Sports
Rooney: I don’t ‘hate’ Ronaldo; on par with Messi
Wayne Rooney has said “I don’t hate” Cristiano Ronaldo and described his former Manchester United team-mate as a “genius” after admitting he can’t separate the Portugal forward from Lionel Messi in the debate over who is the better player.
Rooney and Ronaldo played together at United for five years between 2004 and 2009, helping Sir Alex Ferguson’s team to three Premier League titles and a Champions League during that period.
The two players famously clashed during the 2006 World Cup, when Ronaldo was accused of influencing Rooney’s red card for stamping on Portugal teammate Ricardo Carvalho during a quarterfinal tie that was eventually won on penalties by the Portuguese.
But Rooney and Ronaldo formed a devastating goalscoring partnership at United and the former England captain, speaking on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, said that he “loves” the Al Nassr forward rather than hates him.
“People think I hate him [Ronaldo],” Rooney said.
“I love him. I think he’s an absolute genius and what he’s doing is incredible.
“I love Cristiano and playing with him. I don’t think people realise actually how close me and him were.
“I think just because I’ve said that I think Messi is better than Ronaldo, people think I don’t like Cristiano.
“I absolutely love Messi, love watching him play and that was the only reason because I think Messi had a little bit more in terms of how he played and taking players on and whatever.
“Ronaldo’s a killer and people think because I’ve said Messi is better than Ronaldo, I don’t like him or speak down on him.”
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Having played alongside Ronaldo and against Messi during the Argentina captain’s peak years with Barcelona — Rooney’s United lost two Champions League finals against Messi’s Barcelona in 2009 and 2011 — the 39-year-old said it is impossible to favour one player over the other.
“This person might prefer Messi or Ronaldo, but no, I don’t think you can argue with any of them two,” Rooney said. “But then I think people think, ‘Oh, Wayne said Messi’s better than Ronaldo.’
“I get asked it all the time. I’m like ‘come on.’ The two of the best players ever, well, they are the two, in my opinion, the two best players to have played the game.
“And I just like the little flair about Messi and that’s it.
“Ronaldo? Cristiano is an absolute genius on what he’s doing. He’s just turned 40. What he’s doing is incredible and I take my hat off to him.
“I couldn’t speak a bad word about him.”
The Boxing Day weekend continues with some great matches this Saturday!
The day began with Manchester City grabbing a 2-1 win at Nottingham Forest to go one point clear of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table. However, the Gunners then regain their two-point lead at the summit with a 2-1 win over Brighton & Hove Albion, while reigning champions Liverpool beat Wolverhampton Wanderers by 2-1 thanks in part to Florian Wirtz‘s first goal for the club.
Finally, we finished the day with fourth-placed Chelsea losing to third-placed Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge, 2-1.
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Cleveland Browns superstar Myles Garrett is on the verge of NFL history, as he is just a half-sack away from tying the single-season record set by Hall of Famer Michael Strahan and Pittsburgh Steelers star T.J. Watt.
Garrett, 29, said it would be “special” to break the record by sacking Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
“It’d be special. He’s legendary himself. And it’s a legendary record I’m out here chasing. So that’d be a great one to put a picture on the wall with,” Garrett said at a press conference Friday.
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Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) warms up before an NFL Week 10 game between the New York Jets and the Cleveland Browns at MetLife Stadium. East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Nov. 9, 2025. (IMAGN)
Rodgers is quick to get the ball out, and Garrett said it’s important to take away his easy reads.
“Gotta take away those easy access throws, make him look at his second read, and he’s gotta keep rushing. There’ll be (opportunities) if we continue to get stops during the game, and he can’t continue to lean on those quick passes, when you gotta score points,” Garrett said.
The Browns, who are 3-12, play the Steelers at home on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET. The Steelers would clinch the AFC North and a playoff spot with a win over the Browns.
Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) reacts during the second half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Garrett hopes the Browns play spoiler, so if he sets the record on Sunday, he would do it in a win.
“Yeah, I just play. I want to get it, and you know, like I said, I want to win while doing it. And I think we have the guys who are locked in who want to do that as well,” Garrett said.
The seven-time Pro Bowler said there is no pressure that comes with the record looming.
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“Pressure? Nah, no pressure. Like I said, it’s going down. So, I’m not stressed or worried about if I’m going to get it. Just a matter of when,” Garrett said.
Garrett has established himself as one of the NFL’s premier pass rushers since being selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. The four-time All-Pro has an astounding 124.5 sacks in 132 career games.
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Sports
Giants star Malik Nabers pokes fun at own season-ending injury, fantasy football in hilarious commercial
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The NFL’s regular season is ending soon, which means that fantasy football seasons are also coming to a close.
But while the season may be ending, the fantasy football punishments are only just beginning. For the player who finishes in last place, one common punishment is that they have to spend 24 hours in a bar, or at an IHOP eating pancakes.
New York Giants star wide receiver Malik Nabers was drafted in the first round by many players, but the second-year wide receiver tore his ACL in Week 4. The Giants certainly missed him in the lineup, as did a lot of fantasy football players, whose teams looked a lot different without Nabers.
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New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1) looks on before the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at MetLife Stadium on Sept 21, 2025. (Vincent Carchietta/Imagn Images)
Nabers and IHOP partnered to make a hilarious commercial, which made fun of his injury and the impact it had on fantasy football players.
“Every year, thousands of fantasy football leagues make their last-place team spend 24 hours at IHOP eating pancakes,” Nabers said.
A waitress then interrupted and said, “Just like you helped everyone’s fantasy team this season?”
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New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1) is carted off the field following an injury during the second quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers at MetLife Stadium on Sept. 28, 2025. (Brad Penner/Imagn Images)
Nabers was eating pancakes, with his crutches next to him, when a kid walked up and asked the Giants star if it was actually him.
After Nabers confirmed it was himself, the kid yelled, “I wasted my first-round pick on you!”
The 22-year-old was on his way to making his second season look a lot like his rookie season. As a rookie, Nabers had 109 receptions for 1,204 yards with seven touchdowns.
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Nabers set the record for most catches ever by a rookie wide receiver. In four games before tearing his ACL, the former LSU star had 18 catches for 271 yards and two touchdowns.
Fantasy owners who draft Nabers next season hope that he will regain his form and that they will avoid last place.
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