Sports
Real Madrid May Shun Tonight’s Ballon D’Or Awards AGAIN
Real Madrid representatives are reportedly set to boycott the Ballon d’Or awards for the second year running, plunging the prestigious ceremony into controversy once more.
The rift that began last year has not yet ‘healed’, according to AS, and the Spanish giants have decided to leave their designated seats at the stunning Theatre du Chatelet in Paris on Monday evening.
Los Blancos stunned the footballing world ahead of the 2024 awards when they astonishingly swerved the show at the last minute upon learning that Manchester City’s Rodri would win the sport’s most cherished individual prize instead of their winger Vinicius Jr.
While senior club officials, including president Florentino Perez, are not expected to attend the ceremony, they have given permission to their four nominees to be present in the French capital if they wish.
Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, and Vinicius Jr have all been nominated for the men’s award, while their Scottish star Caroline Weir is up for the women’s main prize.
However, with Xabi Alonso’s side set to face Levante in LaLiga on Tuesday evening, the three male nominees are believed to be missing distinguished extravaganza. Weir, however, is more likely to attend.
Dean Huijsen, Thibaut Courtois, and Linda Caicedo are also up for awards, but seemingly set to follow the boycott.
Madrid are still said to be upset with UEFA after they overlooked Vinicius for the big prize in 2024. At the time they claimed that the organisers, who work with France Football to put on the awards, ‘don’t respect them’.
The club told AFP: ‘If the award criteria doesn’t give it to Vinicius as the winner, then those same criteria should point to Carvajal as the winner.
‘As this was not the case, it is clear that Ballon d’Or-UEFA does not respect Real Madrid. And Real Madrid does not go where it is not respected.’
It led to an awkward moment in which no one turned up to collect the title of best men’s club, which Madrid had won after securing their 15th Champions League title. Meanwhile, former boss Carlo Ancelotti won Coach of the Year and gave his acceptance speech via video.
Seats which had been reserved for Ballon d’Or finalists Vinicius and his teammate Jude Bellingham and others also had to be hastily reallocated and the nameplates removed.
The Brazilian forward ‘Vini’ then defiantly posted on X: ‘I’ll do it 10x if I have to. They’re not ready.’
However, after a far from impressive 2024-25 campaign, he is far from the favourite to take home the crown this time around.
Ousmane Dembele is the leading candidate to win the Ballon d’Or on Monday night, according to bookmakers, and this time around, Madrid players do not seem to have a problem with one of their own missing out.
Mbappe, who is up for the award himself, even admitted he would ‘deliver it’ to Dembele’s house if it were up to him.
Real Madrid boss José Mourinho has weighed in on Cristiano Ronaldo’s dramatic retirement from international football.
The 41-year-old Al Nassr striker shocked the footballing world on Thursday by announcing his permanent withdrawal from the Portugal national team, drawing the curtain on a legendary 23-year international career.
Addressing the media fallout during his Friday press conference ahead of Real Madrid’s upcoming LALIGA fixture against Valencia, Mourinho offered a supportive perspective on the situation.
Mourinho, who previously managed Ronaldo at the Santiago Bernabéu, insisted that the veteran’s controversial exit should not overshadow his monumental contributions to the country.
“His decision must be respected, and I do respect it,” Mourinho daid
However, the Portuguese tactician also expressed visible regret over the sour circumstances surrounding the departure of his nation’s greatest-ever player.
“The only thing I wish for is that the moment of his retirement as a player will be different from his farewell yesterday,” the Real Madrid boss added.
While Ronaldo’s international days are officially over, Mourinho was incredibly quick to remind reporters that the forward remains a devastating force in domestic football.
“He hasn’t ended his career; those who know him are aware that he still has goals,” Mourinho stated emphatically.
Kelechi Iheanacho was on target as Bursaspor played out a 1-1 draw against Antalyaspor in their TFF 1. Lig encounter on Friday night.
The Nigeria international had previously scored in 12 consecutive league matches for Bursaspor before his remarkable scoring run came to an end against Bandırmaspor last weekend
Iheanacho restored his scoring touch by opening the scoring against Antalyaspor in the 26th minute.
However, an own goal from Tural Bayramov brought the visitors level before the half-time break.
The striker has now recorded an impressive 17 goals and four assists in 14 league appearances for Bursaspor this season.
Despite dropping points, Bursaspor remain top of the league standings with 37 points
England manager Thomas Tuchel has left Cole Palmer and Phil Foden out of his latest squad for the final Nations League matches against Croatia and Spain.
However, Jobe Bellingham and Fulham midfielder Josh King have received their first senior call-ups.
Tuchel said Palmer had missed too many opportunities to represent England, despite scoring five goals and providing three assists for Chelsea this season.
Jobe Bellingham joins his elder brother, Jude, in the squad after impressing at Borussia Dortmund.
King also earns his first call-up following a strong start to the season, with two goals and one assist in the Premier League.
Defender Ben White returns to the squad for the first time since March, while Declan Rice is also back after missing the previous camp through injury.
Djed Spence has also returned after recovering from injury.
England will host Croatia at Wembley on November 12 before travelling to Madrid to face Spain three days later.
Tuchel’s side are second in Group A4, three points behind leaders Spain. The top two teams will qualify for the Nations League quarter-finals.
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