I almost called this column ‘lessons learned at the Web Summit’, but that would clearly be the wrong term: learnings or takeaways are far more appropriate terms.

Iceland 1 Portugal 1: It was meant to be all about Cristiano Ronaldo in St Etienne but a man nicknamed Thor stole his thunder as Iceland held Portugal to a 1-1 draw in Group F.

The battle for the FIFA presidency will be a two-horse race after Luis Figo joined Michael van Praag in withdrawing his candidacy today.

Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein has confirmed he will continue his bid to become the next FIFA president.

Apart from Sunday’s crunch game in Dublin, football fans might be forgiven a small yawn at this week’s European Championship qualifiers.

Sepp Blatter has rejected an invitation to take part in a live television debate involving all four candidates for the FIFA presidency.

Sepp Blatter has rejected an invitation to take part in a live television debate involving all four candidates for the Fifa presidency.

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.

The split between Uefa and Fifa president Sepp Blatter has widened after reports the world governing body watered down a report into reform proposals.

Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein has called on Sepp Blatter to participate in publicised debates in the lead up to FIFA’s presidential elections in May.

David Ginola has withdrawn from the FIFA presidential race after failing to gain the minimum five nominations.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

Legends from soccer, GAA and rugby have come out in support of a campaign to raise funds for a memorial for a footballer who was the first Irish man to play for Manchester United.

In Brazil he is Felipão; the world knows him as Big Phil.

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

Football superstar Lionel Messi and his father have appeared before a Spanish judge to answer questions in a multimillion-euro tax fraud case.

The €100 million man Gareth Bale joined fellow galacticos David Beckham, Luis Figo and Cristiano Ronaldo in scoring on his La Liga debut for Real Madrid on Saturday night, but was still upstaged by teammates Diego Lopez and Ronaldo — who looks keen to show he remains Madrid’s top dog.

Gareth Bale has passed his medical at Real Madrid and will get his first taste of life as a galactico this afternoon when he is presented at the Bernabeu.

Gareth Bale thanked Tottenham for making his dream world-record move to Real Madrid happen after the deal was finally agreed on Sunday night.

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.

What joy! What relief! With our eardrums fairly popping from the relentless cacophony of speculation surrounding the likes of Ronaldo, Bale, Rooney and Suarez, at long last we have a big-name Irish transfer story to get excited about.

Could this be the end of the great Barcelona team of Messi, Xavi andIniesta?

ON the face of it, there is little reason for optimism about English or Irish football after last week’s internationals.

Portugal 1 Northern Ireland 1

Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill hailed Cristiano Ronaldo as a "goal machine" ahead of tonight's World Cup qualifier against Portugal, then told his players they must find a way to stop him.

Former Portugal and Benfica striker Eusebio has been discharged from hospital after falling ill over the weekend.

Former Portugal and Benfica striker Eusebio is set to be released from a Polish hospital later this week after falling ill earlier this week.

Former Portugal and Benfica striker Eusebio has been taken to hospital in Poznan after falling ill last night.

On Saturday evening, it was as if Slaven Bilic knew something everyone else didn’t.

An arduous club season, no matter how successful, might not be the platform on which the national side can thrive

A is for Arshavin: The diminutive little playmaker lit up this tournament four years ago, tormenting a fine Dutch side and inspiring Russia to a place in the semi-finals.

PEP GUARDIOLA is an intellectual. He has mates in football. He is godfather, for example, to one of Luís Figo’s daughters.

Northern Ireland’s most capped player, Pat Jennings, is to be honoured by UEFA.

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.

CRISTIANO RONALDO has sought to play down talk of tonight’s El Clasico being merely a duel being him and ace Lionel Messi.

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.

REAL MADRID president Florentino Perez has no desire to sign “the second best player in the world” – which in his opinion is Barcelona’s Lionel Messi – or Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney this summer.

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

A TALENTED Westmeath teenager is hoping he can prove to be the ‘Chosen One’ for Jose Mourinho.

ALEX FERGUSON insists he will not be “stupid” with the £80 million (€94m) windfall he received for the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo.

Cristiano Ronaldo is poised to start life as a Real Madrid player next week after the Spanish giants finalised his world record transfer from Manchester United.