Is it Raphinha versus Yamal for the Ballon d'Or, or can Dembele achieve it?

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In a year devoid of a significant international tournament, triumphing in the Champions League is undoubtedly crucial for clinching the Ballon d’Or. Therefore, that ought to conclude the discussion about Real Madrid.  Here are the top 10 contenders for the award, based on the bookmakers' odds…  Favorites to claim the 2025 Ballon d’Or   10. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia [Paris Saint-Germain] Outstanding since his January transfer from Napoli, aiding the French team in effortlessly securing another league championship while more significantly remaining focused on achieving that coveted Champions League trophy.  9. Kylian Mbappé [Real Madrid] "Personal awards matter as well, such as the Ballon d’Or." I understand what I need to do to achieve victory, many asks both on and off the field. "When I take all the necessary steps to achieve victory, I will achieve it," says the Frenchman.  And if he fails to accomplish all that he must – which he definitely has not – then he will...

'He won't join' – Amorim clarifies reasons Gyokeres might decline summer move to Man Utd


Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has shared his thoughts on the possibility of Viktor Gyokeres being attracted to transfer from Sporting CP to Old Trafford this summer. 

The Red Devils have faced challenges this season in the Premier League, with Ruben Amorim’s team sitting 14th in the standings as they approach the last four games of the season. 

Just four Premier League teams have netted fewer goals than Man Utd this season, and Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee have faced significant criticism for their goal drought. 

Hojlund netted his fourth goal in the Premier League this season during the 1-1 tie with Bournemouth on Sunday, whereas Zirkzee has managed just three. 

Currently, there are intentions in the transfer market for Man Utd to acquire a new striker before the next season, with Gyokeres, Victor Osimhen, Liam Delap, and others mentioned. 

Recent days have seen increasing speculation regarding a possible transfer for Gyokeres, with talk of a potential ' deal' for the Sporting CP forward. 

When questioned about preferring a ‘project’ striker such as Gyokeres or a seasoned player to support the existing forwards at Old Trafford, Amorim responded: “Our priority is to assist our current players.” Rasmus netted a goal in the previous match. 

"Once more, I believe it's clear that Rasmus possesses talent, Josh possesses talent, and Chido possesses talent." We need to enhance the players, but to do so individually, we must also enhance our performance and the way we play. 

"We are quite a distance from being a truly reliable team that can assist the forwards in scoring numerous goals." We have a distinct deficiency in goals, which has led to us losing many points this season; we need to enhance that [play] to support the forwards to enhance.

Pressed about Gyokeres, Amorim remarked: “I haven't spoken with him." However, if a player is only interested in joining Man United for the purpose of playing in the Champions League, then he will not join. We seek players who wish to embody United, not those who only desire to participate in specific tournaments. 

Man Utd triumphed over Lyon in a remarkable comeback, with Amorim’s team netting three goals in extra time to advance to the Champions League semi-finals. 


When questioned about how the comeback victory has impacted his team's confidence, the Man Utd manager replied: “I believe it’s more related to the club.” Everyone understands that playing at Old Trafford can bring something extraordinary, but in the following match against Wolves, we generated many chances but failed to score, which slightly affected our confidence. 

"This time of year resembles that somewhat." We are constantly looking for a significant moment that can alter many aspects. We only need to remain consistent. However, it was an amazing evening. During this type of season, there are occasions when you experience memorable moments that you can leverage, and in these types of matches, you can use those to inspire the players to achieve something even greater. 

Regarding Athletic Bilbao, whom they face in the Europa League semi-final on Thursday, Amorim added: “I believe they possess many positive attributes. I won't mention the negative aspects, but as a team, they are very powerful, extremely intense, and quite aggressive. 

"Even for a Spanish squad, they are extremely fierce in every confrontation." They possess excellent players in one-on-one situations. Nico Williams stands out as an exceptional player. They have the top defense in the league in Spain, and since we aren't scoring many goals, it will be a challenging game for us. 

“We understand that at the start of the game, particularly in the first 20-30 minutes, they are very powerful and aggressive, leveraging the crowd to elevate the game, and we are ready for this challenge, as we will be up against a formidable opponent.” 






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