Sportainment

Real Madrid left-back, Marcelo has responded to the claim that he defrauded the Spanish tax authorities of almost half a million euros in 2013. Marcelo was said to have defrauded the Spanish authorities of £437,000 by allowing foreign companies to handle his image rights.  "My lawyers are looking into the matter," he explained in his post match interview. "I hope they will find a resolution and that the matter will be sorted as soon as possible." Mauricio Pochettino earned many plaudits for his own coaching performance at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday, so impressive were the visitors that the 29-year-old feels Los Blancos won a point. "Pochettino's approach has been bad news for Real Madrid," he admitted. "We have not won the match, but in my opinion we won a point. "It has been a very tough match, Tottenham read the game really well." Karim Benzema failed to find the net on what was a frustrating night for...

Real Madrid left-back Marcelo Vieira has been accused of defrauding the Spanish government of £437,000 by Spain tax authorities, according to Sportmail. The Spanish tax authorities said the Brazilian defrauded them of almost half a million euros in 2013. They accused the 29 year-old of using foreign companies to handle his image right four years ago. Marcelo, who has spent 10 years in Spain, has joined the long list of footballers targeted by the Spanish tax authorities. Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Javier Masherano, Angel Di Maria, Fabio Coentrao, Radamel Falcao and Ricardo Carvalho are other players that has been accused by the Spanish tax authorities.

As Zinedine Zidane prepares to set up his side without the crocked Gareth Bale, he admitted he had no answer as to why the Welshman has been so unlucky with injury. Following an impressive performance recently in the Champions League against Borussia Dortmund, his progress has been halted after sustaining another knock. Zidane insisted that the forward will not be rushed back from injury and isn't too worried yet about the persistent fitness problems the player is suffering from, while also brushing off suggestions that he should have been sold in the summer. "He is okay and is doing better every day," he said to reporters at his pre-match press conference. "He was very good in Dortmund but felt some pain in his calf and that worsened after he met up with Wales for international duty. "I can't say if he will be back in a week or 10 days, we just have to wait and see, but he is determined to return as soon as possible and that's good. ...

Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta has stated that the 2018 world cup in Russia could be his last event in international football. The Spanish midfielder revealed that he could retire from international football after the 2018 world cup in Russia. The 33 year-old believes its time to draw the curtain on a glittering international career with the Spanish national team. "I am realistic. There is a great chance that this World cup will be my last event with the national team," Iniesta told Barcelona-based daily, as reported by AS. "I am aware of the moment, my age and everything it entails, but we will see how things develop. "There are many months to go until the World cup hopefully everything will go well so that i can be in Russia." The Fuenteabilla born central midfielder, who made his international debut in 2006, has represented La Roja on 121 occasions, scoring 12 times. He was part of the victorious Spain side that won the 2010 World cu...

Egypt veteran goalkeeper, Essam El-Hadary, is set to become the oldest player to ever featured in World cup history. The Al-Taawoun custodian, who led the pharaohs to their first World cup appearance for the first time in twenty-seven years,  might become the oldest player at next summer's world cup in Russia at the ripe age of 45. El-Hadary is also the oldest player to appear in an Afrcan cup of Nations, he made his international debut in 1996 and has since represented the Pharaohs of Egypt on 156 occasions, winning the African cup of nations four times. The previous record older was Faryd Mondragon who was 43 year-old when he featured for Colombia at the 2014 world cup in Brazil. Other veterans to have graced the world cup are Cameroon legend Roger Milla (42), Pat Jennings (41), former England goalkeeper, Peter Shilton (41) and former Italy goalkeeper, Dino Zoff (40).

Brazil legend Romario has claimed that he was better than Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in terms of scoring goals. The 1994 world cup winner said he was better than the Argentine and his Portuguese nemesis in the penalty area. The former Barcelona forward said neither Messi nor Cristiano can break his goal record. "It's true that Messi and Ronaldo have different characteristics to mine and that they are the best players in the world today," Romario said at a lunch of his new book, as reported by Marca. "They are the best in the world along with Neymar. They have both won titles and the ballon d'or, but modesty speaking, I was better than them in the Penalty area. "They will never reach the number of goals that I scored, and I'll beat them by twice the amount." The Brazilian, who also played for Valencia, PSV Eindhoven, Vasco Da Gama, Al-sadd and Adelaide united, scored 929 official goals, according to FIFA .

The thirty-two teams that will represent their countries at next summer's World cup in Russia will be paid a whooping sum of $12 million, according to study. The study revealed that qualified nations to the mundial next year will takes home the sum of $12 million each, which may increase in the knockout stage. The preparation fee for the qualified teams is also set at $2 million. While the 16 eliminated teams in the group stage would pocket a minimum of $10 million each.

Tottenham Hotspur attacker, Bamidele Alli has included Real madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo and Barcelona's Lionel Messi in his dream team. The England international chose his first XI in FIFA 18, the team includes his current Tottenham team-mate Harry Kane and some big names. The 21 year-old called the team 'Delstroyers' and went for 4-2-2-2 formation with Bayern Munich shot-stopper Manuel Neuer starting in goal and he is protected by Marcelo, Sergio Ramos, Jerome Boateng and Alli former Tottenham team-mate Kyle Walker. In Midfield, he chose former Tottenham player, Luca Modric, and Bayern Munic's Arturo Vidal while Lionel Messi plays behind his rival Cristiano Ronaldo on the left with Ali supporting his team-mate Harry Kane on the other side of the pitch. The former MK Dons player received the special 99-rated version of his player card, which make him the most rated player in the squad.

The organisers of the Ballon d'or, France Football, has announced the first five nominees for the coveted award via their official Twitter account. Real Madrid pair, Marcelo and Luca Modric alongside Juventus playmaker Paulo Dybala are among the first five players nominated for the individual accolade. https://twitter.com/francefootball Chelsea's N'Golo Kante, who won the PFA award in England and Paris Saint-Germain's Neymar Junior are also on the list. During the day, France football will announce the other 25 players that will fight for the coveted award. Only selected international journalists will be able to vote. Real Madrid talisman Cristiano Ronaldo, who won the league and the champions league last season, is the favorite to win the award for the fifth time in his career. The Portuguese won the award in 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016. If the Portuguese captain wins he will equal Lionel Messi's record of five ballon d'or, which was won in 2009, 2010...

Arsenal youngster Alex Iwobi came off the bench to score only goal as Nigeria secured a hard-fought 1-0 win over a resilient Zambian side at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium on Saturday. Iwobi, who missed the doubleheader between the Eagles and the indomitable lions of Cameroon last month came off the bench in the final 25 minutes for Moses Simon and it took him eight minutes of football to ease the nerves in the stands with a calmly taken effort from Shehu Abdulahi's right-wing delivery to hand Nigeria its 6th FIFA World Cup ticket. With the victory, Nigeria became the first Africa country to qualify for the World cup in Russia next summer. The Eagles sit top of group B with 13 points and in second place is Zambia with seven points while Cameroon who defeated bottom-placed Algeria 2-0 on Saturday are placed third.