Mavericks' Luka Doncic scores 24 in return from sprained ankle

Mavericks forward Luka Doncic scored 24 points in his return from a sprained right ankle Thursday night, lifting Dallas to a 102-98 win over the San Antonio Spurs.

Doncic, who also had 10 rebounds and eight assists in 33 minutes, missed the past four games and was listed as questionable before he started Thursday's game, as per iSports API basketball livescore data.

(Start free trial with your long-term reliable sports data partner, visit iSports API.)

It felt good to be back," Doncic said after the game. "It was like I was running a marathon. I was so tired. It's different when you miss four or five games. It was great being back."

Entering the day, he ranked third in the NBA with 29.3 points and 8.9 assists per game, and he also averages 9.6 rebounds, according to iSports basketball API.

He was a full participant in the Mavericks' practice Tuesday, and the team wanted to monitor how his ankle responded before inserting him in the lineup.

The Mavericks went 2-2 in Doncic's absence.

Doncic injured the ankle when he stepped on the foot of Miami Heat guard Kendrick Nunn while driving to the basket in the opening minutes of the Mavs' double-overtime loss on Dec. 14. The ankle rolled over so far that it touched the hardwood, and the Mavs felt fortunate that X-rays were negative and Doncic was diagnosed with a lateral ankle sprain.

More articles, please follow iSports blog.

Martin Ødegaard set to return to Real Madrid in 2020

Martin Ødegaard has been one of the most beautiful surprises in all of world football in 2019, with the Norwegian finally showing off his quality with the ball in LaLiga.

Nearly every single weekend with Real Sociedad, Ødegaard has put on a show with his goals, assists, and individual moments of magic.

(Start free trial with your long-term reliable sports data partner, visit iSports API.)

With Real Madrid suffering from injuries and below-par performances in the midfield, AS is now reporting that Los Blancos will cut his two-year loan short and Ødegaard will return to the club in the summer.

The loan contract is officially for one season (the current one), but there is a second year verbally agreed between the clubs.

Due to prior business dealings (Asier Illarramendi, Diego Llorente, Theo Hernandez), the relationship between the two clubs is understood to be ‘magnificent’ and it’s not believed there will be any problem with Madrid recalling the Norway international a year early.

Transfermarkt currently valued the 20-year-old Ødegaard at a whopping €50m.

More articles, please follow iSports blog.

Mario Mandzukic leaves Juventus for Qatari side Al Duhail

Mario Mandzukic has joined Qatari side Al Duhail, leaving Juventus after four years at the Serie A club.

Mandzukic reached the World Cup final in 2018, and at club level he previously played for Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich, winning the Champions League with the latter in 2013, according to iSports API football data.

(Start free trial with your long-term reliable sports data partner, visit iSports API.)




"The team's management succeeded today in contracting with the Croatian striker Mario Mandzukic of Juventus in a free transfer deal after the end of his contract with his Italian team," Al-Duhail said.

Mandzukic, 33, was linked with Manchester United in the summer, but sources told ESPN the Premier League side backed out of a move due to Juventus' asking price and the forward's wage demands.

The former Croatia international, who did not make a single appearance under new Juventus manager Maurizio Sarri this season, joins former Juve teammate Medhi Benatia at Al Duhail.

The Doha-based club are coached by Rui Faria, former assistant coach to Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho.

More articles, please follow iSports blog.

Napoli and AS Roma want Sead Kolasinac to reinforce their squad

Napoli and AS Roma want to sign Arsenal left-back Sead Kolasinac, in January and the summer respectively.

AS Roma also want the Arsenal left-back, but they want a transfer next summer. Aleksandar Kolarov is 34 and out of contract next year, according to iSports API football data, so they need a replacement.

News report that Napoli are keen on signing Sead Kolasinac in the January transfer window. The club are going into their first window under new head coach Gennaro Gattuso, as he tries to make the team his own.

(Start free trial with your long-term reliable sports data partner, visit iSports API.)

Napoli are also in terrible form, as they’ve won just one league game in 9(as per iSports API). They’ll be considering anything they can do to turn that around.

Napoli could have an advantage given recent rumours of Arsenal interest in Dries Mertens. If the reports are true, a swap deal with the Serie A club could work for both parties.

For now, Kolasinac is recovering from an injury. Even when he’s back, Arsenal probably won’t consider a January sale unless they have a replacement ready. Kieran Tierney is out until March, so Mikel Arteta needs Kolasinac back as soon as possible.

More articles, please follow iSports blog.

Thomas Müller makes Bundesliga history in first half of season

In a turbulent opening half of the season for Bayern Munich, Thomas Müller has been a big positive.

Despite the German champions having to change coach, the 30-year-old has been a key and constant presence.

So much so that he has set a Bundesliga record for the opening half of a season.

No player before had ever managed to register 11 assists in the first 17 games until Müller this year, as per iSports API football data.

(Start free trial with your long-term reliable sports data partner, visit iSports API.)



His latest assist came on Saturday in the 2-0 win over Wolfsburg as he provided for Joshua Zirkzee to open the scoring.

In addition to his double-digit assists, the forward has also scored twice in the Bundesliga.

He is followed closely in the league assist charts by Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho, who has 10.

More articles, please follow iSports blog.

Getafe president confirms Carles Aleñá talks with Barcelona

Getafe barely missed out on Champions League qualification last season, falling two points short of the task and qualifying for the Europa League for just the third time in the club’s history, as per iSports API.

The azulones have proved last season’s campaign was no fluke and are currently in fourth place domestically, with a mouthwatering Europa League round-of-32 tie against Ajax on the horizon.

Currently just 6 points behind Barcelona and Real Madrid, Getafe president wants to make a splash in January and has confirmed he will speak with Barça to discuss the future of midfielder Carles Aleñá.

Aleñá has made 38 appearances for Barcelona, scoring three goals, currently values the player at €30m, according to iSports API football data.

(Start free trial with your long-term sports data partner, visit iSports API.)

Aleñá nearly joined Getafe 2 years ago when Rafinha fell victim to injury just before the January window opened up.

With Barcelona’s congested midfield, it may be time for the club to let the 21-year-old embark on his own journey.

“I’ll speak with them this afternoon, or tomorrow, to see whether or not the kid will stay there. I like Carles Aleñá and wanted him two years ago.

“He could cover the place if somebody else left. If no one leaves, no one will come in.

“But Markel is tired of suffering and if he retires, we’ll have a spot open. He wants to retire and we’ll need to replace him.

“The market is open and there are players who want to join us. We’re in the Europa League and any deal which could improve us now, or for the future, is something we’ll value.”

Earlier this month, AS reported that the two sides had agreed to a six-month loan deal for the player.

More articles, please follow iSports blog.

Knicks hire ex-Cavaliers coach David Blatt as consultant

The New York Knicks announced that they hired David Blatt as a basketball operations consultant.

"I look forward to the next step in my career as I officially retire from coaching," Blatt said, in part, in a statement released by the Knicks. "I've long been intrigued by working in a front office."

Blatt was personal friends with Knicks president Steve Mills when the two were in college at Princeton. Blatt is also close with Craig Robinson, who is also working in the Knicks' front office. Blatt, Robinson and Mills all played on the basketball team at Princeton together, as per iSports basketball API.

"David Blatt is a great basketball mind and we look forward to adding him to the organization," Mills said in a statement.

Blatt was hired as the Cleveland Cavaliers coach in 2014 after an extensive search before the franchise knew that LeBron James would be leaving the Miami Heat to return to Cleveland.

After coaching the team to an NBA Finals berth in 2015, the Cavs were in first place in the Eastern Conference (30-11) the following season when Blatt was fired in January 2016. Tyronn Lue replaced Blatt as coach of the Cavaliers and that group went on to win the NBA championship, according to iSports API basketball API.

(Start free trial with your long-term sports data partner, visit iSports API.)

After leaving the NBA, Blatt went to Europe and coached in the Turkish Super League and then coached in the Greek Basket League. Blatt left his post as coach of Olympiakos in October, two months after announcing he had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

Blatt announced in August he had been diagnosed with MS, which attacks the central nervous system, a few months earlier.

Blatt was in attendance at Knicks practice on Wednesday.

More articles, please follow our blog.

Anthony Davis sits in Lakers' loss to Pacers with ankle sprain

Anthony Davis did not play in the Lakers' 105-102 loss to the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday night due to a mild ankle sprain.

It was the second game Davis has missed this season. He is leading the team in points (27.4), rebounds (9.3) and blocks (2.6) per game, as per iSports basketball API.



In Davis' absence, Jared Dudley made his first start of the season for the Lakers (24-4), who are now tied with the Milwaukee Bucks for the NBA's best record.

Davis tweaked the ankle during Sunday's win against the Atlanta Hawks. He grabbed at his right ankle when fouled on a layup in the closing minutes, but he was able to finish the game.

He had been listed as questionable on the injury report leading into Tuesday's game.

Davis previously has dealt with rib and shoulder soreness this season. Kyle Kuzma (ankle) was also out for Los Angeles, as previously announced.

Start free trial with your long-term sports data partner, visit iSports API.

More articles, please follow our blog.

Kings have 29 turnovers, still deal Warriors 'embarrassing' loss

The Sacramento Kings set an NBA season high with 29 turnovers but still managed to overwhelm the Golden State Warriors 100-79 on Sunday night. The two teams combined for 50 turnovers and countless mental errors leaving both players and coaches on both sides searching for answers.

After losing to the lowly New York Knicks at home Friday night, Kings coach Luke Walton was just happy to walk out of Chase Center with a victory.

The amount of turnovers gave the first-year coach some pause. The Kings' 29 turnovers were the most by any NBA team in a win since 2004, according to ESPN Stats and Information research. They were the most turnovers by the Kings in any game since 1996 -- and the most turnovers they've had in a win since 1984 when the team was still based in Kansas City, as per iSports basketball API.

Kings big man Marvin Bagley had to chuckle when asked if he had ever seen a game in which a team turned the ball over that many times and still won by more than 20.

Kings swingman Buddy Hield didn't seem concerned with all the lapses, pointing out that his team actually shot very well from the floor. The Kings finished the game shooting 60.3 percent from the field and had 27 assists, according to iSports API NBA data.

The Warriors performance was so bad that it left the group's emotional leader, Draymond Green, trying to find the right words to explain how poorly his group played.

When told the Kings had 29 turnovers, Green couldn't really believe it.

The Warriors' 79 points were the least scored in a home game during the Kerr era, as per reliable sports data provider iSports API. The team, which has been riddled with injuries all season, continues to play without Stephen Curry (broken hand), Klay Thompson (left ACL rehab) and rookie forward Eric Paschall, who missed his second straight game because of left hip soreness. But those absences don't give Green much solace. The proud veteran leader appeared as outwardly frustrated as he's been all year.

As the Warriors continue looking for answers, the Kings remain hopeful that their best basketball is ahead. The organization is hoping to get injured guard De'Aaron Fox back at some point this week, possibly as early as Tuesday when they travel to Charlotte to face the Hornets. Fox has been out since suffering a grade three left ankle sprain in a Nov. 11th practice.

Start free trial with your long-term sports data partner, visit iSports API.

More articles, please follow our blog.

Ronaldo sets new goals record as Juventus beat Udinese

Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice to set yet another goal-scoring landmark and help Juventus to a 3-1 home win over Udinese that sent them back to the top of Serie A.

In-form Ronaldo, who has five goals in his last four games, took his tally for the season to 11 in 19 appearances, becoming the only player in Europe's top five leagues to hit double figures in all competitions in each of the last 15 seasons, as per iSports API football data.

He struck twice in the first half before Leonardo Bonucci headed in Juve's third on the brink of half-time.

"The most important thing was to win," Ronaldo told journalist.

"This is how we should play, with confidence. Individual performances aren't what matters, but the collective effort."

Juventus suffered their first defeat of the season at Lazio last weekend to surrender the lead to Inter Milan, but the champions put pressure back on Antonio Conte's side.

Gianluigi Buffon started in goal for Juventus to match Alessandro Del Piero's club record of 478 Serie A appearances, while Ronaldo was given the rare opportunity to start in an attacking trident alongside Paulo Dybala and Gonzalo Higuain.

Ronaldo came close to a hat trick in the second half when his powerful shot was palmed onto the post by Udinese goalkeeper Juan Musso.

Start free trial with your long-term sports data partner, visit iSports API.

More articles, please follow our blog.

Fikayo Tomori signs new five-year Chelsea deal

Fikayo Tomori has been one of the Premier League’s breakout stars this season and he has been handsomely rewarded for his efforts.

On Thursday, Chelsea announced that the centre-back, who turns 22 next week, has signed a new deal that will keep him at the club until 2024.

After starring under Frank Lampard on loan and making 55 appearances last season at Derby County, Tomori has inserted himself immediately into the Chelsea starting XI and made 16 appearances in all competitions, contributing a goal and an assist, as per iSports API.

Gareth Southgate has taken notice of the young star, calling Tomori up on two occasions and giving him his first cap last month in Euro 2020 qualifying against Kosovo.

“It’s obviously a very proud moment for myself and my family,” Tomori told the Chelsea website. “I’ve been at the club since I was seven years old so I don’t really know much else other than Chelsea.

‘The club has been so good to me, looking after and developing me during that time into the player and the person I am today.

“It’s a dream come true to sign a new five-year contract. I’m really happy the club have shown this faith in me and I’m just excited to carry on.”

Tomori’s previous deal was set to expire at the end of the 2021 season.

For more details about the reliable sports API, please visit iSportsapi.com.

More articles, please follow https://www.isportsapi.com/blog-list/-1.html

PSG’s 5 Worst Transfer Signings of the Decade

Over the last decade, Paris Saint-Germain has transformed from a sleeping giant into one of the most feared teams in all of Europe.

The Qatar Sports Investment takeover in 2011 started it all. Their financial investment made it so PSG could compete financially in the transfer market and build up a squad capable of winning the UEFA Champions League.

Eight years in though, that particular trophy continues to elude them, but it’s not due to lack of trying. Every transfer window, PSG is one of the most active clubs and they have spent a lot of cash on world-class players.

However, when you spend money at the rate PSG has, not all transfers are going to turn out as good as Kylian Mbappé. With that in mind, I have created a list of PSG’s five worst signings of the decade.

The criteria for this list are simple. we looked at how much the player cost, his statistics while at PSG, and the number of seasons with the club, all data as per iSports football API.

So let’s begin looking back at the top five worst transfers this decade for Les Parisiens.

Jesé

The often forgotten Spaniard kicks off the list as one of the worst signings of the decade. Before coming to Paris, Jesé spent two seasons with Real Madrid, appearing in 63 matches where he scored 13 goals and 12 assists. As a result of putting up these numbers at a club like Real Madrid, it made Jesé, a desirable player.

PSG would be the club willing to pay to bring the winger in. Les Parisiens forked over €25 million (Marca) in 2016, which is a reasonable fee for someone like Jesé at the time; however, the club would never come close to recouping any of that money.

Jesé would go on to flop with PSG, playing 10 Ligue 1 matches and only scoring one goal. Also, the Spaniard would appear for 16 matches in all competitions during his time with PSG and would produce two, that’s right, two goals. Since the 2016-17 season, Jesé has spent his time out on different loan stints. Appearing for clubs like UD Las Palmas, Stoke City, Real Betis, and Sporting CP but never finding a home.

Currently on loan at Sporting, the now 26-year-old is worth €5 million, according to Transfermrkt, but it’s hard envisioning anyone paying that sum. Finally, in his time with PSG, Jesé is more known for producing a Reggaeton music video rather than the two goals he scored.

Hatem Ben Arfa

The only positive of this transfer was that Hatem Ben Arfa arrived at PSG on a free transfer in 2016 (ESPN). The season before arriving in the capital club, Ben Arfa scored 17 goals in 34 appearances for OGC Nice. On the surface, obtaining an attacker who was coming off a free was smart business.

Then it went south, pretty fast. The 2016-17 season would mark Ben Arfa’s first and last season with PSG. In 32 appearances, he only scored four goals. That would be all for the Frenchman as the following season; he wouldn’t appear for PSG in any competition after falling out of favor with then manager Unai Emery due to his attitude.

Ben Arfa’s rift with Emery will be the lasting memory for PSG supporters. The two would meet in the UEFA Europa League last season, where Ben Arfa laughed at Emery for looking agitated as Arsenal FC fell to Stade Rennais in a surprise result. This season, the 32-year-old is without a club and currently suing PSG over lack of playing time.

Grzegorz Krychowiak

The 2016 summer transfer window is the worst of the decade for PSG. Along with Ben Arfa, the club brought in defensive midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak from Sevilla FC. While at Sevilla, the now 29-year-old played two seasons for the club and made 90 appearances in all competitions for the club.

In his final season with Sevilla, Krychowiak had impressive numbers. Winning 66 percent of his total duels and averaging 7.8 total duel wins per game, according to SofaScore. Other defensive numbers that stood out were his clearances per game (3.0), interceptions per game (4.5), and tackles per game (2.5), according to iSports API.

With Thiago Motta at the end of his career, the Polish midfielder looked like a suitable replacement. PSG would pay €30 million to bring over Krychowiak (The Guardian). In his lone season with Paris, Krychowiak saw a dip in all his defensive numbers, which were his calling card. His total duels, interceptions, clearances, and tackles all went down.

As the defending part of his duties took a hit, PSG supporters saw his other flaws, like his passing game. Then there was the rift with former manager Emery too. With Emery not playing him and his form not being up to par, it was a disaster from the start.

After the 2016-17 season, Krychowiak went on loan twice. His first loan spell was to West Bromwich Albion, who would see relegation after that season. Krychowiak would then head to Russia on loan to FC Lokomotiv Moscow. Over the summer, he would make the move a permanent one as PSG were able to sell him to the Russian club for €12 million (iSports API).

Benjamin Stambouli

The 2016 summer window is one that keeps on giving as Benjamin Stambouli is the next name from that disastrous transfer window. The only positive about Stambouli is that the fee wasn’t high with PSG spending €8.6 million, according to Goal. Also, once they realize that Stambouli wouldn’t be a player for the long-term, Les Parisiens were able to recoup most of the money by selling him to FC Schalke 04 for €8 million as reported by ESPN.

During his time with PSG, the Frenchman averaged 55 minutes per game and couldn’t cement a spot in the starting lineup for then-manager Laurent Blanc. Add in that Stambouli fell in the pecking order and was behind Krychowiak, Marco Verratti, Blaise Matuidi, and Adrien Rabiot, it made sense for PSG to move on from him and try to recoup some of the transfer fee.

It’s not as bad as the other transfers I’ve mentioned since the club regained their money; however, seeing a transfer spend only one season with the club is never a good look.

Layvin Kurzawa

My choice for the fifth-worst transfer of the decade may be a debatable one. Unlike the previous four spots, there’s no clear-cut worst transfer. This choice will spark debate, but in this slot is Layvin Kurzawa (hey, at least I didn’t pick Neymar Jr. like ESPN!) When Kurzawa came over from AS Monaco, it appeared that PSG wouldn’t have to worry about the left-back position for a while. That wouldn’t be the case.

After a few seasons, Kurzawa began breaking down. Since the 2014-15 season, the 27-year-old’s highest number of appearances in Ligue 1 is 20. As a result of having an unreliable left-back, PSG has brought in competition for Kurzawa. In 2017-18, the club brought in Yuri Berchiche, who would take over the position. However, due to Financial Fair Play, Les Parisiens needed to offload Berchiche to make their numbers a little more palatable for investigators looking into their books.

It looked as though Kurzawa would regain his left-back position, but PSG brought in someone cheaper to compete with Kurzawa. Juan Bernat would arrive ahead of the 2018-19 season to provide some depth and competition. During the summer, it didn’t look as though the Spaniard would usurp Kurzawa. Bernat was a flop with FC Bayern Munich but was able to eventually take over PSG’s left-back position, even scoring significant goals in the Champions League.

Kurzawa’s inability to stay healthy and losing his starting position twice to newcomers is to why he will earn a spot for the worst transfer.

For more details about sports event API, please visit iSportsapi.com.

More articles, please follow https://www.isportsapi.com/blog-list/-1.html

Barcelona's Ansu Fati, 17, youngest Champions League goal scorer ever

Ansu Fati's record-breaking season continued, as he became the youngest player to score in the Champions League when he netted Barcelona's winner against Inter Milan on Tuesday.

The teenage forward came off the bench at the San Siro to score in the 87th minute to seal a 2-1 victory that saw Inter Milan drop into the Europa League.

Aged 17 years, 40 days, the goal sees Fati take the record from Peter Ofori-Quaye, who was 17 years, 194 days old when he scored his first Champions League goal for Olympiacos in 1997, according to iSports football API.

"I've just been told [I have broken the record]. I am super happy with the goal and with the win," Fati said after the match. "It's a dream. Everything seems to be happening so quickly. It's just about enjoying myself and learning from the best. Every time I get a chance, I will try to take it, either by scoring goals or by working hard."

Describing the goal, Fati said: "I gave the ball to Suarez, and he gave it back to me. And when I scored, I was surprised because the whole stadium was silent. I was thinking: 'What have I just done?' But I am really happy."

Ansu had already become the youngest La Liga scorer for Barcelona earlier this season. He was 16 years, 304 days old when he netted against Osasuna in August.

That record had been held by Bojan Krkic, whose first league goal for Barca came when he was 17 years, 53 days old. Lionel Messi's first arrived at 17 years, 331 days old, according to iSports API.

A week after his goal against Osasuna, Ansu became the youngest player to score and assist a goal in the same game in La Liga when he made his first start for Barcelona against Valencia.

His form this season was rewarded with an improved contract last week.

For more information about sports event API, please visit iSportsapi.com.

More articles, please follow https://www.isportsapi.com/blog-list/-1.html

Celtics' Gordon Hayward scores 14 in return from injury

Celtics forward Gordon Hayward started in Monday night's 110-88 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, returning to the Boston lineup ahead of schedule in his return from a broken hand.

He received a loud ovation when he was introduced and got his first basket on a fast-break layup nearly halfway into the opening quarter. He also grabbed his first rebound and had his initial assist on Jayson Tatum's 3-pointer from the left wing in the first 4 1/2 minutes of action.



The star forward ended his night with 14 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists in 26 minutes, recorded by iSports basketball API.

Monday marks four weeks since Hayward underwent surgery to repair the bone in his hand in New York on Nov. 11. At the time, the Celtics said he could miss up to six weeks, but Hayward said he's been focused on getting healthy while letting the exact day of his return sort itself out.

Hayward, 29, has been shooting without restrictions for more than a week. After being cleared to begin contact work last Monday, he has spent time working out with coaches as he gradually moved closer to a return. Doctors put a plate in his left hand with screws to stabilize the bone -- a procedure Hayward said made his left hand "probably stronger than my right hand," in addition to saying the bone has fully healed.

"Motion and strength is going to take a little while to get back; it's whether or not you can play through that and still be effective. That's kind of what we're determining, but the bone is healed."

That's music to Boston's ears, as the Celtics could really use Hayward. While the Celtics have largely continued their hot start, going 9-4 in the 13 games Hayward has missed since their 7-1 start with him in the lineup, his absence has led to a lot of minutes for unproven or inexperienced bench options who have largely struggled in their expanded role.

Hayward's return will allow those players to take on more appropriate roles and help Tatum, who has been forced to carry the minutes when Kemba Walker has been on the bench, with middling results.

Mostly, though, the Celtics will simply be thrilled to have Hayward back. The former Jazz forward looked to be returning to his All-Star form to start this season, averaging 18.9 points, 7.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists, shooting 55.5% from the field and 43.2% from 3-point range, as per iSports API.

For more information about sports event API, please visit iSportsapi.com.

More articles, please follow https://www.isportsapi.com/blog-list/-1.html

Five of the best players never to win the Champions League

It is the pinnacle of European football, with every player dreaming of getting their hands on the Champions League trophy. However, not even some of the game’s greatest players manage to get their hands on Europe’s biggest prize.

Five of the best players never to win the Champions League, according to iSports football API.

Ruud van Nistelrooy

Ruud van Nistelrooy is one of the most prolific goal scorers in European history, finding the net 60 times in Europe over the course of his playing days at Manchester United and Real Madrid.

Joining United in 2001, the Dutchman’s move to Old Trafford two years after the club had famously conquered Europe in 1999, establishing himself as one of the most deadly strikers on the continent, winning the Champions League top goalscorer award in 2002, 2003 and 2005.

His move to Real Madrid meant that he missed out on a winners medal when United won the Champions League in 2008, with Real Madrid not getting their hands on the trophy again until 2013, three years after the Dutchman’s departure.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Ajax, Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona, AC Milan and Manchester United. All clubs who have won the European Cup on numerous occasions. They are also all clubs that Zlatan Ibrahimovic has played for with great distinction at some point in his illustrious career.

With that in mind, it’s pretty incredible to think that the Swedish striker hasn’t managed to get his hands on the most famous trophy in European football, in spite of his 49 European goals.

Ronaldo

One of the greatest strikers to have ever graced the game. Ronaldo, the original, the Brazilian, the Phenomenon.

Like Zlatan, he has also played for plenty of clubs with European pedigree, including Barcelona, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and AC Milan.

However, despite his clinical goalscoring talent, he only managed to find the net 14 times in the Champions League, with his infamous hat-trick against Manchester United one of his best nights on the continental stage, as per iSports API.

Francesco Totti

While the rest of the players on this list so far have played for clubs with plenty of European pedigree and a plethora of titles to their name, Roma icon Totti has not.

Failing to get his hands on the biggest trophy in Europe is perhaps the ultimate price of his loyalty to his hometown club, where he spent all of his 25-year career.

While he doesn’t have a Champions League winners medal to his name, it doesn’t take anything away from the career of one of the greats of European football.

Gianluigi Buffon

While Totti never even got close to being a European champion, the once most expensive goalkeeper in the world has come agonisingly close on a number of occasions, incredibly losing all three of the Champions League finals he has featured in.

The first defeat came at Old Trafford in what was one of the most boring finals in living memory against AC Milan in 2003. More recently, he has suffered defeat at the hands of Barcelona in 2015 and Real Madrid in 2017.

His brief move to PSG didn’t see his UCL fortunes improve, and has since returned to Juventus where his search for a winners medal goes on.

Again, his lack of a European winner’s medal though takes nothing away from what has been a stellar career for this absolute legend of the game, who can of course console himself with a World Cup triumph and a boatload of Serie A winners medals.

For more information about sports event API, please visit iSportsapi.com.

More articles, please follow https://www.isportsapi.com/blog-list/-1.html

Carmelo Anthony's contract with Blazers now fully guaranteed

The Portland Trail Blazers will amend Carmelo Anthony's contract so that it becomes fully guaranteed for the remainder of the season, accprding to league sources.

Portland had until early January to fully guarantee the deal for the season. Anthony, 35, had signed a non-guaranteed contract last month.

Anthony was named the Western Conference Player of the Week last week after averaging 22.3 points, 7.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists to help the Blazers go 3-0，as per iSports API. It marked the first time he was named a player of the week since the 2014 season, while he was a member of the Knicks.

Head coach Terry Stotts told ESPN Radio's Spain and Company that Anthony's addition has been "a pleasure" for the team.

"Melo's been terrific for us," Stotts said. "He's enjoying the experience. He's been a breath of fresh air for us that we needed."

Stotts said he has been impressed with Anthony's conditioning after being out of action for a year.

"We put a kind of limit/restriction on the first game or two just because we didn't want to extend his minutes not knowing what shape he was in," Stotts told Spain and Company. "But now he's playing 32-35 minutes, he played 37 minutes the other night. And for him to be out of NBA basketball for a year and be able to come in and play productive minutes for 35 minutes in an NBA game, to me, was remarkable."

Anthony poured in 20 points in 36 minutes in Wednesday night's 127-116 win over the Sacramento Kings. He is averaging 16.9 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game this season, according to iSports basketball API.

For more information about sports event API, please visit iSportsapi.com.

More articles, please follow https://www.isportsapi.com/blog-list/-1.html

Warriors' D'Angelo Russell returns after thumb injury

All-Star guard D'Angelo Russell returned to the Warriors' lineup Wednesday night after missing nine games with a sprained right thumb, giving Golden State's injury-ravaged backcourt an important boost.




Russell played 25 minutes in the 106-91 loss to the Charlotte Hornets, scoring 18 points on 7-of-14 shooting, according to basketball API provider iSports API.

Russell worked out in the morning shootaround before the game against Charlotte, getting final clearance to make his return. Russell was named an All-Star for the first time in his 5-year career last season.

Warriors forward Draymond Green, who was ruled out of Monday night's game against the Thunder with a sore right heel, also returned to the starting lineup Wednesday. He had five points and six assists in 25 minutes on Wednesday.

Warriors All-Star guard Stephen Curry is out until at least February with a broken left hand that required surgery, while Klay Thompson is recovering from surgery for a torn ACL in his left knee suffered in a Game 6 NBA Finals loss to the champion Toronto Raptors.

For more information about what's iSports API, please visit iSports.com.

Ranking the six most expensive signings in La Liga history

Spanish clubs were once again Europe’s biggest spenders this summer, with La Liga’s top three of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid the three highest spending teams on the continent.

Another host of expensive recruits have headed to Spanish football in 2019, but how have the country’s all-time priciest purchases fared since their big-money moves?

We’ve looked back at Spanish football’s most expensive signings, and ranked the costliest six in La Liga history, according to iSports API data.



Eden Hazard – €100m

The Chelsea superstar finally secured his dream move to Real Madrid this summer, the Spanish giants having held a long-standing interest in the Belgian international. In seven seasons in English football Hazard had established himself as one of the Premier League‘s finest talents, winning two league titles and earning a host of individual accolades including the PFA Player’s Player and FWA Footballer of the Year awards.

Hazard headed to the Bernabeu last summer for an initial fee of around €100m, and has been tasked with replacing the creative and goalscoring void left by Cristiano Ronaldo’s 2018 departure.

His start has been underwhelming thus far, showing only glimpses of his talent with many questioning his work-rate.

Hazard himself admits he arrived at the club overweight, and having scored just once in his first 11 appearances for the club in all competitions he will need to start performing soon to avoid being labelled a flop.

Few players are under as much pressure as the marquee man in Madrid, and Hazard will hope his dream move does not turn into a nightmare.

Gareth Bale – €94m

Ignoring his recent troubles in the Spanish capital, it is hard to argue that Gareth Bale is not one of Britain’s greatest footballing exports. The Welsh international moved to Real Madrid in a then world-record deal from Tottenham in 2013, helping the club end their long wait for La Decima by scoring the winner as Madrid won their tenth European Cup.

Since then Bale has added one La Liga title and three further Champions League trophies, including an incredible match-winning display off the bench to beat Liverpool in the 2018 final of the latter tournament in Kyiv.

In 234 appearances he has scored 104 goals for the club, winning 13 honours in a trophy-laden period in Madrid. His failure to truly integrate into Spanish life and difficult relationship with manager Zinedine Zidane makes his future uncertain, though his achievements have been matched by few on this list.

Ousmane Dembele – €105m

Neymar’s world-record departure to Paris Saint-Germain saw Barcelona spend big in a bid to bolster their attacking options, making Borussia Dortmund star Ousmane Dembele the then second-most expensive player in football history in 2017.

The France international had spent just one season at the German side after joining from Rennes, though Barcelona were sufficiently impressed to bring the winger to the Nou Camp in a club-record deal.

Dembele would win a La Liga and Copa del Rey double in an injury-hit first season, making just 23 appearances in all competitions. His output improved in 2018/19, scoring 14 times in all competitions as a second successive league title was secured.

In two seasons he is yet to truly justify his significant fee, whilst questions have also been asked over his attitude. The World Cup winner certainly possesses the talent to shine at the highest level and at just 22, Barcelona will hope he can fulfil his undoubted potential.

Antoine Griezmann – €120m

Having scored 94 La Liga goals in just 180 appearances during a five year spell at Atletico Madrid, Spanish champions Barcelona decided to raid their divisional rivals to secure the signing of the World Cup winning star in 2019.

The French forward moved to the Nou Camp in a deal worth €120m, where he joined a potent attacking line-up including the likes of Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.

Regarded as one of the finest forwards in Spanish football, it was hoped Griezmann would perfectly compliment the Catalan side’s existing options but it has been a difficult adaptation so far.

Despite scoring four times in 11 La Liga appearances, it has been questioned whether Griezmann’s style is suited to getting the best out of Messi – the key for any Barcelona boss – whilst his favoured position as a second striker does not exist in the club’s current set-up.

More is expected of Griezmann than what he has currently produced, but undoubtedly an elite talent, he is likely to improve as he continues to settle into life at the club.

Joao Felix – €126m

Despite being regarded as one of European football’s most promising talents, Atletico Madrid’s record-breaking capture of the Portuguese starlet shocked the continent. The talented teenager had spent just one full season in the Benfica first-team, though after watching the forward score 20 goals in all competitions, Atletico smashed their transfer-record to bring Felix to Spain.

The 19-year-old became the fourth most expensive signing in football history, moving to the Spanish capital to replace the outgoing Antoine Griezmann. Felix made his senior international debut for Portugal this past summer and has impressed in his first appearances for Atletico colours, opening his La Liga account with a goal against Eibar in September and scoring three times in 11 appearances so far.

The youngster will have to continue adapting to the incessant demands of Atletico coach Diego Simeone, who often places a huge work-load on his attacking players.

A versatile player capable of playing as a forward or a deeper role, he looks to have the potential to develop into one of Europe’s leading players.

Philippe Coutinho – €160m

The most expensive signing in La Liga history, Brazil international Coutinho described his 2018 move to Barcelona as a ‘dream come true’. The midfielder had established himself as one of the best attacking talents in the Premier League during a five-year stay at Liverpool, before opting to move to Spain after a protracted chase by the Catalan side.

Having initially adapted impressively to life in La Liga, helping the club to a league and cup double following his record-breaking January move, Coutinho’s performance dipped drastically in his first full season.

The former Inter Milan star had been a key figure at Anfield but struggled to find his role in the Barcelona side, his influence minimal and saw him often targeted for criticism after a series of below-par displays.

After just 18 months in Spain he was deemed surplus to requirements and allowed to leave the club, joining Bayern Munich on a season-long loan deal.

For more information, please click iSportsAPI.com.

Barcelona’s five highest goalscorers in Champions League history

Few teams have enjoyed more success on the European stage in modern times than Barcelona.

Crowned winners in the final edition of the European Cup, the Catalan side have since lifted the Champions League on a further four occasions since its rebranding in 1992, with only Liverpool, AC Milan and rivals Real Madrid having ever enjoyed greater success on club football’s biggest stage.

The club’s Nou Camp home has played host to some of the tournament’s most iconic figures, and we’ve decided to look back at some of the greatest goalscorers to have donned the club’s famous colours.

Here are Barcelona’s five highest goalscorers in Champions League history, according to iSports API.



Neymar – 21 goals

The Brazilian international arrived at the Nou Camp in a highly anticipated deal in 2013, and after a season of adaptation to life in Europe began to demonstrate his undoubted talents on the Champions League stage.

Forming part of a famed attacking trio alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, Neymar would help fire Barcelona to a continental treble in 2014/15, scoring in the club’s Champions League final success over Juventus and finishing as the equal highest scorer in the competition.

He would be instrumental in one of the club’s greatest ever results, the miraculous 6-1 comeback victory over Paris Saint-Germain in 2017, eventually moving to the French side later that year in a world-record deal after scoring 21 goals in 40 European appearances for Barcelona.

Patrick Kluivert – 21 goals

Kluivert would announce himself to world football following his emergence as a teenager as part of Ajax’s Golden Generation, famously scoring the winning goal as an 18-year-old as the Dutch side won the Champions League in 1995.

Like many of that side he would depart for Europe’s giants, firstly to Milan before moving to Barcelona, where he continued to score prolifically.

In six seasons in Spain Kluivert would strike up a prolific partnership with Rivaldo and score 124 goals, 21 of those coming in the Champions League, as per iSports API.

Despite his best efforts, however, the semi-final stage would be as far as the forward would go in Barcelona colours, as his bid to add a second European Cup to his haul ultimately failed to materialise.

Luis Suarez – 22 goals

The second of the famed Neymar-Messi-Suarez trio to make our list, the Uruguayan has been a formidable presence in the Barcelona forward line since moving to Spain from Liverpool in 2014.

His first season saw the club conquer Europe, forming a brilliant partnership with the aforementioned duo which saw Suarez score seven Champions League goals as Barcelona secured a treble under former boss Luis Enrique.

Unpredictable but often brilliant, Suarez’s goalscoring exploits in Europe have dipped somewhat in recent seasons, though he remains key to Barcelona’s hopes of winning a sixth title and will hope to add to his record of 22 goals in 50 appearances during the current campaign.

Rivaldo – 25 goals

One of Brazilian football’s greatest players, Barcelona probably saw the peak years of Rivaldo during a hugely successful spell at the Nou Camp between 1997 and 2002.

That five-year spell saw Rivaldo crowned as World Player of the Year in 1999, as he led the club to back-to-back La Liga titles and twice into the latter stages of the Champions League.

Creative, skilful and with a penchant for the spectacular, Rivaldo would become a huge fan’s favourite to an adoring Nou Camp crowd.

Whilst success would ultimately not come in the form of a Champions League winner’s medal at the Nou Camp, Rivaldo would make his impact on the biggest stage and scored 25 goals for the club, the second-highest amount in Barcelona history, according to iSports API.

Lionel Messi – 112 goals

Who else?

Possessing more goals than the other four players on this list combined is Lionel Messi, who continues to expand the boundaries of what we thought was possible from an elite footballing talent.

A four-times winner of the competition, Messi has hit 112 Champions League goals in just 137 appearances, second only to great rival Cristiano Ronaldo in the tournament’s history.

The Argentine superstar has finished as the competition’s top scorer on six occasions, whilst no player has ever scored more than his eight Champions League hat-tricks.

Averaging 0.82 goals per game, Messi has comfortably the best ratio since the rebranding of the old European Cup. He continues to thrive on Europe’s biggest stage, and will be the central figure in the club’s pursuit of a sixth Champions League title this season.

For more information, please click iSportsAPI.com.

Real Madrid’s five highest goalscorers in Champions League history

For many clubs the Champions League is the pinnacle, but for Real Madrid it remains an obsession.

The Spanish giants have a special relationship with Europe’s premier competition, with no side in history having been crowned champions of the continent on more occasions than Los Blancos.

The club’s Bernabeu home has played host to some of the game’s most iconic stars, with several having produced their most memorable moments on Champions League nights.

We’ve decided to look back at some of the club’s greatest, with a look at Real Madrid‘s five highest goal scorers in Champions League history, as per iSports API data.

5. Gareth Bale; Luis Figo; Guti – 16 goals

The Welsh winger may be enduring an unhappy time in the Spanish capital at present, but there can be no denying Bale’s contribution to Real’s unprecedented success in the Champions League in recent seasons.

Having arrived in a world-record deal in 2013, Bale would help the La Liga side to win the elusive La Decima title in 2014, scoring in the final victory over city rivals Atletico.

The former Tottenham Hotspur man would then play his part in a hat-trick of consecutive titles between 2016 and 2018, the latter of which he came off the bench to score twice against Liverpool – the first of which was arguably one of the greatest goals in the competition’s history, according to iSports API.

A four-time winner, Bale has scored 16 Champions League goals in 53 appearances since moving to the Bernabeu, a figure also matched by two midfield talents of the club’s first Galactico era – Luis Figo and Guti.

4. Fernando Morientes – 17 goals

Part of the Real Madrid side who won three Champions League trophies between 1998 and 2002, Morientes enjoyed a hugely successful eight-year spell at the club after joining from Real Zaragoza before being squeezed out as the Galactico era began at the Bernabeu.

A goalscorer in the competition’s first ever final between two teams from the same country in 2000, Morientes scored 17 Champions League goals for the club before departing on loan to Monaco, where he famously finished as the tournament’s top scorer and scored in both legs of their victory over parent club Real Madrid.

The Spaniard joined Liverpool the next season, but he was cup-tied for their miraculous Champions League final triumph over AC Milan in Istanbul.

3. Karim Benzema – 48 goals

An arguably underrated presence in a Real Madrid side that has dominated the Champions League in recent seasons, Karim Benzema has won the competition four times since moving to the Bernabeu from Lyon in 2009.

Having helped Carlo Ancelotti’s side to La Decima in 2014, Benzema would be part of the side that would become the first of the Champions League era to retain the trophy by winning three consecutive editions between 2016 and 2018.

A goalscorer in fortuitous circumstances in the latter final victory against Liverpool, Benzema has often scored goals at crucial moments in big European fixtures and has an impressive one in two record, scoring 48 Champions League goals in just 96 appearances for the club, as per iSports API.

2. Raul – 66 goals

An iconic figure at the Bernabeu, the former Spain striker would come through the ranks at the club before establishing himself as one of their greatest ever goalscorers, whilst he would also become the Champions League’s most prolific forward until the arrival of the Lionel Messi/Cristiano Ronaldo era.

Raul would help the Spanish giants to three Champions League titles with five years between 1998 and 2002, scoring in deciders against Valencia and Bayer Leverkusen respectively.

Named as UEFA Club Forward of the Year for three successive seasons at the turn of the millennium, the former club captain is regarded as one of the best players in Real Madrid’s long and illustrious history and scored 66 goals in the famous white shirt.

1. Cristiano Ronaldo – 105 goals

The greatest goalscorer in the history of both Real Madrid and the Champions League, the Portuguese superstar has often turned Europe’s elite tournament into his own personal playground during a glittering career at some of the continent’s leading clubs.

Having moved to the Bernabeu in a world-record move from Manchester United in 2009, Ronaldo would hit a staggering 105 Champions League goals in just 101 appearances during nine seasons in the Spanish capital, helping the club to lift the trophy on four occasions and extend their record to 13 European Cups, recorded by iSports API.

He would become the first player to win the trophy five times in the Champions League era, whilst also becoming the first player ever to score in three separate finals. His incredible list of records include the most goals in a single Champions League campaign (17), becoming the only player to score in 10 consecutive games and the most assists in the tournament’s history.

For more information, please click iSportsAPI.com.