TOP SCORERS OF 2013

Player Ronaldo Ibrahimovic Messi Suarez Cavani Lewandowski Diego Costa Martinez Van Persie Aguero

Club Real Madrid PSG Barcelona Liverpool PSG Dortmund Atletico Porto Man United Man City

Goals 69 47 45 42 41 39 36 33 31 30

Next year will be even better' - Ronaldo tops 2013 goals table

The 28-year-old attacker scored a staggering 69 goals during the past 12 months, but he feels that the best is yet to come

Cristiano Ronaldo has enjoyed a record-breaking year - but the Real Madrid superstar says that he'll have an even better 2014.
The 28-year-old attacker has been shortlisted for the Ballon d'Or for his remarkable goalscoring exploits over the past 12 months, with the Portugal international netting 69 times for Los Blancos, making him the most prolific hitman in European club football in 2013.

Luis Suarez as you've never seen him before

The forward gave a candid interview in which he praised Reds boss Brendan Rodgers, sung his own chant and revealed his love of a Uruguayan beverage

Liverpool striker Luis Suarez looks happier than ever on Meryseyside as he shows his softer side in an interview with a young fan.

Getafe 2-5 Barcelona

                                                   Pedro scores hat-trick in stunning comeback

Gerardo Martino's men trailed 2-0 but produced scored five times without reply to complete a remarkable turnaround

Pedro scored a hat-trick as Barcelona produced a stunning comeback to beat Getafe 5-2 in La Liga.

The winger shrugged off the absence of Lionel Messi and Neymar to take centre stage, scoring the club's fastest league hat-trick since Dani's in September 1999 to move to 10 league goals for the season. 

Falcao: Ronaldo better than Messi

he Colombia international has described the pair as 'the two most important players in the world' but feels that the Portuguese ace has the edge Monaco striker Radamel Falcao believes that Real Madrid icon Cristiano Ronaldo is a better player than Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi.

The Colombia international is a huge admirer of both players, having played alongside them in La Liga for two years before leaving Atletico Madrid for Monaco during the summer.

Ribery should win Ballon d'Or, not Messi

he Spain midfielder believes that his team-mate deserves the award over the Barcelona star, having won an unprecedented German treble with Bayern Munich Thiago Alcantara has claimed that Franck Ribery should win the Ballon d'Or over Lionel Messi after Bayern Munich's trophy haul in 2013.

Arsenal 0-0 Chelsea

Frank Lampard struck the crossbar and Olivier Giroud spurned two big late chances as two of the Premier League's leading title contenders cancelled each other out
Jose Mourinho's men wasted the two best chances of a cagey first half, with Frank Lampard striking the underside of the crossbar with a fierce volley and Willian forcing a low save from Wojciech Szczesny.

Messi hits out at Barcelona vice-president

The prolific attacker has slammed the Blaugrana director for his lack of knowledge about the game and has defended the work of his charity

Lionel Messi has hit out at Barcelona vice-president Javier Faus in the wake of the latter's comments that the Argentina international will not be offered an improved deal any time soon.

A number of recent reports suggested that the prolific attacker had requested a pay-rise which would make him the best-paid player in La Liga again, prompting Faus to stress that Barca have no intention to hand Messi a new deal hardly a year after his previous extension.

However, Messi has insisted that he never asked for a new deal and has hit out at Faus for his lack of football knowledge.

"Faus is a person who does not know anything about football," Messi told RAC1.

"He tries to run Barcelona like a business, but this is a football club. Barcelona are the best club in the world and should also have the best directors in the world.

"I have never asked for a new contract and neither has any of my representatives."

The 26-year-old also took the time to discuss recent allegations that his foundation is involved in a money laundering scandal and stressed that he has not done anything wrong.

"I haven't read anything myself, but my family has told me what's being said. I deeply regret these allegations because everything we earn with these games goes to charity."

Messi is currently recovering from a hamstring injury in Argentina.

Valencia 2-3 Real Madrid

ese Rodriguez came off the bench to earn Real Madrid a crucial 3-2 victory over Valencia at Mestalla on Sunday night.

In what was Nico Estevez's first league game in temporary charge of Valencia, following the exit of Miroslav Djukic on Monday, the hosts showed plenty of character to equalise twice at the Mestalla on Sunday.However, substitute Jese denied the home side as Los Blancos made it seven league games unbeaten on a weekend when title rivals Barcelona and Atletico Madrid both won going into the mid-season break.
A superb solo effort from Angel Di Maria put Madrid ahead after 28 minutes, with the forward darting between Jeremy Mathieu and Juan Bernat before firing home.The visitors' lead was cancelled out six minutes later when Pablo Piatti headed the home side level after good work down the left by Bernat.Cristiano Ronaldo then headed his 18th La Liga goal of the season to restore his side's advantage, but again Valencia hit back, with Mathieu equalising with a header from Dani Parejo's corner just after the hour.Just when it looked as though Valencia would frustrate Madrid, Jese popped up with the winner eight minutes from time - his driven effort squirming through Vicente Guaita's hands.Ancelotti was unable to name Gareth Bale in his Blancos squad after he suffered a calf injury in training in midweek. The Italian was also without the injured Raphael Varane and the suspended Pepe, with Nacho retaining his place from Real's 2-0 Copa del Rey win over Xativa.Estevez made four changes from Valencia's 3-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid with goalkeeper Guaita among those brought in. Sergio Canales had to settle for a place on the bench against his former club.Xabi Alonso came close to connecting with a Marcelo corner at the far post after 16 minutes before Ronaldo flashed a shot wide, as Madrid enjoyed much of the early pressure.The visitors' positive start was rewarded two minutes before the half-hour mark when Di Maria cut inside from the right before beating two Valencia defenders and finding the far corner of Guaita's net.However, their joy was short-lived as Piatti stole in ahead of Sergio Ramos to head home Bernat's delivery six minutes later.The goals continued to flow as Di Maria turned provider for Madrid's second, supplying a teasing set-piece delivery for Ronaldo to head home unmarked after 40 minutes.In what was a low-key start to the second half, neither side were able to fashion any clear-cut chances until Mathieu drew Valencia level a minute after the hour mark.The defender shook off the attentions of Ramos to angle a header past Diego Lopez and register his first goal of the season.It mattered little, however, as Guaita failed to stop Jese's low strike after 82 minutes, ensuring Ancelotti's men remain five points off La Liga's two frontrunners.

I don't care whether Ronaldo attends Ballon d'Or gala

The France international is only thinking about himself and has admitted that the decision to extend the voting deadline could hurt his chances

Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery has insisted that he does not care whether or not Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo will attend next month's Fifa Ballon d'Or gala in Zurich.

Iniesta's new €14m Barca deal finally ends Madrid dream of signing Spain star

The midfielder will put pen to paper on a lucrative new contract next week and now looks set to see out his career at Camp Nou, despite Real's long-standing interest

Andres Iniesta wll become Barcelona's highest earner after Lionel Messi when he pens his new contract agreement next week, in a deal which finally ends Real Madrid's long-standing interest in signing the Spain star.

Messi deserves to be the best-paid player in the world

Barcelona president Sandro Rosell says Lionel Messi deserves to be the highest paid footballer in the world.

Reports have suggested Messi, 26, who is under contract until the summer of 2018, is chasing an improved contract after seeing Neymar arrive at Camp Nou in a big-money deal in the summer.

All-time World Cup top scorers

Pele scored more than a thousand goals in his professional career and his magical scoring touch never let him down at the World Cups.
In the 1958 edition as a 17-year-old, Pele scored six goals in four matches, including a hat-trick against France in the semi-final and a brace against Sweden in the final, becoming the youngster-ever footballer to achieve those two feats.

Andy Murray hopes to repay British public at Australian Open

Andy Murray wants to repay the British public with Australian Open success next month after being crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

The 26-year-old Wimbledon champion beat rugby union player Leigh Halfpenny and jockey AP McCoy to the award.
Murray is training in Miami to prepare for 2014's first Grand Slam, which starts in Melbourne on 13 January.

Pakistan vs Sri Lanka 1st ODI Live Score, Stream & Updates | PAK vs SL | Wed Dec 18 2013

1st ODI Preview

In-form Pakistan are seeking to build on their recent thrilling one-day triumph in South Africa when they take on dangerous but rusty Sri Lanka in a five-match series starting in the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday.

Ashes 2013-14: Michael Clarke wants 5-0 Australia whitewash

Australia captain Michael Clarke says he is aiming to whitewash England and eventually become the best team in the world following their Ashes success.
Australia won the Ashes for the first time since 2007 with a 150-run victory in the third Test in Perth that put them 3-0 up with two matches to play.

Managing director Ian Ayre has held the first meeting with the Uruguayan's agent in Barcelona and hopes to ward off interest from Europe's top clubs with a new big-money deal

Liverpool have made the first step in their bid to tie Luis Suarez down to a club-record contract.

Managing director Ian Ayre flew to Barcelona to hold talks with Suarez's agent, Pere Guardiola, on Tuesday and, although he did not offer a new deal, the meeting signals the Reds' intent to avoid another protracted summer saga.

It is understood that the club are prepared to pay their star forward more than £130,000 (€154,000) per week to stay at Anfield for the long-term.

Liverpool, under the stewardship of Fenway Sports Group, have traditionally been reluctant to open contract negotiations during the season but are desperate to fend off interest in the Uruguay international, whose current deal expires in 2016.

The 26-year-old has been in blistering form since returning from suspension for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic, scoring 17 Premier League goals in 11 games and keeping his side just two points behind Arsenal at the top of the table.

Goal understands that Real Madrid are preparing to lay the groundwork on a £60 million (€70m) move in January, though the Spanish giants expect a deal to be more likely next summer.

Suarez spent the summer angling for a move away from Anfield in pursuit of Champions League football, which strained relations between the player, his agent and the club.

But he has put that behind with a string of exceptional displays and is now settled on Merseyside once more. Liverpool, for their part, believe that the striker's efforts were driven by Champions League ambition rather than financial reward and hope to offer him both next season.

After being named the Football Supporters' Federation's player of the year for 2013 on Monday, Suarez said: "After so many difficult moments for me I was able to win the supporters back, and that was unbelievable when I came back to play."

Leicester City 1-3 Manchester City

After Aleksandar Kolarov's early free kick opened the scoring, the Bosnian striker took the game away from their Championship opponents to reach the Capital One Cup semi-finals

Aleksandar Kolarov opened the scoring early in the first half with a stunning 30-yard free kick and Edin Dzeko doubled the visitors' lead just before the break with a close-range header.

The Bosnian striker piled more misery on Leicester eight minutes into the second half with his seventh goal in eight Capital One Cup appearances and City's 19th in six matches across all competitions.

The Foxes - the last Championship representatives in the competition - struggled to stretch Joe Hart but were able to grab a late consolation as Lloyd Dyer netted his seventh goal of the season.

Barcelona 3-0 Cartagena

Barcelona coasted through to the last 16 of the Copa del Rey with a 3-0 victory over Cartagena on Wednesday night.

Leading 4-1 from the first leg, the Catalans put the outcome beyond all doubt when Pedro struck just after the half-hour mark.

Cristian Tello doubled the Blaugrana's advantage with his 68th-minute strike before Neymar maintained his impressive scoring streak with a goal right at the death.

Cartagena faced an unenviable task in trying to turn around a three-goal deficit and their cause was hardly aided by the injury-enforced withdrawal of Eric Lopez after just six minutes of play at Camp Nou, with Fernando coming on in his place.

Barcelona, though, initially struggled to break the visitors down but they finally made the breakthrough in the 31st minute when Pedro swept home a fine cross from the right from Martin Montoya.

The Blaugrana only added a second midway through the second half, in fortuitous circumstances when Tello found the back of the net with a deflected attempted cross.

However, the Catalans sealed victory in fine style, with Neymar heading home his sixth goal in his last three games in all competitions after a terrific run from Andres Iniesta.

Up next for Barcelona is a Liga clash with Getafe on Sunday.

Cristiano with his mother, girlfriend, son and Madeira president Alberto Joao Jardim

Ronaldo recalls his meeting with Nelson Mandela

Ronaldo with one of his Golden Shoes at the museum

Cristiano with girlfriend Irina at the inauguration on Sunday

Cristiano Ronaldo's new museum

With the Museu CR7 in the Portuguese star's native Madeira unveiled on Sunday, Goal takes a look at the very best images from the grand opening in Funchal

The Museu CR7 is now officially open. Family, friends and a host of Portuguese celebrities were present on Sunday to witness the Real Madrid forward's latest venture as the 28-year-old's museum in Madeira's capital Funchal opened its doors to the world.

Here, Goal looks at some of the best images from the inauguration of the new Museu CR7...

Barcelona 6-1 Celtic

Neymar hat-trick wins group as Barca run riot

The Brazilian opened his Champions League account with three goals as the Liga side secured top spot in devastating fashion, while the visitors bow out with a whimper

The Brazil star had not previously scored in Europe's premier club competition, but was in irrepressible form against the Scottish champions at the Camp Nou on Wednesday.

Barca lost their last Champions League outing at Ajax, but were in no mood to repeat that disappointment as they dismantled Celtic with an irresistible attacking display.

Gerard Pique began the rout after just seven minutes, before Pedro doubled the hosts' advantage five minutes before the interval.

Neymar's first goal came in the 44th minute, and he had completed his treble before the hour-mark with two superb finishes before substitute Cristian Tello added a sixth 18 minutes from time.

Georgios Samaras grabbed a late consolation with a header two minutes before the end, but the hosts were in ominous form as they won the group with consummate ease.

Barca dominated the game from the outset, and were rewarded for their early pressure when Pique broke the deadlock after just seven minutes.

Fraser Forster did well to save Alexis Sanchez's deflected shot with his legs, but the Celtic keeper was powerless to prevent Pique from rifling the rebound into the roof of the net from six yards.

The game continued to be played exclusively in Celtic’s half, but Martino’s men had to wait until five minutes prior to the break to finally double their advantage courtesy of Pedro.

Pique was again heavily involved as he played a fine pass to Neymar, who raced away from Efe Ambrose and squared for the winger to finish neatly from close range.

And Barca extended their lead further just before half-time as Neymar - who was recalled by Gerardo Martino after being rested for the Copa del Rey win at Cartagena - tapped home a typically free-flowing move involving Xavi, Sergi Roberto, Alexis and Martin Montoya.

Xavi and Sergi linked well before the outstanding Sanchez lifted a deft pass into the path of Montoya, who rolled the ball across the face of goal for the Brazilian to convert.

Martino’s side were in no mood to take their foot off the pedal after half-time, and it took Neymar just three minutes of the second period to grab his second of the game following another sumptuous passing move.

The 21-year-old played a slick one-two with Xavi after more good work from Sergi before firing unerringly into the top corner from 10 yards.

And Neymar completed his hat-trick just before the hour as he collected Adriano’s pass down the left, bamboozled Ambrose with some sensational footwork and slotted past Forster, with Matthews unable to clear on the line.

Barca continued searching for more goals to banish the memory of their defeat in Amsterdam, and Tello got in on the act on 72 minutes when his shot deflected past the helpless Forster.

Samaras then restored a semblance of respectability to the scoreline for Celtic on 88 minutes when he headed home a free-kick from close range. 

 

Napoli 2-0 Arsenal

Arsene Wenger's side were beaten in Italy, with Mikel Arteta shown a red card in the second half, but the result still sees them qualify at the Serie A outfit's expense

 

Two late goals for Napoli proved to be in vain as they crashed out of the Champions League despite a 2-0 victory over 10-man Arsenal.

Needing to win by three goals to definitely go through, it took until the 73rd minute for the Italians to get on the scoresheet, Gonzalo Higuain hitting a shot on the turn from around 18 yards to send the home fans into raptures, before Mikel Arteta saw red for a second bookable offence.
But news from Marseille was met with cries of despair from the stands, with Kevin Grosskreutz firing Borussia Dortmund to a last-gasp 2-1 victory and sending the Germans through as winners of Group F.
Jose Callejon added a second for Napoli at the death, but it was too little too late for the Serie A club.
Arsenal go through as runners-up and have now qualified from the group stages for 14 consecutive seasons.
Pepe Reina once again missed out for the hosts, but was fit enough for a place among the substitutes, while Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere dropped to the Arsenal bench in favour of Tomas Rosicky and Mathieu Flamini as Arsene Wenger made two alterations to the side that were held 1-1 by Everton on Sunday.
Napoli applied the early pressure, Goran Pandev forcing Wojciech Szczesny into a save from a tight angle in the ninth minute after receiving the ball from a Dries Mertens cross.
Wenger’s men weathered the early storm and Olivier Giroud finally posed a threat at the other end of the pitch in the 23rd minute, with stand-in keeper Rafael Cabral punching away his effort from the left-hand side of the penalty area.
Christian Maggio then found some space down the right seven minutes before the break, but chipped over with Szczesny advancing, before the Pole’s blushes were saved as Higuain nodded wide from a dreadful attempted clearance.
Mesut Ozil unleashed a shot from distance four minutes into the second period, but saw it bounce well wide of the left-hand post.
Pablo Armero was denied by Szczesny at close range, Callejon dragged a shot wide and Higuain blazed over as Napoli reacted to a raucous home support.
But Higuain, who was linked with a move to Arsenal in the close season, appeared to have sent Napoli through in the 74th minute, turning superbly just inside the penalty area and sending a left-footed effort beyond Szczesny for his first goal against English opposition in the Champions League.
And Napoli received a boost just a couple of minutes later, as Arteta was given his marching orders for a second yellow card, before Callejon chipped a second from close range in stoppage time.
But it left the hosts one goal short of qualification as they became the first club to rack up 12 points but not go through to the last 16, while Arsenal could face the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain after finishing second in the group.

Casillas nominated for Fifpro Team of the Year

The Real Madrid captain has lost his place in the Blancos first team this year but is still in the running for the annual XI alongside the likes of Manuel Neuer

Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas has been named among the nominees for the Fifa/Fifpro Team of the Year for 2013.

The Spain skipper has endured a frustrating time over the last 12 months, losing his place in the Blancos first team to Diego Lopez after suffering a hand injury in January.

Casillas has not made a Liga appearance for the club since, though he has featured under Carlo Ancelotti in the Champions League and for Spain at the Confederations Cup.

Meanwhile, his rival for the No.1 jersey with the world champions, Barcelona's Victor Valdes is also among the nominees, alongside Manuel Neuer, who led Bayern Munich to the treble last term.

Petr Cech of Europa League winners Chelsea and Gianluigi Buffon, who captained Juventus to a second straight Serie A title complete the field.

Last term, an all-Liga XI was named, with only Atletico Madrid's Radamel Falcao coming from outside the Real Madrid and Barcelona squads and Casillas in goal.

The 55-strong shortlist for the Fifa/Fifpro XI will be revealed on December 9.