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CRISTIANO RONALDO JR SURPASSES DAD’S TALLY – A NEW ERA BEGINS

Cristiano Ronaldo Jr., 15, scores his first goal for Portugal's U16S, outpacing his father's youth timeline. The tall, powerful teenager is already making his mark as a winger, continuing the family's football legacy on the international stage.

Cristiano Ronaldo Jr surpasses dad’s tally – a new era begins
Cristiano Ronaldo Jr - COURTESY/PHOTO

Cristiano Ronaldo Jr., who is only 15 years old, scored his first goal for Portugal's U16 squad against Wales over the weekend, bringing his total number of international goals at the young team level to three.

By the age of 15, Ronaldo Sr. had yet to make his debut for any organised international team. The renowned attacker made his debut for Portugal's U15 team in February 2001, three weeks after turning sixteen, but he scored a goal against South Africa to honour the occasion.

It required the persistence of Ronaldo's Sporting CP coach, Aurélio Pereira, to persuade Carlos Dinis that the spindly winger was deserving of some playing time after a string of injuries had postponed his international call-up. Although his colleagues that day did not fare as well, he did not have a particularly awful day.

Ronaldo was the only player to receive a senior cap out of the starting lineup that faced South Africa in Torres Novas 24 years ago. Although he has made 225 appearances for Portugal so far and scored an incredible 143 goals, his son's aspirations should be cautioned by that record.

Already standing taller than his father, Ronaldo Jr. is a physically formidable teenager. "He was a little bit bigger and stronger when I was his age. I was smaller. During an appearance on Saudi Pro League: Kickoff last season, Ronaldo Sr. accurately prophesied, "I think he would be larger than me."

Ronaldo Jr. makes a notable appearance in the 2015 documentary on his father, telling him that he wants to be a goalie, much to the obvious dismay of Cristiano Sr. The teenager positioned himself on the left wing for his team against Wales on Saturday, sweeping a first-time right-footed finish into the bottom corner, but that dream was never realised.

On Tuesday, Portugal U16 and their well-known forward will return to action against England.

"Like father, like son" is the straightforward caption that Portugal's official X account used to describe the video of Ronaldo Jr.'s goal. When Ronaldo Sr. scored two goals for Al Nassr later that same day, it turned out to be especially prophetic.

The 40-year-old forward was edging closer to yet another dismal outcome on his first appearance since losing to Karim Benzema's Al Ittihad in the King's Cup, prolonging Ronaldo's hunt for a major prize in Saudi Arabia.

On Saturday, Al Nassr fell behind mid-table Al Fayha, and even after Ronaldo equalised in the 37th minute, they were still tied at 1-1 going into stoppage time in the second half. A relatively harmless aerial challenge between Mikel Villanueva and Abdulelah Al Amri led to an unannounced VAR review, which continued until the referee finally gave Al Nassr a questionable penalty kick. Ronaldo stepped up to secure three points with 104 minutes remaining, keeping his team atop the Pro League.

Regarding his spectacular penalty, Ronaldo Sr. remarked, "Today my heart beat a little faster." The same could undoubtedly be said about seeing his son advance in his own developing profession.

WHY DID CRISTIANO RONALDO CRY? LUKA MODRIC EXPOSES JOSE MOURINHO’S HARSHEST LECTURE

Luka Modric reveals Jose Mourinho once reduced Cristiano Ronaldo to tears at Real Madrid for failing to track back defensively.

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Modric and Balague confirm the 2013 Valencia clash that shattered Real’s locker room

Luka Modric says that Jose Mourinho once gave Cristiano Ronaldo such a harsh lecture that the guy was in tears.

Ronaldo, who's 40 now, played really well under Mourinho, who's 62. They were together at Real Madrid for three seasons, but apparently, they didn't always get along off the field.

Even though things got off to a slow start, the Portuguese superstar still managed to score 168 goals in 164 games while playing for Mourinho. He also helped Mourinho win three trophies in his first two seasons.

But get this: even with superstars like Karim Benzema and Angel Di Maria on his team, Mourinho was still super critical of Ronaldo's effort on defense.

Modric, who Mourinho signed from Tottenham back in 2013, told a story about one argument that made Ronaldo cry. Apparently, it was because he didn't chase after his assigned player.

"I saw him make Cristiano Ronaldo cry in the locker room," Modric told Corriere della Sera, an Italian news outlet. Can you believe it? A guy who always gives it his all on the field, and he's getting yelled at because he didn't chase some defender.

Modric moved to Real Madrid in 2013 and only played under Mourinho for a year.

Modric, who played alongside Kaka and Mesut Ozil in the midfield after arriving for a big £33 million, didn't say which game the argument happened in.

Guillem Balague, a Spanish soccer journalist, wrote in Ronaldo's biography that Ronaldo and Mourinho almost fought after Mourinho yelled at him in the locker room following a 2-0 win against Valencia in January 2013.

Mourinho was mad because Ronaldo didn't seem willing to help out on defense during the game. And Ronaldo supposedly replied, After everything I've done for you, this is how you treat me? How dare you say that to me!

Later that season, which turned out to be Mourinho's last with the team, Ronaldo was constantly asked about Mourinho's future. "I don't care," he said once. What I care about is my own future and the club.

This was a big change from earlier that year, when Mourinho said before the 2012 Ballon d'Or race, If Messi is the best on the planet, Ronaldo is the best in the universe!

After Mourinho left Real Madrid, he went on Spanish TV to talk about what caused the problems between him and Ronaldo.

"I only had one problem with him," he said. It was simple. When a coach gives a player feedback on tactics, they are trying to help them get better, in my opinion. He didn't take it well because he probably thinks he knows everything, and the coach can't help him.

Mourinho also said that they didn't really have a relationship. But time seemed to fix things, as he later said that coaching Ronaldo was the best thing that ever happened in his career.

Ronaldo also seemed to warm up to Mourinho later on, even saying that he was the best coach he ever had, even better than Sir Alex Ferguson. "I'd put him at the top; I always say that," Ronaldo said.

Ronaldo scored 168 goals in 164 games while playing for Mourinho during their three years together.

Even though Modric didn't win any trophies in his first season at Madrid, he was so impressed by Mourinho that he repeated something Mourinho famously said about himself.

He's special, as a coach and as a person, Modric said. He was the one who wanted me at Real Madrid. I wouldn't have come without him. I'm sad I only had him for one season.

Modric spent 13 years at Real Madrid, mostly managed by Carlo Ancelotti. Now he's at AC Milan and managed by Massimiliano Allegri. But he says Mourinho is the toughest of the three.

He added, "Mourinho is really direct with the players, but he's honest." He treated Sergio Ramos and new players the same way. If he had something to say, he'd say it. Max is the same way. He tells you what's right and wrong to your face. Honesty is key.

Modric also shared his opinion on the never-ending debate of who's better, Lionel Messi or Ronaldo, but said he doesn't really like talking about it.

"I don't like that question," he said. They both defined an era. I'm closer to Cristiano because I played with him; he was my teammate at Madrid, and I can tell you he's not just a great player, he's an amazing person. People don't know it, but he has a big heart and is always ready to help others. He's just a simple, normal guy.

He added, "I don't know Messi personally, but I'm sure he's great too." As a player, he's incredible.

CELTIC FANS DEMAND BOARD SACK WILFRIED NANCY AFTER SHOCK MOTHERWELL DEFEAT TONIGHT

Wilfried Nancy dismisses sack talk after Celtic's 2-0 loss at Motherwell. With Rangers closing in, the Old Firm looms large.

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Wilfried Nancy’s future on the line after fifth loss in seven

After Celtic's fifth loss in seven games under his leadership, Wilfried Nancy brushed off ideas that Saturday's Old Firm game would decide his future.

Tuesday's match at Fir Park, called 'El Passico' due to both teams' open play styles, saw Motherwell outperform the Frenchman's team. Ibrahim Said and Elliot Watt scored on either side of halftime.

The 2-0 defeat, Celtic's 17th this year, meant Hearts stayed three points ahead in the league, while Rangers closed in, now just three points behind Nancy's squad after a 2-1 victory over St Mirren.

At the end of the game, visiting fans chanted for the board to be sacked, and some even demanded the manager's immediate dismissal. When asked if his first derby was a make-or-break moment, Nancy responded, No, not really. Every game matters to me and the team.

I'm not focused on my future. I'm focusing on what I'm doing now, what I need to do to help the team get better, and what we need to do as a team to improve. That's how I see it.

When asked if he understood the fans' deep worry about the lack of progress during his time, Nancy was indignant.

Progress? "There is progress," he insisted. But tonight, the situation and the opponent were tough.

This is a fact. Now, we need to figure out how to get better, and that's what we've been working on from the start. Tonight was rough. That's the truth.

When questioned about feeling the pressure after such a bad start as the champion's manager, Nancy added, As a manager, I don't want this, obviously.

Pressure doesn't change how I think. We know we have to perform well.

But right now, this is how it is. I knew it could be like this. We've had good games at times. Tonight was a hard one.

Regarding whether he was sure he could turn things around, Nancy said, Yes, I'm sure. I had to make some choices about the team tonight. I believe in what we're trying to do and where we're going. This was a hard game, difficult for us, but I think we'll improve.

Motherwell's manager, Jens Berthel Askou, praised his team, saying it was probably their best game of the season.

"We knew we'd probably need our best, most solid, and most complete performance, both with and without the ball, to win," he said.

We've had really big and good performances, but they haven't led to wins against Rangers or Celtic. So, that's what we got, and that's what we needed. It was amazing to see.

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