Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior Criticizes La Liga after Racist Abuse
Dec 31, 2022
VALLADOLID, SPAIN - DECEMBER 30: Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid during the La Liga Santander match between Real Valladolid v Real Madrid at the Estadio Nuevo Jose Zorrilla on December 30, 2022 in Valladolid Spain (Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images)
Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior criticized La Liga on Saturday for its inaction toward addressing racist behavior.
"Racists continue to go to stadiums and watch the biggest club in the world up close and La Liga continues to do nothing..." he wrote on Twitter (h/t The Athletic's Jacob Whitehead).
"I will continue with my head held high and celebrating my victories and those of Madrid. In the end it's MY fault."
Os racistas seguem indo aos estádios e assistindo ao maior clube do mundo de perto e a @LaLiga segue sem fazer nada… Seguirei de cabeça erguida e comemorando as minhas vitórias e do Madrid. No final a culpa é MINHA. 🤙🏿 pic.twitter.com/5ztuTjP4s6
His comments came after he was the target of racist abuse during a 2-0 win over Real Valladolid on Friday.
La Liga issued a statement to Whitehead defending its handing of racism allegations, saying, "Hate speech has no place in LaLiga."
"We are investigating last night's match and will work with the clubs and appropriate authorities to identify and prosecute anyone guilty of hate speech," the league stated.
"As for yesterday's events, LaLiga is still investigating but has already identified racist insults from some individuals (not groups) in videos uploaded to social media, which will be the subject of an official complaint as in previous cases."
Racist abuse by fans isn't a problem isolated to Spain, but it has remained a persistent issue for years. This isn't the first time Vinicius has been victimized, either. Prior to Madrid's 2-1 win over rival Atlético Madrid in September, Atlético supporters chanted, "Vinicius is a monkey" as they entered Cívitas Metropolitano.
La Liga's approach to addressing allegations of racist abuse also came into sharp focus in April 2021, when Valencia defender Mouctar Diakhaby said he had been racially abused by Cádiz defender Juan Cala. Diakhaby's teammates walked off the pitch in solidarity, and he didn't return to the match when it restarted.
La Liga said days later it didn't find evidence that Cala used a racist slur toward Diakhaby.
In a statement, Valencia said, "The fact that no evidence has been found does not mean that it didn't happen."
"Our aim is to see a change, to see an appropriate response to such a grave incident, to see a movement to change the regulations and attitudes when facing these types of problems that may arise," the club stated. "It was an unprecedented episode in football, but we are convinced that it will serve to promote a real change in the regulations."
The Athletic's Dermot Corrigan and Adam Crafton laid out how the incident was emblematic of structural issues within La Liga and Spain.
Karim Benzema Retires from International Play After France's Loss in World Cup
Dec 19, 2022
France's forward Karim Benzema looks on during a training session at the Jassim-bin-Hamad Stadium in Doha on November 17, 2022, ahead of the Qatar 2022 World Cup football tournament. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP) (Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)
Real Madrid and France star Karim Benzema has announced his retirement from international football after France's defeat to Argentina in the World Cup final.
Karim Benzema announces that he's retiring from international football on his 35th birthday.
"I made the effort and the mistakes it took to be where I am today and I'm proud of it! I have written my story and ours is ending," Benzema said, via Colin Millar of the Mirror.
The 35-year-old made the France squad ahead of the 2022 World Cup, but he suffered a thigh injury in training and was ruled out for the tournament. Though he was not replaced on the roster, he did not stay with the team and chose not to attend Sunday's final.
According to French newspaper L'Equipe (h/t Tom Blow of the Mirror), Benzema "cut off" communication with the team and head coach Didier Deschamps after they wouldn't let him stay following the injury.
Deschamps dodged questions on Benzema's availability after France's first two group-stage games.
"I have 24 players here and I'm thinking about them," he told reporters. "I will let you speak, debate, and imagine, but I'm not going to comment on things that don't concern our daily business."
Asked about Benzema again following victory in the semifinals over Morocco, Deschamps said, "I don't really want to answer that question."
Benzema was not part of France's 2018 World Cup-winning squad amid a blackmail scandal with former teammate Mathieu Valbuena, for which he received a one-year suspended prison sentence. He was also left off the 2010 World Cup roster despite competing with the team during qualifying.
He earned 97 caps across 15 years with the national team yet only appeared in one World Cup, helping the 2014 squad reach the quarterfinal with three goals and two assists in five matches.
The striker has been one of the world's best players at the club level, helping Real Madrid win five Champions League titles. He earned the 2022 Ballon d'Or after winning Champions League and La Liga titles with Los Blancos, scoring 44 goals in all competitions.
UEFA Issues Apology to Fans; Will Review Events Around Champions League Final
Jun 3, 2022
The display announces delay of the Champions League final soccer match between Liverpool and Real Madrid at the Stade de France in Saint Denis near Paris, Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
UEFA released a statement Friday apologizing to fans for the chaotic scenes prior to last weekend's UEFA Champions League final in Paris.
As part of the statement, UEFA noted that it is launching an independent investigation to determine what led to the inability to get fans into Stade de France in a timely and orderly fashion:
UEFA issues new statement on the Champions League final, apologising not blaming fans, saying what the review will look into & acknowledging failings: “No football fan should be put in that situation, and it must not happen again.” pic.twitter.com/5zAlpz1m5o
Due to lengthy delays in getting fans into the stadium, the Champions League final between Real Madrid and Liverpool had its start time pushed back by more than a half hour.
UEFA initially relayed a message inside the stadium stating that the delay was due to "late arrival of fans" before changing the wording to a "security issue."
An already tense situation outside the stadium escalated when police used pepper spray to subdue some of the fans attempting to get inside the venue:
In a statement after the match, UEFA blamed the congestion on fans purchasing fake tickets that wouldn't scan at the gate:
UEFA statement blame those with fake tickets for Paris chaos (doesn't say where they are from)
"Turnstiles at the Liverpool end became blocked by thousands fans who had purchased fake tickets which did not work in the turnstiles. This created a build-up of fans trying to get in" pic.twitter.com/O3XIMHyjPF
Per Melissa Reddy of Sky Sports, Liverpool subsequently requested a "formal investigation" to determine why fans were unable to get inside the stadium in a timely fashion.
The 2022 UEFA Champions League final was a tightly contested affair between two of the most storied clubs in the history of soccer.
Ultimately, Real Madrid prevailed 1-0 on a 59th-minute goal by Vinicius Junior. Los Blancos also got a clean sheet out of goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who was named man of the match.
The win marked Real Madrid's 14th Champions League or European Cup title, which is an all-time record.
Real Madrid Demand Answers from UEFA After Fan Incidents After UCL Final vs Liverpool
Jun 3, 2022
PARIS, FRANCE - MAY 28 : Courtois Thibaut of Real Madrid elected man of the match and winner of the cup during the UEFA champions league final match between Real Madrid and Liverpool FC on Stade de France May 28, 2022 in Paris, France, 28/05/2022 ( Photo by CROCHET / Photonews via Getty Images)
Real Madrid released a statement Friday
seeking "answers and explanations" from UEFA about the problems
that marred the club's victory over Liverpool in the 2022 Champions
League Final last weekend.
Los Blancos requested information about
the selection of Stade de France as the match's venue after it was
moved from Russia's Krestovsky Stadium following the country's
military invasion of Ukraine.
The Spanish club also asked for details
about "those responsible for leaving the fans abandoned and
defenseless" after pre- and post-match clashes between supporters
of both clubs and stadium staff, describing fans as victims.
Questions about UEFA's handling of the
situation emerged as the start of the match was delayed
over 30 minutes. The governing body blamed late-arriving fans for the
wait, but images showing fans waiting outside the stadium
appeared to disprove that explanation.
French sports minister Amelie
Oudea-Castera then alleged that between 30,000 and 40,000 fake tickets
were sold for the event, which caused issues for stadium staff trying
to verify their authenticity, but little to no evidence was provided in
support of that claim, per Simon Hughes of The Athletic.
Multiple eyewitnesses told The Athletic that locals arrived to the venue with fake tickets and tried to jump the
queue, which led to clashes with security and the use of tear gas
canisters.
"Kids, women and old folk were caught
in it, but we couldn't get away and we still couldn't get in," Liverpool fan Richard Banks said. "People were in tears; a couple
had panic attacks. One lad was taken away on a stretcher
unconscious."
Will Sweeney added: "There was wave
after wave of locals trying to start a fight. At one point, a railing
fell on me and me and my brother went flying into a wall."
Others stated those in charge of taking
tickets for the event were young and struggled to maintain order among the massive crowd trying to get inside, per The Athletic.
Liverpool requested a formal
investigation into the matter shortly after the game.
"We are hugely disappointed at the
stadium entry issues and breakdown of the security perimeter that
Liverpool fans faced this evening at Stade de France," the English
club said. "This is the greatest match in European football and
supporters should not have to experience the scenes we have witnessed
tonight."
UEFA stated it was "sympathetic to
those affected by these events and will further review these matters
urgently together with the French police and authorities, and with
the French Football Federation."
Real Madrid, which scored a 1-0 win for
a record-extending 14th Champions League title, called for the issues
fans dealt with "to be eradicated from football and sport in
general."
Paul Pogba's Manchester United Departure Confirmed amid Juventus Rumors
Jun 1, 2022
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - APRIL 16: Paul Pogba of Manchester United during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Norwich City at Old Trafford on April 16, 2022 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
Manchester United announced Wednesday
midfielder Paul Pogba will leave the club when his contract expires
at the end of June.
Pogba, who started his senior career
with United in 2011, returned to Old Trafford in 2016 after a
four-year stint with Juventus. He recorded one goal and nine assists
across 20 Premier League appearances for the Red Devils this season.
"Everyone at the club would like to
congratulate Paul on his successful career, and thank him for his
contributions to Manchester United," the club wrote in a statement. "We wish him all the best for the next steps on a remarkable
journey."
OFFICIAL: Manchester United confirm Paul Pogba will leave the club as a free agent for the second time pic.twitter.com/3YnSRh4PXU
James Westwood of Goal reported Juve is "leading the race" to sign the 29-year-old French international
once again, though Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid are also
involved.
Pogba hinted at his frustration while
playing for France in March, telling Telefoot (via ESPN) United's failure to contend for trophies led to "difficult times."
"I want to win titles, I want to
play for something," he said. "Whether it be this year or even
the previous ones, we haven't won anything. That's what's sad, in the
end."
United fell well short of competing for
a title in 2021-22. It finished sixth in the Premier League and
failed to make a deep run in any knockout tournament—the UEFA Champions
League (round of 16), FA Cup (fourth round) or EFL Cup (third round).
It's likely to cause several squad
changes over the summer as the Red Devils prepare to begin a new era
under manager Erik ten Hag, who arrives from Ajax.
With Pogba's departure confirmed,
United has opened discussions with Barcelona about fellow midfielder
Frenkie de Jong, per Sky Sports' Dan Sansom.
De Jong tallied three goals and three
assists in 32 La Liga matches for Barca this season.
Meanwhile, the interest from three
high-profile clubs like Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid
shows belief Pogba can reignite his career with a transfer.
The playmaking midfielder has still
shown glimpses of being a high-impact performer during his stints
with the French national team, but those kinds of performances were few and far between with
United.
If he does land with a marquee club,
he'll likely need to showcase more consistent top form to remain a
regular first-team selection in 2022-23.
Lionel Messi Says Karim Benzema Deserves to Win Ballon d'Or: 'There Are No Doubts'
May 30, 2022
Real Madrid's Karim Benzema celebrates winning the Champions League final soccer match between Liverpool and Real Madrid at the Stade de France in Saint Denis near Paris, Saturday, May 28, 2022. Real Madrid won 1-0. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Paris Saint-Germain star Lionel Messi believes Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema deserves to win this year's Ballon d'Or, which is presented to the player who is considered to be the best in the world, after helping Los Blancos win the UEFA Champions League and La Liga titles.
"There are no doubts, it's very clear that Benzema had a spectacular year and ended up victorious in the Champions League," Messi said on Argentine television, according to Reuters (h/t ESPN). "He was fundamental in all the matches from the round of 16 onwards. I think there is no doubt this year."
It's no surprise Messi believes Benzema should win the award after the Frenchman scored a hat trick against Paris Saint-Germain in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League last-16 matchup.
"The Real Madrid game killed us, me and everyone in the dressing room. We had a lot of hope. It makes me want to win again," Messi said. "But the best team doesn't always win the Champions League. I don't take credit away from Real Madrid, they weren't the best in this competition and yet they beat everyone."
Benzema, who has spent the last 13 seasons with Real Madrid, tallied 44 goals and 15 assists in 46 games across all competitions en route to winning the UEFA Champions League and La Liga titles.
Benzema scored 27 La Liga goals, nine more than the next-best player, and 15 Champions League goals. Of his 15 Champions League goals, 10 came in the tournament's knockout stages.
The 34-year-old would become the second-oldest player to win the Ballon d'Or. Blackpool's Stanley Matthews is the oldest, having won the inaugural award in 1956 when he was 41. He would also become the first Frenchman to win the award since Zinedine Zidane in 1998 to win it.
After winning the Champions League title, Benzema admitted to reporters that he was thinking about the possibility he could win the Ballon d'Or for the first time in his 18 professional seasons.
"Of course," Benzema said. "Now I will join up with the national team but I don't think I can do much more with my club. We will see what happens, but in any case I am proud of what I have done."
Benzema added: "Let's see what happens. I have trophies and I have nothing else [to prove] on the pitch. The important thing is to enjoy it."
Other possible Ballon d'Or candidates include Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski, Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne, Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappe and Liverpool's Mohamed Salah.
The nominees will be announced August 12 and the award will be presented nearly two months later on October 17.
Champions League 2022: Players, Coaches React to Liverpool vs. Real Madrid
May 28, 2022
PARIS, FRANCE - MAY 28: Players of Real Madrid celebrate victory after UEFA Champions League final match between Liverpool FC and Real Madrid at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, France on May 28, 2022. (Photo by Mustafa Yalcin/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Real Madrid captured its 14th Champions League title with a 1-0 victory over Liverpool at Stade de France.
Vinicius Jr. broke the scoreless stalemate in the 59th minute to put Real Madrid on top. The defense made the lead stand, with Liverpool having a 9-2 edge in shots on goal and attempting 24 shots total.
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) May 28, 2022
Los Blancos goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois capped off a phenomenal Champions League run with a shutout. The 30-year-old allowed just one goal in the past two matches, including a 3-1 win over Manchester City in the second leg of the semifinals.
Mohamed Salah had an opportunity to tie the score in the final minutes. He fired off a shot that was bending toward the far corner of the net, but Courtois was able to turn the ball away.
"Back in England, I don’t get enough respect… so, well, I showed it today. I wanted to put some respect on my name there," Courtois said after Saturday's win.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp wasn't quick to give credit to Courtois after the loss.
"When the goalkeeper is man of the match, something is going wrong for the other team. In the last third we could have done better," Klopp told reporters.
While Courtois got his redemption on the biggest stage in the sport, Carlo Ancelotti further cemented his legacy as arguably the greatest manager of all time.
This was the fourth Champions League title for Ancelotti. The 62-year-old previously won with AC Milan (2002-03, 2006-07) and Real Madrid in 2013-14.
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 28, 2022
As happy as Ancelotti was to rewrite the record books, he was also quick to give credit to his players. Courtois, in particular, was on the receiving end of high praise from his manager.
"Trust me, I can’t believe what Thibaut Courtois did tonight, guys. Unbelievable," Ancelotti said.
Despite Klopp's frustration at how poorly his offense fared in the game, he certainly isn't lacking confidence in his club's ability to get back to the final in 2023.
"Where's the final next year? Istanbul? Book the hotel," Klopp said during his post-match press conference.
This was the first appearance in the Champions League Final for Liverpool since winning the title in 2019.
Top Winners and Losers After Real Madrid's Champions League Victory vs. Liverpool
May 28, 2022
TOPSHOT - Real Madrid's Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois catches the ball during the UEFA Champions League final football match between Liverpool and Real Madrid at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on May 28, 2022. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP) (Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)
Real Madrid defeated Liverpool 1-0 in the 2022 UEFA Champions League Final on Saturday at Stade de France for their first Champions League title since 2018 and 14th overall.
Impressive performances from Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior, who scored the match's only goal in the 59th minute, and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois highlighted the play. That said, it was an incredibly disappointing result for Liverpool, which entered with hopes of avenging its 2018 UCL final loss to Real Madrid.
With one of the biggest matches of the year now complete, we'll break down Saturday's biggest winners and losers below.
Winner: Real Madrid Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois
Real Madrid invested nearly $43 million to sign Courtois in August 2018, and that investment has paid off in a big way. The Belgian was brilliant in goal for Real Madrid in the final, making nine saves to help his team earn the victory.
According to Statman Dave, the 30-year-old finished the match with 65 total touches, 27 long balls played, nine saves, seven saves from inside the area and two high claims. Courtois is the first goalkeeper in UCL final history with that many saves, which only further highlights how dominant he was against Liverpool.
Thibaut Courtois is the first goalkeeper on record to make NINE saves in a single #UCLfinal
One of Courtois' best stops came in the 80th minute as Liverpool's Mohamed Salah came very close to finding the equalizer. That said, all of his saves were nothing short of incredible.
Courtois mentioned after the match that he didn't have much respect in England—he will get it now after shutting out Liverpool.
Winner: Real Madrid Forward Vinicius Junior
Vinicius Junior was the lone goal scorer in Saturday's match, which makes him an automatic winner. The 21-year-old Brazilian found the back of the net in the 59th minute to seal Real Madrid's victory.
Vinicius Junior made a run on the back post, and Federico Valverde found him on a gorgeous pass for the goal.
At 21 years, 320 days, Vinícius Jr. is the 2nd-youngest Real Madrid player, and the 5th-youngest ever to score in a UCL Final. pic.twitter.com/Gk7zEPQRhf
Vinicius Junior has been with Real Madrid since the 2018-19 season, though the 2021-22 campaign was a breakthrough year for the youngster. He tallied 17 goals and 10 assists in 35 La Liga matches (30 starts) this season.
Vinicius Junior also entered Saturday's game with three goals and six assists in 12 Champions League matches this season.
The Brazilian is only beginning to make a name for himself at 21 years old and should receive a pretty significant contract extension. According to Marca's Mario Cortegana (h/t MailOnline's Dominic Hogan), Real Madrid was ready to offer Vinicius Junior an extension through the 2027-28 season worth 10 million euros in net wages.
That's not a cheap salary by any means, though it's a steal in relation to what other elite players make.
Loser: Liverpool's Defense
The Liverpool defense of Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ibrahima Konate and Andrew Robertson struggled. It nearly allowed Karim Benzema to score toward the end of the first half, but the goal was overturned after it was ruled he was offside on VAR.
The team's defense then had a major breakdown on Vinicius Junior's goal and was ultimately one of the reasons Liverpool failed to keep Real Madrid off the scoresheet.
Vinicius Junior's goal also ended up being Real Madrid's only shot on goal in the match, and Los Blancos had just three total attempts.
Real Madrid's defense, backed by Courtois' play, managed to avoid critical mistakes unlike Liverpool's defensive group. The Reds made just seven tackles, winning four, and also lost three tackles and had just one clearance completed. For comparison, the Real Madrid defense made 17 tackles, winning 15, and completed 11 clearances and managed to maintain a clean sheet.
That said, the Liverpool offense certainly had its chances with nine shots on goal and 23 total attempts, but Salah and Sadio Mane were left scoreless thanks to an incredible effort from Courtois and a solid effort from the Real Madrid defense.
Real Madrid Defeat Liverpool to Win Champions League Behind Vinicius Jr.'s Goal
May 28, 2022
Real Madrid's goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois saves Liverpool's Mohamed Salah's shot during the Champions League final soccer match between Liverpool and Real Madrid at the Stade de France in Saint Denis near Paris, Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Thibaut Courtois' masterpiece and Vinicius Junior's 59th-minute goal off a beautiful Federico Valverde pass propelled Real Madrid to a 1-0 win over Liverpool in the Champions League Final on Saturday in Paris.
Liverpool outshot Real Madrid 24-4. Nine of the Reds' shots were on goal, while only two of Real Madrid's efforts found the target.
However, none of that mattered as Courtois delivered an incredible performance that included brilliant saves all night.
Tom Worville of RB Leipzig put the goalkeeper's effort in proper perspective:
Courtois kept Real Madrid level nearly single-handedly, and it was Vinicius Junior who put his team ahead after sliding the game's only goal into the net.
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) May 28, 2022
That was all Real Madrid needed thanks to Courtois' evening, and Real Madrid has now won 14 European Cups or Champions League titles, twice as many as any other club.
Courtois' clean sheet will last a lifetime, and he made history along the way:
Thibaut Courtois is the first goalkeeper on record to make NINE saves in a single #UCLfinal
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) May 28, 2022
Courtois had some added motivation going into this match, as he told BT Sport:
Thibaut Courtois to BT Sport after the game: "I had to win a final to put some respect on my name, because I don't think I get enough respect. Especially in England."
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) May 28, 2022
All was well, though, as Vinicius Junior took advantage of his chance for the lone goal, marking the third straight time the Champions League Final has finished 1-0.
That's 10 direct goal involvements for Vinícius Júnior in the Champions League this season. The last South American player to post 10+ in a single campaign while 21 or under? Leo Messi
That goal would not have been possible without Valverde, who was sensational in his own right:
Fede Valverde’s game by numbers vs Liverpool:
100% aerial duels won 47 total touches 4 ground duels won 4 ball recoveries 2 ball clearances 2 successful dribbles 2 crosses played 1 big chance created 1 assist
Real Madrid's run to the Champions League title was legendary. They lived on the edge throughout the entire knockout round, winning all four by one goal apiece.
Real Madrid needed a Karim Benzema hat trick to overcome a 2-0 deficit to Paris St-Germain in the Round of 16. Benzema was the hero again versus Chelsea in the quarterfinals, scoring in the 96th minute of the second leg to cap a four-goal aggregate performance and give his team a 5-4 win.
Extra time was needed again in the semifinals as Rodrygo scored goals in back-to-back minutes as the match neared its end to square the semifinal against Manchester City at five goals apiece. Benzema was the hero once more in extra time with a penalty for the 6-5 win.
There were new heroes Saturday as Courtois cemented himself as a legend, while Vinicius Jr. and Valverde did enough to catapult Real Madrid to the Champions League title.
