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Erik ten Hag believes Alejandro Garnacho likely scored the goal of the season against Everton but criticised Manchester United's first-half display.

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Garnacho scored awesome goal against EvertonTen Hag agrees it may be season's best strikeBut coach critical of team's performanceWHAT HAPPENED?

Garnacho gave United an early lead at Goodison Park on Sunday with a stunning overhead kick goal, drawing immediate comparisons to Wayne Rooney's iconic effort against Manchester City. The 19-year-old's wonderstrike has immediately been hailed as a goal of the season contender and while Ten Hag agrees, he was not happy with the way his team played afterwards.

AdvertisementGettyWHAT TEN HAG SAID

"Probably goal of the season. Also the build-up, not just the finish, was very good. The finish is fantastic," he told . "After the start of the game we were too easy-going. I criticised the team at half-time. They thought they were already there. You can't do that. You have to do 100 minutes on the pitch. Second half we did very well."

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Argentina international Garnacho was elated with his effort, saying: "I cannot believe it. To be honest I just turned around and thought 'oh my god'. One of the best I have scored – I am happy."

Asked if he will win the award for best goal in 2023-24, he said: "Probably! It is still November, but yes."

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DID YOU KNOW?

The overhead kick was not the only example of Garnacho emulating Rooney on Sunday. At the age of 19 years and 148 days, the winger broke the United hero's record as the youngest Red Devils star to score against Everton at Goodison Park.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has admitted that his side could be better at the back, with a move for a new defender a priority in the upcoming window

With the end of the season fast approaching, planning has begun at Manchester United for the next campaign and how Ole Gunnar Solskjaer can take his team from title challengers to real contenders.

Manchester City look set to run away with the 2020-21 Premier League trophy but United’s results – and some of their performances – this season have shown that perhaps with a couple of tweaks they could have what it takes to properly push for top spot.

There are arguments for strengthening in a number of positions but, with Covid-19 affecting finances, the club will unlikely be able to fund every single one of their targets.

One of the main priorities is a centre-back. Victor Lindelof has come under fire for his performances in recent weeks and there is not enough depth in the position. 

Solskjaer admitted ahead of his side’s clash against Chelsea this weekend that he wants to see defensive improvements from the whole team.

“We know we have scored a lot of goals and of course we need to be a better team defensively,” Solskjaer said. “We have conceded too many goals so we need to improve on that and winning tighter games.”

It is understood, therefore, that United are in the market for a central defender this summer. Here, Goal analyses the names they’ve looked at in the past, a wild card and a few candidates for the future to potentially solve their defensive dilemmas.

Also considered are a couple of in-house solutions should United fail to get the deal done. 

Getty ImagesJules Kounde – Sevilla

Kounde is one of the hottest defensive prospects in Europe and it’s hardly surprising United are interested in the 22-year-old.

Manchester City tried to land him last summer but ended getting up Ruben Dias instead after being put off by the price set by Sevilla. Afterwards, sporting director Monchi admitted that their price may have been inflated.

It will be interesting to see what kind of bid might prove to be acceptable this summer. A compromise would have to be reached as United would not be willing to pay over the odds, especially in the current climate.

Although Solskjaer is after a left-footed centre-back and Kounde is right-footed, he is comfortable on the left side and also fits the profile as a young, exciting player – the kind of player that the United boss wants to fill his side with.

Another positive is that he is able to play right-back. United have been looking at right-backs to provide competition for Aaron Wan-Bissaka. If budgets become a problem and decisions have to be made over which positions to prioritise that could prove to be a benefit.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesDavid Carmo – Braga

Portuguese defender Carmo is another who fits the profile as the kind of player Solskjaer is keen to have in his squad.

The 21-year-old centre-back, who has already been likened to Virgil van Dijk, also fits the bill in terms of being left-footed. He would compliment the right-footed centre-backs Solskjaer already has at his disposal.

Real Madrid are also believed to be keeping an eye on the Braga stopper, while he was briefly linked with Liverpool in the January window.

Carmo is currently recovering from a bad ankle injury suffered two weeks ago which saw him leave the pitch in an ambulance.

Nevertheless, he remains on Solskjaer’s watchlist.

Getty ImagesIbrahima Konate – RB Leipzig

Young Frenchman Ibrahima Konate is another hot prospect when it comes to centre-backs in Europe.

The RB Leipzig defender has been linked with the majority of the big Premier League clubs and has been monitored by United.

The 21-year-old has developed a good relationship with compatriot Dayot Upamecano and their success in Julian Nagelsmann's backline has led to interest from a variety of clubs.  

With Upamecano already agreeing to join Bayern Munich in the summer, it is hard to see Leipzig letting the other key man in their defence leave in the same window.

The fact that Konate has attracted attention from a number of clubs is even more striking given that he has missed a large chunk of this season through injury and has only started four times in the Bundesliga. 

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Getty ImagesRaphael Varane – Real Madrid

Compared to the other, younger candidates, Raphael Varane is heading towards the veteran category at 27 years old. That would not be seen as a negative though with Solskjaer having such a young dressing room.

The United boss has regularly spoken about the experience of older players helping to mould the younger generations and Varane has had plenty of experience at Real Madrid and also in winning the World Cup with France.

A proven winner, he’s out of contract in the summer of 2022 and has yet to agree an extension which could see him move on in the next window.

The United hierarchy are believed to be admirers and his key attributes would compliment captain Harry Maguire at the back.

Prague has a proud history of producing supremely talented footballers, with stars going through the doors at Sparta and Slavia

The Czech Republic is frequently described as a 'Dark Horse' in European football thanks to its long history of nurturing quality footballers. The capital city, Prague, is a hotbed of talent, with an ever-growing list of stars emerging from the city.

Clubs such as Sparta Prague and Slavia Prague (read more about them here!), as well as Bohemians, have all played their part, though, very often the best players are snapped up quickly and ushered off into the arms of Europe's elite teams.

Here, GOAL takes a look at some of the best footballers who come from or are indelibly associated with Prague.

Prague is one of GOAL's Soccer Cities 23 – find out more here!

GettyTomas Rosicky

Affectionately known as 'Little Mozart', Tomas Rosicky is one of Prague's most famous and talented football sons. The diminutive playmaker comes from a soccer family, with his father Jiri playing for Sparta Prague in the 1970s, while his brother also spent time at the club.

Rosicky broke into the Sparta Prague first team as a teenager and played a part in securing back-to-back league titles in 1999 and 2000, but his ability was such that Europe's elite were forced to sit up and take notice.

Borussia Dortmund came knocking and made him the most expensive player in Bundesliga history when they forked out DM 25 million (equivalent €12.7m today) for his services in 2001. Arsenal was Rosicky's next port of call in 2006 and he earned cult hero status with the Premier League club, helping them to FA Cup glory in 2014.

AdvertisementGPavel Nedved

Pavel Nedved may not be a Prague native, but his performances for Sparta Prague, and indeed the Czech Republic national team, in the 1990s were the catalyst for his future career success. Czech fans of a certain vintage will fondly recall his pivotal role in the national team's run to the final of Euro 96.

A truly complete midfielder, capable of playing anywhere across the line, Nedved played a part in three league titles for Sparta between 1992 and 1995 before moving on to Serie A, where he shone first for Lazio and later Juventus.

Indeed, his displays for Juve earned him the Ballon d'Or in 2003 as he saw off challenges from the likes of Thierry Henry and Paolo Maldini. He remains, to this day, the only Czech player to win the prestigious accolade.

GettyVladimir Smicer

Vladimir Smicer is a Premier League legend for Liverpool fans, but he is also a heroic figure in Prague, where he dazzled in the red and white of Slavia. The 80-cap Czech international began his career in the capital at Slavia and helped them to a league title in 1996.

His career subsequently took him to France and England – he enjoyed a trophy-laden six years at Anfield, even winning the Champions League – but he made a triumphant return to Prague in 2007, helping Slavia to two more titles.

Smicer was born in Decin, but is now an adopted son of Prague having lived there for the last quarter of a century and he proudly showed the city off to us ahead of the 2023 Europa Conference League final – check it out below!

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GettyPetr Cech

Petr Cech is one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time and Sparta Prague played their part in his remarkable journey when they signed him from Chmel Bisany.

Indeed, while Cech's time in the capital was brief – just one season – his contribution was strongly felt as he went 903 competitive minutes without conceding a goal, setting a new record in the process.

Cech left Sparta Prague for Rennes, joining the French club for a reported €5.5 million and his career went from strength to strength, first at Chelsea, where he won four Premier League titles and the Champions League, then at Arsenal, where he secured an FA Cup.

With 124 caps for Czech Republic, he is the most-capped player in the history of the national team and his status as a legend is unquestioned.

Son Heung-min is perhaps the best Asian player to grace the Premier League, but how many goals has the Spurs superstar scored in his career?

Son Heung-min is arguably the greatest Asian footballer in Premier League history, and perhaps even the entirety of European Football.

During the 2022 Ballon d'Or, Son placed 11th in the rankings, the highest an Asian has ever finished in the award's long history.

The South Korean star has impressed ever since he left his country and joined Hamburger SV's academy as a 16-year-old in 2008.

His rapid rise into one of the most renowned goal-scoring wingers in football today might have come as a surprise to some, yet those who have seen him since his early days knew how much determination and motivation his father instilled in him.

Son's goalscoring ability was clear to see from the moment he established himself at Hamburg, but he reached another level with Tottenham Hotspur under Mauricio Pochettino, Jose Mourinho and then Antonio Conte.

But just how many goals has he scored so far in his career?

Getty ImagesHow many goals has Son scored for Tottenham Hotspur

When Son moved from Bayer Leverkusen to Tottenham Hotspur in 2015 for £22m, he became the most expensive Asian footballer in history.

Considering how his career with Spurs has panned out, that fee has proven to be an absolute steal.

It took some time for Son to adapt to his new team and a new league in his first season, but he was pivotal for Tottenham Hotspur in their challenge for the Premier League title, even if they just missed out on the trophy in the end.

Since then he has gone on the lay several new benchmarks for Asian footballers in European football.

He has gone on to become the highest-scoring Asian footballer in the Premier League and Champions League, becoming the highest-scoring Asian in European football in the process.

In 2021-22, under Antonio Conte he recorded his best-ever goal tally, which led Son to become the first-ever Asian footballer to win the Premier League Golden Boot.

Forming a dangerous link with team-mate Harry Kane, the duo has helped Tottenham Hotspur reach new heights and will be hoping to soon end the club's long trophy drought.

Season

Games

Goals

2023-24

3

–

2022-23

47

14

2021-22

45

24

2020-21

51

22

2019-20

41

18

2018-19

48

20

2017-18

53

18

2016-17

47

21

2015-16

40

8

Total

375

145

AdvertisementGetty ImagesSon's record for Bayer Leverkusen

Son's move from Hamburger SV to Bayer Leverkusen for €10m in 2013 made him their then club-record signing.

He was quick to repay the club's trust in him by adapting easily in his first season. Son would help Bayer Leverkusen reach the Champions League, scoring the goal which secured their place in the tournament.

The following season Son improved upon his goal tally from the previous year as he became Bayer Leverkusen's top scorer in the league and again helped them secure a place in the Champions League spots.

By the end of the season, big clubs in Europe had started to eye the South Korean superstar in the making, with Tottenham Hotspur eventually bringing him to White Hart Lane.

Season

Games

Goals

2015-16

2

0

2014-15

42

17

2013-14

43

12

Total

87

29

GettySon's tally for Hamburg

Son was only 16 years old when he moved to Hamburg's academy in 2008, but he would impress many at the club and found himself in the first-team squad within two years, eventually becoming the youngest goalscorer in their Bundesliga history.

Son would be essential for Hamburg's survival in the Bundesliga during his second season. His goals at the end of the campaign would be crucial in helping them escape relegation.

In his second season, Son doubled his previous tally, with his brace against heavyweights Borussia Dortmund bringing him into the limelight as one of the top prospects in European football.

Season

Games

Goals

2010-11

14

3

2011-12

30

5

2012-13

34

12

Total

78

20

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GettySon's record for South Korea

Son has made South Korea proud through his performances abroad, but he may feel has more to achieve with his country.

This doesn't mean he hasn't made waves with them, though!

Since he made his international debut in 2010, Son has been crucial for South Korea's successes.

In his first tournament at the Asian Cup in 2011, Son would become the youngest goalscorer in the competition's history by scoring against India. He has represented South Korea in two World Cups and is their joint-highest scorer in the tournament with three goals.

In 2015, Son almost helped South Korea taste gold in the Asian Cup, however, they would lose in extra time to hosts Australia.

The 2018 Asian Games would finally see Son get success with the national side, helping South Korea win the tournament and get the gold medal.

Son will be hoping to become the country's all-time top scorer and displace another Bundesliga great Cha Bum-kun.

Year

Games

Goals

202332

2022

10

5

2021

8

4

2020

3

0

2019

13

3

2018

13

3

2017

9

3

2016

6

1

2015

12

9

2014

12

2

2013

11

4

2012

3

0

2011

7

1

2010

1

0

Total

111

37

India batsman Yuvraj Singh has been ruled out of the World T20 following the ankle injury that he sustained while batting against Australia in the Super 10 game in Mohali

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Mar-2016India batsman Yuvraj Singh has been ruled out of the rest of the World T20 following the ankle injury he sustained while batting against Australia on Sunday. Manish Pandey has been named as his replacement in the 15-man squad.Yuvraj had landed awkwardly on his left ankle off the second ball he faced in Mohali and immediately felt pain and needed attention from the physio. Although he batted for 18 balls and spent half an hour in the middle, his movement was restricted and he had trouble running between the wickets.Pandey, who had struck an ODI century the last time he played for India, had been put on standby, and was seen practicing at Brabourne stadium on Tuesday in the lead up to India’s semi-final against West Indies in Mumbai. That 104 not out came in Australia in January and since then Pandey has not played any competitive cricket.India also have Ajinkya Rahane, who has been with the team since the start of the tournament, to call on. The team management, including captain MS Dhoni, has been vocal about Rahane’s best place in the XI being in the top three, but Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli have been the regulars at those positions for a long time.

Sebastian Caceres has revealed the plan Uruguay followed to stop Lionel Messi during their World Cup qualifier against Argentina.

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Caceres reveals Marcelo Bielsa's plan to stop MessiUgarte and Caceres were responsible for marking MessiUruguay beat Argentina 2-0WHAT HAPPENED?

The Club America star was handed the responsibility of keeping a check on Messi, alongside Manuel Ugarte, during Uruguay's World Cup qualifying game against Argentina. Uruguay boss Marcelo Bielsa told the pair not to be intimidated by the Inter Miami superstar as La Celeste clinched a shock 2-0 win over the reigning world champions earlier this month.

AdvertisementWHAT CACERES SAID

Speaking to reporters, the 24-year-old said: "He told us not to be afraid to follow him, that whoever was closest would make him uncomfortable. In the first half, Manu Ugarte did it but when he got yellow we changed and in the second half it was my turn to mark him. If he went too far from my zone I let him, but the priority was to follow him without fear. The idea is that there would be no free player left and if Messi moved too far from the area that I had to defend I would leave him and another teammate would take him."

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The heated clash between the South American neighbours saw tempers flaring on both ends. Ugarte got embroiled in a controversy that saw him make an obscene gesture towards Rodrigo De Paul during the match, indicating that the midfielder was Messi’s “bottle feeder”.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR ARGENTINA?

Lionel Scaloni's side came back strongly after the setback against Uruguay as they travelled to Brazil for their sixth qualifying game and secured a 1-0 win over their rivals to end the year on a high. Argentina sit top of the CONMEBOL qualifying table with 15 points after six games, two ahead of Uruguay.

ESPNcricinfo reporter Daniel Brettig was taken to hospital in Dominica on Saturday night after being mugged by men armed with knives in the capital city Roseau

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Jun-2015ESPNcricinfo reporter Daniel Brettig was taken to hospital in Dominica on Saturday night after being mugged by men armed with knives in the capital city Roseau.Brettig was attacked by two men and thrown to the ground after withdrawing cash from an ATM a short walk away from the Australian team hotel, and had his wallet and phones stolen.He was treated at hospital for a cut to the head, a bloody nose and other grazes, but said the incident would not taint his view of the Caribbean.”After nearly 10 years of touring maybe I had got too comfortable, but Dominica was certainly not particularly high on my list of dangerous places,” Brettig said. “It goes to show that we must be extremely careful wherever we are in the world, and that we must also look after each other and operate in groups.”The mugging itself was pretty awful and violent, although it could of course been so much worse. Quite early in the confrontation you realise that your valuables are meaningless without your life, and they can all be replaced.”Brettig had visited Dominica previously in 2012 to cover Australia’s Test match there, and said he had fond memories of the country.”I’m grateful to the overwhelming majority of the local population for how much they have worked to try to help me, from the two young men who helped me out of the street where I’d been attacked, to hotel staff, police and others,” he said. “They deserve better than to have their country dragged through the mud by a few thugs and thieves.”I’m also grateful for the kind words and gestures of the Australian team on tour, nearly all of whom have wished me well over the past day. The vigilance of the team security manager, Frank Dimasi, should not be underestimated. Equally, I am thankful for the supportive words I’ve received from the cricketing family back home.”I don’t want to let this episode dissuade me from travelling to the Caribbean nor touring generally, but I will certainly be doing so in more cautious ways in future.”Another Australian tourist travelling with a group of cricket fans was also mugged in Dominica on the same night in a separate incident.The first Test finished in Dominica on Friday, and the teams will move on to Jamaica for this week’s second Test.

As the Turkey midfielder prepares to move back to his homeland, Goal takes a look at some of the least successful buys in Blaugrana history

Getty ImagesArda Turan

The Turkey midfielder arrived at Barca in the summer of 2015 for a fee of €34 million, but had to wait six months for his debut as the Catalans were banned by FIFA from registering new players for a year due to irregularities in the recruitment of youngsters.

The 30-year-old has made only 55 appearances since then, each one costing the club around €1m when the transfer fee and his wages are taken into account.

He has not played a single minute this season and after all the excitement when he arrived, Barca fans will now he happy to see him leave, as he moves closer to a return to his homeland this month.

AdvertisementGettyDmytro Chygrnskiy

A strange signing by Barcelona in 2009, Dmytro Chygrynskiy spent just one season at the Catalan club, and it was a disappointing one for the Ukrainian international.

After arduous negotiations with Shakhtar Donetsk, Barca completed a €25m deal for the centre-back in the summer of 2009 and his last game was a UEFA Super Cup loss against the Catalan club he would later join.

But he made only 14 appearances for Barca's first team and was sold back to Shakhtar for €15m in the summer of 2010 as incoming president Sandro Rosell insisted the club needed the money to pay debts incurred during Joan Laporta's tenure – even though coach Pep Guardiola had wanted to keep the defender.

Getty ImagesAlex Song

In the summer of 2012, Barcelona were looking for a player who could operate as a defensive midfielder and also as a centre-back. And after baulking at the €40m asking price of Athletic Club's Javi Martinez, they signed Alex Song from Arsenal.

However, a disastrous display by the Cameroonian in defence proved he would not be very useful in that position and he did not seem suited to Barca's playing style in midfield either as some of their worst performances came when he was in the team.

He then embarrassed himself in Barca's title celebrations by stepping forward to claim the Liga trophy from captain Carles Puyol when the Catalan had been beckoning Eric Abidal instead. After two seasons, Song left to join West Ham.

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GettyAlex Hleb

Alex Hleb joined Barca for €17m in the summer of 2008 and although he did make a number of first-team appearances for the Catalan club, he did not really play much of a part in the team's treble triumph that season.

The Belarus midfielder had impressed in his three seasons at Arsenal, but his 36 appearances for Barca were quickly forgotten and he failed to score in his time at Camp Nou.

He was later loaned to Stuttgart, Birmingham and Wolfsburg – and was last seen in the Russian Premier League.

Gianluigi Donnarumma's seven saves and Lionel Messi's attacking quality saw PSG over the line in a 2-0 win over Nice on Saturday

Nicolas Pepe thought he had scored. The Nice winger snuck in at the back post, met Khephren Thuram's cross in stride and guided the ball towards goal. But Gianluigi Donnarumma threw his body in the way, equalling the winger's close-range effort.

It was just one of seven stellar saves from the PSG goalkeeper, whose standout showing evoked memories of his Euro 2020 masterclasses. And after Lionel Messi bagged the opener, and Sergio Ramos nodded home from a corner, Donnarumma's goalkeeping clinic guided PSG to a 2-0 league win over Nice.

Messi broke the deadlock for the visitors. After Kylian Mbappe's shot was stuffed, Nuno Mendes pounced onto the rebound and squared it to an open Messi, who flicked over Kasper Schmeichel and into the top corner. The Argentine was at it for the rest of the first half, orchestrating play and forcing the Nice keeper into a few other neat saves.

PSG's attacking quality steadily dwindled, though, and the Parisians turned to their Euro 2020-winning goalkeeper to keep them in the contest. Donnarumma made two neat saves towards the end of the first half, twice diving at full stretch to deny what seemed to be certain goals.

He was required again in the second half, denying Pepe and Jean-Clair Todibo to ensure that PSG stayed in the lead. The Parisians were also handed a lifeline by a fortunate bounce, as Dante's header crashed down off the crossbar but refused to creep over the line – staying out of the net by millimetres.

Sergio Ramos reaped the rewards grabbed PSG's crucial second, nodding home off a corner – enough to see out a slightly uneasy victory.

🏆 TOP STORY: Reiss Nelson to face criminal trial📣 HAVE YOUR SAY: Is the Women's World Cup the Lionesses' to lose?🚨 MUST READ: Scott McTominay is a goal machine!

GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from Allianz Riviera…

Getty ImagesWINNER: Gianluigi Donnarumma

This is the Donnarumma PSG have been missing. The Italian's quality is undeniable, but he's also been liable to the odd mistake over the past 18 months, some of which have been truly costly to his side. On Saturday, though, he was the difference-maker, seeing off a dogged Lens attack with seven excellent saves.

He was relatively untroubled for the first 30 minutes and seemed poised for a quiet day as Nice struggled to create in the early stages. But he was called into action with regularity by the end of the first half and stopped two certain goals in the closing stages of the opening period. Donnarumma proved equally valuable in the second half, denying four further attempts to ensure that PSG stayed ahead.

The Parisians cannot count on their goalie to be this impactful every game, and they might not want to put him in such a position. But he was every bit the star keeper they needed against Nice.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesLOSER: Achraf Hakimi

Perhaps he's still being bothered by a hamstring injury, but Hakimi hasn't quite been himself of late. He has been hesitant going forward and often loose defensively. Khephren Thuram was always going to be a tricky match-up, and Hakimi made it hard on himself.

He looked lost at times, and was too easily beaten off the dribble. He and Marquinhos – who also had a poor 90 minutes – were hardly comfortable against a side with a middling goalscoring record, something that doesn't bode well if PSG are to see this title across the line. His usual stellar attacking work was lacking, too, with Hakimi mistiming the odd run and not getting involved in the flow of attack.

It was a forgettable one for the Moroccan. He will need to be better against second-placed Lens next week.

GettyWINNER: Lionel Messi

Well, that's one way to answer your critics. Messi did a very Messi thing here. He wandered around, touched the ball very nicely, played some angled passes. And then, he made a very difficult finish look very easy. Nuno Mendes gave him a difficult cross to handle, driving a ball hard onto his left boot. But Messi controlled it perfectly, guiding Mendes' ball into the top corner.

And he continued to be impactful from there. He sprayed some wonderful passes to Mbappe, linked up with Hakimi well, and gave PSG some temporary relief when pushed back by a well-drilled Nice side. This wasn't Messi operating a full capacity – far from it – but he bagged the winner and did his bit to ensure that PSG grabbed three points. In a season this poor, that's all they need.

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Getty ImagesLOSER: Renato Sanches

What a miserable campaign for the Portuguese midfielder. Sanches just seemed to be finding form, and was rewarded with a start at the No.6 today in the absence of Marco Verratti. But he pulled up with an injury after less than 10 minutes, and immediately called for a substitution.

Sanches still has four years left on his deal, and should be an impact payer if he stays fit. But he hasn't started more than 20 league games since he was a teenager. That's not a good sign for a midfielder in his mid-20s.

Cristiano Ronaldo responded savagely to a claim made by former Sporting academy starlet Fabio Paim.

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Ronaldo's savage reply to PaimClaimed he could have been on par with Ronaldo &MessiBriefly played for ChelseaWHAT HAPPENED?

Former Sporting CP academy graduate Paim recently said on a podcast hosted by that he deserves at least one of Ronaldo's five Ballon d'Or awards, and claimed that if he had even half of the Portuguese superstar's brain, he would be on par with him and Lionel Messi in terms of career achievements.

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The words did not go down well with the 38-year-old Al-Nassr star, who posted a savage comment on the video posted on PT Clips Instagram page.

Ronaldo wrote: "Wtf. Who is this guy?"

@ptclipes/IGWHAT FABIO PAIM SAID

Speaking on the podcast, Paim said: "Cristiano Ronaldo should offer me one of his Ballon d’Ors. I went to Sporting when I was seven years old, I grew up there. They were years of glory in which I won everything I could. I didn't reach where I could have reached, but I marked a generation. If people don't forget it's because I marked them.

"I said when I was happy that I thought Cristiano Ronaldo could offer me a Ballon d'Or. But it was with humility. If I had half of Cristiano's head, it wouldn't be him and Messi. It would be me, him and Messi and maybe he wouldn't have won the Ballon d'Or that he has. Maybe one of them was mine."

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Pedro Souza / AtléticoWHAT NEXT FOR FABIO PAIM?

Paim, who played as a winger, has remained a journeyman throughout his career, playing for numerous clubs across several continents. The most memorable transfer of his career was his loan move to Chelsea under Luiz Felipe Scolari. While he did secure a temporary move, the winger never represented the Blues' senior side and only appeared in a few games for their reserve team.

The 35-year-old also represented Portugal at the youth level and retired from professional football in 2018.