Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham believes Lionel Messi deserves to win his ninth Ballon d’Or this year after a “special” World Cup.

Harry Kane is the bookies’ favourite to win the award next month after scoring 73 goals in 61 games for Bayern Munich and England last season.

But rather than back his countryman, Beckham has pointed to Messi’s performances for Argentina this summer as the decisive factor.

The 39-year-old scored eight goals during the tournament, while he also led Inter Miami to their first MLS Cup title last year, and their first Campeones Cup on Wednesday.

“I think when you see him do things like this tonight, when you see him have the World Cup that he’s had, it’s not luck that he’s being considered for the Ballon d’Or again,” Beckham, who earned 115 caps for England, said on Apple TV. “It’s not luck because he was probably the best player in the tournament. He had an incredible year last year.

“He came into that tournament in the World Cup, and like you’ve just said, 39 years old, to affect a World Cup and every game the way he did. That’s special. There’s no one at 39 that’s doing that and doing it at that level. So he deserves to be considered for the Ballon d’Or. He, in my opinion, he should win it.

“You’ve got great players there like Harry Kane, like Kylian [Mbappé], like Jude Bellingham and other players there, but you know when you’re talking about Leo, I’m his biggest supporter.”

Messi, who joined Miami in 2023, scored his 100th goal for the club in a 2-0 win over Mexican outfit Cruz Azul on Wednesday.

Argentina were beaten in July’s World Cup final by Spain, with midfielder Rodri named player of the tournament after the game.

Mbappé, Lamine Yamal and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia are also seen as strong contenders for a wide open Ballon d’Or, with the ceremony taking place on Oct. 26 in London.

Liverpool will host Chelsea in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup, while Premier League champions Arsenal have drawn the lowest-ranked side left in the competition, Fleetwood Town.

Xabi Alonso will be set for his first Anfield return as Chelsea boss after his side beat Leeds last week, with the Reds getting past Tottenham on Tuesday.

Alonso, who won the Champions League with Liverpool as a player during a distinguished spell, was touted as a possible replacement for Arne Slot but went to Stamford Bridge instead.

League Two side Fleetwood will host Arsenal after upsetting Championship side Sheffield United at home in the third round.

Elsewhere, Everton host Newcastle, Brentford go to Sunderland, Fulham face Crystal Palace at Craven Cottage, and Bournemouth welcome Aston Villa.

There will be a League One team in the quarter-finals as Bradford host Peterborough.

The fourth round of the Carabao Cup takes place the week commencing October 26.

Carabao Cup fourth round draw in full…
Fleetwood vs Arsenal

Manchester City or Norwich vs Brighton

Everton vs Newcastle

Sunderland vs Brentford

Liverpool vs Chelsea

Bradford vs Peterborough

Fulham vs Crystal Palace

Bournemouth vs Aston Villa

Saudi Pro League side Al-Taawoun have been ordered to play two home league matches behind closed doors after their supporters taunted Al-Hilal midfielder Ruben Neves over the death of his friend and team-mate Diogo Jota.

Al-Taawoun have also been fined 100,000 Saudi Riyals (£20,000).

Liverpool forward Jota died in a car crash at the age of 28 in July last year and was a close friend of midfielder Neves, having played alongside him for Wolverhampton Wanderers and Portugal.

Neves also now wears the number 21 shirt for Portugal in Jota’s memory, and has a tattoo on his calf of him and Jota embracing. He was also a pallbearer at Jota’s funeral.

Supporters targeted Neves before his side’s 6-0 win on Saturday by repeatedly shouting “Jota” at him.

After the match, Neves told reporters: “I just hope they don’t go to pray later after what they did.”

Cristiano Ronaldo, who plays for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia and was an international team-mate of Jota, called for lifetime bans to be issued to the chanting fans.

In a statement, Al-Taawoun said: “Such behaviour is completely unacceptable and does not represent the club, its fans, or the values ​​for which the club is known.

“Sports competition cannot be a justification for insulting, belittling, or bullying others at the expense of anyone’s feelings.”