Luis Figo has pledged to restore Fifa’s reputation if he is elected president in May by rebuilding the governing body’s credibility.

David Beckham has backed former team-mate Luis Figo’s bid to become the next FIFA president.

David Ginola has withdrawn from the FIFA presidential race after failing to gain the minimum five nominations.

“I care about football so what I’m seeing regarding the image of FIFA – not only now but in the past years – I don’t like it."

Luis Suarez was “an accident waiting to happen” and the “time had come” for him to leave Liverpool this summer, according to Richard Scudamore.

Cristiano Ronaldo had no idea he was going to win the Ballon d’Or for the world’s best player last week and only burst into tears as he picked up his award when he saw his family crying at the ceremony.

Sergio Ramos entered last week as Real Madrid’s vice-captain, second longest serving player and fan favourite.

To properly comprehend the full dimensions of another mind-boggling Real Madrid transfer, it is perhaps worth going back to the base of it all. Or, at least, the beginning of Florentino Perez’s first stint at the club in 2000.

The last time Manchester United played Real Madrid at Old Trafford, almost 10 years ago, they fell to a Ronaldo hat-trick in one of the greatest games the Champions League has ever seen; but this time Ryan Giggs, in his 1,000th career match, is planning a different outcome.

Portugal 1 Northern Ireland 1

IF Pep Guardiola is a student of Johann Cruyff, then Sergio Busquets is a student of Guardiola. The defensive midfielder, who divides opinion outside Spain, played under Guardiola in his one season as Barça’s B team boss in 2007-08.

AS THE Schalke players stood and applauded the home support after their rout of the European Champions 12 days ago, one slight figure jogged over, vaulted the advertising boards and mounted the steps of the stand to join the hordes of ecstatic fans.

WHEN Real Madrid beat Barcelona in the 2002 Champions League semi-final, the worldwide TV audience was estimated at 500 million. When Barcelona ran riot last November, 400 million watched on the box and countless millions more on laptops round the world.

WHAT a game! What a night. Just when you thought the superlatives had been exhausted about Harry Redknapp’s super Spurs and the outstanding Gareth Bale, the Welsh wonder put on another world-class show to put the European champions to the sword.

Jose Mourinho has admitted he could never coach Barcelona after leaving the Catalan club’s Champions League dreams in tatters last night.

Inter Milan midfielder Luis Figo announced shortly after winning the Serie A title that he will retire at the end of the season.

Barcelona coach Josep Guardiola wants to see his players dominate a “physical” Chelsea side when they meet in tonight’s Champions League semi-final, first leg at the Nou Camp.

Alex Ferguson sprang a major surprise this evening by leaving Wayne Rooney out of Manchester United’s starting line-up to face Inter Milan.

AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti believes Cristiano Ronaldo was the worthy winner of the Ballon d’Or.

Inter Milan winger Luis Figo claims his club have already told him Jose Mourinho will be in charge of the Italian giants next season.

Inter Milan winger Luis Figo has quashed speculation he is negotiating a move to QPR.

RAFAEL BENITEZ admits that he finds it easier to influence European games than he does Premier League matches.

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UNSETTLED striker David Trezeguet seems set to leave newly-promoted Juventus after revealing his contract negotiations are at a standstill.

Internazionale 2 Valencia 2

Saudi Arabia champions Al Ittihad have failed in a bid to sign 34-year-old Inter Milan midfielder Luis Figo.

Internazionale coach Roberto Mancini has poured cold water on speculation Luis Figo is poised to join Saudi Arabian side Al Ittihad.

Luis Figo is set to join Al Ittihad after the Saudi Arabian club’s team manager Hamad Al Sanie confirmed a deal has been agreed.

CRISTIANO RONALDO is working towards becoming the world’s best footballer.

Chelsea midfielder Claude Makelele will join up with France even if Blues boss Jose Mourinho forbids him to go.

Chelsea are to hold top-level talks with the French Football Federation to try and persuade the governing body Claude Makelele should be allowed to retire from international football.

AU revoir Zizou. Adeus Luis Figo, Roberto Carlos and maybe Ronaldo. Goodbye Claudio Reyna. Auf wiedersehen Oliver Kahn and ciao Alessandro Del Piero.

Luiz Felipe Scolari thanked Germany for staging a “fantastic” World Cup, despite seeing his side lose 3-1 to the host nation to miss out on a bronze medal.

Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann made way for long-time rival Oliver Kahn as Germany prepared to take on Portugal in the third-place play-off match in Stuttgart.

PORTUGAL coach Luiz Felipe Scolari admits trying to convince his players they can emulate the achievement of homeland Brazil four years ago is the biggest obstacle to them claiming a place in the World Cup final.

Portugal defender Miguel believes that the national side have their own answer to Zinedine Zidane in Luis Figo.

PORTUGAL goalkeeper Ricardo claimed he could tell which way the England players would shoot during the World Cup quarter-final penalty shoot-out by looking in their eyes.

Portugal goalkeeper Ricardo claimed he could “see in the eyes” of the England players which way they would shoot during the World Cup quarter-final penalty shoot-out in Gelsenkirchen.

HOLLAND manager Marco van Basten believes Portugal’s mastery of the dark arts of footballing deception was the reason behind Holland’s dramatic World Cup exit.

Luis Figo will be available to face England on Saturday after FIFA ruled out disciplinary action against the Portugal forward for his headbutt on Holland’s Mark van Bommel.

Portugal face an anxious wait to see if they will have Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Figo available to face England in Gelsenkirchen on Saturday.

Portugal 1 Holland 0

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