Ballon d’Or

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      Kirby and White make Ballon d’Or shortlist as Barca’s Graham Hansen dismisses women’s award snub

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      FRAN KIRBY and Ellen White are among the WSL stars who made the nominees shortlist for this year’s Women’s Ballon d’Or award. The England aces are joined by Arsenal’s Vivianne Miedema and Chelsea’s Sam Kerr, Magda Eriksson, Jessie Fleming and Pernille Harder. 
      Fran Kirby is one of five Chelsea stars on this year’s Women’s Ballon d’Or shortlistCredit: Rex
      Man City forward Ellen is among the WSL aces nominated for the awardCredit: Getty
      But the surprise omission of Barcelona’s wing wiz Caroline Graham Hansen has stunned some fans and pundits. 
      And a few have taken to social media to question why the Barca ace, 26, was missing from the women’s award’s 20-player shortlist. 
      But the Norway international, who helped the Catalan giants brush Chelsea aside in this year’s Women’s Champions League final seems unfazed by the nomination snub.
      And the winger who netted eight times in 23 top-flight games helping Barca to title wins in Europe and Spain, took to Twitter to let her supporters know. 
      Reacting to the announcement, Graham Hansen tweeted: “To everyone who is wondering. It’s all good. 
      “We won the triple, and we are working our a***s off to achieve this again. All that matters and the only thing that matters. 

      Kirby, 28, and White, 32, enjoyed impressive seasons for their top-flight sides last term. 
      City striker White broke the all-time record for goals scored in the WSL when she netted for the 55th time in the top-flight in February. 
      Meanwhile Kirby notched up 16 goals and 11 assists in the league helping the Blues claim their fourth domestic title.
      And the playmaker who netted twice during the Blues Conti Cup triumph finished as last term’s PFA Women’s Player of the Year.
      Barcelona have five stars on this year’s shortlist with Jenni Hermoso, Alexis Puttellas, Lieke Martins  and keeper Sandra Panos among the nominees.
      Samantha Mewis is the only USA’s women’s national team player in the running for the award which was put on hiatus last year due to the Covid pandemic. 
      Caroline Graham Hansen’s omission from this year’s Women’s Ballon d’Or shortlist has surprised some fansCredit: Rex
      And Portland Thorns forward Christine Sinclair among the Canada stars shortlisted alongside her compatriots Fleming and Paris Saint-Germain’s Ashley Lawrence. 
      The trio were part of the Canadian that won gold in the Tokyo Olympics women’s football tournament under the management of Bev Priestman.
      The winner of the prestigious prize is due to be announced on November 29 in France’s capital Paris. 

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      Ballon d’Or nominees including Messi, Ronaldo and De Bruyne show their skills in training More

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      Lionel Messi reveals his Ballon d’Or nominations and says he would vote for two PSG team-mates to win prestigious award

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      LIONEL MESSI is the favourite to win this year’s Ballon d’Or award – but he’d rather give the award to one of his Paris Saint-Germain team-mates.Kylian Mbappe and Neymar have impressed Messi so much since he arrived in Paris this summer they would get his vote for the prestigious prize.
      Bookies’ favourite Lionel Messi would vote for his PSG pals Kylian Mbappe and Neymar to win the Ballon d’Or ahead of himCredit: Getty
      The pair, along with Messi are yet to set the world alight this season, but the ex-Barca star is still convinced they have enough talent to be considered for the Ballon d’Or.
      The 34-year-old told L’Equipe: “In my team, there are two for whom I will easily vote: Neymar and Kylian Mbappé.”
      Although Mbappe might not agree with Messi’s choice to include Neymar after calling the Brazilian a bum for not passing the ball to him recently.
      But despite his allegiance to his new team-mates, Messi couldn’t overlook Bayern Munich star Robert Lewandowski’s impact this season and admitted he’d get his vote too.
      The 33-year-old scored a stunning 41 times in just 29 Bundesliga games last season, a feat that helped him scoop the European Golden Shoe award last month.
      He also played a key role in decimating Messi’s former Barca team 3-0 in the Champions League this term, scoring a brace in the game.

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      Real Madrid star Karim Benzema also made Messi’s shortlist of potential Ballon d’Or winners.
      The French ace has been in rare form for Madrid this season, snagging ten goals in as many games in all competitions.
      Messi added: “And then Robert Lewandowski, who has just had a great year and Karim Benzema who was excellent.”
      Surprisingly, there was no mention of Messi’s old foe Cristiano Ronaldo who’s hit the net five times in six matches for Manchester United in this campaign.
      And it’s not just Messi who doubts Ronaldo will add a fifth Ballon d’Or to his trophy cabinet.
      Bookies have got the Portuguese star down as the sixth favourite to win the prize, behind Chelsea aces Jorgino and N’Golo Kante.
      Ballon d’Or nominees including Messi, Ronaldo and De Bruyne show their skills in training More

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      Bukayo Saka, Mason Greenwood and Jude Bellingham nominated for France Football’s prestigious 2021 Kopa Trophy

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      ENGLISH trio Bukayo Saka, Mason Greenwood and Jude Bellingham have all been nominated for this year’s edition of the prestigious Kopa Trophy.The award, which is named after French footballer Raymond Kopa, is given to the best performing player under the age of 21.
      Bukayo Saka has been one of Arsenal’s standout players over the past yearCredit: Getty
      Jude Bellingham is one of the most valuable teenagers in world footballCredit: Getty
      It is handed out on the same night as the Ballon d’Or and decided upon by previous winners.
      The other nominees include Bellingham’s Dortmund team-mate Giovanni Reyna and Barcelona and Spain teen sensation Pedri.
      Rennes and Belgium forward Jeremy Doku has also made the 10-man shortlist.
      Ajax midfielder Ryan Gravenberch is another nominee, as is Bayern Munich and Germany playmaker Jamal Musiala.
      Musiala’s compatriot Florian Wirtz is also on the shortlist, with Paris Saint-Germain full-back Nuno Mendes rounding off the nominees.
      The ceremony, which will announce the Kopa Trophy and Ballon d’Or winners among other awards, will take place on November 29.

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      Meanwhile, Premier League players have dominated the Ballon d’Or longlist – making up almost half of the of the 30 names
      Five players from Chelsea and Man City, two from Manchester United and one each from Tottenham and Liverpool have made the cut.
      Chelsea stars Cesar Azpilicueta, N’Golo Kante, Romelu Lukaku, Mason Mount and Jorginho – who is among the favourites – feature.
      City have Kevin de Bruyne, Ruben Dias, Phil Foden, Riyad Mahrez, and Raheem Sterling. 
      Greenwood is continuing to develop at a rapid rate at Manchester UnitedCredit: Rex
      Portugal team-mates Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes represent United.
      Harry Kane is Tottenham’s sole nominee while Mohamed Salah is Liverpool’s.
      The award is given to the year’s best footballer but was cancelled in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
      Ballon d’Or nominees including Messi, Ronaldo and De Bruyne show their skills in training More

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      Cristiano Ronaldo SIXTH favourite for Ballon d’Or behind Lionel Messi and Chelsea star N’Golo Kante

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      CRISTIANO RONALDO is once again in the running for the Ballon d’Or – but is only sixth favourite.The 36-year-old striker completed a fairytale return to Manchester United this summer from Juventus.
      Cristiano Ronaldo is the sixth favourite to win the Ballon d’OrCredit: EPA
      And he has certainly hit the ground running with five goals in six games in all competitions.
      Last season for Juve the Portuguese superstar scored 36 goals in 44 games.
      But that isn’t enough to make him one of the favourites for the coveted prize.
      Lionel Messi is ODDS-ON to secure his SEVENTH Ballon d’Or. The 34-year-old is now at Paris Saint Germain and scored 38 goals in 47 games.
      Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski is the second favourite at odds of 5-1
      He netted an incredible 46 goals in just 38 games to help Bayern to the Bundesliga title.

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      Chelsea midfielder Jorginho is third-favourite at odds of 5-1 with Manchester City schemer Kevin De Bruyne next best at 12-1.
      Jorginho’s Stamford Bridge team-mate N’Golo Kante is a 12/1 shot with five-time winner Ronaldo next at 16-1.
      Meanwhile, CR7 has been awarded Premier League Player of the Month following a stellar return to Old Trafford.
      After an emotional second Red Devils debut against Newcastle, CR7 scored three goals in three Prem appearances in September.
      The 36-year-old scored twice in the 4-1 win against Newcastle at the start of the September, as well as the opener in the 2-1 victory over West Ham.
      CR7 beat Joao Cancelo, Antonio Rudiger, Allan Saint-Maximin, Ismaila Sarr and Mohamed Salah to the award.
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      Ballon d’Or to return on 29 November after Covid KOd ceremony last year with full list of nominations on 8 October

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      WORLD football will gather to crown its best players once again as the Ballon d’Or returns following a Covid hiatus.The prestigious ceremony was cancelled last year as the pandemic raged with no awards dished out for the first time in 64 years.
      Leo Messi has won a record six awardsCredit: Getty
      But organisers France Football have confirmed this year’s bash will take place on November 29 live from the Chatelet Theatre in Paris.
      Leo Messi is the latest recipient of the men’s award having produced yet another stellar season for Barcelona in 2019.
      The award put the Argentina great top of the pile with six individual wins, ahead of rival Cristiano Ronaldo on five.
      Messi remains one of the favourites after moving to Paris Saint-Germain with Bayern Munich ace Robert Lewandowski also in the mix.
      Premier League interest is likely to come in the shape of Chelsea and Italy star Jorginho.
      The midfielder has been tipped following a stand-out year in which he won the Champions League and Euro 2020.

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      Others have called for his unassuming team-mate N’Golo Kante to be handed the gong while Blues striker Romelu Lukaku is also among the leading candidates.
      The women’s award will be given out for just the third time this year.
      US skipper Megan Rapinoe won in 2019, with the likes of Barca stars Alexia Putellas and Caroline Graham Hansen in the frame to succeed her.
      Chelsea legend Didier Drogba and presenter Sandy Heribert are set to host the awards as gongs for the best young player and best goalkeeper are also given out.
      Shortlists for the awards will be revealed on October 9.
      Chelsea star Jorginho backed to win Ballon d’Or by Juventus captain Giorgio Chiellini More

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      Chelsea fans learning to love Jorginho after Champions League and Euro 2020 triumphs put him in mix for Ballon d’Or

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      JORGINHO’S nickname in the Italy squad is ‘The Professor’ — and perhaps we in England have now finally learnt to appreciate his talents.For most of his time on these shores, fans struggled to ‘get’ the Chelsea star, wondering exactly what it is he brings to a team.
      Blues fans are finally starting to love JorginhoCredit: Getty
      The midfield ace helped both Italy and Chelsea triumph in Europe which has seen him tipped as a Ballon d’Or contenderCredit: Rex
      Ironically, the midfielder seems the type Gareth Southgate needs to help England take that final step.
      Jorginho has had a summer most can only dream of, adding a Euro winners’ medal to Champions League glory.
      The double has seen the Italian emerge as an unlikely contender for the Ballon d’Or.
      That seemed unfathomable when he was frozen out in the latter days of Frank Lampard’s Chelsea reign.
      Hindsight would suggest ostracising him was a mistake.
      But in the season before, when he started regularly for Lampard, many Blues fans questioned his selection.
      Some saw him as the poster boy of a dull year under Maurizio Sarri and decried his lack of creativity and poor tackling.
      Others have always claimed his comfort in possession makes the team tick.

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      The latter was the case in Porto in May as Thomas Tuchel’s organised Blues side shocked Manchester City in the Champions League final.
      He was then the heartbeat for Italy, playing more Euro 2020 minutes than any outfield player of any side with 705.
      Jorginho, who calmly slotted the winning spot-kick against Spain in the semis before missing against England, was recognised with a place in the Uefa team of the tournament.
      Speaking ahead of the final, former boss Sarri said: “He is so good and intelligent that he makes everything seem easy.
      “Fans and journalists (in England) struggled to understand this boy’s game.”
      The Lazio chief also claimed Jorginho would be deserving of the Ballon d’Or if Italy beat England, which they did on penalties.
      Team-mate Lorenzo Insigne said: “I hope he’ll be shortlisted. He deserves it, he is a great player.
      “I call him ‘The Professor’, and we are all happy to play with him.”
      Jorginho’s work off the ball was hugely appreciated as he set a new record for most interceptions at a Euros with 25.
      The midfielder also ran further than anyone and was the tournament’s third-most fouled player.
      His anticipation and composure are the kind of attributes England need to help dictate a game.
      They lost their grip in the final and such a player would help prevent that, although there will be high hopes Declan Rice can master that craft.

      Lampard may not have rated Jorginho highly but Tuchel certainly seems to.
      His agent Joao Santos claims his client has admirers beyond Stamford Bridge, including Juventus.
      But after such an impressive summer, surely Chelsea is where he will stay — and finally get the credit he is due.
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      Nicolas Anelka tells Kylian Mbappe he can only win Ballon d’Or at seven clubs including Man Utd, Chelsea and Arsenal

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      NICOLAS ANELKA is urging Kylian Mbappe to consider taking his red-hot striking skills to one of England’s or Spain’s football giants.Manchester United, Chelsea, Real Madrid and Barcelona or a club in Italy are among the destinations suggested by the former Gunner in a heartfelt letter published by The Athletic. 
      Nicolas Anelka believes Kylian Mbappe can boost his chances of winning a Ballon d’Or by moving to Spain, Italy of EnglandCredit: Reuters
      Anelka, 42, sees England’s top-flight as Europe’s toughest leagueCredit: AFP
      The retired France striker is advising Mbappe on where to go if he wishes to win a Ballon d’Or.  
      Mbappe, 22, has emerged as one of Europe’s most feared forwards.
      He finished as Ligue One’s top scorer last term netting 27 goals in 31 top-flight games for Paris Saint-Germain. 
      The former Monaco starlet sealed a humongous £162milion September 2017 transfer to the Parc des Princes on an initial season-long loan followed by a four-year deal. 
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      Anelka, 42, wrote: “The French league is not easy, don’t get me wrong, but I think the toughest league is in England. 
      “So, if you want to be one of the best, then do what you do in Paris but with Chelsea or United or Arsenal or Manchester City or Liverpool. 
      “Or go to Spain to Madrid or Barcelona. Or maybe Italy. 
      “You have done so well since coming through at Monaco and taking it to a new level at Paris-Saint Germain.
      “It seems you will stay for another year, then there is a big choice to make. 
      “You have at least two choices — stay in Paris or move to Real Madrid. Both of them can win the Champions League these days. 
      “When I was at PSG, that wasn’t the case. That choice depends on what you want to achieve in football. 
      “If you want the biggest accolades, you will have to move from PSG at some point. 
      “The best leagues are in England and Spain, so you didn’t compete with the best players in the best league.
      “You will have to decide. If you want to win the Ballon d’Or, which is what you should be looking at to echo Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, you will have to compete with the best. 
      “You can’t say you compete with the best all the time when you are at PSG.”
      Mbappe finished as Ligue One’s top scorer in the 2020-21 seasonCredit: Getty

      Mbappe, who was born in Paris, has one year left on his current deal with Ligue 1 side. 
      And the player has been linked with a move from the French giants with Real Madrid and Liverpool thought to be interested.  
      Reflections from Anelka, who hung up his boots in January 2016, come a week after France suffered a shock knockout loss to Switzerland in the Euro 2020 last 16. 
      The PSG ace Mbappe saw his spot-kick effort saved by Switzerland keeper Yann Sommer which led to Les Bleus’ exit from the tournament. 
      And for Anelka, the dramatic moment brought back memories of his 2008 Champions League final penalty shot for Chelsea
      His strike was saved by Manchester United’s Edwin van de Sar. 
      Mbappe penalty against Switzerland was saved in the Euros 2020 last-16 knockout stagesCredit: pixel8000
      Anelka says Mbappe’s penalty drama reminded him of his penalty being saved in the 2008 Champions League finalCredit: PA:Press Association
      The save led to a third trophy win in the tournament for the Red Devils who won 6-5 on penalties after a 1-1 finish in extra time. 
       The former Stamford Bridge star added: “A penalty shootout is the best way to settle a match when you are victorious but when you are vanquished it is very cruel. 
      “For me, it happened in Moscow, in the Champions League final with Chelsea in 2008. It was our seventh penalty. 
      “Edwin van der Sar made a save for Manchester United and Chelsea’s loss was on my shoulders. 
      “I found it very difficult for two or three months. Coming back to play with the team for the next season, looking the players in the eyes, was really tough. 
      “It was only through the act of playing, and scoring goals, that I could overcome the ordeal there.”
      Mbappe has been linked with Liverpool and Real MadridCredit: AFP
      Anelka, who quit his role as sports director of fourth-tier French club Hyères in May, began his journey as a senior pro in 1996 at PSG. 
      The former France international, who has 69 senior international caps, underwent spells at Arsenal, Real Madrid and Manchester City between 1997 and 2005. 
      Anelka later played for seven different sides over ten years –  including Chelsea, Bolton Wanderers and West Brom Albion- between 2005 and 2015.
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      Chelsea and France talisman N’Golo Kante deserves Ballon d’Or, claims ex-Man Utd star Louis Saha

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      N’GOLO KANTE deserves to win the Ballon d’Or, according to former France star Louis Saha.The Chelsea superstar, 30, has been in dominant form all year for club and country.
      Chelsea and France star N’Golo Kante deserves to win the Ballon d’Or, according to SahaCredit: AFP
      Ex-Man Utd striker Saha believes Kante deserves to win the Ballon d’Or over the likes of Cristiano RonaldoCredit: Getty – Contributor
      Kante was the Blues’ most-important player as they went on to win the Champions League.
      The Frenchman put in Man of the Match displays in both legs of the semi-final and the final itself.
      And Kante’s red-hot form continued into Euro 2020 as the tireless midfielder put in a dominant display as France beat Germany 1-0.
      Paul Pogba had already called for his international team-mate to win the Ballon d’Or – which famously favours forwards, such as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
      When asked if Kante deserved to win the Ballon d’Or, Saha told GamblingDeals: “If he did, I believe he would deserve it.
      “There is no player, not even Ronaldo or Messi, that has been Man of the Match in both legs of the Champions League semi-final and final.
      “Dominating the midfield alone whilst at the same time helping players moving forward. Going forward he was just a force.
      “I haven’t seen anyone do anything like that.”

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      Saha continued: “I do remember some other winners of the Ballon d’Or, no disrespect to them, earning this amazing prize without those types of performances.
      “So it would not be a scandal at all if Kante gets his hands on the trophy, he’s been unreal.
      “He plays as two players, playing outside of his role, moving forward and doing things that he’s not supposed to do.
      “Those aren’t the characteristics of Messi or Ronaldo, where they stick to their job, scoring goals and amazing individual things…
      “But it’s also about being able to do both. He’s unbelievable.”
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