Champions League

HE is a Champions League, treble-winning superstar who by his own admission recently “cancelled out” one of the most talented players around in Lamine Yamal.Yet Paris Saint-Germain’s Nuno Mendes does not appear to be in the conversation when it comes to Ballon d’Or nominations ahead of September’s crowning. Why?Nuno Mendes pocketed Lamine Yamal during his Man of the Match performance in Portugal’s Nations League win over SpainMendes also guided Paris Saint-Germain to the treble, which included the Champions League titleFans have called for Mendes to be in the Ballon d’Or conversationThe 22-year-old full-back lit up Portugal’s Nations League final triumph over Spain on Sunday night, earning a Man of the Match award.He scored a beautiful equaliser to make it 1-1 in the first half – a low driven effort any striker, including his 40-year-old teammate Cristiano Ronaldo, would have been proud of.He then stepped up to rifle in an impressive spot-kick in the shoot-out, having given 17-year-old winger Yamal – a Ballon d’Or favourite – a night to forget in Munich, a real schooling in the arts of defending and positional domination.It was also his deflected cross – after turning Yamal inside out – that looped up for Ronaldo to level the game at 2-2. READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSMendes said post-match: “It was a clash [with Yamal] like many others I have had during the season.“I have faced up to many great players, very technically skilled players who can make a difference, but today I cancelled out Lamine and [did] not let him do what he does best.”This helped the team and I am happy I helped the team to win this trophy. It’s all about being consistent.“I have played many good games and it’s about the work I do individually and with the coaches at PSG and Portugal.Most read in Football“The Ballon d’Or? I play with Ousmane [Dembele] and he had a wonderful season, Lamine also had a wonderful season. But Ousmane will be in the Club World Cup and Lamine won’t, so I’m very happy for Ousmane.CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS“I wish him the best for the Ballon d’Or and I and his teammates will help him get there.“I play my football; there are players who are closer to that prize. I don’t focus much on it.”New footage shows Cristiano Ronaldo’s wild reaction to Portugal Nations League win as Man Utd star is ‘used as shield’ Mendes said he ‘cancelled out’ Ballon d’Or contender Lamine Yamal on Sunday nightMendes’ PSG team-mate Ousmane Dembele is among the favourites for the Ballon d’OrHe can add modesty to his growing list of attributes, but why should Mendes be counting himself out of the most coveted individual award in football?It is the peak of snobbery in the sport that the grandest of prizes – one that Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have dominated over the years – focuses on attackers and goal-getters.It will likely carry on this year too. Barcelona’s Yamal, PSG’s Dembele and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah are the favourites.As Jamie Carragher once famously said: “No one wants to grow up and be a Gary Neville”, but is that changing?Full-backs are now sexy, admired, idolised and coveted. Surely the day is coming where someone in that position will win the Ballon d’Or for the very first time.Trent Alexander-Arnold has rewritten the full-back rule book in recent years with his passing ability and goal involvements, and has openly admitted to be eyeing the Ballon d’Or now as he prepares to don the shirt of Real Madrid next season.Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly has emerged as another young full-back prodigy after scoring on his England debut back in March, someone who originally came through the Hale End academy as a midfielder.But Mendes appears to be on another planet right now. Against Spain, he had more successful dribbles, touches, tackles, final-third passes and successful duels in the opposition box than any other Portugal player.He tasted Champions League glory against Inter Milan on May 31, having already pocketed a Ligue 1 and cup double, and could yet lift more silverware at the Club World Cup in the States next month.Current top 10 favourites for Ballon d’OrLatest odds from talkSPORT BetOusmane Dembele 1/2Lamine Yamal 7/4Nuno Mendes 10/1 Mohamed Salah 12/1Raphinha 16/1Kylian Mbappe 25/1Khvicha Kvaratskhelia 25/1Desire Doue 50/1Gianluigi Donnarumma 50/1Lautaro Martinez 66/1The Ballon d’Or is often about goals, with Erling Haaland, Vinicius Jr, Robert Lewandowski and Sadio Mane coming close to winning it in recent editions.Yet it is also about big titles, and very few players can rival Mendes in that regard, but because he is a defender, the limelight will likely – and perhaps wrongly – be on others.Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk is the last defender to feature in the Ballon d’Or top three back in 2019, and you have to go back to 2006 for a defender to win it outright – Italy’s Fabio Cannavaro after leading his nation to a World Cup win.Read More on The SunTime is on Mendes’ side to replicate that and Manchester City holding midfielder Rodri’s recent win will encourage him.Play a starring role in Portugal winning the World Cup across the pond next summer and full-backs may finally get their moment in the sun.Yamal endured an ‘off night’ during the Nations League final in Germany More

MICHAEL OWEN has admitted he had no idea what the Ballon d’Or was – even after winning it. The former Liverpool striker won the prestigious gong in 2001, beating Real Madrid icon Raul into second place.Michael Owen has claimed he had no idea what the Ballon d’Or wasCredit: News Group Newspapers LtdThe former Liverpool striker won the annual gong in 2001Credit: GettyOwen played 297 times for the Reds over an eight-year stint, scoring 158 goals. He later moved to Real Madrid and Manchester United, as well as earning 89 caps for England. The 45-year-old’s electric pace and lethal finishing made him one of the world’s most feared strikers.Owen bagged 24 goals in 46 Premier League games in 2001, catching the eye of the Ballon d’Or panel.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLThe award is handed out annually to Europe’s best player. But after beating greats including David Beckham, Luis Figo and Thierry Henry to the award, Owen had absolutely no clue what it was. Owen told talkSPORT: “When Gerard Houllier phoned me and said ‘You’ve won the Ballon d’Or’, I’m like ‘What’s that gaffer’?”I didn’t know what the award was. I never did because I never even knew what it was.Most read in FootballBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK”Back in those days it was never in our press.” Owen was just the fourth English player to win the Ballon d’Or, following Stanley Matthews, Bobby Charlton and Kevin Keegan.People don’t know this’ – Michael Owen breaks silence on ‘well done he’s 13’ meme 27 years on from humiliating teenagerBut it wasn’t until he became a Galactico with Madrid in 2004 that he truly understood its significance. Owen continued: “When I played for Real Madrid, it’s like an MBE, it follows you.”Whenever they mention your name it’s Ballon d’Or winner.”Abroad it is so big and it’s only just cottoned on here for the last five or ten years.”It’s so much bigger in other countries, in foreign countries.”It quickly sunk in how big it was.” More