LIONEL MESSI has won an unprecedented seventh Ballon d’Or.
The Argentine edged out Robert Lewandowski and Chelsea’s Jorginho, who came third.
Messi’s great rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who did not attend the ceremony, finished down in sixth place.
That marks the first time the Portugal captain has finished outside the top three since 2010.
Barcelona’s Pedri wasn announced as winner of the Kopa Trophy, honouring the world’s best young player, and Lewandowski won the new Striker of the Year award.
Meanwhile Alexia Petellas of Barcelona won the Women’s Ballon d’Or.
Ballon d’or top 10
- LIONEL MESSI
- Robert Lewandowski
- Jorginho
- Karim Benzema
- N’Golo Kante
- Cristiano Ronaldo
- Mo Salah
- Kevin de Bruyne
- Kylian Mbappe
- Gianluigi Donnarumma
Get all the latest football news, updates and transfer gossip below…
VLA LA LAND
Tottenham are reportedly preparing a mega-January bid for Fiorentina striker Dusan Vlahovic.
TuttoMercato claims Antonio Conte has identified the 21-year-old Serb as Harry Kane’s ‘successor’.
Vlahovic is a reported target for both Manchester United and Arsenal.
The 6ft 3in hitman is valued at £70million and has scored 13 times in all competitions this season.
RED GESTURE
Manchester United have given fans permission to hold up an Ole Gunnar Solskjaer banner at their match against Arsenal on Thursday.
Supporters are said to have approached the club about the touching gesture and Old Trafford chiefs have approved.
The enormous banner will be held aloft in the Stretford End, according to ESPN.
Arsenal’s visit is United’s first home match since the Norwegian club legend was let go.
And it is also their first game since Ralf Rangnick was confirmed as temporary boss.
Solskjaer, 48, was relieved of his duties after the Red Devils’ 4-1 defeat at Watford.
NO 1 TO NO 2
Lionel Messi missed Paris Saint-Germain training on Tuesday with nasty diarrhoea and vomit-inducing bug gastroenteritis.
It came after the Argentine legend scooped his record seventh Ballon d’Or at the swanky ceremony on Monday night.
PSG wrote on their website on Tuesday: “Lionel Messi and Leandro Paredes missed out on training today due to symptoms of gastroenteritis.
“A point will be made tomorrow morning.”
Messi scooped consecutive Golden Balls having picked up the gong in 2019 – the last time it was awarded.
‘HAS TO TAKE HIS CHANCE’
Former Manchester United player Jonathan Greening backs Bruno Fernandes to return to his best form.
He admitted the Portuguese has lost his spark and suggested Donny van de Beek could potentially take his place if he does not improve his goal and assist output.
Speaking to MyBettingSites, he said: It’s a strange one with Bruno Fernandes. His energy and enthusiasm is still there but he’s just lacking that final creative ball. He’s missing the target a lot and hitting the ball over the bar as well, but he is still registering a few assists.
“His goals and assists over the last couple of seasons, since he’s been at United, has earned him a bit of leeway to stay in the team but if this dry run of games without a goal continues, it might be time to take him out the side.
“But given his recent history with all the goals and assists he’s got, which is phenomenal, then he deserves to stay in the team.
“Donny van de Beek has been really unlucky. He came in from Ajax and everyone was expecting really big things, including me.
“He’s a very clever footballer and he can dictate the pace of the game, put tackles in and score goals but he just hasn’t had the minutes.
“Now’s his chance to impress the new manager. He [van de Beek] must show him [Rangnick] between now and the end of the season that he deserves his spot in the team. A
“And when he does get his chance, at a club like United, he has to take it. If he gets one, two, or three games in the team, he needs to show that he deserves it.”
TOR BLIMEY!
Manchester City star Ferran Torres has reportedly agreed a ‘long-term contract’ with Barcelona.
Torres, 21, is only 18 months into a five-year deal at City having moved from Valencia.
But according to Sport1, the 21-year-old is poised to end his time at the Etihad.
Respected journalist Patrick Berger states that Torres ‘wants to leave Manchester City in winter’ and that the ‘clubs are still negotiating’ the transfer fee.
Berger also adds that City boss Pep Guardiola has ‘agreed’ to let the attacker leave.
GREAL CLOSE
Manchester United nearly sealed a deal for Jack Grealish 12 months before his historic £100million transfer to Manchester City.
The transfer made him the most expensive Premier League signing of all time, but things could have been very different for the England star.
Grealish, 26, has revealed that OIe Gunnar Solskjaer was keen to sign him in the summer of 2020.
A move never materialised, but he signed a new deal at Aston Villa with a £100m release clause off the back of Manchester United’s interest.
Grealish told the Telegraph: “I was really close to going, but nothing happened in the end.
“We played United in a pre-season game on Saturday and I wasn’t supposed to play in a cup game at Burton.
“But after the United game I said to [Christian] Purslow and my agent [David Manasseh]‘if I’m not leaving, I’ll sign my new contract’.
“I went in with my dog on Tuesday morning, signed the deal, and played later that day.
“We all agreed on the clause and if any team hit that, it’s a win-win because it means I’ve had an unbelievable season and Villa got £100million.”
MAUR HOPE
Paris Saint-Germain were willing to allow Mauricio Pochettino become the new Manchester United manager – but only if two conditions were met, according to Telefoot.
While Pochettino was linked with the job, United instead confirmed Ralf Rangnick as their new interim manager on Monday, with the German taking over until the end of the season following the departure of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
It is understood that Pochettino is one of the favourites being considered for the position on a permanent basis next summer.
And according to Telefoot, PSG would have let Poch leave if United stumped up £17million to buy him out of his current contract – which runs until June 2023.
Once that was met, the Argentine would have been given the green light to leave once a deal was in place to secure Zinedine Zidane as his replacement.
‘NATURAL LEADER’
Gary Pallister revealed he is a big fan of Harry Maguire and thinks he and Raphael Varane could form a strong partnership at the back.
He believes the England star is a natural leader and backs the defender to overcome his recent mistakes.
Speaking to Compare.bet, Pallister said: “I think he’s been terrific for United since he’s arrived.
“I think he’s a natural leader in that dressing room and a natural captain…I think Harry is a really good centre half and it’s just a shame the Varane partnership hasn’t had the chance to bear fruit in terms of playing a number of games together. That would’ve been the first choice pairing of centre backs.”
“It’s been uncharacteristic for him – he has made a few mistakes, the same with Luke Shaw and he was our player of the year last year, in fantastic form. You look at the Euros and wonder if that’s had an impact.”
“They’ve both been in good form but until the last few weeks when it all went pear-shaped.
“The side looked devoid of confidence and belief, and everybody seems dragged down by it. I would have no worries about those two in the future.”
JOR DROPPING
Jorginho rounded off an incredible year by finishing third in the Ballon d’Or award rankings last night.
The Chelsea star even ranked higher than Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappe who ended up in sixth and ninth place respectively.
But it wasn’t always glitz and glamour for the Brazilian-born Italian who started his career in Italy with Hellas Veronas being paid a measly £17-a-week wage to live on while living in a monastery with six other youngsters, reported Goal.
His first cheque was so tight that even buying a happy meal was off the cards as it was too expensive.
Jorginho who was 15 at the time, previously recalled to Players Tribune: “I’d go to the main square in Verona and buy a milkshake at McDonald’s.
“It cost one euro. Fries? Burger? Forget it, man! Happy Meals were for the rich kids.”
WORKING IT OUT
Manchester United boss Ralf Rangnick will have to face an FA-appointed independent panel to get a work permit for his new job.
Because he has not had enough managerial jobs over the last five years, he does not meet the criteria from the Home Office by default.
So, according to The Telegraph, the 63-year-old’s case will be heard by a panel who will have to fast-track the application.
Rangnick has held various director-type roles in the past five years, his latest with Russian side Locomotiv Moscow.
CAT CALL
Barcelona are reportedly eager to bring out-of-favour Manchester United forward Anthony Martial to Camp Nou.
Mundo Deportivo report Barca’s football director Mateu Alemany and CEO Ferran Reverter made an enquiry about the Frenchman during a recent business trip to Manchester, meaning Martial’s largely disappointing spell at Old Trafford could end soon.
The 25-year-old has struggled for game time this season after only making nine appearances across all competitions, and scoring once in a 1-1 draw with Everton in October.
Xavi is also a fan of Martial, and he may head to Catalonia as soon as January, with a loan deal mooted.
KYL JOYS
Paris Saint-Germain prevented Real Madrid from making a sneaky transfer approach for Kylian Mbappe during last night’s Ballon d’Or awards.
Sporting director Leonardo and president Nasser Al-Khelaifi watched the 22-year-old all night in order to guard against a conversation with anyone from Madrid.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Mbappe did bump into Madrid legend Emilio Butragueno at the star-studded event.
But with Leonardo and Al-Khelaifi around, the pair merely exchanged pleasantries.
Mbappe’s infatuation with playing for Real Madrid has never been a secret.
And with his contract set to expire, Madrid president Florentino Perez may soon secure his man.
NO MESSIAH
Micah Richards has blasted fans and pundits for ‘jumping on the bandwagon’ to hail Ralf Rangnick as ‘the messiah’ and believes there has been a ‘massive overreaction’ to the German’s arrival at Manchester United.
Richards has been left baffled by the hype and hysteria surrounding the appointment given the lack of silverware on Rangnick’s CV.
He told BBC Five Live: “You know why I’m groaning? I’ll tell you why I’m groaning!
“Everyone’s making out like Rangnick is some sort of messiah like he’s come to this country and he’s got five league titles and a Champions League!
“It’s a massive, massive overreaction.
“I’m just talking about everyone jumping on the bandwagon like he’s the messiah.”
PRIME VIEWING
Premier League fans have the chance to feast on all of the midweek action as every one of the 10 Matchweek 14 fixtures are available to view live with Prime Video.
The battle at the bottom of the league between Newcastle United and Norwich City on Tuesday. The massive Merseyside derby on Wednesday. The classic Manchester United v Arsenal clash on Thursday.
These are the lead fixtures of the round but you can watch all the goals from across the three days on your TV, mobile device or even games console.
SER FOR SALE
Arsenal showed an interest in signing Sergino Dest over the summer – and Barcelona are now making him available for transfer.
That’s according to a report from Mundo Deportivo, who have been discussing players that can leave the Camp Nou.
Barca want to bring in Manchester City attacker Ferran Torres and may look to engineer a part-exchange deal.
And Dest is listed as one of the players Barcelona are making available.
GUNNER LEAVE?
West Ham and Arsenal are part of a five-way battle to bring Flamengo striker Gabriel Barbosa to the Premier League, according to 90min.
Barbosa reportedly wants to return to Europe in January and would prefer to play in the Premier League.
Fortunately for the 25-year-old, he has several suitors who may be willing to offer him such a platform.
Long-term admirers West Ham are among a number of Premier League clubs considering a bid, while Arsenal, Everton, Aston Villa and soon to be big spending Newcastle are also in the hunt for his signature.
USE YOUR ED
Edu has admitted that he wants to bring Arsene Wenger ‘closer’ to Arsenal once more.
The Frenchman has kept away from the Gunners after leaving in 2018 following 22 years at the helm.
The Brazilian, 43, wrote in his programme notes: “It was great to see Arsene Wenger the other day at the screening for his new documentary.
“We had a good conversation, and I said to him that he cannot realise how important he is for my career.
“I told him I would like to see him a bit closer to the club and to myself as well in the future. That would be a real, real pleasure and special for everyone here.
“I also told him I was so proud to see myself in his film – it brought back lots of great memories about that Invincibles team!”
TUCH EASY
Chelsea have become even stronger favourites to become Club World Champions for the first time after the tournament draw in Zurich.
Thomas Tuchel’s Blues will face a semi-final against Asian champions Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia or the winners of the preliminary tie between Auckland City and Al Jazeera of the UAE.
They are then on course for a showdown with Copa Libertadores winners Palmeiras of Brazil in the Final, although the South Americans first have to get past Mexico’s Monterrey or Egypt’s African champs Al Ahly.
It represents the easiest possible route for the Stamford Bridge outfit after months of uncertainty.
Chelsea had been due to travel to Japan for the tournament this month.
But Covid issues forced the planned hosts to give up the tournament and it was only in October that Fifa confirmed the matches will now be played in the UAE in February.
TRAOR OF DUTY
Liverpool target Adama Traore could be on the move for as little as £20million with Wolves reportedly slashing his asking price.
The Spanish winger was eyed up by Jurgen Klopp in the summer, but the Reds decided against bringing the 25-year-old to Anfield.
According to Football Insider, the Midlands outfit were seeking a fee in the region of £50million.
But with Traore, who is tied down at Molineux until 2023, without a goal or assist from his 14 games this season, Wolves are claimed to have lowered their demands.
The news outlet states that his price tag has dropped to £20m ahead of the winter transfer window.
And they even state that Brino Lage’s side could be prepared to part ways with the ex-Barcelona forward for as low as £18m.
News of his drop in value is said to have put Liverpool on red alert as they weigh up an offer for the eight-cap Spain international.
ACROSS TO CRIS
Cristiano Ronaldo’s family are planning a huge get-together in Manchester this Christmas.
The Old Trafford striker’s Brazil-based sister Katia Aveiro revealed they are organising a festive season reunion in a question and answer social media session with fans.
When asked what she’d be doing for Christmas, the singer-turned-influencer, who ended up in hospital after going down with Covid earlier this year, said: “If this mad world and the variants all over the place let me, it will be in Manchester God willing.”
Katia is expected to travel from her home in southern Brazil with her husband and two children.
Her siblings Hugo and Elma and their mum Dolores will make the journey from the family’s native Madeira.
It is not yet known if they will be joined by relatives of Cristiano’s partner Georgina Rodriguez.
The 27-year-old is pregnant with twins and her sister Ivana is also expecting her first child with her painter and sculptor partner Carlos Garcia.
NAB NAT
West Ham are reportedly plotting a move for Liverpool outcast Nathaniel Phillips after the long-term injury to Angelo Ogbonna.
The Hammers are sat fourth heading into the busy Christmas period.
And according to Football Insider, Phillips is one of the names being mentioned to come in and replace the injured Ogbonna to sustain a Champions League push.
The 24-year-old has slipped to fifth choice at Liverpool despite having a solid season last term in the absence of the injured Virgil van Dijk.
Jurgen Klopp’s aerial ‘monster’ has only managed 45 minutes on the pitch this season and it came in the League Cup win over Preston North End.
The report states that an offer of around £12million should be enough to tempt Liverpool to sell.
SEVEN HEAVEN
Lionel Messi and his three sons Mateo, Thiago and Ciro turned up to Monday’s Ballon d’Or ceremony wearing matching suits.
The 34-year-old won his seventh Ballon d’Or, pipping Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski to the prestigious award.
He was presented with the trophy by long-time friend Luis Suarez, and was treated to a video of congratulations messages by his children, Suarez and Argentina team-mate Sergio Aguero.
His children, all wearing black suits, white shoes and a bow tie, clapped and danced as their dad reaffirmed his place as one of the greatest to ever play the game.
YOU WAT?
Ben Foster has denied he missed Watford’s defeat at Leicester because he was injured playing outfield in a charity match.
Some Hornets fans were angered by suggestions the former England keeper, who had starred in the win over Manchester United, had been forced out of the trip to the King Power by a groin problem sustained in a game for Hashtag United.
Foster, who has strong links with the Basildon-based side founded by YouTuber Spencer Owen, did take part in the 24-hour charity fund-raising game, including a stint on the pitch.
Claudio Ranieri was forced to use Austrian back-up Daniel Bachmann, who endured an afternoon to forget as the Hornets were stung 4-2.
But Foster responded to the rumours by posting: “Hi guys just to clear this up, unfortunately I injured my groin in training on the Thursday before the Leicester city game.
“Hopefully nothing too major!
“It certainly had nothing to do with my 15 minute cameo in a charity kickabout earlier in the week. Hope to be back soon.”
SOL CRUSHING
Ralf Rangnick has more than doubled his wages by moving to Manchester United, reports claim.
The German, 63, quit Lokomotiv Moscow to join the Red Devils.
Rangnick had agreed a three-year deal with the Russian club in July, reportedly worth £3.8million-a-year.
But according to the Daily Star, he has upgraded that to £8m-a-year with Man United.
This makes him better paid than Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was at Old Trafford.
BROZ BUY
Mega rich Newcastle bosses are reportedly ready to open their wallets and offer ‘crazy money’ in order to convince Marcelo Brozovic to join the club.
The 29-year-old Inter midfielder is out of contract at the end of the season and is also a target for Manchester United.
The Tynesiders, according to The Athletic, are willing to offer mouth-watering figures in a bid to land the Croatian international when negotiations can begin on January 1.
But with Newcastle yet to win a league game this campaign and currently rooted to the bottom of the table, Brozovic is unlikely to be willing to agree terms in January.
SunSport exclusively revealed earlier this month that Brozovic was being targeted by Toon chiefs as a statement signing in the summer.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
