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Home / Tagged "Cristiano Ronaldo" (Page 2)

Tag: Cristiano Ronaldo

Ronaldo denies signing Al Nassr deal

By December 7, 2022 0

Cristiano Ronaldo has put all the speculations to rest. The former Manchester United striker has denied signing Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr’s massive two-and-a-half-year deal for £173million-a-year.

Speaking after coming off the bench in Portugal’s 6-1 win over Switzerland at the World Cup, a rare substitute appearance for his country, Ronaldo was asked about the move.

“No, it’s not true,” he told reporters.

The Portugal superstar is currently without a club after he mutually decided to part ways with his former club, Manchester United. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner may struggle to find a top-tier club in Europe, given his relative decline in form in recent times, compared to his peak years at Real Madrid and the huge salary he is expected to be seeking.

The Portugal superstar denied saying anything else, as he wants to focus on the World Cup. After hammering Switzerland in the Round of 16, Portugal will face Morocco in the quarterfinals.

Categories: Trending News

Cristiano Ronaldo offered a huge “£173million-a-year” deal by Saudi’s Al Nassr

By November 30, 2022 0

Cristiano Ronaldo seems to be making headlines every day. After having a controversial goal denied against Uruguay in their World Cup clash, the former Manchester United attacker is in the news again. As per reports, Ronaldo has accepted Saudi Arabia club Al Nassr’s two-and-a-half year deal for £173million-a-year.

Spanish publication Marca report he has accepted a two-and-a-half-year deal with Saudi side Al Nassr. This deal which excludes bonuses and incentives, would see Ronaldo eclipse PSG’s star man Kylian Mbappe and become the costliest signing of all time.

With him being in his late 30s, Ronaldo is seeing very little interest from European clubs. Earlier, Bayern Munich CEO Oliver Kahn had denied the reports suggesting that the club is interested in signing Ronaldo.

Ronaldo is yet to respond to Al-Nassr’s proposal, but his desire to continue competing at the highest level was clear in his interview with British journalist Piers Morgan.  Besides Al Nassr, Newcastle United and Chelsea had shown some interest in signing the superstar. Now only time will tell which club signs the superstar.

Categories: Trending News
Ronaldo to exit Man United

“Bayern will not sign Ronaldo”, says CEO Oliver Kahn

By November 29, 2022 0

Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich’s Chief Executive Officer Oliver Kahn has announced that his team will not be signing Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo. This comes after several rumours surfaced that the German club will be signing the former Manchester United player since their latest signing, Sadio Mane, didn’t live up to the expectations.

Bayern CEO Oliver Kahn announced, “I can rule out a move for Ronaldo. We’ve considered it, we all love Ronaldo, but the strategy is different.” He further said, “We’ve a clear idea, philosophy of how our squad should be put together.”

After weeks of drama, the former Manchester United attacker recently mutually decided to part ways with the club. The G.O.A.T. is currently without any club. However, there were many reports suggesting that he has got a mammoth $225 million offer from Saudi Arabia club Al Nassr. The deal will see Ronaldo bag a whopping $75 million deal in his late 30s.

Categories: Trending News
Ronaldo to exit Man United

Manchester United, Ronaldo mutually confirm an exit

By November 23, 2022 0

After weeks of ensuing drama and speculations, English Premier League club Manchester United and Cristiano have mutually decided to terminate the contract of their star striker. The decision has been taken following Ronaldo’s explosive interview with British journalist Piers Morgan in which he criticised the club and manager Erik ten Hag.

The club in an official statement said, “Cristiano Ronaldo is to leave Manchester United by mutual agreement, with immediate effect.”

The club further added, “ Manchester United thanks Cristiano Ronaldo for his immense contribution across two spells at Old Trafford, scoring 145 goals in 346 appearances, and wishes him and his family well for the future.”

Ronaldo’s contract at Old Trafford was due to run until June, but United sought to cancel it early after the striker told Morgan the club had made “zero progress” since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013 and that he “doesn’t respect” the current club coach Ten Hag.

Ronaldo also released a statement saying, “ Following conversations with Manchester United we have mutually agreed to end our contract early. “ The all-time great further said, “ I love Manchester United and I love the fans, that will never ever change. However, it feels like the right time to seek a new challenge. I wish the team every success for the remainder of the season and for the future.”

Additionally, the club is also in the news because of its owners. The Glazers family have been in charge of the club ever since it took over the club in 2005. But now with the rising protests against the owners, there are reports that the Glazers are looking to sell the club. 

In a statement, the club said, “Manchester United, one of the most successful and historic sports clubs in the world, announces today that the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) is commencing a process to explore strategic alternatives for the club.”

The club further said, “The Board will consider all strategic alternatives, including new investment into the club, a sale, or other transactions involving the Company.”

Categories: Trending News
Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo breaks another record; becomes first to 500M Instagram followers

By November 21, 2022 0

Cristiano Ronaldo’s stakes seem to be at an all-time high. After breaking the Internet yesterday with the Louis Vuitton campaign with fellow football G.O.A.T. Lionel Messi, the charismatic striker has become the first person to breach the 500 million followers barrier on Instagram.

The Manchester United striker crossed the milestone in the early hours of Monday. He became the first person in the world to have 500 followers on Instagram. The striker reached the milestone on Sunday evening. Lionel Messi is the second celebrity on the list with 376 million followers. While reality TV star Kylie Jenner (372M followers) and singer Selena Gomez (357M followers) come a close third and fourth respectively. The fifth spot is occupied by WWE star turned actor, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson with 348 million followers.

The record seems to be like a bright light in a dark tunnel (a bit!). The Portugal striker is having a torrid time off the field. The star gave an explosive interview to Piers Morgan criticising the coach Erik Ten Hag and the management of Manchester United. 

As soon as the interview was out, everyone on the Internet started criticising his attitude and temperament. As per reports, Manchester United was looking at legal options to terminate Ronaldo’s contract, under which, he earns half a million pounds every week.

Categories: Trending News
CR7 and Messi come together for an LV ad

Ronaldo and Messi come together in a Louis Vuitton ad; break the internet!!!

By November 20, 2022 0

Before the World Cup fever starts, Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo and Argentina’s sensation Lionel Messi have broken the Internet and sent their fans into a frenzy. The G.O.A.T.s of football have come together for a Louis Vuitton campaign that has become the 3rd most-liked post on Instagram.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Cristiano Ronaldo (@cristiano)

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are featured in a new LV campaign that was shared in the early hours of Sunday. It’s a photo of the two of them playing chess on top of a Louis Vuitton suitcase, using the signature squares as spaces for their pieces.

The said post was also shared on Cristiano Ronaldo’s Instagram profile. The post has garnered 30.9 million likes and 411K comments, leaving it in 3rd place in the most-liked Instagram posts.

The number one ranked most-liked Instagram post is by Chris Godfrey, and his Photo of an Egg post that got over 55.8 million likes. Cristiano Ronaldo himself announced to the world through Instagram that he and his girlfriend, Georgina Rodriguez, are expecting twins. The social media post has over 32.6 million likes.

Looking at the pace at which Ronaldo’s latest social media post is garnering likes, it is a matter of time before it becomes the 2nd most-liked Instagram post. Will it go all the way and become the numero uno? Drop your answers in the comment section.

Categories: Trending News

5 record-breaking football transfers of all-time

By November 18, 2022 0

The summer of 2022 saw football clubs breaking the bank and going for their favourite players. If Manchester City got the likes of Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez, then Barcelona pulled every possible lever to get Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, Jules Kounde and a bunch of other guys.

Well, this is not a new thing. During the 2009-10 season, current UEFA Champions League winners Real Madrid had the most epic football transfer season of all time. Los Blancos went all guns blazing in the transfer market that summer. They pillaged eight players away to Santiago Bernabeu, including some really high-profile ones, with net expenditure amounting to a staggering €261 million!

The players they bought included Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Raul Albiol, Xabi Alonso, and Karim Benzema, among others. Although the club bought this bunch of players, they couldn’t click as a team. The team managed to reach the Round of 16 stage in the Champions League but got eliminated by Lyon. Also, their fiercest rivals, Barcelona, managed to pip them in La Liga. 

Thus proving that sometimes money is not enough to win. That is the sad truth in today’s world.

Like the record-breaking transfer of Real Madrid in 2009, there have been times when football clubs have broken the bank to buy their favourite players.

In this article, we will be having a look at the 5 record-breaking transfers of all time that broke the Internet.

 

→ Neymar Jr. (Barcelona to PSG)

This was on the expected lines. The Brazilian sensation Neymar Jr. set the streets in Barcelona on fire with his dribbling and goal-scoring abilities. The trio of Messi-Suarez-Neymar were the reason for sleepless nights for a lot of European teams.

So, when the French club Paris St. Germain decided to rebuild their team, they went all the way to get the Brazilian player. During the 2017 summer, the Brazilian left Camp Nou for PSG in a move worth €222m (£200m), ending an impressive four-year stay with Barcelona. 

This is the biggest transfer ever to happen in the footballing world.

 

→ Kylian Mbappe (AS Monaco to PSG)

The wonder kid from France who set the 2018 World Cup stage on fire with his skills managed to follow in the footsteps of Neymar Jr. by joining PSG. PSG paid Monaco €180m when they bought Kylian Mbappe from their Ligue 1 rivals in 2018 after an initial loan spell.

Taking the concept of making a loan switch permanent to new extremes, PSG made Mbappe the most expensive European player of all time in the summer of 2018.

→ Phillippe Coutinho ( Liverpool to Barcelona)

Spanish giants Barcelona have made some disastrous buys in the recent past that have impacted the club in a very negative way. In the January transfer window of 2018, Barcelona purchased Phillippe Coutinho from Liverpool for a reported fee worth €160m.

However, as time progressed, the midfielder didn’t quite justify his price. Hence, he was sent on a loan to the English club Aston Villa. However, as the English club was impressed by their newest loanee, they decided to buy Coutinho for a fee of €20 million. Barcelona decided to add a sell-on clause of 50% for any future transfer of Phillippe Coutinho.

→ Ousmane Dembele (Borussia Dortmund to Barcelona)

You get it why Barcelona are in shambles right now? The club bought a few players at an astonishing price who didn’t quite justify their price tag. Ousmane Dembele was one among them.

The French footballer was a part of the German football team Borussia Dortmund. He was creating quite the noise with his pitch-perfect football skills. Dembele, 25, joined Barcelona in 2017 from Borussia Dortmund for a fee of €140 million ($165 million). It is one of the biggest transfer fees in football history.

However, it is not a successful one. During his stint with Barcelona, the winger was marred with injuries and spent half of his time on the bench. 

→ Eden Hazard (Chelsea to Real Madrid)

Real Madrid is known for going all the way for the players they want. The recent controversy surrounding Kylian Mbappe is a prime example of that. 

During the 2019 summer, Chelsea star Eden Hazard made a shocking move to Real Madrid in a transfer worth €100 million (£88m/$112m). It was reported the deal was worth €140m (£124m/$146m) with all the incentives.

As was the case with Barcelona superstar Ousmane Dembele, Eden Hazard, too, spent a lot of time in the hospital dealing with injuries. 

Other notable mentions:

 

Player Name Former Club Club that bought him Year of the transfer Transfer Fee
Joao Felix Benfica Atletico Madrid 2019 €126m
Antoine Griezmann Atletico Madrid Barcelona 2019 €120m
Jack Grealish Aston Villa Manchester City 2021 €117m
Romelu Lukaku Inter Milan Chelsea 2021 €115m
Paul Pogba Juventus Manchester United 2016 €105m
Gareth Bale Tottenham Spurs Real Madrid 2013 €100.8m
Cristiano Ronaldo Real Madrid Juventus  2018 €100m
Antony Ajax FC Manchester United 2022 €95m (+€5m)
Cristiano Ronaldo Manchester United Real Madrid 2009 €94m

                                                                                                                                            (stats provided by Goal.com) 

Woah, a lot of money was splurged on buying the footballers. The number is going to shoot up as the years go by. 

Who do you think will be the next “superstar” who will become the most expensive signing eclipsing Neymar’s price tag? Drop the names in the comment section.

Categories: Sports360

The Last Dance: Players who will be playing their final FIFA World Cup

By November 18, 2022 0

The 2022 FIFA World Cup kicks off in less than a week. All the teams have landed in the Arabic country and started their preparation. The teams are getting acclimatised to the hot and humid conditions of Qatar.

Well, as the team prepares for the Winter World Cup, there are some players who might be playing their final World Cup. Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi being the most obvious ones. This might be their last chance to get their hands on the coveted FIFA World Cup. So, they will be leaving no stone unturned to win the big prize.

In this article, we’ll look at those players who will be playing their final FIFA World Cup.

Cristiano Ronaldo

The Portugal superstar will be making his 5th consecutive appearance at the most prestigious tournament in the world. Pooled in Group H alongside Uruguay, South Korea, and Ghana, Portugal will hope to give their star man a befitting send-off at the grand stage, and it does not get better than aiming for the ultimate prize.

The Manchester United striker has won every possible trophy there is to win. Only the World Cup trophy is missing from his cabinet. If he manages to go till the end, then it will establish him as one of the G.O.A.T.s.

Lionel Messi

The Argentine superstar will also be making his final appearance in the 2022 FIFA World Cup. One of the world’s finest players, Lionel Messi, hopes for World Cup glory this time. Following his admission that he will retire from international football after the World Cup, several Argentine teammates, including Manchester United’s Lisandro Martinez, swore, “to go to war for Messi to win the World Cup”.

Under the able leadership of Lionel Messi, Argentina are on a hot streak with 24 victories and 11 draws across friendly matches, World Cup 2022 qualifying and, of course, the 2021 Copa América, a trophy they lifted for the 15th time. With such form, things are all set for Lionel Messi to put an end to his World Cup trophy drought.

Neymar Jr.

The Brazilian superstar will be making his final appearance at the World Cup. Neymar is second on Brazil’s all-time top goalscorers list with 74 goals in 119 appearances.

“I think it (2022) will be my last World Cup,” Neymar said. “I am facing it like the last World Cup because I don’t know whether I will be able to, mentally, endure more soccer”, he said in the documentary Neymar & The Line Of Kings, produced by DAZN.

“I will do everything possible to get there very well. I will do all I can to win it with my country and realize my dream, the biggest since my boyhood.”

Luis Suarez

Uruguay’s all-time leading goalscorer will be plying his trade for the last time. The 35-year-old is set to play his fourth World Cup. The superstar will be trying to recreate his magic on the field, like in the 2010 World Cup, where he led his team to fourth place.

Robert Lewandowski

 

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have overshadowed the Poland superstar. The Barcelona main man has quietly kept scoring goals in his club career. At the international level, the former Bayern Munich striker has amassed 76 goals in 134 appearances for Poland but is yet to score at the World Cup.

Edinson Cavani

Uruguay’s most prolific goal scorer, Edinson Cavani, will also be playing his final World Cup. Cavani made his debut in 2008 against Columbia and since then has appeared in 133 games and scored 58 goals.

The striker has appeared in 14 matches and scored five goals in the World Cup.

Luka Modrić

The Real Madrid legend who plies his trade for Croatia will be making his final appearance on the biggest stage. The 37-year-old seems to be getting better with age. The creative midfielder, who led his team to the finals of the 2018 World Cup, will be looking to go all the way and win the trophy for his nation.

Manuel Neuer

The Bayern Munich legend is one of the best goalkeepers the game has ever witnessed. The 36-year-old will be playing his fourth World Cup. He has stood like a rock between the opposing teams and the goalpost.

Thomas Müller

One of the most prolific goal scorers in Germany’s squad, Thomas Müller, will be appearing in his fourth World Cup. The Bayern Munich striker has scored 10 goals in 16 games. Considering this will probably be his final World Cup, he will leave no stone unturned to get his hands on the prestigious trophy.

Other notable mentions: Karim Benzema, Olivier Giroud, Sergio Busquets, Dani Alves, Thiago Silva, Eden Hazard, Jordi Alba, Hugo Lloris, Angel Di Maria, and Pepe, among many others.

These were a few footballers who will be making their final appearance at the FIFA World Cup. Let us know which footballer will be missed the most in their national colours.

Categories: Sports360

The 7 greatest FIFA World Cup individual performances

By November 12, 2022 0

It is difficult to forget certain things in your life. Your first kiss, your first heartbreak, and an exceptional performance from a top athlete. Whether you are a Real Madrid or a Barcelona fan, Ronaldo’s bicycle kick in the 2018 Champions League semi-finals against Juventus will be eternally etched in your memory. A great performance never ends on the field; it is written and talked about for years to come. We are still talking about Virat Kohli’s match-winning knock against Pakistan in T20 World Cup 2022. 

The biggest sporting event, the FIFA World Cup, is just around the corner. Almost every legend has been featured in this grand event representing their respective country over the years. But somehow, only some of them have given us the performances to remember. Let’s have a look at seven such memorable renditions in the history of the FIFA World Cup. 

Zinedine Zidane vs Brazil, 1998 Final 

Zinedine Zidane became a benchmark for midfielders with his blistering performance against Brazil in the finals of the 1998 World Cup. The legendary midfielder took the Stade Velodrome stadium by storm with his two clutch goals within the first 45 minutes of the match. 

Zidane defined the meaning of grace every time he touched the ball that night. Each of his passes pierced through Brazil’s defence. France won the World Cup 3-0 against Brazil, with Emmanuel Petit scoring the final goal for the hosts. Zidane was named the “Man of the Match” and the rest is history. 

Cristiano Ronaldo vs Spain 2018 Group Stage

Cristiano Ronaldo has carried his side a lot of times in his glorious career. But to do it in a World Cup match against a team like Spain makes it more special. The Portuguese skipper scored a mesmerizing hattrick against Spain to steal a point against them in the group stages of the 2018 World Cup. Cristiano Ronaldo also became the first player in history to score in eight consecutive international tournaments. 

Ronaldo grabbed his maiden World Cup hat trick when his side needed him the most. What makes this performance more special is Ronaldo’s 88th-minute free-kick to equalize the score against Spain. A once-in-a-generation show by the greatest of all time. 

James Rodriguez vs Uruguay, 2014 Round of 16 

The 2014 World Cup was a life-changing campaign for James Rodrigues. 22-year-old James Rodriguez won it for his side against Uruguay with a spectacular brace in the Round of 16 stage. The former Real Madrid player became an overnight success as Colombia went on to

win the match 2-0 against Uruguay. Rodriguez created history with his performance as he carried Colombia to their first-ever World Cup quarter-finals. 

Rodriguez’s first goal against Uruguay, which was an exceptional volley, was described as “one of the greatest goals the World Cup has ever seen” by none other than Uruguay’s manager of the time, Oscar Tabarez. James won the Golden boot in the 2014 FIFA World Cup and was soon signed by Real Madrid after the World Cup for a historic sum of 90m euros (£71m), making him the 4th costliest player of the time. 

Diego Maradona vs England, 1986 Quater-final 

“A little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God,” this might be the most iconic line said by any footballer in the history of the sport. We don’t actually need to say who said it and when. Diego Maradona is coined as one of the greatest, if not the greatest, footballers to ever grace this beautiful sport. He was passionate, a genius, and a serial winner. He was loved by all, except, umm, some of the English fans for obvious reasons. 

Maradona scored the infamous “hand of God” goal against England to knock them out of the quarter-final of the 1986 World Cup. However, the “hand of God” wasn’t the only talking point about Argentina’s win over England. Maradona also scored arguably the best goal of his career just 4 minutes after his first goal. Maradona’s second goal against England in 1986 was also named the ‘Goal of the century’. Gary Linekar scored a consolation goal for England in the 81st minute. 

Pele vs France, 1958 Semi-final 

“So you think you are Pele? a very common line used in the 70s and 80s, even by someone who has never watched a game of football. Pele was the first real superstar of the game and was globally known for his majestic aura in the world of sports. Pele was born to play football, and he has the stats to prove it. There are many songs written about his greatness, and his performance against France in the 1958 semi-final is just one of them. 

France was leading Brazil in that particular semi-final of the 1958 World Cup until Pele stepped in. A 17-year-old Pele, the youngest player in that World Cup, scored a hattrick to carry Brazil to the finals. Pele also scored a brace during Brazil’s 5-2 win against Sweden in the 1958 FIFA World Cup finals. Pele scored a total of six goals in just four appearances in the World Cup of 1958 and never looked back. 

Ronaldo vs Germany, 2002 Final 

The 2002 World Cup is fairly remembered for “that” haircut by the Brazilian Ronaldo. The legendary striker inspired almost an entire generation of teenagers to pick that haircut unintentionally. The real reason why Ronaldo adopted that look was to distract the media from writing about his ever-lasting knee injury. Against all odds, Ronaldo made it to Brazil’s squad in the 2002 World Cup after recovering from a severe knee injury.

Ronaldo was the star performer for Brazil in the finals against Germany, where he scored both goals to win for his team. Ronaldo comeback from a career-ending injury and became the highest scorer of the 2002 FIFA World Cup with a total of 12 goals. Ronaldo found the net against every opponent except England in the 2002 World Cup. But his performance in the finals against Germany was the best version of the Brazilian ace. 

Kylian Mbappe vs Argentina, 2018 Round of 16 

Kylian Mbappe’s worth is now in gold, and it is not a metaphor. No offer is good enough that will convince PSG to let him go; ask Florentino Perez. Very few players can match Mbappe’s stature in modern-day football, one of them being Manchester City’s Erling Haaland. Kylian Mbappe is touted to be the next legend of this game. Kylian Mbappe is a generational talent, and he has shown glimpses of his greatness since he was a boy. 

Kylian Mbappe became the first teenager after Pele to score a brace in a FIFA World Cup match, a record which stood since 1958. Kylian Mbappe achieved this feat against Argentina in the 2018 Round of 16 clash. Kylian Mbappe’s brace helped France to edge past Argentina in a thrilling 4-3 encounter. Kylian Mbappe was the best player on the pitch that night despite the presence of Lionel Messi.

Categories: Sports360
Interesting Facts about FIFA World Cup

11 interesting facts about the 2022 FIFA World Cup

By November 9, 2022 0

This winter, Christmas is going to arrive early for football aficionados. FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 is knocking just around the corner. The hosts Qatar, will contest Ecuador in the opening match of the tournament on 20th November. The stage is set for the biggest sporting event in the world, as millions of fans will be glued to their television screens for a month straight. 

Controversies, protests, and contentions, the hype built around the upcoming FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 are mainly due to the tension surrounding it. Having said that, the 2022 World Cup is also going to get emotional for the fans as two of the greatest footballers in the world, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, might be featuring in their last one. There is a lot to discuss the upcoming sporting jamboree. Let’s have a look. 

11 interesting facts about the 2022 FIFA World Cup 

First World Cup to take place in the Middle East 

Amidst all the controversies, Qatar has done something unimaginable. Qatar will become the first Middle-Eastern country to host the FIFA World Cup. Qatar will be only the second Asian country to organize this grand footballing event. Against all the odds, Qatar is ready to set an example for the world. 

Highest visitors count 

The streets of Qatar are expected to be packed throughout the FIFA World Cup. It is reported that over 1 million tourists and fans from around the world are expected to visit Qatar during the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Over 1,300+ flights are expected to land in Qatar every day over two months. Qatar is already famous for being a tourist spot, and it’s just going to get bigger. 

The most expensive World Cup to date 

Qatar has reportedly spent over £138 billion (17.60 Lakh Crore INR) to build the infrastructure to conduct the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The infrastructure includes stadiums, hotels, highways, and other facilities. Russia hosted the second costliest World Cup after Qatar, and they spent only £14.2 billion, followed by Brazil (£11.6 billion). 

Qatar’s insane World Cup cost is due to the money spent on building seven brand-new stadiums. To get a wider perspective, South Africa invested a total of $3.5 billion while hosting the World Cup in 2010. 

The lowest number of stadiums

FIFA World Cup 2022 will only be played in 8 stadiums. This is the lowest number of stadiums recorded in the history of the World Cup. However, 7 of the 8 stadiums are newly built just to hold the Qatar World Cup. 8 or more matches will be played in each of the eight stadiums. 

Lusail Stadium is the largest stadium among the eight, which will be hosting over 80,000 fans. Al Bayt Stadium will be hosting over 60,000 fans, while the rest of the stadiums have the capacity of holding 40,000 people or so.

 

The eight stadiums are: 

  1. Lusail Stadium | Capacity: 80,000 seats 
  2. Al Bayt Stadium | Capacity: 60,000 seats 
  3. Al Janoub Stadium | Capacity: 40,000 seats 
  4. Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium | Capacity: 40,000 seats 
  5. Khalifa International Stadium | Capacity: 40,000 seats 
  6. Education City Stadium | Capacity: 40,000 seats 
  7. Stadium 974 | Capacity: 40,000 seats 
  8. Al Thumama Stadium | Capacity: 40,000 seats 

Smallest Country to host the FIFA World Cup 

Qatar will become the smallest country to host the FIFA World Cup by land and also by population of the country. Qatar measures only 11,571 km². Qatar is smaller than most of the states in the USA. The population of Qatar was around 29.3 lakhs in 2021. All eight stadiums are interconnected via the Doha Metro line. 

Uruguay is the next smallest country after Qatar to ever host a FIFA World Cup. Uruguay has a population of around 34.9 lakhs (2021) and is spread across 176,215 km². Uruguay hosted and clinched the first-ever FIFA World Cup in 1930. Qatar this time? No? Ok!. 

First ever FIFA World Cup to be played in the Winter 

FIFA World Cups are mostly played during the summer between June and July. However, Qatar World Cup will be taken place during the winter. The reason is pretty obvious, Qatar’s scathing summer. The temperature in Qatar reaches up to 50℃. The FIFA authorities showed some mercy over the players and shifted the entire tournament to winter. The winter temperature in Qatar loiters between 4℃ to 29℃. 

Alcohol-friendly fan zones 

Access to alcohol is certainly not easy in Qatar, as it is a Muslim-dominated country. However, the hosts have considered the feelings of their beerologist travelling fans, especially the English, and have decided to put up multiple alcohol-friendly “fan zones”. 

Alcohol won’t be available in any of the stadiums. However, fans can consume their drink in the said spots. The prices of the alcohol sold in the “fan zone” will be comparatively lesser than the usual price of alcohol in Qatar. 

Air-conditioned Stadiums 

Qatar will keep no stone unturned to make the 2022 FIFA World Cup a memorable one. Despite the tournament being set in the winter, Qatar has made its stadiums fully air-conditioned. The sub-tropical climate can make a switch anytime, and Qatar has no

intentions of taking any risk. The cooling of a single stadium will require the strength of around 44,000 air conditioners per game. 

Magnificent!. Certain environmentalists will say otherwise, though! 

Costliest Match Tickets in World Cup history 

Watching a FIFA World Cup match in Qatar is not going to come cheap. Qatar has a simple way of recovering its gargantuan investment: how? by increasing the price of match tickets. The best tickets for the 2022 World Cup finals are going to cost around £1,179 (1,09,368 INR). The same ticket was priced at around £807 (74,797 INR) in the finals of the 2018 Russia World Cup. 

The cheapest tickets for the 2022 World Cup finals will be around £513.34 (47,592 INR). The tickets for the group matches will cost around £58.64 (5,436 INR) for the travelling fans. However, the citizens of Qatar can buy the group stage tickets for £8 (741 INR). The opening match of the Qatar World Cup between Qatar and Ecuador will cost around £302 (27,985 INR). 

The Protest 

Countries around the world are protesting against Qatar hosting the 2022 World Cup. There are many claims that Qatar has broken most of the human rights norms in the process of getting ready for the 2022 World Cup. A recent report claimed that more than 6,500 migrant workers from countries like India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal had died in Qatar since 2010, the year when Qatar won the rights to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Many recognized players have also protested against Qatar on and off the field. 

The Last Dance 

The end for which not a single fan of the sport can ever be prepared. Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi: the pioneers of modern-day football, might be featuring in their last-ever football World Cup. While the 35-year-old Argentine has already made it public, Ronaldo is yet to comment on his future. 

FIFA World Cup remains the only thing neither of these two demi-gods has won in their prosperous careers. It’s their last dance, their last shot to conquer the dream. Will they? Can they? Destiny awaits.

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