International Football
NEYMAR BUMPER PSG REWARD IF HE BEATS MESSI & RONALDO TO BALLON D’OR
Paris Saint-Germain forward Neymar is reportedly in line to receive a €3m bonus from the club if he wins the Ballon d’Or in December, recognising the Brazilian as the best player in the world. It is generally believed that Neymar’s departure from FC Barcelona was hinged on leaving the shadows of Lionel Messi to be able to win the Ballon dOr.
Neymar was named on the 30-man shortlist for the sport’s most prestigious individual prize, handed out by magazine France Football, earlier this month.
According to Le Parisien, collecting the trophy will entitle Neymar to a €3m windfall. And it wouldn’t be a one-off either, as his contract, which runs to 2022, apparently stipulates that he will get another €3m each and every time he wins the Ballon d’Or in the coming seasons.
Le Parisien notes that €3m is the equivalent of a whole month’s net pay for Neymar and so would come as a sizeable and welcome addition to his bank balance.
Speaking last year, Neymar admitted the Ballon d’Or is a target for him. “To win the Ballon d’Or is something that I’ve set as a goal, it would be a personal victory. But I’m not in a hurry,” he said.
Only last week, PSG coach Unai Emery also revealed that Neymar’s new club-mates and coaches are actively trying to help him win the Ballon d’Or.
“Neymar is a player with many qualities -he is able to win the Ballon d’Or. We want the best for him and to help him win this trophy”, Emery said at a press conference before the weekend.
Winning the Ballon d’Or is certainly no easy achievement, though. Neymar finished third behind Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in 2015 and no individual other than those two has won the award since 2007 when Kaka received the accolade.
After La Liga and Champions League success with Real Madrid last season, Ronaldo is once more the hot favourite to take home a fifth career Ballon d’Or this time around.
Neymar will also be going up against Ronaldo and Messi in the Best FIFA Men’s Player stakes next week after being named on the final three-man shortlist of the breakaway award.
International Football
Two Moroccan football players lost at sea, says club official
![](https://sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Abdellatif-Akhrif.png)
Two Moroccan players from top-flight soccer side Ittihad Tanger have been missing at sea since Saturday after strong currents drifted their small yacht, a club official said on Sunday.
They were in a group of five players from the club who went cruising off the northern city of Tangier when strong currents and heavy winds drifted their yacht away as they were swimming in deep waters, club deputy president Anass Mrabet told Reuters.
“Three players have already been rescued on Saturday, while research is still ongoing for the missing Salman Harraq and Abdellatif Akhrif,” he said.
The players did not have buoys on them when they jumped from the small yacht to swim, he said citing recounts by rescued players.
While Akhrif, 24, is already a full member of the squad, Harraq, 18, was about to move up to the senior team this year, Mrabet added.
Ittihad Tanger have been in the Moroccan top flight since 2015 and won the league title for the first and only time in their history in the 2017-18 season. However, they have struggled in the lower half of the standings in recent years.
-Reuters
International Football
FIFA launches ‘Football Manager’ World Cup with $100,000 in prize money
![](https://sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/arsene-wenger.jpg)
FIFA will host its first ever FIFAe World Cup of Football Manager this year to crown the best virtual manager on the highly-popular video game, world soccer’s governing body said on Thursday.
FIFA is partnering with Sports Interactive, the developers of the game that has sold millions of copies and has also been used by several football clubs to scout players and opponents thanks to its extensive database.
Players will compete for $100,000 in prize money in the final event from Aug. 29 to Sept. 1.
“This competition requires participants to demonstrate a profound understanding of football strategy and tactics,” said former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who is the ambassador for the esports event.
“Success demands not only mastery of game mechanics but also in-depth football knowledge, making this format a fascinating blend.”
FIFA said in the inaugural year of the event, selected member associations will be invited to be represented at the final event.
Member associations from all six confederations are expected to be invited while players can sign up on FIFA’s website.
-Reuters
International Football
Former Italy international Roberto Baggio robbed at gunpoint
![](https://sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/baggio.jpg)
Former Italy international Roberto Baggio was assaulted and robbed at gunpoint at his home in northern Italy while watching his country’s match against Spain in the Euro 2024 tournament on Thursday, local police said.
Burglars broke into Baggio’s house near Vicenza, hit him on the head with a gun butt and locked him and his family in a room while they stole jewellery, watches and cash, daily Il Corriere della Sera reported. It said he suffered a deep wound.
“Luckily, the violence I suffered only resulted in a few stitches, bruises and a lot of fear. Now it is to overcome the fear,” Baggio was quoted as saying by Italian news agency ANSA.
Baggio, 57, played for clubs including Juventus (JUVE.MI), opens new tab, AC Milan and Inter Milan. He also played 56 times for Italy, scoring 27 goals, and is widely seen as one of his country’s all-time greats.
After the robbery, Baggio, widely known as the “divine ponytail”, was treated at a local hospital where he received stitches for the head wound, Italian media reported.
Italy lost to Spain 1-0 on Thursday and now must avoid defeat by Croatia to guarantee progression in the tournament.
-Reuters
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