Think about 2022, says Rivaldo to Brazil

Brazilian legend Rivaldo suspects that Cristiano Ronaldo was "fooled by the big contract in Saudi Arabia" and advises the Portuguese megastar to "return to Real Madrid to finish his career".

Ronaldo, who joined the Saudi club Al Nassr on a deal until 2025 after leaving Manchester United last year, with a contract that has been estimated by media to be worth more than approx. USD 220 million.  

Despite the riches and reception Ronaldo had received in his new club, Rivaldo further said that the five-time Ballon d'Or winner "may be going through a phase of some disappointment and even reflection" after his first season with Al Nassr, who occupy second place in the Saudi Pro League behind Al-Ittihad.   

"I understand that sometimes the players are fooled by the big contract they sign in Saudi Arabia," said Rivaldo, as quoted by Diario AS.

"But then life there is further away and your football may not always be as easy as expected.

"So, maybe the money he is receiving makes up for the not-so-happy life he is living at the moment," said Rivaldo, a member of the 2002 World Cup-winning team.  

Ronaldo arrived in Saudi Arabia with a vast collection of club honours after a glittering spell at Spanish giants Real Madrid from 2009-18 where he won two LaLiga titles, two Spanish Cups, four Champions League titles and three Club World Cups. He also claimed two Serie A titles and a Copa Italia trophy in three years at Juventus before rejoining United with whom he had bagged three Premier League crowns, the FA Cup, two League Cups, the Champions League and Club World Cup.

The former Barcelona No. 10 reckons that if Ronaldo returns to Real Madrid to finish his career, it "would be good for him and for football".

Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic gave Russian President Vladimir Putin a Croatian soccer shirt with the name "Putin" printed on the back on Sunday, hours before Croatia play France in the World Cup final in Moscow.

Croatia has been caught up in soccer fever after the Balkan nation of 4.2 million people swept aside more fancied opponents to reach its first ever World Cup final, which Russia is hosting this year.

Grabar-Kitarovic has, herself, entered into the spirit of the occasion, travelling to Russia to watch matches and dressing in the colours of the national flag. Croatia knocked Russia's team out of the competition in the quarter-finals.

At a Kremlin meeting, Putin congratulated the Croatian president on the Croatian team's performance.

"I'm sure we will see a beautiful game today," he said. Grabar-Kitarovic thanked Putin for what she said was the successful organisation of the competition.

Putin presented her with a bouquet of flowers, while she gave the Russian leader the Croatian national shirt.

Didier Deschamps proclaimed France’s second World Cup triumph was “just as beautiful” as their first after leading them to glory again 20 years on, but Croatia defender Dejan Lovren said that Deschamps' team "did not play football."

"I'm disappointed because we lost the game, we played much, much better football than them, but on the other hand I'm proud of this team and what we have achieved," Lovren said.

"We played beautiful football again. France were one of the favourites to win the World Cup and they did it. I think we were better. They did it another way. They didn't play football, they waited for their chances and they scored. They had their own tactic and you need to respect that. They played the tournament like that, every game, but when you look at all the countries behind us, we're second.” he added.

"There's nothing to talk about now. It's difficult to describe. Maybe after a week or two, a couple of months... right now, it's difficult. Some moments I feel sad, some moments I'm happy. Overall, I'm proud."

Ivan Perisic conceded the first-half penalty after referee Nestor Pitana penalised him for handball following a VAR review.

"I was sure he would not give the pen," said the Liverpool centre-back. "From my point of view, he [Perisic] could not react.

"It was a critical moment, we came back at 1-1, and then this penalty and then 3-1, 4-1, but even then we didn't stop playing football, we still believed, we gave everything, and this is why people are proud now in Croatia."

Didier Deschamps' side had claimed a 1-0 over Belgium in the semifinals with a defensive masterclass which left Belgium star Eden Hazard and Thibaut Courtois deeply unimpressed with what he felt were overly cagey tactics by France in the semi-final, and now Lovren also felt the frustration of coming up against Deschamps's style. Not always the most entertaining, however, in the end, French squad just had too much talent at its disposal to get the job done.

Russia was the target of almost 25 million cyber-attacks during the World Cup, President Vladimir Putin said, though he did not indicate who may have been behind the attacks.

"During the period of the World Cup, almost 25 million cyber-attacks and other criminal acts on the information structures in Russia, linked in one way or another to the World Cup, were neutralised," Putin said during a meeting on Sunday with security services. The comments were reported by the Kremlin on Monday.

Legends from Barcelona and Manchester United played at the Camp Nou in a charity match which featured the likes of Brazilian genius Ronaldinho and Rivaldo.

The Manchester United legends produced a brilliant performance as manger Andy Ritchie played a three-man defence against a strike force containing Patrick Kluivert, Ronaldinho and Rivaldo.

Goals from Jesper Blomqvist, Karel Poborsky and Dwight Yorke earned Manchester United an impressive away victory at the Camp Nou.

Ronaldinho who was the best player in the world for two seasons while playing at Barça and reminded the crowd why he was so special. The front three combined with ease and produced beautiful footballing moments while the midfield engine of Edgar Davids also showed his class.

According to Barcelona’s official site, the first half was an equal affair. A great Ronaldinho free-kick two minutes in almost gave his side the perfect start but Van der Gouw produced a top quality save. Brazilian full-back Belletti also went close down the right in a move reminiscent of his most famous goal in the Paris final.

Manchester United official site said Ronaldinho, who was voted Man of the Match, rolled back the years with outrageous skill, most notably a nutmeg on Blomqvist, and virtually every pass was a no-look one.

Rivaldo was also at his mesmerizing best, linking in tight spaces and opening up the Manchester United defence. He teed up Patrick Kluivert but the opportunity was lost in the friendly encounter.

Blomqvist scored from a rebound to give United the lead and the only goal of the first half.

For all of Barça’s excellence and joyful football, they couldn’t quite manage to finish off the numerous chances they created.

A neat move led to Yorke feeding Park Ji Sung and Poborsky's finish took a wicked deflection off Dehu to double United’s lead.

Ronaldinho released Rivaldo in an incredible moment reminiscent of their performance in the 2002 World Cup. Rivaldo added to the magic of the pass by trying a rabona flick which went just inches wide of the post, the moment enthralled the spectators even though it didn’t result in a goal.

United scored again in the second half before Barcelona pulled one back courtesy of Dehu. Some nice touches from instigators Ronaldinho and Kluivert created the move. The match ended 1-3 in favor of Manchester United.

The proceeds from the match will go to the PCCB (Pediatric Cancer Center Barcelona) project at the Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, which aims to guarantee paediatric treatment for ill children.

FC Barcelona: Angoy (Guzman 73); Belletti (Dehu 36), Nadal (Andersson 46), Edmilson (Amor 67), Goikoetxea (Juan Carlos 73); Giuly (Kluivert 13), Davids (Estebaranz 82), Mendieta (Popescu 56), Simao (Ezquerro 46 (Salinas 84)); Rivaldo (Carreras 73), Ronaldinho.

Manchester United: Van der Gouw (Pilkington 46); Brown, Johnsen (Martin 53), Silvestre; Poborsky (Thornley 65), Park, Smith, Djordjic (Beardsmore 74), Blomqvist (Blackmore 74); Yorke, Saha (Webber 56).