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Van Dijk: Gravenberch ‘in form of his life’

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Van Dijk: Gravenberch ‘in form of his life’


Sep 21, 2025, 05:06 AM ET

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk believes Ryan Gravenberch is in the form of his life but there is still plenty of room for improvement for the Netherlands midfielder.

The midfielder became the youngest player (23 years and 127 days) to score and assist in a Premier League Merseyside derby, which extended their 100 per cent record to five matches.

Last season’s Premier League young player of the year was coming off arguably his best game for the club in Wednesday’s Champions League victory over Atletico Madrid, and since his conversion to a number six by Arne Slot when the head coach arrived last season his fellow Dutchman has become integral to their success.

Only a year ago Liverpool had done a deal for Real Sociedad’s Martín Zubimendi to fill the role only for the player to back out at the 11th hour, eventually joining Arsenal this summer.

Slot turned to a youngster, who under predecessor Jurgen Klopp had made just 21 starts – nine of which were in cup competitions – in his maiden campaign, and has never looked back.

It makes the £34million they paid Bayern Munich for the former Ajax academy graduate look like a bargain.

“Not just this season, he’s been playing like that from the moment last season started. He’s unbelievable. He’s very important to the way we play,” said Van Dijk.

“You see the amount of times I try to look for him. It benefits him, me and the team. He’s in incredible shape. He’s in the form of his life. He has to keep going. He’s still young.

“The expectation level will always be right up there and that’s what he has to try to reach every three or four days. It’s a nice challenge.

“During his first season here he hardly played either. Listen, it’s a mix of everything: getting confidence, progressing and improving as a player, playing games at the highest level and knowing your role in the team.

“I’m very pleased for him because he puts in a lot of hard work to do what he is doing.”

Gravenberch’s ability to defend and attack has stood out particularly this season.

His goal against Everton was his second in five matches, half the number he got in his first season and two more than he managed in the whole of the title-winning campaign.

It has added an extra dimension to Liverpool’s play as teams can no longer assume he will just hold the centre and allow his more creative team-mates to play.

His 10th-minute goal was perfectly executed, allowing Mohamed Salah’s looping pass to drop before hooking it over goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.

The pass he played for £69million summer signing Hugo Ekitike to score his fourth goal in seven matches was perfectly weighted and showed how he is not just a midfield destroyer.

But, following a familiar pattern, Liverpool could not extend their two-goal advantage or even look comfortable holding it and Idrissa Gueye’s 58th-minute strike made for a tense finale.

“I don’t think you can expect any easy games in the Premier League,” added Van Dijk.

“It’s about getting over the line. Of course you want to win comfortably but that’s not always easy. Sometimes you have to fight and that’s what we did in the second half.”



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Cristiano Ronaldo goal tracker: Road to 1,000 career goals

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1 hour ago

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February 15, 2026

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Cristiano Ronaldo goal tracker: Road to 1,000 career goals


Feb 15, 2026, 08:17 AM ET

Cristiano Ronaldo is chasing what no soccer player — despite Pelé and Romário claiming otherwise when adding in friendly matches — has ever officially achieved in competitive games: The ultimate milestone of 1,000 career goals. It’s the summit of statistical greatness, a record that would redefine the limits of individual excellence in the sport.

Throughout his career, the Portugal superstar has broken most of the records and won most of the trophies he could have won, but being able to officially score 1,000 goals will put him in a pantheon of his own among athletes.

Ronaldo is already the leading men’s international scorer with 143 goals from 225 games, while the rest of his domestic career total over his two-decade career have come in the club game for Sporting CP, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus and now at Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr.

So, as he nears an extraordinary landmark, ESPN will track every goal on his journey toward 1,000 — one strike at a time — until he reaches the magic number.

Ronaldo’s goal tally:

  • Games played: 1,306

  • Goals: 962

  • Ratio: 0.74 per game

Goal No. 962 | Feb. 14: Al Fateh 0-2 Al Nassr

Ronaldo missed Al Nassr’s last two Saudi Pro League games due to a short-lived dispute over the club’s transfer policy. However, he didn’t take long to let the club know what they missed, taking just 18 minutes to open the scoring by diverting Sadio Mane’s low cross into the far corner of the goal.

Goal No. 961 | Jan. 30: Al Kholood 0-3 Al Nassr

Four wins in a row for Al Nassr and it’s another goal for Ronaldo — his 17th of the season — as he scored the opener in their 3-0 win over Al Kholood after combining well with João Félix with a tidy finish inside the box.

Goal No. 960 | Jan. 21: Damac FC 1-2 Al Nassr

40 goals to go! Ronaldo got his 960th career goal giving Al Nassr their second consecutive win of the season, with the Portuguese scoring the winning goal by drilling a shot into the bottom corner.

Goal No. 959 | Jan. 12: Al Hilal 3-1 Al Nassr

Ronaldo was on the scoresheet and opening the match up in this huge clash against Al Hilal. However, second place Al Nassr was unable to cut the cap as the league leaders scored three times in the second half to get all three points.

Goal No. 958 | Jan. 8: Al Nassr 1-2 Al Qadsiah

It’s a new year but it’s the same old Ronaldo as he scored his first goal of 2026, making it 24 straight calendar years with at least one goal, as he scored a penalty but was unable to help Al Nassr beat Al Qadsiah.

Goal No. 957 | Dec. 30: Al Ettifaq 2-2 Al Nassr

Ronaldo surely didn’t want to end the year without a goal, and he was able to do it — with the help of a deflection off compatriot João Félix — as Al Nassr ended 2025 by snatching a point.

Goal No. 956 | Dec. 27: Al Nassr 3-0 Al Okhdood

Another strike that was all about timing and positioning, Ronaldo guided home a low cross from the right at close range to double his side’s lead and help seal a 10th consecutive win for Al Nassr.

Goal No. 955 | Dec. 27: Al Nassr 3-0 Al Okhdood

You’d think a defender would know better than to let Ronaldo have a free run into the six-yard box at a corner, but that’s what he got to tap home a flick-on at the far post and open the scoring.

Goal No. 954 | Nov. 23: Al Nassr 4-1 Al Khaleej

As pretty as any of the 953 goals that came before it. The 40-year-old got on his bike to connect with a floated cross from the right flank and deliver an exquisite right-footed bicycle kick into the top corner.

It also just happened to be the last action of the game.

Goal No. 953 | Nov. 8: Neom SC 1-3 Al Nassr

A penalty in the 65th minute… but it was dispatched with calmness as CR7 did a little stutter-step, waited for the goalkeeper to dive to his right and then slotted it home down his left side.

That’s now a cool 100 goal involvements in the Saudi League in 85 matches.

Goals No. 951 & 952 | Nov. 1: Al Nassr 2-1 Al Fayha

Another game, another two goals for the Portugal legend.

Ronaldo was in fine form on Saturday as Al Nassr came back from a goal down to defeat Al Fayha at the King Fahd International Stadium.

After slipping behind early, the 40-year-old latched on to a through-ball from Kingsley Coman to restore parity for the hosts in the 37th minute. Ronaldo then kept his cool to slot home the winner from the penalty spot to ensure Al Nassr kept a flawless seven-in-seven record to start the Saudi Pro League season.

Goal No. 950 | Oct. 24: Al Hazem 0-2 Al Nassr

The 40-year-old was on the scoresheet as he, and compatriot João Félix, helped Al Nassr beat Al Hazem to continue their perfect start in the Saudi Pro League with six wins from their first six matches of the season.

Following a great ball from teammate Wesley, Ronaldo was able to score with ease inside the box with a great strike and now needs just 50 goals to reach a four-digit total.





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T20 World Cup Pakistan Take the Field First After Toss Victory Over India – SUCH TV

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February 15, 2026

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T20 World Cup Pakistan Take the Field First After Toss Victory Over India – SUCH TV



Pakistan have elected to field first against India in the 27th match of the Men’s T20 World Cup in Colombo on Sunday. 

According to details surfaced on Sunday, the Green Shirts will look to continue the momentum, they got after thumping Netherlands and USA.

Pakistan XI: Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Salman Agha (capt), Babar Azam, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Tariq, Abrar Ahmed

India XI: Ishan Kishan (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (capt), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah



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Sanjay Manjrekar criticises India over handshake row

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3 hours ago

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February 15, 2026

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Sanjay Manjrekar criticises India over handshake row


Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar seen in a file photo. — AFP

Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has criticised the defending champions over the recent “no-handshake” controversy involving Pakistan during the ACC Men’s Asia Cup, terming the gesture unnecessary and against the true spirit of the game.

The two Asian giants will face off in the T20 World Cup 2026 clash here on Sunday at the R Premadasa Stadium, with fans eagerly waiting to see whether the two captains shake hands.

Taking to the social media platform X, the former cricketer-turned-commentator expressed concern over what he termed an unbecoming trend that contradicts cricket’s long-standing traditions of sportsmanship.

“This ‘no shaking hands’ is such a silly thing that India has started. It’s unbecoming of a nation like ours. Either play properly within the spirit of the game or don’t play at all,” he wrote.

The absence of the customary post-match handshake has continued in recent encounters between the arch-rivals. 

Players from both sides have avoided traditional interactions since their group-stage clash at the ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup in Dubai last year.

The issue first drew widespread attention during that fixture when Suryakumar Yadav did not greet Agha Salman at the toss. 

After India sealed victory, Suryakumar and teammate Shivam Dube walked back to the pavilion immediately after scoring the winning runs, further fuelling debate.

India and Pakistan faced each other twice more in the tournament — in the Super Four stage and the final — but handshakes were again notably absent on both occasions.

Moreover, after defeating Pakistan in the final, the Men in Blue refrained from receiving the trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, who serves as Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board and President of the Asian Cricket Council.

The practice has not been limited to senior men’s cricket. 

Similar scenes were witnessed during their meeting at the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, as well as in age-group and emerging competitions, including the ACC Men’s Asia Cup Rising Stars Championship and the ACC Under-19 Asia Cup.

In the recently concluded ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026, India captain Ayush Mhatre and Pakistan skipper Farhan Yousaf also avoided shaking hands following their match, highlighting how the controversy has extended across different levels of international cricket.

The practice remained the same during the recently concluded match between Pakistan A and India A in the ACC Asia Cup Rising Stars Women’s 2026 on Sunday.





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