Cristiano Ronaldo makes a big difference for Portugal. When an ankle injury kept him out of Portugal's first two European Championship qualifying games, the team drew at home against Cyprus and lost to Norway. When the captain returned, Portugal racked up a five-game winning streak that put them back in contention.

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are locked in a personal duel for European scoring records that is carrying Barcelona and Real Madrid towards a tantalizing finale in the fight for the Spanish league title.

Nine-time champions Real Madrid qualified for the Champions League semi-finals here on Wednesday, beating APOEL Nicosia 5-2 in their quarter-final second-leg clash and by 8-2 on aggregate.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as Real Madrid marked Jose Mourinho's 100th match in charge by opening up a 13-point lead with a 3-2 win over Real Betis on Saturday, their 11th victory in succession.

FIFA General Secretary Jerome Valcke has postponed a visit to 2014 World Cup host nation Brazil, scheduled for next week, football's world governing body confirmed in a statement on Friday.

Legendary Brazilian striker Ronaldo admitted on Wednesday that FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke was right to highlight the problems plaguing organisers of the 2014 World Cup in the country.

World Cup organising committee members Ronaldo and Bebeto visited the construction site at Maracana Stadium to help promote workers' safety.

World soccer stars of yesteryears such as Ruud Gullit, Ronaldo, Paolo Maldini and Rene Higuita will take on Indian celebrities in an exhibition match in January to raise funds for the earthquake-ravaged Sikkim.

Holder Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Xavi were on Monday named on the final three-man shortlist for the 2011 FIFA Ballon d'Or award, which will be presented at a ceremony in Zurich on January 9.

Global football icon Ronaldo was on Thursday officially unveiled as the ambassador for the organising committee of the 2014 World Cup, to be hosted by his native Brazil.