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Modric v Ronaldo Rematch As Ballon d’Or Nominees Unveiled

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Modric v Ronaldo rematch as Ballon d'Or nominees unveiled

FIFA best player of the year Luka Modric remains on track for a second major award after he was named Monday among 30 nominees for the Ballon d’Or alongside the likes of ex-Real Madrid teammate Cristiano Ronaldo, Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah.

Modric, a World Cup runner-up with Croatia, beat Juventus’ Ronaldo and Salah to win the FIFA prize last month after Messi was surprisingly left off the final three-man list.

Ronaldo, currently facing allegations of rape dating back to 2009 that he strenuously denies, has already won the Ballon d’Or five times and is the current holder of the award. Messi has also won the award on five occasions.

FIFA split from the Ballon d’Or in 2016 to launch its own set of awards. The winner of the prestigious Ballon d’Or organised by France Football magazine will be announced on December 3.

Real Madrid and Wales forward Gareth Bale and Manchester City’s Belgium midfielder Kevin De Bruyne also featured among a list of familiar names.

Bale, who scored two goals in Real’s triumph in the final of the Champions League against Liverpool including a spectacular overhead kick, is joined by club teammates Karim Benzema, Raphael Varane, Isco, Marcelo and Sergio Ramos.

De Bruyne was nominated for helping City win the Premier League and Belgium reach the World Cup semi-finals.

Antoine Griezmann, a World Cup winner with France and Europa League champion at Atletico Madrid, is nominated alongside international teammates, Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante, Manchester United’s Paul Pogba and PSG’s Kylian Mbappe.

Eden Hazard gives Chelsea another player in the running after starring alongside De Bruyne at the World Cup, with England’s Golden Boot winner Harry Kane also included.

Manchester City forward Sergio Aguero and PSG’s Neymar are nominated as are two other prolific South American strikers: Uruguayans Edinson Cavani of PSG and Luis Suarez of Barcelona.

Liverpool’s Brazilian forward Roberto Firmino and Uruguay’s rugged defender Diego Godin of Atletico Madrid also got the nod.

Four goalkeepers are also among the 30 — Thibaut Courtois of Belgium and Real Madrid, Liverpool and Brazil stopper Alisson Becker, Tottenham’s France World Cup winner Hugo Lloris and Atletico’s Jan Oblak.

Also making the cut are Juve’s Mario Mandzukic and Liverpool’s Sadio Mane, while Barcelona are also represented by Croat defender Ivan Rakitic.

– Lyon dominate women’s list –

For the first time, a Ballon d’Or for women players will be awarded this year, with Champions League winners Lyon accounting for seven of the 15 nominees.

France internationals Amandine Henry, Amel Majri and Wendie Renard are joined on the list by Germany’s Dzsenifer Marozsan, England’s Lucy Bronze, Ada Hegerberg of Norway and Japan defender Saki Kumagai.

Brazil’s Marta, crowned best women’s player for a record sixth time at last month’s FIFA awards, is also in contention after her role in winning the Copa America.

Other nominees are Pernille Harder, Lindsey Horan, Fran Kirby, Sam Kerr, Lieke Martens, Megan Rapinoe and Christine Sinclair.

In another first, the best under-21 player will receive the Kopa Trophy. Kylian Mbappe, the Paris Saint-Germain striker who burst onto the global scene with his performances as France won the World Cup, is the favourite.

The Ballon d’Or, which was first won by Englishman Stanley Matthews in 1956, is decided by a ballot of journalists from around the world.

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Zidane Will Join Man United, Says Baptista

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Former Brazil international, Julio Baptista has backed former Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane to eventually take over at Manchester United.

Man United are currently managed by Erik ten Hag, who is facing an uncertain future after a tough season.

After finishing third last season, winning the Carabao Cup and reaching the FA Cup final, Ten Hag’s side have had 16 defeats across competitions this campaign.


However, Zidane has been touted as one of the options for the Red Devils’ hot seat at Old Trafford.

“Zidane was the best player I have ever played with,” Baptista told Ladbrokes (via Metro).

“Playing with him and sharing a dressing room with him was very special. He is one the best in the world.


“I think he will be a Premier League manager someday. He is an incredible coach, with amazing experience having won the Champions League, so I can see that happening. I can see him going to Manchester United.

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Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich At War Over New Contract

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Nedal Huoseh, agent of the Bayern Munich full-back Alphonso Davies, has lamented the treatment he is currently receiving from the club.

The Canada international is widely regarded as one of the best full-backs in the world, and one of the best North American players of all time.

Huoseh criticised Bayern Munich in comments made to BILD and relayed by football expert Fabrizio Romano.

Davies has a verbal agreement to join Real Madrid either this summer or next according to The Athletic.

In recent weeks, however, the Bavarians have put pressure on Davies’ camp to renew a deal that expires on June 30, 2025.

Over at MARCA, they say that the Bundesliga giants have told Davies to commit his future to them immediately or be sold in the next transfer window.

Davies’ agent Huoseh, told BILD: “It’s unfair to receive an ultimatum from Bayern. We will decide how to proceed at the end of the season when there is more clarity.

“It’s unfair that Alphonso is now being attacked.

“We were close to an agreement a year ago. Then the entire club management was replaced. We didn’t hear anything for seven months. Although, I tried during this time to contact the club myself.


“Now we are being given an ultimatum and are supposed to react within two weeks because the club is under pressure and took a long time to reposition itself in the management. That’s not fair.

“It’s a very important contract in Alphonso’s career and we’re supposed to make the decision without knowing who the coach will be next season or what the team looks like. That’s why we think it’s unfair to react to the ultimatum.”

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Guardiola To Face Arsenal Without Key Players

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Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, could be without seven key players for their clash against Arsenal.

Matheus Nunes, Manuel Akanji, John Stones and Kyle Walker picked up injuries during their time away with their international team.

The trio join Ederson, Kevin de Bruyne and Jack Grealish on the injury list.


Daily Mail reports Walker is a major doubt for the upcoming clash against Arsenal.

Walker will undergo scans alongside Stones.

The club are also monitoring the situations of Ederson, De Bruyne and Grealish and will make a late call for the trio.

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