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Ballon d’Or: Full list of 30 nominees as Messi, Kane, Mbappe and Yamal headline leading contenders
Lionel Messi, Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal are expected to fight it out for the 2026 Ballon d’Or after today being named on the list of 30 nominees for football’s biggest individual prize. Messi returned to the shortlist…
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Experts’ Opinion
PIF need to outline their plans for Newcastle and sharpish, otherwise it could be a winter of discontent on Tyneside.
Spain’s World Cup triumph was a victory for football. The headlines will reflect Argentina’s bad attitude, but with one goal conceded in seven games, and a 38-match unbeaten run still intact, Luis de la Fuente’s side will go down in history alongside their famous 2010 team.
The greatest footballer of modern times has not acted like it off the pitch. Lionel Messi’s vision should have extended to ensuring Argentina congratulated Spain when they lifted the World Cup, and his message afterwards offered scarce generosity to the winners. For all their achievements, La Albiceleste lack grace.
While some of the rules FIFA implemented for the World Cup were a huge success, the sudden willingness to allow more physicality resulted in thuggery staining the final.
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