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Ronaldo breaks record as Portugal up and running with Ghana win

Published

3 years ago

November 25, 2022

Cristiano Ronaldo drew a line under a tumultuous tournament build-up as he wrote his name in the record books to become the first man to score in five World Cups in a 3-2 victory for Portugal over Ghana on Thursday, Reuters reported.

Ronaldo drilled home a penalty in the 65th minute of the Group H encounter to set his side on their way and while Andre Ayew equalised for Ghana, Portugal turned on the afterburners with two quick-fire goals to effectively seal the deal at Stadium 974.

According to Reuters Joao Felix produced a delicate finish to give them the lead and Rafael Leao added a third to hand Portugal their first win in the opening match of the World Cup since 2006, even if Osman Bukari pulled another one back for Ghana late on.

The win was not the most convincing for Portugal, and will come as some relief for Fernando Santos’s side, who top the group with three points and next face Uruguay on Monday, when Ghana play South Korea.

For all Portugal’s enterprising attacking play and the goalscoring performances of Felix and Leao, it was Ronaldo who once again showed his unparalleled ability to draw the limelight.

“I think Cristiano is a phenomenon, a legend… in 50 years’ time, we will still be talking about him,” Santos said.

The bitter end to Ronaldo’s second spell at Manchester United had dominated the build-up to the match in much the same way the forward seems to dominate the way Portugal play, read the report.

Against Ghana, Ronaldo seemed to exert a planetary gravitational pull on the ball, with team mates seeking him out at every opportunity.

For vast swathes of the match, everything revolved around Ronaldo, who lurked threateningly on the edge of the Ghana box, with almost all his side’s attacking moves ending up at his feet.

He had two early chances, a one-on-one when a heavy touch let him down, and a header where he typically hovered in the air before glancing his effort wide.

He then smacked the ball in the back of the net after 31 minutes only to realise the referee had already blown his whistle for a foul.

For Ghana, the youngest squad at the World Cup, their early ambitions rarely stretched beyond the halfway line as the lowest-ranked side in the tournament set about keeping almost everyone behind the ball at all times in the first half, Reuters reported.

Most of the action was condensed into a relatively short period after the 60th minute with Portugal taking the lead when awarded a soft penalty after Ronaldo went down following minimal shoulder-to-shoulder contact with Mohammed Salisu.

Ronaldo closed his eyes as he waited to begin his run up, stuttered and smashed the ball into the net to the keeper’s right.

The entire Portugal team raced down the touchline to pile on top of the 37-year-old, who surpassed Pele, Uwe Seeler and Miroslav Klose as the only player to find the net in five separate men’s World Cups.

It is the 10th consecutive major tournament in which Ronaldo has found the net although Ghana coach Otto Addo was not in the mood to be charitable.

“It was the wrong decision… It was actually a foul against us,” he said of the penalty award.

“If somebody scores a goal, congratulations. But this was a gift. A special gift from the referee.”

As it was, his Ghana side fired back quickly when Mohammed Kudus’s cross bobbled its way through a defender’s legs to Ayew who tapped home.

Portugal, however, then revved into gear with Felix latching onto a Bruno Fernandes throughball and lifting his finish nonchalantly over the keeper, read the report.

Fernandes was the architect of their third goal too, playing another superb throughball for substitute Leao to slide his finish across the keeper and into the bottom corner.

There was tension at the end, however, as Ghana pulled another goal back with Osman Bukari, appearing unmarked in the box, heading in a cross from the left in the 89th minute, giving a sliver of hope to Ghana’s fans behind that goal.

There was to be no fairytale ending for the Ghanaians though and the night belonged to Ronaldo.

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Mexico City to launch 2026 FIFA World Cup with star-studded opening ceremony

Published

21 minutes ago

May 9, 2026

Ariana News

FIFA has announced that the opening ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup will deliver a star-studded celebration in Mexico City ahead of the tournament’s opening match.

The ceremony, scheduled for June 11 at Mexico City Stadium, will begin 90 minutes before kick-off and will feature performances by major international and Latin music stars, including Alejandro Fernández, Belinda, Danny Ocean, J Balvin, Lila Downs, Los Ángeles Azules, Maná and Tyla.

According to FIFA, the opening show will celebrate Mexican culture through music, dance and visual artistry, while also highlighting indigenous talent and modern folkloric performances. Organizers said the ceremony will reflect the traditions and cultural identity of Mexico as the first host nation to launch the expanded tournament.

The event is being produced in partnership with Balich Wonder Studio and will form part of a trilogy of opening ceremonies across Mexico, Canada and the United States. FIFA said each ceremony will present a unique interpretation of the FIFA World Cup Trophy inspired by the culture of the respective host country.

In Mexico’s ceremony, the creative concept will center around “papel picado,” the traditional decorative folk art known for its colorful handcrafted paper designs, symbolizing celebration and craftsmanship.

Gianni Infantino said the opening ceremonies would combine football, culture and music while showcasing the individuality of each host nation and the unity of the tournament.

Fans attending the match have been advised to arrive early, with stadium gates opening four hours before kick-off. FIFA said spectators will be able to take part in pre-match entertainment and other fan activities inside the venue.

The opening match of the tournament will see Mexico face South Africa in what FIFA described as a historic occasion for Mexico City Stadium, which will become the first venue to host matches in three different FIFA World Cups.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will feature 104 matches across 16 host cities in Canada, Mexico and the United States, with the tournament final set to take place in July at New York New Jersey Stadium.

Football fans in Afghanistan will be able to watch all the action live through the Ariana Radio and Television Network (ATN), which holds the exclusive broadcasting rights to the tournament in the country. ATN will air the matches live across Ariana Television, bringing comprehensive coverage of the world’s biggest football event to Afghan audiences.

Fans are encouraged to follow Ariana Television and Ariana News on social media for the latest developments, updated match schedules, team news and other World Cup information as the tournament approaches.

Sport

Ariana Snooker Championship Season 2 set to kick off next week

Published

2 days ago

May 7, 2026

Ariana News

The second season of the Ariana Snooker Championship is set to officially commence on Monday next week, bringing together top cueists from across Afghanistan.

The tournament will feature 32 players representing all provinces where snooker is actively developed and played. All participants secured their places through earlier qualification rounds held prior to the main event.

The championship will be contested in the six-red ball snooker format. The group stage, knockout rounds, and quarterfinals will be played in a best-of-seven frames format, with players required to win four frames to advance to the next stage.

The semifinals and final will follow a best-of-nine frames format, ensuring a more competitive conclusion as players compete for the season title.

Under a signed agreement, the Ariana Snooker Championship will continue for four additional seasons, with all matches broadcast on Ariana Television, further supporting the growth and visibility of snooker in Afghanistan.

Fans are encouraged to follow Ariana Television and Ariana News’ social media pages for all updates and broadcast schedules on this exciting event.

Sport

Rashid Khan retains No. 1 spot in ICC ODI and T20I bowling rankings

Published

2 days ago

May 7, 2026

Ariana News

Afghanistan star spinner Rashid Khan has maintained his position as the world’s top-ranked bowler in both One Day International (ODI) and T20 International cricket, according to the latest ICC rankings.

Rashid continues to lead the ODI bowling rankings with 705 rating points, while also holding the No. 1 position in T20I bowling with 753 rating points.

The Afghan leg-spinner has remained one of the most consistent performers in international cricket, playing a key role for Afghanistan across formats with his wicket-taking ability and economical bowling.

In the latest ODI rankings, England fast bowler Jofra Archer and South Africa spinner Keshav Maharaj follow Rashid in second and third places respectively.

In T20Is, India spinner Varun Chakravarthy and Pakistan bowler Abrar Ahmed are among the closest challengers to the Afghan star.

Rashid’s continued dominance in ICC rankings comes as Afghanistan’s cricket team prepares for upcoming international assignments and major global tournaments.