The Ballon d'Or will not be awarded this year for the first time in its 64-year history after the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc on the football calendar, organisers France Football magazine said on Monday. The prestigious award, voted for by journalists, is an annual prize given to the best male footballer in the world since 1956. The women's Ballon d'Or was first awarded in 2018.
Di Maria to retire from international soccer after World Cup
Olympique Lyonnais and Norway forward Ada Hegerberg won the inaugural Ballon d'Or award for the best player in women's football on Monday but the moment was tarnished when DJ Martin Solveig asked her to 'twerk'
Messi is idolised the world over but said he does not enjoy giving advice
Ronaldo's nomination comes after the 33-year-old last week denied rape allegations levelled against him by a woman who sued him in court in the United States.
Real Madrid's Croatia midfielder Luka Modric was named winner of the 2018 Ballon d'Or on Monday, breaking Cristiano Ronaldo's and Lionel Messi's decade-long hold on the prestigious award.
Salvatore Schillaci, who was born in the Sicilian city of Palermo and was hospitalised there, suffered from colon cancer.
Lionel Messi's fifth-place finish in this year's Ballon d'Or vote was absurd, Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde said of the Spanish champions' Argentina forward on Tuesday.
Amid increasing speculation surrounding his potential move to Real Madrid, Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba believes that Cristiano Ronaldo should win the coveted Ballon d'Or trophy following victories in the Champions League and Euro 2016 finals. Despite being stretched off with a knee injury in the final, the Real Madrid superstar encouraged his teammates, issuing tactical instructions from sidelines to inspire Portugal to their first ever international trophy in Paris.
'I know that he has pushed me to be a better player and I have pushed him to be a better player as well.'
Lionel Messi insisted his fifth-place finish in Monday's Ballon d'Or awards was not a motivating factor behind his sensational performance in Barcelona's 4-0 thrashing of local rivals Espanyol in La Liga on Saturday.
Real Madrid star striker Critiano Ronaldo has been reportedly informed that he will be crowned this year's Ballon d'or winner.
Cristiano Ronaldo topped Forbes magazine's list of highest-paid athletes for the fourth time in his career.
Juventus forward Cristiano Ronaldo and Barcelona's Lionel Messi, who have won the award 10 times between them, are included
Chhetri will make his final appearance for India on the international stage when he takes the field in the FIFA World Cup Qualifying clash against Kuwait
Argentina won a record 16th Copa America title by beating Colombia 1-0 thanks to an extra-time goal from substitute Lautaro Martinez.
Here are some special moments from the gala night in Zurich on Monday...
Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo won the FIFA Ballon d'Or award for the second year running and the third overall on Monday after a prolific, trophy-filled year with Real Madrid.
Barcelona and Argentina forward Lionel Messi was awarded the 2009 Ballon D'Or, French magazine France Football said on its website on Tuesday. The 22-year-old became the first Ballon D'Or winner from Argentina, eclipsing runner-up and last year's winner Cristiano Ronaldo by a record 240-point margin.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
Mbappe says playing for Real Madrid will complete childhood dream
Barcelona star striker Neymar has said that although winning the Ballon d'Or award is one of his goals, he will not 'die' even if he never lifts the coveted individual prize in his career.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has criticised FIFA's Ballon d'Or award given to the world's best player for glorifying the individual at the expense of the team.
Cristiano Ronaldo capped a remarkable year by claiming a fourth Ballon d'Or award on Monday after leading Portugal to an emotional European Championship title and Real Madrid to a record-extending Champions League crown in 2016.
Just few days after becoming a father for the fourth time, Real Madrid star striker Cristiano Ronaldo has expressed that he wants a total of seven children and same amount of Ballon d'Or awards.
The 24-year-old has started the current season strongly with two goals and an assist in the first two league matches and Martial believes his compatriot can reach the next level and become the best footballer in the world.
Images from the opening day's action in the Olympics women's football tournament in Paris on Thursday.
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.
Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo and his Real Madrid team-mate Gareth Bale have been shortlisted for this year's coveted Ballon d'Or award.
Chelsea's Eden Hazard believes he may need to join a Spanish club in order to be crowned the world's best player, but he ruled out a move in the January transfer window.
Miami are set to take on Al-Hilal at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh on January 29 before facing Al-Nassr at the same venue on February 1.
Lamine Yamal has been breaking records since making his professional debut for Barcelona less than 15 months ago, the last one becoming the youngest goal-scorer in Euros history with a stunning curled long-range shot against France that helped his side reach the final.
Real Madrid fought back from two goals down as Vinicius Jr grabbed a hat-trick in a thrilling 5-2 win over visitors Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League.
Ronaldo's 130 goals for his country is also way out on its own at the head of most scored in international football
Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo had reportedly 'taunted' Barcelona ace Lionel Messi after he won the Ballon d'Or by parading the trophy before Madrid's match against Granada, before firing a message as to who is the best around.
The Portuguese superstar now has scored the most first-division goals in football history, he has 527 career league goals with 61 goals alone in 2023.
'The silky touch, the swerving runs, the parabola pass perfection, the goals -- Salah on a football pitch these days is a sporting experience so celestial you feel inebriated just witnessing it.' 'It is football of the gods: Pure, eye-popping and incomprehensible,' applauds Dhruv Munjal.
Lionel Messi reclaimed the FIFA Ballon d'Or award for the world player of the year on Monday from his great rival Cristiano Ronaldo who had walked off with the award for the previous two years.
Despite being a model of longevity for more than two decades in an outstanding career, breaking numerous records and playing for some of the biggest clubs in the world, Cristiano Ronaldo was a shadow of his old self over the last two weeks at Euro 2024 in Germany.
Cristiano Ronaldo was awarded the Ballon d'Or for world player of the year on Thursday for a joint-record fifth time, going level with eternal rival and Barcelona forward Lionel Messi as the player to have won the prize the most times.
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