Offbeat sporting stories that grabbed the headlines in 2013

Its Ronaldo, rest is up to you

Call it on purpose or by mistake, the French Sports Minister Valerie Fourneyron was left red-faced as she confused Ronaldo, the Brazilian striker and former World Cup winner with his Portuguese namesake, the Portuguese star Cristiano.

The French mimster, speaking at at the Brazilian Embassy in Paris committed the error as she referred to Cristiano Ronaldo as the ambassador of the FIFA World Cup to be held next year.

Though this sent a way of smiles all round, Fourneyron later admitted to the mistake on her Twitter page: “Not much good with first names! A little bit tired at the Brazilian embassy tonight. #Ronaldo was the 1st to laugh.”

Décidément fâchée avec les prénoms ! Petit coup de fatigue ce soir à l’ambassade du Brésil. #Ronaldo a été le 1er à en rire… cc @RMCsport

— Valérie Fourneyron (@vfourneyron) November 7, 2013