International Football
Ballon d’Or shortlist; it’s Messi versus Man United and Liverpool stars
The full list of 30 names competing to win the Ballon d’Or has been published with Lionel Messi in contention to win his seventh crown.
The Paris Saint-Germain star, who left Barcelona this summer after 21 years at the club to join the Ligue 1 giants, has already won the award six times in his illustrious career.
But while the 34-year-old is the favourite to add to his collection, the Argentine magician could face competition from several Premier League stars.
Liverpool star Mohamed Salah, who finished in fourth in the 2019 edition, has been tipped to rival Messi for the award.
The Egyptian is the sole member from Liverpool this year after Jurgen Klopp’s side put in a disappointing title defence.
Just under half of the nominees on the 30-man shortlist are playing in the Premier League, with Chelsea and Manchester City each having five players represented.
The Blues have had four members of their Champions League-winning squad nominated, with Cesar Azpilicueta, N’Golo Kante, Jorginho and Mason Mount making the cut.
Their £97.5million summer signing Romelu Lukaku has also made the list, having scored 24 goals in the Serie A last season to help Inter Milan win the Serie A for the first time in 10 years.
But there was no place for Edouard Mendy, despite keeping 10 clean sheets in his 12 Champions League matches, with Italy’s Euro 2020 winning stopper Gianluigi Donnarumma the only goalkeeper on the list.
Man City have continued their tradition with having a player nominated every year since Pep Guardiola took over.
Guardiola’s side won the Premier League for the third time in four years and reached the Champions League final before a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Chelsea.
Ruben Dias, Riyad Mahrez, Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling and Phil Foden have all been included after a strong year for the English champions.
Manchester United ’s Portuguese duo Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes have been recognised for their efforts.
nd Harry Kane, who scored 23 goals in the Premier League to win the Golden Boot last season, is the only other English player included along with Mount and Sterling.
Robert Lewandowski is also thought to be vying with his fellow attackers for the gong, after scoring an incredible 41 goals in the Bundesliga last season to break Gerd Muller’s record.
However, the award was not presented in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, meaning Lewandowski could miss out on his maiden Ballon d’Or trophy.
The full 30-man shortlist for the 2021 Ballon d’Or:
- Cesar Azpilicueta (Spain/Chelsea)
- Nicolo Barella (Italy/Inter Milan)
- Karim Benzema (France/Real Madrid)
- Leonardo Bonucci (Italy/Juventus)
- Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium/Manchester City)
- Giorgio Chiellini (Italy/Juventus)
- Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal/Manchester United & Juventus)
- Ruben Dias (Portugal/Manchester City)
- Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy/PSG)
- Bruno Fernandes (Portugal/Manchester United)
- Phil Foden (England/Manchester City)
- Erling Haaland (Norway/Borussia Dortmund)
- Harry Kane (England/Tottenham)
- Jorginho (Italy/Chelsea)
- N’Golo Kante (France/Chelsea)
- Simon Kjaer (Denmark/AC Milan)
- Robert Lewandowski (Poland/Bayern Munich)
- Romelu Lukaku (Belgium/Chelsea & Inter Milan)
- Riyad Mahrez (Algeria/Manchester City)
- Lautaro Martinez (Argentina/Inter Milan)
- Kylian Mbappe (France/PSG)
- Lionel Messi (Argentina/PSG & Barcelona)
- Luka Modric (Croatia/Real Madrid)
- Gerard Moreno (Spain/Villarreal)
- Mason Mount (England/Chelsea)
- Neymar (Brazil/PSG)
- Pedri (Spain/Barcelona)
- Mohamed Salah (Egypt/Liverpool)
- Raheem Sterling (England/Manchester City)
- Luis Suarez (Uruguay/Atletico Madrid)
International Football
Former Chelsea manager, Pochettino takes over US men’s team
Former Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has been named new coach of the United States men’s team, U.S. Soccer announced on Tuesday.
Pochettino, who parted ways with Premier League side Chelsea in May after one season in charge, will take the reins of the national team ahead of the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Mexico, Canada and the United States.
The Argentine, a former Paris St Germain and Tottenham Hotspur manager, said his decision to join U.S. soccer was not just about football, but about the journey the country was on and he could not pass up the opportunity.
“The energy, the passion, and the hunger to achieve something truly historic here – those are the things that inspired me,” he said in a statement.
“I see a group of players full of talent and potential, and together, we’re going to build something special that the whole nation can be proud of.”
U.S. Soccer Sporting Director Matt Crocker said Pochettino was a “serial winner with a deep passion for developing players”.
“His track record speaks for itself, and I am confident that he is the right choice to harness the immense potential within our talented squad. We are thrilled to have Mauricio on board as we embark on this exciting journey to achieve success on the global stage.”
The U.S. have been without a permanent coach since a humiliating early exit from the Copa America on home soil in July led to the sacking of Gregg Berhalter after his second stint as head coach.
The 51-year-old boss was first appointed in 2018 and led the Americans to the knockout stages of the 2022 World Cup, but just weeks later found himself embroiled in a bitter public row with one of the team’s brightest emerging talents, Gio Reyna.
U.S. Soccer’s search for a new coach when Berhalter’s contract expired at the end of 2022 included names such as Canada coach Jesse Marsch, but they ultimately rehired Berhalter in June last year with the full support of the players.
However, it proved unsuccessful as the U.S. failed to progress beyond the group stages of the Copa America after a shock 2-1 defeat to Panama and a crushing 1-0 loss to Uruguay.
Pochettino will take over after Mikey Varas, who has been appointed interim coach, oversaw friendlies against Canada last Saturday and New Zealand on Tuesday.
The U.S. drew 1-1 with New Zealand in Cincinnati after Christian Pulisic’s goal was cancelled out by Ben Waine’s late equaliser.
The U.S. will next play friendlies against Panama on Oct. 12 and Mexico three days later.
-Reuters
International Football
BREAKING – Video: Osimhen accepts to join Galatasaray
At last, Nigeria’s striker Victor Osimhen is out of the limbo. He has accepted to join Galatasaray on loan.
He is now asking for a release clause at Napoli to become €75m instead of €130m
He also wants a break clause for January in case top clubs approach him over move.
The final points are being discussed. He has been videoed celebrating with the Turkey club’s fans.
International Football
Uruguay striker Suarez to play last international match on Friday
Uruguay striker Luis Suarez announced his international retirement on Monday, ending a 17-year career with his national team as their top scorer with 69 goals.
The 37-year-old, who has 142 caps for his country, made his international debut in 2007 and was key in the squad that reached the semi-finals of the 2010 World Cup and won the Copa America a year later.
“Friday will be my last match with my country’s national team,” an emotional Suarez told a press conference.
“The fact that is my decision to retire and that I’m not retired because of injuries or that they stop calling me for one thing or another, that gives me a lot of comfort, it helps me individually.
“It’s difficult but it gives me peace of mind that until the last game I have given my all, and that flame has not been extinguished little by little,” the striker added.
Uruguay take on Paraguay at the Centenario stadium in Montevideo on Friday in the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup before facing Venezuela four days later.
Suarez scored the stoppage-time goal against Canada that secured third place at the Copa America in July and the striker added that one of his aims was to show he could continue to contribute to the national team.
“My dream was for my children to see me win something important with the national team … that last goal was very nice for them and even though it wasn’t a trophy to take home, it was very nice for them,” he said.
“I wanted to show people again that I can continue to contribute to the national team and, well, I had the Copa America and yes, I could have done it (retired) perfectly after that, but having analysed the situation, I want to do it with my people, in my stadium.
“I want my children to live this experience. Saying goodbye with the people here is something that I don’t know if many have done.”
Suarez has already said Inter Miami will be his last club after joining the Major League Soccer side last year to reunite with former Barcelona teammates Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.
-Reuters
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