Ballon d’Or

Ronaldo Still Trophyless At Al-Nassr After 13 Tournament Runs

Ronaldo Still Trophyless At Al-Nassr After 13 Tournament Runs

October 29, 2025 9:00 am

Since joining Al‑Nassr FC in January 2023, Cristiano Ronaldo has yet to lift a recognised major trophy with the Saudi Pro League side — despite participating in at least 13 official competitions. 

Ronaldo’s arrival in Riyadh brought global fanfare and huge expectations. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner instantly became the club’s marquee figure, along with a new era for the Saudi league. But the silverware has continued to elude both him and the club.

In the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons, Al-Nassr finished as runners-up in the Saudi Pro League, while in 2024-25 they slipped to third. In each of those …

Fabio Cannavaro Reaches Verbal Deal To Lead Uzbekistan

Fabio Cannavaro Reaches Verbal Deal To Lead Uzbekistan

October 3, 2025 10:09 am

Fabio Cannavaro, the 2006 World Cup-winner and Ballon d’Or holder, has reportedly come to a verbal agreement to become the new head coach of the Uzbekistan national football team, according to sources. The deal, aimed at leading Uzbekistan into their first World Cup finals in 2026, is expected to be finalized with formal documents in the next 24 to 48 hours. 

The Uzbekistan Football Association (UFA) has already made a formal offer, and both parties have agreed on the key terms of contract, giving strong credence to the reports. While the current national team boss, Timur Kapadze, led the squad …

Rooney: ‘Ballon d’Or Rankings A Joke, Raphinha Deserved’

Rooney: ‘Ballon d’Or Rankings A Joke, Raphinha Deserved’

September 25, 2025 9:05 am

Wayne Rooney has delivered a stinging verdict on the latest Ballon d’Or results, branding the rankings a “joke” and insisting that Raphinha should have been crowned the winner. The former Manchester United and England captain was left baffled by the voting, particularly with Vitinha finishing third and Raphinha only fifth.

Speaking candidly, Rooney said: “It’s a joke, really. How come Raphinha finished fifth and Vitinha third? He led his team in key moments, played with passion and heart, and gave us some magical nights. If that doesn’t deserve the Ballon d’Or, what does? For me, he should have been number …

Nine Legends Share Rare WC-UCL-Ballon d’Or Hat-Trick

Nine Legends Share Rare WC-UCL-Ballon d’Or Hat-Trick

September 23, 2025 9:35 am

There are now nine players in the history of football who have achieved one of the sport’s rarest and most prestigious combinations: winning the FIFA World Cup, the UEFA Champions League (or European Cup), and the Ballon d’Or. With Ousmane Dembélé’s victory in the 2025 Ballon d’Or, following his Champions League triumph with Paris Saint-Germain and his 2018 World Cup medal with France, he becomes part of a very exclusive club.

The list begins with England’s Sir Bobby Charlton, who lifted the World Cup in 1966, went on to win the European Cup with Manchester United in 1968, and also …

Neymar Slams Raphinha’s Ballon D’Or Placement As “Big Joke”

Neymar Slams Raphinha’s Ballon D’Or Placement As “Big Joke”

September 23, 2025 8:26 am

Brazilian superstar Neymar has openly criticized Raphinha’s fifth-place finish in the 2025 Ballon d’Or rankings, calling it “a big joke” in a post on his Instagram account. The comment comes as reactions flood in from fans, pundits, and players alike, many of whom believe the Barcelona forward had a season worthy of a higher standing. 

Official results show that Raphinha finished 5th in the 2025 Ballon d’Or, behind Ousmane Dembélé, Lamine Yamal, Vitinha, and Mohamed Salah. Neymar’s outburst reflects a sense of injustice shared by a portion of the football community, who believe Raphinha’s performances—across goals, assists, and decisive contributions—were …

Real Madrid Boycotted Ballon D’Or Ceremony, Club Says

Real Madrid Boycotted Ballon D’Or Ceremony, Club Says

September 22, 2025 9:24 am

For the second consecutive year, Real Madrid has elected not to attend the Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris—a decision rooted in what the club describes as a profound sense of disrespect following the outcome of the 2024 award. The club’s boycott, confirmed ahead of the ceremony, centers on the belief that Vinícius Júnior was unfairly overlooked despite being widely considered a frontrunner and having played a key role in Real Madrid’s successful La Liga and Champions League campaign. 

Real Madrid publicly questioned the criteria used by France Football and UEFA, particularly given Vinícius’s performances across all competitions, and argued that …

Lamine Yamal Plans Private Paris Party For Ballon d’Or

Lamine Yamal Plans Private Paris Party For Ballon d’Or

September 22, 2025 8:16 am

Lamine Yamal, Barcelona’s teenage sensation, is preparing for what could be the most memorable night of his young career. According to Mundo Deportivo, the 17-year-old winger has made plans to host a private party in Paris on Ballon d’Or night if he is crowned the world’s best player.

The rising star has reportedly arranged for 20 family members and close friends to travel with him to the French capital, ensuring that his inner circle is by his side for the occasion. For Yamal, this is more than a football award; it is a chance to celebrate with the people who …

Ballon d’Or Winner To Stay Secret Until Ceremony Night

Ballon d’Or Winner To Stay Secret Until Ceremony Night

September 22, 2025 7:42 am

The Ballon d’Or, football’s most prestigious individual honor, will once again carry an air of suspense right up until the envelope is opened. Organizers have confirmed that the winner of the 2025 edition will not be notified in advance, continuing a rule introduced last year to heighten anticipation and protect the secrecy of the award.

For decades, speculation around the Ballon d’Or often came with leaks or early confirmations that dulled the sense of occasion. Traditionally, journalists, insiders, and even players themselves would hear whispers of the outcome well before the official ceremony. That practice has now been firmly stamped …

Yamal Aims Higher — “I Dream of Winning Many Ballon d’Ors”

Yamal Aims Higher — “I Dream of Winning Many Ballon d’Ors”

September 10, 2025 9:20 am

At just eighteen, Lamine Yamal is already talking like a legend in the making. In a recent appearance on the podcast Resonancia de Corazón, the Barcelona prodigy dropped a line that captured the sport’s imagination: “I don’t dream of winning one Ballon d’Or—I dream of winning many of them.” His words were not boastful so much as quietly assured, an honest appraisal of understanding his own ability and the weight of his ambition.

Yamal followed it with a clear-eyed admission of personal responsibility: “I believe I am a player capable of achieving that, and if I don’t achieve it, …

Mbappé On Ballon D’Or Debate: From Lamine Yamal To Dembélé

Mbappé On Ballon D’Or Debate: From Lamine Yamal To Dembélé

September 7, 2025 11:41 am

Kylian Mbappé has spoken about the upcoming Ballon d’Or race, offering his candid thoughts on some of the leading contenders for football’s most prestigious individual prize. His comments come at a time when the award, once dominated by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo for more than a decade, has become an open contest shaped by new stars and shifting allegiances.

When asked about Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, who has dazzled Europe with his precocious talent, Mbappé was careful not to overstate his view: “Lamine Yamal winning the Ballon d’Or? He’s a Barcelona player, we cannot say anything.” The French …

Nigerian Star, Oshoala Nominated For 2022 Ballon d’Or Award

Nigerian Star, Oshoala Nominated For 2022 Ballon d’Or Award

August 13, 2022 2:56 am

Super Falcons of Nigeria and Barcelona forward player, Asisat Oshoala has become the first African woman to be nominated for the Women’s Ballon d’Or player of the year award after she was listed for the award on Friday. 

Africa Daily News, New York reports that her performances with FC Barcelona femeni were the biggest factor that earned her a place on the 20-woman shortlist.

Recall that in July, Oshoala picked the African Women’s Player of the Year for the fifth time, breaking her own achievement and becoming the first lady to win the CAF award five times.

Her remarkable form …

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𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬, 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐘𝐨𝐫𝐤, is a nonpartisan online news portal founded on the truth to provide you with weekly, insightful articles written with precision and current updates on current events from Africa in particular and the rest of the world in general. All of our reports undergo extensive fact-checking to ensure their veracity, and we adhere strictly to the facts, no matter whose ox is gored.

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