PSG Behavior Under Scrutiny

To add salt to the Real Madrid-inflicted wound, the Parisians have now gotten the attention of the UEFA board who are looking to investigate on their compliance with the Financial Fair Play rules and the behavior of their ultras. The cash-rich club have invested a lot in their squad as they spent hundreds of millions to find talent in each position in the pitch and possibly a substitute for each bar those two players in the picture, Rabiot and Kimpembe who have come through their academy. UEFA has made a conscious decision to intervene and analyze their books especially because of their recent deals of Neymar and Mbappe whom they bought in a collective $380 million deal in the summer of 2017. The other issue is about the behavior of their fans who used flares and lasers, blocked the stairways and were terribly organized in their match against Real Madrid. The club has already received penalties before with a section of their ground being closed due to indiscretions. Could they be banned from making any purchases in the coming two transfer windows? Anything is possible in the game of football.

Real Madrid Qualifies to UCL Quarterfinals

The main man Cristiano Ronaldo was on target as Real Madrid saw out PSG in a 2-1 win in the return leg of the clash away from home. This result means that Paris Saint-Germain have been knocked out of the competition in the round of 16 which defies their ambitious target of going all the way and win the competition. The Parisians have undeniably invested a lot in their club in the summer of 2017 and were hopeful that the team could mount a challenge but they were exposed by Madrid and showed the lack of experience and hunger that is required at this level. Maybe the tale could have been different if Neymar was not injured, but the coach Unai Emery will be left to bemoan his decision to rush the player back to the lineup in that match which he got injured. Cavani had brought the teams on level terms when he scored a deflected goal before Casemiro scored the winner against 10 men when Verratti picked up a second yellow for a silly reaction after failing to win a foul. Madrid have booked a seat in the next round, along with Liverpool who eliminated FC Porto with a 5-0 aggregate on the same night. For more insight on the match, continue reading at Goal.

Special: Ronaldo equals Messi’s five Ballon d’Or wins

Cristiano Ronaldo was crowned 2017 best football player in the world. He now equals Messi’s five Ballon d’Or wins and sits level with the Argentinian atop the footballing elite. Cristiano enjoyed another standout campaign as he led Real Madrid to their first La Liga BBVA title in 5 years, tallying 25 goals and 6 assists. Perhaps, even more impressive were his 12 Champions League goals that helped secure Madrid their third trophy CL trophy in 3 years. The 2017 Ballon marked the seventh time in seven years that both the Portuguese Star and Messi finished in the top two for the award. You’d have to go back to 2007 for the last time another player won the award, when Kaka lifted the trophy after a legendary season with AC Milan.

With the 2018 World Cup on the horizon, it’s hard not to imagine Ronaldo and Messi are itching at another opportunity to distinguish themselves as the best once more. As for 2017, players who placed after first and second were Brazil’s Neymar at third and Juventus’ Buffon at fourth. Hear more from Cristiano on his special moment and checkout a Complete 2017 list of Ballon d'Or rankings with club/country.