Cristiano Ronaldo will be missing in action for Al Nassr when they play Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami on Thursday due to a calf injury.
Inter Miami star Lionel Messi has opened up about his relationship with longtime rival Cristiano Ronaldo, making it clear that while the pair are not friends, there is mutual respect between them.

Speaking in an interview with DSsports, Messi stated that their rivalry existed solely on the pitch, particularly during their time facing off in Spain’s El Clasico, with Messi at Barcelona and Ronaldo at Real Madrid.

“I have a lot of respect and admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo and for the career he’s had and continues to have, because he’s still competing at the highest level.

“The competition with him was on the pitch. Each of us wanted to do the best for our team. Obviously, as always, everything stayed on the field.

“Off the pitch, we are two normal people. We’re not friends obviously because we don’t spend time together, but we’ve always treated each other with a lot of respect.”

Although both players now play in different parts of the world—Messi in Major League Soccer (MLS) and Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia with Al Nassr—their careers have often been compared, with fans and pundits divided over who is the greatest of their generation.

Vanguard News

Super Falcons’ star striker Asisat Oshoala and experienced defender Ashley Plumptre are part of the list of players named by coach Justin Madugu for the 2024 Women’s African Cup of Nations.

The list released on Friday also has captain Rasheedat Ajibade, with 11 players set to make their debuts at the tournament which will take place in Morocco from July 5 to 26, 2024.

Three players from the local league are also included in the team, and will be hoping to make their mark and repay the coach’s confidence in them.

Goalkeeper Rachael Unachukwu and defenders Sikiratu Isah and Miracle Usani are the only home-based players included in the team.

Experienced midfielder Halimatu Ayinde, regulars Michelle Alozie, Oluwatosin Demehin, Deborah Abiodun, Christy Ucheibe, Ifeoma Onumonu, and Jennifer Echegini were also called up for the competition.

Nigeria, record WAFCON holders with nine titles, are on a mission to make it ten in Morocco. The Super Falcons are in Group B of the tournament alongside North African sides —Tunisia and Algeria, and the Mares of Botswana.

Already, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has lined up warm-up games against the Black Queens of Ghana and Portugal as part of preparations for the team ahead of the WAFCON.

The Super Falcons will take on Portugal on June 23rd in the Portuguese city of Lisbon before filing out against perennial foes Ghana on the 29th.

The Super Falcons will kick start their campaign against Tunisia on Sunday, July 6, before facing Botswana (July 10) and Algeria (July 13) in Group B.

The top four teams at the tournament will secure qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil

Nigerian football star, Victor Osimhen, has opened up about the difficult circumstances he endured growing up, revealing that he once engaged in menial jobs just to make ends meet.

During a heartfelt conversation with media personality Daddy Freeze, Osimhen spoke candidly about his childhood struggles, detailing how poverty shaped his early life and gave him the resilience that now fuels his success on the pitch.

The Napoli forward, now celebrated as one of Africa’s finest football exports, shared that as a young boy growing up in Lagos, he fetched water for neighbors and cleaned algae-filled gutters for meager sums.

“There was a building opposite our house, like those ‘face-me-I-face-you’ compounds. I used to fetch water for the people living upstairs for N80,” Osimhen recalled.
“At other times, I would clean their gutters, the ones filled with those green things Spirogyra and I did that for N30.”

His story struck a chord with many Nigerians who could relate to the grind of daily survival and the unpredictable nature of life.

Social Media Reactions: A Story That Inspired Thousands

Osimhen’s story quickly went viral, with fans and social media users praising his journey and using it as a source of personal encouragement.

One user, @my_helper_where_you_dey, wrote:

“God, you remembered Osimhen and he became a great man. Please remember me too before this year ends. I want to be great! Sapa [poverty] is not a joke.”

@sexysleem2 commented:

“Every great person has a story. Thank God you paved your way, Osy Wonder.👏👏”

Another user, @barpasiano, added:

“This one, you can never question the source of his wealth—evidence dey everywhere.”

@lady.blemiviv reflected:

“Life! This is exactly why you should never look down on anyone. You don’t know what tomorrow holds.”

And @aniberry22 wrote:

“Just be kind, even to the people doing the smallest jobs—like your gate man or gutter cleaner. That person might be the one to help you tomorrow. You won’t be broke, but they might be the reason your account balance starts breathing again.”

From Gutter Cleaner to Global Star

Victor Osimhen’s rise from the slums of Lagos to becoming a global football sensation is nothing short of inspirational. From cleaning gutters for N30 to being valued in the millions by top football clubs across Europe, his journey serves as a testament to resilience, humility, and the power of hard work.

Now a fan favorite and role model for aspiring athletes, Osimhen continues to motivate millions with not just his talent, but his transparency about where he started and the struggles that shaped him.