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Cristiano Ronaldo led the celebrations, aggravated knee suddenly alleviated, collecting the trophy and dancing a little jig towards teammates.
He had guided them, too, to King Salman Club Cup success, the title as much Ronaldo’s as it was Al Nassr’s. Just as he had done throughout the tournament, the Portuguese pulled back his side from the brink in the Saturday’s showpiece, levelling the Riyadh derby with Al Hilal and then deciding it. It was a captain’s contribution.
But, then again, Ronaldo had given as much across two weeks in the mountains to the south of Jeddah. He struck the goal that took Nassr through to the knockouts, then the winner in the semi-final. Ultimately, he grabbed both goals in the 2-1 comeback victory against Hilal in the final in Taif.
Consistently stepping up for his team, Ronaldo concluded the competition as top scorer, striking six times in his final five matches.
Little wonder the cameras at the Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium caught Ronaldo’s reaction, the disbelief clear on his face, when Sergej Milinkovic-Savic was announced as player of the tournament. The Hilal midfielder had two goals in all, and a runners'-up medal to boot.
Ronaldo, 38, knows how that feels. He took silver in his debut half-season in the kingdom when, despite an admirable 14 goals in 16 Saudi Pro League appearances, he could not prevent Nassr from finishing second.
The nine-time champions topped the league by the time Ronaldo debuted, amid the spotlight and the splendour, in January.
But Al Ittihad proved too strong, triumphed in the top-of-the-table clash in March and, from there, never relented. Ronaldo, recruited for a king’s ransom, could not drag Nassr over the line.
Ronaldo leads Al Nassr to King Salman Cup triumph
The feeling was, as disappointing as the 2022/23 campaign ended, that Ronaldo would have help in making amends in the next. As Saudi football set about staking its flag in football’s turf, Nassr brought in Inter Milan’s Marcelo Brozovic, Lens captain Seko Fofana, Manchester United left-back Alex Telles and, most recently, Sadio Mane, the reigning African player of the year.
Yes, others have strengthened significantly, in particular the three fellow Public Investment Fund stablemates: Hilal, Ittihad and Al Ahli.
However, Ronaldo will once more be expected to head Nassr’s charge towards a first top-flight title since 2019. Even now, when the legs don’t carry him as quickly, or past as many opponents, he remains the peacock in the pack.
His career to this point has certified that. Speaking in June, Ronaldo conceded in an interview with the league that “I expected to win something this year, but we didn’t. Next year I’m really positive and confident that things will change”.
It began to change on Saturday. Still, irrespective of his trophy-winning display, Ronaldo will realise he will be judged this season on what he achieves in the league. Nassr kick-start their quest for title No 10 on Monday, when they take on Al Ettifaq in Dammam.
Seventh last season, Ettifaq have been embellished this summer also, with Steven Gerrard as manager, Jordan Henderson the captain, and Moussa Dembele their spearhead.
If Ronaldo recuperates in time from that knee issue, he will no doubt be again leading his team at the Prince Mohammed bin Fahd Stadium, keen to lay down another marker of his still-there might.
WISH
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Fines for littering
In Dubai:
Dh200 for littering or spitting in the Dubai Metro
Dh500 for throwing cigarette butts or chewing gum on the floor, or littering from a vehicle.
Dh1,000 for littering on a beach, spitting in public places, throwing a cigarette butt from a vehicle
In Sharjah and other emirates
Dh500 for littering - including cigarette butts and chewing gum - in public places and beaches in Sharjah
Dh2,000 for littering in Sharjah deserts
Dh500 for littering from a vehicle in Ras Al Khaimah
Dh1,000 for littering from a car in Abu Dhabi
Dh1,000 to Dh100,000 for dumping waste in residential or public areas in Al Ain
Dh10,000 for littering at Ajman's beaches
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
India squads
T20: Rohit Sharma (c), Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Sanju Samson, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Rishabh Pant, Washington Sundar, Krunal Pandya, Yuzvendra Chahal, Rahul Chahar, Deepak Chahar, Khaleel Ahmed, Shivam Dube, Shardul Thakur
Test: Virat Kohli (c), Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Tottenham v Ajax, Tuesday, 11pm (UAE).
Second leg
Ajax v Tottenham, Wednesday, May 8, 11pm
Games on BeIN Sports
MATCH INFO
France 3
Umtiti (8'), Griezmann (29' pen), Dembele (63')
Italy 1
Bonucci (36')
Last 10 NBA champions
2017: Golden State bt Cleveland 4-1
2016: Cleveland bt Golden State 4-3
2015: Golden State bt Cleveland 4-2
2014: San Antonio bt Miami 4-1
2013: Miami bt San Antonio 4-3
2012: Miami bt Oklahoma City 4-1
2011: Dallas bt Miami 4-2
2010: Los Angeles Lakers bt Boston 4-3
2009: Los Angeles Lakers bt Orlando 4-1
2008: Boston bt Los Angeles Lakers 4-2
more from Janine di Giovanni
Business Insights
- As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses.
- SMEs with revenue below Dh3 million per annum can opt for transitional relief until 2026, treating them as having no taxable income.
- Larger entities have specific provisions for asset and liability movements, business restructuring, and handling foreign permanent establishments.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 258hp from 5,000-6,500rpm
Torque: 400Nm from 1,550-4,000rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.1L/100km
Price: from Dh362,500
On sale: now
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
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MATCH INFO
What: 2006 World Cup quarter-final
When: July 1
Where: Gelsenkirchen Stadium, Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Result:
England 0 Portugal 0
(Portugal win 3-1 on penalties)
BABYLON
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Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
FA Cup quarter-final draw
The matches will be played across the weekend of 21 and 22 March
Sheffield United v Arsenal
Newcastle v Manchester City
Norwich v Derby/Manchester United
Leicester City v Chelsea
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
RESULTS
2pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (Dirt) 1,200m
Winner: Najem Al Rwasi, Fabrice Veron (jockey), Ahmed Al Shemaili (trainer)
2.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Fandim, Fernando Jara, Majed Al Jahouri
3pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m
Winner: Harbh, Pat Cosgrave, Ahmed Al Mehairbi
3.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m
Winner: Wakeel W’Rsan, Richard Mullen, Jaci Wickham
4pm: Crown Prince of Sharjah Cup Prestige (PA) Dh200,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Jawaal, Fernando Jara, Majed Al Jahouri
4.30pm: Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cup (TB) Dh200,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Tailor’s Row, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer
Tips from the expert
Dobromir Radichkov, chief data officer at dubizzle and Bayut, offers a few tips for UAE residents looking to earn some cash from pre-loved items.
- Sellers should focus on providing high-quality used goods at attractive prices to buyers.
- It’s important to use clear and appealing photos, with catchy titles and detailed descriptions to capture the attention of prospective buyers.
- Try to advertise a realistic price to attract buyers looking for good deals, especially in the current environment where consumers are significantly more price-sensitive.
- Be creative and look around your home for valuable items that you no longer need but might be useful to others.
