Football
REVEALED: Why wasn’t Cristiano Ronaldo nominated for the Best FIFA Football Awards
The finalists for the Best FIFA Men’s Player award are Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, and Erling Haaland, despite Cristiano Ronaldo’s impressive goalscoring performances with Al Nassr.
As the Best FIFA Football Awards draw near, Lionel Messi from Inter Miami, Manchester City’s Erling Haaland, and Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappé have emerged as the top contenders for the prestigious award.
Interestingly, Cristiano Ronaldo, who finished 2023 as the leading goalscorer globally, has been excluded from the final shortlist for the third consecutive year.
How many times has Ronaldo won Best FIFA Men’s Player?
Despite winning the first two Best FIFA Men’s Player awards in 2016 and 2017, Cristiano Ronaldo has been omitted from the final shortlist for the third consecutive year. Notably, he wasn’t even among the initial nominees for the second year in a row.
At 38, Ronaldo joins Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski and Messi as one of three players to have won the award twice.
Messi now has the opportunity to surpass them and become the most decorated men’s player in the history of the Best FIFA Football Awards.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s incredible 2023
Ronaldo has been snubbed despite performing superbly in 2023 for Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr, with his move away from elite-level soccer presumably the reason for his omission rather than his on-field achievements. The former Real Madrid attacker outscored everyone else in world soccer with 54 goals, two more than Mbappé and four better than Haaland, who won the Premier League-Champions League-FA Cup treble with City.
The Portugal captain picked up silverware of his own, however, leading Al Nassr to their first ever Arab Club Champions Cup victory by scoring two decisive goals in the final against Saudi Arabian rivals Al Hilal, who signed Neymar days after the match.
On a personal level, that was Ronaldo’s first trophy since 19 May 2021, when he won the Coppa Italia towards the end of his time with Juventus and before moving back to Manchester United.
FIFA doesn’t recognise Arab Club Champions Cup as major competition
Despite his outstanding performances for Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League in 2023, Cristiano Ronaldo has been overlooked for the Best FIFA Men’s Player award, likely due to his move away from top-tier European soccer rather than his on-field achievements.
Ronaldo finished the season as the top goalscorer in world soccer with 54 goals, surpassing both Mbappé (52 goals) and Haaland (50 goals), who won the treble with Manchester City.
Ronaldo’s stint with Al Nassr also saw him lead the team to their first-ever Arab Club Champions Cup victory, where he played a pivotal role by scoring two crucial goals in the final against Al Hilal. This triumph marked Ronaldo’s first trophy since winning the Coppa Italia with Juventus in May 2021 before his return to Manchester United.
It’s worth noting that FIFA does not officially recognize the Arab Club Champions Cup as a major competition. However, Ronaldo remains a contender for a spot in the FIFPro Men’s World 11 for 2023 and was honored by FIFA in 2022 for becoming the all-time top goalscorer in men’s international soccer.
For the Best FIFA Men’s Player Award, performances between December 19, 2022 (the day after the 2022 World Cup final), and August 20, 2023, were considered. AS USA will provide live-text commentary of the ceremony to keep fans updated on all the action.
Football
Lookman Returns To Training Following Departure From Super Eagles Camp
Ademola Lookman has resumed light training with Atalanta, just days after leaving the Super Eagles camp due to an injury concern.
The winger featured for Nigeria in their opening 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Benin at Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny.
Despite his efforts, he did not find the back of the net as the match ended in a 1-1 draw.
Lookman left the camp before Nigeria’s subsequent 2-1 defeat to Rwanda on Sunday, missing the encounter entirely.
Now, the 27-year-old appears to be on the road to recovery.
Reports from Calcio News24 confirm that Lookman returned to light training on Wednesday, a positive step toward regaining full fitness.
BUNDESLIGA
Leroy Sane Breaks Silence On Arsenal Transfer Rumors
Leroy Sane has revealed ongoing talks with Bayern Munich about extending his contract at the Allianz Arena, signaling his reluctance to consider a return to the Premier League.
The German winger, who joined Bayern from Manchester City in 2020, is now in the final year of his current deal.
This situation has sparked interest from Premier League clubs, including Arsenal, Manchester United, and Liverpool, especially after Sane’s hesitation to commit to an extension last year.
From January, clubs outside Germany can legally initiate discussions with Sane regarding a potential transfer. However, the 28-year-old has delivered a significant setback to his suitors, expressing his preference to remain at Bayern if terms can be agreed.
Since arriving in Munich, Sane has made a strong impact, contributing 51 goals and 50 assists across 186 appearances.
Despite featuring mostly from the bench this season under Vincent Kompany, Sane has reiterated his commitment to Bayern. In an interview with BILD, he stated: “We are in talks. I feel comfortable in Munich. I feel really comfortable. Talks are very good. My focus is currently only on Bayern.”
Addressing the possibility of a Premier League return, Sane was clear about his priorities. “I follow Premier League football, but the attraction for me lies in the club where I can show my best performance, develop, and win titles. I have that at Bayern,” he said.
Although Sane has seen limited starts this season, Kompany—his former Manchester City teammate—has acknowledged the winger’s influence. Speaking after Bayern’s recent win against Benfica, Kompany praised Sane’s contribution: “Leroy changed the game, you could say that. Leroy did very well after he was subbed on.
“I’m very happy to have the quality of Leroy Sane and Michael Olise in the same position, not to forget Kingsley Coman and Serge Gnabry. They have all scored goals and contributed well so far this season.”
Manchester United and Arsenal, who were reportedly preparing to battle for Sane’s signature, may now be forced to reconsider their plans.
Both clubs were eager to secure the services of a player with proven Premier League credentials, including two league titles and a PFA Young Player of the Year award from his time at Manchester City.
EPL
Real Madrid Star Endrick Could Make Shock EPL Move After Transfer Talk
Southampton, currently rooted at the bottom of the Premier League table, are eyeing an ambitious January transfer window with a potential move for Real Madrid’s young talent, Endrick. However, the Saints may face stiff competition for his signature.
The 18-year-old Brazilian joined Real Madrid in the summer from Palmeiras in a £60m deal but has struggled for regular playing time. This season, Endrick has made ten appearances across all competitions, scoring twice. Despite these contributions, he has yet to start a game, with his league minutes limited to brief late appearances.
Reports suggest that Real Madrid might consider loaning him out to gain more experience, and Southampton are reportedly interested. According to Sport, the Saints have initiated discussions with Real Madrid about a possible deal.
However, they are not alone in their pursuit. Serie A club Roma and La Liga side Real Valladolid are also said to have expressed interest in the talented forward.
The decision on Endrick’s future is expected to take shape as the January transfer window approaches. Meanwhile, speculation surrounds another Real Madrid youngster, Arda Güler. The Turkish starlet has attracted interest from clubs like Arsenal, who have reportedly opened talks with Real Madrid about a potential move.
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti recently addressed the situation regarding both players. He emphasized their quality and readiness to contribute but maintained that the team’s immediate focus is on improving collective results.
He acknowledged that Endrick and Güler could play key roles, saying, “They are ready to play and showing a lot of quality in training. They can help us in the next games, but the priority is to turn things around as a team.”
For Southampton, the stakes are high. With just one win in their first 11 games of the season and only seven goals scored, the Saints find themselves four points adrift of safety.
Manager Russell Martin will be desperate for reinforcements in January to boost their survival hopes and avoid an immediate return to the Championship.
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