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Tag: Ballon d’Or

  • Nigeria’s Oshoala nominated for female category of Ballon d’Or

    Nigeria’s Oshoala nominated for female category of Ballon d’Or

    Super Falcons and Barcelona Women FC striker, Asisat Oshoala has been nominated for the Women’s Ballon d’Or player of the year award.

    She was nominated for the award based on her exploits with Barcelona Feminine during the just concluded 2021/22 football season.

    Oshoala emerged as the league’s highest goalscorer at the end of last season after scoring 18 goals.

    Oshoala was recently named CAF Women’s player of the year for a record-breaking time. She is the first person to win the CAF award five times. If she wins the award she will become the first Nigerian to be crowned a Ballon d’Or winner

    The other nominees for the 2022 Women’s Ballon d’Or are Selma Bacha, Fridolina Rolfo, Vivianne Miedema, Lucy Bronze, Sam Kerr, Christiane Endler, Lena Oberdorf, Kadidiatou Diani, Catarina Macario, Alexia Putellas, Alexandra Popp, Aitana Bonmatí, Wendie Renard, Alex Morgan, Beth Mead, Marie-Antoinette Katoto, Millie Bright, Trinity Rodman, and Ada Hegerberg.

  • SHOCKING! Messi, Neymar snubbed in 2022 Ballon d’Or shortlist [SEE FULL LIST]

    SHOCKING! Messi, Neymar snubbed in 2022 Ballon d’Or shortlist [SEE FULL LIST]

    Argentina and Paris Saint Germain Football club forward and reigning Ballon d’Or winner, Lionel Messi has surprisingly missed out on the 30-man shortlist for this year’s award following his unimpressive debut season at PSG.

    Although his long-time rival, Cristiano Ronaldo made the list for his heroics for Manchester United last season despite the Red Devils’ not too good finish in the English Premier League (EPL).

    Meanwhile, hot favourite Karim Benzema has been nominated for the 2022 Ballon d’Or, but there is no place on the list for another PSG superstar Neymar.

    However, French forward, Kyllian Mbappe will be representing PSG for his heroics as a striker for the club side last season.

    The Ballon D’or Winner will be announced on the 17th of October in Paris.

    Below are the 30-man 2022 Ballon d’Or nominees 

    1. Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid)
    2. Rafael Leao (AC Milan)
    3. Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig)
    4. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
    5. Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich)
    6. Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)
    7. Vinicius Jnr (Real Madrid)
    8. Bernardo Silva (Manchester City)
    9. Luis Diaz (Liverpool)
    10. Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona)
    11. Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City)
    12. Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
    13. Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid)
    14. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)
    15. Luka Modric (Real Madrid)
    16. Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
    17. Dusan Vlahovic (Juventus)
    18. Joao Cancelo (Manchester City)
    19. Kylian Mbappe (PSG)
    20. Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
    21. Casemiro (Real Madrid)
    22. Son Heung-min (Tottenham)
    23. Fabinho (Liverpool)
    24. Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)
    25. Mike Maignan (AC Milan)
    26. Harry Kane (Tottenham)
    27. Darwin Nunez (Liverpool)
    28. Phil Foden (Manchester City)
    29. Sadio Mane (Bayern Munich) (edited)
    30. Sebastian Haller (Borussia Dortmund)
  • Messi speaks on handing Ballon d’Or to Benzema

    Messi speaks on handing Ballon d’Or to Benzema

    Lionel Messi says there can be “no doubts” Karim Benzema will be a worthy Ballon d’Or winner after the Real Madrid star cemented his frontrunner status with Champions League glory.

    The France international is the favourite to succeed Messi as the next recipient of the game’s most prestigious individual prize after inspiring his side to domestic and European success this term.

    Benzema netted 44 goals in 46 games across all competitions this term for Carlo Ancelotti’s side and led them in Paris to victory over Liverpool on Saturday as captain.

    Messi has added to his trophy cabinet with a Ligue 1 title at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in his first year away from FC Barcelona.

    But he certainly feels Benzema has earned his shot at the award.

    “I think there are no doubts,” Messi had said on Monday night when asked if the Frenchman would be a fitting successor as the Ballon d’Or winner.

    “It is very clear that Benzema has had a spectacular year and ended up consecrating himself with the UEFA Champions League, being fundamental from the round of 16 onwards in all the games.

    “I think there are no doubts this year.”

    Messi also reflected on his triumph in 2021, when he defended the crown he won in 2019 against Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski.

    That was after the award was cancelled for 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

    Lewandowski would have been many people’s favourite in 2020 and went on to break Gerd Muller’s long-standing record of 40 Bundesliga goals in a single season the following year.

    Yet he was forced to make do with second behind Messi after he helped Argentina to their first Copa America success in 28 years.

    Messi acknowledged Lewandowski would have been a worthy winner in 2020, but on reflection feels he deserved the 2021 triumph he was awarded.

    “What I said at that moment was from my heart and because I really felt that way,” Messi said, alluding to his comments at the 2021 Ballon d’Or ceremony.

    “I said that he deserved the Ballon d’Or before, because the year before it had seemed to me that he had been the best.

    “But the year that I won, he wasn’t the best. I just said that. But let him take it as he wants. Everyone says what they want and obviously he can express himself and say what he wants.

    “Honestly, I don’t share what he said, but I didn’t give it much importance either. That’s it, he can say what he wants, I’m not interested.”(

  • Ballon d’Or snub: Lewandowski hits out at Messi’s ’empty words’

    Ballon d’Or snub: Lewandowski hits out at Messi’s ’empty words’

    Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski says he should’ve won the Ballon d’Or last week – and wants a statement from the winner, PSG attacker Lionel Messi.

    In the 2020/21 season, Lewandowski scored an incredible 48 goals and provided nine assists in 40 matches in all competitions, as Bayern won the Bundesliga, DFL-Supercup, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup. While during this campaign he has notched up 16 Bundesliga goals in 14 games.

    “I felt sadness,” Lewandowski told Kanale Sportowym. “I can’t deny it.

    “I can’t say I was happy, on the contrary. I have a feeling of sadness. To be so close, to compete with Messi, of course I respect how he plays and what he has achieved. The mere fact that I was able to compete with him shows me the level that I was able to reach.”

    The Bayern Munich striker also took aim at Barcelona great Messi, after the PSG forward urged France Football to award the 2020 Ballon d’Or to Lewandowski.

    “I’m not that enthusiastic about getting the 2020 award,” Lewandowski said.

    “I would like it [Messi’s 2020 Ballon d’Or statement] to be a sincere and courteous statement from a great player and not just an empty words.”

  • World Cup more important than Ballon d’Or – Pedri

    World Cup more important than Ballon d’Or – Pedri

    Barcelona midfielder Pedri says he’ll always value team trophies over individual titles.

    Pedri won the 2021 Kopa Trophy prize during the Ballon d’Or event in Paris last week.

    The Barcelona midfielder, who stood out with his displays in the 2020 European Championship with Spain, expressed his wish to win both the Ballon d’Or and a World Cup in the future.

    “[Ballon d’Or] is the greatest of all the trophies,” Pedri told France Football.

    “But, before winning the Ballon d’Or, we have to focus on collective titles, which are the most important. Winning a World Cup for your country must be incredible.

    “I am very happy with the Kopa Trophy. It rewards the work done throughout the year and it’s incredible to be the winner. It’s just the beginning, I hope.

    “I am proud to succeed two monsters like Kylian Mbappe and Matthijs De Ligt. They are great players, and the future is theirs.

    “Besides, we are not always used to seeing midfielders being rewarded. Xavi [Hernandez] and [Andres] Iniesta, for example, have never won the Ballon d’Or.”

  • Messi’s father hits back at critics over Ballon d’Or award

    Messi’s father hits back at critics over Ballon d’Or award

    Jorge, father of Paris Saint-Germain forward, Lionel Messi has hit back at critics questioning Messi’s 7th Ballon d’Or.

    Messi won the most prestigious individual award for the seventh on Monday.

    Messi won the Copa America for the first time with Argentina in the summer of 2021.

    However, Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski was the most popular choice for the 2021 edition.

    Lewandowski scored 41 goals in 29 Bundesliga games last year and has 14 in 13 so far this term.

    Chelsea’s Jorginho and Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema were also believed to be in the reckoning.

    Messi ended up winning, sparking a debate about the Ballon d’Or’s credibility.

    Jorge Messi, the 34-year-old’s father posted a photo of his son holding aloft the trophy on his Instagram.

    The caption of the post simply sarcastically read, “Bla bla bla… carry on.”

  • Ronaldo sparks uproar with Messi’s Ballon d’Or win

    Ronaldo sparks uproar with Messi’s Ballon d’Or win

    Cristiano Ronaldo has sent the social media into a frenzy after sparking an uproar over Lionel Messi’s Ballon d’Or win.

    Controversy started when Ronaldo commented ‘facts’ under an Instagram post questioning Messi’s 7th Ballon d’Or award.

    The Portuguese forward finished sixth in the 2021 Ballon d’Or, which saw him placed outside the top three for the first time since 2010.

    The Argentine now has two more Ballon d’Or titles than Ronaldo.

    And it appears that the 36-year-old is not happy with the result of this year’s Ballon d’Or.

    A Ronaldo fan, Instagram user cr7.o_lendario, posted a massive rant on the platform after the event.

    The fan claimed that Messi did not deserve to win and that Ronaldo had a better year.

    After listing all of Ronaldo’s achievements in 2021, the fan wrote: “They still put the guy in 6th… Do you really think that 5 guys did more than him in the year? Never.

    “He could fight for this award calmly and the fight would be good with Lewandowski who in individual numbers was incredible and Bayern had a better season than Juventus and has been having a calmer season than United, but at the national selection level… Cristiano was much better.

    “And who does the prize go to? For Messi, who only won the Copa del Rey by Barcelona, ​​he hasn’t scored a goal against Real Madrid since when Cristiano left, disappeared in the big games of the season, won the Copa America that was supposed to be every 4 years and do practically every year. He didn’t score in the final or in the semifinal. And he’s been having a weak season with PSG individually.

    “For Cristiano to win this prize he has to be 300% unquestionable. It’s no use scoring the most beautiful bike of the year, being champion of everything by club, top scorer of everything and scoring a hat-trick in the World Cup, they still find a way to take his prize.

    “With Messi, it’s the other way around. He can do a low-key season, way below, they’ll always find a way to favour him and give him the prize. Theft. Dirt. Shame. Simply regrettable.

    “Regardless of these awards, CR7 will always be the best in history!”

    TNG reports Ronaldo saw the post and he commented ‘facts’.

    This has not gone down well with football fans on social media.

    Read their comments below:

  • Lewandowski reacts after losing Ballon d’Or award to Lionel Messi

    Lewandowski reacts after losing Ballon d’Or award to Lionel Messi

    …as Messi gushes with joy over 7th Ballon d’Or win

    Robert Lewandowski has reacted after losing Monday night’s Ballon d’Or award to Lionel Messi, who has become the player with more Ballon d’Or awards than any other, winning his 7th in Paris, France.

    While the Bayern Munich star congratulated Messi, both players expressed excitement at winning big at the 65th Ballon d’Or France Football award night.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports while Lewandowski won the best striker of the year award, Messi won the most prized individual football award during the Ballon d’Or award ceremony.

    Reacting, Lewandowski said: “To start, I would like to congratulate Lionel Messi Ballon d’Or Winner. I want to thank every single journalist who voted for me, and believed that my achievements were important in 2021.

    “I won Striker Of The Year Award and no player can win an individual award without the strongest team and loyal fans behind him. And for me it’s no different. I want to thank my club Bayern Munich for the platform they’ve given me to succeed and to achieve my dreams.

    “I want to thank my teammates in the Polish National Team and in Bayern Munich. I also want to thank my fans for supporting me every single day it means a lot to me.

    “And the most important thing, huge thanks to my family. Thank you Mom, thank you Anna – you are the love of my life and my best friend, thanks to my sister Milena and to my friends and management team for the continuous support, the foundation of my achievements”.

    On his part, Messi said: “Although I always put ahead the collective, I can not hide my joy for having been able to get another Ballon d’Or. I want to thank and dedicate to all my colleagues and staff of the @afaseleccion for such a nice year that we live. Also the ones I had in the @fcbarcelona and to those of del @psg.

    “And of course to my family and friends, as well as to all the people who support me, who stand by me, take care of me and make me able to give up day to day: without all of them this would never have been possible. And thank you too a @francefootball by the gala and the award”.

    Earlier, Messi had said Lewandowski should be retrospectively awarded the 2020 Ballon d’Or.

    In his acceptance speech immediately after collecting the 2021 Ballon d’Or, Messi said: “I would like to mention Robert Lewandowski, it’s been a real honour to compete with you.

    “Everyone knows and we agree that you were the winner last year. I think France Football should award you your 2020 Ballon d’Or – you deserve it and you should have it at home”.

    He added: “I think Robert Lewandowski had a great year. Year after year, he improves and shows the excellent striker he is, as well as his ability to score goals.

    “This year he was awarded as the top scorer. Of course he can certainly aspire to that level next year, thanks to his way of being on the pitch. And in addition, he plays for a big club”.

    TNG reports the Poland international was denied the Ballon d’Or award in 2020 as the award did not hold due to the outbreak of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

  • BREAKING: Lionel Messi wins Ballon d’Or 2021

    BREAKING: Lionel Messi wins Ballon d’Or 2021

    Former FC Barcelona talisman and now Paris St Germain (PSG) playmaker, Lionel Messi has won the Ballon d’Or 2021 award.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the 2021 Ballon d’Or is the 65th annual ceremony of the Ballon d’Or presented by France Football.

    The award is in recognising the best footballers in the world 2021. Nominees for the award were announced on 8 October 2021.

    Messi was announced winner of the 2021 Ballon d’Or award on Monday in Paris by France Football, beating Robert Lewandowski to the award.

    The award means Messi has won more Ballon d’Or awards than any other player. The Argentine has now won 7 Ballon d’Or awards.

    Ballon d’Or 2021 top 5

    1. Lionel Messi.
    2. Robert Lewandowski.
    3. Jorginho.
    4. Karim Benzema.
    5. Ngolo Kante.

    TNG reports Chelsea FC won club of the year award at the Ballon d’Or 2021 France Football award

  • BREAKING: Lewandowski wins best striker of the year award

    BREAKING: Lewandowski wins best striker of the year award

    Bayern Munich and German player, Robert Lewandowski has won the France Football best striker of the year 2021 award.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Lewandowski was announced the best striker of the year on Monday in Paris during the Ballon d’Or 2021 award.

    The Ballon d’Or award is in recognising the best footballers in the world 2021. The 2021 Ballon d’Or is the 65th annual ceremony of the award presented by France Football.

    Nominees for the award were announced on 8 October 2021, with Lionel Messi going on to win the 2021 Ballon d’Or award, beating Lewandowski, who emerged in second place.