A recent ranking has highlighted the top contenders for this year’s Ballon d’Or, featuring standout players from the Euros and Copa America. According to sportskeeda.com, the list includes key figures from Spain’s triumphant Euro 2024 campaign and Argentina’s successful defense of their Copa America title, placing their captain Lionel Messi among the top five contenders. Here are the current favorites to win the 2024 Ballon d’Or: 5. Lionel Messi (Inter Miami/Argentina)Messi has become the first Major League Soccer (MLS) star to remain a strong contender for the Ballon d’Or. This season, he has scored 12 goals and provided nine assists…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
The drama surrounding Raheem Sterling’s future at Chelsea has intensified after the club stripped him of the No. 7 shirt. Sterling has been informed, both privately and publicly by manager Enzo Maresca, that he is no longer part of the plans at Stamford Bridge. The England international is among several players who have been excluded from first-team training. In addition to Sterling, vice-captain Ben Chilwell has been told to find a new club, while players like Trevoh Chalobah have known throughout the summer that they are not in the new manager’s plans. Sterling’s agents previously issued a statement requesting “clarity”…
Chelsea have officially completed the signing of Atlético Madrid attacking midfielder João Félix. The 24-year-old Portuguese international, who spent six months on loan with Chelsea during the 2022/23 season, returns to Stamford Bridge on a permanent deal worth approximately £44.5 million. Félix underwent a medical with Chelsea on Tuesday and has signed a seven-year contract, keeping him at the club until 2031. Last season, Félix was on loan at Barcelona, where he scored ten goals and provided four assists in all competitions. His arrival at Chelsea has facilitated Conor Gallagher’s move in the opposite direction. The former Golden Boy award…
Manchester City midfielder Rodri has named his teammate Kevin De Bruyne as the Greatest of All Time (GOAT). Speaking to Goal at the PFA Awards on Tuesday night, Rodri bypassed the usual candidates like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Instead, he chose De Bruyne, who has already secured six Premier League titles, two FA Cups, and the Champions League with City. When asked about the “Greatest of all time,” Rodri responded without hesitation, “Kevin De Bruyne.”
Former Liverpool star Graeme Souness has predicted that Manchester City’s dominance over the Premier League title will come to an end this season. City are aiming for an unprecedented fifth consecutive league title. Pep Guardiola’s side has already kicked off their campaign with a 2-0 victory over Chelsea last Sunday. Over the past two years, Arsenal has been City’s biggest rival, and Souness believes the Gunners will finally end their 21-year title drought this season. According to Souness, Manchester City will finish as runners-up, with Liverpool securing third place. “My top three? Well, I’m going for Arsenal to win the…
Al-Nassr captain Cristiano Ronaldo surprised fans with a big announcement on social media Wednesday afternoon, sending them into a frenzy. The 39-year-old’s last match with Al-Nassr ended in disappointment as his team lost 1-4 to Al-Hilal in the Arab Super Cup. However, Ronaldo has already moved on and is now focusing on his next venture—his business. The football legend launched his own YouTube channel, inviting fans to subscribe. On the channel, Ronaldo plans to share not only highlights from his career but also glimpses of his daily life. “The wait is over. My YouTube channel is finally here. SIUUUbscribe and…
Manchester United is ramping up their efforts to secure Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Manuel Ugarte before the transfer window closes. After starting their 2024/25 Premier League campaign with a victory against Fulham, thanks to a goal from new signing Joshua Zirkzee, United is keen to bolster Erik ten Hag’s squad further. The club has been targeting Ugarte, a highly-regarded 23-year-old Uruguayan, who has expressed his interest in joining the Red Devils since July. However, negotiations have been complicated due to PSG’s demands. To navigate these challenges, United has proposed a loan-to-buy deal, a strategic approach that allows them to bring in…
Manchester City stars Phil Foden and Bunny Shaw were among the top honorees at this year’s PFA Awards. Foden claimed the PFA Players’ Player of the Year (Male) award, beating out teammates Erling Haaland and Rodri. Shaw took home the PFA Players’ Player of the Year (Female) award. Chelsea’s Cole Palmer was named Young Player of the Year, while Manchester United’s Grace Clinton secured the women’s Young Player of the Year prize. Here’s the complete list of winners at this year’s PFA Awards:
A surprise Chelsea star has reportedly emerged as a target for Newcastle United if their pursuit of Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace falls through. Newcastle identified Guehi as their top defensive target this summer after his impressive performances at Euro 2024. However, securing the England international from Selhurst Park has proven difficult, with the Magpies having four bids rejected by the Eagles. The latest offer, valued at up to £65 million, was turned down as Palace remains firm on their £70 million valuation of the 24-year-old. Newcastle’s hopes of signing Guehi took another hit with the news that fellow Palace…
Manchester City star Phil Foden was named PFA Player of the Season on Tuesday, adding to his Football Writers’ Association award from three months ago. The 24-year-old triumphed over his Manchester City teammates, Erling Haaland and Rodri, to claim the prestigious honor. Foden played a crucial role in helping Pep Guardiola’s side secure the Premier League title in May. After receiving the award, the England international expressed his pride and gratitude. “Winning this award is something very special, and I am incredibly proud and grateful,” Foden said. “To be recognized by your fellow professionals means everything, and I want to…
Former Super Eagles midfielder John Mikel Obi has expressed skepticism about Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s impact at Chelsea this season. Dewsbury-Hall, who joined Chelsea from Leicester City in a £30 million deal, scored 12 goals in the Championship last season under new Blues manager Enzo Maresca. The 25-year-old signed a five-year contract and made his debut as a substitute in Chelsea’s 2-0 loss to Manchester City on Sunday. Mikel Obi commented on Dewsbury-Hall’s potential contribution, saying on beIN Sports: “I have nothing against Dewsbury-Hall. It’s not his fault; it was the club’s decision to bring him in. However, I don’t believe he…
Chelsea Football Club has finalized the transfer of Portuguese forward Joao Felix. Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano first reported the news on Monday. The deal is valued at approximately €38 million, with Felix signing a contract through June 2030, plus an option for an additional year. Medical tests are scheduled to be conducted within the next two days. This announcement follows Chelsea’s recent agreement to send Conor Gallagher to Atletico Madrid. The two transfers have been closely linked, particularly after Chelsea withdrew from an earlier deal to sign Atletico’s Samu Omorodion. This transfer represents Felix’s second stint with Chelsea, having previously…
AC Milan striker Álvaro Morata has addressed his recent split from his wife, Alice Campello, which occurred last month. Despite rumors in Spain suggesting infidelity on Morata’s part, the 31-year-old Spain international has firmly denied these claims. He stated that both he and Campello mutually agreed to end their relationship, emphasizing that he was never unfaithful. In an interview with TVE, as reported by Sport, Morata said, “It’s false. I was never unfaithful to her; she is the most important woman in my life. The relationship is over, but we maintain a good relationship for the sake of our four…
Referee Controversy Continues in the Premier League Referee decisions in the English Premier League remain a hot topic, with fans and players voicing frustration over the state of officiating. The introduction of VAR (Video Assistant Referee) in the 2019/20 season aimed to minimize errors in key areas such as goals, penalties, red cards, and mistaken identity. However, many believe that VAR has instead intensified controversy and confusion, with some decisions appearing inconsistent or biased. Recently, Richard Keys criticized the Premier League for allegedly treating certain clubs unfairly regarding refereeing decisions. He particularly highlighted the decision not to award Brentford a…
Manchester City are reportedly preparing a £70 million offer for Real Madrid’s forward Rodrygo Goes. According to Football Insider, the Brazilian has been on City’s radar throughout the summer. His future at Real Madrid has come into question following the arrival of Kylian Mbappé this summer. Although Real Madrid views Rodrygo as a key part of their plans, there are concerns he may struggle for playing time as the season progresses. Both Manchester City and Liverpool have been monitoring the 23-year-old with keen interest. Rodrygo has publicly expressed his commitment to the club, but he may have internal concerns about…
Manchester United are ramping up their efforts to sign Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Manuel Ugarte before the transfer window closes. Following a Premier League victory over Fulham, secured by a goal from new arrival Joshua Zirkzee, United is keen to bolster Erik ten Hag’s squad. The club has been targeting Ugarte, a highly-regarded 23-year-old Uruguayan, who has expressed his desire to join United since July. Despite his interest, negotiations have been difficult due to PSG’s demands. To navigate this, United has proposed a loan-to-buy arrangement, allowing them to secure Ugarte without committing to a full transfer upfront. Ugarte’s defensive skills are…
The German Football Association has launched an investigation into Victor Boniface’s conduct during Bayer Leverkusen’s Super Cup win over VfB Stuttgart. Reports from German outlet Weltfussball claim that Boniface made an offensive gesture towards Stuttgart players by showing them his outstretched left middle finger after the final whistle. In the match, Boniface scored the opening goal in the 11th minute but was substituted for tactical reasons after his teammate Martin Terrier received a red card in the first half. Bayer Leverkusen went on to win the Super Cup on penalties. Although referee Tobias Stieler stated he did not see the…
The transfer saga involving Napoli, Victor Osimhen, and Romelu Lukaku has taken a new turn with Napoli’s recent move for the Chelsea forward, as reported by Soccernet.ng. Napoli’s interest in Romelu Lukaku is well-known, with manager Antonio Conte eager to reunite with the Belgian striker and replicate their past successes. Chelsea, meanwhile, has long admired Napoli’s Victor Osimhen, with former Stamford Bridge stars like Didier Drogba and John Obi Mikel advocating for the Nigerian forward’s signing. Although a potential swap deal between Lukaku and Osimhen was suggested, Napoli’s high valuation of Osimhen has made this exchange nearly impossible. Instead, Napoli…
Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva has revealed his football idol, and it’s not his Portuguese teammate and captain, Cristiano Ronaldo. Instead, Silva named former Argentina international Pablo Aimar as the player he idolized growing up. Although Silva has never played in Argentina, he was captivated by Aimar’s style of play as a child. In an interview with ESPN Argentina, Silva explained his admiration, saying, “My idol? I really liked watching Pablo Aimar when I was a kid… I really liked him.” While many players of his generation typically choose either Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi as their idols, Silva’s choice…
Chelsea U18 coach, Hassan Sulaiman, has praised young forward Chizaram Ezenwata after the striker netted two goals in the first half of their 5-2 loss to Brighton in an U18 Premier League match at Cobham on Saturday. Despite the disappointment of losing the opening match of the season, Sulaiman, who leads Chelsea’s U18 team, highlighted Ezenwata’s performance as a positive takeaway. Ezenwata, the son of former Gombe United star Ndubuisi Ezenwata, nearly scored a hat-trick, only to be denied by the woodwork. Sulaiman commended the youngster’s finishing skills and predicted a promising future for him. Speaking to Chelsea’s official website,…