Latest news with #Ballond'Or
Egypt Independent
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Egypt Independent
Salah faces stiff competition amid ranking shift at the Ballon d'Or Race
The race for the 2025 Ballon d'Or is heating up, with Egyptian international Mohamed Salah of Liverpool battling it out against numerous other global football stars. Spanish newspaper Marca confirmed that the official nominees for the 2025 Ballon d'Or award are expected to be announced in the coming days of July. The 2025 Ballon d'Or awards ceremony will also feature the distribution of several other prestigious titles, including Kopa Trophy for the best young player in the world, the award for the best coach in the world, and the Lev Yashin Trophy for the best goalkeeper in the world. Ballon d'Or 2025 rankings The popular 'B/R Football' network published its latest update to the 2025 Ballon d'Or rankings. The update shows Mohamed Salah slipping down the list, while Moroccan star Achraf Hakimi and his Paris Saint-Germain teammate, Portuguese player Nuno Mendes, have moved up. The new 2025 Ballon d'Or rankings: Ousmane Dembélé (France – Paris Saint-Germain) Raphinha (Brazil – Barcelona) Lamine Yamal (Spain – Barcelona) Achraf Hakimi (Morocco – Paris Saint-Germain) Mohamed Salah (Egypt – Liverpool) Vitinha (Portugal – Paris Saint-Germain) Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia – Paris Saint-Germain) Fabián Ruiz (Spain – Paris Saint-Germain) Nuno Mendes (Portugal – Paris Saint-Germain) Kylian Mbappé (France – Real Madrid) The renowned French magazine France Football announced the date for the 2025 Ballon d'Or ceremony , with the event scheduled to take place on September 22nd.
Straits Times
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Luka Modric at AC Milan to ‘stay competitive and in Europe' at 40
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Croatian midfielder Luka Modric arriving in Milan before signing for AC Milan on July 14, 2025. ROME – Croatia captain Luka Modric said on July 16 that he had penned a one-year contract with AC Milan to 'stay competitive and in Europe'. 'I'm happy to be here and I look forward to a new adventure,' the 2018 Ballon d'Or winner told AC Milan's TV channel after joining from Real Madrid. Modric, who turns 40 in September, joined the Spanish giants from Tottenham Hotspur in 2012, going on to win six Champions Leagues, four La Liga titles and two Copa del Rey trophies. 'I wanted to stay in Europe, to continue playing competitive football. I had some other offers but when Milan showed up for me it was clear from the first moment,' he said. Fans in Singapore could get an early glimpse of the midfield maestro in a Milan jersey with the Italian giants playing a pre-season friendly against Arsenal at the National Stadium on July 23, as part of the Singapore Festival of Football. The veteran midfielder won a club-record 28 trophies over 13 years in the Spanish capital, in which he impressed fans of all teams across Spain with his consistent brilliance. The midfielder racked up 597 appearances, scoring 43 times and providing 95 assists. He won the Ballon d'Or in 2018, becoming the first player not named Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo to do so in over a decade. Milan finished a disappointing eighth in Serie A last season and will not play in European competition. But Modric insisted Milan remain 'one of the biggest clubs in Europe'. 'Milan cannot be satisfied with average and needs to have the biggest goals possible, to win titles, to compete with the best teams in the world, that's why I am here.' Modric signed a one-year contract, with an option for an additional season with the seven-time Champions League and 19-time Serie A winners. 'I'm never satisfied, I always want more,' he warned. 'When you've experienced that feeling (of winning), you want to feel it even more. I still have hunger, desire, still wanting more.' To explain his longevity, Modric said 'the most important thing is the love for the game, for football'. 'That's what I still have, what I still feel in my belly, this fire, that's what pushes me... there is no secrets, for me it's the passion, the love for football. I am never satisfied.' The 2018 World Cup runner-up also spoke of his childhood memories of Milan. 'When I was a kid, I watched the Italian league a lot, Milan was my favourite team,' he recalled. 'Also because Zvonimir Boban was there, who was my idol,' he added, referring to his compatriot, who wore the Rossoneri jersey from 1992 to 2001. AFP
The Hindu
5 hours ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
Messi's multi-goal streak ends in Inter Miami's 3-0 loss to FC Cincinnati
Lionel Messi's MLS-record streak of scoring multiple goals in five straight matches ended on Wednesday (July 17, 2025) night in Inter Miami's 3-0 loss to FC Cincinnati. Cincinnati got a first-half goal from Gerardo Valenzuela and two second-half strikes from Evander to remain one point behind the Philadelphia Union in the Eastern Conference standings. Philadelphia beat CF Montreal 2-1 on Wednesday night. The loss ended a five-match winning streak for Inter Miami (11-4-5) which is fifth in the Eastern Conference standings. Messi is the first player in MLS history to have a multi-goal streak of more than four matches. He was tied for the league lead with 16 goals in 17 MLS matches. Messi has only played in three matches against Cincinnati since coming to MLS, but the team has made things difficult for the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner. Cincinnati had four shots on target in the first 16 minutes to none for Inter Miami, and took a 1-0 lead when Valenzuela angled a shot from the left side of the box for his fifth goal of the season. Messi's first shot came in the final minute of first-half stoppage time and landed comfortably in the arms of keeper Roman Celentano. Evander's 14th goal of the season, and 50th in MLS, put Cincinnati ahead 2-0 less than five minutes into the second half. Cincinnati (14-3-6) also had a two-goal lead on Saturday against Columbus but lost 4-2 to the Crew. Cincinnati held on this time by neutralizing Inter Miami's attack, led by Messi. Evander sealed the victory when he made it 3-0 with a goal off a rebound when Luca Orellano's shot caromed off the keeper. Messi had a chance in the 78th minute, but his close-range shot was saved by a diving Celentano. The 38-year-old Messi has played 90-plus minutes in eight straight games, including four Club World Cup matches. At one point in the second half, he had covered the least amount of distance of any player. Cincinnati played without second-leading scorer Kevin Denkey due to a leg injury. Cincinnati visits Real Salt Lake and Inter Miami is at the New York Red Bulls on Saturday night.
The Hindu
7 hours ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
Rodrigo De Paul to join Lionel Messi at Inter Miami
Argentine midfielder Rodrigo De Paul has agreed to contract terms with Inter Miami, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Wednesday. The 31-year-old De Paul will leave Atlético Madrid — where he's played since 2021 — for Major League Soccer on a short-term contract with Inter Miami that could potentially lead to a multi-year deal. He had one year left on his contract at Atlético Madrid. ESPN first reported the deal. De Paul and national team buddy Messi hope to continue to elevate Inter Miami, which has reached historic heights since Messi's arrival in 2023. De Paul could be in uniform with Inter Miami in time for the start of Leagues Cup play later this month, though his exact arrival date is uncertain, said the person, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the signing has not been announced. The deal, which has been in the works for several weeks, comes as negotiations between Messi and Inter Miami on a contract extension remain ongoing. ALSO READ: Messi's multi-goal streak in MLS ends as Cincinnati thrashes Inter Miami 3-0 The nine-time Ballon d'Or winner's current contract expires at the end of December, and he is expected to return to the club for at least another season. The signing of De Paul adds another veteran with whom Messi already has chemistry, along with 37-year-old Sergio Busquets, Luis Suarez, 38, and Jordi Alba, 36. Messi, Busquets and Alba are Miami's three Designated Players with salaries higher than the league maximum. Alba has already signed a contract extension to remain with Inter Miami through the 2027 season. Busquets has not yet renewed his contract, which expires at the end of the season. If Busquets does not return, that could free up a spot for De Paul to eventually become one of Miami's three Designated Players. De Paul has been a key player for Atlético Madrid since joining the Spanish club from Italian team Udinese in 2021. He helped Argentina win the World Cup in 2022 and was part of Copa America victories in 2021 and 2024. Messi and Inter Miami are coming off a historic season in 2024 in which they finished with the best record in MLS history and the best winning percentage in league history, only to be quickly bounced from the MLS playoffs.
San Francisco Chronicle
8 hours ago
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Messi's multi-goal streak ends in Inter Miami's 3-0 loss to FC Cincinnati
CINCINNATI (AP) — Lionel Messi's MLS-record streak of scoring multiple goals in five straight matches ended on Wednesday night in Inter Miami's 3-0 loss to FC Cincinnati. Cincinnati got a first-half goal from Gerardo Valenzuela and two second-half strikes from Evander to remain one point behind the Philadelphia Union in the Eastern Conference standings. Philadelphia beat CF Montreal 2-1 on Wednesday night. The loss ended a five-match winning streak for Inter Miami (11-4-5) which is fifth in the Eastern Conference standings. Messi is the first player in MLS history to have a multi-goal streak of more than four matches. He was tied for the league lead with 16 goals in 17 MLS matches. Messi has only played in three matches against Cincinnati since coming to MLS, but the team has made things difficult for the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner. Cincinnati had four shots on target in the first 16 minutes to none for Inter Miami, and took a 1-0 lead when Valenzuela angled a shot from the left side of the box for his fifth goal of the season. Messi's first shot came in the final minute of first-half stoppage time and landed comfortably in the arms of keeper Roman Celentano. Evander's 14th goal of the season, and 50th in MLS, put Cincinnati ahead 2-0 less than five minutes into the second half. Cincinnati (14-3-6) also had a two-goal lead on Saturday against Columbus but lost 4-2 to the Crew. Cincinnati held on this time by neutralizing Inter Miami's attack, led by Messi. Evander sealed the victory when he made it 3-0 with a goal off a rebound when Luca Orellano's shot caromed off the keeper. Messi had a chance in the 78th minute, but his close-range shot was saved by a diving Celentano. The 38-year-old Messi has played 90-plus minutes in eight straight games, including four Club World Cup matches. At one point in the second half, he had covered the least amount of distance of any player. ___
