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Every Awards story we publish, newest first.
Lamine Yamal has once again made his Ballon d'Or ambitions clear, saying he sees himself with more chances than last year. The Barcelona winger believes the World Cup with Spain could be decisive and has no intention of changing the way he speaks despite the criticism. He also named Pau Cubarsí as his pick for the young player award.
Matt
·5 min read
Ousmane Dembele and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia head into the 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony as both rivals and allies. The Paris Saint-Germain stars are backing each other to win the award after a historic season together in Paris. The teammates even joked about cutting the trophy in half before the ceremony in London on 26 October.
Natilla·6 min read
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia says being on the 30-player Ballon d'Or shortlist already feels like something special. The Paris Saint-Germain winger, named best player in the last Champions League, now prepares for a Nations League meeting with Northern Ireland while embracing comparisons with George Best. Georgia coach Willy Sagnol praises his team-first mentality.
Matt·5 min read
Sandro Mazzola, one of Italy's greatest forwards and an eternal symbol of Inter Milan, has died at the age of 83. He won two European Cups, four Serie A titles and the 1968 European Championship with Italy. His career was shaped by the shadow of his father Valentino, the Grande Torino captain killed in the Superga air disaster.
varela·7 min read
'Baila, Vini' will compete for the International Emmy for best sports documentary at the ceremony taking place on November 23 in New York. The Netflix Brazil production offers a first-person account of the racism episodes suffered by the Real Madrid forward throughout his career.
InfoBlaugrana·5 min read
Jude Bellingham now has the Bronze Boot that recognizes him as the third top scorer of the last World Cup. FIFA delivered the award two months after the tournament, and the Real Madrid midfielder reacted with unexpected honesty: he had no idea the prize existed. His seven goals also made him the highest-scoring midfielder in a single World Cup edition.
varela·5 min read
Joao Félix has waded into the Ballon d'Or debate with a clear choice: the trophy belongs to Lamine Yamal. The Portuguese forward, now at Al Nassr, credits Kylian Mbappé and Harry Kane for strong seasons but insists the Barcelona star is pure entertainment. He also addressed his own absence from the shortlist and the perception of the Saudi league.
Javi·5 min read
Fabián Ruiz Peña has reflected on a historic season with PSG and Spain during a radio interview, pointing out that no other player lifted as many trophies as he did. The Andalusian midfielder admitted that a serious injury has taken him out of the Ballon d'Or race, but he has no interest in self-promotion and would rather let others make his case.
varela·5 min read
Cristiano Ronaldo made his position clear on his Portugal future in a defiant media appearance at the Portuguese FA headquarters. The 41-year-old discussed the start of the Jorge Jesus era, the Nations League clash with Wales and his pursuit of 1,000 career goals. He admitted he considered leaving the national team after the World Cup, but now feels ready to keep contributing.
varela·6 min read
The race for the 2026 Ballon d'Or enters its final stretch with Harry Kane leading the way after a 73-goal season for club and country. The Bayern Munich striker tops a campaign without a runaway candidate, with Vitinha, Michael Olise and Lamine Yamal all within striking distance. The winner will be announced on October 26.
Matt·9 min read