Latest Brazil Soccer News

MILAN, Italy (AP) _ Ronaldo's thigh injury is more serious than first feared, and the AC Milan forward could be sidelined for another month. The Brazilian was hurt July 31 during summer training and hasn't played since. Milan's physicians originally diagnosed Ronaldo's injury as a muscle strain and said he could return against Siena on Saturday. Further tests have revealed a more serious tear, the Gazzetta dello Sport reported Monday. ``We made a mistake in our first evaluation,'' Milan ...

SAO PAULO, Brazil (AP) _ Some Brazilian players returned to the hotel drunk after being given time off between matches during the 2006 World Cup, according to the president of the Brazil's soccer confederation. A year after Brazil's quarter-final elimination in Germany, Ricardo Teixeira said a group of players lacked discipline during the World Cup, but did not mention anyone specifically, the Estado de S. Paulo newspaper reported Wednesday. ``There were players who arrived between 4 and 6 ...

MADRID, Spain (AP) _ Real Madrid defender Roberto Carlos is reportedly talking to club directors about extending his contract when it expires at the end of the season. ``Great players want to play at Real Madrid and Roberto Carlos is a great player, the best in the world in his position,'' Madrid right back Cicinho told Punto Radio on Tuesday. ``His wish to stay is great.'' Cicinho said he and Roberto Carlos were still making common plans in ...

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil _ Romario's 1,000th goal wasn't scored in the Maracana stadium, and it came from a penalty kick. But soccer-mad Brazil still breathed a sigh of relief Monday _ one day after the 41-year-old striker ended a nearly two-month cliffhanger worthy of a Brazilian soap opera. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva phoned Romario to congratulate him on the goal. Romario converted a 48th-minute penalty in Vasco da Gama's 3-1 victory Sunday over Sport ...

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AP) _ When Romario declared he would retire after he scored his 1,000th goal in the legendary Maracana stadium, it seemed like a storybook ending to a glorious career. Instead, it's turned into the never-ending story. Vasco's penalty kick elimination from the Rio Cup tournament Wednesday marked Romario's third game without scoring since he claimed his 999th goal on March 25 against Flamengo. It was also ...

SAO PAULO, Brazil (AP) _ Brazilians already are preparing the celebrations for Romario's 1,000th career goal. There will be fireworks, chanting and maybe even a trophy presentation after he scores. But there also will be a lot of doubts to accompany the milestone. Romario says he is five goals away from the mark, but many in Brazil _ including soccer great Pele _ say the veteran Vasco striker is not ...

AC Milan forward Ricardo Oliveira has found a way to keep his focus despite the kidnapping of his sister in Brazil nearly two months ago. ``I work. I work a lot. My teammates help me. I have to have faith and tranquillity and this too will be resolved,'' Oliveira said Wednesday, a day after scoring in Milan's 2-1 win over Brescia in the Italian Cup. ``I have to stay focused ...

A professional soccer player has died of a heart attack during a friendly game in Sao Paulo state, according to reports Monday. Alex Sandro de Souza Pereira, who played this year for Matonense of Sao Paulo's fourth division, collapsed during a friendly game between amateur teams Sunday in the city of Avare, about 600 kilometres west of Rio, the Estado de S. Paulo website reported. His teammates tried unsuccessfully to ...

Brazil coach Dunga said Friday that his team is not blessed with as many top-notch players as most people believe. ``Brazil doesn't have as many great players as people say,'' Dunga told the Agencia Estado news service. ``For me, the true great player decides eight in 10 matches. Those who decided two or three can only be called above-average players.'' Dunga has revamped the national team in the four months ...

Canada plummeted 11 spots to No. 82 in November's FIFA soccer rankings released Wednesday. The Canadian men, who are coming off a 1-0 loss in Hungary, are sandwiched between Peru and the United Arab Emirates. Hungary, meanwhile, climbed nine places to No. 67. Canada stands eighth among CONCACAF countries, just ahead of No. 87 St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Brazil remained No. 1 overall while Nigeria moved up to ninth ...

League leader Lyon visits last-placed Sedan on Saturday with Brazil midfielder Juninho warning his teammates not to relax. ``It's never easy to play the team in last place,'' Juninho said. ``They will try and raise their game against the champions. We should treat this game the same way as if we were preparing to face Real Madrid.'' Sedan has won only one game this season in the French league, while ...

Brazil left back Marcelo will join Real Madrid from Fluminense, club president Ramon Calderon said Tuesday. ``We are very happy because he was a pearl which half of Europe wanted,'' Calderon said on the website of sports daily Marca on Tuesday. ``He has come to Real Madrid, continuing what should happen, that the good players have to be here.'' Marcelo, for whom Madrid has reportedly paid six million euros (C$8.8 ...

Pele will pay tribute to seven-time Formula One champion Michael Schumacher before Sunday's Brazilian Grand Prix. The soccer legen will hand a signed trophy to Schumacher in honour of his achievements. The Ferrari driver will end his 16-year career after the season finale. ``It's a great honour and happiness to represent all Brazilians in this trophy presentation for the farewell of the greatest Formula One idol of the moment,'' Pele ...

Brazil midfielder Juninho scored an 88th-minute winner Saturday to lead unbeaten Lyon to a 2-1 home win over local rival Saint-Etienne. Portugal midfielder Tiago put Lyon ahead in the 65th minute with his third league goal of season, but Yoan Hautcoeur levelled two minutes later. Juninho, who went close with two free kicks, missed a penalty in the closing minutes. But with two minutes remaining of normal time, substitute Florent Malouda crossed from the left and he scored. Five-time ...

Coach Dunga said Friday he was trying to reduce the pressure on Ronaldinho when he benched him for the start of Brazil's exhibition soccer game against Ecuador earlier in the week. ``It's tough, he has a big load on top of him,'' Dunga said after arriving in Brazil following the team's 2-1 win over Ecuador on Tuesday in Sweden. ``We have plans to take Ronaldinho out of the spotlight for ...

Sao Paulo's Ecuadorean defender Neicer Reasco will miss the rest of the Brazilian national championship season after undergoing surgery on his left shin. The defender was successfully operated on Tuesday by Dr. Rene Jorge Abdalla at the Hospital do Coracao in Sao Paulo, the club said. Reasco injured his leg in Sao Paulo's Brazilian league match against Goias on Aug. 13. It was his debut with the three-time national champion, ...

Brazil manager Dunga said he is pleased with his start as head of the national team, which remains unbeaten in five matches since he took over following the team's World Cup elimination. Before Tuesday's 2-1 friendly victory over Ecuador, Brazil drew with Norway and beat archrival Argentina, Wales and the Kuwait Sports Club. ``We drew a Norway team that Brazil has beaten only once. We defeated Argentina categorically, beat a ...

Kidnappers of the sister of AC Milan striker Ricardo Oliveira had not contacted relatives by Friday. Maria de Lourdes Silva de Oliveira, 35, was kidnapped Wednesday morning after two hooded gunmen broke into her home in Sao Paulo. They overpowered her husband and children before taking her. The abductors had not made any demands by Friday afternoon, and police were investigating the possible involvement of one of her sons _ ...

Gunmen kidnapped the sister of AC Milan striker Ricardo Oliveira in Brazil on Wednesday, authorities said. Maria de Lourdes Silva de Oliveira was abducted early Wednesday by two hooded men who broke into her home in Sao Paulo's north side, authorities said. The kidnappers gagged and tied her husband and her eight-year-old son before escaping. The abductors had not made any contact with the family by Wednesday afternoon. Local media ...

Edmilson will miss Brazil's next two international friendlies because of inflammation in his right knee. The FC Barcelona midfielder did not practice with the team Monday, and the club said Tuesday that Edmilson will not travel with the national side when it visits Kuwait on Saturday. Brazil also faces Ecuador next Tuesday in Sweden. ``I'm going to work separately at Barcelona these days, specifically to reduce the swelling,'' he told ...