Latest news with #BallonDor
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ballon d'Or 2025: Hakimi's comments catch Ousmane Dembélé's camp off guard
Achraf Hakimi Achraf Hakimi told Canal+ that he deserves the 2025 Ballon d'Or—a statement that hasn't gone down well with those close to Ousmane Dembélé. Which PSG player will claim the 2025 Ballon d'Or? While Ousmane Dembélé received public backing from PSG following their Champions League triumph, Achraf Hakimi's belief that he deserves the trophy "more than a forward", has reportedly prompted the French club to rethink its communication strategy, according to L'Equipe this Sunday. The outlet reports that PSG officials, eager to avoid controversy, tried to have the Moroccan star's comments about the Ballon d'Or removed from his Canal+ interview, but Hakimi refused. Meanwhile, Hakimi's statement has stirred a reaction from Dembélé's camp. Indeed, some of Dembélé's inner circle were "surprised" by the Moroccan's public campaign. The Frenchman's representatives, however, were quick to defuse any potential controversy. "Ousmane is fully focused on the start of the season. We don't want to get involved in any polemics. The most important thing for us remains the team, and Ousmane appreciated the support from his teammates. As for the rest, everyone is free to say what they want. It's not our place to interpret other people's opinions," they stated.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cristiano Ronaldo refuses to be drawn on 'fictitious' Ballon d'Or after falling three Golden Balls behind GOAT rival Lionel Messi
CR7 has five Golden Balls to his name Eternal rival Messi has moved on to eight Class of 2025 dreaming to notable win Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱 WHAT HAPPENED? The Portuguese superstar has lifted the iconic Golden Ball aloft on five occasions over the course of his record-shattering career. The last of those successes came in 2017 while on the books of Real Madrid. THE BIGGER PICTURE Said triumph drew Ronaldo level with eternal rival Lionel Messi, but the Argentine legend has gone on to savour three more triumphs and now dominates the long-running GOAT debate in the eyes of many. DID YOU KNOW? The class of 2025 are daring to dream of adding their own name to the list of Ballon d'Or winners, with three of Ronaldo's international colleagues - Vitinha, Joao Neves and Nuno Mendes of Paris Saint-Germain - among the contenders. WHAT RONALDO SAID Ronaldo is reluctant to discuss their claims to the title of best player on the planet, with the evergreen Al-Nassr striker telling reporters from SportTV "that's fictitious to me" when asked about the Ballon d'Or. WHAT NEXT? CR7 beat a hasty retreat after avoiding any further discussion on the subject, with the 40-year-old frontman focused on his own career. He has committed to a new contract in the Middle East that will keep him in the Saudi Pro League for two more years.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Midfielder's Future Uncertain as Manchester City Face Real Madrid Interest
Rodri's Future Casts a Shadow Over Manchester City AS Sport reports that the future of Rodrigo Hernández is 'yet to be decided' and the coming months will be decisive. The 29-year-old Ballon d'Or winner is in no rush, despite knowing 'he will have a succulent renewal offer from Manchester City on the table' running until 2029. Such a deal would match Erling Haaland's wages and make him the highest-paid midfielder in Europe. Madrid's Midfield Mission Real Madrid are in the market for a central midfielder and Rodri's appeal is obvious. Born in Madrid and captain of the Spanish national team, he is 'one of the most popular players for both Xabi Alonso and the club'. The shortage of elite alternatives has Madridistas focusing on the City star. Reports suggest the admiration from Spain has already 'set off alarm bells' at the Etihad. Photo IMAGO City's Dependence on Rodri Losing Rodri would be a 'devastating blow' for Manchester City. His influence was clear when 'Rodri scored the goal' in the Champions League final win over Inter in Istanbul. Without him, Pep Guardiola's project 'crumbled like a sugar cube' during his injury absence last season. His return this term has already lifted performances, highlighted in the Club World Cup and a commanding display against Juventus in a 5-2 victory. Transfer Clock Ticking Rodri's contract expires in 2027. If no renewal is agreed by next summer's World Cup, City may face the prospect of lowering their asking price to avoid losing him for free. The club 'doesn't want to reach this point under any circumstances' but ultimately, as AS Sport notes, 'the ball is in the player's court'. Our View – EPL Index Analysis Excited Manchester City fans will be desperate for Rodri to commit his future, yet there is a growing undercurrent of concern. Supporters know he is the heartbeat of Guardiola's midfield, the glue that holds their passing patterns together, and the shield in front of the defence. The fact that Real Madrid, with Xabi Alonso at the helm, are circling makes this situation even more tense. If Rodri delays his decision until after the World Cup, the risk for City increases dramatically. By then, Madrid could make a compelling case – the lure of returning home, leading Spain's midfield in La Liga, and working under a fellow Spaniard with Champions League ambitions. City, for all their financial muscle, will be wary of an emotional pull that money alone cannot counter. Many fans will also remember the injury-hit campaign and how the team struggled without his presence. That will only intensify calls to secure his signature quickly. Should City lose Rodri, the void would not just be tactical but symbolic – the loss of a player who has been at the centre of their most successful era. This is a storyline no supporter wants to see reach its worst-case ending.
Malay Mail
2 days ago
- Sport
- Malay Mail
Man City's Rodri sidelined until post-September internationals, says Guardiola
LONDON, Aug 9 — Manchester City midfielder Rodri will not be at full fitness until after September's international break, Pep Guardiola has revealed. The 2024 Ballon d'Or winner missed most of last season due to ligament damage and without him City failed to mount a strong defence of their Premier League crown. The 29-year-old Spanish international fought his way back to fitness but suffered a groin injury in City's defeat to Saudi club Al-Hilal at the Club World Cup in the United States last month. 'Rodri's getting better but he had a big injury in the last game against Al-Hilal and for the last five or six weeks,' Guardiola said in comments released on Saturday. 'He's training right now and in the last two or three days is better. Hopefully maybe the international break is when he will be really, really fit. 'Hopefully, in the games (prior to that) he can play some minutes but the important thing is to not have pain because we don't want him to be come back and injured, come back and injured. 'We will try desperately to avoid that but he's training the last two or three days with us and that's good.' The City staff are also nursing Phil Foden and Mateo Kovacic back to fitness and both players joined Rodri in being left out of a pre-season game in Sicily this week. City face Wolves in their first Premier League game of the season next weekend and then play Tottenham and Brighton before the September internationals.— AFP
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Man City rocked by fresh setback ahead of season opener
Man City rocked by fresh setback ahead of season opener originally appeared on The Sporting News Manchester City's midfield plans have taken another hit before the Premier League curtain-raiser. Mateo Kovacic, who had surgery on his Achilles this summer, is now expected to miss action until at least late September — and possibly into October. The Croatian had hoped to be back around the start of the season but will not be ready for the early fixtures. He even traveled with the squad to Palermo for their final pre-season friendly, but sources suggest his recovery still has a long way to go. It's the second major blow in the middle of the park. Rodri, the Ballon d'Or winner and defensive midfield anchor, is still being eased back from a serious groin injury picked up at the Club World Cup. City want to avoid rushing him after his long spell out last season due to the ACL tear. 📲 Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp What Pep Guardiola said on Mateo Kovacic's injury? 'We have three [midfielders],' Pep Guardiola explained (quotes via 'Kova is injured until September/October, Rodri is coming back after six months and Nico. The others can play there but are more attacking, more in the box. Gundo can play there and Tijji can play there but when everybody is fit their position sit play more up front.' Guardiola admitted the schedule will be relentless after September, with matches every three or four days. That means City need all hands on deck — but right now, the engine room is running on low fuel. The absence of Kovacic and the caution over Rodri leaves January signing Nico Gonzalez as the only natural holding midfielder for the start. Ilkay Gundogan and Tijjani Reijnders can fill in, but both prefer a more advanced role. City's early fixtures against Wolves, Spurs, and Brighton are already tricky, and Guardiola knows the team may be undercooked. 'We've got some niggles, players coming back with some injuries,' he said. 'Maybe we missed some friendly games to prepare… but we decided to make more training sessions than play games.' Fans will be hoping the midfield gap doesn't turn into a gaping hole before the season really kicks off. After all, in football, losing control of the middle can quickly turn into losing control of the match and Man City fans already had a taste of it last season. Manchester City news and related links Premier League rivals step up shock interest in Man City's star forward Man City reject Saudi Pro League bid as veteran star confirms transfer plan Man City outcast open talks with Premier League outfit over a possible switch
