Despite being widely regarded as one of the greatest soccer players of all time, Argentina's Lionel Messi has been left off the list of nominees for the Ballon d'Or award. The award, considered the highest individual honor in the sport, will be presented on October 28, sparking debate and disappointment among fans and experts alike. Messi, who holds the record for most Ballon d'Or wins with eight, was not included in the list of 30 players announced on Wednesday.
After 15 years, the Ballon d'Or shortlist finally excludes the iconic duo of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo from its final list of nominees. This guarantees us a new winner for the prestigious award. Manchester City and Spain's Rodri is considered a top contender, while other contenders include Inter Milan's Lautaro Martinez, Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior, and PSG's Kylian Mbappe. The list features 10 Premier League players and sees four players who switched clubs since the summer.
Pep Guardiola and his Manchester City squad are set to dominate the upcoming 2024 Ballon d'Or awards, with numerous players being nominated for the highly coveted individual awards. Despite facing slight regression in their previous season, City is still a force to be reckoned with in the Premier League as they grabbed a historic fourth consecutive title. With players like Rodri and Savinho making the shortlist, City's dominance in the world of football is evident. Even their women's team has made an impact, with three players being nominated for the Ballon d'Or Feminin.
Real Madrid's manager Carlo Ancelotti believes that Vinicius Junior should be awarded with the Ballon d'Or this year, praising his exceptional performance during the previous season where he contributed greatly to the team's achievements. Although players like Jude Bellingham and Toni Kroos are also considered to be top contenders, Ancelotti's pick is based on Vinicius' young age, immense talent, impressive stats and remarkable potential. Vinicius, who has been one of the best players in the world for the past few years, could become the first team gold medalist in US fencing history when he leads his team to victory against Italy in the upcoming match.
After months of speculation, it has finally been confirmed that Real Madrid has signed a new agreement with midfielder Luka Modric for a one-year term. Modric has been an integral part of the team's success this season, scoring two goals and providing eight assists in 44 matches. In a surprising turn of events, the Croatian also expressed his preference for teammate Toni Kroos to win the Ballon d'Or, who will be retiring after this season. This news has been recently reported by Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio on his official website.
In what promises to be a thrilling final, Real Madrid faces Borussia Dortmund at Wembley Stadium for the Champions League crown. While Los Blancos are vying for their 15th European title, BVB are hoping for a second win after defeating PSG in the semi-finals. With star players Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham in contention for the Ballon d'Or, this match could determine the winner. Both teams have utilized diverse strategies, but traditional strikers Joselu and Niclas Fullkrug may play a crucial role. In the dugout, legendary coach Carlo Ancelotti seeks his fifth Champions League trophy, while Dortmund's Edin Terzić hopes to complete a remarkable journey from the Yellow Wall to the pinnacle of European football. Stay tuned for all the latest updates from Wembley and watch the showdown between BV Borussia 09 Dortmund and Real Madrid CF at 8 PM BST.
A napkin bearing the signatures of Barcelona's former sporting director and agents, promising to sign a young Lionel Messi in 2000, was recently sold in auction for a staggering 762,400 pounds. Messi went on to become one of the greatest players in Barcelona's history, winning over 30 trophies and leaving the club as their all-time leading scorer with 672 goals. He also became the first player to win eight Ballon d'Or awards and led Argentina to victory in the 2022 World Cup before joining Inter Miami in the MLS. Stay updated with the latest news and stats from IPL 2024, including a preview of the top contenders for the Orange and Purple Cap and a schedule and points table of the tournament.
In a recent simulation, four of the greatest footballers of all time - Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Diego Maradona and Pele - were put to the test to determine who truly deserves the title. While many consider these four players to be the best in history, others argue the inclusion of Zinedine Zidane, Alfredo Di Stefano, Ronaldo and Bobby Charlton. Individual honours and team achievements were taken into consideration, with Messi coming out on top with eight Ballon d'Or wins. However, Maradona and Pele's World Cup triumphs cannot be overlooked.
Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo faced a red card in the Saudi Super Cup match between Al Nassr and Al Hilal after appearing to elbow opponent Ali Al-Bulayhi. The incident occurred while former Manchester United and Real Madrid star Ronaldo attempted to take a quick throw-in. However, this isn't the first time that Ronaldo has had a tense encounter with Al-Bulayhi, as he was taunted with 'Messi' chants by the crowd during the game.
During a star-studded charity match in Qatar, popular YouTuber iShowSpeed causes chaos on the pitch after making a dangerous tackle on former Ballon d'Or winner Kaka. The incident has sparked controversy and raised questions about the safety of bringing social media influencers and footballing legends onto the same pitch.