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      Pele, 82, ‘will spend Christmas in hospital’ after his cancer worsens as daughter asks fans to ‘pray’ for legend

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      PELE will spend Christmas in hospital as his cancer worsens, according to reports.His daughter pleaded for fans to pray for the three-time World Cup winner’s health during this troubling time.
      Pele is currently receiving treatment at a hospital in Sao PauloCredit: Refer to Caption
      The Brazilian football legend, 82, has been suffering with colon cancer since September 2021.
      He was readmitted into hospital in November for treatment on a respiratory infection aggravated by Covid-19.
      And an update from the Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo on Wednesday evening confirmed the icon is still under the watchful eye of nurses and doctors.
      Now, as reported by Sky News, he is not expected to be released before Christmas Day on Sunday.
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      The latest statement from medics said: “Admitted since November 29 for a reassessment of chemotherapy therapy for colon tumour and treatment of a respiratory infection, Edson Arantes do Nascimento [Pele] presents progression of the oncological disease and requires greater care related to renal and cardiac dysfunctions.
      “The patient remains hospitalised in a common room, under the necessary care of the medical team.”
      Pele’s daughter begged fans to rally round the all-time great.
      Kely Nascimento wrote on Instagram: “Your love for him, your stories and your prayers are a HUGE comfort because we know we are not alone.
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      “Let’s turn this room into a Sambadrome (just kidding), let’s even make caipirinhas (not kidding!!).”
      There was widespread support for Pele on display during the World Cup with Brazil’s players and fans revealing banners and images of their greatest star.
      And despite being in hospital the legendary striker revealed he was “rooting” for the Samba Boys before their last-16 clash against South Korea.
      In an earlier social media post, Pele added: “My friends, I want to keep everyone calm and positive.
      “I’m strong, with a lot of hope and I follow my treatment as usual.
      “I want to thank the entire medical and nursing team for all the care I have received.
      “I have a lot of faith in God and every message of love I receive from you all over the world keeps me full of energy. And watch Brazil in the World Cup too!
      “Thank you so much for everything.”
      Pele won his record three World Cups in 1958, 1962 and 1970Credit: Getty More

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      Tottenham 1 Nice 1: Doherty scores as Kane is rested for final friendly before Premier League return against Brentford

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      HARRY KANE was given some extra rest – as close pal Matt Doherty kept up his friendly hot streak against Nice’s familiar faces.Striker Kane, 29, returned to Spurs training on Monday after a week’s holiday which followed England’s World Cup campaign that ended with his penalty agony.
      Matt Doherty was on the scoresheet for TottenhamCredit: Reuters
      Harry Kane was rested following his return from the World CupCredit: PA
      Son Heung-Min made his playing return for Spurs in the matchCredit: Getty
      Ross Barkley was among the former Premier League stars on the Nice sideCredit: Getty
      The Three Lions went out at the quarter-final stage, losing to eventual finalists France but it was particularly tough on captain Kane as he ballooned a second-half spot-kick over the bar.
      He was allowed to put his feet up here, having started every match in Qatar.
      Whereas England team-mate Eric Dier, who only played a few minutes at the World Cup, came on as a sub against a Nice side boasting a number of ex-Premier League stars.
      Kasper Schmeichel, Ross Barkley, Joe Bryan and Nicolas Pepe – on loan from Arsenal – were playing in black and red, though there was no Aaron Ramsey.
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      Former Chelsea and Everton man Barkley drew a smart early stop from Fraser Forster.
      While Pepe received some pantomime booing for his connection to Tottenham’s arch-rivals.
      Doherty has netted three goals in two exhibitions at the club’s training ground, bagging a brace against Motherwell and another versus Peterborough’s Under-21s.
      The Irishman broke the deadlock here too, crashing in at Schmeichel’s near post after being teed up by Dejan Kulusevski.
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      Doherty, 30, struggled for regular game time in the period before the World Cup as he battled back from a serious knee injury.
      He has put in the hard yards during the mini ‘pre-season’ over the last six weeks, claiming the physical work Antonio Conte has put those left behind through has been even more gruelling than what they faced in actual pre-season.
      The ex-Wolves wing-back said: “I can’t really explain the training any other way than it has just been tough. It has been like pre-season all over again. It feels like it has almost been worse this time around, mind.”
      The hard work certainly seemed to be paying off for him here.
      Though Nice, bossed by Lucian Favre who once turned down Crystal Palace, levelled early in the second half through Antoine Mendy.
      Former Bayern Munich defender Dante, 39, headed a corner against Doherty, allowing the ball to rebound to Mendy who found the net from 12 yards.
      World Cup participants Dier, Ben Davies and Son Heung-min all came on after the break to warm applause from the 8,000 Spurs fans attending.
      In the end, a winner could not be found, but it was still a decent workout before the stuff that matters starts up again at Brentford on Boxing Day. More

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      Brazil star Raphinha and pregnant fiancee stranded for three hours inside plane and have two bags of luggage lost

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      RAPHINHA and his pregnant fiancee Natalia Belloli were left stranded inside a plane for three hours.The Brazil star was trying to get back to Barcelona from his homeland via Lisbon, Portugal.
      Raphinia has announced that he and his fiancee Natalia Belloli are having a babyCredit: INSTAGRAM
      They posted a picture of the two of them along with the ultrasound of their babyCredit: INSTAGRAM
      And they even got their dog involved in the announcementCredit: INSTAGRAM
      Raphinia had been on a break following Brazil’s exit from the World Cup at the hands of Croatia.
      However, due to travel delays, he will now be late arriving back for training with the La Liga side.
      Raphinia revealed that the delays on his TAP Air Portugal flight occurred because of some lost luggage on Instagram.
      The former Leeds star posted on a story: “I would like to thank TAP for leaving us on the plane for more than an hour.
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      “And now they inform us that we are going to be sitting on the plane for another hour without being able to get out, so it’s been two hours on a stopped plane.
      “Detail: many people had a layover and could not have lunch, I’m one of those people, and they said they’re not going to give us lunch or anything.
      “What a beautiful lack of respect on TAP.
      “Thank you, TAP once again, besides delaying a flight for three hours (sitting inside the plane). They managed to lose two bags.”
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      To make matters worse for the footballer, he was travelling with his fiance, who they have just announced is pregnant.
      He posted the announcement on Instagram alongside the message: “Realization of another dream in our life”.
      He joined Barcelona in the summer and has played 13 times for the club in La Liga, scoring two goals and assisting two more. More

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      Man Utd name five World Cup stars in starting XI to face Burnley including Rashford and draft in emergency centre-back

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      MANCHESTER UNITED have named five of their World Cup stars in their EFL Cup starting eleven.Manager Erik ten Hag has recalled Marcus Rashford, Christian Eriksen, Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes and Tyrell Malacia to take on Championship side Burnley in the round of 16 tie.
      Marcus Rashford is back after his World Cup with EnglandCredit: PA
      Casemiro has been picked to play at centre-back for Manchester UnitedCredit: Reuters

      One shock for the Red Devils team was that midfielder Casemiro was picked to play as an emergency centre-back.
      This is despite England star Harry Maguire being back at the club, but he did not make the squad.
      He was left out of the team by Ten Hag due to illness.
      The manager explained he took the decision to play Casemiro in defence because he has played there before.
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      He told MUTV: “We chose Case. He has played more often in this position.
      “Luke Shaw has also offered, which is good because they want to play, they are hungry.
      “Rhys Bennett did very well against Everton [in a friendly]. We have options, but it will be Casemiro.”
      Maguire enjoyed a good World Cup campaign as he was one of the Three Lions best players at the tournament.
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      Other defenders Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane are still not back at the club after they made it all the way to the World Cup final.
      It is the first game for the side without Cristiano Ronaldo since his contract was mutually terminated following his interview with Piers Morgan.
      The club wrote a blunt 81-word goodbye to the attacker in the matchday programme.
      Full Man United line-up is as follows: Dubravka, Wan-Bissaka, McTominay, Lindelof, Malacia, Casemiro, Eriksen, Rashford, Fernandes, Garnacho and Martial.
      The move for Casemiro to go at the back worked and United won the tie 2-0.
      Eriksen and Rashford were on target as the side cemented their spot in the quarter-final. More

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      Emiliano Martinez branded ‘biggest son of a b**** in football’ by former France star and Pamela Anderson’s ex Adil Rami

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      ADIL RAMI has slammed Argentina’s World Cup-winning goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez after he taunted Kylian Mbappe.Martinez has openly mocked the France star, having held a minute’s silence for the “dead” Mbappe during the team’s celebrations in the changing rooms after the World Cup final.
      Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez has been slammed by former France international Adil RamiCredit: Getty
      The defender has called Martinez ‘the most hated man’Credit: Getty – Contributor
      Martinez taunted Kylian Mbappe by holding baby doll with his face during Argentina’s open top bus celebrationsCredit: @ESPNFC
      The goalkeeper also mocked the attacker by clutching a baby doll with his face on it during the bus parade in Buenos Aires.
      The Aston Villa goalkeeper was also criticised for his antics during the penalty shootout in the final and labelled a “s***house”.
      But former World Cup winner and France defender Rami has had enough of Martinez as he took to social media.
      He said on an Instagram story: “The biggest son of a bitch in football.
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      “The most hated man.”
      The current Troyes player then suggested that Martinez should not have won the Golden Glove award.
      Rami, who is the ex-fiance of Pamela Anderson, instead believes the best goalkeeper at the World Cup was Morocco’s Yassine Bounou.
      In his last post, he insisted that Mbappe has left his opponents “traumatised” with his performances.
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      The PSG star put the ball past Martinez four times in the final.
      Mbappe scored a hat-trick in the game before converting from the spot in the shootout.
      Overall, the Frenchman took three penalties against the Argentine in the game, coming out on top each time.
      Mbappe fired past Martinez four times during the World Cup finalCredit: EPA More

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      How lucky ribbon tied around Lionel Messi’s leg given to him by emotional reporter inspired Argentina to win World Cup

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      LIONEL MESSI wore a lucky ribbon as he helped inspire Argentina to a third World Cup win.The superstar was given a red ribbon by a reporter following Argentina’s 1-1 draw with Iceland at the 2018 World Cup.

      Lionel Messi was given a good luck ribbon in 2018
      Eagle-eyed fans spotted Messi wearing the ribbon as he won the World Cup
      Messi wore the ribbon above his trusty left foot
      The journalist explained that his mother gave him the ribbon, which he carried for good luck.
      Messi wore the ribbon for the next group game against Nigeria, a 2-1 win, much to the delight of the reporter who pointed to the sky and became emotional at the gesture.
      Now eagle-eyed fans have spotted the ribbon on Messi’s left ankle as he celebrated winning the Qatar World Cup.
      A photo shows Messi posing with the World Cup trophy alongside Enzo Fernandez with the ribbon sitting above his foot.
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      The means the PSG star has likely worn the ribbon for the past four-and-a-half years.
      And in that time Messi has not only won the World Cup with Argentina, but also the 2021 Copa America.
      Several fans had an emotional reaction to Messi accepting the reporter’s request.
      One said: “Brought a tear to my eye. How someone can be both humble and great in equal measures Is truly beautiful 🥲.”
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      Another added: “There isn’t anyone like him in any sporting arena… simply the best! 👌
      And a third said: “That’s how my goat is not a footballer … He is also a nice and humble person.” More

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      Watch as Maradona mocks Salt Bae’s trademark ‘sprinkle’ in chef’s face in cringy throwback video after Messi snub

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      THIS is the moment Diego Maradona mocked Salt Bae’s sprinkling gimmick right in front of him.The cringy throwback video has resurfaced after the celebrity chef was slammed for pestering Lionel Messi in an embarrassing display following Argentina’s World Cup win.
      The throwback clips shows Maradona doing Salt Bae’s sprinkling gimmickCredit: YouTube
      The celeb chef has been slammed for pestering Messi after Argentina’s World Cup winCredit: instagram
      The Turkish cook and Instagram star – real name Nusret Gökçe – was filmed grabbing the Argentinian captain by the shoulder at least twice.
      Messi tried to shrug him off before finally agreeing to pose for an awkward picture.
      The fame-hungry chef was shot down by his own fans for his desperate attempts to get close to the footballing star.
      Now footage has reemerged of Salt Bae being ridiculed by Argentinian legend Maradona at one of his restaurants in 2018.
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      The clip shows the cook serving Maradona, who died in 2020, steak before the icon picks up a pinch of salt and does the chef’s trademark “sprinkle” while grinning.
      It comes after Salt Bae shared an old video of him hugging Messi after being trolled over the footballer’s snub.
      The Turkish cook and Instagram star – real name Nusret Gökçe – hit back with a new post to his 50million Instagram followers.
      France ace Paul Pogba was also there and the chef made sure he got in between them for a photo.
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      Gökçe’s throwback video shows him shaking Messi’s hand and giving him a bear hug, then talking animatedly while wagging his finger at the Barcelona forward.
      His self-promoting video was captioned simply: “The champion”.
      Followers said it was “cringe” and accused him of a desperate attempt to prove he is pals with Messi after getting the cold shoulder days earlier.
      One said: “This is embarrassing.”
      Another said: “He wanna prove that he wasn’t ghosted by Messi.”
      As well as badgering Messi, he was filmed muscling in on the Argentina squad’s celebrations and snatching the trophy from one winner’s baby.
      Gökçe also pretended to do his trademark salt-sprinkling trick over the £17million gold trophy as irritated players stood by.
      And boastful pics on his Insta page showed his kissing the trophy and holding it aloft like a champion.
      The disgraceful spectacle reportedly broke Fifa’s rules, which say only former winners and heads of state can handle it.
      BBC host Gary Lineker shared footage of his attention-seeking antics, saying: “He’s such a pest.”
      And former FA chairman Greg Dyke said: “I don’t think Fifa and Infantino have come out of this very well.”
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      Fifa has reportedly refused to say if Salt Bae was granted access to the pitch.
      It did not respond to The Sun Online’s request for comment.
      Salt Bae has been panned by his own fansCredit: instagram More

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      World Cup’s ‘hottest fan’ Ivana Knoll in tears as she leaves Qatar after becoming huge Instagram sensation

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      IVANA KNOLL who rose to fame as the World Cup’s “hottest fan” was in tears as she left Qatar.The Croatian super fan was seen at all of their games during the tournament.
      Ivana Knoll cried while leaving QatarCredit: Not known, clear with picture desk
      Knoll was at the World Cup supporting CroatiaCredit: Not known, clear with picture desk
      Knoll received a lot of attention for her outfits while supporting CroatiaCredit: Getty
      She often wore revealing outfits despite Qatar’s modesty lawsCredit: Alamy
      In a video uploaded to her Instagram story, while she was at the International airport in Doha, she was wearing a Croatia shirt and looked visibly upset.
      Ivana accompanied the video with the message: “Leaving Doha is so hard for me.
      “Mixed with happiness, sadness, and confusion all together, will miss this place so much”.
      Ivana caught the attention of the world with her unique way of showing her love for nation’s side.
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      And many of her fans praised her for her achievements during the World Cup.
      One wrote: “You came to Qatar as a model and left an international Super Star”.
      A second commented: “Thank you Ivana for representing our beautiful country with love and proud”.
      A third added: “You are the best Croatian woman I’ve ever seen”.
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      However, she did not get to see her team in the final as they were knocked out by eventual winners Argentina.
      Despite Qatar’s modesty rules, she wore bras, chequered dresses and tight leggings to stadiums, leaving little for her fans to imagine.
      As Croatia’s biggest fan, she has never feared the local police claiming her dress sense does not hurt anyone.
      She has seen her social media following increase by millions during the World Cup, she now boasts 3.4million followers on Instagram.
      The red and white costumes became popular with the paparazzi and other supporters as she posed for selfies with them.
      She has argued that her outfits were not hurting anyone in themCredit: Alamy
      Knoll’s social media following has massively increased after her appearances at the tournamentCredit: Getty
      She now has 3.4million followers on InstagramCredit: Getty More