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Sporting Giants

<p>Delve deep into the lives and careers of some of the biggest names in sport and hear from those who know them best.</p>

BBC Radio 5 Live

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have become footballing icons over the last 20 years and while they continue to break records on the pitch, they also remain cultural and business giants off the field as well.Steve Crossman and Guillem Balague explore how Messi and Ronaldo have broken the mould in an era of social media with the help of experts from the world of marketing.We also hear how they have broken through into new frontiers and discuss why the debate over who really is the greatest continues to captivate the world.

Messi v Ronaldo: 4. Never Be Settled

While Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo sweep all before them with their club sides and win countless trophies, the one accolade which eludes them both is international success.In episode three of this four-part series, Steve Crossman and Guillem Balague explore the highs and lows both players have been through with Argentina and Portugal.From agonising defeats to the ultimate glory in Europe, South America and the biggest prize of all for Messi at the 2022 World Cup.We get the inside take from former team mates including Nani on how pivotal Ronaldo was to Portugal's Euro 2016 victory, while Emi Martinez describes what meaning the World Cup meant to Messi and Argentina.

Messi v Ronaldo: 3. The Weight of the World

As Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo rise to become the best players in the world, their rivalry takes another step closer as Ronaldo joins Real Madrid to go head to head with Messi and Barcelona.In episode two of this four-part series, Steve Crossman and Guillem Balague discuss how the Real Madrid and Barcelona years shape the Messi and Ronaldo rivalry on and off the pitch as they battle for team and individual awards.Hear from the likes of former team-mates such as Javier Mascherano and Henrik Larsson as they describe the impact Messi had on Barcelona while ex Real Madrid assistant Paul Clement reveals how the mentality of Ronaldo sets him apart.

Messi v Ronaldo: 2. The Clasico Era

In the first episode of this four-part series, Steve Crossman and Guillem Balague explore what made Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo stand out as they began their journeys to becoming footballing icons.From playing on the streets in Argentina and Portugal, to the bright lights of Barcelona and Manchester United, in this episode we discover how Messi and Ronaldo began to stand out as a new footballing rivalry was formed which would dominate the game for the next two decades.We hear from Messi's former academy team mate Cesc Fabregas on the development of a young superstar after making the move as a teenager from Rosario to Barcelona, while Rio Ferdinand describes his first impressions of an 18-year-old Ronaldo after he came to the world's attention at Old Trafford

Messi v Ronaldo: 1. Nature v Nuture

Coming soon, Steve Crossman presents a new four-part series exploring how the rivalry between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo has redefined football over the last 20 years.

Messi v Ronaldo: Trailer

Presenters Kelly Cates and Simon Hughes explore how Mohamed Salah has redefined being a footballing superstar.Former Liverpool team-mates James Milner and Adam Lallana discuss Salah's impact on the club's first league title for 30 years in 2019-20, and the seismic battles of recent years with Manchester City.Discover what drives Salah at both club and international level, as a crucial period with Liverpool and Egypt approaches.

Mohamed Salah: 4. He Never Stops

Focusing in on Mohamed Salah’s impact in Egypt, presenters Kelly Cates and Simon Hughes reflect on what he means to his home nation.Former international team-mate Ahmed Elmohamady explains Salah's key role in taking the country to a first World Cup in 28 years, including the moment he stepped up to take a crucial penalty in the final minutes against Congo in 2017.Discover how Salah is a role model on and off the pitch through football and faith, and how his mindset sets him apart.

Mohamed Salah: 3. Talent Isn't Enough

Presenters Kelly Cates and Simon Hughes explore one of the most pivotal periods of Mohamed Salah's career after his signing for Liverpool in the summer of 2017. Former Anfield team-mate James Milner reflects on the impact Salah made in his debut season — a campaign that ended with the 2018 Champions League final against Real Madrid in KievFrom the heartbreak of Kiev for Liverpool and Salah to the glory of Madrid; Andy Robertson and Alisson Becker relive Liverpool’s return to the Champions League final against Tottenham, with the biggest prize in European football on the line.

Mohamed Salah: 2. Never Give Up

In episode one of this four-part series, Kelly Cates and journalist Simon Hughes chart Mohamed Salah's rise from humble beginnings in Egypt to global football superstardom.Discover how Salah's home village of Nagrig shaped his early life and the famous microbus journey to Cairo, which he took to training as a teenager.Former Chelsea team-mate Mark Schwarzer reveals how Salah's first spell in the Premier League influenced his later years, while Micah Richards explains how the Egyptian rejuvenated his career in Italy alongside him at Fiorentina.

Mohamed Salah: 1. The Long Bumpy Road To Success

Kelly Cates and Simon Hughes explore the career and legacy of Mohamed Salah.First-hand accounts from former team-mates including James Milner, Adam Lallana and Micah Richards reveal what it is like to play alongside Salah and what sets him apart as one of the best players of the last decade in the Premier League for Liverpool.Presenter Kelly Cates and journalist Simon Hughes explore whether Salah has redefined what it means to be a football superstar and discuss his legacy for club and country.

Mohamed Salah: Trailer

How did Ferguson rise to the challenge of Manchester City to bow out of United on a high?Key players Michael Carrick, Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand recall Ferguson’s final season as a Robin Van Persie-inspired United re-capture the league title from City.Kelly Cates and Jonathan Northcroft assess where Fergie ranks among the pantheon of great football managers and whether his methods could still bring success today.

Sir Alex Ferguson: 6. Always Look Forward

Ferguson sees off the challenge of Jose Mourinho and inspires United to another Champions League success in Moscow.Kelly Cates and Jonathan Northcroft hear from Rio Ferdinand, Carlos Quieroz and Wayne Rooney on how Ferguson drew on the spirit of Sir Matt Busby to overcome Chelsea on penalties in 2008.With Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo to the fore, Ferguson has taken United back to the summit of European football - but a new challenge awaits right on their doorstep.

Sir Alex Ferguson: 5. Risk and Reward

From the infamous 'hairdryer' to managerial mind games, Ferguson was the ultimate boss.Kelly Cates and Jonathan Northcroft explore how Fergie controlled his players, rival managers, referees and the media in the relentless pursuit of success.With Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal emerging as a rival to be reckoned with, Ferguson had to draw on all his experience to keep United at the top of their games, even if that meant dispensing with star names like David Beckham.

Sir Alex Ferguson: 4. I'm in Charge

How Sir Alex Ferguson turned a talented crop of young players into an unstoppable force in England and, ultimately, Europe.Kelly Cates and Jonathan Northcroft trace how Ferguson’s faith in youth was integral to his success in Scotland and England.After establishing themselves as the dominant force in English football, we hear how Ferguson overcame early setbacks in Europe to land an unprecedented treble in 1999.It’s all told via the memories of Dwight Yorke, Andy Cole, Nicky Butt and iconic goalscorer Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Sir Alex Ferguson: 3. Trust In Youth

Inside the Manchester United dressing-room as Alex Ferguson recovers from the brink of the sack to bring trophies back to the club.Kelly Cates and Jonathan Northcroft explain how Ferguson ruthlessly cleared out United heroes like Paul McGrath and Norman Whiteside to build a team in his image.We hear from key players like Steve Bruce, Dennis Irwin and Gary Pallister as Ferguson ends United’s 26-year-wait for a top-flight title to lay the foundations for an era of total dominance.

Sir Alex Ferguson: 2. Dare to Rebuild

How did Sir Alex Ferguson’s working-class Glasgow upbringing shape the man and manager he would become?Kelly Cates and Jonathan Northcroft retrace Ferguson’s steps from the Govan shipyards to European glory with Aberdeen.We hear about Fergie’s admiration for trade union activist Jimmy Reid, his fledgling football days at Drumchapel Amateurs and how, after rejection at Glasgow Rangers, he combined his early managerial career with running a pub.Then former Aberdeen stars Willie Miller, Gordon Strachan, Mark McGhee and Stuart Kennedy take listeners behind the scenes of Aberdeen’s victories over Bayern Munich and Real Madrid in the 1983 European Cup Winners’ Cup.

Sir Alex Ferguson: 1. Them and Us

The definitive Sir Alex Ferguson story, from his working class roots in Glasgow to the top of European football, told by the people who know him best.First-hand accounts from a host of former players and adversaries including Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand, Gordon Strachan and Sir Kenny Dalglish reveal what it was like to play for Sir Alex's all-conquering Manchester United and Aberdeen teams, while exploring the Scot's origins and where his legendary will to win came from.Presenter Kelly Cates and Ferguson expert Jonathan Northcroft explore what made him so successful and how he was able to constantly reinvent himself and his teams to remain at the very top for decades.Could there ever be another manager like Sir Alex?

Sir Alex Ferguson: Trailer

With Euro 2024 and a move to Real Madrid on the horizon, the future looks bright for Mbappe.Steve and Julien are joined by Spanish football expert Sid Lowe to discuss the challenge facing Mbappe at the serial Champions League winners.Can he go on to match the achievements of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo? Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and Arsene Wenger give their views.

Kylian Mbappe: 6. The World at His Feet

France icon Lilian Thuram reflects on racism, football and French identity after Mbappe suffers racial abuse at Euro 2020 following his penalty miss.Lacking support from the French Football Federation, Mbappe threatens to quit the national team, forcing change before he stars at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.We hear from France team-mates Hugo Lloris and Ibrahima Konate as Mbappe emerges as a natural heir to Lionel Messi in an unforgettable final.

Kylian Mbappe: 5. The World We Live In

After winning the World Cup, Mbappe returns home to Paris a national hero and gains increasing power at Paris Saint-Germain.
 
Club insiders detail how Mbappe became an increasing influence on and off the field as PSG’s Qatari owners set their sights on the Champions League.We hear from experts on why the Mbappe-Messi-Neymar strike force never delivered Europe’s ultimate prize.And why Mbappe’s imminent departure from PSG is such a blow to French president Emmanuel Macron.

Kylian Mbappe: 4. Kylian Saint-Germain

After an outstanding first season at Paris Saint-Germain, a 19-year-old Mbappe inspires France to glory at the 2018 World Cup.
 
Presenters Steve Crossman and Julien Laurens hear from France head coach Didier Deschamps and other eye-witnesses as Mbappe emulates Pele by becoming only the second teenager to score in the final in Moscow.
 
Mbappe’s success sparks emotional scenes back in the Paris suburb of Bondy where his footballing journey began.

Kylian Mbappe: 3. Teenage Dreams

Presenters Steve Crossman and Julien Laurens explore Mbappe’s time at the legendary Clairefontaine academy and his breakthrough season at Monaco.Hear from France legend and Clairefontaine graduate Thierry Henry and some of Mbappe’s classmates at a football finishing school like no other.Find out how Monaco won the race to sign the teenage sensation and relive his title-winning debut season in the company of former team-mate Bernardo Silva.

Kylian Mbappe: 2. Centre of Excellence

In a new six-part podcast series, Steve Crossman and Julien Laurens chart Kylian Mbappe’s rise from the suburbs of Paris to global superstardom. 
 
We begin at AS Bondy, where Mbappe first displayed his prodigious talent and hear from former coaches and teammates about the cheeky schoolboy who, with the support of his ambitious parents, appeared destined for greatness.
 
Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger explains why Mbappe’s talents stood out at an early age, even in the Paris banlieues, one of football’s most competitive breeding grounds.

Kylian Mbappe: 1. The Boy from Bondy

A new podcast series charting Kylian Mbappe’s rise from the suburbs of Paris to global superstardom. 
 
Presenters Steve Crossman and Julien Laurens follow the forward’s journey from AS Bondy to PSG via Monaco and the legendary Clairefontaine academy and hear from a stellar cast including Arsene Wenger, Didier Deschamps, Thierry Henry and Bernardo Silva. 
 
Revisit Mbappe’s ultimate high of winning the World Cup in 2018 and the racial abuse that followed his penalty miss as France crashed out of the Euros in 2021. 
 
We take listeners to Qatar where Mbappe rallied his team for a remarkable comeback in the World Cup final before another painful defeat on penalties to Argentina. 
 
And we’ll look ahead to his future in the iconic white shirt of Real Madrid.

Kylian Mbappe: Trailer

In this new podcast series Steve Crossman and Guillem Balague explore the life and career of Pep Guardiola. Episode 4 charts his most recent chapter, overcoming a first trophyless season to create history in Manchester. Director of Football Txiki Bergistain and City insider Noel Gallagher reveal how Pep proved the doubters wrong to begin his domestic dominance before his former captain İlkay Gündoğan reveals how the players reacted to his “overthinking” in Europe. But after years of heartache in the Champions League, the team eventually climbed the summit and completed the historic treble - City’s Kyle Walker and Rodri tell the inside story.  
 
This is a BBC Sport Production for BBC Sounds and Radio 5 Live.

Pep Guardiola: 4. He Changed The Game

In this new podcast series Steve Crossman and Guillem Balague explore the life and career of Pep Guardiola. Episode 3 uncovers his motivation behind the move to Munich and addresses the theory that his time in Germany wasn’t a success because the Champions League eluded him. Former Bayern players Manuel Neuer and Robert Lewandowski explain how Guardiola overcame numerous difficulties to dominate domestically before German football expert Rafa Honigstein reveals why his tenure unravelled so quickly. 
 
This is a BBC Sport Production for BBC Sounds and Radio 5 Live.

Pep Guardiola: 3. Some Jerseys Carry Weight

In this new podcast series Steve Crossman and Guillem Balague explore the life and career of Pep Guardiola. Told from the perspective of former Barcelona players and staff, Episode 2 charts Pep’s rapid rise from rookie manager to treble winning coach in his first season in the dugout at Camp Nou. Carles Puyol and Eidur Gudjohnsen explain how their revolutionary style of football led to European glory, while board members Xavier Sala I Martin and Txiki Begiristain outline how things eventually turned sour. During an intense period of rivalries with Lionel Messi facing off against Cristiano Ronaldo and Jose Mourinho at the helm of Real Madrid, a golden era at Barcelona comes to an end
 
This is a BBC Sport Production for BBC Sounds and Radio 5 Live.

Pep Guardiola: 2. We Made History

In this new podcast series Steve Crossman and Guillem Balague explore the life and career of Pep Guardiola. Told from the perspective of former Barcelona teammates Ronald Koeman, Albert Ferrer, Jordi Cruyff and eventual Director of Football Txiki Begiristain - Episode 1 is the ultimate origin story. Journey from the streets of Santpedor to Barca’s world famous La Masia academy and Camp Nou and find out how Pep’s playing days almost ended prematurely and how the legendary Johan Cruyff shaped his footballing philosophy. 
 
This is a BBC Sport Production for BBC Sounds and Radio 5 Live

Pep Guardiola: 1. A Bit of Bread

Is Pep Guardiola the greatest manager of all time? Steve Crossman and Guillem Balague delve into his life and career, hearing from the players and coaches who know him best.