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Tag: Ballon d’Or

  • ICYMI: South Africa’s goalkeeper makes Ballon d’Or history

    ICYMI: South Africa’s goalkeeper makes Ballon d’Or history

    South Africa’s number one goalkeeper, Ronwen Williams has made history with his Wednesday’s nomination for the 2024 Ballon d’Or best goalkeeper award.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Williams made history as the first ever footballer playing in Africa to be nominated for the Ballon d’Or award.

    While several African footballers, plying their trades elsewhere, especially in Europe, have been nominated for the prestigious Ballon d’Or award, no footballer playing in the African continent had been nominated for the award.

    The acrobatic shot-stopper historically made the list of Goalkeeper of the Year nominees for world football’s most prestigious individual trophy, the Ballon d’Or Yashin Trophy.

    Not only is this a first for Africa, but the Bafana Bafana skipper makes continental history as the first ever footballer playing in Africa to be nominated for the award.

    As the only African based keeper, Williams made the list of 10 best shot-stoppers in the world which include current holder, Emiliano Martez (Argentina), Unai Simon (Spain) as well as Diogo Costa (Portugal) amongst others.

    To date, African football icon George Weah remains the only African to be voted the best player in the world after winning the Ballon d’Or in 1995 ahead of Germany’s Jurgen Klinsmann and Finland’s Jari Litman. Weah was also the first non-European to win the award.

    Williams (32) has seen a meteoric rise since joining former African champions Mamelodi Sundowns from cross-town rivals and boyhood club, SuperSport United in July 2022.

    The Bafana Bafana skipper was a pivotal cog in Mamelodi Sundowns’ back-to-back titles since joining the club. A feat that elevated his place in the national team to being the number one goalkeeper.

    The Gqeberha-born goalkeeper literally grabbed the challenge of being Hugo Broos’ trusted keeper with both hands, putting up undoubtedly one of the standout performances at the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Cote d’Ivoire 2023, where he denied Cape Verde four times in a quarter-final penalty shootout.

    Williams’ acrobatic and penalty saves also came to the fore in the third-place play-off against DR Congo where he saved two penalties to help his nation to a podium finish that was accompanied by him being voted the Goalkeeper of the Tournament at the continental showpiece.

    The Sundowns keeper, who is currently out nursing a shoulder injury was also instrumental in Sundowns’ African Football League (AFL) triumph, playing a crucial role as the last line of defence in helping his side to their second continental trophy after their 2016 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League success.

    The Ballon d’Or awards ceremony will take place on Monday, 28 October 2024.

    The Ballon d’Or Yashin Trophy nominees are: Diogo Costa (Portugal), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy), Gregor Kobel (Switzerland), Andriy Lunin (Ukraine), Mike Maignan (France), Giorgi Mamarsdashvili (Georgia), Emiliano Martinez (Argentina), Unai Simon (Spain), Yann Sommer (Switzerland), Ronwen Williams (South Africa).

  • Ballon d’Or: Super Eagles congratulate Ademola Lookman

    Ballon d’Or: Super Eagles congratulate Ademola Lookman

    The Nigeria national football team, the Super Eagles have congratulated Ademola Lookman after making the 30-man shortlist for the 2024 Ballon d’Or award.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Ademola Lookman plays as a winger for the Super Eagles of Nigeria and Italian Serie A side, Atalanta that won the 2023/2024 Europa League title.

    “Congratulations to our own Ademola Lookman, who has been nominated for the Ballon d’Or award. Goodluck Demola,” the Super Eagles wrote via X (formerly Twitter).

    Lookman was instrumental in Atalanta winning the 2023/2024 Europa League, scoring a hat-trick in the final to help Atalanta defeat Bayer Leverkusen. He thus became the first player to score a hat-trick in a UEFA Europa League final. He was named as the Man of the Match. He is the first African Player to score a hat trick in a major European final. He was included in the UEFA Europa League Team of the Season.and was named as Atalanta Player of the Season.

    Lookman had earlier featured for the Super Eagles of Nigeria in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) earlier this year, scoring three goals as Nigeria finished runners-up behind hosts Ivory Coast. Helping Nigeria to the AFCON finals, he was included in the AFCON Team of the Tournament.

    ALSO READ || BREAKING: Best players, goalkeepers for 2024 Ballon d’Or revealed [SEE FULL LIST]

    He becomes the 9th Nigerian to be nominated for the coveted award after Finidi George in 1995, Daniel Amokachi in 1995, Austin Jay-Jay Okocha in 1995, Nwankwo Kanu in 1996 and 1999, Victor Ikpeba in 1997, Sunday Oliseh in 1998, Asisat Oshoala in 2022 and 2023, and Victor Osimhen in 2023.

  • BREAKING: Ademola Lookman nominated for Ballon d’Or

    BREAKING: Ademola Lookman nominated for Ballon d’Or

    Nigeria’s Super Eagles player, Ademola Lookman has been nominated for the 2024 Ballon d’Or award, with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo conspicuously missing from the list.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the 2024 Ballon d’Or nominees list was unveiled on Wednesday with Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal also making the 30-man shortlist.

    Lookman, who plies his international football trade with Atalanta in Italy, is the only African player nominated for this year’s Ballon d’Or.

    He becomes the 9th Nigerian to be nominated for the coveted award after Finidi George in 1995, Daniel Amokachi in 1995, Austin Jay-Jay Okocha in 1995, Nwankwo Kanu in 1996 and 1999, Victor Ikpeba in 1997, Sunday Oliseh in 1998, Asisat Oshoala in 2022 and 2023, and Victor Osimhen in 2023.

    TNG reports Ademola Lookman made the 30-man 2024 Ballon d’Or shortlist after scoring 20 goals and making 12 assists for club and country in the 2023/2024 season.

    Lookman won the 2023/2024 Europa League with Atalanta. He scored a hat-trick in the Europa League final to help Atalanta defeat Bayer Leverkusen.

    Lookman also featured for the Super Eagles in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) earlier this year, scoring three goals as Nigeria finished runners-up behind hosts Ivory Coast.

    Lookman was linked with a mover to Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in the 2024 summer transfer window, but ended up staying with Atalanta.

    Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi failed to make the Ballon d’Or shortlist, the first time either of the two has been absent from the Ballon d’Or nomination list since 2003.

    See full list of the nominees for the 2024 Men’s Ballon d’Or:

    1. Ademola Lookman
    2. Jude Bellingham
    3. Erling Haaland
    4. Kylian Mbappe
    5. Lamine Yamal
    6. Nico Williams
    7. Florian Wirtz
    8. Granit Xhaka
    9. Emiliano Martinez
    10. Lautaro Martínez
    11. Martin Odegaard
    12. Mats Hummels
    13. Harry Kane
    14. Toni Kroos
    15. Hakan Calhanoglu
    16. Dani Carvajal
    17. Ruben Dias
    18. Artem Dovbyk
    19. Phil Foden
    20. Alejandro Grimaldo
    21. Dani Olmo
    22. Cole Palmer
    23. Declan Rice
    24. Rodri
    25. Antonio Rüdiger
    26. Bukayo Saka
    27. William Saliba
    28. Federico Valverde
    29. Vinícius Junior
    30. Vitinha

    TNG reports the eventual winner of the world’s most prestigious individual football player award would be announced at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, France on 28 October.

  • BREAKING: Best players, goalkeepers for 2024 Ballon d’Or revealed [SEE FULL LIST]

    BREAKING: Best players, goalkeepers for 2024 Ballon d’Or revealed [SEE FULL LIST]

    Nominees for 2024 Ballon d’Or, being the 68th edition of the awards, were unveiled on Wednesday. The Ballon d’Or is presented by France Football, recognising the best footballers in the world.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) recalls Lionel Messi won the 2023 Ballon d’Or to become the most crowned Ballon d’Or winner, having won the award a record eight times.

    See full list of the 2024 Ballon d’Or nominees below:

    Nominated for the 2024 Men’s Ballon d’Or are:

    • Jude Bellingham
    • Erling Haaland
    • Ademola Lookman
    • Kylian Mbappe
    • Lamine Yamal
    • Nico Williams
    • Florian Wirtz
    • Granit Xhaka
    • Emiliano Martinez
    • Lautaro Martínez
    • Martin Odegaard
    • Mats Hummels
    • Harry Kane
    • Toni Kroos
    • Hakan Calhanoglu
    • Dani Carvajal
    • Ruben Dias
    • Artem Dovbyk
    • Phil Foden
    • Alejandro Grimaldo
    • Dani Olmo
    • Cole Palmer
    • Declan Rice
    • Rodri
    • Antonio Rüdiger
    • Bukayo Saka
    • William Saliba
    • Federico Valverde
    • Vinícius Junior
    • Vitinha

    Nominated for the 2024 Women’s Ballon d’Or are:

    • Barba Banda
    • Aitana Bonmati
    • Lucy Bronze
    • Mariona Caldentey
    • Tabitha Chawinga
    • Grace Geyoro
    • Manuela Giugliano
    • Caroline Graham Hansen
    • Patricia Guijarro
    • Giulia Gwinn
    • Yui Hasegawa
    • Ada Hegerberg
    • Lauren Hemp
    • Lindsey Horan
    • Lauren James
    • Marie-Antoinette Katoto
    • Alyssa Naeher
    • Sjoeke Nüsken
    • Ewa Pajor
    • Salma Paralluelo
    • Gabi Portilho
    • Alexia Putellas
    • Mayra Ramírez
    • Trinity Rodman
    • Lea Schüller
    • Khadija Shaw
    • Sophia Smith
    • Mallory Swanson
    • Tarciane
    • Glódis Viggósdóttir

    Nominated for the 2024 Ballon d’Or best goalkeeper are:

    • Diogo Costa
    • Gianluigi Donnarumma
    • Gregor Kobel
    • Andreï Lunin
    • Mike Maignan
    • Giorgi Mamardashvili
    • Emiliano Martinez
    • Unai Simon
    • Yann Sommer
    • Ronwen Williams

    Nominated for the Men’s Club of the Year are:

    • Borussia Dortmund
    • Girona
    • Bayer Leverkusen
    • Real Madrid
    • Manchester City

    Nominated for the 2024 Men’s Team Coach of the Year Trophy are:

    • Xabi Alonso – Bayer Leverkusen
    • Carlo Ancelotti – Real Madrid
    • Luis de la Fuente – Spain
    • Gian Piero Gasperini – Atalanta Bergame
    • Pep Guardiola – Manchester City
    • Lionel Scolani – Argentina

    Nominated for the 2024 Women’s Team Coach of the Year Trophy are:

    • Sarina Wiegman
    • Filipa Patao
    • Jonatan Giraldez
    • Arthur Elias
    • Sonia Bompastor
    • Emma Hayes

    Nominated for the Women’s Club of the Year are:

    • FC Barcelona
    • Chelsea
    • NY/NJ Gotham
    • Lyon
    • PSG

    Nominated for the 2024 Ballon d’Or best U21 footballer in the world are:

    • Joao Neves
    • Savinho
    • Mathys Tel
    • Lamine Yamal
    • Warren Zaire-Emery
    • Pau Cubarsi
    • Alejandro Garnacho
    • Arda Guler
    • Karim Konate
    • Kobbie Mainoo

    TNG reports the eventual winners of the world’s most prestigious individual football players awards would be announced at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, France on 28 October.

  • Ballon d’Or top five contenders revealed

    Ballon d’Or top five contenders revealed

    A fresh ranking has highlighted the top contenders for this year’s Ballon d’Or, with a strong showing from Euro and Copa America stars, according to sportskeeda.com.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) gave a detailed account of Spain’s triumphant victory at Euro 2024, thus propelling some of their key players into the race for football’s most prestigious individual award.

    Meanwhile, Argentina’s successful defense of their Copa America title has placed their captain, Lionel Messi, among the top five contenders for the award.

    Here are the current favorites to win the 2024 Ballon d’Or:

    Lionel Messi (Inter Miami/Argentina)

    Messi has become the first Major League Soccer (MLS) player to remain a strong contender for the Ballon d’Or. He has scored 12 goals and provided nine assists in just 12 MLS appearances this season. Additionally, he contributed to Argentina’s Copa America triumph with one goal and one assist in five matches. Messi has won the award a record eight times, and he is also the current holder of the Ballon d’Or, having won its most recent edition in 2023.

    Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan/Argentina)

    Inter Milan’s star striker, Lautaro Martinez, scored 24 goals in Serie A last season, leading his team to a league title. He also netted five goals during Argentina’s Copa America campaign, securing his third international trophy.

    Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid/England)

    Bellingham scored seven decisive goals for both club and country last season, earning Real Madrid up to 10 points with his late strikes. The England international has emerged as one of the top players in world football and is a strong candidate for the Ballon d’Or.

    Rodri (Manchester City/Spain)

    Rodri has been outstanding over the past year, playing a crucial role in Spain’s Euro 2024 victory, where he was named ‘Player of the Tournament.’ He also helped Manchester City secure the Premier League title last season and is among the leading contenders for this year’s Ballon d’Or.

    Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid/Brazil)

    Vinicius Junior has been a key player for Real Madrid, playing a vital role in their UEFA Champions League victory last season. He scored six goals and provided four assists during the competition, including a crucial goal in the final, making him the current frontrunner for the Ballon d’Or.

  • Guardiola tips Rodri to win Ballon D”Or

    Guardiola tips Rodri to win Ballon D”Or

    Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has entered the discussion surrounding this year’s Ballon d’Or, expressing his belief that Rodri deserves to win the award over players like Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, and Vinicius Junior. Guardiola praised Rodri’s exceptional consistency, stating,

    “I can’t deny how happy I would be if Rodri could get the Ballon d’Or. His consistency is just brutal. Being in the race, being nominated, or winning the Ballon d’Or is fantastic.”

     

    Rodri played a crucial role in Manchester City’s success, helping the team secure their fourth consecutive Premier League title, and was also instrumental in Spain’s victory at Euro 2024.

  • Oliseh tips City’s Rodri to win Ballon d’Or award.

    Oliseh tips City’s Rodri to win Ballon d’Or award.

    Former Super Eagles captain and  coach, Sunday Oliseh has backed Manchester City midfielder, Rodri to win the 2024 Ballon d’Or award.

    Real Madrid duo of Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham have been highly favoured for the award after winning the La Liga and Champions League titles.

    Rodri was exceptional at the just concluded Euro tournament as Spain emerged champions of Europe while Lionel Messi led Argentina to their second consecutive Copa America trophy.

    On social media, Oliseh responded to a post endorsing Rodri for the Ballon d’Or award with, “Do we need to say more? Rodri is in a class of his own”.

    The Ballon d’Or award ceremony takes place later in October.

  • Rodri fired to top of Ballon d’Or ranking after Euro 2024 final

    Rodri fired to top of Ballon d’Or ranking after Euro 2024 final

    After helping Spain to lift their fourth Euro title, Rodri has been fired to top of the power ranking for the 2024 Ballon d’Or award.

    Following the completion of the 2024 edition of the Euro and the Copa America, the top 5 in the Ballon d’Or power rankings have been released.

    Here are the top five contenders according to Power Rankings by Goal:

    1. Rodri (Spain, Manchester City)
    2. Vinicius (Brazil, Real Madrid)
    3. Jude Bellingham (England, Real Madrid)
    4. Dani Carvajal (Spain, Real Madrid)
    5. Lautaro Martinez (Argentina, Inter Milan)

    Recall that Rodri won the Premier League with City and emerged Euro 2024 champions alongside Dani Carvajal.

    Carvajal also won the La Liga and Champions League trophies with Madrid alongside Bellingham and Vinicius.

    Inter Milan’s Martinez scored the winner as Argentina clinched back-to-back Copa America titles and finished as the top scorer.

    The Argentine  striker had won the Serie A with Inter before winning  the tournament with his lone goal in the final against Colombia.

    The official list of the Ballon d’Or nominees will soon be made official by the awards organizers.

  • I hated Pep Guardiola’s training method at Barcelona – Lionel Messi

    I hated Pep Guardiola’s training method at Barcelona – Lionel Messi

    Inter Miami forward and Ballon D’or winner,  Lionel Messi has revealed that he hated former coach, Pep Guardiola’s method of training at Barcelona, insisting it was confusing.

    The Argentina captain said he did not like how Guardiola’s tactics were taught to young kids at La Masia.

    Continuing, Messi said that kids’ natural ability would be restricted as they were forced to follow a strict method.

    Messi made this  known during an interview with JP Varsky on Clank Media, added that six-year-olds were taught to take two touches and play faster.

    Messi is of the opinion that instead of such training, the kids should be taught to understand the game and work on their movements to find spaces instead.

    The former PSG star said (via Mundo Albiceleste): “The Guardiola era was a bit confusing. … Many times, six and seven-year-old kids are already starting to be told that they have to play with two touches, to play fast, that they can’t have much of the ball.

    “I think that at that age it has to be a bit like what happened to me: to teach them to better understand the game, to know how to move, to find spaces, to play quickly, but not to take away the spontaneity of each one.”

  • Messi reveals the best two goals of his career

    Messi reveals the best two goals of his career

    Argentina and Inter Miami captain, Lionel Messi has revealed  his favourite and most important goals in his career.

    It would be recalled that Messi has scored over 800 career goals for both club and country so far.

    However, in his recent interview with ESPN Argentina journalist Martin Arevalo, the Ballon D’Or winner chose one of his two goals against Real Madrid in the 2011 Champions League semi-final first leg as his favourite and his second goal against France in the 2022 FIFA World Cup final as the most important one in his career.

    “My favourite goal? Most beautiful is the one against Real Madrid in 2011, and the most important is the World Cup final,” the Argentina captain said.

    Messi has played for Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain in the past but now plies his trade for Inter Miami in the MLS.