Wednesday, 22 January 2014
Monday, 20 January 2014
Cristiano Ronaldo made ‘Grand Officer of the Order of Prince Henry’
The Real Madrid forward received this honour from the president of Portugal at a ceremony attended by Florentino Pérez
Cristiano Ronaldo has been made a ‘Grand Officer of the Order of Prince Henry’ in Lisbon’s National Palace of Belém by the president of the Republic of Portugal, Aníbal Cavaco Silva. The Real Madrid forward, who received the Ballon d’Or 2013 last Monday, received this honour for his contribution to the international profile of Portugal. Those present at the event held in the official residence of Portugal’s head of state included Florentino Pérez, the president of Real Madrid; Emilio Butragueño, the club’s Director of Institutional Relations; Luis Marques Guedes, Portugal’s Minister for Presidential and Parliamentary Affairs; Eduardo Junco, Spain’s Ambassador to Portugal; and Fernando Gomes, the President of the Portuguese Football Federation.
The Real Madrid forward received one of his country’s greatest honours following “the President’s decision, which is intended to recognise an internationally renowned athlete, who is a symbol of Portugal around the world, who contributes to the country’s international profile and who is an example of tenacity for the younger generations”. The event, which was held this Monday, was to have been held on 7 January but was postponed because of the death of Eusébio.
The president of the Republic of Portugal, Aníbal Cavaco Silva, received the Madrid forward after his arrival at the Palace, where he went with the Ballon d’Or 2013 trophy which he had won in Zurich. After this, the medal presentation ceremony started in the Sala das Bicas. The first to speak was Cavaco Silva: “After remembering Eusébio, today we are with another great sportsman who the world of football has chosen as the best player in the world for the second time. A Portuguese citizen who is known around the world more than any other and who brings honour to the name of Portugal”.
“Ronaldo’s victories are a source of great happiness for us and a thread joining the people of Portugal. He is the captain of the national team and a reference for everyone, especially the youngsters. I would like to mention his professionalism, his hard work and discipline, and his constant will to win. I would like to thank him for the part he played in promoting the name and culture of Portugal all around the world, as well as the support he has given many good causes in our country”, he said before presenting Ronaldo with the ribbon of the ‘Grand Officer of the Order of Prince Henry’.
Cristiano Ronaldo then expressed his gratitude for the honour: “I am very proud to receive this title from the President of the Republic. I will carry on working as hard as possible to carry on representing Portugal abroad. I am very happy. This is a very special moment for me and I hope that I can carry on winning major trophies, individually and as part of a team, as well as with the national team”.
Once the ceremony had finished Cristiano Ronaldo spoke to the media: “This is an important honour for me because I am Portuguese and representing Portugal abroad is a privilege and a source of pride. It motivates me even more. I will carry on working hard to win more trophies in my career. I am young and I will carry on playing to enjoy myself like I have up until now. Obviously, if I win titles and I manage to make a good entry in the history books in the world of football, all the better”.
When asked about Portugal’s chances of winning the World Cup in Brazil, he said: “It would be a dream-come-true. I don’t want to downplay the titles I have won up until now, like this honour or the Ballon d’Or, but it would be a dream-come-true. We know that it is very hard and that we have to keep our feet on the ground. We will try to do our best and take it one step at a time”.
The president of the Republic of Portugal, Aníbal Cavaco Silva, received the Madrid forward after his arrival at the Palace, where he went with the Ballon d’Or 2013 trophy which he had won in Zurich. After this, the medal presentation ceremony started in the Sala das Bicas. The first to speak was Cavaco Silva: “After remembering Eusébio, today we are with another great sportsman who the world of football has chosen as the best player in the world for the second time. A Portuguese citizen who is known around the world more than any other and who brings honour to the name of Portugal”.
“Ronaldo’s victories are a source of great happiness for us and a thread joining the people of Portugal. He is the captain of the national team and a reference for everyone, especially the youngsters. I would like to mention his professionalism, his hard work and discipline, and his constant will to win. I would like to thank him for the part he played in promoting the name and culture of Portugal all around the world, as well as the support he has given many good causes in our country”, he said before presenting Ronaldo with the ribbon of the ‘Grand Officer of the Order of Prince Henry’.
Cristiano Ronaldo then expressed his gratitude for the honour: “I am very proud to receive this title from the President of the Republic. I will carry on working as hard as possible to carry on representing Portugal abroad. I am very happy. This is a very special moment for me and I hope that I can carry on winning major trophies, individually and as part of a team, as well as with the national team”.
Once the ceremony had finished Cristiano Ronaldo spoke to the media: “This is an important honour for me because I am Portuguese and representing Portugal abroad is a privilege and a source of pride. It motivates me even more. I will carry on working hard to win more trophies in my career. I am young and I will carry on playing to enjoy myself like I have up until now. Obviously, if I win titles and I manage to make a good entry in the history books in the world of football, all the better”.
When asked about Portugal’s chances of winning the World Cup in Brazil, he said: “It would be a dream-come-true. I don’t want to downplay the titles I have won up until now, like this honour or the Ballon d’Or, but it would be a dream-come-true. We know that it is very hard and that we have to keep our feet on the ground. We will try to do our best and take it one step at a time”.
Sunday, 19 January 2014
Betis 0-5 Real Madrid: Ronaldo leads rout as Benzema reaches century
Los Blancos produced a thoroughly impressive display to dispatch the poor hosts, with the victory pulling them level with Barcelona and Atletico Madrid at the top of La Liga
Real Madrid moved level on top of La Liga along with Barcelona and Atletico Madrid thanks to a comprehensive 5-0 win over Betis on Saturday afternoon.
The visitors' start to 2014 was unblemished coming into this match after winning all four of their matches in all competitions without conceding a single goal and Betis rarely threatened that record.
A wonderful early strike from Cristiano Ronaldo took the Ballon d'Or winner's tally for the season to 31 goals and the Madrid club did not have to wait long for a second as Gareth Bale buried a free-kick in the 25th minute.
Benzema ensured the first half ended in even more despair for Betis, converting after good play by Luka Modric and a fourth arrived just after the hour mark when Angel Di Maria produced a sublime finish from distance.
Substitute Alvaro Morata added a fifth late on as rampant Madrid extended their unbeaten run to 17 matches in all competitions.
Osasuna were Betis' conquerors in their previous league outing last weekend and coach Juan Carlos Garrido made four alterations to that team, while Alvaro Vadillo and Joan Verdu were deemed fit enough to take places on the bench.
Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti named the same side that picked up a routine 1-0 win at Espanyol on Sunday.
The visitors may have been met by raucous atmosphere in Seville, but Ronaldo silenced the home support in the 10th minute as he hit an unstoppable screamer into the top-right corner of the goal from 30 yards out.
Betis' attacking threat was non-existent and Madrid capitalised by doubling their lead 25 minutes in. Antonio Amaya fouled Bale after cutting in from the right and the world's most expensive player fired the resulting free-kick in past the static Stephan Andersen.
The hosts could have pulled one back just before the break had Ruben Castro connected with Leo Baptistao's right-wing cross, but Betis ultimately went in at half-time trailing by three goals asBenzema fired into the bottom-left corner after a clever cutback by Luka Modric.
Ronaldo spurned a glorious chance seven minutes into the second period as he collected Benzema's throughball and shot from just inside the area, but Andersen tipped it wide of his right-hand post.
Madrid's fourth did arrive eventually, however. The hosts seemingly cleared Modric's 62nd-minute corner, but Di Maria pounced on the loose ball and hammered a rasping half-volley into the bottom-right corner about 35 yards from goal.
Morata notched his side's fifth in stoppage time as he controlled a wayward overhead-kick attempt by Ronaldo before poking in, helping Madrid keep pace with Atletico and Barca, while Ancelotti's men picked up their fifth consecutive clean sheet in all competitions.
The visitors' start to 2014 was unblemished coming into this match after winning all four of their matches in all competitions without conceding a single goal and Betis rarely threatened that record.
A wonderful early strike from Cristiano Ronaldo took the Ballon d'Or winner's tally for the season to 31 goals and the Madrid club did not have to wait long for a second as Gareth Bale buried a free-kick in the 25th minute.
Benzema ensured the first half ended in even more despair for Betis, converting after good play by Luka Modric and a fourth arrived just after the hour mark when Angel Di Maria produced a sublime finish from distance.
Substitute Alvaro Morata added a fifth late on as rampant Madrid extended their unbeaten run to 17 matches in all competitions.
Osasuna were Betis' conquerors in their previous league outing last weekend and coach Juan Carlos Garrido made four alterations to that team, while Alvaro Vadillo and Joan Verdu were deemed fit enough to take places on the bench.
Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti named the same side that picked up a routine 1-0 win at Espanyol on Sunday.
The visitors may have been met by raucous atmosphere in Seville, but Ronaldo silenced the home support in the 10th minute as he hit an unstoppable screamer into the top-right corner of the goal from 30 yards out.
Betis' attacking threat was non-existent and Madrid capitalised by doubling their lead 25 minutes in. Antonio Amaya fouled Bale after cutting in from the right and the world's most expensive player fired the resulting free-kick in past the static Stephan Andersen.
The hosts could have pulled one back just before the break had Ruben Castro connected with Leo Baptistao's right-wing cross, but Betis ultimately went in at half-time trailing by three goals asBenzema fired into the bottom-left corner after a clever cutback by Luka Modric.
Ronaldo spurned a glorious chance seven minutes into the second period as he collected Benzema's throughball and shot from just inside the area, but Andersen tipped it wide of his right-hand post.
Madrid's fourth did arrive eventually, however. The hosts seemingly cleared Modric's 62nd-minute corner, but Di Maria pounced on the loose ball and hammered a rasping half-volley into the bottom-right corner about 35 yards from goal.
Morata notched his side's fifth in stoppage time as he controlled a wayward overhead-kick attempt by Ronaldo before poking in, helping Madrid keep pace with Atletico and Barca, while Ancelotti's men picked up their fifth consecutive clean sheet in all competitions.
Saturday, 18 January 2014
Thursday, 16 January 2014
Tuesday, 14 January 2014
Cristiano Ronaldo: “It’s an award I won because of my teammates”
“Those who know me know the struggle I’ve had all year to be at a top level and compete with the best”, said the Portuguese striker just moments after winning the Ballon d’Or
Moments after receiving the Ballon d’Or an emotional Cristiano Ronaldo expressed his happiness for being named the best player in the world in 2013: “It’s an honour to win this award. It was an indescribable moment. I can’t explain it in words. I’ve had unforgettable experiences and a lot of emotions. I want to thank Real Madrid, my teammates in the club and the national team, those people who voted for me and those that love me”.
When asked the emotional moment he had when handed the trophy, Cristiano Ronaldo said:“These tears are genuine. Those who know me know the struggle I’ve had all year to be at a top level and compete with the best. This trophy is also for everyone who supports me. Now I want to keep working and this award will motivate me even more”.
The forward concluded by discussing his plans for celebrating the award: “It's an individual award, but I won because of my teammates. I’m going to celebrate in Madrid with the people who love me and with champagne”.
The forward concluded by discussing his plans for celebrating the award: “It's an individual award, but I won because of my teammates. I’m going to celebrate in Madrid with the people who love me and with champagne”.
Monday, 13 January 2014
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)