برچسب: International

  • Cristiano Ronaldo drops fresh retirement hint during international break

    Cristiano Ronaldo drops fresh retirement hint during international break

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    At 40, Ronaldo continues to perform at a high level for both his club and national team. ..Continue Reading

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  • Casemiro makes typically combative return to international action for Brazil – Man United News And Transfer News

    Casemiro makes typically combative return to international action for Brazil – Man United News And Transfer News

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    Manchester United had three players involved in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers.

    Casemiro made his return to the Brazil national team after his former boss at Real Madrid, Carlo Ancelotti, was named manager. He was captain at the 2022 World Cup but has not been involved in the national team set-up for about a year.

    The 33 year old started in the centre of the park and put in an impressive shift in his side’s 0-0 draw against Ecuador.

    He played the entire 90 minutes, completing 72% of his passing attempts.

    Casemiro was also an attacking threat, having one shot on target and one off as his side failed to break down a stubborn Ecuador side in Guayaquil.

    As usual though, his most impressive work came in the middle of the park as he won six out of nine ground duels.

    He also impressively won all four of his aerial battles, dominating the middle of the park like he had never been away.

    The midfield enforcer was also heavily involved defensively, making six clearances and a total of five tackles.

    Commenting in a post-match interview, Casemiro lamented the state of the pitch in Ecuador.

    He claimed, “I think the pitch didn’t really help the match. I always say you can’t have excuses but the pitch, the field, didn’t help a lot.”

    United also had new signing Matheus Cunha on the bench and he played the final 26 minutes.

    Unfortunately, he failed to have much of an impact on the game, as he could only complete seven passes and failed in his only dribble attempt.

    Cunha was also unable to get off any shots on goal in the stalemate.

    United’s loan star at Real Betis, Antony, was named on the bench but he did not manage to get any minutes of action.

    Brazil will next be in action on Tuesday evening (Wednesday morning UK time) when they face Paraguay at home.

    Manuel Ugarte also started for Uruguay in their 0-2 defeat to Paraguay.

    He played the entire 90 minutes of action and made 79% of his passes.

    Ugarte impressively connected with all six of his long range passes as he tried to propel his team forward. He won 100% of his aerials duels and was typically combative in the middle of the park, winning eight ground duels.

    Ugarte as usual, was highly involved in the defensive dirty work, making five clearances and four tackles.

    He will hope his side can bounce back from defeat when they host Venezuela on Tuesday evening (Wednesday morning UK time).

    Featured image Franklin Jacome via Getty Images


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  • The Stats Behind the Greatest International Goal Scorers

    The Stats Behind the Greatest International Goal Scorers

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    In international football, scoring goals at the highest level is a mark of true greatness. The list of all-time greatest international goal scorers is not just a collection of numbers; it represents consistency, longevity, and an incredible ability to perform under pressure. Using a data-driven approach, we analyze the elite goal scorers of international football based on the latest numbers.

    Player Country Goals
    Cristiano Ronaldo Portugal 135
    Lionel Messi Argentina 112
    Ali Daei Iran 108
    Sunil Chhetri India 95
    Mokhtar Dahari Malaysia 89
    Romelu Lukaku Belgium 86

    Best International Goal Scorers By Goals Per Game Metric

    While raw goal totals are impressive, a deeper look at the scoring efficiency of each player adds more context. A useful metric to analyze is the Goals Per Game (GPG) ratio, which measures how frequently each player scores.

    To calculate this, we use the formula:

    Goals Per Game = Total Goals/Total Matches Played

    Based on international appearances, here’s how the top six goal scorers compare:

    Player Country Goals Caps Goals Per Game (GPG)
    Romelu Lukaku Belgium 86 113 0.76
    Ali Daei Iran 108 149 0.72
    Cristiano Ronaldo Portugal 135 205 0.66
    Sunil Chhetri India 95 143 0.66
    Mokhtar Dahari Malaysia 89 142 0.63
    Lionel Messi Argentina 112 180 0.62

    Here is what the Chart looks like based on the above numbers:

    International Goal Scorers by Goals Per Game (GPG) Metric

    The numbers reveal some fascinating insights. Despite being the highest scorer, Ronaldo’s GPG ratio of 0.66 is lower than that of Ali Daei (0.72) and Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku, who leads the pack with 0.76 goals per game.

    Lukaku’s numbers are remarkable. The Belgian striker has been a consistent goal threat for his country, averaging more than three goals every four games. His GPG is 15% higher than Ronaldo’s and significantly better than Lionel Messi’s 0.62 GPG, making him the most efficient goal scorer among the top six.

    How Close is Lukaku to the Top 3?

    Lukaku may be in sixth place now, but with 86 goals at just 30 years old, he has time on his side. The Belgian goal machine needs 22 more goals to surpass Ali Daei and enter the top three.

    Based on his scoring average of 0.76 GPG, he would likely need around 29-30 more matches to achieve this feat. Considering Belgium’s regular international schedule—including European qualifiers and Nations League matches—Lukaku could realistically break into the top three within the next two to three years.

    Who Has the Best Longevity?

    Longevity plays a crucial role in accumulating international goals. A player with a longer career at the top level has more opportunities to score. Cristiano Ronaldo leads in this aspect, with a staggering 205 caps, proving his ability to maintain elite-level performance for over two decades.

    Messi (180 caps) and Chhetri (143 caps) also demonstrate remarkable longevity, but Iran’s Ali Daei had one of the shortest careers among these legends, needing just 149 appearances to score 108 goals—a testament to his clinical finishing.

    Comparing Their Peaks – Who Had the Best Goalscoring Period?

    To further analyze their impact, we can look at how many goals they scored per year at their peak:

    • Cristiano Ronaldo (2016-2022): Averaged 11 goals per year for Portugal.
    • Lionel Messi (2017-2023): Averaged 9 goals per year for Argentina.
    • Ali Daei (1996-2004): Averaged 13 goals per year for Iran.
    • Romelu Lukaku (2018-2023): Averaged 10 goals per year for Belgium.
    Peak Goal Scorers in International Football

    Ali Daei’s dominance in the late 90s and early 2000s stands out, proving why he was the record-holder for nearly two decades before Ronaldo broke it. Meanwhile, Lukaku’s current trajectory suggests he could maintain a similar level of output over the next few years.

    Final Thoughts – Who is the Greatest International Goal Scorer?

    The debate over the best or greatest international goal scorers isn’t just about numbers—it’s about efficiency, consistency, and longevity.

    Cristiano Ronaldo is undoubtedly the most prolific, with the highest total goals and the longest career at the top. However, Romelu Lukaku is the most efficient, with a GPG of 0.76 in just 113 appearances.

    Romelu Lukaku could be the next big name to break into the top three if he maintains his scoring form.

    With international football constantly improving, it will be exciting to see how these rankings change in the next few years.

    Who do you think will finish as the greatest international goal scorer? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!

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