Dembélé v Lautaro: Champions League final for Ballon d'Or hopefuls
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.
Winning the Champions League is always a HUGE factor in deciding the Ballon d'Or for the season.
Advertisement
And in the 2024/25 final, we will have Ousmane Dembélé, from PSG, against Lautaro Martínez, from Inter, two stars in the running to win the influential award from France Football magazine.
Check out a video below comparing the statistics of the Frenchman and the Argentine!
Who do you think will win the Ballon d'Or this season? Dembélé, Lautaro, Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, or which player?
Let us know in the comments!
📸 Koji Watanabe - 2023 Getty Images
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
14 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Liverpool's New No 2? Mamardashvili Eyes Alisson's Throne After Kelleher Exit
Caoimhin Kelleher's Farewell and the Goalkeeping Transition at Liverpool Beyond the Backup Label Liverpool has rarely paused to grieve the departure of a second-choice goalkeeper. Yet Caoimhin Kelleher was never your average understudy. His £18million ($24.3m) move to Brentford may seem routine in modern football finance, but the emotional reaction surrounding it tells a deeper tale — of a player who defied the typical backup narrative to carve out a reputation of substance and style. Advertisement Kelleher arrived from Cork's Ringmahon Rangers in 2015 with promise, but not prestige. What followed was a steady rise into Ireland's standout goalkeeper, a trusted custodian for club and country. Though he remained in the shadow of Alisson for much of his Liverpool career, he stepped out when called upon and never looked out of place. Photo IMAGO With only 25 Premier League starts across six seasons, it's tempting to view his contribution as peripheral. But in truth, Kelleher's presence often proved pivotal. His calm demeanour, sharp reflexes, and quiet confidence became integral whenever Liverpool's No 1 was unavailable. He earned the mantle of the Premier League's best backup goalkeeper — a moniker both complimentary and limiting. Championship Contributions and Final Flourish Kelleher's timing, in both his saves and career moments, has always been notable. That he played a bigger part in Liverpool's 2024–25 Premier League title win felt deserved. Injuries to Alisson opened the door, and Kelleher walked through with assured hands and unshakeable poise. He featured ten times during the title run-in — three appearances in the Champions League and seven in the Premier League — as Alisson recovered from a hamstring issue. Advertisement His standout performance came in the 2-0 Champions League triumph over Real Madrid. That evening under the lights, he denied Kylian Mbappe from the penalty spot and made a series of crucial saves to preserve the clean sheet. He showed again what many already believed — that he could be a No 1 elsewhere. Even his mistake in the 3-3 draw against Newcastle United at St James's Park became a talking point spun into affection by Liverpool supporters. 'Without that draw, we wouldn't have won the league at Anfield,' some joked, pointing to the reshuffled fixture list that ended so gloriously in front of the Kop. But humour could not hide reality. 'For years, he's made it clear that he wants more,' the original piece from The Athletic noted, and rightly so. Sitting in Alisson's shadow was never going to satisfy a goalkeeper of Kelleher's ambition and ability. Brentford offers him the minutes he craves and a platform to prove he's more than a reliable reserve. Mamardashvili's Moment Arrives While Kelleher departs with admiration and applause, Liverpool's attention turns toward his successor. Giorgi Mamardashvili, a £29million recruit from Valencia, is already in place. Though he remained in Spain last season, the Georgian is now poised to step into the Liverpool squad for pre-season under Arne Slot. Advertisement Mamardashvili is no stranger to expectation. His performances for Georgia at Euro 2024 caught widespread attention. Liverpool acted swiftly, aware they were not the only ones watching. There were whispers of Alisson interest from Saudi Arabia, and though that pursuit has cooled, contingency planning was a necessity. At just 24, Mamardashvili is entering the most defining stretch of his career. He has been learning English, integrating into the club's culture from afar, and mentally preparing for the competition ahead. He wants to play, not just participate, and while Alisson remains Liverpool's No 1 for now, there is an unspoken inevitability to the transition ahead. 'Injury concerns over Alisson's record persist,' notes the original report. Last season's three-month layoff was not an isolated issue. Liverpool's sporting director, Richard Hughes, understood the risks and retained three senior stoppers for depth. That gamble paid off. Now, with Vitezslav Jaros eyeing a loan in one of Europe's top five leagues and Harvey Davies stepping up as third choice, the structure is clear. Should Alisson suffer another setback, it will be Mamardashvili who takes the gloves. A Future in Safe Hands Liverpool believe Mamardashvili has the temperament, talent, and technical prowess to one day replace Alisson outright. He thrives in possession-based systems, where quick distribution and positional intelligence are key. His stint at Valencia may have been marred by inconsistency — they finished 12th in La Liga — but he was often let down by a struggling defence, not his own shortcomings. Advertisement In fact, the environment at Liverpool could play to his strengths. A higher line, fewer shots faced, and a more dominant team structure may allow Mamardashvili to flourish. The club views him as a project worth investing in and believes he will become one of Europe's top stoppers. Whether that transition happens this season or in the next few years will depend on performance, patience, and perhaps pragmatism from both player and manager. For now, Mamardashvili is expected to challenge, not displace. Alisson's status remains intact, but his heir is no longer hypothetical — he's here, waiting. And that's the great paradox of modern football's goalkeeping hierarchy. Only one can start, but the depth behind must be of elite standard. Liverpool had that in Kelleher and hope to maintain it with Mamardashvili. The dynamic between them and Alisson will shape much of what unfolds in the new season. Legacy, Loyalty and Looking Ahead Kelleher leaves with five major medals and memories to match. His League Cup contributions in 2022 and 2024 were vital, even if he watched on for the 2019 Champions League and the 2022 FA Cup latter stages. His legacy is not in quantity of games, but quality of character and performance. He stood tall when Liverpool needed him most. Advertisement 'Might have crumbled without their first-choice goalkeeper,' the article rightly stated. But they did not, and in many ways, that was down to Kelleher's calming influence. As Arne Slot begins his reign, decisions over who starts in goal will be as critical as any tactical tweak. Alisson is the proven champion, Mamardashvili the emerging contender. The balance of experience and potential is finely poised. One leaves, one arrives, but the thread connecting them is clear — Liverpool have prioritised their goalkeeping future with the same rigour they have applied across the pitch. Kelleher departs with dignity and gratitude. Mamardashvili steps forward with belief and ambition. And Alisson, still one of the finest in the world, remains the benchmark both must reach. In the goalkeeping union, respect is paramount. For Liverpool, the changing of the guard has begun, but the standard will not drop. It never does.
The Hill
20 minutes ago
- The Hill
Migrant DHS accused of threatening Trump was framed: Prosecutors
A Wisconsin inmate is facing charges over allegations he forged threatening letters against President Trump in an effort to frame a potential witness in an upcoming criminal trial and get him deported before he could testify. Demetric Deshawn Scott was charged on Monday with identity theft, bail jumping and felony intimidation of a witness, according to a court filing. Prosecutors say Scott is responsible for several letters sent to U.S. officials that included threats to kill the president and ICE agents. The letters purported to be from Ramón Morales Reyes, whose name and return address were written in blue ink on each letter. 'The letters were all handwritten and, although not exactly the same, all wrote about immigration policy and threatening to kill ICE agents or President Donald Trump. Those letters also appeared to be written by the same person,' prosecutors said in the filing. Morales Reyes was arrested by ICE agents, and his arrest was publicized online by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which posted his image as well as one of the letters. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem also issued a statement describing him as an 'illegal alien' and said he would remain in custody 'pending his removal proceedings.' 'We are tired of this president messing with us Mexicans — we have done more for this count[r]y than you white people — you have been deporting my family and I think it is time Donald Trump get what he has coming to him,' one of the letters read, according to prosecutors. 'I will self deport myself back to Mexico but not before I use my 30 yard 6 to shoot your precious president in his head – I will see him at one of his big rall[ie]s' But, prosecutors say, after Morales Reyes was taken into custody, it soon became clear he could not have written the letters. Morales Reyes required translation assistance during the interview because he 'does not read, write, or fluently speak English.' Officials also compared a handwriting sample from Morales Reyes to the letter and there was no match. According to the court filing, investigators asked Morales Reyes, through a translator, who would want to get him 'in trouble.' Morales Reyes said the only person would be Scott, who was facing charges for robbing Morales Reyes. Investigators later listened to several calls from jail where Scott allegedly described plans to frame Morales Reyes.
Yahoo
28 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Report Vieira has given availability for Inter job
Reports in Italy claim that Genoa head coach Patrick Vieira has given his availability to take over from Simone Inzaghi at Inter, despite an ongoing attempt to lure Cesc Fabregas away from Como. Inter are searching for a new head coach following the confirmation that Inzaghi left his job via mutual consent on Tuesday. Advertisement The 49-year-old left three days after the 5-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final, and is now expected to join Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal. epa12148298 Inter head coach Simone Inzaghi walks past the trophy after losing the UEFA Champions League final between Paris Saint-Germain and Internazionale Milano, in Munich, Germany, 31 May 2025. EPA-EFE/ANNA SZILAGYI According to various reports over the last two days, Inter have been targeting a move for Como's Fabregas to replace Inzaghi. However, Como remain adamant that the Spaniard 'will not leave', while the coach himself claims that he is happy with the project in his current job. Other reports suggest that Inter are also looking at former midfielder Vieira and former Nerazzurri defender Cristian Chivu, currently head coach of Parma, as alternatives to Fabregas. Reports Vieira willing to take on Inter job GENOA, ITALY – NOVEMBER 24: Patrick Vieira, head coach of Genoa, looks on during the Serie A match between Genoa and Cagliari at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on November 24, 2024 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by) According to reports from Inter have already held initial talks with Vieira over their vacant head coach position. Advertisement Wednesday's update claims that the Frenchman has already shown a willingness to take over in San Siro. Gianluca Di Marzio, meanwhile, adds that there is a release clause that stands at €500,000 in Vieira's contract with Genoa. Vieira only joined Genoa as head coach in November, taking over from Alberto Gilardino with the team sitting one point above the relegation zone at the time. Crystal Palace's manager Patrick Vieira reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Crystal Palace in Manchester, Britain, 04 February 2023. EPA-EFE/ADAM VAUGHAN EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. The former Arsenal, Juventus and Inter midfielder guided the Grifone to comfortable safety, ending the 2024-25 season in 13th place, 12 points clear of the drop zone. Vieira also has coaching experience with Strasbourg in Ligue 1, Crystal Palace in the Premier League, OGC Nice, and NYCFC in MLS. He also spent four years with Manchester City in various roles, including as manager of the club's Elite Development Squad.
