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Abdelhak Nouri’s brother has provided a positive update on the former Ajax player’s health, over two years on from the medical episode that tragically ended his career.

Nouri suffered cardiac arrhythmia during a pre-season game against Werder Bremen back in 2017, collapsing on the field before being rushed to hospital via an air ambulance. 

Doctors put him into an induced coma and he was left with serious and permanent brain damage. After the incident various tributes were played to the young talent, with Ajax dedicating their 34th Eredivisie title to him – the same number that the Dutchman wore for the club.

Nouri has been out of a coma since 2018 and now lives in purpose built accommodation surrounded by his family.

“It’s going well with Appie. He is awake, he sleeps, he eats, but he does not get out of bed,” his brother Abderrahim told Dutch talk show De Wereld Draait Door (via ​Foot Mercato).

“In the good times, there is a form of communication, he moves the eyebrows. He just can’t keep it long, it seems to be top sport for him.

“Appie knows where he is. It is good for him that he is in an environment familiar with his family. We talk to him, take him in conversations and watch football with him. We notice that he likes it. Sometimes it’s also emotional, but often there is a smile. It’s good for us.”

Nouri broke into the Ajax first team during the 2016/2017 season, making 15 appearances in all competition and playing alongside the likes of Davinson Sanchez, Hakim Ziyech and Matthijs de Ligt.

He also shared the field with Frenkie de Jong who provided a heart warming anecdote about a visit he paid to his friend prior to signing for ​Barcelona in the summer.

“At the time, I still didn’t know where to go. When his mother wrote to FC Barcelona, Appie said he agreed. He raised an eyebrow. It was a great time,” he revealed.

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​During the Premier League era, Chelsea have become one of the most successful clubs in the world.

They experienced cup success in the late 1990s before becoming a force in this current millennium, winning five Premier League titles and five FA Cups. No matter which manager was in charge, from Ruud Gullit to Maurizio Sarri, Chelsea have always managed to remain in contention and win major honours at the highest level.

Yet fans tend to remember those players who stepped up in the big moments. Those players who single-handedly won the cup for their team and did everything they could to bring silverware home.

With that being said, here are Chelsea’s seven most clutch, big-game players…

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Eden Hazard

The most recent club great, ​Eden Hazard was a talent who endeared himself to Blues fans for his displays at Stamford Bridge.

He came to London from Lille in 2012 and swiftly showed off his talent to create and score at any given moment ​Chelsea needed him to. For his displays in the Blues’ 2014/15 title-winning season, the Belgian won numerous Player of the Year awards and established himself as one of the best attacking talents in the world.

With six trophies under his belt, Hazard left Stamford Bridge for Real Madrid as a club great, finishing with 110 goals in 352 appearances.

Most Clutch Moment: Scoring twice and assisting another in the 2019 Europa League final victory over ​Arsenal.

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Branislav Ivanović

Few knew a lot about Branislav Ivanović when he arrived in 2008, but many at Stamford Bridge now remember him fondly – especially his knack for scoring crucial goals.

It took him some time to establish himself in Chelsea’s first team, but once that happened, Ivanović became a colossal figure in the Blues’ defence. The Serb was superb in the air and could be counted on to nab a late goal for his team.

Ivanović won ten trophies during his time at the club and made himself a ​Chelsea legend before departing in 2017.

Most Clutch Moment: Scoring a header in stoppage time to win the 2013 Europa League for Chelsea in their 2-1 final win over Benfica.

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Gianfranco Zola

Gianfranco Zola is largely viewed as one of the best foreign players to ever play in the Premier League.

The former Parma star arrived in November 1996 and had an immediate impact, helping the club win the 1997 FA Cup. That same year, he won the Football Writers’ Association Player of the Year award, despite having not played a full season at Stamford Bridge.

He helped the Blues win four more trophies and delighted the Chelsea faithful with an array of stunning goals and wonderful skill throughout, leaving in 2003 with a total of 80 goals in 312 games. Zola recently returned and was a coach under former manager Maurizio Sarri.

Most Clutch Moment: Coming on as a substitute and scoring the winning goal after 30 seconds in the 1998 Cup Winners’ Cup final against Stuttgart.

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Roberto di Matteo

It’s hard to argue with Roberto Di Matteo when he called the old Wembley Stadium “a very lucky ground for me.”

Following his arrival in 1996, the Italian instantly made a name for himself at Stamford Bridge. It would take him just 42 seconds to score from 30 yards to help Chelsea win the 1997 FA Cup – a record for the fastest goal in a FA Cup final until 2009.

He later scored in another cup final – this time in the 2-0 1998 League Cup final win against ​Middlesbrough. Di Matteo would help the club win three more trophies before retiring and later managed the Blues to Champions League glory in 2012.

Most Clutch Moment: Scoring the winning goal in the 2000 FA Cup final victory over Aston Villa.

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Frank Lampard

It’s hard not to bring up Frank Lampard’s contributions when discussing the success Chelsea have experienced in this millennium.

Joining from ​West Ham in 2001, he became one of the great English centre midfielders with a knack for scoring and creating for others when his team needed him to. It was his brace against Bolton that secured the 2004/05 Premier League title for the Blues and he won the Premier League Player of the Season award for his efforts.

Lampard went on to win the ​Premier League twice more, as well as four FA Cups and a Champions League title among many other honours. Now back at Stamford Bridge as manager, he will be hoping to lift more silverware in the years to come.

Most Clutch Moment: Scoring the winner in the 2009 FA Cup final against ​Everton.

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Didier Drogba

Joining Chelsea in 2004, Didier Drogba would go on to become a club legend.

In his first season, he scored in the Blues’ 3-2 extra-time win over ​Liverpool in the 2005 League Cup final. It would be the first of many trophies for the Ivorian, who contributed hugely with his goalscoring, with two Premier League Golden Boot accolades to his name.

With numerous cup-final winning goals, Drogba was one of the best world strikers in football, and they have struggled to replace him since his departure in 2012.

Most Clutch Moment: Scoring the equaliser and then the winning penalty in the 2012 Champions League final victory over ​Bayern Munich.

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Petr Čech

Arguably the finest goalkeeper to have played for Chelsea, Petr Čech established himself as an icon at Stamford Bridge by saving his team regularly.

He arrived in 2004 and quickly became the first-choice goalkeeper, keeping a clean sheet on debut against ​Manchester United. The Czech continued to set the goalkeeping standard and was voted UEFA’s Goalkeeper of the Year three times during his time at the Blues.

Čech was in goal during Chelsea’s successful league-winning campaigns, as well as their cup final successes, leaving with 15 medals in 2015. Together with Lampard, he will strive to bring more success to Stamford Bridge in his current role as an adviser to the Blues.

Most Clutch Moment: Saving a penalty in extra time and then two more in the subsequent penalty shootout as Chelsea beat Bayern Munich to win the 2011/12 ​Champions League.

The Tokyo 2020 Olympics has been postponed due to the coronavirus, a member of the International Olympic Committee has said. The games are now expected to move to 2021.

Dick Pound told ​USA Today: “On the basis of the information the IOC has, postponement has been decided.

“The parameters going forward have not been determined, but the Games are not going to start on 24 July, that much I know.”

The Olympics is a colossal fixture in the sporting calendar, and as a result, this announcement has big implications for football.

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The 2021/22 Football Season

This summer’s Olympics were due to overlap with the start of the 2020/21 Premier League season (should that still start in August as scheduled, coronavirus dependant)​.

However with the games expected to be pushed back until 2021, this will come into play for the following season instead.

This means Premier League squads will not be affected by having players missing due to their international Olympic duties for the upcoming season, with the impact instead spilling over to the 2021/22 season.

This could affect ​Liverpool in particular, with ​Mohamed Salah tipped to represent Egypt as one of their three over 23 players, while ​Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli will also be in contention for selection for Brazil.

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Olympic Football Age Parameters

The Olympic football rules dictate that the male Olympic football​ squads can comprise of only three players over the age of 23.

With the Olympics potentially moving to the following summer, that will now rule out a whole host of players who would have been illegible for this summer’s games.

Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz, who was named in ​Brazil’s squad for their pre-Olympic friendlies, will be over 23 should the Olympics be rearranged for next summer, as will Sao Paulo goalkeeper Lucas Perri, meaning the pair could now miss out on a shot at an Olympic medal.

While not as prestigious as the World Cup or Euros, the Olympics has a special place in the footballing calendar with Brazil, Mexico and Argentina the last three gold winners in the men’s tournament. USA have won three of the last four tournaments for the women.

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Hectic Competition Clash

Euro 2020 has been pushed back to 2021, and is currently on course to clash with the 2021 Club World Cup.

The Olympics are due to begin just 13 days after the conclusion of the ​European Championships – as they would have done anyway had neither been rearranged – but throw in the shiny new FIFA brainchild that is the revamped Club World Cup and any players involved in all three have a chocker block summer ahead of them.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino, however, has ​admitted will likely have to be moved to accommodate the Euros.

Figuring out next season’s schedules to accommodate all tournaments, domestic, continental and international, following this year’s disruption is going to be one heck of a headache.

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Women’s Euro 2021

The Women’s 2021 European Championships are due to kick off just as the men’s Euros draw to a close – on 7 July – and run through until 1 August, meaning they will directly clash with the Olympics.

Unlike in the men’s game, the Olympics is the pinnacle of women’s football, and there are no age restrictions, meaning numerous players involved in Euro 2021 will also be involved at the Olympics.

Holland and Sweden, in addition to any players called up to represent Team GB from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, will all be affected by this fixture clash.

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Phil Neville’s Team GB Squad

Much has been made of the selection headache Team GB boss Phil Neville is to face ahead of the Olympics. He has a smaller squad of just 18 to select, and a larger pool of players to choose from.

Neville now has another year to make his decision. This could open the door for Fran Kirby and Izzy Christiansen, who have both fallen out of international favour due to injury problems and would likely not have been selected for the 2020 Olympics.

The English pair, alongside Welsh midfielder Jess Fishlock, will now have another 12 months to get back to full fitness and stake a claim for their spot.

Similarly, for youngsters Alessia Russo, Grace Fisk​ and Chloe Kelly, who are currently on the cusp of the England senior squad, the Olympics may have come too soon for them this time around. With a 12 month delay, they could force their way into the first team.

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With the news cycle being what it is now, we need to start embracing the wholesome stories when they come along.

Forget Covid-19, Brexit and the overarching existential doom that surrounds everyday life in 2020; let’s talk about good guy Mathieu Flamini, and how he’s doing extraordinarily well for himself outside of football.

Plenty reports have suggested that former ​AC Milan and ​Arsenal star Flamini is now a billionaire owing to his business interests outside of football, and perhaps even the richest former pro alive. But while Thomas Gravesen sees his wealth as a ​point of pride, Flamini’s approach could not be more different.

So what’s the story? How has an understated ex-pro, who parted ways with Getafe in the summer with the humble dream of saving humanity from itself, gone on to get stinking rich?

And is he really a billionaire?

Let’s have a look.

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A Bit of Background

OK, so perhaps ‘understated’ was a bit harsh on a player who helped Arsenal to two FA Cups and was an important part of the last team not called Juventus to win Serie A.

In comparison to some of those he played with, however; the likes of Patrick Vieira and Cesc Fabregas at Arsenal, Ronaldinho and Andrea bloody Pirlo at Milan, it’s fair to say he was never really the centre of attention.

The French playmaker had a respected if not quite remarkable career, starting with Marseille before going on to have spells at the Gunners either side of a five-year stint in Italy. He wound down with a handful of appearances for ​Crystal Palace and then with Getafe in Spain, but while the stats would suggest he went out with a whimper, it was never about the football for Flamini towards the end.

Cast your mind back as far as 2008 when he first arrived at Max Allegri’s star-studded Milan side; he had other things on his mind even then. That’s when he founded GF Biochemicals with business partner Pasquale Granata, a venture he had long had designs on.

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So What’s He Up to Now?

Since founding GF, the company has steadily grown into one of the most respected in its field. It’s a ‘clean energy’ business, focused on producing alternatives to oil-based products to try and ease the current climate crisis that is coming ever-closer to setting the earth on fire (regardless of what Donald Trump will tell you).

An excerpt from the company’s ​mission statement reads: “Our founders worked closely with a group of bio-based chemical experts to find sustainable alternatives to oil-based products across a range of market sectors.

​”Together, they developed the production technology needed for this revolution in chemicals and biofuels.
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​”In partnership with the University of Pisa and the Polytechnic University of Milan, the technology’s potential was demonstrated by the Caserta plant which has been retrofitted with new conversion, recovery and purification technology.”

Aside from that, Flamini also ​launched eco-friendly skincare brand One Unity with former Arsenal team-mate Mesut Ozil in 2018. Essentially, he makes his money saving the planet.

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Saving the Planet

Flamini has always been big on using the platform he gained through football to help battle climate change; to him, financial gain has always been secondary to making a difference.

That’s a belief system he has subscribed to since growing up in the sleepy Mediterranean island of Corsica, according to an interview he did with ​The Telegraph in April.

“My family is from a very small village lost in the mountains in the middle of Corsica,” he said. “In the winter, it has only 80 people. When you come from such a place you are taught to live with nature. From an early age I’ve always felt connected to it.

“Living by the sea, growing up I got exposed to many of the world’s problems, like plastic in the sea. You could see we were not going in the right direction. So I decided to use my platform as an athlete to drive change.”

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Social Responsibility

He really drove home the importance of affecting social change when discussing Ozil, and his decision to resign from the German national team owing to ‘racism and disrespect.’

“We [footballers] have such massive reach on social media,” Flamini said. “We have a social responsibility. We have to use it to be able to drive change in a positive way, so why not stand up for the environment and equality? If Mesut, one of the top athletes in the world is facing discrimination, then it must be happening elsewhere.

“We really want to create a community, create a movement, create a voice. It’s not easy for many people to understand climate change or social equality, but most of the people following these athletes are the next generation, so it is our role to use our influence and to have a positive impact.

“We won’t necessarily change the world, but everyone can have an impact in their own community by doing small things. By adding them all together you can make big things happen.”

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How Rich Is He Really?

OK, so we’ve established that Flamini is an incredibly intelligent, switched-on guy with the planet’s best interests at heart. To tie it all together, let’s get to the point; how much is he actually worth these days?

In truth, no-one seems to know. A wild range of reports have suggested he could be worth anything from €14bn to €50bn after his ventures with GF topped up his football earnings.

Flamini, however, says these claims are wide of the mark.

“Well, it’s important to rectify things,” he told L’Equipe. “Contrary to what I read, I do not have €30bn in my bank account.

“In fact, that is the total value of the market we want to ‘attack’ with the new technologies we have developed in recent years.

“There was a misunderstanding. It’s as if we had given a single restaurant the value of the entire catering market in France.”

It’s not overly likely he is actually a multi-billionaire, or even a billionaire at all. A quick scoot around the old internet would suggest that GF Biochemicals employs only around 400 people, and it itself worth somewhere in the vague region of £20m to £30m – though it is growing rapidly.

His earnings as a player? Well, he wouldn’t have been short of a quid at Arsenal or Milan, but when he was at his peak in the early 2010s, only the exceptional players were earning north of €100k per week. He’s not likely to have been on that sort of salary for any extended period, while his sponsorships (for the most part a modest boot deal with Puma, as per ​Goal) would have hardly propelled him into the financial stratosphere.

Stack all that up against how much £1bn actually is (one thousand million pounds) and it’s hard to imagine he’s up there just yet.

Hopefully he gets there one day, however; if anyone deserves it, it’s him.

Move aside Jeff Bezos, there’s a new king in town.

​Juventus star Paulo Dybala has announced that he and his partner have tested positive for the coronavirus, but he insists that they are in ‘perfect condition’ despite the illness.

There has been plenty of confusion surrounding the 26-year-old’s wellbeing of late, after rumours swirled that he had been infected by the deadly virus last week. But the forward denied these claims, stating he was ‘fine and in voluntary isolation.’

However, Dybala released a statement via ​Twitter on Saturday evening, admitting that he and his partner Oriana have both contracted the coronavirus, but he assured his followers that they are both well.

“Hi everyone, I just wanted just to inform you that we have received the results for the Covid-19 test and both Oriana and I have tested positive,” the message read. “Luckily we are in perfect conditions. Thanks for your messages.”

​Dybala is not the first Juve player to be struck down by the coronavirus however, after a 2-0 victory over Inter on 8th March sparked chaos in Turin. News broke that Daniele Rugani had tested positive for the virus soon after their clash with I Nerazzurri, and Frenchman Blaise Matuidi was the next to be infected.

Subsequently, the players were ordered to remain in quarantine for 14 days, and told not to leave the house or make contact with anyone else.

But some of their stars have had difficulty obeying these rules, with South American duo ​Gonzalo Higuain and Douglas Costa both leaving Italy for the safety of their home countries – although in the former’s case, he has returned home to see his s

Italy has suffered terribly due to the fast-spreading coronavirus, and officials took the decision to stop all football after I Bianconeri beat Antonio Conte’s ​Inter earlier this month. The entire nation has been put into an enforced lockdown since then, in an attempt to reduce the number of new cases.

But the quantity of fatalities and newly-infected citizens shows no signs of slowing down, meaning the football calendar has been thrown into serious question. ​Juve were involved in a tense three-way title race with Lazio and I Nerazzurri, but the restart date for the campaign remains a mystery.

Borussia ​Dortmund fans have been left in limbo with a current lack of football. The last time they saw their club play was in a crushing defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, which spelled an end to any hopes of winning this season’s Champions League.

However, their league form currently sees them in second place as football takes a break due to the ongoing global effects of the coronavirus, which at least gives fans and players something to keep their focus on when football returns to action – if football ever returns to action…

A break in the season could actually benefit Dortmund at this point. It gives time for players and coaches to assess and fix the damage caused by the Champions League exit, and allows them to return the Bundesliga with one objective: Win the league title.

With that being said, here’s how things are looking around Borussia Dortmund currently, and how we think things will pan out for them, should this season’s campaign be completed.

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As it Stands

Currently, Dortmund sit second in the Bundesliga, four points off leaders and reigning champions Bayern Munich.

Before the Champions League exit, Dortmund ran out eventual 2-1 winners away at Borussia Monchengladbach; an important three points that kept Gladbach resigned to fourth place.

The win against the other Borussia took Dortmund to four league wins on the bounce. And while the whole squad is to thank for recent form, season-long standout Jadon Sancho and January signing Erling Braut Haaland have been key to Dortmund’s recent league consistency, which has seen them score plenty of goals.

Only Bayern Munich (73) have scored more league goals than Dortmund so far this season (68), which isn’t too bad a statistic when you consider that Bayern have Robert Lewandowski to rely on, who has netted 25 of those on his own.

With nine games to play, Dortmund have their most important run of fixtures all season. A final clash against Bayern Munich and a visit to RB Leipzig will ultimately decide the order of the top three in the Bundesliga this season. If head coach Lucien Favre can come away from those two games with a win, then they may well be in good stead to win their first Bundesliga since 2012 – providing they actually play these remaining fixtures, of course.

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Injury Status & Potential Returns

Currently, Favre’s Dortmund are in a good spot with their squad. The only unavailable players are Marco Reus, who suffered a muscle injury against Werder Bremen in February, and Thomas Delaney.

The Dortmund club captain, now 30, has had his entire career blighted by injuries, with many fearing that it could have been a case of ‘what could’ve been’. However, the forward is set to be fit by April, meaning he will be more than ready to return by the time the league resumes play.

Midfielder Delaney has been out since suffering an ankle injury on international duty in November last year. It is unclear when he is expected to make a return, but the suspension of play could work in his favour.

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Remaining Fixtures & Season Projection

At the time of the suspension of play due to the coronavirus outbreak, all Bundesliga sides apart from Frankfurt and Werder Bremen have played 25 games, leaving nine to play.

While Dortmund no longer have Champions League football to consider, their remaining nine fixtures aren’t the easiest. Matches against Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig will make or break their season, but before that they face games against Schalke and Wolfsburg, two sides who have been ones to watch in previous Bundesliga seasons.

Here’s what’s left of Dortmund’s season, and a prediction of how they’ll do in each fixture.

​Fixture	​Prediction
​Schalke (H)	​Draw
​Wolfsburg (A)	​Win
​Bayern Munich (H)	Draw
​Paderborn (A)	​Win
​Hertha BSC (H)	​Win
​Fortuna (A)	​Win
​Mainz (H)	​Win
​RB Leipzig (A)	​Draw
​Hoffenheim (H)	​Draw

Total Points Projection: 70

Predicted Finish: 2nd

A run of favourable fixtures against lower-table opposition will help Dortmund amid some tough clashes in the final stage of the Bundesliga season, but ultimately it won’t be enough to push them to winning the league title.

Dortmund’s return to action sees them straight into the Revierderby against Schalke, where they have failed to win since 2018. The last meeting was a draw, and before that a victory for Schalke. Despite Dortmund’s form and increased fire power, they will struggle to get back to business in winning ways.

Die Schwarzgelben do however have a good track record against Wolfsburg, which will be enough to guide them to victory. A tough contest with first place Bayern Munich will see points shared, which could cost Dortmund the Bundesliga.

Then comes the run of favourable fixtures; Favre’s side will ease to consecutive victories, before hitting another season defining game against third-placed RB Leipzig. Two evenly matched sides, both capable of playing excellent football, who know how high the stakes are. Ultimately, points will be shared once again, and Dortmund will slump to a draw against Hoffenheim in their final fixture.

Unbeaten in nine, but lacking conviction, Dortmund will ultimately surrender the Bundesliga to a Bayern Munich side who are so used to winning that it has become routine, despite a shaky season of their own.

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Player Contract Status

Lucien Favre currently has to worry about four contracts that are set to expire this summer; Lukasz Piszczek, Mario Gotze, Achraf Hakimi and Eric Oelschlagel.

While time is no longer on the side of 34-year-old right-back Piszczek, his experience and leadership qualities at the back are invaluable. Dortmund could yet sign him on for another year, but he would be a welcome addition at a whole host of clubs.

Achraf Hakimi has been on loan at BVB from Real Madrid for two seasons now, and the 21-year-old has enjoyed a successful stint in Germany.​ He has become a solid member of the Dortmund side, but could perhaps stick around for a third season if he wants continued, regular game time.

Keeper Oelschlagel has failed to make an impact at Dortmund, with Roman Burki occupying the number one spot, and looks likely to move on. The most interesting, and perhaps sad, situation is that of Mario Gotze.

Gotze returned to Dortmund in 2016 after failing to make an impact at Bayern Munich, but has since failed to make an impact on a regular basis. The tricky midfielder and World Cup winner, now 27, has managed just 13 Bundesliga appearances this season, and it looks like his time in black and yellow could be up.

Whoever can snatch Gotze ahead of next season will get themselves a bargain, providing they can keep him fit and playing regularly.

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Summer Transfer Plans

Dortmund’s summer transfer window could quite simply make or break them as a club at the top level for the next few years.

With English winger Jadon Sancho only improving with every game, it feels like his transfer away from the club is merely a formality at this point, with interest in the 19-year-old being rampant. The only thing Dortmund can do, is ensure they get the correct fee for the teenage dream and reinvest elsewhere.

Erling Braut Haaland only signed for Dortmund in January, but has once again hit the ground running with his attacking prowess. Like an early 2000s Brock Lesnar, Haaland has stormed onto the scene at the elite level and caught the attention of everyone with consistently electric performances in front of goal. But instead of taking people to ‘Suplex City’, he puts his focus on devastating opponents with goals scored.

His performances will only warrant elite level clubs to register interest in the Norwegian teen, and with his agent being the infamous Mino Raiola, the power is almost definitely out of Dortmund’s hands.

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Long-Term Targets

For Borussia Dortmund, their number one goal has to be winning the Bundesliga.

It’s been painfully long eight years for their fans, some of the best in world football might I add, and in that time Bayern Munich have swept up Bundesliga titles for fun.

For the first time since that 2013 squad, it feels like Dortmund are finally building an empire of their own again. If they can hold onto key players and perhaps add a few more, then now is the time to dethrone the beasts of Bavaria.​

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​Imagine being so good at football that you break the transfer world record not once, but twice.

Only two players have ever done. The first? Diego Maradona. And the second? Ronaldo. Not the sociopathic Portuguese imitator. No, the original Ronaldo. 

Ronaldo the teenage sensation. Ronaldo the legendary goal scorer and sadly, Ronaldo the injury prone genius.

Picking just five moments from his illustrious career was not an easy task but we’ve given it a go anyway. So… sit back, relax and prepare to revel in the warm splendour of a bonafide footballing deity.

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Ridiculous Season at Camp Nou

​Ronaldo’s one season stay at Barcelona has been canonised in footballing folklore.

This was El Fenomeno at his pinnacle. Lean, powerful and technically effortless, the Brazilian glided past ​La Liga defenders all season long, finishing with a scarcely believable 47 goals in all competitions.

Although he would go on to achieve many other feats in his career, it would never be quite as good as that spell in the Catalonian sun. Those wanting to understand what all the fuss is about with Ronaldo should use this as a vantage point into his brilliance.

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World Cup Redemption

​The day of the 1998 World Cup final, Ronaldo suffered some sort of medical episode – the precise details of which retain the interest of conspiracy theorists everywhere.

Whatever happened, it affected Brazil’s star man’s performance as France breezed to a 3-0 victory.

Four years later, Ronaldo would return to the greatest stage of them all with avengeance. He scored eight goals – including two in the final against Germany – to help clinch Selecao their fifth World Cup.

And, he did it all while sporting the worst haircut in footballing history. Huge respect to Ronaldo’s barber for getting himself paid for that monstrosity.

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Real Madrid Debut

The first game for your new club can be nerve wracking. Just ask Robbie Keane, he’s experienced it countless times.

However, Ronaldo’s ​Real Madrid debut did not seem to faze him whatsoever. Introduced as a substitute in the 64th minute against Alaves, the Brazilian received a thunderous reaction from those in attendance at Santiago Bernabeu.

Just one minute later, he had peeled off his man, chested a cross down and lashed the ball into the back of the net. Not a bad start that.

There was more to come as well. Making a run down the left hand side, Ronaldo was set free by Steve McManaman and the Brazilian made no mistake, sliding the ball into the bottom corner. A debut brace and the first of many goals for Los Blancos.

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Old Trafford Hat Trick

​You have to be bloody good at football to score a hat trick at Old Trafford. You have to even better to do it as a visiting player and you have to be a bonafide footballing freak to do it in the Champions League quarter final.

Step forward said freak, Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima.

Goal number one: the ball was bobbling but no bother – he still managed to lash it in from outside the box.

Goal number two: a poacher’s tap in from eight yards out.

Goal number three: a 25-yard screamer.

Ronaldo received a standing ovation when he was substituted and rightly so. On that night the world was his, we were just living in it.

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Perfect Send-Off At Corinthians

​The final act of Ronaldo’s complex and meandering career was to help Corinthians – previously home to Brazilian legends ​Socrates and Rivellino – win the Sao Paulo state championships in 2009.

He scored 10 goals in 14 games en route to the title, proving that the magic he possessed earlier in his footballing life was still bubbling away.

Eventually, injuries got the better of him and he announced his retirement from the game in 2011.

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Top 50 Greatest Footballers of All Time’ can be found here.

Number 50: Luka Modric

Number 49: John Charles

Number 48: Hugo Sanchez

Number 47: Jairzinho

Number 46: Omar Sivori

Number 45: Paolo Rossi

Number 44: Paul Breitner

Number 43: George Weah

Number 42: Kaka

Number 41: Lev Yashin

Number 40: Gunnar Nordahl

Number 39: Kevin Keegan

Number 38: Hristo Stoichkov

Number 37: Gianluigi Buffon

Number 36: Johan Neeskens

Number 35: Xavi Hernandez

Number 34: Luis Suarez

Number 33: Karl-Heinz Rummenigge

Number 32: Andres Iniesta

Number 31: Rivelino

Number 30: Bobby Moore

Number 29: Socrates

Number 28: Sandor Kocsis

Number 27: Lothar Matthaus

Number 26: Ronaldinho

Number 25: Ruud Gullit

Number 24: Bobby Charlton

Number 23: Giuseppe Meazza

Number 22: Raymond Kopa

Number 21: Romario

Number 20: Eusebio

Number 19: Marco van Basten

Number 18: George Best

Number 17: Zico

Number 16: Franco Baresi

Number 15: Cristiano Ronaldo

Number 14: Ferenc Puskas

Number 13: Paolo Maldini

Number 12: Gerd Müller

Number 11: Mané Garrincha

Number 10: Alfredo Di Stefano

Number 9: Roberto Baggio

Number 8: ​Michel Platini

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Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville has announced that his two Manchester hotels will be made available free of charge to NHS workers.

With the coronavirus continuing to spread, a series of drastic measures have already been taken. Chelsea confirmed on Wednesday that they had made the club’s Millennium Hotel at Stamford Bridge available for NHS staff to stay at free of charge, as they looked to provide support. 

Sky Sports pundit Neville has now announced similar plans, explaining that the two hotels he part-owns with former ​Manchester United teammate Ryan Giggs in Manchester will be open to health workers free of charge – starting Friday. 

Neville said in a ​video posted on social media: “Over the last week we have been in consultation with the health services in the Greater Manchester area, in particular the Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust.

“Our 176 beds will be occupied by National Health Service workers and medical professionals from Friday onwards. It’s at this time that I think the whole of our industry needs to show solidarity, not just for our staff in these uncertain times but obviously for those who need the accommodation most in the coming months.

“It’s something we’re delighted to have come into agreement with. It will operate free of charge and our staff will operate the hotels as normal. The health workers will be able to stay there without any cost whatsoever in these next few months when they need isolation away from family members who may be affected by what’s going on.

“Stay safe and we wish everybody all the best.” 

During this time of great difficulty, it is a thoughtful gesture from Neville and his partners. The Stock Exchange Hotel is located in the city centre, while Hotel Football is at Old Trafford, and the 176 available beds will aid NHS and other medical staff as they continue to work tirelessly during this pandemic. 

Everton’s rich history of success over the years has been in no small part helped by their tradition of brilliant number nines.

With Dominic Calvert-Lewin now donning the number – one that has had its reputation damaged in recent times – Everton fans will hope that the young striker can restore some of the prestige to the coveted shirt, in a time of improvement under new management and ownership.

​Here’s a look at some of the names that made that number nine shirt so special in the first place.

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Duncan Ferguson

Initially a loan signing from Rangers during of the 1994/95 season in a difficult period for Everton, Duncan Ferguson made an immediate impact, and would eventually sign for £4.4m.

The Scotsman scored the first goal in a 2-0 win over Liverpool on his full debut for the Toffees, which kick-started a three-game winning streak. His form would guide Everton to Premier League safety and an FA Cup semi-final, but injuries (and a prison sentence) would disrupt his second season with the club. And while he would recover his form over the coming seasons, Ferguson would ultimately sign for Newcastle in 1998, with then-Chairman Peter Johnson selling him without informing manager Walter Smith.

Ferguson, who had already become a cult hero among Everton fans thanks to his do-or-die attitude, returned to the club in 2000. And while his second spell proved that he was perhaps past his best, Ferguson had already cemented his legacy as a bright spark in one of Everton’s darkest periods throughout the 90s.

Erratic, aggressive and a lover of sweatbands, ‘Big Dunc’ currently serves as Everton assistant manager and is by far one of the biggest characters to ever grace their number 9 shirt, even with nine red cards and a three-month prison sentence to his name.

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Bob Latchford

From one of Everton’s darker periods, to one of their brightest. Forward Bob Latchford was an ever-present and a constant goalscorer for Everton throughout the 1970s, bagging 138 goals in 268 appearances.

With an ability to score goals but also to create chances for teammates, Latchford was technically sound, speedy and was widely regarded as one of England’s greatest strikers of his generation.

He was the club’s top goalscorer for four consecutive seasons , from 1975 to 1978. Despite this record, Latchford only managed a League Cup runners-up medal with Everton, his only piece of silverware with the club.

Unfortunate to miss out on the success in the 1980s that would come to the club, his legacy as number nine cannot be forgotten.

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Graeme Sharp

While Bob Latchford was Everton’s talisman through the 70s, the reigns were handed over to Graeme Sharp in the following decade.

Signing in 1980, Sharp initially struggled for a spot in the side during his first season in Merseyside, but found his feet in his second season, netting 15 goals in 29 league appearances.

This was the start of an electric nine years with the Toffees, as Sharp’s goals were key to a decade filled with silverware. Winning two First Division titles, an FA Cup and the European Cup Winners Cup, Sharp was instrumental and found success playing alongside the likes of Gary Lineker, Andy Gray and Adrian Heath.

With 160 goals in 447 appearances, Sharp currently holds the record for Everton’s top goalscorer in post-war times, surpassing Bob Latchford.

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Joe Royle

Until the debut of James Vaughan in 2005, Joe Royle was the youngest player to ever make their senior debut for Everton, when he came on as a substitute against Blackpool in 1966 aged just 16 years old.

A young Royle had a tough time winning over the Evertonians at first, but his ruthless goal scoring, combined with a concrete mentality, saw him earn his stripes and carve his name into the team sheet. He went on to be the club’s top scorer for five consecutive seasons throughout the late 1960s, and netted 23 times in the league as Everton won the First Division in the 1969/70 season.

As Everton manager, Royle was responsible for signing Duncan Ferguson and kept the Toffees in the Premier League during a difficult spell in the mid-90s, even winning the FA Cup in 1995.

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Kevin Campbell

Everton manager Walter Smith was desperate to keep the club in the top flight in 1999, but their fate was almost sealed. Struggling for funds and desperate for a new lease of life, he brought in former ​Arsenal striker Kevin Campbell on a loan deal from Trabzonspor that March, to the surprise of many.

Eight games and nine goals later however, Everton were safe – all thanks to Campbell.

The forward went on to sign permanently with the Toffees, and remained a reliable goalscorer over a number of seasons despite injury troubles.

With 83 Premier League goals, no Englishman has scored more top flight goals without earning an England cap.

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Tony Cottee

One way to get yourself over with the fans – as they say in the land of pro wrestling – is to show your affection for your new club, and appreciate those that pay your wages. Another way is to bag a hat-trick on your debut. Striker Tony Cottee opted for the latter, bagging three against Newcastle, after signing for a record £2.2m in 1988.

Cottee arrived in an uncertain time for the Toffees; the 1980s had seen one of their most successful decades ever. The 90s however proved an entirely different struggle, with the club constantly facing the unthinkable prospect of relegation from the top flight.

Cottee managed 99 goals in all competitions during his six-year stay with the Toffees, and 16 goals in his final season was pivotal to them avoiding relegation.

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Tommy Lawton

Football during wartime is a fascinating topic, to say the least.

Tommy Lawton is a prime example of a footballing career hindered by the outbreak of war, but will forever be an icon of that generation. Aged 17, he signed for Everton in a deal that also secured his grandfather a job as deputy groundsman at Goodison Park. Everton fans positioned Lawton as the heir to the throne which was at the time occupied by Dixie Dean.

While Dean promised to teach Lawton everything he knew, the pair managed to play together for a short while in the 1936/37 campaign. The following season, however, Lawton would oust Dean for the starting role and bagged 28 goals in 38 games. He would go one better in the 1938/39 season and score a staggering 34 goals in 38 games as Everton were crowned First Division champions.

World War II forced Lawton into service while playing for Everton and England was put on ice. With 65 league goals in 85 appearances, who knows what Tommy Lawton could’ve achieved as Everton number nine if the war hadn’t interrupted his best years.

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Dixie Dean

Before Tommy Lawton and World War II was Dixie Dean, Everton’s greatest football player ever.

Still holding the record for the club’s all-time top goalscorer, Bill ‘Dixie’ Dean forged a legacy during his 12 years with Everton, where he netted 383 goals for the club.

Born in Birkenhead, Dean began his career with Tranmere Rovers before signing for the Toffees in 1925, for a fee of £3,000. He became Everton’s first ever number nine, scoring 32 goals in his first season. That goal feat is nothing however when you compare it to his 1927/28 campaign, where Dean scored a record 60 league goals in one season, helping Everton win the First Division title. Dean further cemented his legend status at the club when he stayed with Everton after their relegation to the Second Division in 1930.

Unfortunately, Dean passed away in 1980, but his legacy will forever live on. In a time when we are blessed with watching footballers as good as Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, neither of them have managed to eclipse his record of 60 league goals in a season.

A statue of Dean stands outside Goodison Park, in memory of the greatest number nine in Everton, and perhaps even football history.

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