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      I beat Tottenham star Richarlison to the Puskas Award but I work in construction and won’t let fame change me

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      MARCIN OLEKSY has insisted his new found fame won’t change him after he won the prestigious Puskas Award. The Warta Pozna star is the first disabled winner of the gong and beat the likes of Richarlison to claim the prize.
      Amputee striker Marcin Oleksy scored an outrageous overhead kick that saw him win a Fifa awardCredit: Getty
      Unlike some of the more high-profile stars he was up against, Oleksy does not play football full-time and has a day job working in construction as a excavator operator.
      But he believes nothing much will change in his life – despite his extraordinary overhead kick gaining global recognition.
      He told Eurosport: “I am still the same Marcin. I don’t think anything has changed.
      “There are more phone calls and there is media interest but I haven’t changed. I watch the goal online with fans but it won’t change who I am.
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      “I love scoring goals like this. You can see that when I train, it’s very much part of my game.”
      Oleksy suffered his life-changing accident in 2010 but has continued a career in football at Polish club Warta Poznan.
      His extraordinary goal means he follows the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Zlatan Ibrahimovic in winning the Puskas Award, given to the scorer of the most impressive strike of the year.
      Oleksy was up against Stal Rzeszow when a brilliant cross was played in his direction.
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      Using his crutches for balance, the Polish ace incredibly lifted his body off the ground before firing in a gorgeous overhead effort.
      He is the latest winner of the prestigious award after ex-Tottenham star Erik Lamela won it last year for his brilliant Rabona effort in the North London derby.
      Oleksy’s genius moment played on the big screen as he collected his award More

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      ‘It’s baffling and tone deaf’ – Fifa slammed for appointing supermodel Adriana Lima as global fan ambassador

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      FIFA have been slammed for appointing Adriana Lima as a global fan ambassador.The supermodel was given the role in order to “develop, promote and participate in global initiatives” ahead of the Women’s World Cup later this year.
      Adriana Lima has been appointed as a global fan ambassador for FifaCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Adriana is a world-famous supermodelCredit: Splash
      The decision has been criticised as ‘baffling’Credit: Splash
      Ex-Fifa council member Moya Dodd has slammed the decisionCredit: Reuters
      However, the decision has been labelled as “tone deaf” by former Fifa council member and Australia international Moya Dodd.
      Dodd believes that it is sending an inappropriate message to players and fans.
      She said via The Athletic: “When a girl plays football, the world sees her differently.
      “Instead of being complimented on her nice looks or her pretty dress, she is valued for her game-saving tackles and brilliant goal-scoring.
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      “She’s admired for what she can do, rather than how she looks, putting her on a more equal footing with her brothers in a way that can alter the whole trajectory of her life’s ambitions.
      “In a Fifa World Cup year, that’s the message that should be ringing loud and true around the world.
      “Where a supermodel fits into this is truly baffling.”
      Dodd was on the committee for the successful World Cup bid to be held in Australia and New Zealand.
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      She also referred to comments made by Lima in an interview with GQ in 2006 in which she said abortion was a “crime”.
      However, Lima’s publicist, Laurent Boye, has insisted that she has changed her views.
      She said in a statement: “We can proudly say that Ms Lima has been promoting a healthy lifestyle for several years and like many people, her position on many LGBTQIA+ and women issues has evolved and she is considered an ally.”
      The Women’s World Cup starts on July 20 as New Zealand face Norway in the tournament’s opening match. More

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      Karim Benzema slammed for latest social media post after Lionel Messi beats Real Madrid star to Fifa’s Best Award

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      KARIM BENZEMA has been criticised for social media posts made after he was snubbed at the Fifa Best Awards.Lionel Messi scooped the player of the year gong at Monday’s ceremony in Paris.
      Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema failed to scoop the men’s player honour at the Fifa Best AwardsCredit: AP
      Messi claimed the award for a second timeCredit: Getty
      The Argentine, 35, claimed the honour following his World Cup triumph in Qatar.
      He beat fellow nominees Benzema and Kylian Mbappe to the award – and matched Cristiano Ronaldo’s record of two wins.
      And Real Madrid’s talisman does not appear to have taken the decision well.
      Benzema, 35, posted a screenshot from a fan account which listed all his achievements from August 2021 to December 2022 – the time period in consideration for the awards.
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      Benzema shared this post of his achievements between August 2021 and December 2022
      Benzema also posted this picture with the caption ‘Good night’
      The forward, who missed the World Cup through injury, then shared a picture of himself smiling and the caption: “Good night” and a smiling emoji.
      Benzema’s social media posts have not been received positively by fans.
      One fan said: “World Cup year and he wasn’t even part of the squad, shouldn’t complain.”
      Another added: “No way this one-season wonder is still crying 😭😭”.
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      A third replied: “Why’s this guy so salty ffs”.
      And a fourth responded: “What a cry baby”.
      Benzema’s comments come despite Messi including him in his own top three.
      By contrast, the Real striker’s team-mate David Alaba voted for Messi – although he later clarified his vote was collaboratively decided by the Austrian national team.
      Benzema won the Ballon d’Or last year after bagging 44 goals in 46 games to help Los Blancos win LaLiga and the Champions League.
      But Messi inspired his country to their first World Cup in 32 years with a host of remarkable performances.
      He also contributed 15 goals and 14 assists for Paris Saint-Germain in the first part of the season prior to the World Cup break. More

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      Watch Lionel Messi ‘send magician into retirement’ as he brutally shuts him down mid-trick at Fifa Best Awards

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      AS if Lionel Messi’s magic wasn’t enough on the pitch, it seems he is more than capable of some off it.While in attendance at the award ceremony for Fifa’s The Best, Messi was confronted by magician Julius Dein.
      Lionel Messi was named Fifa’s The Best Men’s PlayerCredit: Reuters
      Magician Julius Dein attempted a magic trick on MessiCredit: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CpNykZ5uwk0/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D
      But Messi saw through the trickCredit: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CpNykZ5uwk0/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D
      He attended alongside wife Antonella RoccuzzoCredit: The Mega Agency
      The Londoner took Messi’s phone and attempted to play a trick with the flashlight on the phone.
      Dein seemingly took the light off of it directly before putting it in his mouth, chewing it and then blowing it back onto the phone.
      However, Messi was not to be fooled and simply responded: “I know this one,” before producing a gleaming smile.
      The shutdown left Dein joking: “Well that didn’t go according to plan 🤦‍♂️,” before admitting: “I’m retiring.”
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      But fans were left perplexed as to why he would challenge a fellow “magician”.
      One fan said: “U were challenging a magician.”
      A second remarked: “Trying to show magic to a magician.”
      A third wrote: “Mate you can’t fool a magician 😂.”
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      While a fourth asked: “Are you trying to teach magic to the greatest magician ever?”
      The 35-year-old Argentine, who attended the Paris ceremony with wife Antonella Roccuzzo, won his second Fifa Best Men’s Player title following his World Cup heroics in Qatar.
      The gong puts him level with Cristiano Ronaldo’s record of two wins.
      Messi was also named in the FIFPRO World XI alongside Paris Saint-Germain team-mate Kylian Mbappe.
      In the women’s award, Beth Mead was pipped by Alexia Putellas but was named in the women’s World XI alongside Lionesses team-mates, Lucy Bronze, Leah Williamson and Keira Walsh.
      England boss Sarina Wiegman and Manchester United’s Mary Earps won best women’s coach and goalkeeper respectively following their Euro 2022 glory last summer. More

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      Chelsea star Thiago Silva labels Fifa Best voting ‘a joke’ as he fumes at bit-part Man City ace beating Lewandowski

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      THIAGO SILVA has blasted Fifa’s best-player voting as a “joke” after Julian Alvarez came seventh – ahead of Kevin De Bruyne and Robert Lewandowski.Summer arrival Alvarez has struggled for a regular spot at Manchester City but bagged four goals in helping Argentina win the World Cup.
      Julian Alvarez had a breakthrough World Cup but being voted the world’s seventh best player surprised many. including Thiago SilvaCredit: Getty
      Thiago Silva has suggested the voting was more than a bit mixed upCredit: AFP
      Lionel Messi topped the poll of FIFPro players, selectors, journalists and fans with 52 votes.
      And the next four on the list were also no great surprise.
      French hitmen Kylian Mbappe and Karim Benzema notched 44 and 34 votes respectively.
      Then came Croatia’s evergreen midfielder Luka Modric and Etihad goal machine Erling Haaland.
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      But controversy hit once the list got down to players with fewer than 20 votes.
      Sadio Mane was sixth, ahead of Alvarez and Moroccan stylist Achraf Hakimi.
      The next four places were taken by Neymar, De Bruyne, Vinicius Junior and Lewandowski.
      And Chelsea’s Brazil defender Silva, 38, broke ranks when he saw that ranking.
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      Responding to protests over Alvarez’s bit-part role, Silva wrote: “It’s a joke”.
      But the City man’s Argentina team-mate Messi has defended him, saying: “During the whole World Cup, he was extraordinary.
      “He ran everything. He fought for everything – creating chances, fighting. For us, he was the surprising discovery, and he deserves everything that has happened to him because he is a lovely guy.”
      But to make the Fifa ratings even more embarrassing, Fifa initially listed alvarez under “Spain”.
      In fact, no Spanish players made the top 14, while England’s only representative was Jude Bellingham. More

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      Watch TV reporter’s SAVAGE response after being blanked by Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk at awards ceremony

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      A TV reporter came up with a savage response after being blanked at the Fifa awards ceremony by Virgil van Dijk.The Liverpool defender won another accolade as he was voted in the FIFA FIFPRO Men’s World XI for his performances in 2022.
      Virgil van Dijk was not in the mood for questions with the star avoiding one reporterCredit: Getty
      But the journalist from TyC Sports had a sassy reply waiting after being blankedCredit: TyC Sports via Twitter / @TyCSports

      He was one of a number of stars to win gongs at Fifa’s showpiece event with Lionel Messi awarded the Best FIFA Men’s Player award.
      But as van Dijk was attempting to cross the media pen, one reporter from TyC Sports, an Argentine TV station, tried to ask him question.
      He said: “One minute, just two questions, please.”
      The 31-year-old walked right past and ignored the journalist.
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      The reporter then quipped: “Well, Virgil van Dijk told me no… it doesn’t matter. Argentina won the quarter-finals…”
      Some fans loved the sassy exchange but others believed the comment was over of line.
      One person wrote: “This shows that [van Dijk] did very well not to give him statements. Shame [from a] ‘journalist’.”
      It was an incredible 2022 from van Dijk with the defender at the centre of a Liverpool team chasing the quadruple.
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      The Reds did win the Carabao Cup and FA Cup last season but lost in the Champions League final and fell just short in the Premier League.
      Van Dijk managed to bring that leadership to the international team where Holland scrapped their way into the quarter-finals.
      Despite being 2-0 down to Argentina with eight minutes to go, the Netherlands managed to take a fiercely-contested game all the way to penalties before losing 4-3 on spotkicks. More

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      Fans are just realising Pepe’s real name as Portugal legend, 40, takes Cristiano Ronaldo’s vote in Fifa Best awards

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      FANS are just discovering Pepe’s real name after the 40-year-old voted in the Fifa Awards.Despite being the captain of Portugal in last year’s World Cup, Ronaldo did not cast his votes for Fifa’s best male player like the other international captains.
      Ronaldo and Pepe are the two most experienced heads in the Portugal national teamCredit: Getty
      That duty instead fell for Pepe, who opted to vote for Kylian Mbappe, Luka Modric and Karim Benzema in first, second and third respectively.
      But fans were less interested in who he voted for and more so in the name that was down on the official Fifa documents.
      Instead of referring to him as Pepe, as he is commonly known in football circles, Fifa instead called him by his real name.
      He was listed down as Kepler Ferreira, with Pepe just a nickname for the defender.
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      It came as a surprise for some football fans who had long known him only by his nickname.
      On Twitter, one person wrote “Pepe??” when they saw Ferreira’s name on the document.
      When another tweeter explained it to them, they said: “wtf I feel ashamed.”
      Pepe has had and continues to have a long and distinguished career playing football at the top level.
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      He began his senior career at Portuguese side Maritimo between 2001 and 2004.
      The centre-back then left for Porto for three years when he began to establish himself as a top level defender.
      From 2007 he then spent a decade at Real Madrid and made well over 200 appearances.
      In recent years he has spent time at Besiktas and then returned to Porto in 2019.
      Along with a number of league titles and three Champions League trophies at club level, Pepe also won the Euros with Portugal in 2016 and the Nations League in 2019. More

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      Why didn’t Cristiano Ronaldo vote in the FIFA Men’s Best Award?

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      CRISTIANO RONALDO had been named in the FIFA World XI for the last 14 consecutive years – but that sensational run has come to an end.World Cup winner Lionel Messi collected the FIFA The Best Men’s Player award for 2022, while Ronaldo didn’t even make the World XI squad.
      Lionel Messi won the FIFA Men’s Best Player AwardCredit: Rex
      But not only did Ronaldo not win the award or make the FIFA Fifpro squad.
      Eagle-eyed fans are confused as to why the Portuguese icon didn’t cast his vote – despite all international captains being obliged to do so.
      However, SunSport has solved the mystery below…
      Why did Cristiano Ronaldo not vote?
      The 38-year-old skippered Portugal at the World Cup in Qatar, and there has been no announcement since to suggest that he has been stripped of the armband.

      Fernando Santos was axed as Portugal boss shortly after their elimination, with Roberto Martinez being appointed in his place.
      Rather than Ronaldo, centre-back Pepe voted as Portugal’s captain.
      Upon his appointment, Martinez suggested that Ronaldo would be part of his plans moving forward – despite his predecessor Santos having dropped the Al-Nassr forward during the World Cup.
      Cristiano Ronaldo didn’t vote despite being captain of Portugal at the World CupCredit: Reuters
      Who made the FIFA Fifpro World XI squad?
      World Cup winner Lionel Messi was named in the squad after having such an incredible year.
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      And Karim Benzema’s Ballon d’Or tied in with his Champions League win triumph saw him selected.
      Courtois; Hakimi, Van Dijk, Cancelo; De Bruyne, Casemiro, Modrić; Leo Messi, Benzema, Haaland, Mbappé  More