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      Ultimate Ballon d’Or rich list – from Ronaldo’s eye-watering net worth to star who splashed £435k on a watch

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      IT’S football’s most prestigious award given to the best player in the world.And with this year’s Ballon d’Or ceremony taking place on Monday October 30, Erling Haaland and Lionel Messi are the hot favourites to take it home.
      Along with Erling Haaland, Lionel Messi has been tipped to win this year’s Ballon d’OrCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Cristiano Ronaldo has won the Ballon d’Or an impressive five times and tops the rich listCredit: Instagram / @cristiano
      Argentinian superstar Messi has been tipped to win for the eighth time, while Haaland is also in the running after scoring 52 goals in his first season with Manchester City.
      Since it first began almost 70 years ago, 64 players have won the prize – and with it has come, mostly, great fortune.
      Here, we reveal the biggest earners in our Ballon d’Or rich list.
      Cristiano Ronaldo – £363million
      As well as being the most popular athlete – with over 876million social media followers – Cristiano Ronaldo is also the best paid sportsman in the world.
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      The Portuguese star, who has won the Ballon d’Or an impressive five times, has an estimated net worth of a whopping £363million.
      In December 2022, Ronaldo signed a two-and-a-half year deal with Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr, earning £62million a year.
      And thanks to the various commercial opportunities involved within the deal, it’s thought that he could earn as much as £173million for every year he is with the team.
      The 38-year-old also has a lifetime contract with Nike, which began in 2003, worth an eye-watering £1billion.
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      As well as lending his name to other brands, Ronaldo has his own business empire. It includes two hotels, underwear, CR7 blankets, facial fitness devices and shampoo.
      Lionel Messi – £105million
      Lionel Messi, who has won the award seven times, is considered one of the greatest footballers of all timeCredit: AP:Associated Press
      His business ventures include a hotel empireCredit: Instagram @leomessi
      He’s considered one of greatest footballers of all time, so it’s no surprise that Lionel Messi is tipped to win the Ballon d’Or – after already bagging the award a record seven times.
      The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain player moved to David Beckham’s Inter Miami in June after signing an initial deal for two and a half years. He’s believed to be earning around £35-£47million per year.
      Messi’s net worth at the start of 2023 was estimated to be £105million, according to Forbes. It has no doubt increased since his move to Inter Miami.
      Along with his football salary, the 36-year-old has a range of sponsorship and brand deals that help boost his earnings.
      He signed a lifetime contract with Adidas in 2017, worth £20.4million a year, and is also a global ambassador for Pepsi.
      When it comes to his personal ventures, Messi released his luxury clothing label with Tommy Hilfiger’s sister Ginny Hilfiger in 2019.
      He also became a hotelier in 2017 after buying the MiM Sitges in a coastal resort near Barcelona for £26million.
      MiM has since opened other establishments in Ibiza, Mallorca, Baqueira and Sotogrande.
      Kaka – £74million
      AC Milan and Brazil playmaker Kaka holds the 2007 Ballon d’Or trophy in Paris
      He helped Milan overcome Liverpool in the Champions League final that same yearCredit: Getty
      Before Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi hogged the trophy for over a decade, the last player to beat them to it was Brazilian legend Kaka.
      The playmaking superstar, 41, won the award in 2007, the same year he set up the winning goal for Milan in the Champions League final against Liverpool.
      Two years earlier, he had tormented the English giants once again in Istanbul, only for them to turn it around in one of the most dramatic games of all time.
      After retiring in 2017, Kaka is still reported to be worth £74million, thanks in part to his huge social media following.
      He was the first athlete to gain over 10million followers on X, formerly known as Twitter, and has 22.7million fans on Instagram.
      The savvy star has struck up lucrative deals with Global smart technology company OPPO, American Tourister and Playstation, whom he recently starred in a promo for alongside Gareth Bale.
      Karim Benzema – £62.5million
      Karim Benzema won the prestigious award last yearCredit: Reuters
      He isn’t afraid of flaunting his wealth on social mediaCredit: Instagram / @karimbenzema
      Former Real Madrid player Karim Benzema won the Ballon d’Or in 2022 and is worth around £62million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
      The French national reportedly earned £275,000 a week playing for the Spanish team, before leaving the club in June after 14 years.
      He signed a megabucks deal to join Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad, and now earns £3.3million per week.
      He clearly likes to flash the cash, rocking up to last year’s awards bash wearing a Richard Mille watch worth a staggering £435,000.
      In his victory speech, Benzema, 35, said: “To see this prize in front of me makes me really proud. It was a childhood dream for me and all the work I have done, I never gave up.”
      Michael Owen – £54.4million
      Michael Owen took home the award in 2001Credit: Presse Sports
      The TV pundit has invested his fortune in racehorsesCredit: themichaelowen/instagram
      Michael Owen, who took home the award in 2001, has a reported £54.4million fortune.
      The 43-year-old former striker played for the likes of Liverpool, Real Madrid, Newcastle United, Manchester United and Stoke City during his glittering career before retiring in 2013.
      Since then, he has gone on to work as a pundit for BT Sport.
      He’s also involved in breeding race horses and founded Manor House Stables, a racehorse training facility in Cheshire, with his wife Louise.
      Zinedine Zidane – £52million
      Zinedine Zidane’s net worth is reportedly £52millionCredit: AFP
      The French legend knows how to live in styleCredit: zidane/instagram
      French star Zinedine Zidane inspired his side to their World Cup victory in 1998, the same year he won the Ballon d’Or.
      Following his successful football career as a player, he went into management, first with Real Madrid Castilla and then the senior squad.
      He announced his retirement in 2018, before returning 10 months later. But he left for a second time in the summer of 2021.
      Zidane, 51, earned £2.3million a year as Real Madrid’s manager, which doubled when he revived the team at the end of the 2015/2016 season.
      While he’s currently without a job, his net worth is reportedly £52million.
      Endorsement deals with brands such as Adidas, Louis Vuitton and Christian Dior have contributed to his income.
      Luís Figo – £41million
      Portugal and Real Madrid star Luis Figo with his prestigious 2000 Ballon d’OrCredit: AFP
      The 50-year-old is married to model Helene SvedinCredit: luis__figo/instagram
      Portugese player Luís Figo’s controversial transfer from Barcelona to rival Real Madrid in 2000 – the year he bagged the Ballon d’Or – set the world record fee of £50million.
      He enjoyed a great success at the club, where he earned £3.74million a year, with 45 goals and 58 assists in 249 appearances throughout a five-year stint.  
      The 50-year-old, now worth around £41million according to Idol Net Worth, joined UEFA in 2017 as he took on an advisory role, promoting its competitions across the world.
      “Luís Figo was a fantastic player who was exemplary in the way he conducted himself both on and off the pitch,” the UEFA president said.
      “He is a highly respected figure within the game and I am very pleased he is joining our team. His tremendous football experience will be a very valuable asset to UEFA.”
      Fabio Cannavaro – £36million
      Fabio Cannavaro is now a professional football coachCredit: L’Equipe
      Fabio is now a coach and earned millions in the Chinese Super LeagueCredit: fabiocannavaroofficial/instagram
      Former Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro, who won both the World Cup and Ballon d’Or in 2006, is said to be worth £36million.
      The 50-year old was regarded as one of the best defenders of all time before retiring in 2011.
      He’s now a professional football coach and has coached teams in the Middle East and China.
      He was briefly appointed as manager of the China national team in 2019 and more recently, he was the head coach of Serie B club Benevento.
      It was previously reported that he was the highest paid manager in the Chinese Super League, where he managed for five seasons, and the fourth highest paid in the world, earning £10.6million a year.
      Ronaldinho – Unclear
      Ronaldinho was reported to have just £5 in his back account in 2018Credit: Reuters
      He was the face of football in the early NoughtiesCredit: ronaldinho/instagram
      Brazilian World Cup winner Ronaldinho has previously had a net worth reported up to £80million, but has lose thousands to crushing debts.
      He was reported to have just £5 in his back account in 2018 – the same year he announced his retirement from football – while owing up to £1.75million.
      The 43-year-old was heavily fined for illegal construction in a protected area in his home country.
      After remortgaging his property, he was still unable to cover the debts due to the high interest rate and a judge ordered for his passport to be seized.
      In 2020, he was detained in a prison in Paraguay for allegedly attempting to enter the country with forged documents.
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      Ronaldinho, who won the Ballon d’Or in 2005, has had endorsements with companies including Nike, Pepsi, Coca-Cola, EA Sports and Danone.
      He currently works for sponsorship and development firm Nooke, and he’s also the co-founder of Footsider, which is described as an “application that facilitates and digitizes recruitment in the world of football”. More

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      I’m a Ballon d’Or winner nicknamed The Dagger – I got £200k to play twice for Al-Nassr decades before Cristiano Ronaldo

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      HRISTO STOICHKOV was nicknamed The Dagger and was paid hundreds of thousands by Al-Nassr to play just TWO matches.The Bulgarian was named his country’s footballer of the year five times during his career.
      Hristo Stoichkov was nicknamed The Dagger during his playing career
      However, it was his Ballon d’Or win in 1994 which stands out after the winger beat Italian duo Roberto Baggio and Paolo Maldini to the award.
      Stoichkov had won the Golden Boot at that year’s World Cup having lifted the LaLiga trophy with Barcelona weeks earlier.
      He even compared himself to God during his acceptance speech, claiming: “There are only two Christs; one plays for Barcelona, the other is in heaven.”
      Across two spells with Barca, Stoichkov won 18 trophies, including the European Cup and five league titles.
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      During his time in Spain, he was affectionately labelled “El Pistolero” by supporters, meaning “The Gunslinger”.
      However, he was more commonly nicknamed “The Dagger” as a player due to his presence and fiery temperament on the pitch.
      After his second stint at the Nou Camp, Stoichkov returned to Bulgaria with CSKA Sofia before spells in Saudi Arabia, Japan and the USA.
      His 10 months in the Middle East saw him play just twice, though, as part of a two-match deal with Al-Nassr.
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      Stoichkov won the Ballon d’Or in 1994 after winning the World Cup golden bootCredit: Reuters
      Stoichkov joined the club in 1998 as they aimed to win the Asian Cup Winners’ Cup.
      He was reportedly paid £165,000 to play in the semi-final and final, during which he scored the only goal to beat Suwon Bluewings.
      By the time he retired in 2003 at the age of 37, Stoichkov had scored 37 goals in 83 caps for Bulgaria.
      Those strikes included four at the 1994 World Cup to help his nation finish fourth, their best ever performance at the tournament.
      Since retiring, Stoichkov has embarked on a nomadic coaching career with managerial roles in Spain, South Africa and his native Bulgaria.
      He also spent three years as the national team’s boss after taking over following their last major tournament in 2004.
      Stoichkov has been a co-owner of CSKA Sofia since 2016 after previously being both president and manager of his old club.
      The Bulgarian later earned £165,000 from a two-match spell with Al-NassrCredit: Bongarts More

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      I’m a Ballon d’Or winner who played for two different countries and was a member of the Stasi secret police

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      MATTHIAS SAMMER played for two different countries and was a member of the Stasi secret police during his career.The former Germany midfielder helped his side win Euro 1996 in England and was awarded the Ballon d’Or that same year.
      Matthias Sammer is a Ballon d’Or winner and former member of the Stasi PoliceCredit: 2023 Jean Catuffe
      Sammer played for both Germany and East Germany during his careerCredit: Bongarts
      However, Sammer’s unique playing career saw him feature for two separate national teams.
      He was also part of the East German secret police whilst playing for Dynamo Dresden.
      Sammer won 23 caps and scored six goals for East Germany prior to the German reunification in 1990.
      Once the East German national team was dissolved, he scored eight goals in 51 caps for Germany and was twice named the country’s footballer of the year.
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      He would also beat Ronaldo and Alan Shearer to the Ballon d’Or in 1996 after powering his nation to victory at the Euros.
      At club level, Sammer starred for Dresden, Stuttgart, Inter Milan and Borussia Dortmund, winning 10 major trophies including the Champions League.
      It was during his time with Dresden, though, that he would become a member of the Stasi police.
      The feared organisation spied on and repressed East German citizens from their formation in 1950 until they were dissolved in 1990.
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      Sammer won the Ballon d’Or in 1996 ahead of Ronaldo and Alan Shearer
      He revealed in 2017 he had been part of the Stasi’s guards whilst at Dynamo DresdenCredit: EPA
      In 2017, Sammer revealed he had been a part of the Stasi’s guards, telling Sport Bild: “Dynamo’s players were routinely attached to the guards regiment.
      “It is important to remember that the club’s head at that time was Erich Mielke, the minister for national security.
      “So if you played for Dynamo at that time, you had to join the people’s police.
      “Then when conscription came along, you had to agree to join a similar type of organisation to the army if you wanted to continue playing football.
      “At Dynamo it was the Feliks Dzierzynski guards regiment. Basically it was an alibi to avoid active military service.
      “Had I refused them I would have been forced to go into the army. That would have meant me leaving Dynamo, and been the end of my football career.
      “There were pressures placed on me that I simply could not escape.
      “Of course it was sad, and it was part of a false system. But there was no alternative for me.”
      Sammer powered Germany to glory at the Euro 1996Credit: Reuters
      After retiring, Sammer managed former clubs Borussia Dortmund and StuttgartCredit: EPA
      Sammer would continue playing until 1998, retiring aged just 30 to go into coaching.
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      Following spells as manager of former clubs Dortmund and Stuttgart, he later worked as Bayern Munich’s sporting CEO.
      Now aged 56, he is currently an adviser for both Dortmund and the German national team. More

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      Lionel Messi is winning Ballon d’Or thanks to flawed voting process that cost Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland top gong

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      THEY will hand the Ballon d’Or to the world’s best player in a glittering awards ceremony in Paris on Monday.But Cristiano Ronaldo is unable to attend because he’s busy washing his hair.
      World Cup winner Lionel Messi is set to win his eighth Ballon d’OrCredit: Getty
      Messi now plays for Inter Miami in MLSCredit: AP
      The self-proclaimed GOAT ruled himself out of the running for football’s ultimate individual award when he flounced off to the desert at the start of the year.
      Because it seems that finishing runner-up in the Saudi Pro League is not quite enough to convince his fan boys to keep casting their votes in his favour.
      So now the trophy will be presented to the guy whose current team is next to bottom of the MLS (Eastern Conference).
      And poor old Cristiano will have a face like a slapped arse when arch-nemesis Lionel Messi displays his golden ball for a record eighth time.
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      Not that he has officially been confirmed as King Leo the 8th just yet.
      But let’s not kid ourselves that anyone else is in with a shout after the news of Messi’s impending coronation was leaked this week.
      The deal was sealed the moment he slipped on that negligee to lift the World Cup in Qatar last December.
      And you have to ask what more Erling Haaland could possibly have done to win first prize after the season he had for Manchester City.
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      The Norwegian phenomenon scored an unbelievable 52 goals to help City win a Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup Treble.
      Yes, Messi won the French league with Paris Saint-Germain despite supporters demanding he be sacked for an unauthorised mid-season commercial trip to Saudi.
      But he’s not getting the Ballon d’Or for coming first in a one-horse race.
      He’s getting it on the back of six games for Argentina — presumably they’re not including the defeat by Saudi Arabia in their opening World Cup group match.
      Four of his seven tournament goals were scored from the penalty spot and you could argue that he wasn’t even the best player in Qatar.
      That was Kylian Mbappe, who scored a hat-trick in the final and was the tournament’s top scorer, yet is 66-1 to be named World Player of the Year in his home city next week.
      At least Messi’s coronation will be the first time in 15 years that the award hasn’t gone to a player from Real Madrid or Barcelona.
      So maybe we should be grateful for small mercies.
      But it is obvious that the entire voting process is flawed when the judges are so much in thrall to two clubs from the same country.
      The great irony is that it is 63 years since Luis Suarez became the one and only Spanish-born winner of the award.
      No wonder Jude Bellingham was so keen to move to Madrid this year. He knows it’s the only way he will receive the universal recognition his brilliance deserves.
      Only four Englishmen (Stanley Matthews, Bobby Charlton, Kevin Keegan and Michael Owen) have ever won the Ballon d’Or in its 67-year history.
      And the last player to win it while playing for an English club was (surprise, surprise) Ronaldo when he was still at Manchester United back in 2008.
      Maybe Haaland can change all that by scoring 100 goals for City this season and winning the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup,Carabao Cup, European Super Cup and Club World Cup.
      He’d just better pray that Inter Miami don’t make the MLS play-offs.
      EYES OFF THE BALL
      EMMA RADUCANU claims it is because they can’t cope with her “provoking and challenging” questions that she has got through more coaches than ­National Express.
      It’s nearly two years since she won the US Open against all the odds — and she has hardly won a match since.
      Emma Raducanu claims her ‘provoking’ questions have led to her turnover of coachesCredit: Getty
      She hasn’t played since undergoing wrist and ankle surgery in May and is currently 283rd in the WTA rankings.
      But at least she still has her lucrative commercial contracts with Nike, ­Porsche, Dior, Vodafone, Tiffany and ­Wilson.
      So maybe her next ­“provoking” question will be “why do I need to bother with tennis?”
      CAUGHT OUT
      PATHETIC. There is no other word to describe England’s Cricket World Cup campaign following yesterday’s eight-wicket humiliation by Sri Lanka.
      Jos Buttler and his team of losers have now been hammered in four of their five matches and have still to play India, Australia, Holland and Pakistan.
      England have had a disappointing Cricket World Cup runCredit: Getty
      But, hey, at least we managed to beat the mighty Bangladesh, so it’s not all bad news.
      Captain Buttler will carry the can but he is by no means the only big name who has gone missing during the past three weeks.
      Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes, Mark Wood, Chris Woakes, Sam Curran and Moeen Ali have also failed to live up to their reputations as world-class players.
      Can’t bat, can’t bowl and can’t field, England are a team of complete all-rounders.
      EVER SO UNFAIR
      THE Premier League are demanding a 12-point deduction if Everton are found guilty of breaking Financial Fair Play rules.
      But no word yet on the proposed punishment for Manchester City, charged with 115 offences dating all the way back to 2009.
      Everton could face a points deductionCredit: Getty
      They haven’t even begun disciplinary proceedings against the serial champions because they’re being tied up in knots by City’s army of lawyers.
      And what about Chelsea, who spent more money in the past year than Everton have blown throughout Farhad Moshiri’s disastrous seven-year reign?
      I’m all for punishing clubs who break rules but there seems to be one law for the Big Six and another for the rest.
      ROCKETS BOOSTER
      PETROLHEADS finally had something to get excited about last weekend when Lewis Hamilton gave Max Verstappen his first proper race of the season at the US Grand Prix.
      However, their relief proved to be short-lived when Hamilton was disqualified because the floor of his car was ruled to be ‘too thin’.
      Lewis Hamilton was disqualified from the US GP due to a fault with his carCredit: Reuters
      After watching Red Bull turn the dullest championship in history into a procession, you would have thought the authorities would welcome any kind of challenge to Verstappen’s utter dominance.
      Even if that meant the rest of the field driving rockets.
      WEBB OF INTRIGUE
      WHEN Darren England and his VAR assistant Dan Cook incorrectly ruled out a Liverpool goal at Spurs, they were immediately removed from duty by refs’ chief Howard Webb.
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      But there was no such sanction for Michael Oliver, despite Webb admitting the ref was wrong not to send off Manchester City’s Mateo Kovacic against Arsenal.
      So, it seems that some referees are more important than others. More

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      I nearly won Ballon d’Or after World Cup heroics but was a huge flop in the Premier League – I retired to sell vacuums

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      TOMAS BROLIN failed to live up to expectations in the Premier League before retiring to sell vacuum cleaners.The former Sweden forward was a statement signing for Leeds in 1995 just a year after he came close to winning the Ballon d’Or.
      Tomas Brolin finished fourth in the Ballon d’Or after starring for Sweden at the 1994 World CupCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      However, he struggled in the Premier League after joining LeedsCredit: Reuters
      Brolin had placed joint-fourth with Gheorghe Hagi after starring for Sweden at the 1994 World Cup.
      He scored three goals and provided four assists as his country finished third in the USA.
      However, he was unable to pip Hristo Stoichkov to the gong, despite also starring for Parma in Italy and Europe.
      Following Parma’s UEFA Cup win at the end of the 1994/95 season, Leeds swooped to land Brolin but he would never adapt to the Premier League.
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      After loan spells with Zurich and back at Parma, he moved to Crystal Palace in 1997 but would stay for just six months.
      During his time in England, Brolin scored just four goals in 32 Premier League appearances.
      A brief return to Sweden failed to reignite his career and the striker retired in 1998 aged just 28.
      Brolin would soon find a new purpose, though, after meeting inventor Goran Edlund.
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      Brolin retired aged 28 in 1998 after a brief spell with Crystal PalaceCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      He has since found success with his vacuum cleaner businessCredit: Instagram @tomasbrolin11
      His fellow Swede had developed a lighter and more efficient vacuum cleaner nozzle, which Brolin invested in.
      He became a 50 per cent partner in the Twinner, which has become one of Sweden’s most popular brands and is available in the UK and across Europe.
      Brolin even gives a large amount of his earnings from the vacuum company to charity, with 30 per cent going to a children’s rights society in his homeland.
      Meanwhile, his business portfolio has also included properties, pharmaceuticals and caterings firms in the past.
      The 53-year-old spent time playing professional poker too, as well as owning several racehorses.
      Brolin became a 50 per cent partner in Swedish firm TwinnerCredit: Instagram @tomasbrolin11
      He does not regret his decision to retire so young, either, telling FourFourTwo in 2018: “If you want to continue playing at a high level you’ve got to train every single day, but I wasn’t so keen to keep doing that.
      “I had other projects in my head – when I stopped playing, an inventor came up to me with his new idea about vacuum cleaners and I opened that company.
      “If by the December of that year I’d wanted to play again, I would have come back. But that feeling never came and now it’s 20 years ago.
      “Everyone says 28 is young to retire, but it depends on what you’ve done in your 28 years as a footballer. I’d done quite a lot.” More

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      Henry and Richards in shock after finding out Carragher’s ranking at 2005 Ballon d’Or awards

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      THIERRY HENRY and Micah Richards were left in shock by Jamie Carragher’s ranking in the 2005 Ballon d’Or.The popular trio reunited for Champions League punditry duty for CBS on Wednesday.
      Jamie Carragher got very excited about his 2005 Ballon d’Or rankingCredit: Twitter @CBSSportsGolazo
      Micah Richards was left in shockCredit: Twitter @CBSSportsGolazo
      And they got up to their usual hilarious antics ahead of the action.
      That included a discussion about the Ballon d’Or as they had the famous trophy in the studio.
      Erling Haaland is at risk of missing out on the prestigious gong despite his sensational antics in Manchester City’s Treble-winning season.
      But should the Norwegian striker get pipped, likely by Argentina’s World Cup hero Lionel Messi, then he would certainly have some sympathy from Carragher.
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      That is because the former England defender was snubbed for the 2005 Ballon d’Or – despite helping Liverpool win the Champions League in dramatic fashion in Istanbul.
      Carragher finished joint-20th – alongside a fresh-faced 20-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo.
      CBS presenter Kate Abdo said: “Do you know who we should also give some credit to for how close they came in 2005 as the man who came joint-20th with Cristiano Ronaldo? Who was it?”
      Richards jumped in: “Do not say Carra.”
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      The studio then erupted into delirium as the standings were revealed – with Carragher of Liverpool and England then Ronaldo both 20th behind Zinedine Zidane in 18th and Gianluigi Buffon in 19th.
      Carragher banged the table with his hands and shouted: “I’m above Ronaldo! Hahaha! And this fella said I can’t touch it [the trophy].”
      Henry replied: “Oh my gosh. Zizou 18th and you 20th. That’s it, we’re dead.”
      Richards – who ripped his trousers live on air – asked: “I can’t believe that. Who did you pay for that? I can’t.”
      Carragher then demanded the CBS social media team post the clip online immediately to spread the result far and wide.
      And fans watching on at home were in hysterics at the brilliant piece of TV.
      2005 Ballon d’Or Results
      1st Ronaldinho 2nd Frank Lampard3rd Steven Gerrard 4th Thierry Henry 5th Andriy Shevchenko 6th Paolo Maldini 7th Adriano 8th Zlatan Ibrahimovic 9th Kaka10th Samuel Eto’o 11th John Terry12th Juninho 13th Claude Makelele =14th Juan Roman Riquelme =14th Petr Cech =14th Didier Drogba=14th Michael Ballack18th Zinedine Zidane19th Gianluigi Buffon=20th Jamie Carragher =20th Cristiano Ronaldo 22nd Michael Essien=23rd Luis García =23rd Pavel Nedved

      One said: “Carragher will never forget that.”
      Another wrote: “Carragher is just having a ball with life right now. Love to see it!”
      A third added: “Carra was robbed in broad daylight.”
      A fourth replied: “You’re a troll.”
      And a final user commented: “Joking aside, you were quality. Still remember you clearing the ball while you had cramp.”
      Carragher’s inspirational captain and team-mate Steven Gerrard came third in the vote while Luis Garcia was joint-23rd.
      Three of the beaten AC Milan team from that memorable final were above the centre-back – Andriy Shevchenko (fifth), Paolo Maldini (sixth) and Kaka (ninth).
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      Carragher’s fellow pundit Henry came fourth with Frank Lampard second.
      But top of the pile for his one and only Ballon d’Or was Barcelona and Brazil magician Ronaldinho.
      Carragher made sure the clip was posted onlineCredit: Twitter @CBSSportsGolazo
      Kate Abdo and Thierry Henry were also in the studio – along with the Ballon d’Or trophyCredit: Twitter @CBSSportsGolazo
      Ronaldinho won the Ballon d’Or in 2005Credit: AFP More

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      Ballon d’Or 2023 winner ‘leaked’ as fans slam ’embarrassing’ decision and ‘biggest robbery in history of football’

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      THE WINNER of the 2023 Ballon d’Or award appears to have been leaked and football fans are not happy.The sport has moved to a new age with Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi fading away from the spotlight as they both left Europe for Saudi Arabia and the US respectively.
      🚨✨ Leo Messi, expected to win the Ballon d’Or 2023.Understand all the indications are set to be confirmed but Messi will be the final winner once again.Official decision to be unveiled Monday night in Paris.🇦🇷 It will be Messi’s historical 8th Ballon d’Or. pic.twitter.com/v8FWZQdeaR— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) October 25, 2023

      Lionel Messi has been leaked as the winner of the 2023 Ballon d’Or awardCredit: AFP
      Fans are not happy with a leak claiming Messi will win the Ballon d’OrCredit: Getty
      Stars of the future have already risen with the likes of Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka already setting the world alight.
      However, all of the above seem like they will have to wait another year for their moment in the sun.
      That is because famous and reliable insider Fabrizio Romano claims it will be Messi leaving Paris with the prestigious award for a record eighth time on Monday.
      Romano tweeted: “Leo Messi, expected to win the Ballon d’Or 2023.
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      “Understand all the indications are set to be confirmed but Messi will be the final winner once again.
      “Official decision to be unveiled Monday night in Paris. It will be Messi’s historical 8th Ballon d’Or.”
      The news left the fans infuriated as although Messi led Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar, he still struggled at Paris Saint-Germain and now plays for Inter Miami in the MLS.
      That would overshadow Haaland’s sensational Treble-winning success at Manchester City as well as Jude Bellingham’s stunning Real Madrid form after his record £115million move from Borussia Dortmund.
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      One fan tweeted: “We’re about to witness the biggest robbery in the history [of] football on 30th October, 2023.”
      Another posted: “This is embarrassing. I love Messi, but if he wins the Ballon d’Or for this year I think the award will lose much of its remaining credibility.”
      A third said: “This is coming from a lifelong Man United fan but Haaland is the real winner!”
      This fan commented: “Another robbery.”
      And that on wrote: “Football is finished.” More

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      in Soccer

      Pep Guardiola claims Erling Haaland deserves Ballon d’Or as Man City star battles Lionel Messi… but there’s a twist

      by

      PEP GUARDIOLA claims Erling Haaland deserves to win the Ballon d’Or – but so does Lionel Messi.Haaland has been nominated for the coveted prize after scoring 52 goals in Manchester City’s treble-winning campaign.
      Erling Haaland deserves to win the Ballon d’Or according to Pep GuardiolaCredit: PA
      Lionel Messi is set to battle Haaland for the Ballon d’OrCredit: Rex
      Yet City boss Guardiola has always maintained his former Barcelona talisman, who inspired Argentina to World Cup success in 2022, is the best player he has ever coached.
      Guardiola said: “I always said that the Ballon d’Or had to be of two sections – one for Messi and one for the others.
      “Haaland should win. We won the treble because he scored 52 goals but, of course, Messi – his worst season is the best of most players. Both deserve it.
      “Egotistically, I would say I want Erling because he helped us to achieve what we achieved, I would love it, but I won’t tell you it’s unfair if Leo wins.
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      “It’s nice that many players for Man City will be there for the first time in many years and challenging for these trophies. That makes us so proud for our organisation.”
      Champions City are hoping to get back to winning ways in the Premier League this weekend after losing their two matches prior to the international break to Wolves and Arsenal.
      They face a tough challenge, however, with Brighton the visitors to the Etihad Stadium, and Guardiola has been highly impressed by their performances under manager Roberto De Zerbi.
      Guardiola said: “He’s converting Brighton into a top club. (Alexis) Mac Allister and (Levi) Colwill have gone but they continue to play at a good level.
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      “Last season was really good too. They qualified for Europe and but for some decisions against them in the last games they could fight to be champions.
      “It is one of the toughest tests we have this season and we are going to try and go for it.”
      City midfielder Kalvin Phillips, who has struggled for game time under Guardiola, this week admitted he needs to play more at club level to retain his place in the England squad ahead of Euro 2024.
      That has increased speculation he could leave in January and Guardiola, speaking at a press conference on Friday, did not rule out that possibility.
      He said: “The transfer window is over, now we are here together. When we need a game with transitions or games with something with chaos Kalvin is perfect.
      Guardiola believes both Haaland and Messi would be worthy Ballon d’Or winnersCredit: Getty
      “When there is something you need to do, there are still one or two players who can do it better. That’s the simple reason.
      “He will be here until winter. After, I don’t know what will happen because nobody knows once the window is open.”
      Guardiola admitted it was “so important” Rodri returned this weekend after the influential Spain midfielder was sorely missed during his recent suspension.
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      Rodri incurred a three-match ban after being sent off following a confrontation with Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White last month.
      Guardiola said: “Rodri has to learn. We have to control our emotions and stand up and go. I’m pretty sure he will learn.” More