Sports

Ronaldinho To Present 2025 Ballon d’Or Award To Winner

Published

3 months ago

September 21, 2025

The football world is set for another glittering night as the 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony takes place at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris on Monday, September 22.

Reports suggest that France Football’s most prestigious individual honour will be presented by none other than legendary Brazilian playmaker Ronaldinho.

While organisers have yet to confirm the news, anticipation is running high among football fans worldwide.

This year’s Ballon d’Or is shaping up to be a dramatic showdown between two players who have followed in Ronaldinho’s footsteps: Ousmane Dembélé of PSG and Barcelona’s 18-year-old prodigy Lamine Yamal.

The prospect of Ronaldinho presenting the award to one of them has been described as poetic, with both players representing the clubs that turned the Brazilian into a global icon.

Yamal, who helped Barcelona claim a domestic treble, has had a breakout season that earned him the LALIGA EA SPORTS Best Under-23 Player award. The teenager racked up 18 goals and 21 assists, becoming the youngest player to score in a Clásico and the youngest to make 100 appearances for the club.

The Spanish wonderkid also helped Spain win the European Championship in a record-breaking campaign, further strengthening his Ballon d’Or case. His supporters argue that his blend of youthful exuberance and end product makes him a worthy winner despite his age.

On the other hand, Dembélé represents redemption and consistency at the highest level. The French international has been reborn under PSG manager Luis Enrique, leading the club to a historic treble including their first-ever UEFA Champions League title.

Dembélé’s 32 goals and eight assists across all competitions have made him the statistical frontrunner. PSG Sporting Director Luis Campos has openly backed him, saying: “If his name were Leo Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, there would be no discussion.” Campos went further, claiming that if Dembélé does not win, “it suggests a failure on the part of the voters.”

Even Ronaldinho has praised the PSG forward’s game, telling L’Equipe via Paris Fans: “I don’t like to compare much. I mainly look at my old teams and those that are still in the Champions League. There’s Ousmane Dembélé at PSG. I like him a lot.

“He has a slightly Brazilian style! He’s disconcerting, he invents, he provokes. He’s often unreadable and, what’s more, he scores a lot of goals. He’s revealing himself, bursting into a different role than he did at PSG last year or at Barcelona.”

With two players boasting such compelling cases—Yamal with his brilliance and narrative as football’s next superstar, and Dembélé with his trophies and peak performance—the 2025 Ballon d’Or could be one of the most hotly contested editions in years.

Sports

JUST IN: Full Draw For 2026 World Cup Group Stages Confirmed

Published

2 days ago

December 5, 2025

Editor

The draw for the group stage of the 2026 World Cup has been conducted.

It took place at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., with US President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino in charge.

There will be 48 teams at next year’s tournament, to be played across the United States, Mexico and Canada.

All the participating countries were grouped into 12 groups of four.

Here is the full draw:

Group A: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Winner Play-off D
Group B: Canada, Winner Play-off A, Qatar, Switzerland
Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland
Group D: United States, Paraguay, Australia, Winner Play-off C
Group E: Germany, Curaçao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador
Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Winner Play-off B, Tunisia
Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand
Group H: Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay
Group I: France, Senegal, Winner Play-off 2, Norway
Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan
Group K: Portugal, Winner Play-off 1, Colombia, Uzbekistan
Group L: England, Croatia, Panama, Ghana

Sports

EPL: Mikel Obi Reveals Why Chelsea Failed To Beat Arsenal in 1-1 Draw

Published

5 days ago

December 2, 2025

Editor

Former Super Eagles midfielder, John Mikel Obi, has claimed Chelsea failed to defeat Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday, because of an early red card to Moises Caicedo.

The two London rivals played out a pulsating 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge.

Caicedo was sent off in the 38th minute following a VAR check.

But it was Chelsea who took the lead after the break, thanks to Trevor Chalobah’s header.

But the Gunners equalized through Mikel Merino.

So far this season, Chelsea have received seven red cards in 20 games across all competitions this season.

“That’s four red cards this season; it’s not good enough. I’ve spoken about it; the manager needs to talk with the players, because it’s costing us games as well,” Mikel Obi said on his podcast.

“If you look at that game, if we finished with eleven men, I think we could’ve won. Maybe not easily, but comfortably, we could’ve secured a win.”

Sports

EPL: Slot Reveals When Salah Will Leave For AFCON

Published

5 days ago

December 2, 2025

Editor

Liverpool manager, Arne Slot, has revealed that Mohamed Salah was “not happy” to be dropped for their 2-0 win at West Ham on Sunday.

Salah was named on the bench at the London Stadium for the Premier League fixture.

Slot took the bold decision, as he looked to arrest a poor run of form, that saw the Reds lose nine of 12 matches.

Salah was not summoned from the bench for the entire 90 minutes, as goals from Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo sealed victory.

“It was a normal reaction for a player who is good enough to play for us,” Slot said.

“I say that mildly as he’s been so outstanding for this club and will be in the future. He wasn’t happy he wasn’t starting but he wasn’t the only one.”

Salah could yet return to the starting line-up as Liverpool host Sunderland in the Premier League on Wednesday night.

The 33-year-old will remain available for the next four matches, before he leaves to join Egypt’s squad for the African Cup of Nations.

“It’s 15 December,” Slot confirmed.

“But always in these situations there is the player and the national team involved and there are always talks about what is best for all three of us.”