Real Madrid Star Kaka

The Brazilian feels the heat after poor Champions League display...

Real Madrid star Kaka has begun to feel the weight of criticism of his performances in the famous white shirt and has responded by insisting he is not to blame for the UEFA Champions League defeat to Lyon.

The Brazilian has largely failed to replicate the form that made him the world's best player during his time at Milan but has insisted that Madrid's woes are a team responsibility and added that the Merengues have what it takes to turn the tie around at the Bernabeu.

"I'm not to blame for the defeat. The fault lies with the team as a whole," Kaka is quoted as saying by AS.

"We'll have to suffer much at the Bernabeu to overturn the result, but we have experienced players who know how to play these games."

Madrid will look to keep their dream of a place in May's Champions League final at the Bernabeu alive by overturning the one goal deficit when the two sides meet again on March 10.

2010 World Cup : Argentina

Key players:

Despite a devastating World Cup qualifying campaign in which it won only eight of 18 matches, Argentina is deep and talented at every position. Its greatest strength is easily its attack, where FIFA World Player of the Year Lionel Messi is the clear standout. Messi was in extraordinary form in leading Barcelona to a record-breaking six titles in 2009, which included the UEFA Champions League, the Club World Cup and Spain's La Liga.

However, Messi's form with the national team has been a different story. The 22-year-old hasn't been a fraction of the player he is with Barcelona and has been heavily criticized. La Pulga ("the flea") is more than aware that he has underachieved for Argentina, but his global reputation means he will have no choice but to get it right at the World Cup.

With so many attacking options, Diego Maradona will aim to find the ideal blend right in time for Argentina's World Cup opener against Nigeria. During qualifying, the Argentine legend reshuffled his team several times and finally found the perfect attacking partner for Messi in Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuaín. But with the deep pool of talent in Argentina's attack, Higuaín has to be on top of his game to get the starting nod. He's competing in a depth chart that includes big names such as Sergio Agüero, Carlos Tévez and Diego Milito, just to name a few.

Liverpool star Javier Mascherano will wear the captain's armband in South Africa, but 34-year-old playmaker Juan Sebastián Verón will coach the side on the field. After missing out on the '06 World Cup -- then coach José Pekerman preferred Juan Román Riquelme to fill the playmaker role -- "La Brujita" will take part in his third World Cup and, in the absence of Riquelme (who retired from the national team after a dispute with Maradona), will be expected to be Argentina's main link between midfield and attack. Like a fine wine, Verón seems to get better with age, and the two-time South American Footballer of the Year will be responsible for orchestrating Argentina's best attacking moves in South Africa. His influence likely will determine the impact made by Messi.

Messi Hailed Best Player; Bin Hammam Reveals FIFA Presidency Ambitions

"When I saw the eleven best players at the FIFA gala in December I knew they were all very good," Platini told fcbarcelona.com.

"But Messi was the star of stars and then there was [Cristiano] Ronaldo and Kaka and all the rest."

The 22-year-old capped a brilliant 2008/09 season in which he won six titles with the La Liga giants by being crowned FIFA World Player of the Year in December. Now he is bidding to become the first team player to win the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award.

Messi moves ahead of Real Madrid’s Ronaldo in January’s Castrol Rankings released this week. But Liverpool’s Fernando Torres, Chelsea’s Didier Drogba and Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney are in close pursuit of top spot.

In its assessment, Castrol used objective analysis and advanced technology to measure every pass, every tackle and every single move of over 2,000 players and games from Europe’s top five leagues over the last 12 months.

Portuguese star Ronaldo finished 2009 as the top ranked player ahead of Messi and Barcelona’s Thierry Henry.

But Messi has leapfrogged Ronaldo after scoring six goals and delivering two assists in four La Liga games, including a hat-trick against Tenerife; against Sevilla, he scored twice, struck eight shots and created five chances for teammates.

Messi is set to be one of the stars of this summer’s World Cup in South Africa.

He has recently hit a rich vein of form. Already this season, he has contributed to 22 league goals – 15 goals, seven assists – for Barca this season. His shooting accuracy (70%) is the best in La Liga and he has successfully completed 163 dribbles in the league and Champions League over the last 12 months, more than any other player.

Marcel Desailly, a Castrol ambassador and two-time Champions League winner, said: “Even in a great Barcelona side Messi stands out and he is certain to have a major influence in South Africa.

“Messi and Ronaldo are both brilliant players and the outcome of the La Liga title race is likely to hinge on which player has the most influence during the remaining months of the season.”

In the Castrol Rankings, in-form Rooney, who scored two goals against AC Milan in last night’s Champions League match, moves into the top ten after rising 16 places from 25 to 9.

Ex-Como president says he missed out on Messi

Preziosi was at Como as they were promoted from Serie C to Serie A, but he left for Genoa in 2003 after their relegation from the top-flight and they are now back in the third tier.

Yet while Preziosi admits the players signed during his tenure at Como were often sub-standard, he has now revealed he was told not to bring a young Messi to the club.

"I was told, 'You can take him home for $50,000' but the directors blocked the operation," Preziosi told Corriere dello Sport. "At the time, every player that I signed for Como wasn't very good. There is a definite regret. If I had only gone with my instinct."

Messi, 22, joined Barcelona from Newell's Old Boys in 2000 after the club offered to pay for his treatment for a growth deficiency problem.

Poll: Is Wayne Rooney As Good As Cristiano Ronaldo And Lionel Messi

Following Manchester United’s 3-2 away victory against AC Milan in the midweek, Wayne Rooney has become the object of everyone’s praise; so much so that he is being considered as one of the top players in the world as of now.

Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti has declared that the Englishman is world’s best player presently while David Beckham believes he is on par with Ronaldinho, who was named the best player in the world in 2004 and 2005.

Sir Alex Ferguson has gone a step further and stated that Rooney is just like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi as he has great qualities.

While Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo hold the top two spots in the latest Castrol Rankings respectively, Wayne Rooney is positioned ninth on the table.

Our question to you is:

Why Ronaldo is simply the best

Besides being born with immense talent, Cristiano Ronaldo works very hard to perfect this talent that has seen him win numerous accolades that make him the envy of many a footballer.



That he is the reigning World Footballer of the Year is the result of a rigorous, yet specialised training.



Castrol, official sponsors of the 2010 Fifa World Cup and their team of performance analysts have conducted rigorous research into the Portuguese superstar playing style and training plan to reveal the full extent of his astonishing physical attributes.

Cristiano Ronaldo Confident Real Madrid Will Beat Olympique Lyon By Two Or Three Goals

French powerhouse Olympique Lyon caused Real Madrid all kinds of trouble on Tuesday evening and Les Gones eventually recorded a 1-0 win courtesy of a Jean Il Makoun strike. However, Madrid attacker Cristiano Ronaldo is confident that the Spanish giants will bounce back in the return.

"We're not too concerned with the result of the first leg. Losing games is a part of football and we always knew that it's difficult to play away from home in the Champions League," said Ronaldo to Spanish reporters.

"Lyon defended really well with a lot of players behind the ball. We struggled to play our own game on Tuesday. We will start the home game full of confidence though, and we know that we're capable of beating Lyon by two or three goals.

"You always have moments that you suffer in the Champions League. It won't be easy, but we can turn things around in the second leg. It doesn't matter who scores, as long as we progress to the next round. We are determined to make it into the final."

Ronaldo Considers Man United Return

Despite making a world record £80 million move to Real Madrid last summer, Cristiano Ronaldo has said he envisages himself returning to play for Manchester United again in the future.

Ronaldo spent six seasons at Old Trafford before moving to the Bernabeu - winning three Premier League titles, the Champions League in 2008 and a number of personal accolades - and has adjusted well to life in Spain.

Two goals against Xerez on Saturday night took his tally in Madrid to 15 goals in 16 games in all competitions but despite his success in La Liga, Ronaldo admits that United still have a place in his heart and that he would like to return to the club.

"Of course I miss playing for Manchester United," Ronaldo said in the News of the World. "I played there for six years and that's a long time.

"I am still interested in watching Manchester United and, you never know, maybe in the future I could return to play there. It's always possible.

"I want to fulfil my contract here but, in the future, only God knows. I will not say I am not happy here at Real Madrid. I am really happy and everyone knows this is my club but, of course, I miss Manchester United, the boss, the players, because I left family there."

Sir Alex Ferguson brought an 18-year-old Ronaldo to United from Sporting Lisbon, paying £12.24 million in the summer of 2003.

India Vs South Africa Cricket 2nd Test

India got more than they expected. In the 2nd test against South Africa, India defeated South Africa by an innings. This is the first time in the history of Indian Cricket team when they defeated South Africa by an innings. Earlier, they have never defeated them with such a huge margin. Almighty God blessed India with three big successes first is Victory second one is winning the match by an innings and third one is about retaining the No. 1 status at the ICC Cricket ranking.

According to the statistics of the match, South Africa opened first innings and made a total of 296 after loosing all wickets. Then, Indian tigers came on crease and openers Gambhir and Sehwag provided team with a good start. After the departure of Gambhir back to pavilion, Tendulkar came on crease and stayed there until he scored his 47th test century.

Ronaldinho Biography

Name at birth: Ronaldo de Assis Moreira

Brazilian soccer star Ronaldinho was named the FIFA World Player of the Year in 2004 and 2005, cementing his place as one of his sport's most talented stars. His charming bent-toothed grin, flowing curls and sparkling ballhandling skills also helped make him a major off-the-field celebrity. Ronaldinho's first team was the Gremio Football Club of Brazil, where he began playing professionally in 1998. He moved to the French club Paris-Saint Germain in 2001, and then on to FC Barcelona in 2003 for a fee of 30 million Euros. He blossomed as a midfielder with Barcelona, winning his World Player of the Year awards while lifting the club out of the doldrums and pushing it to victory in the 2006 Champions League final over Arsenal. Ronaldinho also has starred for the Brazilian national team; his goal in the 2002 World Cup quarterfinals, a 40-yard free kick lobbed over English keeper David Seaman and into the corner of the net, helped Brazil win its fifth World Cup.

Extra credit: Ronaldinho is often called Ronaldino Gaucho, the "Gaucho" being a name given to people from the southern Brazil state of Rio Grande do Sul... Ronaldinho is sometimes confused with another Brazilian soccer star, Ronaldo who also was called Ronaldinho earlier in his career. It is typical for Brazilian soccer players to use a single name, and In Portuguese, the suffix "inho" means "little."

A Brazilian soccer legend from an earlier generation is Pele.