Lamine Yamal Makes History by Entering Ballon d’Or In a remarkable achievement, Lamine Yamal has made his mark in the football world by cracking the prestigious Ballon d’Or rankings. The talented midfielder’s exceptional performances on the field have captured widespread attention from fans and critics alike. Yamal’s impressive displays have secured him a position among the top 30 players globally, as announced by the Ballon d’Or organizers. This milestone underscores his emergence as one of the most promising young talents in football today. Yamal’s journey to recognition has been nothing short of phenomenal. His electrifying speed, superb dribbling ability, and…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
Wilfred Ndidi, recently departed from Leicester City, will be succeeded by another Nigerian player. Leicester has continuously had Nigerian representation since Ahmed Musa joined in 2016, followed by Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho in 2017. The latest addition is Caleb Okoli, a 22-year-old centre-back born in Italy with Igbo and Yoruba heritage. Okoli has signed a five-year contract after transferring from Atalanta in Serie A, where he spent last season on loan at Frosinone Calcio. He also represented Italy at the European Under-21 Championship last year. “I think now is the right moment for me to take a significant step forward.…
In a year filled with thrilling football action and unpredictable outcomes, former England international and pundit Paul Merson stands firm in his Euro 2024 champion prediction. Despite the tournament’s surprises and upsets, Merson continues to back France to triumph. Renowned for his candid predictions, Merson consistently identifies the French national team as favorites to lift the trophy in Germany. His confidence in Les Bleus is bolstered by their impressive depth, individual talents like Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann, and N’Golo Kante, and cohesive team play, all of which have been evident throughout the competition. France boasts a remarkable blend of youth…
Lamine Yamal created history by becoming the youngest player ever to score in the European Championship at the age of just 16 years old. His remarkable goal leveled the score for Spain against France in their Euro 2024 semi-final in Munich. Despite a challenging beginning where Spain conceded within the first 10 minutes, with Randal Kolo Muani heading France into the lead after an excellent setup by Kylian Mbappe, Spain swiftly responded and equalized just nine minutes later.
Leny Yoro, the 18-year-old Lille center-back, has informed Manchester United that he is holding out for a move to Real Madrid this summer, according to reports from Spain. Despite United’s interest in signing him, Yoro has clearly expressed his preference to join the Spanish giants. United, eager to bolster their defense, have already seen two bids turned down for Jarrad Branthwaite, with their latest offer amounting to £45 million plus an additional £5 million. They are also engaged in discussions with Bayern Munich regarding Matthijs de Ligt, valued at €50 million (£42 million). However, Yoro’s response to United’s approach has…
Marseille’s new coach, Roberto De Zerbi, has praised Mason Greenwood as a world-class player amid negotiations for a transfer from Manchester United, as reported by Metro. Greenwood, currently on loan at Getafe, won’t return to Manchester United’s first team due to past issues that saw charges against him dropped in February 2023. De Zerbi’s admiration for Greenwood comes as Marseille leads discussions for the 22-year-old striker, nearing a £27m deal. Despite fan protests and a #GreenwoodNotWelcome campaign, Marseille remains eager to secure Greenwood, who has impressed during his loan stint at Getafe. De Zerbi’s remarks reflect a paternal approach to…
Real Madrid legend Iker Casillas has named winger Vinicius Junior as the current world’s best player, placing him ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo. Casillas, however, acknowledged that Ronaldo remains the best player of all time. Vinicius contributed significantly to Real Madrid’s success last season, helping them win the UEFA Champions League, La Liga, and Supercopa de Espana. The Brazilian scored 24 goals and provided 11 assists in 39 matches across various competitions under manager Ancelotti’s guidance. When discussing the topic of the world’s best player, Casillas, a former Spain goalkeeper, stated (via @MadridXtra): “The best player in the world? Vinicius. Cristiano?…
Lionel Messi, captain of Argentina, has broken Brazilian legends Cafu and Roberto Carlos’ record by reaching the most international finals (7) after leading his team to the Copa America 2024 final. Previously, both Cafu and Carlos had reached six finals for Brazil during their careers. The 37-year-old also surpassed Iran’s Ali Daei’s international goals record to become the second all-time top scorer with 109 goals, trailing only his rival Cristiano Ronaldo (130). Messi equaled Daei’s tally of 108 goals on the all-time scoring list with two goals in a 4-1 victory over Guatemala just before the start of Copa America.…
Euro 2024 will not include a third-place play-off. Spain secured their spot in the final with a thrilling 2-1 victory over France on Tuesday night. France, having played their final match of the tournament, won’t be advancing further. The upcoming semi-final will feature England facing the Netherlands, vying for the opportunity to challenge Spain in Sunday’s final. Unlike the World Cup, the Euros do not feature a third-place match typically held before the final. The last third-place match in the Euros occurred in 1980, with Czechoslovakia defeating Italy 9-8 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the regular match.
Spain’s starting XI for their Euro 2024 semi-final against France has been revealed, with head coach Luis de la Fuente making three anticipated changes. Jesus Navas and Nacho Fernandez step in for the suspended Dani Carvajal and Robin Le Normand, respectively, while Dani Olmo takes the place of the injured Pedri. The interaction on Spain’s right wing promises intrigue, as 38-year-old Navas supports Lamine Yamal, his junior by 22 years. Their task: to neutralize the threat of Kylian Mbappe, who has been subdued in the tournament so far. Tonight marks a historic occasion for Lamine Yamal, breaking a 66-year-old international…
Shakira is set to headline the opening ceremony of the Copa America 2024 final, taking place at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium on July 14. Known for her energetic performances and hit songs like “Hips Don’t Lie,” the Colombian pop star will entertain a crowd of over 65,000 fans. This appearance marks a significant return to the sports world for Shakira, following her last major live show at the 2020 Super Bowl halftime alongside Jennifer Lopez.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, now a senior advisor at AC Milan, has excluded Divock Origi from the team’s dressing room. The former Liverpool striker has been relegated to the youth team after being informed that he is no longer in the club’s immediate plans. Following Milan’s second-place finish behind Serie A rivals Inter last season, Ibrahimovic is already preparing for the upcoming campaign. He has decided that Origi, who spent the previous season on loan at Nottingham Forest, does not fit into those plans. Origi, 29, had signed a four-year contract with Milan after joining from Liverpool on a free transfer in…
Chelsea have reportedly finalized a deal to acquire Atlanta United star Caleb Wiley this summer. The Premier League club from west London, under new manager Enzo Maresca, has already secured five signings during this transfer window. These include Tosin Adarabioyo, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Marc Guiu, Estevao Willian, and Omari Kellyman. According to The Athletic, Chelsea are now on the verge of completing the signing of 19-year-old United States international Wiley for a fee of £8.5 million. However, the left-back is expected to immediately join French club Strasbourg on loan for the upcoming season.
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has disclosed why the club chose not to pursue Victor Osimhen last summer. Osimhen attracted interest from several top European clubs following an impressive season with Napoli, where he scored 26 goals in 32 appearances to help the team win the Scudetto. Real Madrid faced the departure of their key forward Karim Benzema, who moved to Saudi Arabian club Al Ittihad. Ancelotti explained that the signing of Jude Bellingham was seen as a solution to compensate for Benzema’s absence. Speaking to Radio Serie A, the Italian stated, “No (we didn’t sign Osimhen) because I think…
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has received a caution about his recent coaching appointments at Old Trafford. Ruud van Nistelrooy and Rene Hake are poised to join United’s backroom staff as part of Ten Hag’s team, having agreed to a two-year deal as his assistants. Former Dutch footballer Johan Derksen has issued a warning to Ten Hag, expressing concerns about his choices. Speaking to Voetbal, Derksen remarked, “He (Ten Hag) is taking a risk. I understand it all. It seems the English staff doesn’t appeal to him, hence his preference for Dutch personnel.” Derksen continued, casting doubt on the…
England midfielder Phil Foden has denied rumors suggesting he avoided taking a penalty during their shootout victory over Switzerland in the Euro 2024 quarter-final. The match ended 1-1 after 120 minutes, with Bukayo Saka equalizing Breel Embolo’s goal. In the shootout, all five England players successfully converted their penalties, while Jordan Pickford saved Manuel Akanji’s attempt. Following the game, speculation on social media arose that Foden declined to take a penalty, prompting his substitution in extra time for Trent Alexander-Arnold. Alexander-Arnold himself hinted that a teammate had hesitated to take a spot-kick. Speaking to talkSPORT, Foden clarified, “I would have…
Nigeria-born mixed martial arts fighter Israel Adesanya is the favored contender in the upcoming August 18 showdown against middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 305 in Perth, Australia. Despite losing his title to Sean Strickland at UFC 293 in September 2023, Adesanya is expected to reclaim his belt, with odds set at -125 compared to Du Plessis’ +102. This translates to a $100,000 bet on Adesanya returning $80,000, while the same bet on Du Plessis would yield $102,000 due to his underdog status. Du Plessis is defending his title for the first time since a split-decision win over Sean…
UEFA has finalized their decision regarding the referee for England’s Euro 2024 semi-final against the Netherlands, following controversy over appointing a referee with a history of match-fixing. According to reports, Felix Zwayer will officiate the Three Lions’ match in Dortmund. Zwayer previously served a six-month ban for accepting a bribe in a scandal involving fellow referee Robert Hoyzer in 2005. Despite concerns raised, UEFA has upheld its choice of Zwayer for Wednesday’s game, standing by their initial appointment.
Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho has spoken out for the first time since Portugal’s elimination from Euro 2024. Mourinho, who had considered Portugal among the favorites to win the tournament, observed that Roberto Martinez’s team topped Group F and overcame Slovenia in a penalty shootout in the round of 16. However, their journey ended in the quarter-finals against France, also decided by penalties. Reflecting on Portugal’s campaign, Mourinho highlighted concerns dating back to their 2-1 loss to Croatia before the Euros. “Portugal wasn’t fantastic despite reaching the quarter-finals. We expected more,” he remarked, recalling his attendance at the National Stadium during…
Manchester United are eyeing a significant transfer coup by targeting a high-profile signing from Chelsea to strengthen their squad. Following a challenging season, the Red Devils are focused on regrouping and planning for the future, emphasizing the acquisition of young talent capable of making an immediate impact. Inspired by the success of Mason Mount’s signing last summer, despite his injury setbacks, United are optimistic about replicating their past transfer successes. This time, they aim to recruit players who can contribute immediately and provide substantial returns on investment. Jim Ratcliffe, the club’s new part-owner, is spearheading this strategic shift, advocating for…