Ballon d'Or in play as Ronaldo bears down on Messi
"I want to catch Messi," Ronaldo confessed when collecting his third World Player of the Year crown back in 2015.
Now the Portuguese has four to his name, but Messi still remains one step ahead with five.
The two have dominated the award for the past decade in the battle to not just be considered the best of their generation, but among the best of all time.
Yet, whilst Juventus's stubborn defence forced Messi to fire blanks in a 3-0 quarter-final aggregate win for the Italians over Barcelona, Ronaldo can complete another stellar season by ensuring Madrid become the first side to retain the Champions League.
"I am aware of the fact that what I've done in football has already left and will continue to leave a mark," Ronaldo told UEFA.com.
"I haven't broken so many records by accident. That's not an obsession for me, but I do like breaking them."
Ronaldo has already added his name to more record books during this season's Champions League.
His hat-trick against Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals made him the first man to score more than 100 Champions League goals.
And he duly added another hat-trick in the semi-finals against Atletico Madrid to carry Real to the final in Cardiff this weekend.
"He has a good opportunity with the season that he has had, above all in the Champions League this year," Predrag Mijatovic, who scored the winning goal when Real last met Juventus in the Champions League final in 1998, told AFP.
However, the Montenegrin believes Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon could finally end Messi and Ronaldo's reign if he lifts the Champions League for the first time at 39 to complete the treble for the Italian giants.
"I think the next Ballon d'Or will come from the team that wins the Champions League," added Mijatovic.
"Cristiano is there, as is Buffon and other great players at Real Madrid like Sergio Ramos that could aspire to it."
READ MORE: United ranked as Europe’s most valuable club
United ranked as Europe's most valuable club
The report by professional services firm KPMG looked at the finances of 39 clubs based on their popularity on social media channels, revenues for the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons, and success in European competitions.
The clubs were then ranked by enterprise value, an accounting measure used to assess how much it would cost to buy any given club or company as it includes a business's total debt, with KPMG using its own formula to reach these valuations.
Despite two relatively disappointing seasons on the pitch between 2014 and 2016, United's value surged clear of Real Madrid and Barcelona last year, becoming the first club to break the three billion euros (£2.7 billion, $3.4 billion) mark for enterprise value.
Bayern Munich remain in fourth place, while Manchester City edge past Arsenal to take fifth spot, both with enterprise values of just under £1.7 billion.
READ MORE: Five problems for Wenger and Arsenal
Arsenal star: Critics made me stronger
With Arsenal's defence ravaged by injury and suspension, Gunners boss Arsene Wenger handed Mertesacker his first appearance in the starting line-up for 392 days in Saturday's Wembley showpiece against Chelsea.
A serious knee injury suffered last year led to a lengthy spell on the sidelines for Mertesacker and when the German returned to fitness he was unable to regain his place.
The 32-year-old had played only 37 minutes all season after coming off the bench in last weekend's win against Everton.
But the absence of Laurent Koscielny, Gabriel and Shkodran Mustafi gave Wenger no option but to end Mertesacker's exile.
Against all expectations, the centre-back emerged as the towering foundation of Arsenal's 2-1 triumph.
And Mertesacker, who lifted the trophy as Arsenal captain, claimed the chance to silence the pundits who had written him off helped inspire his dominant display.
"I expect myself to perform at that level every single week," he said.
"I don't know if I'm capable but I've done it for 15 years. The more people that write me off, the stronger I get. That's my feeling."
Despite playing in a three-man defence for the first time in his career, Mertesacker's composure and leadership were crucial to subduing Chelsea striker Diego Costa and playmaker Eden Hazard.
The former Werder Bremen defender was delighted to help Arsenal finish a troubled season on a high note as they rebounded from the misery of failing to qualify for the Champions League by winning the Cup for the third time in four year.
"I'm just blessed for this opportunity," Mertesacker said.
"For the trust from my team-mates and my manager because being sidelined for such a long time, I suffered a lot this season because you want to contribute on the pitch.
"To be able to do that today was a very proud moment for myself and to lead the team out for the first time officially as captain is a great moment for myself.
"At the end of the day everyone trusted me and supported me throughout the season and the manager gave me the opportunity."
READ MORE: PSG president gives Emery full backing
PSG president gives Emery full backing
Al-Khelaifi was speaking in the aftermath of PSG's last gasp 1-0 win over Angers in the French Cup final on Saturday.
Unfortunate Issa Cissokho headed agonisingly into his own net in stoppage time at the Stade de France to give PSG a third consecutive French Cup win.
It joins the League Cup in the PSG trophy cabinet and provides some more consolation for the capital side after a season that will be best remembered for their failures elsewhere.
Emery's side missed out on the league title to Monaco after winning Ligue 1 in each of the previous four campaigns and exited the Champions League in humiliating fashion to Barcelona in the last 16.
That 6-1 defeat at the Camp Nou -- after they had won the first leg 4-0 at home -- will be a lasting stain on PSG's reputation and that of Emery.
But the Spaniard was given full backing by his employer, with Al-Khelaifi declaring: "I've always said that (Emery) is staying.
"He is remaining 200 percent for sure with us. We are happy with him, he is happy to be here.
READ MORE: Mourinho restores Man Utd’s winning feeling
Barca seek winning end to Luis Enrique's reign
Victory would see Barca lift the Cup for the third straight season under Enrique, but unlike in the past two years it would be Barca's only major silverware of the campaign.
The Catalans missed out on La Liga to Real Madrid last weekend and were dumped out of the Champions League at the quarter-final stage by Juventus.
And Pique wants his boss to go out as a winner in the last ever competitive game at Atletico Madrid's Vicente Calderon stadium.
"He is one of the best coaches in the history of the club," said the defender.
"He deserves a great final. The best way to leave would be on a high with a trophy and tomorrow is a good opportunity.
"I want him to leave as a winner."
However, Enrique himself warned against the threat posed by Alaves as the Basques played a huge role in costing Barca the league with a shock 2-1 win at the Camp Nou back in September.
"I have the chance to end my cycle with Barca with another title, but we are facing without doubt the revelation of La Liga this season."
Indeed, on a night of goodbyes at the Calderon, Mauricio Pellegrino could also be taking charge of Alaves for the final time with plenty of clubs eyeing the Argentine's services.
As well as taking Alaves to their first Copa del Rey final, Pellegrino's men finished ninth on their return to the Spanish top flight after a decade in the lower leagues.
"I am very thankful to these boys for the work they have put in," said Pellegrino.
"There is not one of our players that doesn't deserve to play the final."
READ MORE: FA Cup win can’t mask Arsenal hurt
FA Cup win can't mask Arsenal hurt
The England midfielder, 23, is in contention for a place against champions Chelsea at Wembley in what could be manager Arsene Wenger's last game in charge of the Gunners.
Arsenal missed out on Champions League qualification for the first time in two decades and Oxlade-Chamberlain said: "The season has been an odd one. We finished on 75 points and in other years that might have left us in different situations.
"But times change and you have got to move forward with the other top teams. We failed to do that ultimately in the league this year, that's why we missed out on the top four.
"It would be a bonus to finish on a more positive note but there will obviously always be that feeling that we wanted to finish higher up the league and there's no doubting that.
"We can't hide from that and we have to own up to it."
Oxlade-Chamberlain is about to go into the final year of his contract and refused to answer questions about his future at a time when Liverpool, Everton and both Manchester clubs are all said to be interested.
It has been reported that Oxlade-Chamberlain is unhappy with the amount of first-team minutes he has been given by manager Wenger this season and the player did little to rectify such claims at a press conference at Arsenal's training ground.
READ MORE: China’s Tianjin shoot down Costa swoop rumours
Mourinho restores Man Utd's winning feeling
Judgement was reserved until the final game of his maiden campaign, but in guiding his club to Europa League glory Jose Mourinho has restored the winning feeling at Manchester United.
There was little sparkling football at Old Trafford this season and despite a 25-game unbeaten run, Mourinho could do no better than a sixth-place finish in the Premier League.
Yet by leading United to victory in the League Cup and Europa League, and with the latter success yielding a Champions League place, he has brought back some of the swagger that vanished when Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.
"Who cares who finished second, third or fourth in the Premier League? Manchester United have won two trophies," said former Leicester City midfielder Robbie Savage, who began his career at United, on BBC radio.
The 'Special One' has delivered
Mourinho, who described his first United campaign as "my most difficult season as a manager", has appeared tetchy and grouchy in recent weeks, a glum, unsmiling figure constantly at war with the world.
But he seemed reborn when the final whistle sounded at Stockholm's Friends Arena following United's 2-0 victory over Ajax in Wednesday's Europa League final.
A broad smile on his face, he gambolled on the pitch with his son, was thrown into the air by his coaching staff and made some typically provocative gestures.
To the United fans he raised four fingers -- one for each of the four major European titles he has now won.
To the press he lifted his index finger, as if to say: "I'm still the number one."
There was a familiar curl to Mourinho's lip in the post-match press conference as well as he hailed a "victory of pragmatism" and hit out at the "poets" who vaunt style over substance.
Mourinho was once Public Enemy Number One to United fans, but after the miseries of the David Moyes and Louis van Gaal eras they have taken him to their hearts.
On a poignant night in Stockholm, coloured by vivid thoughts of Monday's fatal terror attack in Manchester, United's supporters sang tributes to their grieving city, but also to their manager.
READ MORE: What next for Barcelona after losing La Liga?
China's Tianjin shoot down Costa swoop rumours
China's Tianjin Quanjin appear to have shut the door on a rumoured megamoney swoop for Chelsea's Diego Costa or any other "excessive" spending, amid a government crackdown on high-priced foreign imports.
The Brazilian-born Spain striker has since January been the subject of repeated speculation that he could join Super League club Tianjin when China's summer transfer window opens next month and become the latest in a wave of big-money foreign signings.
Tianjin issued a statement saying they have "had no communications or negotiations in any form with Diego Costa or his agent team regarding a transfer."
Echoing the official talking points of China's spending crackdown, the statement said the club would base any future transfers on the "sustainable development" of the Chinese Super League.
"(We) will not engage in any sort of unhealthy competition and will put a stop to any excessive pricing," said the statement, issued Tuesday.
Various reports have speculated in recent months that a deal was brewing to pay Chelsea's Costa tens of millions of dollars per year.
Coached by Italy's World Cup champion Fabio Cannavaro, Tianjin have foreign talent to challenge for the Super League title but have so far failed to strike any mega-deals.
READ MORE: Dolberg leads impressive new Ajax generation
Dolberg leads impressive new Ajax generation
Ajax lifted the Champions League in 1995 with a sophisticated brand of football played by the likes of young stars Edgar Davids, Clarence Seedorf, Patrick Kluivert, and the De Boer brothers.
Nobody in the Dutch capital is saying that Peter Bosz's side of 2017 are up to that level yet, but some are making comparisons because his is such a young Ajax team.
The coach recently named the youngest XI in the history of the Dutch league at an average age of barely 21.
There has been plenty of hype surrounding the 18-year-old winger Justin Kluivert, son of Patrick, the forward who scored the only goal in the 1995 Champions League final against AC Milan.
But the 19-year-old Dolberg is getting plenty of notice too -- and the Dane does not have a famous name to rely on.
United forward Ibrahimovic, who is out of this week's final in Stockholm with a serious knee injury, sprang to prominence as a young predator at Ajax.
Dolberg does not have the Swede's hugely imposing frame, but he is no pushover either and is similarly fast making a name for himself in the Ajax red and white.
It has been a swift ascent for Dolberg, who was hardly known 12 months ago and only really made headlines in Europe with his two goals in the Europa League semi-final tie against Lyon.
"There are similarities with Zlatan," said Bosz.
"Technically, and with his physical presence, and his ability to play with his back to goal. There is indeed some Zlatan in him."
- Big-money move? -
The senior Kluivert and the rest from 1995 inevitably ended up leaving Ajax for bigger clubs around Europe.
The Dutch side, for so long famed for their conveyor belt of young talent, know that their best players will be picked off.
If Dolberg bullies United like Ibrahimovic has bullied defences all over Europe during his career, the young Dane will also be off -- and United have been linked with him.
Dolberg's agent Jens Steffensen says the phone never stops ringing from interested clubs.
But Dolberg is under contract until 2021 and says he wants to stay in the Netherlands for another year to hone his game.
An impressive showing though in Stockholm would change that.
Dolberg, Kluivert and the others in this young Ajax side might however reflect they owe their coach at least another season.
Last year, when Ajax sold Polish striker Arkadiusz Milik to Napoli, Bosz put his faith in Dolberg to fill the void.
And Dolberg repaid his manager, hitting 16 league goals this season (22 in all competitions) and making his debut for his country.
What next for Barcelona after losing La Liga?
Undoubtedly Barca's number one priority is to ensure that Lionel Messi's future remains at the Camp Nou.
Barca's failure to win La Liga or the Champions League this season has been no fault of Messi.
The five-time World Player of the Year has been at his brilliant best in carrying his side for large parts of the campaign - most notably in scoring twice to win a thrilling El Clasico 3-2 away to Madrid last month.
Messi's contract is up in June 2018 meaning he could freely speak to other clubs as early as January about moving on a free transfer.
Thankfully for Barca that doesn't seem likely with Messi very much settled at the club where he has spent his whole career.
However, by allowing his contract to run down, it will cost the Barca board a fortune to tie Messi down which could impact on their ability to make moves in the transfer market.
Appoint a new coach
Luis Enrique took the heat out of the debate surrounding his future back in March by announcing he will not stay on as coach for next season after three years in charge.
Plenty of high-profile names were then linked with the job, but all signs indicate the Barca hierarchy will opt for the understated option of Athletic Bilbao's Ernesto Valverde as the man to step into the breach.
Valverde doesn't have the glamour the likes of Enrique or Pep Guardiola had when taking the job, but like them he is a former Barca player and has a wealth of experience in La Liga as a coach with over 400 games in charge of Bilbao, Espanyol, Valencia and Villarreal.
READ MORE: Axed Allardyce reveals England hurt
Axed Allardyce reveals England hurt
Now in charge at Premier League Crystal Palace, Allardyce lasted just 67 days and one match as England boss.
The 62-year-old, who by his own admission acted like an "idiot", left his dream job just a fortnight before what would have been his first home match as England manager, against Malta at Wembley in October.
He tried to watch on television but found the experience too painful, telling The Times and Daily Mail on Saturday: "I maybe lasted 15, 20 minutes. But I couldn't continue. I had to turn it off and watch something else.
"It was Wembley and I hadn't even had the opportunity to get a game under my belt there. That would have been a big moment for me. It was a gut-wrencher that."
Five things to look for in the Bundesliga
Beer showers, tears in Munich
For the fifth season in a row Bayern will be presented with the Bundesliga trophy at the Allianz Arena following the final whistle against Freiburg with emotions set to run high.
It will be the 517th and final Bayern appearance for Germany's World Cup winning captain Philipp Lahm, 33, and Spain's Xabi Alonso, 35, who are both hanging up their boots.
Watch out for the customary "Bierdusche" celebrations when the Bayern team eagerly empty over-sized glasses of wheat beer over each other.
The head coach is always a favourite target and Carlo Ancelotti would be wise to pack a second suit for the presentation of his first Bundesliga title.
Hot-shots duel
The race to be the 2016/17 top-scorer in the Bundesliga will go to the last game.
With 30 league goals this season, Bayern predator Robert Lewandowski is favourite to retain the golden boot title he won last term.
However his arch-rival, Borussia Dortmund's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, last season's runner-up, will want to add to his 29 goals when his club host Werder Bremen.
Their nearest rival, Cologne's Anthony Modeste, is way back on 25.
Lewandowski insists he is not thinking of the Golden Cannon -- the trophy for the Bundesliga's top-scorer -- but just wants to better last season's personal record of 30 goals.
But Bayern president Uli Hoeness says the hot-shot will be keeping an eye on his rival: "If Aubameyang scores two goals, Lewandowski is on red alert."
Winner-takes-all in Hamburg
Darmstadt and Ingolstadt are already confirmed in the automatic relegation places, but there is a battle royal brewing for Hamburg's home match with Wolfsburg.
Hamburg are 16th, which carries a two-legged relegation play-off at the end of the season against the team which finishes third in the second division, with Wolfsburg two points above in 15th -- and safety.
"We have a chance to save ourselves with a home win," said Markus Gisdol, coach of Hamburg, who have never been relegated from Germany's top flight.
It has been nothing short of a disastrous season for 2009 German champions Wolfsburg, who reached the Champions League quarter-finals in 2015/16.
"I believe we will get the job done," said Wolfsburg coach Andries Jonker ahead of the nail-biter at Hamburg's Volksparkstadion.
READ MORE: Man Utd and Man City to meet in Houston
Money pit traps are harsh lesson for future stars
James, who won 53 caps for England and lifted the 2008 FA Cup with Portsmouth earning an estimated £20million (23.2m euros, $26m) during his career, is an example Peter Fairchild of London city firm Smith&Williamson likes to use.
He and his colleagues make presentations to young players about planning for their finances for the day they retire.
Fairchild told AFP that the clubs, beginning with Liverpool in 2012, had warmed to their ideas.
"We (the clubs said) want to grab their attention and shock the boys," said Fairchild after AFP was given rare access to a session with second-tier side Queens Park Rangers at their training ground west of London.
"So for once they have to get off their mobile phones and social media and take note of what people are saying because there is a long term benefit for their lives and it affects them.
"'Use some real life case studies', they told us.
"Quite often the guys have their heroes on the screen and when they see them they go: 'They are bankrupt? They can't be'.
"To which I reply it is the case and please, please take heed. Don't fall into the traps they did and seek advice so you get it right from the start."
According to XPro, which helps players plan for their lives after they hang up their boots, two in five footballers go bankrupt within five years of retirement.
"It is a great shock when you see the big names like David James," Under-23 central defender Alex Finney told AFP.
"I mean they were the top 1 percent of people who made it in football, it is a scary thought that people like them can have nothing at the end of it.
"It is an eye-opener for the boys in that it warns you be ready for what life can hold for you."
READ MORE: Man Utd and Man City to meet in Houston
Man Utd and Man City to meet in Houston
Jose Mourinho's United and Pep Guardiola's City will meet at Houston's NRG Stadium on July 20 as part of the International Champions Cup friendly tournament.
They had been due to play each other in Beijing, China last year, but the game was called off due to concerns about the pitch.
"The Manchester derby is one of the world's most iconic games," said City chief executive Ferran Soriano in a press release.
"We are very excited to play it in front of our passionate American fans. There are so many great memories from this game in history and we can't wait to create some new ones in Houston."
NHL: Ritchie strikes again as Ducks even series
Ritchie took a long pass off the boards and his shot glanced off the side of goalie Pekka Rinne's head into the net in front of a crowd of 17,000 at the Honda Center.
"(Ryan) Getzlaf tipped it and that messed up their defense a bit. I just shot it at the net," he said.
It was the third goal of the playoffs for Ritchie, and while it allowed Anaheim to overcome another poor start, it wasn't the biggest one he has scored in this postseason.
Ritchie also scored the winner in game seven against the Edmonton Oilers to advance the Ducks to the NHL semi-finals.
Sweden's Jakob Silfverberg, Sami Vatanen, Ondrej Kase and Antoine Vermette, into an empty net, also scored for the Ducks, who avoided going into an 0-2 hole for the second straight series with the win.
Filip Forsberg, James Neal and Ryan Johansen scored for the Predators, who continued their Cinderella run through the NHL postseason by winning game one in Anaheim.
Game three of this series is scheduled for Tuesday in Nashville.
Five White Hart Lane classics
Ahead of the clash with Manchester United, AFP Sport looks back at five of the best games from 118 years at the Lane:
Euro stars
After winning the double in 1961, Tottenham qualified for the European Cup and were drawn against Polish side Gornik Zabrze. The tie was almost over after the away leg as Tottenham trailed 4-0 with an hour gone. Two late goals, however, gave Bill Nicholson's side a glimmer of hope and set up a stirring comeback in the decisive return in north London. A Cliff Jones hat-trick and Bobby Smith's double helped seal an 8-1 demolition job and Tottenham went on to reach the semi-finals before losing to Benfica.
Glory Game
Hoping to win the UEFA Cup for the second time in their history, Tottenham had to settle for a 1-1 draw against Anderlecht in the first leg of the 1984 final, setting the scene for the one of the club's fabled European nights at the Lane. Without key players Glenn Hoddle and Steve Perryman due to injury and suspension, Tottenham fell behind to an opener from Alexandre Czerniatynski in the second leg. But Graham Roberts scored a dramatic 84th-minute equaliser to send the game to extra-time and then penalties, where goalkeeper Tony Parks made the winning save, tipping Arnor Gudjohnsen's spot-kick around the post to clinch the trophy.
READ MORE: What next for Atletico Madrid?
Wenger aims to silence critics with Euro push
Wenger's side travel to Stoke having boosted their chances of qualifying for the Champions League - a task that looked a lost cause just a few weeks ago - by winning 2-0 at Southampton on Wednesday.
That left Arsenal in fifth place in the Premier League, three points behind Manchester City in the slot directly above.
City will have played their home game with Leicester City by the time Arsenal kick off at Stoke, but a Gunners victory is sure to stoke up the pressure on Liverpool, who are currently in third.
Jurgen Klopp's side are four points better off than Arsenal, but crucially have played one fixture more than City and the Gunners, and are at West Ham on Sunday.
But while Wenger cannot wait to say 'told you so' to his critics Gunners defender Shkodran Mustafi is still concerned his team may have left it a little too late.
"I wish we found that before," he said of Arsenal's recent revival.
"But now we have three games and we have to give everything to try and get everything out of all the games. Hopefully at the end we'll reach our goals."
Arsenal will finish the campaign with home games against relegated Sunderland and then Everton, but first they must focus on ending their poor run at Stoke.
Although they have not won there since 2010, losing on four of their eight visits, Wenger's men will be hopeful of ending that sorry sequence so long as Alexis Sanchez is in the team.
READ MORE: What next for Atletico Madrid?
What next for Atletico Madrid?
It is the fourth straight season Atletico have been knocked out of the competition by their local rivals.
Here, AFP sports looks at five key issues facing Atletico if they are to compete once more for their first ever Champions League next season.
Wednesday's win was inspired by a phenomenal atmosphere for Atletico's last ever European game at the Vicente Calderon.
After 50 years Atletico will swap their home by Madrid's Manzanares river just south of the city centre for the new 67,000 capacity out of town stadium to the city's north.
Doubts remain over whether the Wanda Metropolitano will be ready in time for the start of next season.
However, even when the bricks and mortar are in place, replacing the emotional tide with which the Calderon has carried Atletico to 18 wins in 22 Champions League games over the past four years is a different challenge.
"The same people will be in the Metropolitano," said Atletico boss Diego Simeone.
"Their emotion and excitement is non-negotiable. It will be their new home."
Overturn transfer ban
A smiling Simeone looked ahead to an "encouraging" future.
"That final step is still a big one and we need to keep improving," he added.
However, one factor that threatens to halt Atletico's progress is a ban preventing them from signing new players until January.
The result of the club's appeal to reduce the ban to one already served transfer window will be known before the end of the season and will have a huge bearing on Atletico's ability to make the improvements needed to compete next season.
READ MORE: Lassana Diarra joins Al Jazira in UAE
Conte: Chelsea one 'little step' from title
Tottenham Hotspur's surprise defeat at West Ham United last week handed Chelsea the initiative and they can now seal a second title triumph in three years if they win at West Bromwich Albion on Friday.
"We're very close. We must be honest. But we need to do another little step and win another game," Conte told reporters after Monday's match, which condemned Middlesbrough to relegation.
"For sure now I'm a bit relaxed. This step was big for us, a big win.
"Now we need to do another step. We have the possibility to do this on Friday against West Brom.
"For sure it won't be easy, because West Brom is a really good team, a physical team, and we must pay great attention.
"We are very close, but we need another step to become champions of the Premier League, which would be a fantastic achievement for us."
While victory at West Brom will deliver the title, Chelsea also have home games against Watford and Sunderland in which to snare the three points they need to make it across the finish line.
Cesc Fabregas was Chelsea's match-winner, inventively creating goals for Diego Costa and Nemanja Matic either side of half-time at a festive Stamford Bridge.
Marcos Alonso also found the net in the first half.
Fabregas began the season on the bench after new signing N'Golo Kante took his place, but he has played an increasingly prominent role in recent weeks.
"Cesc is one of the best examples of our season," Conte said.
"Because in this season, Cesc at the start didn't play a lot. And then through hard work, he improved a lot. And then he's playing in every game.
"This development of Cesc is our development, because we started the season with a lot of problems. But through hard work, together we found the right way.
"Cesc is showing (himself) to be a fantastic player and I'm pleased for him. Because I saw in this season that he put himself in this team in every moment, if he played or didn't play. Now he's deserving this."
READ MORE: Lassana Diarra joins Al Jazira in UAE
Evra nets first Marseille goal
Ricardo Pereira and Dalbert both hit the post for Nice inside the opening 15 minutes, but Marseille grabbed the lead when Bafetimbi Gomis headed in his team-leading 18th goal of the season.
Mario Balotelli equalised shortly after half-time, bundling in from close range to set a new career best with his 15th league goal of the campaign.
France international Evra popped up with the winner on 66 minutes with a diving header from a Maxime Lopez cross to nudge Marseille ahead of sixth-placed Bordeaux and into the final Europa League berth.
"Evra? I'm happy for him, but aside from his decisive goal the team performed well," said Marseille coach Rudi Garcia.
READ MORE: Lassana Diarra joins Al Jazira in UAE
Lassana Diarra joins Al Jazira in UAE
France international Lassana Diarra, who quit Marseille in February, has signed for Al Jazira in the United Arab Emirates.
"I'm joining Al Jazira, champions of the UAE," the 32-year-old told the Journal du Dimanche newspaper.
"I'll prepare in the United States before doing a pre-season with the squad from June."
Diarra, capped 34 times by France, has also played for Chelsea, Arsenal, Portsmouth and Real Madrid, as well as Anzhi Makhachkala and Lokomotiv Moscow in the Russian league.
READ MORE: China’s Tianjin denies Chelsea star transfer report
Pochettino rocked by Hammer blow
Pochettino's side crashed to a shock 1-0 defeat at West Ham on Friday that left their title bid in tatters and put Chelsea within touching distance of being crowned champions.
Rocked by Manuel Lanzini's second half strike, second-placed Tottenham remain four points behind the leaders and the title race could be over by the time they return to action against Manchester United on May 14.
Chelsea need six points from four games to guarantee top spot and they would reach that target with wins against Middlesbrough on Monday and West Bromwich Albion on Friday.
It is a painful prospect for a Tottenham side that had won their previous nine league games to spark dreams of a first title since 1961.
But Pochettino knows they can have few complaints after a strangely lethargic display lacking both poise and passion.
Tottenham's tame surrender recalled their collapse at the end of last season when they squandered opportunities to catch eventual champions Leicester.
And Pochettino conceded his players came up short when they most needed to show they could cope under duress.
"We have to analyse why it was difficult to get the points here," Pochettino said.
"To win a trophy you have to show in a key moment you can win. Today was a key moment.
"There are games you must win, it's not about playing good or bad, or running more or less. We were missing a little bit.
"If you want to be champions you must win. How? I don't know. But you have to win."
After a stylish victory over north London rivals Arsenal on Sunday, Tottenham suddenly lost their swagger at the worst possible time.
Pochettino refused to condemn his players' lack of fight, but his deflated tone when he faced the media in his post-match press conference told a different story.
READ MORE: China’s Tianjin denies Chelsea star transfer report