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    FIFA 21 predicts next 15 players to win Ballon d’Or after Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi

    FIFA 21 has been used to guess the next 15 Ballon d’Or winners.
    Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have won 11 of the last 12 and a YouTuber has figured out who might win the next 15 using FIFA 21’s career mode.

    FIFA 21 has been used to guess the next 15 Ballon d’Or winners Credit: EA Sports

    Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have won 11 of the last 12 awardsCredit: AFP or licensors

    Messi has bagged a record six Ballons d’OrCredit: AFP or licensors

    The 2020 award was cancelled for the first time in 64 years by France Football because of coronavirus.
    Robert Lewandowski was hot favourite to bag the award after a Champions League and Bundesliga-winning season.
    Messi is the current holder of the award having won a historic sixth in 2019.
    And YouTuber BCHDGaming has simulated the next 15 seasons on FIFA 21’s career mode to see who might be the winners of the future.

    2020 – CRISTIANO RONALDO
    Nominees: Lewandowski, Mo Salah, Sadio Mane.

    Ronaldo – 2020Credit: EA Sports FIFA
    2021 – LIONEL MESSI
    Nominees: Neymar, Mbappe, Raheem Sterling.

    Messi – 2021Credit: EA Sports FIFA

    2022 – KYLIAN MBAPPE
    Nominees: Messi, Jadon Sancho, Sterling.

    Mbappe – 2022Credit: EA Sports FIFA
    2023 – KYLIAN MBAPPE
    Nominees:Sterling, Vinicius Jr, Paulo Dybala.

    Mbappe – 2023Credit: EA Sports FIFA
    2024 – RAHEEM STERLING
    Nominees: Inaki Williams, Joao Felix, Mbappe.

    Sterling – 2024Credit: EA Sports FIFA
    2025 – JOAO FELIX
    Nominees: Mbappe, Vinicius Jr, Matheus Cunha.

    Felix – 2025Credit: EA Sports FIFA
    2026 – KYLIAN MBAPPE
    Nominees: Francisco Trincao, Ansu Fati, Felix.

    Mbappe – 2026Credit: EA Sports FIFA
    2027 – VINICIUS JR
    Nominees: Luis Javier Suarez, Adam Hlozek, Mbappe.

    Vinicius Jr – 2027Credit: EA Sports FIFA
    2028 – VINICIUS JR
    Nominees: Mbappe, Felix, Hlozek.

    Vinicius Jr – 2028Credit: EA Sports FIFA
    2029 – AMARA NGOM (Sadio Mane regen)
    Nominees: Mbappe, Lautaro Martinez, Jonathan David.

    Ngom – 2029Credit: EA Sports FIFA
    2030 – BOA MORTE (Cristiano Ronaldo regen)
    Nominees: Fati, Trincao, Mbappe.

    Boa Morte – 2030Credit: EA Sports FIFA
    2031 – JUAN GOMEZ (Lionel Messi regen)
    Nominees: Mbappe, Vinicius Jr, Boa Morte.

    Gomez – 2031Credit: EA Sports FIFA
    2032 – ALEXANDER ISAK
    Nominees: Erling Haaland, Sancho, Mbappe.

    Isak – 2032Credit: EA Sports FIFA
    2033 – KYLIAN MBAPPE
    Nominees: Vinicius Jr, Leonel Lodico (Sergio Aguero regen), Juan Gomez.

    Mbappe – 2033Credit: EA Sports FIFA
    2034 – ANSU FATI
    Nominees: Konrad Dabrowski (Lewandowski regen), Haaland, Sancho.

    Fati – 2034Credit: EA Sports FIFA
    FIFA 21 is released today.

    Martin Tyler and Alan Smith talk about working on EA Sports FIFA football game More

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    Lionel Messi will be second player to stay at same club he won Ballon d’Or with after Florian Albert if he stay at Barca

    SHOULD Lionel Messi retire at Barcelona he will become only the second Ballon d’Or winner to have stayed at the club after receiving the award.
    At the moment, Florian Albert is the sole recipient to have been a one-club man after picking up the honour.

    Lionel Messi is a six-time Ballon d’Or winnerCredit: EPA

    Hungarian legend Florian AlbertCredit: Getty Images – Getty

    He claimed his Ballon d’Or in 1967, the same year he won the Hungarian league with Ferencvaros.
    Albert spent his entire career with Ferencvaros from 1958–1974, where he scored 250 times in 350 games.
    The forward was a four-time league winner and starred for Hungry’s national team, with 31 goals in 75 caps.
    After his retirement he continued to remain involved with Ferencvaros even working in administrative positions.

    In 2007, their stadium was named after Albert but in 2013 it was demolished.
    The club built a new version on the same site but renamed it to the Groupama Arena, for sponsorship purposes.
    Albert died on October 2011, aged 70, in a Budapest hospital after complications following heart surgery carried out a few days earlier.
    His record of playing for the same club after winning the Ballon d’Or rests on Messi’s future.

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    The six-time Ballon d’Or winner handed in a transfer request with boyhood club Barca last August, citing plans to leave on a free.
    But Nou Camp chiefs argued the stipulation that allowed him to do so expired in June.
    To avoid a drawn out legal battle in court, Messi, 33, committed his future to Barca for at least this season.
    But with his contract officially expiring at the end of the season he is free to leave for nothing.
    Manchester City – where his ex-manager Pep Guardiola coaches – and PSG, with former team-mate Neymar, are the frontrunners to sign the legend.
    It would mean Messi’s 17-year love story with Barca would come to an end and see him in a once-unthinkable position playing for another team.

    Lionel Messi’s contract expires at the end of the seasonCredit: Getty Images – Getty

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    Ibrahimovic snubs Ballon d’Or and says he wouldn’t swap his 12 Swedish player of the year awards for prestigious gong

    ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC has dismissed his lack of Ballon d’Or crowns – preferring the ‘continuity’ he has shown with several Swedish honours.
    The Guldbollen is Sweden’s footballer of the year prize and AC Milan striker Ibrahimovic ended a short dry spell to reclaim the gong in 2020.

    Zlatan Ibrahimovic has never finished on the Ballon d’Or podiumCredit: Reuters

    It was the striker’s 12th victory in the award, a record by some margin, having lost out in the last two years to Manchester United defender Victor Lindelof.
    And he insisted that the honour is more important to him than a single Ballon d’Or would ever be.
    Ibrahimovic told SportWeek, via Goal: “I wouldn’t swap my 12 Guldbollen for one from France Football because, for me, they mean continuity.
    “I have seen many who have won the World Cup, European Championship, Champions League, even the Ballon d’Or, had a wonderful year, fantastic.

    “Then later they disappeared, but I’ve been in the game for 25 years. 
    “Always at the top. It’s a big difference.”

    I am Santa Claus. I am the one who brings gifts to all my 27 children. Two are in Sweden and the other 25 are at Milanello.
    Zlatan Ibrahimovic

    The 39-year-old is enjoying his latest renaissance with Serie A leaders Milan.
    Were the Ballon d’Or on this year, he would have a decent chance of a nomination thanks to his ten goals in six league games this campaign.

    In fact, Ibrahimovic has been on the longlist 11 times with a best finish of fourth in the 2013 awards.
    Milan sit one point above rivals Inter going into the New Year, following a last-gasp win over Lazio last time out.
    The veteran striker, currently out with a calf injury, remarked that he is bringing gifts to the ‘children’ he guides in the San Siro dressing room.
    Ibrahimovic said: “I never ask for anything for myself [at Christmas]. 

    Ibrahimovic took home fourth-place in the 2013 Ballon d’Or votingCredit: Getty – Contributor

    “I am Santa Claus. I am the one who brings gifts to all my 27 children. Two are in Sweden and the other 25 are at Milanello.
    “This year, huge congratulations for what we have done and what we’re doing. 
    “We’ve lost very few games. I don’t know if that’s thanks to me, but I did do something, I brought something in.”

    Watch Mino Raiola hang up on Simon Jordan in furious row over Ibrahimovic’s FIFA 21 image rights live on talkSPORT More

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    Eto’o blasts ‘disrespectful’ France Football for listing him in 10 top best right-wingers ever with Messi and Beckham

    SAMUEL ETO’O has hit out at ‘disrespectful’ France Football for naming him in their top ten right-wingers of all time.
    The legendary Cameroonian striker played the majority of his iconic career up-front and he is not happy being labelled a right-winger alongside David Beckham and Lionel Messi.

    Samuel Eto’o was fuming over his inclusion as a right winger in France Football’s nominees for greatest footballers of all time

    France Football run the historic Ballon d’Or award but bizarrely cancelled it this year because of coronavirus.
    And in its place they are attempting to collate the best XI players of all time.
    The formation is a 3-4-3 with a pool of iconic final nominees for the panel of 170 international journalists to choose from.

    But having whittled each position down to a list of ten, France Football’s editorial staff have come in for some flack from ex-Barcelona, Chelsea and Inter Milan star Eto’o.
    Having seen himself included as a right-winger, Eto’o tweeted: “Thank you but I played one or two seasons on the right yet I have 25 years of career as a centre-forward.
    “The lack of respect @FranceFootball.
    “WHATEVER!”

    Eto’o was joined on the list by nine other iconic superstars of the ages.

    Beckham and Messi lined up next to Manchester United legend George Best, Liverpool hero Kevin Keegan and Brazilian icons from the 50s, 60s and 70s Garrincha and Jairzinho.
    Stanley Matthews completed the list of historic names with his career that spanned from 1932-1965.
    Before more modern stars from the early 90s and beyond were included.
    Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Holland magician Arjen Robben and Portuguese poster boy Luis Figo completed the list.
    Bayern striker Robert Lewandowski was in line to scoop this year’s Ballon d’Or after leading his team to an incredible Bundesliga and Champions League double.

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    FIFA 21 guesses next 15 players to follow Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi as Ballon d’Or winners

    FIFA 21 has been used to guess the next 15 Ballon d’Or winners.
    Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have won 11 of the last 12 and a YouTuber has figured out who might win the next 15 using FIFA 21’s career mode.

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    FIFA 21 has been used to guess the next 15 Ballon d’Or winners Credit: EA Sports

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    Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have won 11 of the last 12 awardsCredit: AFP or licensors

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    Messi has bagged a record six Ballons d’OrCredit: AFP or licensors

    The 2020 award was cancelled for the first time in 64 years by France Football because of coronavirus.
    Robert Lewandowski was hot favourite to bag the award after a Champions League and Bundesliga-winning season.
    Messi is the current holder of the award having won a historic sixth in 2019.

    And YouTuber BCHDGaming has simulated the next 15 seasons on FIFA 21’s career mode to see who might be the winners of the future.
    2020 – CRISTIANO RONALDO
    Nominees: Lewandowski, Mo Salah, Sadio Mane.

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    Ronaldo – 2020Credit: EA Sports FIFA
    2021 – LIONEL MESSI

    Nominees: Neymar, Mbappe, Raheem Sterling.

    18

    Messi – 2021Credit: EA Sports FIFA

    2022 – KYLIAN MBAPPE
    Nominees: Messi, Jadon Sancho, Sterling.

    18

    Mbappe – 2022Credit: EA Sports FIFA
    2023 – KYLIAN MBAPPE
    Nominees:Sterling, Vinicius Jr, Paulo Dybala.

    18

    Mbappe – 2023Credit: EA Sports FIFA
    2024 – RAHEEM STERLING
    Nominees: Inaki Williams, Joao Felix, Mbappe.

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    Sterling – 2024Credit: EA Sports FIFA
    2025 – JOAO FELIX
    Nominees: Mbappe, Vinicius Jr, Matheus Cunha.

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    Felix – 2025Credit: EA Sports FIFA

    2026 – KYLIAN MBAPPE
    Nominees: Francisco Trincao, Ansu Fati, Felix.

    18

    Mbappe – 2026Credit: EA Sports FIFA
    2027 – VINICIUS JR
    Nominees: Luis Javier Suarez, Adam Hlozek, Mbappe.

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    Vinicius Jr – 2027Credit: EA Sports FIFA
    2028 – VINICIUS JR
    Nominees: Mbappe, Felix, Hlozek.

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    Vinicius Jr – 2028Credit: EA Sports FIFA
    2029 – AMARA NGOM (Sadio Mane regen)
    Nominees: Mbappe, Lautaro Martinez, Jonathan David.

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    Ngom – 2029Credit: EA Sports FIFA
    2030 – BOA MORTE (Cristiano Ronaldo regen)
    Nominees: Fati, Trincao, Mbappe.

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    Boa Morte – 2030Credit: EA Sports FIFA
    2031 – JUAN GOMEZ (Lionel Messi regen)
    Nominees: Mbappe, Vinicius Jr, Boa Morte.

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    Gomez – 2031Credit: EA Sports FIFA
    2032 – ALEXANDER ISAK
    Nominees: Erling Haaland, Sancho, Mbappe.

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    Isak – 2032Credit: EA Sports FIFA
    2033 – KYLIAN MBAPPE
    Nominees: Vinicius Jr, Leonel Lodico (Sergio Aguero regen), Juan Gomez.

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    Mbappe – 2033Credit: EA Sports FIFA

    Manchester clubs have the worst net spend in the past decade by some distance
    2034 – ANSU FATI
    Nominees: Konrad Dabrowski (Lewandowski regen), Haaland, Sancho.

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    Fati – 2034Credit: EA Sports FIFA
    FIFA 21 is released today.

    Martin Tyler and Alan Smith talk about working on EA Sports FIFA football game More

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    Lionel Messi ‘tempted’ by shock Arsenal transfer to link-up with Wenger and Fabregas, reveals ex-agent of Barcelona icon

    LIONEL MESSI came close to joining Arsenal alongside Cesc Fabregas 17 years ago, according to the Barcelona icon’s former agent.
    Fabiano Soldini revealed Arsene Wenger had identified the Nou Camp skipper as a potential signing during his academy days. 

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    Lionel Messi is believed to have been an Arsenal target during his time at Barcelona’s La Masia

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    Cesc Fabregas went on to win an FA Cup with Wenger’s Arsenal in 2005 before becoming the club’s skipper

    And alongside Fabregas and Gerard Pique, Messi 33, was one of three possible Wenger targets during his stint in Barca’s famed La Masia. 
    And while the former Emirates boss, 70, succeeded in bringing Fabregas to North London, the Argentina playmaker chose to stay at the Nou Camp while Pique, 33, went to Manchester United. 
    Soldini told Marca: “[Messi] was tempted to go to Arsenal, but he didn’t go. 
    “I remember the day that Cesc asked to leave [Barcelona]. 
    “Messi was also asked to go, but he didn’t want to leave.” 
    Whilst Fabregas, 33, went on to become Arsenal captain under Wenger, Messi evolved into one of the world’s greatest ever players accumulating a glittering array of silverware.   

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    The six-time Ballon d’Or winner won eight LaLiga titles with Barcelona and four Champions League trophies within an eight-year period. 

    Wenger’s Arsenal side lost six Champions League clashes to Barcelona including the 2006 final of the competition.

    We were interested in him, but he was untouchable at the time
    Arsene Wenger

    And the Frenchman admitted Messi was an “untouchable” target at the time of the Gunners’ interest. 
    The former Emirates chief told BeIN Sports: “We were in discussions with [Messi] when we bought Fabregas, because Messi played [with him].
    “You can realise sometimes what fantastic youth teams you had before when you’re a club like Barcelona.

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    Barcelona skipper Messi has won eight LaLiga titles with the club Credit: Getty Images – Getty

    “In the same team, Messi, [Gerard] Pique and Fabregas.
    “Pique and Fabregas came to England [with Manchester United and Arsenal respectively], Messi stayed in Spain.
    “We were interested in him, but he was untouchable at the time.”

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    Forget Messi and Ronaldo… Lewandowski insists he deserves Ballon d’Or after firing Bayern Munich to Champions League

    BAYERN MUNCH striker Robert Lewandowski is in no doubt he deserves the prestigious Ballon d’Or this season.
    The Polish star enjoyed a stunning campaign on a personal level, scoring 59 goals in just 53 games in all competitions for club and country.

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    Robert Lewandowski is adamant he would have won the Ballon d’OrCredit: Reuters
    He won three trophies with Bayern, culminating with the Champions League piece after beating Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 in the final.
    But the 32-year-old did suffer one blow this season – when media organisation France Football scrapped the prestigious Ballon d’Or presentation.
    The decision was taken after coronavirus impacted football all across Europe.
    Lewandowski was hot favourite to pip perennial winners Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to the award.

    Now, speaking to Polish news-site Sportowe Fakty, Lewandowski was sure who would win.
    “Myself”, he answered, when asked the question.
    “We won everything we could with Bayern. In every competition: Bundesliga, German Cup and Champions League, I was the top scorer.”
    Then hinting that Messi and Ronaldo might be some people’s selections, he added: “I understand that the pressure of other parties on another player may be greater.”

    In comparison Messi netted 31 goals in 44 games for Barcelona and Argentina, before slapping in a shock transfer request with the Spanish giants.
    Over in Italy, Ronaldo scored 48 goals in 52 games for Juventus and Portugal.
    It would have been the first time Lewandowski would have collected the award.
    It is the first time there has been no winner since the prize was inaugurated in 1956.
    Messi won for a record sixth time in 2019 although his duopoly with five-time winner Ronaldo, with 11 of the last 12 victories between them, could have been broken this time round.

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    Inter Milan have ‘everything it takes’ to seal stunning Lionel Messi transfer from Barcelona, says ex-president Moratti

    INTER MILAN have “everything it takes” to seal the shock signing of Lionel Messi according to the club’s former President.
    The Argentina playmaker has been a long-term target for the Italian giants with their former president an admirer of the La Liga icon. 

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    Lionel Messi has been a long-term target for Inter Milan and former club president Massimo Moratti believes they can seal a shock transfer
    Massimo Moratti reckons Suning Holdings, Inter’s current owners, have “everything it takes” in their power to prise Messi away from the Nou Camp. 
    Gossip concerning the 33-year-old’s future has refused to die down following his scathing assessment of Barca’s league performances this term. 
    The former LaLiga champions lost their crown to bitter rivals Real Madrid with Zinedine Zidane’s team capturing their first title in three years. 
    And if Messi was unhappy with Barcelona’s domestic performances then what he must have made of their 8-2 Champions League exit to Bayern Munich is anyone’s guess.

    Inter, under Moratti’s stewardship, had tried and failed to capture the Barca skipper’s signature on a handful of occasions. 
    But the 75-year-old reckons the Nerazzuri’s wealthy Chinese owners are in a perfect position to seal a deal for six-time Ballon d’Or winner. 
    Moratti told Quotidiano Sportivo: “I am just a simple fan of Inter now, so I don’t have any inside information. 
    “Having said that, I do know this: Suning have everything it takes to bring Messi to Milan, in terms of both resources and competence.”

    One Inter signing Moratti admits he was wrong to underestimate was the £76.5million signing of former Manchester United forward Romelu Lukaku. 

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    Messi, who scored 25 goals in 33 La Liga appearances this term, has slammed some of Barcelona’s performances this season
    The Belgian international, whose United performances came in criticism from pundits in the past, has been in fine form for the Serie A giants in his debut season. 
    Lukaku, 27, has netted 31 goals across all competitions this term. 
    On the Belgium player’s performances Moratti added:  “I got it wrong on Lukaku. 
    “In all honesty, I thought he was just physically strong and feared we would regret losing Icardi. Instead, Romelu is a champion, always helps his team-mates and has good vision.
    “Antonio Conte was right to demand his signing and then did so well to improve him.” 

    On Monday Inter, who are rumoured to have agreed terms with Chelsea outcast Emerson, are due to face Shaktar Donesk in the semi-finals of the Europa League. 
    And the Italian club will be aiming to capture a trophy they have won on three occasions. 
    Moratti added: “Winning the Europa League won’t be easy, as there are four very competitive sides left, but I do hope Inter can be the next Italian club to lift a European trophy.”

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