A friendly clash between an Al Nassr/Al Hilal All-Star team and PSG would typically not raise an eyebrow as a midseason-friendly meeting in Riyadh.
However, Thursday's clash at the King Fahd International Stadium could witness the final meeting between the two greatest players of a generation as Cristiano Ronaldo makes his debut in Saudi Arabia against Lionel Messi.
Messi has recently returned from a triumphant run at the 2022 World Cup with Argentina, while Ronaldo begins his stint in the Middle East after his controversial departure from Manchester United.
Below are all the details to follow the PSG vs. Al Nassr/Al Hilal match, including the kickoff time for fans worldwide.
Start time for PSG vs. Al Nassr / Al Hilal
The match between Al Nassr/Al Hilal and PSG will be played at the King Fahd International Stadium and will kick off at 20:00 local time in Saudi Arabia.
Here's how that time translates in time zones across the world:
(Reuters) - Jim Ratcliffe's company INEOS has formally entered the bidding process to buy Premier League soccer club Manchester United, a spokesperson for the chemical firm said on Tuesday.
In November, United's U.S. owners, the Glazer family, said they had begun looking at options for the 20-times English champions, including new investment or a potential sale, 17 years after they bought the Old Trafford club.
In August, British billionaire Ratcliffe, a long-time fan of the club, expressed interest in buying United, Reuters reported.
"I can confirm that we have formally put ourselves into the process," an INEOS spokesperson said in a statement on Tuesday.
United declined to comment when contacted by Reuters.
The Times newspaper, which first reported the news, said formal bids were expected to start next month, with United potentially changing hands by the end of the season.
Interest from the United States, the Middle East, and Asia is also expected.
Manchester United's shares rose 1.2% in New York trading on Tuesday afternoon.
INEOS INVESTMENTS
Related video: Manchester United's "financial criteria" should be met, insists Ten Hag (SNTV)
INEOS has long been involved in sport, with the company acting as a principal partner to eight-time Formula One champion Mercedes, owning the INEOS Grenadiers cycling team, and serving as a performance partner to the New Zealand rugby team.
The energy company's interest in the United sale process comes after the group also bought French Ligue 1 club Nice in 2019.
Ratcliffe's name was widely mentioned among United fans as someone many would welcome, although there are fears he might be priced out, with some estimates putting the club's worth at more than $4.5 billion.
The head of chemical company INEOS also failed last year in an attempt to buy London soccer club Chelsea, which was purchased by an investment group led by American Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital.
'GLAZERS OUT'
United fans have been clamoring for a change of ownership. The Glazers, who also own the National Football League's Tampa Bay Buccaneers, have been the target of intense criticism as the team last won silverware back in 2017, lifting the Europa League and League Cup trophies.
The Manchester United Supporters Trust (MUST) said in November that the club needed new owners and fresh investment to halt years of decline, and fans should be given a real say in how it is run in the future.
In April, thousands protested outside Old Trafford, lighting flares and singing songs demanding the Glazers "get out of the club. ." United's net debt, another bone of contention among fans, had grown by nearly 23% to 515 million pounds ($565.78 million) by September.
The team, managed by Erik ten Hag, is fourth in the league standings on 38 points after 18 games, one point behind their local rivals Manchester City but nine adrift of leaders Arsenal.
They play at Crystal Palace on Wednesday.
LIVERPOOL SALE
United's rivals Liverpool are also looking to attract investment after chairman Tom Werner said in November that their owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG), we're exploring a club sale, but there needed to be more urgency to complete any potential deal.
This week, Bloomberg News reported that United, Tottenham Hotspur, or Liverpool were targeted by Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) over a potential acquisition.
Spurs, however, said, "there is no truth in reports that a meeting took place regarding the sale of equity in the club."
QSI is currently the owner of French champions Paris St Germain and has a stake in Portuguese soccer club SC Braga.
(Reporting by Manasi Pathak in Bengaluru and Andres Estebaran Gonzalez in London; Editing by Ken Ferris)
Sara Björk Gunnarsdóttir has spoken about her experience getting pregnant and having a baby while playing for French power Lyon.
In the Iceland international’s telling, it was not pretty.
In an essay in The Players’ Tribune, Björk said that Lyon attempted to not pay her after she told the team she was pregnant and only relented after she won a lawsuit in May 2022.
The 32-year-old also said that the team froze her out after the birth of her son, first telling her she could not bring him on away trips and eventually informing her through head coach Sonia Bompastor that she had no future with the team.
In her essay, Björk, who now plays for Juventus, said that she started to miss paychecks after taking pregnancy leave from Lyon, which cited French law as justification for not paying her.
After telling the club she would take the issue to FIFA through the players’ union FIFPRO, Björk said she was told she’d have no future with Lyon if she followed through.
But she did follow through and did, in fact, return to Lyon. But Björk sensed things were different right away.
But I was being asked — no, told — all sorts of things, like not to bring my baby with me on away trips. They said it could really disturb the players on the bus or plane if he cried the whole way. I shook my head and told them I was not signing anything like that. This was while I was still breastfeeding; he was so small and dependent on me. If they wouldn’t budge on this, I couldn’t attend the away games.
Ultimately, they decided they would give me and Ragnar two away trips to test it and see how it would go. I shook my head again! I wasn’t comfortable with him being “tested.” I wasn’t going to put myself and Ragnar in that situation. The understanding between us just was not there, and I felt that. They always made me feel like it was a negative thing that I had a baby.
Meanwhile, FIFPRO was still trying to get me my total wages from the period I was pregnant via the FIFA tribunal. I couldn’t help but think the case was having an effect on my relationship with the club.
After winning her lawsuit and moving to Juventus, Björk spoke out to ensure no players would have to go through what she did.
I was entitled to my entire salary during my pregnancy and until the start of my maternity leave, according to the mandatory regulations from FIFA. These are part of my rights, which can’t be disputed — even by a club as big as Lyon.
That’s why I’m writing this. The victory felt more significant than me. It felt like a guarantee of financial security for all players who want to have a child during their career. That it’s not a “maybe,” or an unknown.
Ragnar is almost a year old, and we’re in a great place as a family. I’m at Juventus now, and I’m thrilled.
But I want to make sure no one has to go through what I went through ever again. And I want Lyon to know this is not O.K.
FIFPRO released a statement after Björk’s essay was published: “The strict application of maternity rights is enforceable.”
The Red Devils could close the gap on second-placed Man City to just one point if they beat Pep Guardiola’s men. Premier League leaders Arsenal will be looking to increase their gap over City against Tottenham in the North London derby.
Erik ten Hag has got Man Utd looking like a much better team than last season, with the signings of Christian Eriksen, Casemiro, and Lisandro Martinez making the spine of their team look much more vital.
And Evra thinks Man Utd has the players to “hurt” Man City when the two sides clash at lunchtime tomorrow.
Evra told The Metro: “We can hurt City, I will never disrespect City, but I think this one is a 50/50 game. Sometimes though, when City starts well and develops their football in the game, you can tell it will be a long day.
“City is a strong side, and it’s a big test for us. It’s tough to predict; Mahrez is on fire for City at the moment. It’s a derby, so I’m not expecting a big score.
“I can see it is 2-1 to United, but equally, it wouldn’t be surprising to see City win; it could go either way. It can’t be like the last match; they must learn from it. Prediction 2-1.”
Arsenal is currently five points clear at the top of the Premier League table, and the Gunners will be looking to avenge their 3-0 defeat to Tottenham in the exact match last season.
Evra added: “I remember when Arsenal was going for the top four, they got beat by Newcastle, and after that, they had a chance to still get there when they played Tottenham.
“It was a fantastic game, and they started so well, but they conceded that penalty, which wasn’t a penalty, and after that, I saw the Arsenal players giving up. I don’t think this is the same side at all now; this is a side that believes they will win the title.
“If I were Arteta, I’d tell my side to believe they are champions. You have to think that you are going to win the league. Against Tottenham, their enemies, they have to think like that.
“They should beat Tottenham; I don’t see why they can’t win. It’s a derby; anything can happen, the wrong decision and injustice, but I just don’t know why they can’t win. They must be careful of Tottenham because Conte and the players are really hurt.
“It’s going to be a big game, but when you look at what’s going on with both sides, you have to give credit to Arsenal. They have to win every game if they want to win the title, and they can.
“I believe Arsenal can win the title; when I see their fans, they are all scared and don’t want me to say it, but the way they are playing, there’s isn’t another team that’s playing better football and being dominant right now. They aren’t afraid, and they aren’t kids anymore. Prediction 1-3.”
A member of three
Brazilian World Cup champion teams, Pelé is considered by many to be the
greatest soccer player of all time.
Who Was Pelé?
Soccer
legend Pelé became a superstar with his performance in the 1958 World Cup. Pelé
played professionally in Brazil for two decades, winning three World Cups along
the way, before joining the New York Cosmos late in his career. Named FIFA
co-Player of the Century in 1999, he was a global ambassador for soccer and
other humanitarian causes.
Early Life
Pelé
was born Edson Arantes do Nascimento on October 23, 1940, in Três Corações,
Brazil, the first child of João Ramos and Dona Celeste. Named after Thomas Edison
and nicknamed "Dico," Pelé moved with his family to the city of Bauru
as a young boy.
João
Ramos, better known as "Dondinho," struggled to earn a living as a
soccer player, and Pelé grew up in poverty. Still, he developed a rudimentary
talent for soccer by kicking a rolled-up sock stuffed with rags around the
streets of Bauru. The origin of the "Pelé" nickname is unclear,
though he recalled despising it when his friends first referred to him that
way.
Soccer's National Treasure
Pelé
signed with Santos and immediately started practicing with the team's regulars.
He scored the first professional goal of his career before he turned 16, led
the league in goals in his first entire season,
and was recruited to play for the
Brazilian national team.
The
world was officially introduced to Pelé in the 1958 World Cup in Sweden.
Displaying remarkable speed, athleticism, and field vision, the 17-year-old
scored three goals in a 5-2 semifinal win over France, then netted
two more in the finals, a 5-2 win over the host country.
The
young superstar received hefty offers to play for European clubs. Brazilian President Jânio Quadros eventually had Pelé declared a national treasure,
making it legally difficult for him to play in another country. Regardless,
Santos club ownership ensured its star attraction was well paid by scheduling
lucrative exhibition matches with teams worldwide.
Video of Pele Missed Goals
More World Cup Titles
Pelé
aggravated a groin injury two games into the 1962 World Cup in Chile, sitting
out the final rounds while Brazil claimed its second straight title.
Four years later, in England, a series of brutal attacks by opposing defenders
again forced him to the sidelines with leg injuries, and Brazil was bounced
from the World Cup after one round.
Despite
the disappointment on the world stage, the legend of Pelé continued to grow. In
the late 1960s, the two factions in the Nigerian Civil War reportedly agreed to
a 48-hour ceasefire so they could watch Pelé play in an exhibition game in
Lagos.
The
1970 World Cup in Mexico marked a triumphant return to glory for Pelé and
Brazil. Headlining a formidable squad, Pelé scored four goals in the
tournament, including one in the final to give Brazil a 4-1 victory over Italy.
Pelé
announced his retirement from soccer in 1974, but he was lured back to the
field the following year to play for the New York Cosmos in the North American
Soccer League and temporarily helped make the NASL a big attraction. He played
his final game in an exhibition between New York and Santos in October 1977,
competing for both sides, and retired with 1,281 goals in 1,363
games.
Later Years, Death and Legacy
Retirement
did little to diminish the public profile of Pelé, who remained a popular
pitchman and active in many professional arenas.
In
1978, Pelé was awarded the International Peace Award for his work with UNICEF.
He also served as Brazil's Extraordinary Minister for Sport and a United
Nations ambassador for ecology and the environment.
Pelé
was named FIFA's "Co-Player of the Century" in 1999, along with
Argentine Diego Maradona. To many, his accomplishments on the soccer field will
never be equaled, and virtually all great athletes are measured
against the Brazilian who once made the world stop to watch his transcendent
play.
Pelé died on
December 29, 2022, in São Paulo, Brazil. He was 82 years old.
