The Goal 50 Superheroes

 

The winner of the Goal 50 has been announced, and our annual list's top 10 is, as ever, not short of football's biggest superheroes.

Superman Lionel Messi claimed the award for the third time, beating off competition from the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Robin van Persie.

Thiago Silva and Arturo Vidal also invaded the top 10, along with four Bayern men in Philipp Lahm, Thomas Muller, Arjen Robben and runner-up Franck Ribery.

See the complete Goal 50 here
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Moyes keen to grab Fabregas after failed Thiago pursuit

 

After spending much of the summer chasing unsettled Barcelona starlet Thiago only to be trumped by Bayern Munich and Pep Guardiola's sudden charm offensive, Manchester United need a transfer rethink.

A midfield playmaker remains a priority and Cesc Fabregas, Thiago's former team-mate at Camp Nou and another long-term United target, has risen to the top of the wanted list.

Barcelona are currently considering a £25.9 million bid from the Red Devils and, while it is unlikely to be accepted, it surely signals just the start of David Moyes' formal pursuit of the disillusioned Catalan.

There are, however, numerous obstacles to a deal. The Spanish champions are unlikely to simply jettison a player they fought so hard to prise from Arsenal, while the Gunners enjoy first option on any move.

Tito Vilanova revealed on Tuesday that Fabregas is happy at the Camp Nou, leaving United facing another difficult - and possibly fruitless - battle in the transfer market. 
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Tears and cheers as the curtain closes on Premier League

 

Sunday saw the final round of games as another Premier League season came to an end.

Manchester United claimed the title, inspired by Robin van Persie's goals, before Sir Alex Ferguson stunned the world by announcing his intention to retire from the game, closely followed by Paul Scholes.

Deposed champions Manchester City lost not just top spot but also their manager after firing Roberto Mancini while Rafael Benitez went from zero to hero at Chelsea.

Elsewhere Liverpool striker Luis Suarez was rarely out of the headlines and Wigan claimed a memorable FA Cup win but still slipped out of the top flight.

And of course, there was still time for drama on the final day as Arsenal pipped Spurs to the fourth spot, despite Gareth Bale’s heroics, as the curtain came down on yet another season. 
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King Bale hailed by fellow PFA nominees

 

Gareth Bale scooped the PFA Player and Young Player of the Year awards on Sunday evening, capping a breathtaking personal season for the Tottenham winger.

Luis Suarez, who was banned for 10 games for biting Branislav Ivanovic, finished in second place, but his name was booed both times it was read out at the ceremony on Sunday night.

And with the Uruguayan in Premier League quarantine, it was left to Bale's four other rivals to bow down to the newly-crowned King. 
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Wenger rolls out the red carpet for Van Persie's grand return

 

All eyes will be on the Emirates Stadium on Sunday as Robin van Persie steps out at his former stomping ground for the first time since his headline-grabbing move to Manchester United last summer.

The Netherlands international arrives back in north London a champion, with the Red Devils having already wrapped up the title with victory over Aston Villa last week, and a guard of honour from those he called his team-mates a matter of months ago awaits his return.

Despite Arsene Wenger's calls for respect for Sir Alex Ferguson's side and their top-goalscoring striker, Gunners supporters are set to give their former hero a rocky reception after his decision to quit the club for one of their chief Premier League rivals. 

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Take that Tevez! Sir Alex & Man United celebrate sweet revenge

 

Manchester United got their own back on rivals City by clinching their 20th league title on Monday night.

Roberto Mancini's men broke United hearts on the final day of last season, and Carlos Tevez infamously celebrated by holding up an "RIP Fergie" banner on their open-top bus tour through Manchester.

But United have roared back this season to leave Tevez et al in their wake, and Sir Alex can once again celebrate in style. 
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Wannabes left out as Player of the Year nominations announced

 

The PFA Player of the Year award nominees were announced on Friday with Premier League stars finding out who is in the running for the honour.

Tottenham forward Gareth Bale heads the list which includes Michael Carrick, Eden Hazard, Juan Mata, Luis Suarez and Robin van Persie.

The winner is due to be announced on April 28, but in the meantime there are reasons to celebrate for the nominated six, although do spare a thought for those who missed out this time.

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Football is back!

 

The international break. It was good while it lasted, but we're all jumping for joy it's over. Why? Because it means the real action is back and we're now at the business end of the season.

In the Premier  League, Manchester United look to continue their march to the Premier League title against Sunderland, while Chelsea take on Southampton in the first of four games in a week for Rafa Benitez's men.

Across the continent, Bayern Munich can wrap up the Bundesliga title with seven games to go should results go their way, while Tito Vilanova returns to Barcelona, Real Madrid face Zaragoza and Inter take on Juventus in stellar clash in Serie A.

Football is back alright, and with a BANG! 
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Ronaldo might need helping hand to reach Brazil 2014

 

If Cristiano Ronaldo is not worried, he probably should be. Portugal are labouring in qualification for another major tournament - this time, Brazil 2014.

Friday's 3-3 draw away with Israel has left Paulo Bento's men third in Group F, four points behind Fabio Capello's Russia, who also have a game in hand.

If they win, the gap will extend to seven, in all likelihood condemning Portugal to a life-and-death scrap with Israel for second place and passage into a nail-biting qualifying playoff.

There also remains the distinct possibility that Ronaldo, widely regarded as one of the greatest players of his or any generation, will not even make it to the World Cup next year.

Missing out could potentially deal a fatal blow to the Real Madrid superstar's hopes of adding a World Cup winner's medal to his heaving collection, and hand Lionel Messi a decisive advantage in their epic rivalry.

With this in mind, he needs all the help he can get. 
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Man City sink without trace as United sail clear in title race

Everton's fine 2-0 win over the Premier League champions at Goodison Park yesterday has left Roberto Mancini & Co. up the proverbial creek without a paddle, with Sir Alex Ferguson's side now 15 points clear of their rivals with just nine games to go after a nervy 1-0 win over Reading at Old Trafford.

There's no doubting City have missed the calming presence of talismanic captain Vincent Kompany at the back of late, while the Red Devils have been able to call on Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie to deliver the goods as Mario Balotelli rocketed off to Milan and Mancini's other forwards decided they didn't really fancy playing football this season.

And all the while there's poor David Platt - if Mancini isn't wearing comedy masks of his face to press conferences, then he's stuck bailing out the sinking ship. Poor David. 
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Manchester United wrap Van Persie in cotton wool

 

Hearts were in mouths on the Manchester United bench at Loftus Road on Saturday as Robin van Persie suffered a hip injury after tumbling down camera bunker.

The Dutchman suffered the fall in the build-up to Rafael's opener against QPR and was subsequently replaced after 41 minutes with Danny Welbeck.

With Manchester United extending their lead at the top of the table to 15 points following their victory over Harry Redknapp's side, Sir Alex Ferguson will be hoping his leading striker will not pick up any other bumps during his side's season run-in. 

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Rooney mocks class dunce Van Persie

 

Robin van Persie might be razor-sharp on the football pitch, but his Manchester United colleagues seem to have concluded pretty quickly that the Dutchman is not quite as intimidating off it.

When asked who is the easiest to wind up in the Old Trafford dressing room, resident joker Wayne Rooney had no hesitation in identifying his new strike partner.

"I'd have to say Robin. He's not the brightest!" Rooney said in a Google hangout with DHL.

"As much of a good footballer he is, he's definitely not the brightest off the pitch and it’s just easy to get to him."

Don't worry Robin, as long as you keep banging in the goals, the banter will be kept within the confines of the United squad. Just don't go venturing into a classroom anytime soon... 

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Van Persie reveals extent of his Manchester United addiction

 

Robin van Persie has piped up with his latest tribute to Manchester United and the benefits of his exit from Arsenal last summer.

The striker has already taken a swipe at his former club this season by suggesting he is among players who all know how to be champions, and now, the 29-year-old believes he is getting more fulfilment out of his football due to the higher stakes at Old Trafford.

"I love the intensity of playing for United," the Dutchman said.

"It is great to be involved in huge games when you don't know what is going to happen. You get more out of it when there is a thin line between ­winning and losing.

"I love the buzz, the drama, the excitement. I live for that. I can't imagine the day when I have to stop playing. I know I will miss the buzz so much." 

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Van Persie - Ready! Suarez - Ready! The battle of Old Trafford awaits

 

 The two giants of English football clash this afternoon, as Liverpool travel to Old Trafford to take on Manchester United in another hotly-anticipated meeting between them.

Yet with Brendan Rodgers' men languishing in eighth place and 21 points off the pace set by the Red Devils at the top of the Premier League, it is not solely the teams that are the focus of events on Sunday, but rather, which of the two sides' free-scoring strikers prevails.

The hosts' Robin van Persie currently leads the way in the goal charts with 16 so far this campaign, yet he is closely followed by Luis Suarez, whose 15 goals have almost single-handedly kept the Merseysiders above water this year...

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Super Van Persie rescues Manchester United in the nick of time

 

Robin van Persie scores when he wants. What started as a defiant chant by Arsenal fans last season has now been adopted by gleeful Manchester United supporters but, no matter who is doing the singing, they appear to be right.

The Dutchman has continued the blistering form which enabled him to light up north London last season, and on Saturday he notched his 20th goal of the season for United with a last-minute equaliser against West Ham.

Sam Allardyce's men thought they had booked their passage into the FA Cup fourth round courtesy of two James Collins headers but, at the death, substitute Van Persie sensationally took a brilliant lofted pass from Ryan Giggs in his stride before rifling the ball low into the net with his supposedly weaker right foot.

The two sides will now have to do battle again to see whose FA Cup dream will stay alive, and only a fool would bet against Van Persie making the difference again.
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Chicharito & Van Persie two peas in a pod

 

Manchester United continued their march towards reclaiming the Premier League title with a 4-0 victory over Wigan on Tuesday which came largely thanks to Robin van Persie and Javier Hernandez.

The strikers bagged two goals apiece at the DW Stadium to ensure the Red Devils maintained their seven-point lead at the top of the table, with manager Sir Alex Ferguson later hailing his peashooting duo.

Indeed, Van Persie and Chicharito's form could be concerning for fellow forwards Danny Welbeck and Wayne Rooney, with the pair making goalscoring look easy peasy as of late...
 

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Happy New Year! Stars prepare to bring in 2013

 

Spain secured their place in the pages of football history, Chelsea marched to an unlikely Champions League triumph and two of the greatest players of all time have smashed yet more records. 2012 will be difficult to match.

With the fixtures in the world's major leagues wrapped up for the current calendar year, the game's biggest and brightest can celebrate a job (mostly) well done.

But there's plenty more to look forward to in 2013. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will carry on and, in all likelihood, reach a few more remarkable landmarks. A mouthwatering last 16 of the Champions League awaits. And, when all else fails, there's Mario Balotelli.

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Rooney and Van Persie have the Premier League at their mercy

 

Manchester United maintained their six-point lead at the top of the Premier League with a 3-1 victory over Sunderland on Saturday, and once again, Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie were on hand to fire their team to victory.

The Dutchman grabbed his 12th league goal of the season to open the scoring at Old Trafford, and strike partner Rooney was not far behind with his seventh of the campaign.

Now having disposed of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and arch-rivals Manchester City already this year, the gigantic partnership of Rooney and Van Persie has the Premier League scurrying for cover...
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Invisible man Samir Nasri's hole in the wall costs Manchester City the derby

 

Manchester City's unbeaten start to the Premier League season came crashing to an end with a 3-2 home defeat at the hands of arch rivals Manchester United on Sunday afternoon.

The champions looked to have hauled themselves back into the game at 2-2, having initially trailed following Wayne Rooney's first-half double, before Robin van Persie's free-kick took a killer deflection off Samir Nasri in the City wall and slipped beyond the reach of Joe Hart into the back of the net.

Manager Roberto Mancini was far from happy, stating: "We made a mistake and only put three players there. Actually we had only had two-and-a-half players there."
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Sour grapes for Zlatan over Messi nomination

 

Paris Saint-Germain's outspoken centre-forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic courted controversy once more last week by stating that Barcelona striker Lionel Messi shouldn't pick up the Ballon d'Or award this year.

The 31-year-old Sweden international believes that after having already won it three times in a row, that the Blaugrana genius would be far from a deserving winner and that it should be shared around more.

With Fifa whittling it down to just a three-man shortlist, and Messi competing alongside team-mate Andres Iniesta and Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo, Ibrahimovic may have to wait a little while longer to get his wish, with the Argentine the current front-runner and overwhelming favourite.

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