my name in the history of football, I’m not going to lie. One thing that I’m sure of [is] that I will enjoy the moment. The moment is the most important thing that we have. We are not qualified already. Enjoy the moment. 

"In my mind, I’m not thinking in that way. Of course, you want to win, yeah. When you compete, you want to win… for me, [winning the World Cup] is not going to change the way I see things. We won three titles for Portugal. Before, Portugal had never won [anything]. Portugal have never won a World Cup. ‘Yeah, but they can win.’ Yes, we’re going to fight for that. But [using it to] define [me] at 40 years old, 41? To define what? To define if I’m one of the best in history? To win one competition, six games, seven games? You think it’s fair? It’s not fair."

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Piers Morgan UncensoredRonaldo claims he is THE BEST!

Ronaldo’s record in international football speaks for itself as he has 143 goals in 225 caps. He is gunning to score 1000 goals for both club and country combined before he hangs up his boots, and when asked if he considered himself to be the best in history, he said: "Messi better than me? I don't agree with that opinion. I don't want to be humble."

Ronaldo signed a contract extension with Al-Nassr in the summer as he is chasing down his first league title in Saudi Arabia. They have embarked on a perfect start, winning the first eight games. He will be back in action against Al-Khaleej on November 23 after he has represented Portugal against Ireland and Armenia on November 14 and 16 in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers.