161 days ago, Ulsan farewell game→Final match against his home team for the top spot…’Private’ Lee Dong-kyung’s tragic fate

It’s a cruel fate. But a fight is inevitable.

Lee Dong-kyung (Gimcheon) steps onto the field of the Ulsan Munsu Soccer Stadium after 161 days. But the jersey has changed. He hasn’t been with Ulsan since April 28 against Jeju United.

The ‘Lee Dong-gyeong Derby’ will be a true test of the first and second place in K League 1. Ulsan will host Gimcheon Commerce in the 33rd and final round of the Hana Bank K League 1 2024 on April 6 at 3 p.m. at 토토사이트 Munsu Football Stadium.

After 32 matches, Ulsan leads the league with 17 wins, seven draws and eight losses and 58 points. The difference between them and second-place Gimcheon (56 points) is two points. It’s a ‘six-point’ battle. Ulsan can win this game to widen the gap to five points and clinch the top spot in Final A. On the other hand, a win for Gimcheon would change the top spot.

Ulsan has been in good form lately, going unbeaten in five league games (W4 D1 L1). However, they were in pain in midweek. The team suffered its second straight defeat in the second leg of the 2024-2025 Asian Champions League Elite (ACLE) League stage against Yokohama Marinos on Feb. 2, losing 0-4.

“I don’t want to blame the players,” said Kim Pan-gon. They fought well in a tough and difficult match. I apologize to the fans who came to support us from far away. We will analyze and recover well and prepare for the upcoming matches.”

Upon returning to Ulsan on the 3rd, the team quickly focused on recovery and analyzing the pros and cons of the Yokohama match. All eyes were on Gimcheon.

Not Ulsan’s Lee Dong-gyeong, but Gimcheon’s “Private” Lee Dong-gyeong. Lee burst onto the scene in an Ulsan jersey earlier this season, tallying seven goals and five assists in eight appearances in the K League 1. After leaving Ulsan, Lee settled in perfectly with Gimcheon, where he played 13 games and scored four goals and provided one assist.

In addition to Lee Dong-kyung, fullback Cho Hyun-taek is also a former Ulsan player. Gimcheon is currently on a three-game winning streak. That’s why Ulsan can’t relax.

Ulsan is second in the league in goals scored with 51 and first in fewest goals conceded with 35. Gimcheon (49 goals) is also strong at the back. They are tied for second with 35 goals conceded.

Ulsan’s defense has been solid thanks to national team goalkeeper Cho Hyun-woo. Cho Hyun-woo has kept 12 clean sheets in all competitions (32 games, 35 clean sheets) this season. He was named the MVP of the Round of 32 after saving seven shots in a 1-0 win away to Daejeon Hana Citizens on March 27th. Ulsan has kept a clean sheet in three straight matches

Ulsan has met Gimcheon twice this season, earning a 1-1 draw. On March 9, Ulsan won 3-2 thanks to back-to-back goals from Lee Dong-kyung (2 goals, 1 assist) and Jang Si-young. Rubiksson and Kim Young-kwon scored at home on May 12, but a late stoppage-time goal cost them a 2-2 draw.

A win for Ulsan would take them one step closer to their third consecutive K League One title. After this game, they will have an A-Match break, so they will be aiming to win with all their might.

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‘Leader and 2G gap’ Lee Land ‘sweeps’ Busan to spur promotion race

Seoul Eland FC continues its fierce promotion battle with a sweep of Busan this season.

Seoul Eland FC (4th place, 48 points) will host Busan IPark (3rd place, 49 points) in the 34th round of the Hana Bank K League 2 2024 at Gudeok Stadium in Busan at 4:30 p.m. on Friday.

It’s a fierce battle for third and fourth place with one point separating them. Seoul Eland, who have been on a recent upswing, suffered a blow at home to Gimpo in their last match. They were out-shot 26-6 and out-shot 16-4, 토토 but were unable to score.

In order to win, the team will need to revive its trademark explosive offense. Seoul Eland, which sits in fourth place, two games behind the leaders, will be looking to catch Busan and build momentum for a late-season promotion push.

Busan is a team they have good memories of, having met twice this season and won both times. A 3-0 away win on the opening day of the season was followed by a 2-1 home win on Matchday 26R thanks to Montaño’s multi-goal performance.

The expectations are on the toes of Chang, who scored in both matches. “We lost against Gimpo, but we’re preparing hard to win all six remaining games and get promoted. We will try to win all six matches as a team,” he said.

Montaño, the hero of the victory over 26R Busan, said, “It’s a very important and special six-point game. We’ll be focused from the start and make sure we get the three points.”
It will be interesting to see if Seoul Eland, who are seeking their first promotion in 10 years, can use their explosive offense to defeat the rising Busan side and move up the standings.

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MGM 주식은 도전에 직면 해 있지만 여전히 매력적인 LT 성장 스토리, 애널리스트는 말합니다.

MGM 리조트 인터내셔널(NYSE: MGM)의 주가는 연초 대비 11.32% 하락했습니다. 이는 게임 주식이 속한 S&P 500 및 S&P 소비자 재량 선택 섹터 지수가 각각 20.8%와 12.3% 상승한 것과 비교하면 매우 부진한 모습입니다.

지난 한 달 동안 주가는 9.18% 상승했지만, 특히 네바다주의 총 게임 수익(GGR)이 냉각되고 있다는 우려로 인해 투자자들이 투자에 주춤하고 있는 상황입니다. 도이체방크의 애널리스트 카를로 산타렐리는 고객에 대한 새로운 보고서에서 MGM이 가장 큰 규모의 스트립 운영업체의 바카라 상금이 역풍을 맞고 있다고 언급했습니다.

그는 8월에 스트립 바카라 승률이 34% 하락했으며 “이러한 역학 관계는 크게 변하지 않았다”고 언급했습니다. 이 애널리스트는 MGM의 목표 주가를 57달러에서 52달러로 낮췄으며, 수정된 목표 주가는 전일 종가 대비 31.2%의 상승 여력을 내포하고 있습니다.

산타렐리는 MGM을 포함한 라스베이거스 카지노 운영업체들이 2023년보다 주말이 하루 적었기 때문에 9월 GGR 수치가 인상적이지 않을 것이라고 지적했습니다. 그는 9월을 스트립 운영자들에게는 “평탄하지 않은” 달이었다고 설명하면서 미국 카지노 센터의 장소들이 전반적으로 3분기가 울퉁불퉁했다고 지적했습니다.

장기적인 촉매제가 있는 MGM 주식

MGM 주식은 분명히 약세를 보였지만 매력적인 성장 프로필과 강력한 대차 대조표로 인내심을 가진 투자자에게 보상을 줄 수 있습니다. 후자의 특성 덕분에 게임 회사는 자사 주식을 열성적으로 매수할 수 있었습니다.

(MGM은) 여러 가지 유기적이고 독특한 성장 동력을 갖춘 저렴한 장기 성장 스토리입니다.”라고 산타렐리는 말합니다.

이 애널리스트가 언급한 촉매제 중에는 오사카에 곧 오픈할 통합 리조트인 BetMGM과 뉴욕주에서 게임 허가를 받기 위한 노력이 있습니다. 이러한 노력이 성공할 경우 MGM은 용커스의 엠파이어 시티 카지노를 전통적인 라스베이거스 스타일의 카지노로 전환할 수 있습니다. 바카라사이트

산타렐리가 언급한 세 가지 외에도 MGM은 최근 아랍에미리트(UAE)에서 게임 라이선스를 취득하여 현재 비게임 시설인 호텔에 카지노 공간으로 15만 평방 피트를 확보할 것이라고 선언했습니다. 이 회사의 MGM 중국 사업부는 태국 카지노 허가 입찰에 참여할 것으로 보입니다.

4분기는 예상보다 더 좋을 수 있습니다.

스트립 운영업체의 3분기 실적이 부진할 것이라는 예상에도 불구하고 투자 커뮤니티에서 이번 분기의 상황을 과장하고 있을 가능성이 있습니다. 이는 MGM의 잠재적 실적 상승에 대한 기대치가 낮다는 신호일 수 있습니다.

산타렐리는 “우리는 라스베이거스의 4분기 추세가 대부분의 사람들이 생각하는 것만큼 불길하다고 생각하지 않습니다.”라고 말합니다. “사실, 라스베이거스에 대한 부정적인 정서의 대부분은 수요의 뚜렷한 변화보다는 몇 달 전부터 분명하게 드러났던 컴 스택 문제 때문이라고 생각합니다.”

코스모폴리탄은 업계에서 가장 탄탄한 대차대조표를 보유하고 있는 항공사 중 하나입니다. 2분기 말 기준 24억 1,000만 달러의 현금 및 현금성 자산을 보유하고 있습니다.

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Comics fans converge in Seoul for 2024 World Webtoon Festival

Comics fans enter the inaugural 2024 World Webtoon Festival, hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Creative Content Agency, in Seongsu-dong, Seongdong District, Seoul, Thursday. Korea Times photo by Baek Byung-yeul

Korea launched the 2024 World Webtoon Festival in Seoul’s trendy neighborhood of Seongsu-dong on Thursday, with the aim of expanding the global reach of webtoons or online comics, which are already hugely popular here and abroad.Co-organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA), this first-ever festival was part of the ministry’s January announcement to drive the development of Korea’s comics industry to strengthen Korea’s position as the birthplace of webtoons and increase global awareness of the medium.The four-day event kicked off on Thursday featured 16 prominent Korean webtoon production companies. It included pop-up stores selling webtoon character merchandise, talk concerts and drawing shows with popular webtoon artists and experience events showcasing various derivative products utilizing webtoon intellectual property. With these events, the festival was planned to cater to a diverse audience, including comics enthusiasts and industry experts, while showcasing the unique appeal of webtoons.

On its inaugural day, the 2024 World Webtoon Festival exhibition hall’s outdoor area was brought to life, with beloved webtoon characters greeting visitors as if they had sprung from the pages. Despite the lingering heat of September, the venue was filled to capacity with attendees.From the entrance, popular characters from comics and webtoons such as “The Ruler of The Land,” “Lookism,” “Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint” and 커뮤니티 “Solo Leveling” captured visitors’ attention.Also, each booth offered special events and unique merchandise that reflected the essence of the respective webtoons, offering attendees a diverse range of experiences. Kakao Entertainment, which operates KakaoPage, a platform for webtoons and web novels, ran an exhibition utilizing its ALIVE technology, applying various visual effects like motion graphics and screen transitions to 2D webtoons, allowing visitors to enjoy comics with sound and moving images as if watching a movie.

Naver Webtoon attempted to fuse technology and cultural content by offering events where visitors could create their own caricatures using AI technology and chat with the characters from popular webtoon artist Cho Seok’s “The Sound of Your Heart.”On the sidelines of the festival, the culture ministry and KOCCA also hosted the World Webtoon Awards on Thursday, a ceremony recognizing works published worldwide for their high quality and contribution to the industry’s development.”Solo Leveling” won the grand prize. The web novel-based webtoon centers around protagonist Sung Jin-woo, a hunter catching monsters in a world suddenly changed by their appearance. The webtoon recorded 14.3 billion views and achieved unprecedented success across the world.Sadly, the webtoon’s artist, Jang Sung-rak, died in 2022. Jang Jung-sook, CEO of Redice Studio, the webtoon production company the late artist founded, accepted the award on his behalf.

“We will strive to create quality webtoons that can continue to be loved by global readers with new episodes, honoring the wishes of the late artist Jang Sung-rak,” the CEO said. The jury’s special award went to “The Great” by Gwangjin and Jimin, which depicts the story of a protagonist living as both a warm-hearted mother and strong head of the family. For the overseas artist award, Greek cartoonist Odysseas Theodoratos’ “Tomahawk Angel” was selected.Culture Minister Yu In-chon remarked Thursday that this event would help establish webtoons as a key cultural export of Korea.Yu said, “The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will support this webtoon festival and awards ceremony, which started for the first time this year, to successfully settle and expand to become an international event representing Korea.”

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Banks’ household loans inch down amid tightening efforts

A person passes by an advertising banner of mortgage loan products outside a bank in Seoul, Sept. 22. Yonhap

Despite banks’ move to tighten household lending, home-backed loans fell a mere 5 percent on-month in September from a record high level a month earlier, data showed Sunday.The daily average amount of new mortgages extended by five major lenders came to 301.8 billion won ($230.03 million) in Sept. 1-26, down 16 percent from the daily average logged in August, according to data from the banks.Excluding the three-day Chuseok holiday this month, however, the September figure stopped short of falling 5 percent compared with a record high of 359.6 billion won logged in August.Banks’ household loans rose for the fifth consecutive month in August, led by a record increase in mortgages, on rising home prices in Seoul and the surrounding areas, according to central bank data.

The financial authorities, in response, called on banks to tighten their lending, and banks have raised interest rates and toughened lending rules.”But it would take some time for such new measures to have effects, as home transactions grew markedly this summer and loans for them are supposed to be actually extended for the following months,” a bank official said.New home-backed loans came to 11.15 trillion won in August, and those for 추천 Sept. 1-26 came to 7.85 trillion won.Banks’ total household loans stood at 729.49 trillion won as of Sept. 26, up from 725.36 trillion won at the end of-August.The Bank of Korea (BOK) has cited rising household debts as a major factor for its rate decision.Last month, the central bank held its key interest rate steady at 3.5 percent, which was the highest level in about 16 years, and some expect a pivot by the BOK as early as October on easing inflation and weak domestic demand.But BOK Gov. Rhee Chang-yong said it needs to consider housing prices and household debts as crucial factors for a possible rate cut.The BOK is scheduled to hold a rate-setting meeting Oct. 11. 

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Seoul Beauty Travel Week draws record crowds with wellness-themed programs

People participate in an outdoor yoga class at Seoul Forest in Seongdong District, eastern Seoul, Saturday. Korea Times photo by Jung Da-hyun

During this year’s Seoul Beauty Travel Week, people spent the weekend enjoying wellness-themed programs aimed at promoting relaxation and self-care.The event, organized by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, ran from Monday to Sunday and engaged participants with its focus on discovering true beauty through immersive experiences in K-wellness.On Saturday, people participated in the event at Seoul Forest, which included yoga, meditation and gardening as part of Seoul Beauty Travel Week.Seong Yoo-jin, a 34-year-old office worker and regular yoga enthusiast, visited to participate in the outdoor yoga session, calling it a unique and memorable experience.”It’s a rare opportunity to do yoga outdoors, and having the sessions offered for free makes it even better,” she said.”It’s also reassuring to see the city government taking an interest in residents’ physical and mental well-being.”International tourists also showed an interest in the event.

“I think it’s amazing. I’ve never seen an event like this in a major city, involving the community so actively,” said Harry Bryce, a tourist from Scotland who visited Seoul Forest as part of his trip.He noted that it was refreshing to see so many people enjoying the space peacefully.”I think it’s important and a good opportunity to spend time in parks like this, creating a nice balance within the city,” he said.Cho Geul-saim, a yoga instructor who participated in the event by teaching massage and stretching, praised the program for its enthusiastic attendees.”People are genuinely engaged in the sessions, eager to fully enjoy and learn about wellness,” Cho said. “I think there’s a growing desire for relaxation, and the turnout here reflects that demand.”She added that events like this can help yoga and wellness become more popular, providing more opportunities for people to experience them.

In addition to wellness programs, a variety of activities were held throughout the week in collaboration with local businesses in Seoul’s Seongdong District. A total of 17 restaurants and cafes participated, offering cuisine under the theme of “refresh.”A fusion snack bar OFTT in Seongsu-dong prepared special menu items inspired by Seoul. The three featured dishes included Seoul Ramen — the first ramen brand created by a local government in 스포츠 Korea — alongside black bean sauce ramen and dumplings.”We aimed to present ‘bunsik,’ Korean-style snacks or street food like ramen and tteokbokki, with a fusion twist, making it enjoyable for both Korean visitors and international tourists,” said Seo Tae-won, CEO of OFTT.Seo expressed disappointment that bunsik is not widely recognized globally. This inspired him to adopt the slogan of his restaurant, “Bunsik Change the World,” with the goal of raising global awareness about the cuisine.

He also mentioned that about 20 percent of the visitors to his snack bar were foreigners, and he enjoyed explaining the menu items to them. OFTT also hosted a special event, offering to take photos of visitors with a digital camera.”I think bunsik, like ramen and tteokbokki, represents everyday food that Koreans actually enjoy, so it plays a significant role when talking about K-food,” Seo said.”This event provides a great opportunity to showcase the versatility of bunsik, which can serve as both a snack and a meal.”AmorePacific, one of Korea’s leading beauty brands, also participated in the event. At Amore Seongsu, a week-long potted plant exhibition by potted plant studio CEO Choi Moon-jeong was held, along with special programs to celebrate Seoul Beauty Travel Week.”This event offers an opportunity to experience the region’s unique charm firsthand, aligning with the growing trend of valuing experiences over material ownership,” said Kim Young-hwan, director general of the Tourism and Sports Bureau at the Seoul Metropolitan Government

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Israel kills Hezbollah leader Nasrallah, robbing Iran of top ally

Shiite Muslims light candles during a protest against the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, in Karachi, Pakistan, Sept. 28. AP-Yonhap

Israel killed Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah in a powerful airstrike in Beirut, dealing a heavy blow to the Iran-backed group as it reels from an escalating campaign of Israeli attacks.The Israeli military said on Saturday it had eliminated Nasrallah in the strike on the group’s central command headquarters in Beirut’s southern suburbs on Friday. Hezbollah confirmed he had been killed, without saying how.Nasrallah’s death is a major blow to both Hezbollah and Iran, removing an influential ally who helped build Hezbollah into the linchpin of Tehran’s network of allied groups in the Arab world.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the killing of Nasrallah as a necessary step toward “changing the balance of power in the region for years to come.””Nasrallah was not a terrorist, he was the terrorist,” Netanyahu said in a statement, warning of challenging days ahead.U.S. President Joe Biden described Nasrallah’s death as a measure of justice for what he called his many victims, including thousands of Americans, Israelis and Lebanese, and said the U.S. fully supported Israel’s right to self-defense.

But when asked if an Israeli ground incursion into Lebanon was inevitable, Biden told reporters on Saturday: “It’s time for a ceasefire.”A senior member of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, deputy commander Abbas Nilforoushan, was also killed in the Israeli attacks in Beirut on Friday, Iranian media reported.Sources told Reuters that Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had been moved to a secure location in Iran following Nasrallah’s killing.Iran later called for a United Nations Security Council meeting on Israel’s actions in Lebanon and elsewhere in the region. It also warned against any attacks on its diplomatic facilities and representatives.”Iran will not hesitate to exercise its inherent rights under international law to take every measure in defense of its vital national and security interests,” Iran’s U.N. ambassador, Amir Saeid Iravani, said in a letter to the 15-member council.Israeli strikes in Lebanon killed 33 people and wounded 195 others on Saturday, the Lebanese health ministry said.

The strikes continued on Beirut’s southern suburbs throughout the early evening on Saturday, according to a Reuters live broadcast, sending large clouds of smoke over the city.One Israeli strike hit an industrial area 500 metres (yards) from Beirut airport buildings, a security source told Reuters. The airport continued to operate normally, according to Middle East Airlines boss Mohammad al-Hout.More than 1,000 people have been 한국을 killed and more than 6,000 wounded as a result of Israeli attacks in the past two weeks, the health ministry said, and about one million Lebanese have been displaced by the strikes, including hundreds of thousands since Friday, Nasser Yassin, the minister coordinating the government’s crisis response, told Reuters on Saturday.Israel said it killed a senior Hezbollah intelligence official in a strike on southern Beirut, naming him as Hassan Khalil Yassin. Hezbollah has made no mention of this.

In Israel, air raid sirens sounded across the centre of the country — including Tel Aviv — and large bangs were heard after a missile was fired from Yemen and intercepted, according to the Israeli military.A projectile fired from Lebanon crashed in the occupied West Bank, sparking fires, the Israeli military said. There were no casualties, according to the Israeli ambulance service.Hezbollah said in a statement that it would continue its battle against Israel “in support of Gaza and Palestine, and in defence of Lebanon and its steadfast and honourable people.” Iran’s Khamenei said Nasrallah’s death would be avenged and his path in fighting Israel would be pursued by other militants.Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said his country was facing the threat of danger, without mentioning the death of Nasrallah. His office later announced three days of mourning for the Hezbollah chief.

Hezbollah and Israel have been fighting a conflict in parallel with Israel’s war against the Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza since Hamas’ attack on Israel last Oct. 7, in a cross-border confrontation that has sharply escalated in recent days.Hezbollah’s Al-Manar TV aired verses from the Koran after Nasrallah’s death was announced. Bursts of gunfire were heard in Beirut and Lebanon’s army deployed tanks in the city centre, according to Reuters witnesses.The Israeli military said Nasrallah was eliminated in a “targeted strike” on the group’s underground headquarters below a residential building in Dahiyeh — a Hezbollah-controlled southern suburb of Beirut. It said he was killed along with senior Hezbollah official Ali Karaki and other commanders.Nasrallah’s death is by far the largest blow in a traumatic fortnight for Hezbollah, starting with a deadly strike on thousands of communications devices used by its members.Days later, Israel significantly ramped up airstrikes in Lebanon, killing several top Hezbollah commanders and hundreds of other people across wide areas of the country.

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‘First official game a success’ Park Ji-hyun scores 15 points, 5 steals against Seodaemun-gu Office

New Zealand’s Park Ji-hyun, who joined Tokomana and Queens, had a strong performance against Seodaemun-gu Office.

Park had 15 points, nine rebounds, two assists, and five steals against Seodaemun-gu in the Asia Pacific Women’s Basketball Challenge (AWBC) at the NBA Academy School in Haikou, Hainan Province, China on Monday. Tokomanawa defeated Seodaemun-gu Office 76-48.

Park, who played as the starting guard, assisted center Margaret Brown’s layup with an exquisite in-bounds pass for the team’s first points. With 1:20 left in the first quarter, she scored on a layup following a crossover dribble, 사설 토토사이트 drawing cheers from her teammates.

Tokomanawa convened last week in preparation for the new Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa season, which kicks off in October. Playing in the AWBC is actually the first step in getting the team together.

While the team had the advantage in rebounding and scoring due to their superior physicality and skill, they were unable to coordinate their movements with each other.

Park Ji-hyeon, who met her new teammates for the first time in Haikou on the 26th, also worked on teamwork by passing the ball rather than scoring.


In the fourth quarter, the team’s scoring from link-up plays increased as they became more comfortable with each other’s moves. Park scored on a give-and-go with Brown with 2:20 left in regulation and then assisted on a pick-and-roll with Brown on the next possession.

Park also scored the team’s final basket with 12 seconds left in regulation.

Park’s 15 points were second only to Brown’s 24 points and 18 rebounds.

After the game, Park said, “I joined the team here, so I tried to adapt to the team play and play my game within it. I’ll do a good job in the future.”

With the success of her first official game with Tokomanawa, Park will next play against Beijing Greatwater on Nov. 29.

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Is ‘influencer’ Ronaldo happy in the Middle East? [On and off the pitch].

A star is a star. Cristiano Ronaldo has done it again. On August 21, he launched a YouTube channel called UR-Cristiano, which gained 1 million subscribers in just 1 hour and 29 minutes. It was the shortest and fastest time in YouTube’s history.

YouTube presented Ronaldo with a gold button that same day. The gold button is a sign of recognition for channels that reach one million subscribers. The fact that 10 videos were uploaded at the time of the channel’s launch supports speculation that Ronaldo and YouTube had planned the channel’s launch and promotion in advance. Ronaldo is already a superstar on social media. He has over 900 million followers across X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram. It was only natural that YouTube would give him special treatment.

The response was overwhelming. It was like a trending topic was brought back to life. It took less than 12 hours for 700 creators around the world to reach 10 million subscribers. As of August 28, it’s on track to reach 50 million subscribers. The first video uploaded had over 30 million views and 110,000 comments. This is unprecedented in YouTube history. It’s a testament to his star power and commercial appeal, 토토사이트 순위 even as his soccer career enters its twilight years.

Of course, some reactions were to the point. “Messi won a Copa America title, Ronaldo won a YouTube gold button,” one quipped. Ronaldo’s longtime rival Lionel Messi led Argentina to the Copa America 2024 title in the United States in July. Wearing the captain’s armband, Messi led Argentina to three consecutive major tournament titles, including the 2021-2024 Copa America and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Compare that to Ronaldo’s Portugal’s quarterfinal finishes at the World Cup and Euro2024, respectively.

The twilight years of two of the biggest names in 21st-century soccer are contrasting. Messi’s leadership of the national team has been remarkable. He was especially dominant at the 2022 World Cup. Messi scored in all four games from the round of 16 to the final, bringing the World Cup trophy home to his country for the first time in 38 years. It was the first “all-match tournament goal in a single competition” in soccer history. What makes him even more remarkable is the Messi kids. The younger members of the national team, more than a decade apart in age, vowed to crown Messi, and Argentina was back in a golden age.

Ronaldo, on the other hand, has struggled in major tournaments since his Euro2016 triumph. At both the World Cup in Qatar and Euro2024, he scored just one goal from the penalty spot. He’s even been criticized for focusing too much on individual performances. The G.O.A.T. (Greatest Of All Time) race is effectively over for him, as is the goat emoji on social media.

Ronaldo and Messi are on opposite ends of the spectrum, not only with their national teams but also with their clubs. Ronaldo joined Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nasr on the last day of 2022. It was just over a month after he had terminated his contract with Manchester United. At the time, he was in the midst of a falling out with manager Eric Mourinho and a string of sniping comments in media interviews. Ronaldo wanted to stay in Europe, but no team was interested in signing the maverick. That’s when Alnasr came calling with a €200 million offer. Ronaldo decided to end his career in Europe and head to the Middle East.

At Al-Nasr, Ronaldo has flourished as an individual, not as part of a team. Last season, he scored 35 goals in the league alone, making him the top scorer at age 39, but the team failed to win back-to-back titles. Alnasr’s main objective in signing the world’s most expensive player was to become Asia’s top club. Contrary to expectations, the team didn’t even reach the semifinals of the AFC Champions League. They were beaten by Al-Hilal in the Saudi league and by clubs from other countries in the Champions League. Al-Nasr didn’t find the investment in Ronaldo worthwhile.

How does Messi feel about Ronaldo?

In recent years, he has earned dislike for his mocking gestures towards teammates and lack of respect for other teams. On August 18, Al-Nasr faced Al-Hilal in the Saudi Super Cup and lost 1-4 in an upset. Ronaldo opened the scoring in the 44th minute of the first half, but Al Nasr could not hold onto the lead. Alhilal scored four goals in the second half. Ronaldo, wearing the captain’s armband, became angry with his teammates after the fourth goal. He put his hands next to his ears and gestured at his teammates, accusing them of sleeping. His post-match demeanor was also controversial. After finishing runner-up, the Alnasr players had to stand on the podium to receive their silver medal. Ronaldo went into the locker room and didn’t come out.

Ronaldo’s no-show attitude is nothing new. His no-show in 2019 when he traveled to South Korea with Juventus is a case in point. Ronaldo was supposed to play in a friendly match, but he didn“t, citing poor physical condition. Korean fans were disappointed that he didn”t show up. Upon his return to Europe, Ronaldo stirred up even more controversy when he posted a video of himself working out on social media, mocking his fans.

For Saudi Arabia, Ronaldo is the face of their league, and they pay him a huge salary, plus a bonus for being an ambassador for their 2030 World Cup bid. The signing of Ronaldo has spurred other clubs in Saudi Arabia to compete for world-class players such as Neymar, Benzema, Mane, and Kante. But Ronaldo hasn’t shown the class and attitude to match his salary.

Messi’s behavior shines in contrast. Messi chose to move to the United States last summer. This was after Alnasr’s biggest rival, Alhilal, offered him 400 million euros, double Ronaldo’s salary. Messi plays for Inter Miami, a team famously co-owned by David Beckham. Beckham proposed the move to maximize the marketability of soccer’s newest continent ahead of the 2026 World Cup in North and Central America. Messi chose vision over money. Inter Miami also promised a hefty salary of more than $70 billion, but that’s less than Messi earned in his prime in Europe. The $70 billion figure includes the entirety of Major League Soccer (MLS) to create the “Messi Effect.

The Messi effect has been evident. Inter Miami sells out games even though ticket prices are 16 times higher than the previous year. Other teams have benefited as well. Large stadiums with 60,000 to 70,000 seats sold out quickly because Messi was coming to town. MLS also signed a new broadcast rights deal with Apple TV, increasing the commercial scale of the league as a whole. The Ronaldo effect in Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, is yet to be realized. Despite his huge salary, he’s struggling to draw 10,000 people to stadiums. Al Nasr’s league opener drew just 9,000 people. Messi himself probably didn’t know that he would be honored as a pioneer at the end of his career.

At this point, you have to wonder how Ronaldo feels when he sees Messi. While his salary and YouTube presence make him an influencer who generates buzz, his great career is crumbling.

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Jeonbuk beats Jeju with ‘dramatic’ Jeon Jinwoo goal to stay unbeaten in 6 games, leap to 9th place

K League 1 stay-at-home favorite Jeonbuk Hyundai has moved up to ninth place in the league standings with a six-match unbeaten streak (four wins and two draws).

Jeonbuk defeated Jeju United 2-1 in the 32nd round of the Hana Bank K League 1 2024 at Jeonju World Cup Stadium on Nov. 28.

Jeonbuk, which is currently unbeaten in six league games, moved up to ninth place with nine wins, 10 draws and 13 points (37). They are just one point behind Jeju, who remain in eighth place with 12 wins, 토토사이트 two draws and 18 points (38).

Jeonbuk were hit with a setback in the 19th minute when frontline striker Hernandez was injured and Lee Seung-woo came on in his place, but they attacked aggressively in search of a goal. However, they failed to take the lead in the 36th minute when Ahn Hyun-beom’s shot hit the post.

Jeju, who strengthened their defense and tried to attack on the counterattack, had a chance in first-half stoppage time when Lim Chae-min’s long pass was headed on by Yuri Jonatan, but his shot went just wide of the goal.

After a scoreless first half, both teams made substitutions at the start of the second half. Jeonbuk brought on Jeon Jin-woo for Kwon Chang-hoon, while Jeju brought on Italo for Gallego.

Jeonbuk continued to attack after the introduction of Jeon Jin-woo and scored the first goal in the 14th minute of the second half. Kim Jin-kyu calmly slotted the ball in after receiving rough passes from Andrigo and Lee Seung-woo.

Jeju made a major change to its attack and defense in the 20th minute of the second half, introducing Seo Jin-soo, Kim Joo-gong, and Kim Tae-hwan at the same time.

Continuing to attack, Jeju earned a penalty kick in the 37th minute when Yuri Jonatan was fouled by Park Jin-seob. Yuri Jonatan stepped up to the spot kick and tied the game with a powerful shot.

Jeonbuk introduced Thiago and Lee Young-jae in the 43rd minute of the second half to try to win the game. The substitutions paid off, as Lee Young-jae sent in a pinpoint cross from the left flank to set up Jeon Jin-woo’s winning header in stoppage time.

Daegu FC drew 1-1 with Gangwon FC at Gangneung Sports Complex.

With the victory, Daegu extended its unbeaten streak to three matches (one win, two draws) and moved up to ninth place on the standings with eight points (11 wins, 13 draws) and 35 points.

Top contender Gangwon remained in third place with 15 points (7 wins, 10 draws) and 52 points after a run of five matches without a win (2 draws, 3 losses).

Desperate for a win, both teams pushed forward, but goals were hard to come by as their final passes and shots lacked accuracy.

In a frustrating situation, Kangwon scored the first goal in the 24th minute of the second half. On a free kick, Hwang Mungi took a direct shot that rattled Daegu’s goal.

Daegu fought back immediately and tied the game five minutes later. Hwang Jae-won’s cross from the right flank was met by Sejingya, who ran onto the ball and scored a half-volley to equalize.

With the goal, Sejingya scored double-digit league goals for the first time in two years since 2022 (12).

With the game back on level terms, Daegu upped the ante, centering on Sejingya. However, the lack of precision in their final passes and crosses prevented them from creating decisive chances and the game ended in a draw.

Gimcheon Commerce defeated Gwangju FC 2-0 at Gimcheon Sports Complex with consecutive goals from Mo Jae-hyun and Lee Dong-kyung to record their third straight win.

With the win, Gimcheon improved to 16 points (8 wins, 8 draws, 8 losses) and closed the gap on leaders Ulsan HD (58 points) back to two points.

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