Elma Aveiro, Cristiano Ronaldo's sister, became involved in the escalating crisis between the Portuguese national team captain and the coaching staff, after she supported a strongly worded message attacking the press and the Portuguese, at a time when her brother left his country's national team camp and headed to Copenhagen airport in preparation for traveling to Madrid.
Elma re-published the message on her Instagram account, commenting on it with the phrase: “Everything was said here,” while it said: “Cristiano Ronaldo deserved more respect, the national team deserved better organization, and the Portuguese press deserved more efficiency and less speculation.”
The message escalated in direct criticism of the Portuguese: “As for the Portuguese people, well... they don’t deserve to have the best at anything. We are envious, condescending and ignorant, and we deserve to return to the humble level in which Portuguese football always lived before Cristiano Ronaldo.”
The message, which was supported by Ronaldo's sister, concluded: “Thank you for everything, Cristiano!” You deserved more!”
Elma's position came while Ronaldo was actually leaving the national team camp. He arrived at Copenhagen Airport in preparation for leaving the Danish capital heading to Madrid. He arrived at the private flights area in an unmarked car, while he appeared wearing the Portuguese national team’s training clothes.
The crisis had exploded hours earlier at Parken Stadium, after Ronaldo left the place before the start of the team's training session, following the press conference of coach Jorge Jesus.
During the conference, Jesus stressed his leadership of the team and his adherence to his tactical ideas, stressing that no player will change those ideas. He also announced that Goncalo Ramos will be the main striker against Denmark.
Faced with the possibility of him sitting on the bench again, Ronaldo decided to leave the camp, while the urgent moves of the Portuguese Football Federation and its president, Pedro Proensa, did not succeed in convincing him to reverse his decision.
Ronaldo's transfer from Parken Stadium to Copenhagen Airport brought a dramatic end to a turbulent day in the Portuguese camp, on the eve of the confrontation against Denmark in the European Nations League.
The University of Buenos Aires announced, on Wednesday, the granting of Argentine football legend Lionel Messi an honorary doctorate, the highest honor offered by the university, in recognition of his exceptional sporting career and the role he played in representing Argentina for more than two decades.
Messi is scheduled to receive this honor on Tuesday, October 6, before playing his farewell match with the Argentine national team against Benin, scheduled for the Monumental Stadium in the capital, Buenos Aires.
The decision to grant Messi an honorary doctorate came after the unanimous approval of the university’s Supreme Council, as the members praised the career made by the world champion and eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, considering that it embodies a model of excellence, perseverance, humility and moral behavior.
Messi has a career full of achievements with the Argentine national team, most notably leading his country to win the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, in addition to winning the Copa America title twice in 2021 and 2024, in addition to winning the gold medal in the 2008 Olympic Games.
The Argentine star also played in the World Cup final in 2014, before returning to the final match of the World Cup this year, continuing his presence with his country’s national team at the highest levels until the last years of his international career.
The President of the University of Buenos Aires, Ricardo Gilbe, said in the statement issued by the university that Messi represents “a model and ambassador for our popular culture and national identity,” in reference to the status enjoyed by the captain of the Argentine national team within his country, which went beyond the limits of his achievements on football fields.
Messi, 39 years old, is preparing to put an end to an international career that has spanned more than two decades, when he plays his farewell match against Benin at the Monumental Stadium.
Messi is at the top of the list of all-time top scorers for the Argentine national team, with 125 goals. He also tops the list of top goal makers for his country, having provided 68 assists, in addition to holding the record for the number of international appearances in an Argentina shirt, with 207 matches.
Frenchman Manu Kone, the Italian Roma midfielder, revealed his first impressions about working under the leadership of Zinedine Zidane in the French national team, praising the way the new coach deals with his players, while warning of the importance of the upcoming confrontation against Italy, on Friday, in the European Nations League competitions.
The French national team will host its Italian counterpart at the “Stade de France” stadium, on Friday evening, in the third round of the group stage in the European Nations League.
The match is of special importance for the French national team, as it will be Zidane's first on home soil since he took over the leadership of the national team, after he began his career with two consecutive victories away from home over Turkey and Norway, with a score of 1-0 in each match, during the past week.
On the other hand, the Italian national team is playing the match in a rebuilding phase under the leadership of its coach, Roberto Mancini, who is preparing to play his third match since taking over. The Italian team lost its first match against Belgium by two unanswered goals, before regaining its balance with a big and encouraging victory over Türkiye, with a score of 4-1, last Monday.
Kone was chosen to speak to the media, on Wednesday, during the press conference held on the sidelines of the French national team’s camp, where he touched on the upcoming confrontation against Italy, in addition to his experience during the first days of working with Zidane.
“I know that it is a very important match for Italy, because they see us as a strong competitor, and we have many good players,” Kone said, in statements reported by the French newspaper L’Equipe.
He added: “My teammates, Gianluca Mancini and Brian Cristanti, have always told me how strong this confrontation is, and that they have room to develop as a team.”
The Roma player continued: “They are in a rebuilding phase, and in a complicated era, but we will focus only on ourselves.” We know that we are the French team and we have great players, and we are also seeking to achieve victory in our coach’s first match in our stadium.”
Kone was among the starting lineup in Zidane's first match as coach of the France national team, which was held away from home against Turkey, last Friday, where he played a deeper role in midfield alongside Adrien Rabiot, the Milan player, and Rayan Cherki, the Manchester City star.
Regarding the role that Zidane gave him in midfield, Koné said: “I tried to implement what the coach asked of me. For me, a midfielder should be good at playing in any position. I had previously played in this position with my previous team, as well as with Roma, so it did not change anything for me, and I enjoyed playing in it.”
Kone also praised Zidane's style of dealing with players during his first week at the helm of the French national team's technical staff, stressing that working with him was a special experience.
He said: “It is wonderful to train under Zidane’s leadership, as he is a global legend. He trained us in a personal and firm way, and he is very close to the players, and talks to us constantly, both individually and collectively.”
He added: “He gave us the confidence to play freely, and it is fun to be able to play as ourselves. On a personal level, he is very honest. He spoke to us individually and told me I had to play the way I was used to.”
