The Phenomenon

He’s carried Brazil to a World Cup title. He’s carried his clubs to numerous championships. He’s carried the expectations, hopes and dreams of millions of footballing fanatics. And now, Ronaldo needs your support as he looks to do the impossible once again.As he recovers from surgery to repair a ruptured tendon in his knee, we have the chance to give back to the man who has given the game so much.

All it takes is a little wag of the finger. You know the one we’re talking about. The swaggering index finger of R9. The simple goal celebration that defenders the world over know all too well.

This one undeniable show of triumph is the one way we’re asking you to show your support.Go to nikefutebol.com/ronaldo to see what they’re doing in Brazil. Basically, here’s the deal, when you score a goal throw up your finger in homage to the number one goal-scorer in World Cup history. If you can, get someone to video it and submit it to the R9 Tribute group. Nike Futebol will then upload it to their site, where it will play alongside other inspirational goals.And for all the haters and doubters out there that say he can’t come back, don’t forget he’s been in this position before and has made the critics eat their words each and every time.

If you need more proof just take a look at these stunning videos, here and here. And no one can argue with the numbers:1993: Scoring 12 goals in 13 games, 17-year-old Ronaldo leads Cruzeiro to the Minas Gerais State

Championship.1994: Joins PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands, scoring 55 goals in 57 games, earning a place in the club’s Hall of Fame. On Brazil’s World Cup team, but does not play.

1996: Joins Barcelona and scores 47 goals in 49 games. Wins the first of three FIFA World Player of the Year awards.

1997: Joins Inter Milan and guides them to the UEFA Cup.

1998: Introduces the Nike Mercurial football boot and plays in his first World Cup, scoring four goals for runner-up Brazil.

2002: Battling back from two knee operations, Ronaldo guides Real Madrid to the La Liga title and scores eight goals to lead Brazil to its fifth World Cup championship.

2006: Ronaldo becomes the all-time leading goal-scorer in the World Cup when he scores his 15th goal against Ghana.

Dida out, Kalac doubtful but Pato back for Milan

 Brazilian goalkeeper Nelson Dida, seen here in 2007, is out of AC Milan’s Champions League trip to Arsenal on Wednesday while Australian goalkeeper Zeljko Kalac is also rated as doubtful for the reigning champions.

Brazilian goalkeeper Nelson Dida is out of AC Milan’s Champions League trip to Arsenal on Wednesday while Australian goalkeeper Zeljko Kalac is also rated as doubtful for the reigning champions.

Teenage star striker Pato, however, is due to make his comeback to action after missing the last three matches with a knee injury.

But it is Milan’s goalkeeping situation that is causing them most concern.

Dida, who was first choice for most of the season, suffered a back problem at half-time of the weekend 0-0 draw at Parma, despite sitting on the bench, and has been left out of the squad altogether.

Kalac, who replaced Dida during mid-January and has put in a string of outstanding performances, dislocated a finger in training on Sunday and although he has travelled with the team to London, he is uncertain for the match.

A decision on Kalac’s fitness will be made on Tuesday but if he is ruled out third choice keeper Valerio Fiori, who has played just once in his eight seasons at Milan, will start.

However, Milan can at least call upon Brazilian Pato to return to the front-line to help Filippo Inzaghi and Alberto Gilardino.

With Ronaldo out injured, Milan had looked toothless in attack against Parma on Saturday, despite the return of influential playmaker Kaka.

But with the youth, energy and pace of Pato, the European champions’ strike force should be much more potent.

Barcelona’s Eto’o fit for Celtic match

 

Barcelona said its star striker Samuel Eto’o, seen here in January 2008, is in the squad for this week’s Champions League match at Celtic after recovering from an injury sustained in the African Nations Cup.

Barcelona said Monday its star striker Samuel Eto’o is in the squad for this week’s Champions League match at Celtic after recovering from an injury sustained in the African Nations Cup.

Eto’o told a press conference Monday he felt “more or less well” with “a huge desire to play.”

The Cameroonian felt a twinge in his left thigh at the end last week’s African Nation’s final, which his country lost 1-0 to Egypt.

Club doctors said he suffered a muscle strain and had ruled him out of last Saturday’s Spanish league match against Zaragoza, which the Catalan club won 2-1.

Barca will thus have their “fantastic four” for Wednesday’s match in Glasgow: Eto’o, Lionel Messi, Thierry Henry and Ronaldinho.

Carragher worried by Liverpool form

 Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher, seen here in January 2008, believes the club are suffering a more serious problem than just a bad spell.

Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher believes the club are suffering a more serious problem than just a bad spell.

The Anfield club were stunned 2-1 by Championship side Barnsley in the FA Cup midweek and are 19 points adrift of Premier League leaders Arsenal.

“I wouldn’t call this just a bad spell,” Carragher said.

“It’s been a lot longer than that. We realise we are not playing well enough. It’s not a matter of putting your finger on one reason.

“It’s simply because we have not been good enough. We’ve still got the Champions League to play for and we have to fight for that fourth place, so every league game is going to be important. We have to make sure we are in the Champions League next season.”

Despite taking the lead against Barnsley, Rafael Benitez’s team conceded an injury-time winner to increase the pressure on the under-fire manager.

Things do not get any easier for Liverpool as Tuesday they face Inter Milan, who lead Serie A by 11 points, in the first leg of their Champions League second round match at Anfield.

“At every club there are ups and downs, but we realise we are going to get a lot of criticism in the next few days and rightly so,” added Carragher.

“We’ve got a massive game coming up against Inter, so we’re going to have to get over this because the Champions League is massive for us now.

“It’s the only thing we have left that we can win.”

Write Milan off at your peril

AC Milan’s visit to Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium on Wednesday evening could mark the end of an era, yet World Player of the Year Kaka is refusing to accept the sands of time have caught up with the reigning European champions.

Kaka: Ashining light in Milan’s midfield

The Rossonieri’s Champions League triumph last May was a surprise success for a side who have long been viewed as more than a little past their sell-buy date, though there now seems to be tangible evidence that Athens 2007 was the final hurrah for a team who has struggled to recapture any semblance of their best form this season. Veteran performers such as Paolo Maldini and Cafu have stumbled their way through a difficult few months for Milan, with the critics quick to claim their veteran status is the chief factor in their decline. Out of the Serie A title race many months ago, coach Carlo Ancelotti is tipped by most pundits to be replaced for the start of next season and his exit would doubtless lead to a restructuring of a club whose consistency has been their most impressive quality over the course of the last decade. Despite the weight of evidence suggesting Milan are a team in terminal decline, Kaka believes they have one final surge within them to see off an Arsenal side whose vibrant exuberance has led many to suggest they will step into the void left by Milan should they drop out of Europe’s elite in the near future. However, Kaka insists experience counts for more than promise and ahead of a last-16 tie that could see a Barak Obama-style wind of change sweeping through the Europe’s established elite clubs. ‘Even though a lot of critics seem to be keen to write Milan off, the time to do that has not yet arrived,’ begins Kaka. ‘They say we are an old team and that we have lost our desire, but only last May we beat Liverpool to become European champions. Have we become so poor overnight? I don’t think so. ‘We had a slow start to the season and couldn’t find any home wins, though football is all about cycles. You can hit a winning streak just as easily as a depressing run. Anyway, we’ve put our problems behind us. ‘Since winning the World Club Championship, which was one of our main aims of the season, we’ve found our feet in Serie A and suddenly we’re firing on all cylinders again. After falling down the table, we’re very much on the up now. Qualification for the Champions League is the goal, galvanising us, and I see no reason why we shouldn’t achieve it. ‘Personally, I have certainly not lost my determination to win trophies. Last season’s Champions League title makes no difference as I want more. Playing in a winning team is the supreme motivation and we cannot live on past glories. It’s impossible. Look at Ronaldinho. His many achievements have not prevented him being criticised at Barcelona. ‘Naturally, we are not thrilled to see our rivals Inter running away with the scudetto, but we can take great heart from the fact that Milan tend to be in peak condition when the spring comes along, when the winners of competitions are decided. No one should ever minimise our chances on any field of play. ‘Our whole team has rediscovered its equilibrium lately and we are a side on a mission. We’ve got our confidence and our momentum back, qualities that are essential in football.’ His words represent a stout defence of a team whose have struggled to find many admirers this season and while AC Milan would have favourites to beat Arsenal at most points in recent years, the shifting balance of power suggests Arsene Wenger’s Premier League leaders have an outstanding chance to claim a prize scalp this time around.

Cesc Fabregas is highly rated by Kaka

In Kaka’s mind, this is the nightmare draw for his team and his respect for Arsenal seems to be complete. ‘I’d say Arsenal is the toughest possible draw for us,’ admits the Brazilian. ‘They are one of the form teams in Europe at the moment, are very well placed to win the Premier League, full of confidence and crucially, they play great football. For a Brazilian like me, they represent the right way to approach the game. ‘They play with so much style and adventure. They like to take the initiative and play free flowing football. They are on the whole a young team, but it’s obvious there’s a lot of maturity and mental toughness in the side too. We’ve noticed they often score late in a game. That’s proof enough of their spirit.’ Kaka’s tribute to Arsenal boss Wenger is equally gushing, with his suggestion that the world’s finest young talent now have an ambition to play for Arsenal a sign that the Gunners’ influence is growing at a pace around Europe. ‘Many, many young players from all over the world want to play for Arsenal now,’ he believes. ‘It’s a good reputation to have and that’s down to Arsene Wenger. He has impeccable judgement as far as talent spotting goes and doesn’t fear putting his faith in youth. ‘He knows they may initially make rookie mistakes but as long as they learn quickly, he is happy. You just have to look at the progress their young players have made this season to realise he has something very special going at Arsenal. ‘They are competing with two of the most powerful clubs in Europe in the Premier League and no one would have given them too much chance of winning just a few weeks ago. Now they have a real chance and deserve to be respected by everyone.’ In a game that will be littered with high quality personal duels, the contest between Kaka and Arsenal talisman Cesc Fabregas is likely to be a key tussle and the AC Milan man is relishing the prospect. ‘I like their central defenders William Gallas and Kolo Toure, while Emmanuel Adebayor seems to be able to do everything up front, but it’s clear that the one who really makes it all happen for them is Fabregas,’ he adds. ‘He already has extraordinary football experience and technical ability. He is a fiery competitor too. It goes without saying we will have to ensure he is not a big influence on this tie. I look forward to trying to match him in this game.’ Kaka’s status as the world’s greatest player may not be on the line this Wednesday night in North London, but AC Milan’s reputation as an enduring major player in the European game might just be.

Chelsea face giant-killers Barnsley

Barnsley manager Simon Davey believes facing Chelsea at home in the FA Cup quarter-finals is a ‘good reward’ for beating Liverpool on Saturday. The Tykes beat Liverpool 2-1 courtesy of Brian Howard’s injury-time strike in a surprise result at Anfield and now take on the Cup holders at Oakwell after Avram Grant’s Chelsea knocked out Huddersfield in the last 16. Davey said: ‘It’s a fantastic draw. To win at Anfield on Saturday and then pit our wits against another fantastic club with world class players – it will be another great occasion for everybody concerned. ‘In the quarter-finals there are seven other clubs left and they are all going to be tricky matches, so we’re not wishing we drew a lower league club. ‘What would have been worse would have been a Championship club away from home. ‘But we’ve avoided that and a home draw is perfect and the fact that it’s Chelsea just makes it more exciting. ‘We’ve got a fantastic home record at the moment and hopefully we can continue it and get into the semi-finals.’ But Davey is well aware of the big-name match-winners Chelsea possess. ‘I think there’s a few – Frank Lampard, John Terry, Joe Cole, there are endless names from Chelsea that are going to give us nightmares,’ he said. Meanwhile, Sir Alex Ferguson was resigned to his fate after Manchester United were once again paired with a Premier League side. United will face Portsmouth at home in the quarter-finals after overcoming Aston Villa, Tottenham and Arsenal to reach the last eight of the competition. United also played six top-flight sides in enroute to last season’s FA Cup final, including Portsmouth. The United manager said: ‘It’s a home draw, so it doesn’t matter who you get. But it’s typical that we have another Premier League team. ‘The good thing about the FA Cup, though, is that the opposition bring an increased number of supporters, which makes for a great atmosphere. ‘We’ve had two great home ties against Spurs and Arsenal in the previous rounds, and hopefully we’ll have another one against Portsmouth.’ At least one side from outside the top flight will be in the semi-finals after Bristol Rovers were drawn at home to West Brom having knocked out Southampton in the fifth round. Sheffield United or Middlesbrough will host Cardiff in the remaining match. The ties will be played on the weekend of March 8 and 9.

Fiorentina move back into Champions League contention

Catania’s midfielder Davide Baiocco (L) fights for the ball with Fiorentina’s midfielder Marco Donadel during their Serie A football match in Florence’s Artemio Franchi Stadium. Fiorentin won the game 2-1.

Fiorentina moved back into Champions League contention with a 2-1 home win over Catania on Sunday as they reclaimed fourth spot in Serie A from reigning European champions AC Milan.

Zradko Kuzmanovic gave Fiorentina the lead after 41 minutes heading in a Mario Alberto Santana cross.

But Catania levelled on the hour when Juan Vargas unleashed a powerful long-range drive which was too hot for goalkeeper Vlada Avramov to handle.

It was a tough top flight debut for Avramov, who had replaced Sebastien Frey, who had picked up a thigh injury, in the first half.

Romanian striker Adrian Mutu, however, hit his 14 league goal of the season to give Fiorentina the three points with a 20-metre strike.

Fiorentina now have 41 points, three more than Milan, who were held to a 0-0 draw by Parma on Saturday.

Sampdoria won the Genoa derby, and kept their UEFA Cup qualification hopes alive, with a 1-0 win thanks to an 87th-minute winner from Christian Maggio after the home side were reduced to 10 men following the sending off of Brazilian defender Danilo.

On Saturday, Inter Milan took another huge step closer to the title after extending their lead at the top to 11 points.

Defending champions Inter saw off Livorno 2-0 at the San Siro while closest challengers Roma lost 1-0 at third-place Juventus.

There was also disappointment for AC Milan who could not provide veteran defender Paolo Maldini with a victory on his 1,000th match in professional football as they drew 0-0 at lowly Parma.

Honduran forward David Suazo scored both Inter goals within four minutes of each other in the first half.

Inter had rested first-choice strike pair Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Julio Cruz ahead of their midweek Champions League trip to Liverpool, giving Suazo and Argentine Hernan Crespo a rare start up front.

France captain Patrick Vieira was suspended and Chilean midfield playmaker Luis Jimenez was out injured but it made no difference as Inter proved too powerful for opponents who only three days earlier had come away from the San Siro with a 1-1 draw against Milan.

Inter coach Roberto Mancini turned his attentions to the Liverpool match on Tuesday but refused to get carried away by the English team’s embarrassing FA Cup defeat to second tier Barnsley on Saturday.

“The important thing was to win and now we can concentrate on the Champions League,” said Mancini.

“Cup football is like this, you can lose despite coming close to scoring on many occasions,” he added referring to Liverpool’s defeat.

Inter had the game sewn up after 18 minutes as Suazo headed home a delightful inswinging free-kick from Romanian centre-back Cristian Chivu.

He was then on hand to tap home the loose ball after two defenders got in each other’s way and failed to clear a cross from Brazilian left-back Maxwell, who had done well to skip past two challenges and get to the byline.

Inter have won 18 and drawn just five of their 23 matches this season. They also have the best attack and the meanest defence.

Roma missed the chance to keep pace with the champions as veteran Juve forward Alessandro Del Piero’s bullet free-kick on the stroke of half-time settled the match.

“We knew we could play a great match and that’s exactly what we did,” said the match-winner.

It means Juve are just one point behind Roma in third now and will rest up in midweek as Roma tackle Real Madrid in the Champions League.

Del Piero rifled an unstopppable shot into the top corner after Czech winger Pavel Nedved had drawn a foul from French centre-back Philippe Mexes just over 20 yards from goal.

The closest Roma came to equalising was straight after the goal as Juve defender Nicola Legrottaglie turned a cross from Rodrigo Taddei onto his own post.

Maldini reaches 1,000-match milestone

Defender Paolo Maldini, seenhere on January 27, has now played 861 club matches for AC Milan, earned a record 126 Italy caps, made one appearance for the Italian Olympic team and played 12 matches in the Italian under-21 team.

When veteran defender Paolo Maldini replaced Marek Jankulovski after 68 minutes of AC Milan’s 0-0 draw at Parma on Saturday he surpassed 1,000 games for club and country.

It was the latest feat in a remarkable career for the veteran pin-up of Italian football.

Maldini has now played 861 club matches for AC Milan, earned a record 126 Italy caps, made one appearance for the Italian Olympic team and played 12 matches in the Italian under-21 team.

Incredibly, of those 1,000 games, he started 981 of them and completed 916 from start to finish – but not against Parma.

If anything it was an inglorious way for such a model professional to reach that milestone but Maldini wasn’t going to let that deflect from his achievement.

And he isn’t about to let his last few months in football slip by without making the most of it either.

Asked what he will do next he said: “Everyone asks me this question but I don’t know how to answer it.

“That means that I still have a few more months to enjoy this great adventure which begun so many years ago.

“I would like to enjoy it right to the end and I hope to finish at the end of May (with the Champions League final).”

The 39-year-old Maldini revealed what keeps him going after all these years.

“You have to be strong, if you don’t train well you won’t be ready to play against guys many years younger than you,” he added.

During Maldini’s incredible career he won the Serie A title seven times, the Champions League five times, the Italian Cup once, the Club World Cup and its predecessor the Intercontinental Cup three times, five European Super Cups and five Italian Super Cups.

Incredibly, though, he never won any international honours with Italy having retired from playing for his country before their 2006 World Cup victory.

He twice played in major finals but lost out on penalties to Brazil in the 1994 World Cup final and suffered an extra-time defeat at the hands of France in the 2000 European Championships final.

But there have been many more good days than bad in the more than 8,400 days since he made his first-team debut for Milan on January 20, 1985 at Udinese.

He certainly won’t be adding another Serie A title to his collection this season, not with Milan 21 points behind leaders and bitter city rivals Inter, but he can still dream about lifting an unprecedented sixth Champions League crown in May.

That would be the perfect way to cap an amazing career.

Henry insists he is happy with Barca lot

French forward Thierry Henry poses during the friendly football game between Spain and France in Malaga on February 6, 2008. Henry on Sunday insisted he was happy with life at the Catalan club after denying he had complained to reporters about being played out wide.

French striker Thierry Henry on Sunday insisted he was happy with life at the Catalan club after denying he had complained to reporters about being played out wide.

“I just want to say I feel very at ease in this team and that I am very happy,” Henry told a news conference to clarify his position.

“I have read things (in the press) which did not please me – I speak to everyone in the dressing room, I am always joking around, that’s all,” insisted the former Arsenal man, who joined Barca in the summer and scored in a 2-1 win at Zaragoza on Saturday.

“I said the other day I would play wherever the coach wants me to but then the following day I read things I didn’t say, interpretations of people speaking about me,” said the striker, who has netted seven times in 19 league matches since coming to Spain.

“So I just want to say I am happy and feel at ease in this team. The coach (Frank Rijkaard) asked me if I could play wide or in the middle and it’s his decision.”

Although he played in attack on Saturday, Henry has tended to have a wider role at Barca than he did with the Gunners, whose coach Arsene Wenger successfully converted him from a winger into a central striker.

Wenger: United drubbing will be a ‘one off’

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes there will be no lasting effects from the humiliating FA Cup defeat by championship rivals Manchester United.

The Frenchman – who said the state of the Old Trafford pitch on Saturday was ‘a disgrace’ – expects his side to recover in time for the Champions League match against AC Milan on Wednesday. Not only that, he claims the 4-0 drubbing was a ‘one-off’ and will have little bearing on the title race. Arsenal were already three goals down – with Wayne Rooney, Darren Fletcher and Nani on target – when Emmanuel Eboue was sent off. Fletcher rubbed salt into their wounds by grabbing a fourth as United secured a place in the quarter-finals. Wenger, who was short on numbers due to injuries, insisted: ‘I am not worried about picking the players up for the Milan game. ‘My only worry is that they will have recovered physically for it. ‘It is massive match and we have to bounce back quickly from our disappointment. We will need to be at our best. ‘The players have given me so much recently but unfortunately we were not up to the level required against United. ‘At least we did not suffer any more injuries, so we might be able to find 16 players to face Milan.’ Wenger confirmed that both leading scorer Emmanuel Adebayor and Mathieu Flamini will be fit for the first leg game. Arsenal are five points clear of United at the top of the table but you would never have guessed it as they were outplayed from start to finish. But Wenger claims it will be different when they meet again in the league in April. He said: ‘I believe this result is a one-off. We will come back to Old Trafford in better shape and hopefully on a better pitch. ‘The pitch is a disgrace. You have players worth £20-25million and you cannot play a pass without it bouncing.’ Wenger thought Eboue’s sending-off in the 49th minute was ‘harsh’ but conceded they had been second best. He said: ‘It is difficult to find any positives from the performance. ‘Even before the sending off we never looked like we could come back. ‘It was difficult. We did not seem to have the physical resources that were needed. We were not up to our level.’