Latest news with #BallonDOr
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Euro 2025: Spain star Aitana Bonmatí says she's mentally stronger after stay in hospital
BERN, Switzerland (AP) — Spain's opponents at the Women's European Championships maybe don't want to hear Aitana Bonmatí say she is even better as a player after her recent spell in the hospital. Bonmatí said Thursday she is '100% physically' on the eve of a quarterfinal game against host Switzerland that will be exactly three weeks since she was hospitalized with viral meningitis. "I think this new Aitana is even stronger mentally with the same ambitions," the two-time defending Ballon d'Or winner said in translated comments. 'I reminded myself who I am. 'I feel very well, you can see from my face I glad to be here,' Bonmatí added, though she acknowledged she had learned because 'I am not used to managing these kinds of situations.' Bonmatí was treated in a Madrid hospital before traveling to Switzerland one day later than the rest of the world champion and tournament favorite's squad. 'I was frustrated, I suffered I must admit. It was five days before the start of the tournament," she said at the pregame news conference at the stadium in Bern. 'What happened was unexpected. I felt super well, physically I was perfect,' she said. 'But I never thought I wouldn't be here. I thought I may miss some games.' Bonmatí even was well enough to enter from the bench on the second day of Euro 2025, in the 81st minute of Spain's 5-0 win over Portugal. She came on for the second half of the 6-2 win against Belgium, when the score was 2-1. She played the full game in a 3-1 win over Italy ensuring Spain finished top of its group. The team tied the tournament record of scoring 14 goals in the opening phase. 'I am happy because the team was super good,' Bonmatí said. 'We played an excellent tournament and now the best part is coming.' Spain faces the host nation in the quarterfinals, as at Euro 2022 in England losing 2-1 after extra time to the eventual title holder. Spain also met Switzerland in the first knockout round at the 2023 World Cup and Bonmatí scored twice in a 5-1 win in the round of 16. Spain coach Montse Tomé has a full and fearsomely talented squad to pick from with a little uncertainty over the goalkeeper position. Adriana Nanclares of Athletic Bilbao has been a surprise choice ahead of Barcelona's Cata Coll, and Tomé said the players did not know yet who she wants to start the game. ___ AP soccer:
Associated Press
3 days ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
Euro 2025: Spain star Aitana Bonmatí says she's mentally stronger after stay in hospital
BERN, Switzerland (AP) — Spain's opponents at the Women's European Championships maybe don't want to hear Aitana Bonmatí say she is even better as a player after her recent spell in the hospital. Bonmatí said Thursday she is '100% physically' on the eve of a quarterfinal game against host Switzerland that will be exactly three weeks since she was hospitalized with viral meningitis. 'I think this new Aitana is even stronger mentally with the same ambitions,' the two-time defending Ballon d'Or winner said in translated comments. 'I reminded myself who I am. 'I feel very well, you can see from my face I glad to be here,' Bonmatí added, though she acknowledged she had learned because 'I am not used to managing these kinds of situations.' Bonmatí was treated in a Madrid hospital before traveling to Switzerland one day later than the rest of the world champion and tournament favorite's squad. 'I was frustrated, I suffered I must admit. It was five days before the start of the tournament,' she said at the pregame news conference at the stadium in Bern. 'What happened was unexpected. I felt super well, physically I was perfect,' she said. 'But I never thought I wouldn't be here. I thought I may miss some games.' Bonmatí even was well enough to enter from the bench on the second day of Euro 2025, in the 81st minute of Spain's 5-0 win over Portugal. She came on for the second half of the 6-2 win against Belgium, when the score was 2-1. She played the full game in a 3-1 win over Italy ensuring Spain finished top of its group. The team tied the tournament record of scoring 14 goals in the opening phase. 'I am happy because the team was super good,' Bonmatí said. 'We played an excellent tournament and now the best part is coming.' Spain faces the host nation in the quarterfinals, as at Euro 2022 in England losing 2-1 after extra time to the eventual title holder. Spain also met Switzerland in the first knockout round at the 2023 World Cup and Bonmatí scored twice in a 5-1 win in the round of 16. Spain coach Montse Tomé has a full and fearsomely talented squad to pick from with a little uncertainty over the goalkeeper position. Adriana Nanclares of Athletic Bilbao has been a surprise choice ahead of Barcelona's Cata Coll, and Tomé said the players did not know yet who she wants to start the game. ___ AP soccer:
New York Times
12-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Ranking the Ballon d'Or 2025 favourites: Has the Club World Cup changed things?
While the fixture schedules differ across the six FIFA confederations, Sunday's Club World Cup final provides a perfect punctuation point to 2025. Either Chelsea or Paris-Saint Germain will get their hands on the trophy, but there is still a lingering question remaining. Has this summer's tournament strengthened any player's grip on the Ballon d'Or? Advertisement On the one hand, our opinions on a player should change little after a four-week tournament played on pitches of questionable quality in scorching conditions. On the other, PSG have used the tournament to rubber-stamp themselves as the world's best team, showcasing a glut of players who stand head and shoulders above anyone else to kick a football in the past 12 months. Here, The Athletic has updated its piece from late May with the top 10 contenders to win the award, breathing new life into a debate that will rumble on until the winner is announced in Paris in September. Let's be kind to each other in the comments, eh… 'As far as the Ballon d'Or is concerned, several players could win it, and some conditions are inevitable,' Luis Enrique told reporters after his PSG side's semi-final victory against Real Madrid on Wednesday. 'They have to score and assist, but they also have to bring silverware to their teams, and if there is one player who has done that this season, it is Ousmane Dembele, and he is far above any player. This is my opinion, and I will repeat it.' Who are we to argue? Sure, Dembele (top image) has only started one game in the United States this summer after recovering from a quadriceps injury, but the 28-year-old was integral as PSG swatted Real Madrid aside in their semi-final. Goal contributions? Dizzying levels in 2024-25 with 38 goals and 14 assists in all competitions, the leading combined tally for his side. Silverware? Just the quadruple and a potential fifth trophy. A simply outstanding campaign for a player who some observers had previously labelled as an unfulfilled talent. What an incredible year it has been for Vitinha. Beyond the trophies at club level, the 25-year-old won the Nations League with Portugal in June, starring in the centre of midfield against Spain in the final. Winning is now a habit for Vitinha, and it is precisely because he is in the team that his sides have so much success. He is a metronome, a tempo-setter, a dictator of play — no player in this season's Champions League or Club World Cup has made more passes than the midfielder. Dropping into space to receive the ball, pulling wide into full-back areas, catalysing his side's attack when it needs an injection of energy — Vitinha does it all, and it is little surprise that he has clocked up the third-most minutes under Luis Enrique in all competitions this season. He might not be the player who gets the adulation at the top end of the field, but watching Vitinha will give you a newfound appreciation for what a midfield technician really is. After allowing the dust to settle from Liverpool's title-winning campaign, Salah's attacking output somehow looks even more impressive. With 29 league goals and 18 assists, Salah picked up the Premier League's Golden Boot and Playmaker awards, with a combined 47 goal contributions equalling Alan Shearer's (1994-95) and Andrew Cole's (1993-94) Premier League record, both of whom achieved the same numbers in a 42-game season. That tally of 47 was comfortably higher than any other player across Europe's big five leagues last season. If it is raw individual numbers you are searching for, then look no further than Liverpool's talisman. A new contract will keep Salah at Liverpool for at least two more seasons, and it is clear that the team is set up to get the best out of him, with a small compromise in his defensive work allowing him to deliver such eye-watering attacking output. While Liverpool's last-16 exit in the Champions League might influence the perspective on Salah's season in the wider view, do not underestimate just how impressive his campaign was from an individual standpoint. Similar to Dembele, it was always known that Raphinha had undeniable talent, but few people expected him to post such impressive attacking numbers, seemingly out of nowhere. In all competitions, the Brazil international registered 34 goals and 22 assists for Barcelona as they won La Liga, Copa del Rey and the Supercopa de Espana. With some of his electric performances in the Champions League, many thought that Raphinha was destined to lead Hansi Flick's side to the complete set — but a stubborn Inter dumped Barcelona out in dramatic circumstances in the semi-finals. For much of the campaign, Barcelona were operating in parallel with PSG as a side who were on track to win every trophy available to them in 2024-25. As unfortunate as it might sound, players who win the Champions League often edge ahead of others in the race for the Ballon d'Or. Take nothing away from Raphinha's season individually, but not lifting the biggest prize in European club football might work against him. The fact that a 17-year-old (he turns 18 on Sunday) is in the conversation to be named the world's best player tells you how talented this youngster is. The sensational quality that Yamal has in his left foot is prodigious. Only Bayern Munich's Michael Olise and Liverpool's Salah posted more assists than Yamal's 13 across Europe's big five leagues. Advertisement Given Spain's European Championship victory last summer, there were already no doubts that Yamal could cut it on the biggest stage. However, his performances in the Champions League took things to a new level, becoming the youngest scorer in the semi-finals of the competition after tormenting Inter in both legs. He might have ended up on the losing side, but his beautiful curled effort in the first leg will live long in the memory — and was named the Goal of the Tournament by UEFA. Lamine Yamal's solo effort against Inter is the Fans' Goal of 2024/25 😮💨@Heineken | #UCLGOTT — UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) June 6, 2025 If not this year, Yamal will win the Ballon d'Or. It is only a matter of time. To some, this pick might fall in the 'Rodri category', but people should not sleep on just how good Fabian Ruiz has been in the past 12 months. After Spain's Euro 2024 victory, a further four trophies have followed in a PSG shirt, and the 29-year-old has been at the heart of all of it. Such is his importance to Luis Enrique's side that only Bradley Barcola has made more than Fabian's 60 appearances across all competitions this season. His movement is so intelligent, moving into pockets of space that no opposition player wants to venture into, before crashing into the box to get on the end of a cross, as he did so well against Real Madrid this week. It feels harsh to omit Joao Neves from the top 10 when his two midfield team-mates make the list here, but at 20, his influence will grow. His time will surely come. For now, there is a feeling that Fabian is not getting the credit he deserves for the role he has played in a winning machine. We are here to give that to him. If you were to go by the mantra that the best ability is availability, Pedri is the best player in Barcelona's squad, according to head coach Hansi Flick. The 22-year-old played 59 times in all competitions last season — more than any of his team-mates in 2024-25. Pedri can dictate the pace of Barcelona's possession single-handedly, with the ability to play a zipped through ball to a team-mate that most players would not even see. Using data from analytics company SkillCorner, no players made more line-breaking passes in La Liga than their midfield magician. Much like Raphinha, it is not that Pedri has gotten worse since The Athletic's previous rankings, but a subtle shuffle was inevitable once the biggest European trophy was handed out. Pedri continues to be one of the best midfielders in world football, and if there is a gap in your defensive lines, he will exploit it. Luis Enrique was pouring more praise on his players this week when saying that Hakimi was one of the best right-backs he has seen in his career. With such incredible form in the last 12 months, it is difficult to disagree. The 26-year-old's ability to get up and down the pitch verges on teleportation at times, supporting his side's attack as the furthest man forward but somehow the first one to make a tackle in the defensive third when PSG are on the back foot. It is that versatility that is so impressive — tucking inside into half-space areas, hugging the touchline, and making underlapping runs beyond the forward line to create a chance or score himself. 'Hakimi has freedom, he is not a full-back,' Luis Enrique said after PSG's Club World Cup victory over Real Madrid. 'When we have the ball, he can be a forward, a winger, a player between the lines, or a pivot. When we don't have the ball, he is a full-back who presses high, but he also has defensive work.' Full-backs should get more visibility in the Ballon d'Or shortlists, and none of them deserve it more than Hakimi this season. Mbappe's end to the season was not ideal. Acute gastroenteritis kept him out of much of Real Madrid's Club World Cup campaign, before an anonymous performance against PSG as his side were eliminated. Nevertheless, the individual numbers were strong for the 26-year-old during his first year in Spain. In May, Mbappe surpassed Ivan Zamorano's record of 37 goals (1992-93) scored in all competitions in a debut season for Madrid. Similarly, Mbappe broke Real Madrid legend Alfredo Di Stefano's record of 27 goals in a debut La Liga season (1953-54), finishing the campaign with 31 league goals. Sadly, individual numbers only get you so far in the Ballon d'Or reckonings, and overall, Madrid disappointed in Carlo Ancelotti's final season in charge. It would be a huge surprise if Mbappe managed to top the list in September. Two excellent finishes against Flamengo in Bayern Munich's last-16 victory encapsulated everything Kane is about. Barely looking up to see where the goal was, Kane was dead-eyed as he struck both efforts into the corner in acts of pure muscle memory. In truth, Bayern's exploits in the Club World Cup did little to move the dial in Kane's favour to lift the Ballon d'Or, but across the year, Kane's 26 goals were the most in the Bundesliga as the 31-year-old clinched the first trophy of his career. More broadly, only Dembele and Omar Marmoush had a higher rate of goals plus assists than Kane's 1.3 per 90 minutes across Europe's big five leagues. With back-to-back Kicker-Torjagerkanone's (the Bundesliga top goalscorer trophy) on his mantelpiece, people have perhaps taken Kane's productivity for granted in recent years. In a world where reliable out-and-out No 9s are a little trickier to come by, Kane is as much of a guarantee for goals as any player in world football.
