Manchester United

Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodriguez, his girlfriend, revealed they are expecting a baby girl and boy in an Instagram video Thursday.

Ronaldo's four other kids popped a pair of balloons showing pink and blue confetti.

"Where life begins and love never ends," the Manchester United star wrote in the caption.

Ronaldo previously announced Rodriguez was pregnant with twins in an October post that garnered more than 30 million likes on Instagram.

The 36-year-old is in his first year of his second stint with Manchester United after an August transfer from Juventus. He has won the Ballon d'Or as the best player in the world five times.

Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo is attempting to block the release of case files tied to allegations he sexually assaulted a woman in 2009, according to The Athletic's Daniel Kaplan. 

Per Kaplan, the New York Times requested access to files from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department's investigation into the matter. 

Ronaldo is arguing the files should remain confidential because they include documents that were unearthed during the wider Football Leaks information dump:

"[G]ood cause exists to prohibit the disclosure of LVMPD's investigative file because it contains stolen documents and communications labeled attorney-client privilege and work product, which Plaintiff improperly obtained from an alleged cyber hacker from whom her counsel specifically sought privileged attorney-client communications and work product. Plaintiff then submitted the stolen documents to LVMPD in support of her request that LVMPD reopen a decade-old investigation to prosecute Defendant."

The New York Times told Kaplan the LVMPD is obligated to forward the files it requested under the Nevada Public Records Act.

On the basis of what was shared through Football Leaks, German outlet Der Spiegel reported in April 2017 that Ronaldo had reached a $375,000 settlement with Kathryn Mayorga, who said he had raped her in Las Vegas in 2009.

Mayorga spoke with Der Spiegel in September 2018 and said she signed a non-disclosure agreement on the matter because she wanted to avoid the public scrutiny that would inevitably follow if she came forward.

However, she subsequently felt emboldened to address the situation after getting new representation and watching the Me Too movement grow.

Mayorga said she met Ronaldo at the Palms Casino in Las Vegas, and he invited her to his penthouse. While she was changing in a bathroom, she said Ronaldo walked in with his penis exposed and "begged me to touch his penis for 30 seconds." Shortly after she attempted to leave, she said he pulled her into an adjoining room and raped her.

According to Der Spiegel, it reviewed a document obtained by Football Leaks and included in a civil complaint made by Mayorga that "contains a version of how Ronaldo experienced that night" in which he said that Mayorga "said no and stop several times" during the encounter.

An attorney for Ronaldo disputed the allegations, saying the Portuguese striker "vehemently denies all the accusations in this civil action, in consistency with what he has done in the last nine years." The attorney also said the Football Leaks documents were fabricated and "pure inventions."

Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo hit a major benchmark when he scored in the 52nd minute against Arsenal.

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner now has 800 goals for club and country.

8️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ for Ronaldo @brfootball

(via @NBCSportsSoccer)pic.twitter.com/1dtXDO4ByT

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 2, 2021

CRISTIANO RONALDO SCORES HIS 800TH CAREER GOAL 💥 pic.twitter.com/UlZtlCIp3i

— B/R Football (@brfootball) December 2, 2021

The forward notched his 801st goal from the penalty spot in the 70th minute. Nobody else has scored more times in officially recorded fixtures, although the Czech FA claims that Josef Bican scored 821 times (there is no official record-keeper in soccer).

This hasn't been a great year for Ronaldo in terms of team success. Entering Thursday, United had 18 points, good for 10th in the Premier League. Portugal, meanwhile, still have to overcome Turkey and one of Italy or North Macedonia in order to qualify for the 2022 World Cup.

But the 36-year-old remains deadly in front of goal. With his brace against Arsenal, he has scored six times in 11 Premier League appearances, edging ahead of Bruno Fernandes and Mason Greenwood for the team lead in league play.

Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo responded to a claim that individual success is paramount for the 36-year-old.

Speaking with the New York Times' Rory Smith, France Football editor-in-chief Pascal Ferre said he had a conversation with Ronaldo in which the Portuguese winger said his only ambition at this point was to collect more Ballon d'Or awards than Lionel Messi.

Ronaldo said on Instagram that Ferre lied and that "the greatest ambition of my career is to win national and international titles for the clubs I represent and for my country's national team."

Ronaldo responds to Pascal Ferre's claim that his only ambition is to retire with more Ballon d'Or's than Messi. pic.twitter.com/K8spyBy2Cu

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) November 29, 2021

Ronaldo, who didn't attend Monday's Ballon d'Or ceremony, also claimed Ferre "lied again today justifying my absence for the Gala with an alleged quarantine that has no reason to be."

Even if the award, which is one of two presented to the best players in the world in a given calendar year, isn't one of his driving motivators, it seems reasonable to conclude the 36-year-old might like to end his career with a bigger trophy case than Messi. Their rivalry on the pitch has been the biggest in world football over the last dozen years.

Chasing down Messi might be impossible, though, after the Paris Saint-Germain star lifted his seventh Ballon d'Or. Ronaldo remains stuck at five and finished sixth in the voting for 2021.

Sixth-place Ronaldo finishes outside the top five in the Ballon d’Or for the first time since 2010 pic.twitter.com/l64i6AChQJ

— B/R Football (@brfootball) November 29, 2021

His outlook isn't looking great for 2022.

Ronaldo has 10 goals in 15 appearances this season for United, but the Red Devils are eighth in the Premier League with 18 points through 13 matches. Despite his goals, the benefits of Ronaldo's return to Old Trafford has been the subject of discussion.

Things aren't much better at the national team level.

Portugal finished second in Group A for 2022 World Cup qualifying, meaning the Euro 2016 champion will need to qualify through a playoff. There's a chance the Selecao miss out on the World Cup altogether in what's almost certainly Ronaldo's last window to compete in that tournament.

Manchester United has reportedly agreed to a deal with Ralf Rangnick to be the club's interim manager.

According to Laurie Whitwell and David Ornstein of The Athletic, Rangnick's contract is for six months. Once that ends, the German will reportedly serve in a consultancy role for two years.

The contract is contingent on Lokomotiv Moscow agreeing to release Rangnick from his position as head of sports and development, but United reportedly doesn't believe that will be an issue.

Rangnick is set to take over for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who was fired as manager Sunday following a shocking 4-1 loss to Watford, which left United in eighth place in the English Premier League table through 12 matches.

The 63-year-old Rangnick has extensive coaching experience, having served as the manager of more than a dozen clubs primarily in Germany, including VfB Stuttgart, Hannover 96, Schalke, Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig.

Some of his notable accomplishments include winning the 2. Bundesliga title at Hannover in 2002 and finishing second in the Bundesliga with Schalke in 2005.

Perhaps most impressively, Rangnick helped take RB Leipzig from the German fourth division to the Bundesliga as both a director of football and manager.

Per Whitwell and Ornstein, Rangnick is regarded as the "godfather" of modern coaching in Germany thanks to the pressing style of play he innovated.

While Manchester United is off to a poor start this season, it is only three points out of fifth place, which would ensure a spot in the Europa League group stage. Meanwhile, West Ham United is six points up on United in fourth and holds the final UEFA Champions League spot for now.

Rangnick will be tasked with getting United back in contention over the rest of the season, but Whitwell and Ornstein noted that the club will weigh its other options and plans to hire a full-time manager during the summer.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's time as Manchester United manager has come to a close after he agreed to leave his position on Sunday following the club's loss to Watford on Saturday.

Manchester United can confirm that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has left his role as Manager.

Thank you for everything, Ole ❤️#MUFC

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) November 21, 2021

Breaking: Confirmed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer fired by Manchester United. Michael Carrick in temporary charge pic.twitter.com/VsPp8r1zWS

— Rob Harris (@RobHarris) November 21, 2021

It was first reported on Saturday that the United board, amid a string of five losses in the club's past seven Premier League matches, decided to fire the beleaguered manager, with journalist Fabrizio Romano and Duncan Castles of The Times among those reporting as much.

Castles added that "Richard Arnold [has been] charged with negotiating the exact terms of the Norwegian's exit after almost three trophy-free years at Old Trafford."

Manchester United working on compensation and written agreement with Ole Gunnar Solskjær. It’s gonna be ‘mutual agreement’ to part ways, as reported before. Solskjær will leave, it’s over. 🔴 #MUFC

Official statement expected in the next hours, once paperworks will be completed.

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) November 20, 2021

Solskjaer's sacking has felt inevitable for some time, but his position became untenable after Saturday's shocking 4-1 loss to Watford. Through 12 games, United find themselves at seventh in the Premier League table with 17 points, six points behind fourth-place West Ham and 12 points behind leaders Chelsea.

"For sure something is wrong," goalkeeper David De Gea told reporters after the Watford loss. "It is very wrong. What we are doing is very low level and very poor. I have to say sorry to the fans."

Given the talent on United's roster, the results have been well below standard, with Solskajer's job security one of the prevailing storylines in the 2021-22 Premier League campaign.

Manchester United have failed to win any of their last four games against newly promoted sides:

🤝 1-1 vs West Brom
🤝 0-0 vs Leeds
🤝 1-1 vs Fulham
❌ 1-4 vs Watford

Time may be up for Ole. ⏳ pic.twitter.com/pZ60yUn4Zb

— Squawka (@Squawka) November 20, 2021

So it looks like the decision has been made to belatedly end the misery for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Manchester United… making the change last summer after the Europa League final defeat would have the sensible option, but it has to be done now #MUFC pic.twitter.com/uMV7ceUuc4

— Kevin Palmer 💙 (@RealKevinPalmer) November 20, 2021

https://twitter.com/davisjsn/status/1462200623751995393

"I believe we can turn this around," Solskajer told reporters after Saturday's loss. "I work as hard and as well as I can with the staff I've got, top people, professional players, but at the moment we're not getting the results."

The United board, however, reportedly did not feel he could turn things around. The question now turns to his replacement. Rob Dorsett of Sky Sports reported star forward Cristiano Ronaldo would like to see Spain manager Luis Enrique take the reins:

Cristiano Ronaldo is keen for Luis Enrique to become the new #mufc manager, I’m told. The Spain boss likely to be considered for the role along with out-of-work Zinedine Zidane and Erik Ten Hag, the #ajax manager. Pochettino and Brendan Rodgers are long shots currently. See #ssn

— Rob Dorsett (@RobDorsettSky) November 21, 2021

Castles also reported that technical director Darren Fletcher will take over in an interim basis, with the Glazer family instructing the board to "further accelerate attempts to persuade Zinedine Zidane" to manage the club.

Zidane last managed Real Madrid in two separate tenures, leading the Spanish giants to three UEFA Champions League triumphs and two La Liga titles.

However, United's statement regarding Solskjaer's departure revealed that assistant coach Michael Carrick would assume temporary charge while the club searches for an interim manager.

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer expressed frustration about the club's 2-0 defeat at the hands of rival Manchester City at Old Trafford on Saturday.

United registered just one shot on target in the latest edition of the Manchester Derby, which saw Red Devils defender Eric Bailly record an own goal to give City a 1-0 lead in the seventh minute. Bernardo Silva scored shortly before halftime for the Sky Blues.

"It is very disappointing, and it feels like after last week we have made a step or two forward results wise and then a big step backwards," Solskjaer told reporters. "It is a way of losing that we don't like. When you lose a game against a good team you want to see a better Man United team than that."

It marked the third loss in the last four Premier League matches for Manchester United, which also lost 4-2 to Leicester City and 5-0 to Liverpool in the latter stages of October. The only win during that stretch was a 3-0 triumph over Tottenham Hotspur.

United (5-2-4) has dropped to fifth in the table after a promising 4-1-0 start to the term, and Solskjaer is hopeful the recent downtrend in form will end once players return from the two-week international break to face Watford on Nov. 20.

"We have to come out against Watford like a proper hurt animal," he said. "The short answer is [the break] has come at a good time for us. As a group we have had a difficult spell, we have come through it, but this was a big step backwards."

Meanwhile, City (7-2-2) are second in the table and three points behind league-leading Chelsea (8-2-1) after the rivalry win as they look to win their fourth Premier League title in the past five seasons.

"We played the game we needed today. You have to play quick, to move the ball and do the touches every player need but also try to put the ball in the pocket," City manager Pep Guardiola said. "The game was 2-0, and everything was comfortable."

The Sky Blues return to action Nov. 21 when they host Everton at Etihad Stadium.

Manchester United superstar Cristiano Ronaldo and girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez announced Thursday they're expecting twins.

"Delighted to announce we are expecting twins," Ronaldo wrote on Instagram. "Our hearts are full of love—we can't wait to meet you."

Ronaldo's family is growing! He and his partner Georgina Rodriguez have announced they are expecting twins 👶👶 pic.twitter.com/daphAl6or0

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) October 28, 2021

The couple have a three-year-old daughter, Alana, and Ronaldo has three other children who were born via a surrogate mother, per TMZ Sports.

Ronaldo, 36, and Rodriguez, a 27-year-old Argentine model, have been dating since 2016.

In 2017, the Portuguese forward told Thierry Marchand of L'Equipe (via ESPN) he was aiming to have at least seven kids.

"I want seven children and as many Ballons d'Or. As long as I play, I'll have the ambition to win all I can," Ronaldo said.

He's captured the Ballon d'Or on five occasions, most recently in 2017 while with Real Madrid. Only longtime rival Lionel Messi (six) has won the award more times.

Ronaldo and United are next in action Saturday when they visit Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to take on Spurs in a Premier League clash.

The following article contains descriptions of sexual abuse.

Former Manchester United left-back Patrice Evra revealed in his new book that he was sexually abused at the age of 13 while staying at the home of his head teacher.

Alex Richards of the Daily Mirror provided an excerpt from the book, I Love This Game, Friday:

The head teacher, believing I'd gone to sleep, would put his hands under my bed cover and try to touch me. I knew what he was doing was wrong, so I tried to push him away and punch him.

I was tough, but I was scared too, although I couldn't show him my fear. This could go on for 10 or 15 minutes, like a fight. He wasn't joking; he was going hard trying to get my pants off. There were no words spoken in the dark, but he was touching himself and getting sexually excited by what was happening.

I didn't tell anybody. I was too ashamed to speak to my mother and I didn't know if anyone else would believe me. I haven’t told anybody the full story until now.

On the last night at that man's house, when he knew that I was going back to my family, he finally succeeded: He put my penis in his mouth.

The head teacher is similar to a principal in United States schools.

Evra, who also starred for the French national team during his playing time, told Alyson Rudd of The Times he didn't shed full light on the abuse when he first wrote the book, but he decided to expand on his experience to help children who find themselves in a similar situation.

"So I just want to make sure kids out there have the courage and do not blame themselves, because I always blamed myself," Evra said. "I'm not shy to say I felt like a coward for many years because I never speak up. It was something heavy in my chest. But I don't do it for me, I do it for other children."

The 40-year-old retired footballer noted he was contacted by police 16 years ago about abuse allegations brought against the teacher, but he didn't feel comfortable confirming his own story at that time.

Evra, who won five Premier League titles with Manchester United, also spent time with Juventus, Monaco and several other European clubs during a 20-year playing career.

Since his retirement in 2019, the former Red Devils standout confirmed he's spent time back at United working to complete his coaching badges.

Magistrate Judge Daniel Albregts recommended Wednesday that Kathryn Mayorga's lawsuit against Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo should be dismissed, per Ken Ritter of the Associated Press, saying her attorney Leslie Mark Stovall relied on documents that were leaked or stolen. 

Mayorga said Ronaldo raped her in 2009 in Las Vegas. 

"Dismissing Mayorga's case for the inappropriate conduct of her attorney is a harsh result," Albregts wrote in a recommendation to U.S. District Judge Jennifer Dorsey. "But it is, unfortunately, the only appropriate sanction to ensure the integrity of the judicial process."

In her lawsuit, Mayorga alleged that Ronaldo and his legal team pressured her to sign a nondisclosure agreement and take a $375,000 hush settlement. She accused him of coercion and fraud, racketeering and civil conspiracy and abuse of process, per CNN.com.

In 2019, the Clark County District Attorney's office declined to press criminal charges against Ronaldo. The Las Vegas Police Department had reopened an investigation into Ronaldo in 2018. 

Albregts' recommendation did not rule on whether Ronaldo committed a crime or find evidence that Ronaldo and his legal team "intimidated Mayorga or impeded law enforcement" in Aug. 2010, when she dropped the original criminal charges and signed the settlement. 

Instead, the recommendation focused on Mayorga's attorney. 

"Stovall has acted in bad faith to his client's—and his profession's—detriment," Albregts wrote.

Ronaldo's legal team said they were "pleased with the court's detailed review ... and its willingness to justly apply the law to the facts and recommend dismissal of the civil case against Mr. Ronaldo."

Ritter wrote that "Stovall and other attorneys in his office did not immediately respond" to the AP's messages concerning the judge's decision.