Cristiano Ronaldo hailed as 'best player in world' after stunning double for Al Nassr


John McAuley
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Cristiano Ronaldo attributed his spectacular Asian Champions League man-of-the-match display to both hard work and the help of his Al Nassr teammates, while rival manager Christophe Galtier labelled the forward “still the best player in the world”.

The Nassr captain, 38, continued his incredible form on Tuesday night, scoring two sumptuous goals and registering an assist in his team’s 4-3 victory against Qatar's Al Duhail in Riyadh.

Ronaldo set up the opening goal at Al Awwal Park with a brilliant back-heel to Brazilian Anderson Talisca, while he grabbed Nassr’s third with superb long-range effort just after the hour.

The former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus star got his second on the night nine minutes from time, meeting Sultan Al Ghannam’s cross with a fine left-footed volley to restore Nassr’s two-goal lead.

The eventual 4-3 victory made it three wins from three for Nassr – the Saudi Arabian side were also celebrating their 68th anniversary – moving them three points clear at the top of Group E.

For Ronaldo, the double took his 2023/24 tally for Nassr to 20 goals in 19 matches.

Speaking after the Duhail victory, the Portugal captain said: “It was a wonderful, complicated and difficult match. After we scored the second goal [to go 2-0 up], we thought the match would be easy.”

On his fantastic form, Ronaldo said: “Nothing comes without sacrifices. I am happy to score goals and break records, and this comes with the help of my teammates. I congratulate the fans on the victory.

“I enjoy my time with Al Nassr, and we are working to be the strongest and best team.”

Galtier, recently appointed at Duhail after spending last season in charge of French giants Paris Saint-Germain, was full of praise for the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.

"When you face Ronaldo, there isn't much you can do," the Frenchman said. "He scored two beautiful goals. I'm at a loss for words to describe him.

“What he did today is extraordinary for a 38-year-old. He's still the best player in the world."

Like Nassr, UAE side Al Ain maintained their 100 per cent record, securing a 4-1 win against Saudi Pro League club Al Fayha in the Garden City on Tuesday.

Paraguay’s Kaku scored twice at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, with Kouame Autonne and Soufiane Rahimi netting the others for the hosts. The UAE’s only Asian champions, Al Ain sit top of Group A at the midway stage, six points clear of the other three teams in the pool.

The 10 group winners advance to the knockout stages, with the three best runners-up from the east and west of the continent making up the remainder of the last 16.

The President's Cake

Director: Hasan Hadi

Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem 

Rating: 4/5

How has net migration to UK changed?

The figure was broadly flat immediately before the Covid-19 pandemic, standing at 216,000 in the year to June 2018 and 224,000 in the year to June 2019.

It then dropped to an estimated 111,000 in the year to June 2020 when restrictions introduced during the pandemic limited travel and movement.

The total rose to 254,000 in the year to June 2021, followed by steep jumps to 634,000 in the year to June 2022 and 906,000 in the year to June 2023.

The latest available figure of 728,000 for the 12 months to June 2024 suggests levels are starting to decrease.

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Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
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RESULTS
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KEY HIGHLIGHTS

Healthcare spending to double to $2.2 trillion rupees

Launched a 641billion-rupee federal health scheme

Allotted 200 billion rupees for the recapitalisation of state-run banks

Around 1.75 trillion rupees allotted for privatisation and stake sales in state-owned assets

Emergency phone numbers in the UAE

Estijaba – 8001717 –  number to call to request coronavirus testing

Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111

Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre

Emirates airline – 600555555

Etihad Airways – 600555666

Ambulance – 998

Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries

UAE jiu-jitsu squad

Men: Hamad Nawad and Khalid Al Balushi (56kg), Omar Al Fadhli and Saeed Al Mazroui (62kg), Taleb Al Kirbi and Humaid Al Kaabi (69kg), Mohammed Al Qubaisi and Saud Al Hammadi (70kg), Khalfan Belhol and Mohammad Haitham Radhi (85kg), Faisal Al Ketbi and Zayed Al Kaabi (94kg)

Women: Wadima Al Yafei and Mahra Al Hanaei (49kg), Bashayer Al Matrooshi and Hessa Al Shamsi (62kg)

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Reading List

Practitioners of mindful eating recommend the following books to get you started:

Savor: Mindful Eating, Mindful Life by Thich Nhat Hanh and Dr Lilian Cheung

How to Eat by Thich Nhat Hanh

The Mindful Diet by Dr Ruth Wolever

Mindful Eating by Dr Jan Bays

How to Raise a Mindful Eaterby Maryann Jacobsen

European arms

Known EU weapons transfers to Ukraine since the war began: Germany 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 Stinger surface-to-air missiles. Luxembourg 100 NLAW anti-tank weapons, jeeps and 15 military tents as well as air transport capacity. Belgium 2,000 machine guns, 3,800 tons of fuel. Netherlands 200 Stinger missiles. Poland 100 mortars, 8 drones, Javelin anti-tank weapons, Grot assault rifles, munitions. Slovakia 12,000 pieces of artillery ammunition, 10 million litres of fuel, 2.4 million litres of aviation fuel and 2 Bozena de-mining systems. Estonia Javelin anti-tank weapons.  Latvia Stinger surface to air missiles. Czech Republic machine guns, assault rifles, other light weapons and ammunition worth $8.57 million.

The Florida Project

Director: Sean Baker

Starring: Bria Vinaite, Brooklynn Prince, Willem Dafoe

Four stars

Afcon 2019

SEMI-FINALS

Senegal v Tunisia, 8pm

Algeria v Nigeria, 11pm

Matches are live on BeIN Sports

AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street

The seven points are:

Shakhbout bin Sultan Street

Dhafeer Street

Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)

Salama bint Butti Street

Al Dhafra Street

Rabdan Street

Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)

Five famous companies founded by teens

There are numerous success stories of teen businesses that were created in college dorm rooms and other modest circumstances. Below are some of the most recognisable names in the industry:

  1. Facebook: Mark Zuckerberg and his friends started Facebook when he was a 19-year-old Harvard undergraduate. 
  2. Dell: When Michael Dell was an undergraduate student at Texas University in 1984, he started upgrading computers for profit. He starting working full-time on his business when he was 19. Eventually, his company became the Dell Computer Corporation and then Dell Inc. 
  3. Subway: Fred DeLuca opened the first Subway restaurant when he was 17. In 1965, Mr DeLuca needed extra money for college, so he decided to open his own business. Peter Buck, a family friend, lent him $1,000 and together, they opened Pete’s Super Submarines. A few years later, the company was rebranded and called Subway. 
  4. Mashable: In 2005, Pete Cashmore created Mashable in Scotland when he was a teenager. The site was then a technology blog. Over the next few decades, Mr Cashmore has turned Mashable into a global media company.
  5. Oculus VR: Palmer Luckey founded Oculus VR in June 2012, when he was 19. In August that year, Oculus launched its Kickstarter campaign and raised more than $1 million in three days. Facebook bought Oculus for $2 billion two years later.
About Karol Nawrocki

• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.

• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.

• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.

• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.

Wicked: For Good

Director: Jon M Chu

Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater

Rating: 4/5

Updated: October 25, 2023, 6:54 AM