Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal’s all-time top scorer and football icon, was awarded the prestigious Platinum Quinas trophy at the 2024 Quinas de Ouro gala, held on Monday evening in recognition of his extraordinary career and contributions to Portuguese football.

The Platinum Quinas trophy, the highest honour presented by the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF), was bestowed upon Ronaldo for his exceptional achievements with the national team, cementing his legacy as a symbol of Portugal on the global stage.

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The 39-year-old, now playing for Al-Nassr, has earned 216 caps and scored 133 goals for Portugal, solidifying his place in football history.

In a reflection on his career, Ronaldo shared his pride in the milestone. “It is an honour to receive this trophy. I see it as a beginning. Thank you to the FPF for this award, marking a long journey filled with hard work,” Ronaldo posted on social media the following day.

The footballer, known for his determination, humorously added, “I can’t wait to see what my legs have to offer me in the next few years. If the 1000th goal comes, that’s fine… but if it doesn’t happen, I’m already the top scorer in history.”

Ronaldo also expressed his gratitude in Portuguese, saying, “É um orgulho receber este prémio pela minha carreira na Seleção. Ainda há muito por conquistar! Obrigado, @selecaoportugal!” (“It is an honor to receive this award for my career with the National Team. There is still a lot to achieve! Thank you, @selecaoportugal”).

The gala, which celebrates excellence in Portuguese football, saw the attendance of distinguished guests including Prime Minister Luís Montenegro and FPF President Fernando Gomes.

Ronaldo, who famously led Portugal to victory at the 2016 UEFA European Championship and the 2019 UEFA Nations League, praised the country’s football infrastructure.

“We have everything: magnificent stadiums, excellent coaches, potential in these players, and the stars we have. Not only in football but in other sports as well,” he remarked.

The event also honoured several other notable figures from Portuguese football. Former international Pepe, who retired in August after 141 caps with the national team, was celebrated for his remarkable career.

The ceremony also recognised players such as Diogo Costa, Rúben Dias, and Vitinha for their outstanding performances in the 2024 Ballon d’Or and Yashin award races.

Other awards included a special tribute to Jorge Jesus, coach of Saudi Arabian champions Al Hilal, for his record 34 consecutive wins, and João Matos, who was honoured for earning 200 caps with the Portuguese futsal national team.

The evening also paid tribute to the late José Manuel Constantino, the former president of the Portuguese Olympic Committee, and recognised Olympic and Paralympic athletes who earned medals at the 2024 Paris Games.

In a touching moment, FPF President Fernando Gomes acknowledged the contributions of several Portuguese clubs to the development of top talent, with representatives from Sporting, FC Porto, Benfica, Sporting de Braga, and Vitória de Guimarães attending the ceremony.

As the event concluded, Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva were called upon by Portuguese U21 coach Rui Jorge to take up the mantle of responsibility for the future of Portuguese football, ensuring the continued growth and success of the national team.

Marco Angulo, the 22-year-old Ecuadorian midfielder playing for FC Cincinnati and currently on loan with L.D.U. Quito, has died from injuries sustained in a car accident on October 7.

The Ecuadorian Football Association (FA) confirmed his passing on Tuesday, sending shockwaves through the international football community.

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The accident, which took place on the Rumiñahui highway southeast of Quito, claimed the lives of Angulo’s former youth team teammate Roberto Cabezas and another passenger.

Cabezas, who was driving, collided with a metal barrier, killing him and one passenger instantly.

Angulo suffered critical injuries, including severe head trauma and a lung contusion, and was placed in an artificial coma.

Despite extensive efforts to save him, he succumbed to his injuries on Monday night, according to Ecuadorian media outlet El Universo.

Angulo, a promising defensive midfielder, represented Ecuador in the Under-17 and Under-20 national teams, making his senior debut in November 2022 during a friendly against Iraq, with a follow-up appearance in a March 2023 friendly against Australia.

Known for his commitment and skill, Angulo had recently been playing in Ecuador’s top league with L.D.U. Quito, on loan from Major League Soccer’s FC Cincinnati.

The Ecuadorian FA expressed deep sorrow, describing Angulo as “not only an outstanding player but a great teammate” who “defended the colors of our country at every opportunity with talent and dedication.”

The quality of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) is on a path of positive transformation, sailing on the winds of enhanced transparency, professional management and greater public investment.

On sustaining these laudable achievements, the GTI Group, stated, “Therefore, the recent ugly incident at Jos should be properly investigated and appropriate sanctions applied accordingly to forestall future occurrences.”

It maintained that the pieces of evidence and attestation of a new dawn for the NPFL frankly affirm that the managers of the league are seriously committed to a safe environment for match day activities, with zero tolerance for crowd violence.

By enforcing immediate sanctions on players, clubs and fans who engage in disruptive behaviour, the league now underscores the importance of respect and security. This firm stance preserves the joy of the game for all and upholds the integrity of the NPFL experience.

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In its view, upholding professional standards by the NPFL means accountability across all levels! Recently, a popular player that upcoming Nigerian stars look up to threw caution to the winds by making a sweeping statement against a match official and was sanctioned for unprofessional conduct.

This simply demonstrates that no one is above the league’s code of conduct. This approach ensures that all parties, from players to fans, respect the NPFL values, thereby reinforcing a disciplined and fair environment for the beautiful game to thrive.

Football pundits notice that significant progress has been made in the past two years with the help of the NPFL’s strategic partners, the GTI Group, maintaining this momentum still requires maximum dedication to core principles that define a top-flight league.

Nigerian football stakeholders aver that transparency is now the cornerstone of the NPFL as Nigerians from all walks of life, including those in the diaspora have all noticed a new ray of hope for the game that was nearly in comatose a few years back.

They give credit to the GTI Group, sporting media and the present board of the NPFL headed by Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye for working round the clock to ensure a rebirth of our elite league. Through clear-cut decision-making processes and publicly accessible data, the league has fostered a culture of trust.

Fans and stakeholders can now monitor teams’ progress, match day outcomes and league decisions, thereby minimizing biases and setting a new bar for accountability in Nigerian sports.

In a game where fair play is everything, the NPFL match officials are bound to the highest standards of integrity when it comes to officiating. The league has now introduced stricter guidelines and oversight to ensure that referees and officials uphold the spirit of fair competition.

Regular training and ethical oversight are in place to safeguard the league’s reputation, making sure every match is fair and competitive.

However, through the introduction of The Nigeria Football Fund (TNFF) by the GTI Group, fans now have a tangible stake in the NPFL. This investment model allows Nigerians and other stakeholders to support the league directly thereby fostering a sense of ownership and responsibility through investment in the Fund.

Simply put, TNFF strengthens the bond between the league and its fans, giving the people a say in the future of Nigerian football, while generating financial resources for the sustenance of the elite league.

As the NPFL continues its journey, the focus remains on transparency, integrity and public ownership. Thus, by working together, fans, officials and players can secure a future for Nigerian football that is built on pride, passion, and professionalism as seen in other glamorous leagues in the world. In every game and every decision, GTI, sporting media and NPFL are building a legacy that Nigerians and her children yet unborn can celebrate and be proud of.