For months, the 2024 Ballon d'Or seemed to have a clear front-runner, with everyone anticipating the coronation of Vinícius Júnior as the new king of football.
The three match-ups which are likely to have a strong bearing on the result in Sunday's FIFA World Cup final.
Real booked their place in the final when substitute Arda Guler lifted a corner to Ruediger, who headed the equaliser that put Real Madrid through on aggregate.
Manager Carlo Ancelotti said striker Kylian Mbappe's decision to snub Real Madrid and stay at Paris St Germain was not a distraction ahead of Saturday's Champions League final
A round-up of Saturday's action in LaLiga, Ligue 1 and Serie A
Mihaila late show for Romania stuns Swiss in thrilling draw
Kylian Mbappe and Brahim Diaz also struck for Real, to cancel out a double from City's Erling Haaland
With a game in hand, Hansi Flick's Barca are top on 66 points, three ahead Real in second
Loic Perrin's rough tackle in the 26th put Kylian Mbappe out of the game.
Holders France failed to qualify for the final four of the Nations League when they slumped to a 1-0 defeat at home to Croatia
While the tournament saw the emergence of young stars, the usual suspects, the big names flattered to deceive.
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, who has won the award five times, did not receive a nomination for the first time in 20 years.
IMAGES from football matches played across European Leagues on Saturday.
This is the first time that PSG is featuring in the finals of the Champions League.
Barcelona forwards Ousmane Dembele and Lionel Messi fired the Catalans to a confidence-boosting 2-0 win at in-form Sevilla on Saturday to keep the pressure on La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid.
French football president apologises for 'awkward remarks' on Zidane after backlash
A summary of the concluding day's action in the German Cup, French Cup and La Liga.
Real Madrid got their LaLiga title defence off to a limp start as they were held to a 1-1 draw at Mallorca.
France overcame a slow start to beat neighbours Belgium 2-0 for their first points of the Nations League campaign.
Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich powered past third-placed Eintracht Frankfurt 4-0 with an impressive display of high-pressing football on Sunday.
France and the Netherlands are level on four points at the top of the group standings, with Austria on three, while Poland have no points and cannot advance to the last 16.
Real Madrid's Karim Benzema, who won the 2022 Ballon d'Or award, is also in the shortlist.
Giroud, at 36, brings experience and guile to France's attack, while Mbappe, 23, is blessed with pace
France will look to keep their World Cup momentum going when they face Tunisia even though they have qualified for the knock-out stages, and coach Didier Deschamps will make changes for the game on Wednesday.
Mbappe becomes PSG's all-time highest goal-scorer as French champions extend lead
Paris St Germain believe they can learn from their run to the Champions League final and become European champions after coming closer than ever in Sunday's 1-0 loss to Bayern Munich.
Meet Google's Most Searched Sportspeople This Year.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field on Thursday
Images from the Euro 2024 Round of 16 match between France and Belgium, at Dusseldorf Arena, Dusseldorf, Germany, on Monday.
Galtier said all other players returned as per the schedule and will be available for Wednesday's game, including France striker Kylian Mbappe.
Manchester City spent more than 180 million pounds ($223.58 million) -- more than the combined amount paid by the other 19 English top-flight clubs in a relatively quiet window.
And to think that the 24-year-old forward had nearly missed the World Cup bus.
IMAGES from the UEFA Champions League matches played on Wednesday
A round-up of Saturday's action in LaLiga, Ligue 1 and Serie A.
Ciro Immobile scored a 69th-minute penalty to earn hosts Lazio a 1-0 victory over 10-man Bayern Munich.
Several players across the continent are poised to make a name for themselves on the international stage.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
Images from the Champions League semi-final first leg between Barcelona and Inter Milan at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, Barcelona, Spain, on Wednesday.
IMAGES from the Champions League matches played on Wednesday
Legendary footballer Cristiano Ronaldo had a stupendous 2023 as he ended the year as the world's top goal-scorer. Following the landmark, the Portuguese superstar said that he will try to achieve it again next year.
