RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Cristiano Ronaldo has a virus and did not travel to Iraq with Al-Nassr for Monday’s AFC Champions League Elite debut match at Al-Shorta.
Al-Nassr, Ronaldo’s Saudi Arabian club, said that the Portugal forward “wasn’t feeling well” and “was diagnosed with a viral infection," adding that the team physician confirmed he needs to rest.
Playing for Portugal in the Nations League, Ronaldo recently scored against both Croatia and Scotland to take his men’s-record tally of international goals to 132.
Ronaldo won five UEFA Champions Leagues but has yet to win a major trophy with Al-Nassr.
It’s the first edition of the Elite version, which replaced the AFC Champions League as Asia’s top club tournament.
Ronaldo’s debut in the Elite tournament could now come against Qatari club Al-Rayyan on Sept. 20 in Riyadh.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, right, sits on the bench during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Portugal and Scotland at the Luz stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)
MILWAUKEE (AP) — These aren’t the same Milwaukee Brewers who have made regular playoff appearances the last several years.
Milwaukee became the first major league team to clinch a division championship Wednesday when it sealed its third NL Central title in the last four years. The Chicago Cubs' 5-3 loss to the Oakland Athletics enabled the Brewers to wrap up the division crown.
This marks the Brewers’ sixth postseason berth in the last seven years, a remarkable accomplishment for a team that made the playoffs just twice in a 35-year stretch from 1983-2017. But this run to the playoffs has been a little different from the rest.
Although the Brewers have grown accustomed to outperforming preseason expectations, the odds seemed stacked against them even more than usual this year.
Craig Counsell, the winningest manager in Brewers history, left for the rival Cubs. Corbin Burnes, the 2021 NL Cy Young Award winner, was traded to the Baltimore Orioles.
Two-time All-Star right-hander Brandon Woodruff didn’t pitch all year as he recovered from shoulder surgery and two-time NL reliever of the year Devin Williams missed the first half of the season with stress fractures in his back. All-Star outfielder Christian Yelich and pitchers Wade Miley and Robert Gasser suffered season-ending injuries.
None of it mattered.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB
Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy is seen during the third inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Milwaukee Brewers' William Contreras reacts after hitting a two-run scoring double during the third inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Milwaukee Brewers' William Contreras reacts after hitting a two-run scoring double during the third inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
